Search for the Phoenix

The Ashport Archives #1

by Stephanie A. Gillis

Leaven Connolly never wanted to return home after leaving the small town of Ashport three years ago. She though she was free of the embarrassment that comes with having ghost hunters for parents until her uncle passes away, making her the heir to the Ashport Conservatory. Leaven is prepared to sell the place and get out of dodge but soon learns the hard way that her uncle has been keeping one of the most powerful creatures in existence hidden in the house: the one and only Phoenix. Being a creature of immense magical power, everyone wants their hands on it including a horde of vampires, a pack of werewolves, and almost everyone Leaven meets. The only people Leaven finds she can trust are a stranger fighting with his inner demons, her two older friends who aren't exactly what they seem, a warlock who refuses to move on, and a self-serving exiled fairy. What could go wrong? Everything. Everything can go wrong.

Genres: Fantasy, Urban Fantasy, Magic

274 pages, Paperback

First published March 23, 2016

About the author

Stephanie Gillis is the author of the SPFBOX finalist The Humane Society for Creatures & Cryptids, the urban fantasy series The Ashport Archives, and several short stories of varying genres! On YouTube she's known as Qwordy (Q) and regularly hosts productivity livestreams and posts bookish content. You can often find her breaking out into song at random or petting the nearest dog.

Reviews

[Amara · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.25 stars

*Listened to the audiobook on Audible, narrated by the author*

First off I don't think I'm the audience for this book. I was expecting adult fantasy, but this book really needs the young adult tag. Our MC falls into all the familiar tropes: know-it-all, snarky and of course the chosen one. In my 30s this archetype doesn't work for me anymore. Which means the MC, who is a very big part of the book, quickly started to grate on my nerves.

But very importantly there is also a lot of good in this book. The author knows how to write. The prose just flows naturally. And while I wasn't a fan of the MC I found some of the side characters interesting and charming.

Also the parts about Japan were a welcome person touch, and possibly show some of the author's own experiences in this country.

The story itself follows familiar beats, but surprises its reader here and there with original touches.

Regarding the audiobook specifically: the author does a great job at narrating their own novel. They have excellent enunciation and are consistent with the voices they ascribe to different characters. This all makes for a very enjoyable listening experience. I did have one minor gripe with the sound effects on some of the lines. Some of them were impossible to understand even after replaying multiple times.

Overall if you enjoy chosen one YA fantasy stories with a found family feel and a romance subplot, you will probably enjoy this one!

[Rike Heiling · Rating 3 out of 5]

3,5*
This book starts off with a contemporary introduction of the main character, Leaven (cool name). And when Leaven decides to accept her duty kind of the fantasy elements come in and wow do they come in. They literally pile up on her, especially all the other characters. They are thrown into the story. And we went from a more contemporary - magical realism setting into pure fantasy. It is a bit much, all the character, the house, the duty with not enough back or maybe surrounding story to got with. But it is fun to read. I do not know if the fun was intended, but I liked it.
I loved the pop-cultural references through out the book, it was fun to find another one, kind like easter eggs.
The middle part was a bit long, but the ending was big. The twists throughout were predictable but that did not matter to enjoy the story.
I am looking forward to read more from this band of misfits.

[Rokkan · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 out of 5

A good start to a series, with some interesting world building and lore choices that look like they could develop more as the series progresses. Not 100% sold on the lead character, but the supporting cast is pretty interesting, and I'm hoping there's some development in Colt's back story in future books. I have some suspicions about him, but they might be completely wrong.

There were some grammatical issues that were a little off-putting, but I found it a decent start to a series over all.

[Liora Sophie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I am loving this book and I'm so glad there are 3 more in the series! The characters are so relatable and Leaven is a first-rate klutz. I love it. It pulls you in and there are some really beautiful visuals that enhance the escapist effect. The supernatural elements are so deeply rooted in mythology that they command a profound respect from the reader and the other characters present. The tone is the perfect combination of casual snark with magical wonder. You'll be laughing one minute and taking a sharp breath the next.

The only reason it's not 5 stars is that this is clearly the author's earlier work and the writing isn't quite as concise as it could be, so it gets a little wordy sometimes. But besides that - This book is a treasure.

I NEED MORE!!!

[Stevie Roach · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not a bad novel for a new writer, but like many self-published books, it was badly in need of a good editor. Simple mistakes (confusing your/you're, whose/who's, etc.) really pulled me out of the story too much.

[Tricia Cupp · Rating 4 out of 5]

This story ran through my head like a SyFy original series, and I loved that. A fun read, albeit predictable in some parts. All the characters are loveable for their own reasons, and I will gladly be reading the follow ups!

[Corbin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Collage age version of Teen Wolf, but so much better!
Collect one of each species for the good team.
Love the way the FMC processes being brought into the mythical world.
Bonus pages in the back.
I'm so stoked for the next book.

[Roxie · Rating 4 out of 5]

so good! can't wait to read the second one

[Di · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very entertaining read! The reveal wasn't surprising to me, but I don't think it should've been since there were clues dropped along the way. I'm looking forward to seeing what happens in the next installment.

[Amanda F · Rating 4 out of 5]

I can't wait to continue with this series. The whole cast of characters was great to get to know and I can't wait to follow along with their adventures in future books!

[Kirijath · Rating 4 out of 5]

i liked this a lot. def going to read the next one✌🏻
i love your videos Steph, so i absolutely had to try your books and i am hooked.
it is great to see, there are people who understand what it means to write adventure and mystery and mythology etc. it's such a rare ability today, i fear we will find it only in indie pub books anymore, because the "famous" ones all have everything you love in their trope-advertising and then it is just like any romantasy you've read a hundred times already...
so i am delighted to know, this is a series🤩