Paragon Rising

Curse of the Phoenix #2

by Dorothy Dreyer

On the brink of war, the fate of the nine realms lies in Tori Kagari's hands. After her arduous efforts to infiltrate the queendom of Avarell, Tori must now escape from it in an unforeseen alliance with a runaway princess and the soldier who saved Tori's life.

When the savage forces of Nostidour take hold of Avarell, Tori must seek out the rulers of the other realms and convince them to join the fight. But when the other realms discover that Tori has been lying about who she is, they are hesitant to trust her. Now Tori must find a way to prove herself, even if it means leading the battle herself and risking everything in the name of peace.

Genres: Fantasy

300 pages, Kindle Edition

First published October 2, 2018

About the author

Dorothy Dreyer is a Philippine-born American living in Germany with her family. She is a multi-award-winning, USA Today Bestselling Author of Romantasy, Fantasy, and Romance. Aside from reading, she enjoys movies, binge-watching series, chocolate, take-out, family game night, and having fun with friends. She tends to sing sometimes, too, so keep her away from your Karaoke bars.

Reviews

[BELLE || of the || BOOKSHELVES]

*review to come*

[Kalli Kounavong]

What can I say?!? Mind Blown!! 🤯🤯 This book has everything you could ever want in a book. Adventure, Excitement, Pirates, Betrayal, Intrigue, Spycraft, and the Undead...There is beauty, there is war, and what's better is there is an intelligent Fox named Takumi who knows the ins and outs of the shadows better than anyone. The Pirate Queen has her very own Phoenix as well. Tori, Bram, Finja, Princess Wrena, Aurora, Goran, and many others from the nine realms hatch a plan to save Avarell. So much happens that you will completely forget that it's just a story, and find yourself wholly invested in these characters' lives and well-beings. You will find your heart beating in your throat, you fingers gripping the pages in hope, joy, desperation, sadness, and grief. Perhaps you will be surprised to find yourself looking up and the scene you feel you SHOULD be seeing doesn't match up with what you are seeing in all reality. Maybe it takes a minute for your brain to catch up with your heart. That's what this book does. It takes you on a very vivid adventure. It is definitely one you won't want to miss, and one you are sure to love! 5 stars and 100% 2 thumbs up!!

[Stacy Kersteter]

Good

Finally got my questions answered from the first book. And what a happy ending to the series! Maybe a prequel now...

[Jackie]

What an amazing Fantasy story. The nine Realms are in trouble unless Tori can fix the problem. Impossible to stop reading, loved it as I do anything by this author.

[Myreadbooks]

I would like to thank the author for this partnership.

I loved the first volume, this one even more so.

We find Tori there, who has the fate of the nine kingdoms in his hands. She's going to do everything she can to infiltrate the Queen of Misery. Except that enemy frogs are seizing Avareil, she will have to convince the other kingdom leaders to come to their aid. Except that when they discover that she lied about her identity, their trust in her will decrease. She's gonna have to show them who she really is.

A second captivating volume, full of suspense and twists and turns. Can't wait for Volume Three to come out.

[Katriann]

I received an ARC from the author in exchange for an honest review. Thank you for the author for sending me a copy of her book!

I liked Phoenix Descending (the first book in this series) so I was very excited to read Paragon Rising. It had been quite a while since I read the first book so it took me a while to get into the story. I felt like I had forgotten many of the plot twists and characters, and I had to take a while to actually think about what happened in Phoenix Descending. Once I had refreshed my memory it was easier to read the sequel, and I started to really enjoy the story.

Paragon Rising picks up directly where Phoenix Descending left off. Things are not too bright and shiny in the queendom of Avarell, and the future looks increasingly gloomy as new threats start to arrive from both the rift and the other realms. The story held my attention from beginning to end, and I felt like it answered a lot of questions that were left unanswered in the first book. The readers learn a lot about the history of Avarell - the undead, the phoenix fever, the fate of king Henry, and so on. The only issue I had with the story (or actually the whole book) was that it felt a little rushed towards the end. I felt like the story leaped forward a couple of times, and that always left me a little confused. For example, at one point some of the characters are stuck in a snow storm, hiding in a cave. However, next time they appear they have made their way back to the palace they left before the storm. Other than that, though, I have no complaints about the story.

The LGBTQ+ representation in this book is great. There are several LGBTQ+ characters and many of them are central to the story. I felt like almost every ruling family in the book had a member who represented the LGBTQ+ community. I also want to give a shoutout for the author for including a character, who uses the gender-neutral "they" pronoun, in her story.

Overall, this was a great read. It's a fast-paced sequel that successfully ties up all the loose ends and serves as a sufficient ending for the duology. (At least I think it's a duology.) Oh, and I should mention that not every good guy survives the final battle. I count that to be a big plus. I hate it when there's a big war where only meaningless side characters die. Anyway, if you liked Phoenix Descending, I definitely recommend you read this book, too.

[Angel Haze]

The first book won an award, and the awesomeness keeps rolling in! If you thought the first one was good, Dreyer really stepped it up with this one! It was a non-stop, action-filled ride that will completely sweep you off your feet and leave your breathless. It was beautifully written and has such an absolutely amazing cast of characters...some you just wanted to throttle!

What Lady Maescia has to do...the Queen...the background of the Undead...OMG...can't spoil it but WOW!! This book is destined to be an instant classic!

If you like Sarah J. Maas, Cinda Williams Chima, Sabaa Tahir, Brandon Sanderson, and Jeff Wheeler, you're in for a treat!! This is an adventure you do not want to miss!!

[Lejla]

This is amazing!!

End is perfect. At second I thought I won't like it but at the end it is perfect.

Characters are perfection, plot is amazing,.... Everything is as it should be.

I LOVE it!!!

[Katheyer]

“Paragon Rising” is the second instalment in the “Curse of the Phoenix” Duology by Dorothy Dreyer, an enticing, thrilling, well-written NA epic fantasy story, that captivates the reader from the very beginning, with a fantastic well-crafted world, which blends elements of hero quest, adventure, mystery, light horror and Asian inspired lore into a fully unique enticing story.

“Paragon Rising” takes exactly on where “Phoenix Rising” (Book 1) left, and hits the floor hard, with Avarell being threaten by the other realms (including the Rift) and in the blink of an all-front war that could engulf all nine realms, a fate Tori is intended on avoided at all costs, even if that means to seek help in the most unexpected places, and unite all realms against the threat of Nostidour, but first she has to get them to trust her again, after having hidden her real identity from them. The fate of the realms is at stake, and Tori would have to risk everything for peace.

Dreyer has constructed a fantastic world, unique, fresh, beautiful, and terrifying at the very same time. Tori is a wonderful heroine, strong just because she needs to be. The secondary characters are fully fleshed and have their own personality, even the dead-inhabitants of the Rift are much more than mere brainless zombies and have their own purpose in the plot. While still being fast-paced, this book is more relaxed than the prequel, and offer lots of background story on Avarell, without interrupting the story-arc in the least. Once again, we enjoy a vast array of strong women, and beautiful crafted LGTB+ characters. And last, but not least we get the desired HEA, we have been expected from the very beginning.

[Lana]

This is the 2nd book in the Curse of the Phoenix and this book is full of intrigue and political subterfuge. Duke Grunmire is blackmailing the Queen Regent Maecia and he is holding Aurora hostage in the dungeons. He is also forcing Princess Wrena to marry his son Eleazar, so that he is then named King and the Duke gets full power over Avarell. He has also formed an alliance with the barbarians from across the sea the Nostidourians, however once these land in Avarell he gets more than he bargained for in the King Gregori Stoneheart who is ruthless. In the meantime many plans are being hatched by Tori, Bram, Wrena and even Maecia, some to flee from the castle whilst others to kill the Duke! I really enjoyed this second book where so much happens and the characters are seen to be courageous and loyal to one another and all loose ends get tied up beautifully at the end of the book even though some losses happen too. Maecia's love for her family is very strong and though she seemed evil in the first book, in this one we get to see who is really pulling the strings using her love which makes her the perfect pawn to blackmail. Even in the face of death she still tries to save her undead sister, the rightful Queen of Alvarra. This two book series make for a very enjoyable and exhilarating read. All who enjoy reading about strong and powerful female characters will love these books. Also the fact that the Princess and Aurora are in a gay relationship is original and empowering and tackled with great finesse.

[Lene Blackthorn]

The betrayals and lust for power have became crystal clear.
Now that the puppeteer behind the crazy political schemes and conquest plans is known, the war seems to be inevitable. Leverages are being used against those who fear for their lives, and secrets are being unraveled. Tori, Bram, Wrena, and Aurora have now the hardest task in front of them - unite the nations against the Nostidourian army and the traitor in Avarell, trying to salvage the citizens of all countries.
The second part of this duology was no less intense than the first one. Doomed love, slow burn romance, or passionate moments were warming the heart while the mind was fully occupied by political machinations, corruption, need for domination, power hunger, and intense action. Entangled relationships are slowly being set straight, with everyone getting what they deserve, or being put out of their misery. Brute force is not the way to win, and peace brings more prosperity than rule by fear.
Let the phoenix fire burn and cleanse the evil.

[Stuart West]

Dreyer's second book in her fantasy series follows Tori, a young woman forced to go undercover in an intrigue-riddled queendom, to save her family. This second book is more satisfying than the first as it really doesn't leave any cliffhangers unresolved. The writing's very good, but more importantly, the characters are fun. The villains are truly hissable, the heroes all winning. Everything comes to a head at the exciting conclusion, a battle between several realms (there're even zombies!), a rousing read where not everyone will make it out alive, but all have their share of the action. It'd been a while since I'd read the first book, so I admit I was a little lost with all of the characters. But Dreyer does a very good job of catching the reader up-to-speed. It's like coming home again. If you like fantasy, I recommende this winning series.

[Chad Barrus]

I really enjoyed this book but to understand it you really must read Phoenix Descending first so you will become acquainted with the characters and how the story began. Dorothy is another writer who weaves a tale that you get pulled into and whose characters you root for or despise. Questions from the first book are answered here.

I wholeheartedly recommend this series to those who enjoy escaping from reality to the world of fantasy. You will not be disappointed by this two book series. As with all great books when you reach the ending you want to revisit those characters again and see what new developments have taken place with them. Maybe there may be a future book in this series but only the author can answer that question.

[Bonnie Parker]

So good! I like that both of the books are short yet, packed with action. Dorothy didn't waste a page in both of her books! Great continuation. Loved every page of it.
I loved the scene where all of the kings and queens gathered together in the docks. That was so exciting, so powerful!! Chapters are short and that makes it even better. A lot is happening and the short chapters let us follow everyone in the book and the transitions are very smooth. We are presented with each character just at the right time before they slip our memory and recalling their stories becomes harder. The characters didn't need development per se. From the very beginning, all the characters knew what they wanted and pursued their objectives. A couple of plot twists, lots of blood and secrets! WORTH READING!!

[Darcy]

This is one fantastic and addictive story. It has so much action, adventure, drama, and mystery with swords, pirates, soldiers, and love. It is a gripping continuation of the first book. We see so much from our characters and the missions that they are. You laugh with characters, cry with them, feel their anger and their love. The descriptions are so well thought out that you can picture it in front of you. I adored Tori and Bram with their protective, honor bound attitudes. The flow of the story is superb and beautiful. It is a must read that draws you in and doesn’t let go. This one series you do not want to miss or miss out on.

[Sherry Haynes]

Paragon Rising is the second book of the series. I admit after reading the first chapter I was a bit lost. It had been awhile since I had read the first book and so I had forgotten the twists and turns and characters. After rereading book one, I was able to jump back in and understand and enjoy the situations and the development of the story. This series offers the reader an exciting journey with action, adventure and twists.

[Josandra Cobb]

This book is just enough.

The author did a good job of completing this duology bringing it to a happy ending. I really would have liked to see more development of some of the other characters and a little better resolution. But all in all there was enough there to make me care what was going on, a pretty darn good battle, and enough resolution there so I didn’t finish the book thinking what the F.

[Lady The Owls]

This was so exciting and so much going on sometimes at once. I have read Phoenix Descending the first in the book series and the world build has grown so has the characters It is wonderful how it was done Dorothy Dreyer is very imaginative and has a good sense of letting things grow with her imagination. I would so recommend this book but be sure to read the first one or you miss a lot.

[Silver]

😁 More character illustrations in this book! Action-packed. Still many points of view. Fast read. All the 💩 hit the fan in this one. 😆 Enjoyed this very much.
I had one issue with the story. Never went into detail on how Goran saved his wife. It would have been nice to read how he saved her.

[Tina Merritt]

Great continuation! Truth finally!

[Megan Murphy]

This book had me at the pirate queen. A perfect ending. I do not want to say much without spoiling it but this book takes zombies and phoenixes to a whole new level!

[Rachel Rener]

Absolutely wonderful end to a thrilling duology. I couldn't have asked for a more satisfying conclusion!

[Pam]

Cleansing

The second book finally brings closure to the story of Tori and Bram. Edge of your seat battles are fought and won. Definitely a series to read.

[Pam]

This second book answers all the questions left hanging from the first. A must read.

[Sunny]

4.5/5

I have been waiting with bated breath for this sequel ever since I turned to the last page of Phoenix Decending and saw "Sequel Coming Fall 2018."

It was worth every minute of the wait.

The book is chock full of adventure, suspense, and romance. You're re-united with characters from the first book as well as introduced to a whole bunch of new faces. This book also answers the must burning questions from the first book, such as: what caused the Phoenix Fever, where did the undead come from, and the most important question from the first book: What happened to Tori?!
If you liked the first book, you'll love this one. Dreyer did not rush through writing this, she made sure it had the same quality as its predecessor. Even if the wait was a bit torturous.

[Hanneke]

Paragon Rising is part 2 in Curse of the Phoenix and a must read if you enjoyed the first book, Phoenix Descending. It starts with a little teaser, we are only just recovering from the heartbreaking cliffhanger in Phoenix Decending en then we have to read about new characters whom we do not know??? Luckely, we get right back to the story after that introduction.

I cheered for all the characters and their struggles that they had to overcome. Again we have a fast-paced story that keeps us right in the action and adventure. There is betrayal, love, action, loyalty, sadness and joy… so much that you do not want to put it down (of course you have to, so you can sleep and work and shower, but between all that just keep on reading).
Dorothy successfully ties up all the stories that are present in this series and it will leave you feeling content about hours well spent.

Side note that for some will make it (or maybe not): This series has a strong LGBTQ representation.