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The Phoenix Cycle
The Best Shall Rise
******Please note:
Nearly every review below is from the BETA version of the book. Every shared issue between the reviews has been addressed VERY heavily in the final version.
I have decided to address this first because, we live in a world where reviews and star-rating means just about everything.
To the handful of people who read the final version. (All 4-5 stars. Many with well thought-out reviews) Thank you. It means a lot. It took all of me to be able to articulate and share something so close and important to me on a human level. You the real MVP*****
Now to the Brief:
New San Francisco is the last city standing on a world ravaged by storms of ash and debris. The city survived by putting the ideals of the American dream on steroids and inspiring its people to persevere, though they have become ruthless in the process. Its citizens are ruled by the General, who has made sure that his people understand that gentleness and pity have become weaknesses that nature no longer tolerates.
Now Steve and Leslie must choose whether they will apply for the General’s once in a lifetime opportunity to “Rise from the Ashes” and join the Inner Circle that rules the city. If they don’t, they will be damned to spend the rest of their lives in the ghettos of Edingburg, a place where virtual reality has become a government-subsidized addiction.
For Steve, the choice is easy. His loyalties lie with the IRA, a revolutionary army led by a voice only known as “Mom.” They are trying to overthrow the General and free the people of New San Francisco from the cruelties of the City Guard. Steve’s mission is to broadcast a recording of a speech that a famous philosopher died to tell. Many thousands have and will perish to get this message out, but is anyone willing to listen?
*******Visit the Author's Bio to see the Book Trailer********
******Please note:
Nearly every review below is from the BETA version of the book. Every shared issue between the reviews has been addressed VERY heavily in the final version.
I have decided to address this first because, we live in a world where reviews and star-rating means just about everything.
To the handful of people who read the final version. (All 4-5 stars. Many with well thought-out reviews) Thank you. It means a lot. It took all of me to be able to articulate and share something so close and important to me on a human level. You the real MVP*****
Now to the Brief:
New San Francisco is the last city standing on a world ravaged by storms of ash and debris. The city survived by putting the ideals of the American dream on steroids and inspiring its people to persevere, though they have become ruthless in the process. Its citizens are ruled by the General, who has made sure that his people understand that gentleness and pity have become weaknesses that nature no longer tolerates.
Now Steve and Leslie must choose whether they will apply for the General’s once in a lifetime opportunity to “Rise from the Ashes” and join the Inner Circle that rules the city. If they don’t, they will be damned to spend the rest of their lives in the ghettos of Edingburg, a place where virtual reality has become a government-subsidized addiction.
For Steve, the choice is easy. His loyalties lie with the IRA, a revolutionary army led by a voice only known as “Mom.” They are trying to overthrow the General and free the people of New San Francisco from the cruelties of the City Guard. Steve’s mission is to broadcast a recording of a speech that a famous philosopher died to tell. Many thousands have and will perish to get this message out, but is anyone willing to listen?
*******Visit the Author's Bio to see the Book Trailer********
- GenresDystopiaYoung Adult
395 pages, ebook
First published June 1, 2017
About the author
Bob Collopy
2 books31 followersBob's book have characters that are secretly based on famous philosophers. Mostly Ancient or existential. But plenty of less applauded ones as well (Marquis de Sade).
Author of The Phoenix Cycle.
One suggestion before you read The Phoenix Cycle and become one of his fans that leaves Bob a slew of aggressive love letters. (Just kidding, only happened once or twice) is to read the book slowly. This book is not Twilight. Go too fast and you'll have no idea why it's doing what it's doing. Nearly every line of the book has 3 meanings, ranging from story structure, character point of view, to the philosophical.
Author of The Phoenix Cycle.
One suggestion before you read The Phoenix Cycle and become one of his fans that leaves Bob a slew of aggressive love letters. (Just kidding, only happened once or twice) is to read the book slowly. This book is not Twilight. Go too fast and you'll have no idea why it's doing what it's doing. Nearly every line of the book has 3 meanings, ranging from story structure, character point of view, to the philosophical.
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Displaying 1 - 29 of 29 reviews
May 25, 2018
I really enjoyed reading this novel. This novel makes you think about disasters that could be possible in this messed up world. This book was enjoyable to read between other novels and at a slow pace. Reading this book, I started thinking about different concepts and how things in the world really are. I enjoyed the author’s concepts and ideas and found some things definitely relateable. I have to admit that I enjoy thinking about the “What Ifs” and enjoy reading dystopian novels and about some conspiracy theories so when I listened to this book on my kindle, my son’s father just loved it.*tin foil hats in hand, ready to go* He was the one that gobbled it up and read it the most. He is a big fanImage result for dystopian gif of Sy-fy and Dystopian fiction. Some of the things mentioned in this book went over my head a little but this was just an ARC so I am sure there will be tweaks to be fixed but I found that this dystopian novel quite enjoyable and am excited to see what the author comes out with next. Big thanks for this opportunity to the author and Reads & Reels Blog Tours!
June 3, 2017
I got this book from NetGalley for an honest review.
And after receiving emails from the author with his book trailer and weekly videos, I was completely reeled in and ready to start reading :)
The book starts off with Steve and the Line character (from the videos) giving a speech about the city. When I began reading, the book reminded me a bit of Hunger Games, but by Chapter 2 the author was successful in creating a totally different story. This is a dystopian book that follows the main characters, Steve and eventually Johnny, through their trials and adventures in a completely messed up world that is the culmination of both the abuse of government welfare and the effects of war and environmental disasters. As someone that studied political science in college, the terrifying aspect of it all is that such a world could actually exist.
I won't go deeper into the book as I'd hate to spoil, but I really liked the philosophy that grew in the book at the conclusion of Part 1. The author pitches the book as having a lot of his characters based off of real philosophers, and as a law student I've read my fair share. I was pleased to find the philosophical side was well done, but also I thought it was really cool that the book actually picked up a lot after Part 1 because philosophy is normally really thick and slow (sorry phil students :p).
The book also has some really fascinating side stories and broadcasts that further develop the story, as well as journal entries which get you pretty emotionally invested. These side stories and journal entries were a nice fun break from the main story and really gave me the time I needed to process the main plot. At first I didn't really get the journal entries, but after reading more and more of them, I think that the author intended to use them to put more soul into the story (he can correct me of course). I appreciated the journal entries a lot because even though they didn't always make logical sense with the flow of the story, they made me think about our current circumstances and question things.
The final point I'd like to make is regarding the romance. To preface this, I think I should point out that I LOVE romance and so I am always looking for that aspect in a book. However, after reading my bazillionth romance book this week, I figured it was time to try something different. Romance does exist in this book and it may not be the sappy kind that I'm used to, but it was very sweet and refreshingly different :)
Just do yourself a favor and refrain from trying to read it in one sitting (I know it's hard). You need the time to process ;)
And after receiving emails from the author with his book trailer and weekly videos, I was completely reeled in and ready to start reading :)
The book starts off with Steve and the Line character (from the videos) giving a speech about the city. When I began reading, the book reminded me a bit of Hunger Games, but by Chapter 2 the author was successful in creating a totally different story. This is a dystopian book that follows the main characters, Steve and eventually Johnny, through their trials and adventures in a completely messed up world that is the culmination of both the abuse of government welfare and the effects of war and environmental disasters. As someone that studied political science in college, the terrifying aspect of it all is that such a world could actually exist.
I won't go deeper into the book as I'd hate to spoil, but I really liked the philosophy that grew in the book at the conclusion of Part 1. The author pitches the book as having a lot of his characters based off of real philosophers, and as a law student I've read my fair share. I was pleased to find the philosophical side was well done, but also I thought it was really cool that the book actually picked up a lot after Part 1 because philosophy is normally really thick and slow (sorry phil students :p).
The book also has some really fascinating side stories and broadcasts that further develop the story, as well as journal entries which get you pretty emotionally invested. These side stories and journal entries were a nice fun break from the main story and really gave me the time I needed to process the main plot. At first I didn't really get the journal entries, but after reading more and more of them, I think that the author intended to use them to put more soul into the story (he can correct me of course). I appreciated the journal entries a lot because even though they didn't always make logical sense with the flow of the story, they made me think about our current circumstances and question things.
The final point I'd like to make is regarding the romance. To preface this, I think I should point out that I LOVE romance and so I am always looking for that aspect in a book. However, after reading my bazillionth romance book this week, I figured it was time to try something different. Romance does exist in this book and it may not be the sappy kind that I'm used to, but it was very sweet and refreshingly different :)
Just do yourself a favor and refrain from trying to read it in one sitting (I know it's hard). You need the time to process ;)
June 3, 2017
I found this book while scoping out new authors to follow on twitter. I came across Bob Collopy's work and was immediately captivated. What really reeled me in was the thought and creativity put behind his promotional videos. Personally I look for life behind the words I read and seeing his ideas put together in a short clip really made me want to read more about the world of Line and the Department of Smoke.
The plot is fascinating and the characters are pretty well-developed. As a reader of Philosophy, I really appreciated the thought that the author put into incorporating it so seamlessly into the book (i.e. Plato's cave). There were a few moments where I had to stop reading in order to keep the story straight, but the author definitely does a great job of tying it all together at the end.
The only word of advice I would give is that he should create a bit of a stronger emotional connection to the characters in his next book! As a reader of paranormal romance and sci-fi, I'm always looking for that :)
The plot is fascinating and the characters are pretty well-developed. As a reader of Philosophy, I really appreciated the thought that the author put into incorporating it so seamlessly into the book (i.e. Plato's cave). There were a few moments where I had to stop reading in order to keep the story straight, but the author definitely does a great job of tying it all together at the end.
The only word of advice I would give is that he should create a bit of a stronger emotional connection to the characters in his next book! As a reader of paranormal romance and sci-fi, I'm always looking for that :)
June 9, 2017
https://koeur.wordpress.com/2017/06/0...
Publisher: FIIK
Publishing Date: June 2017
ISBN: 9780991378531
Genre: Dystopian
Rating: 2.2/5
Publishers Description: New San Francisco is the last city standing on a world ravaged by storms of ash and debris. The city survived by putting the ideals of the American dream on steroids and inspiring its people to persevere, though they have become ruthless in the process. Its citizens are ruled by the General, who has made sure that his people understand that gentleness and pity have become weaknesses that nature no longer tolerates.
Review: Why is the world being ravaged by storms of ash that never seems to accumulate? Why does it cause people to scamper away in fear for their lives? Is this dystopian world biologically supportable? These questions and many more will never get answered so either hitch up your skirts and hop in the phantasmo train or be left behind scratchin’ yur ashy-head.
So for whatever reason everyone lives in New San Francisco, or so I presume as the world building is finite, and scramble around under the yoke of oppression and constant ash manifestations. There is a twist on the Hunger Games shtick so that the young may become part of the Inner Circle through death trials, only that Circle is never defined. The IRA is the opposing force to the evil regime, (which is kind of ironic) and the guards run around beating people senseless on whims.
Besides all that, the writing is technically good but lacked an infusion of believable originality, rendering the story line hard to stay interested in. The characterization is flat even with the constant movement. The depth just never develops in the main characters so you don’t really care what happens to them. This might appeal to YA crowd that will hump anything reminiscent of Katniss.
Publisher: FIIK
Publishing Date: June 2017
ISBN: 9780991378531
Genre: Dystopian
Rating: 2.2/5
Publishers Description: New San Francisco is the last city standing on a world ravaged by storms of ash and debris. The city survived by putting the ideals of the American dream on steroids and inspiring its people to persevere, though they have become ruthless in the process. Its citizens are ruled by the General, who has made sure that his people understand that gentleness and pity have become weaknesses that nature no longer tolerates.
Review: Why is the world being ravaged by storms of ash that never seems to accumulate? Why does it cause people to scamper away in fear for their lives? Is this dystopian world biologically supportable? These questions and many more will never get answered so either hitch up your skirts and hop in the phantasmo train or be left behind scratchin’ yur ashy-head.
So for whatever reason everyone lives in New San Francisco, or so I presume as the world building is finite, and scramble around under the yoke of oppression and constant ash manifestations. There is a twist on the Hunger Games shtick so that the young may become part of the Inner Circle through death trials, only that Circle is never defined. The IRA is the opposing force to the evil regime, (which is kind of ironic) and the guards run around beating people senseless on whims.
Besides all that, the writing is technically good but lacked an infusion of believable originality, rendering the story line hard to stay interested in. The characterization is flat even with the constant movement. The depth just never develops in the main characters so you don’t really care what happens to them. This might appeal to YA crowd that will hump anything reminiscent of Katniss.
May 24, 2018
I received this book from the author as part of the R&R Reads Book Tour for an honest review!
I am REALLY into dystopian books. Like REALLY into them. So when I read the synopsis of The Phoenix Cycle by Bob Collopy, I knew I had to read it. The story takes place in a world where the air is barely breathable (giant black clouds of thunderstorms that roll into town every night, yikes!), the society is taken over by a cult called The Inner Circle that controls literally everything, and if you just can’t take living anymore you become a “Tuber” who lives their remaining days inside a virtual reality game. The Phoenix Cycle is very dialogue heavy, where the characters often go into tangents about deeper meanings and philosophies of life. You won’t find many short conversations here, which was one of the things I really enjoyed about The Phoenix Cycle. You could immediately tell the amount of thought and research the author put behind each of his characters responses so their dialogue actually had meaning. Collopy also gave his characters different dialects, which made it very easy to tell them a part.
As for the story, the chapters jumped into a few different POV’s. First we have Steve, who’s POV remains dominant throughout the first part of the story. Steve is just an unlucky young guy, who sort of just stumbles his way deep into the resistance efforts against The Inner Circle. Then we are inside the mind of Johnny, the mayor of Edinburg who we learn is the one responsible for creating the “Tubers” to help the economy, but proves to be disastrous. Johnny is also thrown into the resistance although unwilling at first.
The main villain is The General, who is the ultimate leader of the Inner Circle. The way The General is described and through his actions it truly made me despise him as a character. I LOVE when an author can make the reader feel that way! It makes you really root for the main characters!
I was genuinely enthralled from start to finish learning about this crazy society, their leaders, their heroes, and how the rebellion against The Inner Circle got off the ground!
Read my review on my blog here: http://wickedgoodreads.com/2018/05/24...
I am REALLY into dystopian books. Like REALLY into them. So when I read the synopsis of The Phoenix Cycle by Bob Collopy, I knew I had to read it. The story takes place in a world where the air is barely breathable (giant black clouds of thunderstorms that roll into town every night, yikes!), the society is taken over by a cult called The Inner Circle that controls literally everything, and if you just can’t take living anymore you become a “Tuber” who lives their remaining days inside a virtual reality game. The Phoenix Cycle is very dialogue heavy, where the characters often go into tangents about deeper meanings and philosophies of life. You won’t find many short conversations here, which was one of the things I really enjoyed about The Phoenix Cycle. You could immediately tell the amount of thought and research the author put behind each of his characters responses so their dialogue actually had meaning. Collopy also gave his characters different dialects, which made it very easy to tell them a part.
As for the story, the chapters jumped into a few different POV’s. First we have Steve, who’s POV remains dominant throughout the first part of the story. Steve is just an unlucky young guy, who sort of just stumbles his way deep into the resistance efforts against The Inner Circle. Then we are inside the mind of Johnny, the mayor of Edinburg who we learn is the one responsible for creating the “Tubers” to help the economy, but proves to be disastrous. Johnny is also thrown into the resistance although unwilling at first.
The main villain is The General, who is the ultimate leader of the Inner Circle. The way The General is described and through his actions it truly made me despise him as a character. I LOVE when an author can make the reader feel that way! It makes you really root for the main characters!
I was genuinely enthralled from start to finish learning about this crazy society, their leaders, their heroes, and how the rebellion against The Inner Circle got off the ground!
Read my review on my blog here: http://wickedgoodreads.com/2018/05/24...
May 24, 2018
This novel reminds me of 1984, if it was written today rather than in 1940. It transports reader into a new world where the government tells the citizens how to act, and even tells them which emotions that they should feel. The “Inner Circle”/Party rules the city, but even they do not live easy lives. Everyone must work to support the government, and virtual reality is the only escape that some people participate in. Steve wants to be a part of the revolutionary army but the stakes are high and he must complete his mission and let the people know that they do not have to live in this way.
My only complaint about this book was that it was slow, but at the same time too fast. I will explain. It was slow to introduce the characters. It took me a while to actually realize who was who, distinguish character traits, and even start getting into the story. However, it was too fast in the storytelling. I was still trying to catch up, figure out who was who, and start learning about the characters. As the story flew from scene to scene, without the character connection, I felt confused.
However, this book did have its many perks. Once I started to connect with the characters, the rest of the novel went smoothly. The world-building was great, and I could almost visualize some of the scenes. There were no editing errors that I could notice, and there weren’t a lot of major or minor plot holes.
I would recommend this novel to readers who enjoy science fiction novels.
I received a copy of this book and this is my voluntary review.
My only complaint about this book was that it was slow, but at the same time too fast. I will explain. It was slow to introduce the characters. It took me a while to actually realize who was who, distinguish character traits, and even start getting into the story. However, it was too fast in the storytelling. I was still trying to catch up, figure out who was who, and start learning about the characters. As the story flew from scene to scene, without the character connection, I felt confused.
However, this book did have its many perks. Once I started to connect with the characters, the rest of the novel went smoothly. The world-building was great, and I could almost visualize some of the scenes. There were no editing errors that I could notice, and there weren’t a lot of major or minor plot holes.
I would recommend this novel to readers who enjoy science fiction novels.
I received a copy of this book and this is my voluntary review.
May 21, 2018
This is a very interesting book and so complex from many points of view. We have treason, a corrupt political system, people who believe (blindly sometimes) in it and to top it all, we have a mix of reality with philosophical concepts. It is a story that forces us to think, not only to imagine.
We have a world in which perfection is needed. Only the best, the beautiful are accepted and it is an honor to be among the chosen ones. Nature may be the worst enemy, but are the leaders true in their words? We have characters that are part of a revolutionary movement and ones that want to become more involved in the current system. Many believe, few are able to see the truth.
For me this was not a simple book. It was not the kind of story I could fly through. It captured my interest; it made me pay attention to the events as I felt I did not grasp their meaning to the fullest. Probably having so many aspects and layers and characters with different paths (Steve – the revolutionary guy, Leslie – willing to go with the system in order not to complicate her life, believers in the system and so many others), I would have expected to find out more of what is beyond this New San Francisco and more details about the storms. I expect this will come in the next book.
So with all my likes and dislikes, I cannot offer less than 4 stars to a book that made me spend quality time and gave me reasons to use my mind and think about what’s happening around us. I wanted a book like this and it came at the right time. I do recommend it, just note that is not a book that can be easily read. It needs time and devotion. Happy Reading!
We have a world in which perfection is needed. Only the best, the beautiful are accepted and it is an honor to be among the chosen ones. Nature may be the worst enemy, but are the leaders true in their words? We have characters that are part of a revolutionary movement and ones that want to become more involved in the current system. Many believe, few are able to see the truth.
For me this was not a simple book. It was not the kind of story I could fly through. It captured my interest; it made me pay attention to the events as I felt I did not grasp their meaning to the fullest. Probably having so many aspects and layers and characters with different paths (Steve – the revolutionary guy, Leslie – willing to go with the system in order not to complicate her life, believers in the system and so many others), I would have expected to find out more of what is beyond this New San Francisco and more details about the storms. I expect this will come in the next book.
So with all my likes and dislikes, I cannot offer less than 4 stars to a book that made me spend quality time and gave me reasons to use my mind and think about what’s happening around us. I wanted a book like this and it came at the right time. I do recommend it, just note that is not a book that can be easily read. It needs time and devotion. Happy Reading!
May 24, 2018
A meteor strike has caused a nuclear winter where ash constantly falls. The story takes place in New San Francisco. This world has been divided into two castes, the Inner Circle and the lower caste that lives in slum sections, the one we delve into is called Edingburg. The Phoenix Cycle is an opportunity for young men and women to try to raise their castes. The story follows Steve, a resistance member that is trying to get into the Inner Circle.
There is a lot of philosophy in this story and I will be the first one that admits that some went over my head. But it did make you think about the different events in this book. I liked how this book makes you stop and think about what is happening in it and what is going on around you in this world.
The Phoenix Cycle is a great story in a dystopian world with a good cast of characters. There is a Hunger Games feel with the trials to change Steve and Leslie’s castes and the IRA, opposition to the General and are trying to free the lower castes that are such in a virtual prison.
I liked this story but admit that I have had to think about the different things in it. I think I will be reading it a second time to try and process what I just read. I think this is a good read and one that you should check out.
I received a complimentary copy of this book. I voluntarily chose to read and post an honest review.
There is a lot of philosophy in this story and I will be the first one that admits that some went over my head. But it did make you think about the different events in this book. I liked how this book makes you stop and think about what is happening in it and what is going on around you in this world.
The Phoenix Cycle is a great story in a dystopian world with a good cast of characters. There is a Hunger Games feel with the trials to change Steve and Leslie’s castes and the IRA, opposition to the General and are trying to free the lower castes that are such in a virtual prison.
I liked this story but admit that I have had to think about the different things in it. I think I will be reading it a second time to try and process what I just read. I think this is a good read and one that you should check out.
I received a complimentary copy of this book. I voluntarily chose to read and post an honest review.
October 8, 2017
Steve and Leslie have reached their Phoenix Cycle. They have been handpicked to join the Guard, for Steve, or the Inner Circle, for Leslie. They have the option to decline and live the remainder of their lives in the New San Francisco district called Edingburg, all of this overseen by the General. This is their opportunity to rise or forever condemned to the slums.
The IRA has been tried to fight and overthrow the General for twenty plus years. Steve has that fight in his blood. But, what about Leslie? Is she as committed to the cause as him? Steve wants all the citizens of New San Francisco to know the truth and join them in their fight.
Collopy’s novel, The Phoenix Cycle: The Best Shall Rise is full of philosophy and tends to be a bit over my head. But, that is my limitation, not yours. The perspective changes from time-to-time. It’s a true dystopian similar in nature to Orwell’s 1984.
It is also a very long book. So, if you are not into philosophical debates, then I would not recommend it. Otherwise, it appears to be a very well received book, especially in the United Kingdom.
4 out of 5 stars.
I received this book for free from the author for review consideration. This in no way affected my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
The IRA has been tried to fight and overthrow the General for twenty plus years. Steve has that fight in his blood. But, what about Leslie? Is she as committed to the cause as him? Steve wants all the citizens of New San Francisco to know the truth and join them in their fight.
Collopy’s novel, The Phoenix Cycle: The Best Shall Rise is full of philosophy and tends to be a bit over my head. But, that is my limitation, not yours. The perspective changes from time-to-time. It’s a true dystopian similar in nature to Orwell’s 1984.
It is also a very long book. So, if you are not into philosophical debates, then I would not recommend it. Otherwise, it appears to be a very well received book, especially in the United Kingdom.
4 out of 5 stars.
I received this book for free from the author for review consideration. This in no way affected my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
July 10, 2017
**This book was reviewed via Netgalley/Independent Request
Collopy’s The Phoenix Cycle is an intense leap into a dystopic world unlike any other. The earth has been struck by a meteor, causing nuclear winter. In the city of New San Francisco, society has become divided into an elite caste, the Inner Circle, and a lower caste that lives in sectors sprawled around the Inner Circle complex. One such sector is Edingburg.
We follow Steve, a member of the resistance, as he prepares to make a decision about trying to join the Inner Circle. He is part of the current Phoenix Cycle, who are eligible to take the tests to ascend and be 'recast’. For women, this means being willing to pleasure any male of the elite, in exchange for luxury. For males, it means joining one of the Inner Circle’s mercenary groups and surviving training. Members of the resistance convince Steve to join and be an inside agent. However, they have big things planned to interfere with the Phoenix Cycle trials. The training is a perfect time to create chaos.
We also follow Johnny, mayor of Edingburg, one of the poorest sectors. He has been accused of treason, and sent to Alcatraz (no, it's not reopened!), to be questioned regarding his ties to the resistance. Along the way Johnny must face his inner demons. The question is, can he survive? The resistance itself is full of colourful characters, from the cybernetic Nikolai, to the quite mad Ramfort. I have to admit, Ramfort is my favourite. He serves as a guide to Steve through much of the story.
This book needs to be required reading for any introductory philosophy class. Within is encapsulated the beliefs and tenets of numerous philosophic paths, from Socrates to Nietzsche, and all between. Picking out which characters represented which philosophies was half the fun for me. Collopy does a masterful job of weaving these oft disparate views together, making each character an archetype in themselves. As you go through, you see how things can be opposites, mirrors of one another, yet they are still all connected. One should read The Phoenix Cycle more than once to get full value.
Haha, this story would make a great Final Fantasy installment! That's how it wove itself in my mind. I'd certainly love to play that game! Ramfort would be my front-runner!
📚📚📚📚 If enjoyed the show Caprica, deeply philosophical games like the later Final Fantasy installments, or stories like The After War by Brandon Zenner, you are sure to enjoy The Phoenix Cycle.
Collopy’s The Phoenix Cycle is an intense leap into a dystopic world unlike any other. The earth has been struck by a meteor, causing nuclear winter. In the city of New San Francisco, society has become divided into an elite caste, the Inner Circle, and a lower caste that lives in sectors sprawled around the Inner Circle complex. One such sector is Edingburg.
We follow Steve, a member of the resistance, as he prepares to make a decision about trying to join the Inner Circle. He is part of the current Phoenix Cycle, who are eligible to take the tests to ascend and be 'recast’. For women, this means being willing to pleasure any male of the elite, in exchange for luxury. For males, it means joining one of the Inner Circle’s mercenary groups and surviving training. Members of the resistance convince Steve to join and be an inside agent. However, they have big things planned to interfere with the Phoenix Cycle trials. The training is a perfect time to create chaos.
We also follow Johnny, mayor of Edingburg, one of the poorest sectors. He has been accused of treason, and sent to Alcatraz (no, it's not reopened!), to be questioned regarding his ties to the resistance. Along the way Johnny must face his inner demons. The question is, can he survive? The resistance itself is full of colourful characters, from the cybernetic Nikolai, to the quite mad Ramfort. I have to admit, Ramfort is my favourite. He serves as a guide to Steve through much of the story.
This book needs to be required reading for any introductory philosophy class. Within is encapsulated the beliefs and tenets of numerous philosophic paths, from Socrates to Nietzsche, and all between. Picking out which characters represented which philosophies was half the fun for me. Collopy does a masterful job of weaving these oft disparate views together, making each character an archetype in themselves. As you go through, you see how things can be opposites, mirrors of one another, yet they are still all connected. One should read The Phoenix Cycle more than once to get full value.
Haha, this story would make a great Final Fantasy installment! That's how it wove itself in my mind. I'd certainly love to play that game! Ramfort would be my front-runner!
📚📚📚📚 If enjoyed the show Caprica, deeply philosophical games like the later Final Fantasy installments, or stories like The After War by Brandon Zenner, you are sure to enjoy The Phoenix Cycle.
July 12, 2017
I really enjoyed reading this, I found the concept interesting and the fact that the characters were based on a philosophy or philosopher made the book twice as interesting.
July 22, 2017
‘You are the best stock this Phoenix Cycle could hope to reap!’
Picture this. The world has been ravaged by storms of ash and debris. Only one city has survived: New San Francisco. New San Francisco has survived because it is ruled by the General. He has ensured that the people of New San Francisco understand that there is no room for weakness, no room for pity. The city is ruled by the Inner Circle, and Steve and Leslie have a chance to join that Inner Circle. It’s a once in a life chance to apply, and if they don’t they’ll be condemned to spend the rest of their lives in the ghettos of Edingburg.
There is another possibility. There is opposition to the General. A revolutionary army, known as the IRA, led by a voice known as ‘Mom’ is trying to overthrow the General and free the people of New San Francisco. Steve will choose one path, and Leslie the other.
What follows is an interesting and busy dystopian tale. The IRA wants a famous philosophical speech broadcast. Many will die trying to do this, but is anyone listening? The novel follows the main characters in a world that has been largely destroyed by the effects of environmental disasters and war, where the government keeps most people in a captive virtual reality. There’s not enough detail to work out how all this happened, but there’s enough connection to the current world to make much of it believable.
A dystopian environment with philosophical characters - there are several aspects to this story. It’s not a straightforward narrative: some aspects are delivered by journal entries and broadcasts.
I’ll need to reread this novel. I wonder whether the Department of Smoke has been able to exert any influence over the final manuscript? I know that the version I read is not the final version…
Note: My thanks to NetGalley and Bob Collopy for providing me with a free electronic copy of this book for review purposes.
Jennifer Cameron-Smith
Picture this. The world has been ravaged by storms of ash and debris. Only one city has survived: New San Francisco. New San Francisco has survived because it is ruled by the General. He has ensured that the people of New San Francisco understand that there is no room for weakness, no room for pity. The city is ruled by the Inner Circle, and Steve and Leslie have a chance to join that Inner Circle. It’s a once in a life chance to apply, and if they don’t they’ll be condemned to spend the rest of their lives in the ghettos of Edingburg.
There is another possibility. There is opposition to the General. A revolutionary army, known as the IRA, led by a voice known as ‘Mom’ is trying to overthrow the General and free the people of New San Francisco. Steve will choose one path, and Leslie the other.
What follows is an interesting and busy dystopian tale. The IRA wants a famous philosophical speech broadcast. Many will die trying to do this, but is anyone listening? The novel follows the main characters in a world that has been largely destroyed by the effects of environmental disasters and war, where the government keeps most people in a captive virtual reality. There’s not enough detail to work out how all this happened, but there’s enough connection to the current world to make much of it believable.
A dystopian environment with philosophical characters - there are several aspects to this story. It’s not a straightforward narrative: some aspects are delivered by journal entries and broadcasts.
I’ll need to reread this novel. I wonder whether the Department of Smoke has been able to exert any influence over the final manuscript? I know that the version I read is not the final version…
Note: My thanks to NetGalley and Bob Collopy for providing me with a free electronic copy of this book for review purposes.
Jennifer Cameron-Smith
May 25, 2018
The world has been destroyed and now there is only one city left and that is New San Francisco where the government has most of the city under control by keeping them in virtual realties. They have this station like places where people get into to tubes and their cost of living expense is much cheaper. They are called Tubers.
Application day is coming up for Leslie and Steve where if they get to choose to take the General up on his offer to have a better life for themselves. They will have to give up everyone and everything they have ever known to become a part of the Inner Circle that rules the city.
Steve wants no part of the Inner Circle he just wants a better life not only for himself but everyone else as well. Steve decides that he wants to join the IRA, a group of people that have been working for years trying to over throw the General so that everybody can have a better life and not be controlled by turning the biggest part of the population into zombies so to speak.
The General uses the tubes to keep people occupied; entertained so that they won’t try to rise up against them to keep the people dumbed down so that they will not know what is really going on the world or even care.
The Phoenix Cycle is a great read for anyone who likes philosophy or fans of the dystopian world.
Application day is coming up for Leslie and Steve where if they get to choose to take the General up on his offer to have a better life for themselves. They will have to give up everyone and everything they have ever known to become a part of the Inner Circle that rules the city.
Steve wants no part of the Inner Circle he just wants a better life not only for himself but everyone else as well. Steve decides that he wants to join the IRA, a group of people that have been working for years trying to over throw the General so that everybody can have a better life and not be controlled by turning the biggest part of the population into zombies so to speak.
The General uses the tubes to keep people occupied; entertained so that they won’t try to rise up against them to keep the people dumbed down so that they will not know what is really going on the world or even care.
The Phoenix Cycle is a great read for anyone who likes philosophy or fans of the dystopian world.
July 24, 2017
I received a copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review.
Dystopians are a dime a dozen since the Hunger Games got super popular, and this is get another book that jumps on the bandwagon of miserable, futuristic worlds. Set sometime in the future in San Francisco, it follows a society that is strictly ruled by a governing body and how the resistance is plotting against them. Which sounds like another version of a lot of other books, to be honest, but I was curious to give this a try and see if Collopy did anything new with the subject.
And to be honest, I was pretty disappointed. The book itself was fine, but it was nothing new or exciting for the genre. It felt very reminiscent of the Hunger Games, among a couple of other dystopians I've read (Matched was one that came to mind, though it was more feel than things that were similar, if that makes sense), and the things that were interesting about this book weren't explained enough to make them exciting. It was fine, but not my favourite.
The Good Points of The Phoenix Cycle:
I really enjoyed Collopy's writing style. He writes in such a way that the words don't get in the way, and you get wrapped up in the story easily as you read. It flows beautifully and lets the story tell itself without bogging it down too much.
The pacing of the story was also kept rather quick, which was great. It moved quickly through events, keeping you interested as you went.
This point will match up with one of my downsides, but I liked how solid and consistent the world seemed to be. It was really clear that the author had really thought through his world and knew the details of it well. It felt very well developed as I read it, which was nice, as most dystopians seem to shift worlds around depending on what is needed to accomplish the story.
I loved how Collopy incorporated philosophy into the story. I'm not big on philosophy as a general, but the way that it was worked into this story made it interesting and enjoyable to read about, rather than dry and confusing, which is how I typically find philosophy.
The Downsides of The Phoenix Cycle:
This is that matching point I mentioned earlier. Why was everyone in San Francisco? What was with the ash storms? What were the Phoenix Cycles actually about? What's the deal with the Inner Circle anyway? Honestly, couldn't tell you, and same goes for a lot about the world. It felt well developed and understood by the author, but not as a reader. I'll admit that it was entirely possible I just missed something, but this seems a bit too much to have missed.
The characters felt flat to me. This was definitely a plot based book rather than character one, but I felt like many of the characters just didn't have much to them. And whether because of this or something else, the relationships between characters, especially between Steve and Leslie, was boring. There was absolutely no chemistry between those two, which made it hard to feel anything for them.
It is possible to write dystopian books that don't sound like Hunger Games, but this is not one of them. It seemed to be set up very much the same, and any of the differences weren't explained enough to really make an impact on how different it felt.
All in all, I wasn't a big fan of this book. It needs more world development within the story, more explanation and more character development, because those things just felt like they were lacking. If you really enjoyed The Hunger Games, and want more that's very similar to that, you should definitely check out The Phoenix Cycle.
Dystopians are a dime a dozen since the Hunger Games got super popular, and this is get another book that jumps on the bandwagon of miserable, futuristic worlds. Set sometime in the future in San Francisco, it follows a society that is strictly ruled by a governing body and how the resistance is plotting against them. Which sounds like another version of a lot of other books, to be honest, but I was curious to give this a try and see if Collopy did anything new with the subject.
And to be honest, I was pretty disappointed. The book itself was fine, but it was nothing new or exciting for the genre. It felt very reminiscent of the Hunger Games, among a couple of other dystopians I've read (Matched was one that came to mind, though it was more feel than things that were similar, if that makes sense), and the things that were interesting about this book weren't explained enough to make them exciting. It was fine, but not my favourite.
The Good Points of The Phoenix Cycle:
I really enjoyed Collopy's writing style. He writes in such a way that the words don't get in the way, and you get wrapped up in the story easily as you read. It flows beautifully and lets the story tell itself without bogging it down too much.
The pacing of the story was also kept rather quick, which was great. It moved quickly through events, keeping you interested as you went.
This point will match up with one of my downsides, but I liked how solid and consistent the world seemed to be. It was really clear that the author had really thought through his world and knew the details of it well. It felt very well developed as I read it, which was nice, as most dystopians seem to shift worlds around depending on what is needed to accomplish the story.
I loved how Collopy incorporated philosophy into the story. I'm not big on philosophy as a general, but the way that it was worked into this story made it interesting and enjoyable to read about, rather than dry and confusing, which is how I typically find philosophy.
The Downsides of The Phoenix Cycle:
This is that matching point I mentioned earlier. Why was everyone in San Francisco? What was with the ash storms? What were the Phoenix Cycles actually about? What's the deal with the Inner Circle anyway? Honestly, couldn't tell you, and same goes for a lot about the world. It felt well developed and understood by the author, but not as a reader. I'll admit that it was entirely possible I just missed something, but this seems a bit too much to have missed.
The characters felt flat to me. This was definitely a plot based book rather than character one, but I felt like many of the characters just didn't have much to them. And whether because of this or something else, the relationships between characters, especially between Steve and Leslie, was boring. There was absolutely no chemistry between those two, which made it hard to feel anything for them.
It is possible to write dystopian books that don't sound like Hunger Games, but this is not one of them. It seemed to be set up very much the same, and any of the differences weren't explained enough to really make an impact on how different it felt.
All in all, I wasn't a big fan of this book. It needs more world development within the story, more explanation and more character development, because those things just felt like they were lacking. If you really enjoyed The Hunger Games, and want more that's very similar to that, you should definitely check out The Phoenix Cycle.
May 14, 2019
A really great story that reminded me a bit like the hunger games. I just couldn't put it down I wanted the book to last so much longer. I really would recommend this book
October 27, 2017
It’s rare to find a book that’s both entertaining and intelligent: I found both in the Phoenix Cycle. I read both the beta test book and the final product. It is refreshing that the author listened to his readers! This carefully crafted book takes the reader on a romp through a period of time after a cataclysmic hit by an asteroid or asteroids. One area on Earth has survived better than most but at the expense of maligned immigrants. Prejudice is unabashedly explored. The primary characters are based on historically significant philosophers, and the reader enjoys the challenge of discovering whom each character represents. This should be required reading for philosophy classes in both high schools and at universities. The Phoenix Cycle class makes “choices” they never thought possible. The reader comes away questioning just how he or she would choose. Excellent read!
June 20, 2017
Have you ever watched a video where it's mostly chaotic clips from a crowd or rally-type event? Where the scene keeps cutting to something slightly different? That's what reading this book was like. It wasn't one long flow, but rather, it was choppy little scenes. I will admit that I had a hard time getting into, and staying into, the story. The constant scene and style changes kept throwing me out of it.
There is a lot of creativity here, and some scary-because-they're-plausible dystopian situations here, which made for interesting reading, but overall, I had a hard time simply because I could seem to stay invested.
There is a lot of creativity here, and some scary-because-they're-plausible dystopian situations here, which made for interesting reading, but overall, I had a hard time simply because I could seem to stay invested.
January 20, 2018
I received this book in exchange for an honest review.
I found this to be a very difficult read. The book raises many questions, regarding how the current state of the world originated. None of these are answered.
The plot line seems a bit vague and not easily followed.
The journal entries and radio broadcasts littered throughout the book, don't appear to support or enhance the story in any way.
Unfortunately, I did not enjoy this book.
I found this to be a very difficult read. The book raises many questions, regarding how the current state of the world originated. None of these are answered.
The plot line seems a bit vague and not easily followed.
The journal entries and radio broadcasts littered throughout the book, don't appear to support or enhance the story in any way.
Unfortunately, I did not enjoy this book.
September 21, 2018
Steve and Leslie were interesting characters that I had to keep reading to find out what happened. I enjoyed the book as it felt a bit like the Hunger Games series, but for adults. I only wish that there was more background on how and why the world became what it was in this book. I hope the author decides to write a prequel in the future!
July 21, 2017
This review also features on All Things Amy.
I received an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
The Phoenix Cycle is a perplexing blend of dystopia and philosophy, set in a world where the only city left standing is only vaguely functional because of its intense propagation of the American Dream. I found myself drawn in by the premise (and the author’s promise that the main characters were rooted in philosophical theory) despite knowing, deep down, that the last thing I really needed was another story of ashen futures and tyrannical governments in my life. I’m from South Africa; we live a duller version of a typical YA dystopian novel on the daily (minus the cool stuff, and with less capable authoritarian powers).
In all honesty, The Phoenix Cycle reads more like a Hunger Games-inspired fever dream than the 1984-esque approach it seems to be going for. Despite trying its best to put a new spin on a genre that’s definitely lost a lot of crowd-support in the YA community, I can’t say I found it particularly original or interesting. But let’s be fair here; there’re only so many ways you can write the future, only so many ways you can make the world seem as dismal and bleak as possible, so dystopia stopped being original a while ago. The philosophical grounding was a good twist, and although it wasn’t really my thing, I’m sure there’re a bunch of people out there that’ll have a ball searching for parallels between the main characters and, I don’t know, Jung? (I really have no idea what I’m talking about when it comes to this stuff, seriously.)
Collopy’s writing shows a lot of promise, but unfortunately it just didn’t hit the mark for me. I found the characters dull and two-dimensional, and as a result I felt totally apathetic towards the story as a whole. It didn’t help that the dialogue tended to be rough and stilted at times, which gave the impression that the people of NSF were almost robotic. In terms of plot, The Phoenix Cycle is redeemable. Although the story wandered a bit too much for my liking, it gained a stronger sense of direction as it went along.
Dystopia is a weird genre, because it’s obviously not real, but at the same time it has to maintain a minimal degree of reality otherwise it’s impossible to make your readers care. Where I felt that The Phoenix Cycle really lost me was in its world building, particularly its cogency. It wasn’t that I found it difficult to believe that the world could be shrouded in ash, but rather the lack of explanation that the author provided for essential elements of the setting. I can only assume that Collopy wanted to avoid boring his readers with long, lazy expositional paragraphs, but there’s a fine line between cutting information unnecessary to the direct situation of the characters and leaving your readers completely in the dark. (However, it looks like in the edition being released today, a lot of these core issues have been addressed and resolved wonderfully.)
I can’t say that I thoroughly enjoyed The Phoenix Cycle, but I definitely didn’t hate it. (Most of the nitpicks expressed above are a direct result of the fact that I’ve written about six literary essays this week; I’m in a really critical mode. Also, I hate fun, clearly.) Apparently the novel hitting the shelves today is a re-worked version of a book that was released back in 2014. Not only that, but Collopy’s been taking criticism from ARC reviews and has been editing up a storm. Because he’s clearly put a lot – a LOT – of work into this story, and because the copy being released in print may be drastically different from the version I received a couple of months ago, I won’t discourage anyone from reading it. In fact, I’d recommend giving it a try if you’re feeling nostalgic about The 5th Wave or The Hunger Games.
I received an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
The Phoenix Cycle is a perplexing blend of dystopia and philosophy, set in a world where the only city left standing is only vaguely functional because of its intense propagation of the American Dream. I found myself drawn in by the premise (and the author’s promise that the main characters were rooted in philosophical theory) despite knowing, deep down, that the last thing I really needed was another story of ashen futures and tyrannical governments in my life. I’m from South Africa; we live a duller version of a typical YA dystopian novel on the daily (minus the cool stuff, and with less capable authoritarian powers).
In all honesty, The Phoenix Cycle reads more like a Hunger Games-inspired fever dream than the 1984-esque approach it seems to be going for. Despite trying its best to put a new spin on a genre that’s definitely lost a lot of crowd-support in the YA community, I can’t say I found it particularly original or interesting. But let’s be fair here; there’re only so many ways you can write the future, only so many ways you can make the world seem as dismal and bleak as possible, so dystopia stopped being original a while ago. The philosophical grounding was a good twist, and although it wasn’t really my thing, I’m sure there’re a bunch of people out there that’ll have a ball searching for parallels between the main characters and, I don’t know, Jung? (I really have no idea what I’m talking about when it comes to this stuff, seriously.)
Collopy’s writing shows a lot of promise, but unfortunately it just didn’t hit the mark for me. I found the characters dull and two-dimensional, and as a result I felt totally apathetic towards the story as a whole. It didn’t help that the dialogue tended to be rough and stilted at times, which gave the impression that the people of NSF were almost robotic. In terms of plot, The Phoenix Cycle is redeemable. Although the story wandered a bit too much for my liking, it gained a stronger sense of direction as it went along.
Dystopia is a weird genre, because it’s obviously not real, but at the same time it has to maintain a minimal degree of reality otherwise it’s impossible to make your readers care. Where I felt that The Phoenix Cycle really lost me was in its world building, particularly its cogency. It wasn’t that I found it difficult to believe that the world could be shrouded in ash, but rather the lack of explanation that the author provided for essential elements of the setting. I can only assume that Collopy wanted to avoid boring his readers with long, lazy expositional paragraphs, but there’s a fine line between cutting information unnecessary to the direct situation of the characters and leaving your readers completely in the dark. (However, it looks like in the edition being released today, a lot of these core issues have been addressed and resolved wonderfully.)
I can’t say that I thoroughly enjoyed The Phoenix Cycle, but I definitely didn’t hate it. (Most of the nitpicks expressed above are a direct result of the fact that I’ve written about six literary essays this week; I’m in a really critical mode. Also, I hate fun, clearly.) Apparently the novel hitting the shelves today is a re-worked version of a book that was released back in 2014. Not only that, but Collopy’s been taking criticism from ARC reviews and has been editing up a storm. Because he’s clearly put a lot – a LOT – of work into this story, and because the copy being released in print may be drastically different from the version I received a couple of months ago, I won’t discourage anyone from reading it. In fact, I’d recommend giving it a try if you’re feeling nostalgic about The 5th Wave or The Hunger Games.
July 8, 2017
All reviews can be found at https://thereadinglodge.wordpress.com/
(I received a free copy of this book digitally from the author)
The Phoenix Cycle is a dystopian-style novel where the world has destroyed itself so much that it is ravaged by ash clouds and storms every night causing the remaining citizens of New San Francisco to hide underground, in bunkers, or secure buildings. New San Francisco is our setting for The Phoenix Cycle and is run by a dictator who goes by the name, the General – a man who frequently informs his people that anything other than power, strength, and ruthlessness is a form of weakness. We follow Steve as he attempts to change the mindsets of everyone around him and knock the General off his seat of power.
The concept of this novel is definitely one that I found interesting. It sounded dark and gritty and suggested a world filled with fear. However, coupled with some other elements of the novel I did find it hard to follow the plot and events taking place. These elements included the mish-mash of Scottish, Irish, and American cultures within New San Francisco which I found a bit disjointed as I couldn’t really see how it connected in any way. I was also interested by the idea of every main character being based off of a philosopher or philosophy. However, with little knowledge of philosophers and philosophy, I feel like this element of the novel was lost on me as some of the characters dialogue seemed – to me – to stray into unknown territory away from the main plot-line.
With that being said, I did enjoy the variety of characters that were presented in the novel. There was a mixture of personalities that clashed and complimented each other and their dialogue made for enjoyment and laughter thanks to sharp witticisms and actions between the characters.
Though I did enjoy the novel, I have found it hard to write this review. I didn’t find it to be anything special and nothing really stands out for me. I believe the concept would have worked well in another scenario but I just found myself confused and losing concentration a lot.
(I received a free copy of this book digitally from the author)
The Phoenix Cycle is a dystopian-style novel where the world has destroyed itself so much that it is ravaged by ash clouds and storms every night causing the remaining citizens of New San Francisco to hide underground, in bunkers, or secure buildings. New San Francisco is our setting for The Phoenix Cycle and is run by a dictator who goes by the name, the General – a man who frequently informs his people that anything other than power, strength, and ruthlessness is a form of weakness. We follow Steve as he attempts to change the mindsets of everyone around him and knock the General off his seat of power.
The concept of this novel is definitely one that I found interesting. It sounded dark and gritty and suggested a world filled with fear. However, coupled with some other elements of the novel I did find it hard to follow the plot and events taking place. These elements included the mish-mash of Scottish, Irish, and American cultures within New San Francisco which I found a bit disjointed as I couldn’t really see how it connected in any way. I was also interested by the idea of every main character being based off of a philosopher or philosophy. However, with little knowledge of philosophers and philosophy, I feel like this element of the novel was lost on me as some of the characters dialogue seemed – to me – to stray into unknown territory away from the main plot-line.
With that being said, I did enjoy the variety of characters that were presented in the novel. There was a mixture of personalities that clashed and complimented each other and their dialogue made for enjoyment and laughter thanks to sharp witticisms and actions between the characters.
Though I did enjoy the novel, I have found it hard to write this review. I didn’t find it to be anything special and nothing really stands out for me. I believe the concept would have worked well in another scenario but I just found myself confused and losing concentration a lot.
June 2, 2017
I got this book from NetGalley for an honest review.
The book synopsis sounded quite good. The fact that I get emails from the author with video broadcasts of the rebellious faction is good. Didn't hold up to the promise....
This is one of those books that I struggled with- though persevered to actually complete reading it. The book promised so much however I am drawn into a world that appears to be a massive "New San Francisco" without any real idea of why people are all drawn together. Why there is the "Ash" and storms that rifle the area. What the new humanity structure is other than "Inner Circle, City Guards and others".....
The book also reminds me of the Hunger Games where people apply for a kill or be killed type of tournament for the men, and the women apply to be taken into the inner circle for a better life.
We follow the trials and tribulations of "Steve" and the whole saga of things happening with the IRA (the rebellious side). It all comes clear at the end of the book as to what has been happening, to "rise above" and get into inner circle of the city.
However, I struggled with this book. There are tangents and small interceding sections that didn't seem to correlate in any way. Honest review is asked of, and sorry to say I didn't really get this book or enjoy it too much.
The book synopsis sounded quite good. The fact that I get emails from the author with video broadcasts of the rebellious faction is good. Didn't hold up to the promise....
This is one of those books that I struggled with- though persevered to actually complete reading it. The book promised so much however I am drawn into a world that appears to be a massive "New San Francisco" without any real idea of why people are all drawn together. Why there is the "Ash" and storms that rifle the area. What the new humanity structure is other than "Inner Circle, City Guards and others".....
The book also reminds me of the Hunger Games where people apply for a kill or be killed type of tournament for the men, and the women apply to be taken into the inner circle for a better life.
We follow the trials and tribulations of "Steve" and the whole saga of things happening with the IRA (the rebellious side). It all comes clear at the end of the book as to what has been happening, to "rise above" and get into inner circle of the city.
However, I struggled with this book. There are tangents and small interceding sections that didn't seem to correlate in any way. Honest review is asked of, and sorry to say I didn't really get this book or enjoy it too much.
June 12, 2017
Consider this a tentative review. Although this book has been out for some time, the author sent me an ARC as he is revamping it for a fresh release, which in my honest opinion, is a good idea. As you start reading, you would begin to compare it to other dystopian novels (or series) such as The Hunger Games, 1984 and even touches of the Matrix. As you progress, you would realise The Phoenix Cycle is it's own entity. The story is engaging and entices you to keep reading, mixing philosophy with action (the Matrix again?), although the constant journal entries and "radio announcements" can disrupt the flow. However, the ending is somewhat dissatisfying, and leaves you with the feeling that the novel could have been so much more.
However...
This is an ARC. The author has done a great job of keeping his ARC readers up to date (while also listening to the criticism) with his changes, and they sound very positive. Also, in a nice quirk, his e-mails are written from the standpoint of one of the characters (obviously his favourite), which adds some amusement. I should read the new copy in six months or so to see if the changes are for the better.
However...
This is an ARC. The author has done a great job of keeping his ARC readers up to date (while also listening to the criticism) with his changes, and they sound very positive. Also, in a nice quirk, his e-mails are written from the standpoint of one of the characters (obviously his favourite), which adds some amusement. I should read the new copy in six months or so to see if the changes are for the better.
June 12, 2017
This review is featured on my blog: Writerly Bookish Stuff.
An imaginative, dystopian novel that doesn’t shy away from the brutality of a post apocalyptic world, and clings to the us and them concept.
The narrative could have been streamlined a little more. There were times when my brain was playing catch up, although the pace wasn’t that fast. The male protag had motivation and led an intriguing life that kept the pages turning. I would have liked more character development, but the flitting between Steve’s POV, broadcasts, and the journal entries took away from that little. However, there were characters to root for.
Fans who liked the Hunger Games trilogy would probably enjoy this novel. The Inner Circle and the Phoenix Cyclers idea lends itself to the eat or be eaten concept.
An imaginative, dystopian novel that doesn’t shy away from the brutality of a post apocalyptic world, and clings to the us and them concept.
The narrative could have been streamlined a little more. There were times when my brain was playing catch up, although the pace wasn’t that fast. The male protag had motivation and led an intriguing life that kept the pages turning. I would have liked more character development, but the flitting between Steve’s POV, broadcasts, and the journal entries took away from that little. However, there were characters to root for.
Fans who liked the Hunger Games trilogy would probably enjoy this novel. The Inner Circle and the Phoenix Cyclers idea lends itself to the eat or be eaten concept.
October 27, 2017
The author sent me a free of this book in exchange of an honest review. I found the story to be engaging but the radio announcement did interpret the pace of my reading, which took me out of the story. Sometimes, I had to go back and re-read what I just read as there was too much information, although it’s not a fast paced story.
I liked Steve the main character view point, at first I thought it was going to be another “Hunger Games” the one thing hating doing is comparing books. Each book is going to similar to another at some point. The story is completely different. The writing is good, an interesting story.
I liked Steve the main character view point, at first I thought it was going to be another “Hunger Games” the one thing hating doing is comparing books. Each book is going to similar to another at some point. The story is completely different. The writing is good, an interesting story.
September 22, 2018
The Phoenix Cycle: The Best Shall Rise by Bob Collopy was a bit confusing to me it was like being thrown into the deep end of the pool with no life preserver or life jacket. I could not get a feel for why the world in this book was the way it was. However, once I got over my desire to understand the world state I did find it a decent read. I hope the author decides to write a book to become before this one to explain the world state in the future.
June 27, 2018
Full review: https://klling.wordpress.com/2018/06/...
Confusing, overly descriptive and way too complex for its own good. The Phoenix Cycle has been one of those frustrating reads that takes a whole lot of energy to get through. There are pet peeves in reading that it commits and doesn’t stay uniform to what it tries to achieve. There always seems to be a depths and layers that get carried away far too much than it has given enough time to build-up for. The Phoenix Cycle feels very much like other novels in its genre except lacking some of the polish it should have perhaps in the final editing phase within its structure and writing style.
Confusing, overly descriptive and way too complex for its own good. The Phoenix Cycle has been one of those frustrating reads that takes a whole lot of energy to get through. There are pet peeves in reading that it commits and doesn’t stay uniform to what it tries to achieve. There always seems to be a depths and layers that get carried away far too much than it has given enough time to build-up for. The Phoenix Cycle feels very much like other novels in its genre except lacking some of the polish it should have perhaps in the final editing phase within its structure and writing style.
June 3, 2018
*I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.*
Wow! I’m super impressed with this book. I let it sink in for a bit before writing my review, because it is super complex and I needed time to process.
The Phoenix Cycle is one of those books that succeeds in multiple points of view, along with multiple concepts. The author was able to mix reality in with philosophy to create a story that required you, as a reader, to think.
I really loved the idea of mixing a world that is so focused on perfection, while living in ash and debris. It was interesting to switch back and forth to different characters, and watch how their decisions moved the plot along. This book has a unique concept, and I don’t think I’ve ever read a book quite like this before.
I guess the only ‘negative,’ I have (and it isn’t really a negative), was that the book took me a while to read. Not because it was boring, but because I really needed time to digest the information and understand what I was reading. It was mildly frustrating in the beginning, because I found myself confused, but once I slowed down and allowed myself to really grasp what I was reading, my frustration was gone.
The Phoenix Cycle is a philosophical, imaginative, and challenging read. It isn’t a book to fly through in a day, rather a book to sit with and really grasp. It’s a beautiful book, and I am so glad I was able to read it.
Blog Tour: https://jessicarachow.wordpress.com/2...
Wow! I’m super impressed with this book. I let it sink in for a bit before writing my review, because it is super complex and I needed time to process.
The Phoenix Cycle is one of those books that succeeds in multiple points of view, along with multiple concepts. The author was able to mix reality in with philosophy to create a story that required you, as a reader, to think.
I really loved the idea of mixing a world that is so focused on perfection, while living in ash and debris. It was interesting to switch back and forth to different characters, and watch how their decisions moved the plot along. This book has a unique concept, and I don’t think I’ve ever read a book quite like this before.
I guess the only ‘negative,’ I have (and it isn’t really a negative), was that the book took me a while to read. Not because it was boring, but because I really needed time to digest the information and understand what I was reading. It was mildly frustrating in the beginning, because I found myself confused, but once I slowed down and allowed myself to really grasp what I was reading, my frustration was gone.
The Phoenix Cycle is a philosophical, imaginative, and challenging read. It isn’t a book to fly through in a day, rather a book to sit with and really grasp. It’s a beautiful book, and I am so glad I was able to read it.
Blog Tour: https://jessicarachow.wordpress.com/2...
Read
June 4, 2018I really wanted to read this after seeing the trailer. It struck me as a book I could really sink my teeth into.
However, for me, it was anything but that. I tried twice, following the author's instructions to read it slowly, take my time. Unfortunately, there was not enough time in the world to make the book hold my attention.
The beginning was fabulous, engrossing and exciting. I was so hopeful.
Then came the tubes, and the strange announcements. All logic flew out of my window.
On my second attempt, I got further than first time around. Maybe persistence is the key to getting the most out of this book. I just don't want to see reading as a chore, and as a result had to mark this with a DNF.
Perhaps another day I'll try again. The premise really was something I was excited about. But, on this occasion, it wasn't for me.
Recent reviews show many others have thoroughly enjoyed this story.
Guess it proves the old adage that you can't please all of the people all of the time.
Try it for yourself - it might be just what you're looking for.
However, for me, it was anything but that. I tried twice, following the author's instructions to read it slowly, take my time. Unfortunately, there was not enough time in the world to make the book hold my attention.
The beginning was fabulous, engrossing and exciting. I was so hopeful.
Then came the tubes, and the strange announcements. All logic flew out of my window.
On my second attempt, I got further than first time around. Maybe persistence is the key to getting the most out of this book. I just don't want to see reading as a chore, and as a result had to mark this with a DNF.
Perhaps another day I'll try again. The premise really was something I was excited about. But, on this occasion, it wasn't for me.
Recent reviews show many others have thoroughly enjoyed this story.
Guess it proves the old adage that you can't please all of the people all of the time.
Try it for yourself - it might be just what you're looking for.
Displaying 1 - 29 of 29 reviews