Jump to ratings and reviews
Rate this book

The Phoenix's Ashes #1

Rise of The Witch

Rate this book
Phoenix Shifters are rare. They also hold the key to eternal life. No wonder the Dragon King wants the last one on earth for himself.

My entire life has been spent tucked away in a traveling circus, concealed by the powerful spell of an old witch. It would be just my luck that a streak of rebellion would land me in the hands of three sexy dragon shifters.
I am in so much trouble.

Dragons aren’t supposed to know I exist, let alone make me feel this… warm.

Turns out that these three might be the only ones who can protect me from the Dragon King.

We are playing a dangerous game, and if we don’t get our act together and defeat the tyrant who is hunting me I am going to lose more than the three Dragon Gods that have claimed my heart, and my soul.


Rise of The Witch is a full-length Shifter Story, full of action, adventure, three sexy shifter men and all the slow burn romance to make your insides squirm.
At 98k words, this paranormal romance ready to be devoured.

384 pages, ebook

First published September 21, 2018

815 people are currently reading
556 people want to read

About the author

Rebecca Ethington

94 books1,467 followers
Rebecca Ethington has been telling stories since she was small. First, with writing crude scripts, and then on stage with years of theatrical performances. The Imdalind Series is her first stint into the world of literary writing. Rebecca is a mother to two, and wife to her best friend of 14 years. She was born and raised in the mountains of Salt Lake City, and hasn’t found the desire to leave yet. Her days are spent writing, running, and enjoying life with her amazing family.

Ratings & Reviews

What do you think?
Rate this book

Friends & Following

Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!

Community Reviews

5 stars
193 (30%)
4 stars
198 (31%)
3 stars
155 (24%)
2 stars
53 (8%)
1 star
26 (4%)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 70 reviews
402 reviews29 followers
Read
February 13, 2019
Just not for me I guess

At first, I did like the heroine. During that very introduction wherein she jumped off that cliff, she seemed so free and confident and courageous that I thought she's actually a full-grown woman. The comical way she went looking for clothes after that only to meet these supposedly hot men. Unfortunately, that cool image was shattered before me as I went through a couple more chapters. Even more unfortunately, I kind of didn't enjoy the read anymore.

1.) The heroine...turned out to be a 17-yr-old girl going 5. I understand her frustrations with Suvi and Zoe. But on the other hand, all the things these two women sacrificed for her, all the few things they asked of her...she disregarded and threw tantrums instead. Was that really too hard a concept to understand why those two women didn't trust her, esp from herself? smh. Wasn't it only rational she earned their trust just like how mature people do?

2.) It felt like every decision this heroine made was a product of ill temper and selfishness and immaturity, Every other teen out there made a lot of mistakes, mythical creature or not. Heck, adults and experienced people still made a lot of mistakes. However, it's just plain stupid to repeat the same mistake and not learn from it. And that's basically the character growth of the heroine in a nutshell. Prime example: I don't get why she can't just jump off cliffs that weren't for public. Then she'd wonder why she'd end up in local newspapers. UGH. Another one: she keeps asking for the truth but when the others did share infos and histories and the very same plain old truth she was asking for, she would run or would hate the messenger. I'm peeved with people like that. Speaking of running, third example: running away from responsibilities, every freaking gd time. Running to scenarios where she's either going to hurt herself (because she couldn't actually handle it!!!) or going to hurt others (because, again, bad decisions!!!).

Sidenote: I think this girl should really just accept her being teen. There's nothing wrong being young and inexperienced and not knowing better. What's wrong is if you would stay in that stagnant place. Yes, grow up. But it won't be over a day either.

3.) Although there were few povs from the heroes...even if for the majority of the story they (or one of them) were with the heroine, I still didn't connect to the heroes. I learned of their current predicaments, of their pasts, but I still felt like they were just there for the sake of having romantic interests for the heroine. And though they were centuries older...meh, they still didn't seem like the complex characters they should/could have been.
Profile Image for Lola.
1,981 reviews275 followers
dnf
October 2, 2018
I DNF'd this one at 45%

I really liked the first few chapters, the writing was good and I enjoyed the story for the most part. But the possessiveness of the three males she bonded with bothered me and I didn't feel the romance at all. It just wasn't the type of book/ romance I was in the mood for and when I started skimming and rolling my eyes whenever they talked about the bond I knew it was better to just put this one aside for now. I might get back to it later when I am in a different reading mood as there were parts I did like.

I did like the overall story so far. And I liked how the main character was a phoenix shifter. She acted a bit immature at times, but I felt that was in character. She has been in hiding in the circus her whole life and the ones protecting her never explained anything to her. I think that if she knew what she was dealing with she would've been more careful. By the time I stopped reading it seems they were finally going to explain some things.

I didn't care about the three males at all, they all acted violent, could barely control themselves and were possessive in a creepy way. Oh and they are respectively 100, 200 and 300 years old. They sure didn't act like that. The age difference combined with how the female main character still acted pretty much like a teenager also made me a bit uncomfortable. I usually don't mind age differences in books, but here I felt their life experience and state of life were so different, it just felt off to me. And the way they kept hugging her like she was a possession was just creepy instead of romantic. Part of the character reactions and behavior also felt a bit much and over the top and it just didn't quite work for me.

I did like the unique twist on the shifters the author gave, the way their eyes changed color if their shifter was close and from what was hinted at they also had some unique variations with not all dragons having the same power for example. I did like that part and that the main character was a phoenix shifter as I think this is one of the first books I read that had that. The circus setting was also nicely done and I was curious to learn more about the world.

If you're looking for a reverse harem shifter paranormal romance with an unique twist on shifters and don't mind it if the males act a bit possessive this one might work for you.
Profile Image for Lillian.
1,085 reviews68 followers
September 24, 2018
I received an eARC of this book from the author. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of this review.

Rise of the Witch
by Rebecca Ethington is the first book in her new series Phoenix's Ashes about shifters. But not just any shifters, DRAGON shifters. DRAGONS!!! Have I ever mentioned how much I LOVE dragons?! Surely at some point this has been mentioned, but in case not…..I LOVE DRAGONS!!!! Y’all this book is fan-freaking-tastic! If you enjoy urban fantasy and don’t mind (or really love) reverse harems, you’ve got to read this book.

A Phoenix and Her Dragons
Rise of the Witch opens with a vivid scene of Elliot, Ellie for short, and a cliff. This swan dive leaves Ellie open to those that hunt her. You see, Ellie’s shifter is unique. She’s a phoenix, the only one of her kind. Her entire life Ellie has been forced to hide. Hide herself. Hide her phoenix. Hide her true nature. Why? Because some want her blood, which if legend is true, holds the key to immortality. Just shy of 18, Ellie is becoming frustrated with her guardian and friend. She wants a little freedom. She thinks she knows what she needs to know about the shifter world, yet she couldn’t be more wrong. And she finds this out the morning after her swan dive.

In less than 24 hours, Ellie meets not one, not two, but three dragon shifters after spending her entire life hiding from them. Killian, Jarron, and Drake are brothers who could not be more different from each other. Killian is the eldest, heir to the Dragon King, and on the outside seems merciless and cold. Jarron is the middle brother, beautiful, and a smooth talker. Drake is the youngest and shyest of the three, yet more relatable to Ellie than his elder brothers. Personally I couldn’t choose a favorite if I tried. At first I really liked Drake, then towards the middle I fell for Jarron, and in the end my heart broke for Killian. Luckily I don’t have to choose 😉

The Circus, a Dragon King, and Mates
A majority of the book is set in a circus. This circus has been Ellie’s home her entire life. Suvi, a witch, is the owner of the circus and Ellie’s guardian. I loved this setting. I’ve always enjoyed the performers and sideshows. Ellie herself performs on the silks and reading this through her eyes it’s like you are flying. The circus provides ample protection from the outside world and keeps Ellie moving so she never settles in one place. Important for someone in hiding.

Who is she hiding from? The Dragon King, Ceres. Ceres is responsible for the death of her father and thousands of fae. He is cruel and wants to rule forever. His main focus is to find the phoenix and drink her blood, becoming immortal himself. However fate has provided Ellie with not one, but three mates who will protect her at all costs.

I’ve never been a big fan of reverse harems. I’m a one man kind of girl. However it works in this urban fantasy setting, especially with how Suvi settles the dragons who are ready to fight for Ellie. Suvi says that she needs all three of them if they are to defeat Ceres which happens to be everyone’s goal. The chemistry among Ellie and her dragons will heat your cheeks, however with Ellie still being under 18, not much happens except for some steamy kissing. That being said I do expect Ethington to ramp up the heat in the coming books, as she’s warned her readers on her social media.

Melting Point
Overall I loved Rise of the Witch! This is the first new series Rebecca Ethington has released in several years and I was ecstatic to get my hands on it. It was well worth the wait. These dragons are hot! Ellie’s struggle with having three mates, the dragons’ struggle with protecting her and defeating their father culminate in an explosive ending. I’m SO thankful book 2 comes out in just a few weeks. I’m not sure I could handle waiting longer. If you enjoy urban fantasy, reverse harems with a slow burn romance, I highly recommend you grab a copy of this one ASAP. It does not disappoint!
Profile Image for Tiera McMillian.
1,160 reviews47 followers
October 28, 2018
Enjoyable fast paced read, slow burn so far but a lot of needy angst...I mean a lot lol. This was a really good first in the series. Though we have the fated mates thing happening nobody wants to share, and everyone is an enemy so there is definitely plenty of adversity to spice things up. I was instantly immersed in the world and the story.

Our FMC Elliot, is a phoenix shifter who has been hiding her whole life in the circus to escape an evil dragon king whose main goal is to kill her to drain her blood so that he may live forever like a phoenix. I did like Elliot and I could not help but be frustrated both with her and for her, for her because no one will tell her or explain why she is in the danger she is and with her because her lack of understanding causes her to make immature, irrational decisions like she does not care how they affect others which is not really the case but it makes it seem that way. She is found after one of these decisions by our 3 dragon Brothers, who just so happen to be sons of the king tho not all in good standing. All the males have different personalities and even different circumstances, and some have even committed almost unforgivable acts to others and even to Elliot. I will say there is definitely alot going on in this story but for me it kept it lively and entertaining.

This is not a book you want to start if you hate cliffhangers that's for sure lol. Might as well grab both book one and two because your going to need it. Cant wait to see whats next!
Profile Image for Lucy B.
468 reviews16 followers
June 30, 2021
I will keep it very short. DNF. The main character was soooo childish. I made it 74% into the book, but that was because I really wanted to make it to the end.
All the inappropriate touching of the 3 'mates' was annoying too.

I will say the only interesting part was when one of the brothers went back to Spain to see his father. The only good chapter.
Profile Image for Faswop.
180 reviews
January 4, 2019
What am I missing?

Um... I guess I missed something because at no point was I laughing. This is a DNF for me at 70% read. It was a very laborious read and it just couldn’t keep my attention any further. The premise was awesome but nothing came together for me. I wholeheartedly dislike every character. The pacing of the story is just far to slow and yet nothing seems to happen, ever. But the biggest bust for me was the lack of humor. I was promised pants-pissing humor in the description and all I got was a preview of what fantasies look from inside the head of a PNR obsessed prepubescent child. The elements are there for a fantastic story, albeit with a lot of reworking of the characters and story progression.
395 reviews15 followers
November 6, 2018
The main character is a child who refuses to grow up

I’m only 20% into the story and I hate the main character. She deliberately called attention to herself by stripping naked and jumping off a cliff while asking someone to take her picture and then gets mad and irrational when the people protecting her tell her they can’t reveal secrets to her because she’s acting like a child. At this point I just want the evil king to rip her soul out and kill her. Because clearly she has a death wish
91 reviews1 follower
March 3, 2020
Rubbish

No development of character, dialogue is boring. Hated the front cover. Just a long and drawn out, immature story. The blurb promised kick ass, funny female. I was still waiting for that 55% through the book when I gave up. Read the blurbs on the other FOUR books in the series and don’t think I had missed much at all.
Profile Image for Kaye.
7,177 reviews69 followers
February 21, 2021
🐲🐲ONE ROCKY ROLLERCOASTER WILD RIDE🐲🐲
Jumping jellybeans joker! Rebecca brought out the big guns, heavy artillery and ammo out the whazoo with this incredibly tantalizing rock-my-world ground shaking rollercoaster, bringing the heat and busting down walls, allies are forged and battle lines are drawn, jetting this jewel to new heights. Every story is full of suspense and intrigue, boasting the gripping intensity, pulse racing encounters and heart pounding situations, each different and unique, with all the vivacity and fervor, testing our characters in ways they could have never imagined, wrapping this jewel up sleek, shiny and tight. Attributes and ingenuity in each thread you unravel with every page, your lured into this wicked web so intricately and precise, obscuring the arduous struggles and formidable triumphs while attentive to the dramatic twists and shocking turns unfolding, skyrocketing this bad boy to life spectacularly. The characters, interactions and charged atmosphere along with qualities and traits that add depth and diversity, blending into charismatic personalities. The scenes are abundantly descriptive with colorful details that blend and flow, creating a majestic backdrop that's so rich and lively it feels as though you were transported to ground zero with them. Remarkable job Rebecca, thanks for sharing this awesome little gem with us.
186 reviews5 followers
December 4, 2021
I'm torn

First the title doesn't match the story. There is a witch side character but I don't get or see any rising.
Next I'm ambivalent about one of her mates admitting to murdering her father & her feeling bad that he is now feeling bad about it. He keeps saying my father told me to, chin wobble, and at the time I was happy to do it, but now I'm aware he is a bad man & so I see maybe I shouldn't have killed such a hero. Her reasoning for feeling bad for her murderous mate is that she didn't know her father, as he placed her as a child into the care of people to hide her from the evil family that wanted her magic & death. This mate acts fairly free of worries & is mostly horny & amused unless he realizes he must feel bad when her father is brought up. Another mate seems to frequently turn into his beast to rampage even though it puts her in danger. Lastly, said witch releases key info only for the cliffhanger.
This is a peeve of mine. Stories of poor girls not told who they are, what they can do, for their own good yet it rarely works out that way.
Otherwise, this world was interesting, what she is was fascinating & I'm sure her powers will be world changing. She needs different mates, a more communicative guardian & better friends.
Profile Image for Kate.
2,569 reviews6 followers
September 6, 2021
**********Contains Spoilers**********

I enjoyed this book but thought there was a lot of book for little background information especially about Elliot aka Ellie the Phoenix and her Dragon Prince mates Killian, Jarron and Drake considering they’re all centuries old. It thought this book was a good start to a new series and made me excited to read the other books in the series so I can see what happens with Ellie, her mates, their sister Zoe and the Witch Suvi who along with Zoe has been protecting Ellie from the tyrannical evil Dragon King Ceres who is after Ellie as he wants to use her to gain immortality since Phoenixes are immortal. I really don’t know how Ellie having three mates is going to work like does she have to choose only one to complete their mating or what. I think it’s going to turn into a major sh*t show if they don’t get their jealousy under control and I think they all end up needing to work together to defeat their father and to keep Ellie safe. I’d recommend this book, series and author.
627 reviews80 followers
February 6, 2019
A surprisingly enjoyable book. This is a reverse harem book with one Oh-so-special phoenix shifter and three royal dragon shifters, which means it isn't for everyone. I enjoyed the characters (mostly) and I liked that the reverse harem element wasn't smooth sailing. Lots of reverse harem books like to emphasize how calm and non-jealous all of the guys are... which is fine (although a tad unrealistic if you know what I am saying), but it was nice to see that the guys in this book were so not into the harem thing... ah conflict.
One thing I really disliked though is how the main girl Ellie is constantly treated like a child, she isn't told anything about herself or dragons and is not invited to help plan the rebellion. I understand that she doesn't act very mature, but she isn't really encouraged to act otherwise and essentially doesn't do anything the whole book except run away from things and circus practice.
Profile Image for Andrea.
157 reviews11 followers
September 21, 2018
The dragons have finally come!!! :) I LOVE this book! …. While I was skeptical at first as it was my first Reverse Harlem – I didn’t even know this was a genre until I looked it up after signing up to help with this book- I knew I loved the author. I was pleasantly surprised while reading the book. The author has amazing imagery throughout the story and i love Ellie's phoenix!!! The story flows really well and the characters are fantastic. I love how each of the males affects the Ellie in different ways and throughout the story you can feel her confusion and passion for the men. You will have your favorites of the men (at least I did) but the all have their pros and cons and all bring something special and unique to the story. And the ending….. O.M.G!!! I can’t wait for the next book to come out!!!
Profile Image for Agata Jędrzejewska.
861 reviews3 followers
September 22, 2018
The word “love” is not enough to describe how much I liked this book. Rebecca Ethington’s pen is never disappointing. Over 800 pages did simply fly by, no matter that I didn’t get much sleep last night, I couldn’t put this book down. What to love so much about this book? Well, at first as for sure a phoenix shifter, never read a story about one before and she is amazing, daring and brave. There is not one total hunk guy to drool over, but three. And not any three.. three dragons. Goody. The plot is excellent. Language marvelous, every description put us more into magical world of this book, you can feel simply in the middle of the action yourself. There is some humour, there is love and attraction (even passion), magic, danger, destinies, Fae, protectiveness, possessiveness and one new wonderful world opening its pages for us.. in one sentence: you need to read it.. now!
Profile Image for Arceli.
1,569 reviews11 followers
January 9, 2019
I just fell in love again with reverse harem. This genre keeps on getting better with awesome authors you find and Ethington is one of them. She has created such an amazing world of vampires. I really loved how hot and alpha they were. It really made me want my own vampire. In addition, there were such an awesome heroine. I really liked the spunk and spirit she had. I loved, loved her sarcasm and all the funny moments in the book. My most favorite part of the novel was the amazing fight scenes and romance. I liked how Ethington had such an awesome slow-burn. The characters got to know each other and it was refreshing to see not too much lust. In addition, the fight scenes were super realistic. I liked how dirty and fast paced they were. All in all, I highly recommend this novel for RH lovers. Go one-click the book and make your day awesome.
Profile Image for Monica Partida.
131 reviews2 followers
October 8, 2018
A little disappointed

I usually LOVE Rebecca Ethington’s work. Usually. But this book was disappointing to say the least. First, I wasn’t too thrilled with the vulgar language. Big turn off. She didn’t use it in other books so I’m wondering why she did in this series. Secondly, the majority of the book was a redundant explanation of the sexual tension the main characters felt. Like a book on repeat. Over. And over. And over. And over. And over. And...well you get it. Lastly, when she finally managed to put some actual storyline on the pages, the book was done! Disappointed. And I’m not even sure I want to continue reading this series if it’s gunna be a repeat of the first. I’ll have to check the sample to see if it’s worth purchasing.
Profile Image for Taylor Z.
433 reviews8 followers
December 11, 2021
DNF 50%

PNR RH
Ellie, Drake, Killian, Jarron. Ellie's protectors... Suvi and Zoe.

The story is fine. Kinda boring, evil King hunting down the last Phoenix to steal her immortality. *yawn* his three sons find her first and lo and behold... they're her soul mates. Right. That's fine, if not overdone and unoriginal.

I couldn't continue because I loathe the main character. I'm not sure if the writer intended her to be so mouthy and petulant? She's literally just gotten up and ran out of a situation 7 times now and I just reached the middle of the book. Seven. Times. Wtf? Is she a five year old?? Everything about her is cowardly and annoying and awful. I have no desire to keep reading because I hate her.
125 reviews1 follower
February 7, 2023
Almost did not read. Glad I did

I had skipped over this book a few times after reading some of the lower star reviews. I finally read it. I am glad I did. I really enjoyed the story and the characters in the book. The reviews I read gave me an impression of the book that I did not find accurate after reading. So I skipped reading because of the reviews. Not saying anything against the reviewers just that I saw the book in a different way. I would recommend you read this book without reading other reviews. Just go into it blind is my opinion because even the book description did not feel like an accurate reflection of the book.
433 reviews2 followers
October 4, 2018
I like story

I was 1/3 of way through this book. I liked story but was taking forever to get to the point. Lots of back and forth from heroine. It would seem shed come to a decision then go back and forth again. I decided to continue reading. About half way through felt like finally getting somewhere, only to discover another setback. Decided to finish book and she finally took a stand. I will go to nxt book as i know sometimes 1st is fast and loose when trying to introduce its world. Hoping it will move forward at good pace.
Profile Image for Holly Bargo.
Author 42 books145 followers
December 24, 2018
Great story desperately needs an editor

This story grabbed me from the word GO and held my attention, no matter how confusing it got. The reader experiences Elliot's confusion right along with her. What prevents this book from being a 5-star read are the myriad punctuation errors, the incorrect or missing words, and the incorrect use of pronouns. Inconsistencies add further confusion and sloppy formatting to the annoyance. A competent editor and professional formatting could propel this book to a 5-star read.
81 reviews
April 29, 2019
I have been reading reverse harems book for some time now and what I really liked about this book is that it is done so differently. Yes there are fated mates, yes there is attraction and yes there is tension, do they act on it? No, they fight it from both sides. It is nice to see that not everything is straight away right between the characters. The goal is more important than their own feelings and they all agree on that for different reasons.
Gotten book 2 straight away, I need to know what happens next.
74 reviews1 follower
September 24, 2018
Interesting take

I have mixed feelings about this one. I did enjoy the Dragon Phoenix aspect, but I think I am just put off a bit by the age difference. I am seeing a bunch of YA stories that have huge age differences, that I am just getting over it. However, this is an interesting story, very unique. I think I will continue to read the series. And yes big cliffhanger at the end, so read with caution if you don't like a complete story
414 reviews1 follower
May 20, 2019
Three princes looking for the Phoenix find a bigger surprise..

Elliot is a phoenix shifter, who has been living with a Circus of Shifters since she was little, and hiding from a and dragon king who wants her blood. When his sons each run into her, they realize she is their mate, but the bigger surprise is that she is the one they have been searching for. Can they save her?

Lots action, humor and learning destinies.

Jo-Ann Doyle
134 reviews
August 14, 2019
I would have given this book 5 stars, as the characters and plot are very well done and the story is quite fun and attention getting.

However, the book badly needs a proofreader and/or editor as there are many grammar errors, tense of verbs poorly done (too many "was" that should have been "were" and such), as well as extra words, missing words (sentences that clearly should be negative missing the negative word). and incorrect words for the context. I found these errors distracting from the story itself through all the series, possibly due to the fact I have done a lot of proofreading myself. Pity as otherwise I would have rated them much higher.
Profile Image for Alisha Thompson.
526 reviews10 followers
September 21, 2018
Whats not to like, we have a circus, dragon shifters, a 400 yr old witch and a Phoenix coming into her own.
Ellie is 18yrs old and has been living and working in a travelling circus for most of her life, she is also in hiding from what she doesn’t know but after meeting three very sexy dragons she’s about to find out. Join Ellie in a fight for survival and hopefully love
2 reviews
September 25, 2018
Yeah! Dragons

I LOVE dragons! This book is amazing. It drew me in and kept me going. I loved her description of flying in the silks. It sounds wonderful. Then there are hunky dragon shifters. What else do you need, but wait, there is a great ending that makes you just want to jump into the next book. I can't stop thinking about it. Thank you Rebecca!
Profile Image for Ashley Mitchell.
20 reviews
September 26, 2018
Love love love

There are no words good enough for this book. It's an amazing story. If you love books about shifters, dragons, and fae this is an absolute must read! You won't be able to out this book down for 1 minute. I will be ordering book 2 immediately! Ellie and her guys have won me over!
Profile Image for Alyrica.
555 reviews17 followers
September 28, 2018
So Good!

I really enjoyed this one. The setting, the heros and the pacing were all spot on for me. I did get a bit annoyed with the FMC but she did show some growth and with her age (17) it was believable. I highly recommend this book for lovers of RH. It is slow burn so those looking for a steamy RH may not enjoy this as much.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 70 reviews

Can't find what you're looking for?

Get help and learn more about the design.