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Artifice of Power Saga #1
Wake of the Phoenix
War Hero. Thiefmaster's apprentice. Traitors. Every title comes with a price.
Arkaen is a gods-damned saint. He sacrificed his childhood innocence fighting for the beleaguered rebellion in a civil war and relinquished a comfortable life with the man he loves to reclaim his place as high lord from corrupt nobles. Now, a hidden enemy is manipulating his lower lords into talk of rebellion, including the powerful Rogue Baron who is slowly swaying the city into questioning every move Arkaen makes.
With the help of his near-omniscient lover's gift of foresight, Arkaen finds a potential ally in Niamsha, a reluctant thief trying to pay for her brother’s education. But Niamsha owes an insurmountable debt to the mysterious leader of her thieves guild and failing to pay means death—for her entire family. When her guild leader demands she join forces with the Rogue Baron himself, she finds herself caught in a political battle beyond her skills. Torn between protecting her family and following her conscience, Niamsha doesn't know who to trust.
If Arkaen can win Niamsha's loyalty, he might just prevent a second civil war and the destruction of everything he fought to protect. Or he might get them all killed.
Arkaen is a gods-damned saint. He sacrificed his childhood innocence fighting for the beleaguered rebellion in a civil war and relinquished a comfortable life with the man he loves to reclaim his place as high lord from corrupt nobles. Now, a hidden enemy is manipulating his lower lords into talk of rebellion, including the powerful Rogue Baron who is slowly swaying the city into questioning every move Arkaen makes.
With the help of his near-omniscient lover's gift of foresight, Arkaen finds a potential ally in Niamsha, a reluctant thief trying to pay for her brother’s education. But Niamsha owes an insurmountable debt to the mysterious leader of her thieves guild and failing to pay means death—for her entire family. When her guild leader demands she join forces with the Rogue Baron himself, she finds herself caught in a political battle beyond her skills. Torn between protecting her family and following her conscience, Niamsha doesn't know who to trust.
If Arkaen can win Niamsha's loyalty, he might just prevent a second civil war and the destruction of everything he fought to protect. Or he might get them all killed.
432 pages, Paperback
First published September 28, 2021
4 people are currently reading
283 people want to read
About the author
Chelsea Harper
1 book11 followersChelsea Harper is the author and publisher of Wake of the Phoenix, book one of the Artifice of Power Saga. She lives in Colorado with her husband, daughter, two dogs, one cat, and countless imaginary friends. When she isn’t writing she enjoys games, from World of Warcraft to Elder Scrolls to tabletop RPGs and even the occasional board game.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 48 reviews
October 8, 2024
3.5 rounded to 4.
Overview:
🆗 Gay male lead with mlm romance
👍 High political fantasy
🆗 Multi POV
🆗 Focus on class struggle
👍 Morally grey characters
Wake of the Phoenix is an indie pub that I picked up on a whim through Netgallery, only to get provided something rare. Exciting. This is an adult political fantasy (think Traitor Baru style) that stars a gay man, which is something I have never seen before.
Arkaen is a high lord, more as an accident than a desire. He's largely self-sacrificing and wants the best for everyone. Hes also gay and not interested in playing political games by marrying a woman, though he isn't outing himself yet either. He does keep his mysterious lover close however.
Lasha is...a demon? A mage? Something in between. He is Arkaen's lover, and also has magic that allows him to peer into the past and future.
Niamsha is a small-time thief just trying to get by in this world and protect her brother. She is roped into a plan to expel Arkaen from power.
The fate of these three characters entwines for a complicated political drama that is sure to delight fans of genre and satisfy folks looking for gay rep in adult fantasy.
A few things I enjoyed about the books- These characters are genuinely morally grey and sometimes frustrating. Arkaen is clueless, constantly making bad decisions about his rule. Niamsha's sole focus is her very messy little brother, and makes a lot of piss poor decisions based on this fact alone. You get mad at these characters, but it's a lot more exciting than having them just be good-natured people.
The politics are well throught out, with both Arkaen, the barons that want to destroy him, and the poor/smallfolk all having different motivations and misconceptions. Its hard to say I specifically rooted for anyone in this book, which IMO is way more fun.
The reason this was a 3.5 star is largely due to pacing in the second half of the book, which I found to be pretty slow. In addition, Arkaen and Lasha are already deeply in love when we meet them, but their backstory sounds.....very cool, and given Lasha's god lke powers, I felt like more content for their relationship would have made for a better story.
I am super excited for other folks looking for queer rep to find this story and dig into it. I think it will be a breathe of fresh air for many. While it's not perfect, it has a lot going for it.
Overview:
🆗 Gay male lead with mlm romance
👍 High political fantasy
🆗 Multi POV
🆗 Focus on class struggle
👍 Morally grey characters
Wake of the Phoenix is an indie pub that I picked up on a whim through Netgallery, only to get provided something rare. Exciting. This is an adult political fantasy (think Traitor Baru style) that stars a gay man, which is something I have never seen before.
Arkaen is a high lord, more as an accident than a desire. He's largely self-sacrificing and wants the best for everyone. Hes also gay and not interested in playing political games by marrying a woman, though he isn't outing himself yet either. He does keep his mysterious lover close however.
Lasha is...a demon? A mage? Something in between. He is Arkaen's lover, and also has magic that allows him to peer into the past and future.
Niamsha is a small-time thief just trying to get by in this world and protect her brother. She is roped into a plan to expel Arkaen from power.
The fate of these three characters entwines for a complicated political drama that is sure to delight fans of genre and satisfy folks looking for gay rep in adult fantasy.
A few things I enjoyed about the books- These characters are genuinely morally grey and sometimes frustrating. Arkaen is clueless, constantly making bad decisions about his rule. Niamsha's sole focus is her very messy little brother, and makes a lot of piss poor decisions based on this fact alone. You get mad at these characters, but it's a lot more exciting than having them just be good-natured people.
The politics are well throught out, with both Arkaen, the barons that want to destroy him, and the poor/smallfolk all having different motivations and misconceptions. Its hard to say I specifically rooted for anyone in this book, which IMO is way more fun.
The reason this was a 3.5 star is largely due to pacing in the second half of the book, which I found to be pretty slow. In addition, Arkaen and Lasha are already deeply in love when we meet them, but their backstory sounds.....very cool, and given Lasha's god lke powers, I felt like more content for their relationship would have made for a better story.
I am super excited for other folks looking for queer rep to find this story and dig into it. I think it will be a breathe of fresh air for many. While it's not perfect, it has a lot going for it.
September 6, 2021
Wake of the Phoenix tells the story of an ensemble of characters—members of nobility and commoners, as they maneuver through court politics and intrigue, while trying to pursue their own selfish goals.
I have to say I was largely disappointed by this book and ended up giving it a 2.5 stars rating rounded down to 2. I want to preface this review by clarifying that my ratings usually depend on the level of my enjoyment. In case of Wake of the Phoenix, there were so many elements that seemed very appealing to me: a politics-heavy epic fantasy story that also features gay leads(something we don't see often enough in this genre), so I was very excited to read this; however, I found myself very bored for the vast majority of the book. Thus, as much as I can appreciate certain elements of the book, I still was unable to enjoy it or be entertained by it.
Some aspects of the book are truly great—the politics and the worldbuilding of this book are very fleshed out and intricate. It's obvious that the author put great effort and care into developing the elements of lore and culture of this world. I liked the convoluted nature of the court, the constant game of chess between the members of the nobility, in fact, the aristocracy and its games were the most interesting aspect of the book.
However, in terms of its other components—characters, plot, pacing—this book falls quite short. I couldn't get attached to any of the characters, and even the romantic relationship between Kaen and Lasha or the sibling bond between Niamsha and her brother didn't feel compelling enough to get invested. All the characters seemed too preoccupied with the court intrigue and politicking and that led to almost every character, with the exception of Saylina, feeling too dry. I wanted to care about the forbidden romance, I wanted to care for Niamsha's devotion to her brother, but the information overload on the page and lack of characterization made it quite challenging.
Some characters were downright frustrating; Arkaen in particular seemed quite useless for the most part of the book—he was there to just mingle around, uninterested in court politics or alliances, simply existing there. Lasha, albeit being the most interesting of the bunch, was often frustrating because we simply didn't have enough information about him to understand what was going on. The way he used magic also was left underexplored; however, knowing this is the first book in a series I assume the author will expand on both his character and his abilities in future books. Saylina was the only character I actually liked—she was politically savvy and seemed genuine enough to be somewhat likeable. Overall, the characters were not interesting or compelling enough—they all felt dull.
The dullness of the characters and the moderate pace of the book made this read very slow. It took me ages to get through the first half of the book, and though the second half was a bit smoother, I simply wasn’t interested enough to care. I think this book needed a few rounds of edits, because the writing at times was quite tedious and concentrated too much on the environment rather than the characters and their internal and external conflicts.
I wasn't the biggest fan of homophobia being such a prominent element of the worldbuilding, but that is simply a personal preference—I always choose the fantasy worlds where being queer is considered normal over anything else. Another aspect that bugged me somewhat was how the Torsdell commoners were portrayed—the casual mention of rape, the accent and dialect the author chose to use here weren't exactly my cup of tea.
Overall, I really hope that we will see more epic fantasy with queer leads, but this book, due to its slow pace, wordy writing and uncompelling characters, simply was not for me.
Thanks to NetGalley for providing me with an advanced reader's copy of Wake of the Phoenix.
I have to say I was largely disappointed by this book and ended up giving it a 2.5 stars rating rounded down to 2. I want to preface this review by clarifying that my ratings usually depend on the level of my enjoyment. In case of Wake of the Phoenix, there were so many elements that seemed very appealing to me: a politics-heavy epic fantasy story that also features gay leads(something we don't see often enough in this genre), so I was very excited to read this; however, I found myself very bored for the vast majority of the book. Thus, as much as I can appreciate certain elements of the book, I still was unable to enjoy it or be entertained by it.
Some aspects of the book are truly great—the politics and the worldbuilding of this book are very fleshed out and intricate. It's obvious that the author put great effort and care into developing the elements of lore and culture of this world. I liked the convoluted nature of the court, the constant game of chess between the members of the nobility, in fact, the aristocracy and its games were the most interesting aspect of the book.
However, in terms of its other components—characters, plot, pacing—this book falls quite short. I couldn't get attached to any of the characters, and even the romantic relationship between Kaen and Lasha or the sibling bond between Niamsha and her brother didn't feel compelling enough to get invested. All the characters seemed too preoccupied with the court intrigue and politicking and that led to almost every character, with the exception of Saylina, feeling too dry. I wanted to care about the forbidden romance, I wanted to care for Niamsha's devotion to her brother, but the information overload on the page and lack of characterization made it quite challenging.
Some characters were downright frustrating; Arkaen in particular seemed quite useless for the most part of the book—he was there to just mingle around, uninterested in court politics or alliances, simply existing there. Lasha, albeit being the most interesting of the bunch, was often frustrating because we simply didn't have enough information about him to understand what was going on. The way he used magic also was left underexplored; however, knowing this is the first book in a series I assume the author will expand on both his character and his abilities in future books. Saylina was the only character I actually liked—she was politically savvy and seemed genuine enough to be somewhat likeable. Overall, the characters were not interesting or compelling enough—they all felt dull.
The dullness of the characters and the moderate pace of the book made this read very slow. It took me ages to get through the first half of the book, and though the second half was a bit smoother, I simply wasn’t interested enough to care. I think this book needed a few rounds of edits, because the writing at times was quite tedious and concentrated too much on the environment rather than the characters and their internal and external conflicts.
I wasn't the biggest fan of homophobia being such a prominent element of the worldbuilding, but that is simply a personal preference—I always choose the fantasy worlds where being queer is considered normal over anything else. Another aspect that bugged me somewhat was how the Torsdell commoners were portrayed—the casual mention of rape, the accent and dialect the author chose to use here weren't exactly my cup of tea.
Overall, I really hope that we will see more epic fantasy with queer leads, but this book, due to its slow pace, wordy writing and uncompelling characters, simply was not for me.
Thanks to NetGalley for providing me with an advanced reader's copy of Wake of the Phoenix.
September 23, 2021
This one took me a few chapters to really get going on it. But by midway through I was really sinking my teeth into it. I ended up devouring the last 35% in almost a single sitting today. Overall I really liked the world the author is putting together and most of the relationships. Being honest, the ending of this one knocked it down half a star for me. I think it was still a solid finish and overall read but the way things twisted and turned it started to feel like many of the characters were more naïve rather than other characters just being that good a deceit. I still enjoyed this one enough to purchase a copy for my home library once it's released. The copy I had my hands on for this read was an eARC from NetGalley. I'll be interested to see where the story goes from here and what the author does in the future as well.
September 12, 2021
I have to say that the plot of the book was really interesting and intriguing, however the way the story was told was rather slow. Personally, for me, I would rather read more of a fast paced book, however this book was long and I often found myself contemplating if I can finish this or not. Indeed, I finished it, and enjoyed the characters and plot. The characters in terms of development, grew and expanded into blooming characters in front of my eyes, however, the characters themselves where rather confusing to the point I forgot who was who. Overall, the plot was really good, however the pace and writing could be further improved.
August 3, 2021
Hmgmfjrmgjgm???
VERY not sure how I feel about this, honestly.
I came for the politics, and stayed mostly for the "visions of the future" shenanigans. Something big, magical and world-altering is going on, but I still have pretty much no idea what it is.
As for the things I do know:
Clearly this is an intricately-imagined world and there are big things in store for the future, but reading this felt like a lot of work for not that much payoff. The characters didn't hook me, and I don't think I care enough to chase down the rest of the series.
VERY not sure how I feel about this, honestly.
I came for the politics, and stayed mostly for the "visions of the future" shenanigans. Something big, magical and world-altering is going on, but I still have pretty much no idea what it is.
As for the things I do know:
• Arkaen seemed like he spent most of his time being uselessly violent and useless in general. I like him in theory but WHAT did he accomplish? I have no confidence that he can bring the province together successfully under his rule.
• Lasha is inherently the coolest. Seems like he's probably got a very interesting backstory and magical powers, but again. Don't really know what those are. No idea what he's doing or why.
• Niamsha? Annoying. If there's anything I hate, it's "lower class speech patterns" written out for pages and pages and pages. It's an excruciating gimmick. Aside from that, I didn't mind Niamsha's character that much, actually -- until we came to the end of the story.
We were waiting for her to finally choose a side, and when she did it was just stupid. Run into a room, draw a conclusion in 0.3 seconds, and then run back out straight into the arms of a man you already KNOW is evil? Make it make sense.
• On a similar note... the ending. It was almost a cliffhanger in its abruptness, but honestly the cliffs I am hanging off are not particularly compelling ones.
Clearly this is an intricately-imagined world and there are big things in store for the future, but reading this felt like a lot of work for not that much payoff. The characters didn't hook me, and I don't think I care enough to chase down the rest of the series.
January 2, 2025
3.5 stars!
The cover of Wake of the Phoenix is definitely what caught my attention and I'm glad I enjoyed the story as well! All the names in the beginning made it kinda difficult to follow at first, and it was a bit slow at times, but the more I read the more I got intrigued. The world-building was intricate, the characters complex, and the political intrigue, especially, was what kept me reading.
However, given the mention of some important past events it almost felt like there should've been a book before this one. Also, I wish some things would've been explained further. I hope there will be more about certain backstories and how the magic works in the next book. I am interested to see how the story continues, so I will definitely pick up the sequel!
Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review!
The cover of Wake of the Phoenix is definitely what caught my attention and I'm glad I enjoyed the story as well! All the names in the beginning made it kinda difficult to follow at first, and it was a bit slow at times, but the more I read the more I got intrigued. The world-building was intricate, the characters complex, and the political intrigue, especially, was what kept me reading.
However, given the mention of some important past events it almost felt like there should've been a book before this one. Also, I wish some things would've been explained further. I hope there will be more about certain backstories and how the magic works in the next book. I am interested to see how the story continues, so I will definitely pick up the sequel!
Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review!
August 8, 2023
It was good. Interesting political fantasy.
Thank you NetGalley for providing digital advanced copy in exchange for honest review.
Thank you NetGalley for providing digital advanced copy in exchange for honest review.
September 10, 2021
4.5/5 — Thank you to Netgalley for providing me with this e-ARC.
This book was great. I genuinely had such a good time reading it, and I am so glad because I was nervous going in because of the low ratings. Despite the slower pace of the first half I was consistently entertained, and the conflicting opinions, and views on events from the different POV characters gave the story a lot of tension.
The plot does feel fairly typical for a political high fantasy story, and is not perfect in its execution; however, the ways in which the main characters become connected was compelling and I found myself invested in the 4 main protagonists (even when their actions frustrated me). The book does well at creating a balance within the characters where even the rashest, and most misinformed decisions they make, all feel justified from that characters outlook and with their motivations; becoming especially interesting as more often than not the characters are working without the full information necessary to make good decisions, directly causing issues in other plot lines.
The main romance, which is an established relationship from the start of the novel, was particularly well written. The love between these two men is powerful and clear, while the secret nature of their relationship and it’s implications on their political positions creates an extra tension, where whenever they were interacting on page I felt so deeply invested, and they were really a highlight of the novel.
While I don’t think Wake of the Phoenix will be for everyone, I cannot wait to see how this series proceeds and I’m extremely intrigued to see the wider workings of this world, as the world building gave just enough information about what is clearly a well detailed and thought out world to leave me wanting to find out more about what is going on and what has happened; as well as seeing what mistakes and connections these characters make next.
This book was great. I genuinely had such a good time reading it, and I am so glad because I was nervous going in because of the low ratings. Despite the slower pace of the first half I was consistently entertained, and the conflicting opinions, and views on events from the different POV characters gave the story a lot of tension.
The plot does feel fairly typical for a political high fantasy story, and is not perfect in its execution; however, the ways in which the main characters become connected was compelling and I found myself invested in the 4 main protagonists (even when their actions frustrated me). The book does well at creating a balance within the characters where even the rashest, and most misinformed decisions they make, all feel justified from that characters outlook and with their motivations; becoming especially interesting as more often than not the characters are working without the full information necessary to make good decisions, directly causing issues in other plot lines.
The main romance, which is an established relationship from the start of the novel, was particularly well written. The love between these two men is powerful and clear, while the secret nature of their relationship and it’s implications on their political positions creates an extra tension, where whenever they were interacting on page I felt so deeply invested, and they were really a highlight of the novel.
While I don’t think Wake of the Phoenix will be for everyone, I cannot wait to see how this series proceeds and I’m extremely intrigued to see the wider workings of this world, as the world building gave just enough information about what is clearly a well detailed and thought out world to leave me wanting to find out more about what is going on and what has happened; as well as seeing what mistakes and connections these characters make next.
August 3, 2021
Stealing a review format from Grace to help me organise my thoughts:
The good: - Absolutely gripped me and kept me reading like a book hasn't done in ages.
- LOVED Kaen and Kilasha. Found it a little difficult to like Niamsha given her weirdly naive behavior? isn't SHE supposed to be the street-wise one?
- sorry to be like this (AKA extremely me always) but MAN there's nothing like someone covered in blood and guts and being like i WILL kill literally everyone for the person i love. like truly. what an incandescent trope. really truly hope there's so much more of it in the next book. which brings me to:
The bad: - THAT'S THE ENDING?"?!? INFURIATING. where is my DENOUEMENT. where is my HEAVY H/C SCENE. my RESOLUTION. (i realise its setting up for a sequel! i don't care!)
- really afraid the entire next? middle? book is just going to be flashbacks, which i do not love. leave a little mystery, ms harper! i'll respect you more i promise!
The ugly: - repeated threat of sexual assault and referenced sexual assault (offscreen).
- man repeatedly cheating on his partner (despite the partner knowing???? still weird and bad imo)
- quite a lot of descriptions of torture scenes/battles with the torture referenced being pretty gory.
Overall! If you like complex fantasy and a lot of political shenanigans, you will probably like this book!
The good: - Absolutely gripped me and kept me reading like a book hasn't done in ages.
- LOVED Kaen and Kilasha. Found it a little difficult to like Niamsha given her weirdly naive behavior? isn't SHE supposed to be the street-wise one?
- sorry to be like this (AKA extremely me always) but MAN there's nothing like someone covered in blood and guts and being like i WILL kill literally everyone for the person i love. like truly. what an incandescent trope. really truly hope there's so much more of it in the next book. which brings me to:
The bad: - THAT'S THE ENDING?"?!? INFURIATING. where is my DENOUEMENT. where is my HEAVY H/C SCENE. my RESOLUTION. (i realise its setting up for a sequel! i don't care!)
- really afraid the entire next? middle? book is just going to be flashbacks, which i do not love. leave a little mystery, ms harper! i'll respect you more i promise!
The ugly: - repeated threat of sexual assault and referenced sexual assault (offscreen).
- man repeatedly cheating on his partner (despite the partner knowing???? still weird and bad imo)
- quite a lot of descriptions of torture scenes/battles with the torture referenced being pretty gory.
Overall! If you like complex fantasy and a lot of political shenanigans, you will probably like this book!
Read
September 14, 2021DNF @ 30%.
I tried and I wanted to love this but it put me in a slump. I’m not one to keep reading things that aren’t for me but that’s not to say this is at all bad. The politics of this world are immersive and the machinations thrilling—but I couldn’t care for the POV characters sans Saylina. The world building is phenomenal and gripping. I just feel meh about the book as a whole. The characters didn’t click with me—and I found that I was pretty bored with the pacing.
However, if you’re a fan of slow-paced political high fantasy this would be a great fit. The court system feels unique and trying to decipher what’s really happening does keep the story moving, albeit not as quickly as I would like. Maybe after publication I’ll try again but right now it just wasn’t for me.
Thanks NetGalley for a free arc to review.
I tried and I wanted to love this but it put me in a slump. I’m not one to keep reading things that aren’t for me but that’s not to say this is at all bad. The politics of this world are immersive and the machinations thrilling—but I couldn’t care for the POV characters sans Saylina. The world building is phenomenal and gripping. I just feel meh about the book as a whole. The characters didn’t click with me—and I found that I was pretty bored with the pacing.
However, if you’re a fan of slow-paced political high fantasy this would be a great fit. The court system feels unique and trying to decipher what’s really happening does keep the story moving, albeit not as quickly as I would like. Maybe after publication I’ll try again but right now it just wasn’t for me.
Thanks NetGalley for a free arc to review.
March 23, 2022
I found the blurb of this book interesting. Wake of the Phoenix is a high political fantasy with a gay male lead. This book was told from multi pov and focused on class struggle.
I found this book unique and interesting, because I don’t think I’ve read a fantasy with a gay male lead. Additionally there were morally gray characters that I found fascinating and incredibly frustrating.
It took me a while to get into the book and I kept stopping and coming back to the book; however, the last few chapters really had me hooked and the ending, oh my god. I’m so mad at the ending.
Rating: 3.5/5 ⭐⭐⭐💫
I found this book unique and interesting, because I don’t think I’ve read a fantasy with a gay male lead. Additionally there were morally gray characters that I found fascinating and incredibly frustrating.
It took me a while to get into the book and I kept stopping and coming back to the book; however, the last few chapters really had me hooked and the ending, oh my god. I’m so mad at the ending.
Rating: 3.5/5 ⭐⭐⭐💫
November 4, 2021
When I saw that this was fantasy with a queer main character I jumped at the chance of reading it. But I found it so slow-paced, I never got fully attached to the book. And whenever I felt I was finally going to get hooked to the book, it never happened.
The characters are well written, I even liked some of them. The world seems well developed and the politics promising. The mythology looks interesting, although not very explored. And the story overall isn't very bad, but this was a very introductory book, and none of the set up for the second book hooked me. So I don't think I'll return for it.
I truly tried liking this book, but unfortunately it didn't happen.
The characters are well written, I even liked some of them. The world seems well developed and the politics promising. The mythology looks interesting, although not very explored. And the story overall isn't very bad, but this was a very introductory book, and none of the set up for the second book hooked me. So I don't think I'll return for it.
I truly tried liking this book, but unfortunately it didn't happen.
March 25, 2022
Thank you to Chelsea Harper and NetGalley for providing me with a copy to review.
I’ve been on a fantasy binge lately and so when I came across this on NetGalley. I had to request right away.
This is an adult political fantasy (J’adore) featuring a Morally gay ensemble and a Gay MC.
What I liked:
- The world building! I love a well thought out world where the politics and magic all make sense and I found that here.
- Gay MC in a high fantasy setting which is still a pretty rare occurrence in fiction.
What I disliked:
- I thought this was far too slowly paced and I found myself getting bored
- Arkaen as the MC was an extremely frustrating character and the cast in general seemed to make really stupid decisions for the sake of plot.
I’m not entirely certain if this was debut. But I think the book and the author both have potential.
But in the end I skimmed a large portion of this and not wasn’t for me.
I’ve been on a fantasy binge lately and so when I came across this on NetGalley. I had to request right away.
This is an adult political fantasy (J’adore) featuring a Morally gay ensemble and a Gay MC.
What I liked:
- The world building! I love a well thought out world where the politics and magic all make sense and I found that here.
- Gay MC in a high fantasy setting which is still a pretty rare occurrence in fiction.
What I disliked:
- I thought this was far too slowly paced and I found myself getting bored
- Arkaen as the MC was an extremely frustrating character and the cast in general seemed to make really stupid decisions for the sake of plot.
I’m not entirely certain if this was debut. But I think the book and the author both have potential.
But in the end I skimmed a large portion of this and not wasn’t for me.
August 1, 2021
3.5 stars
Wake of the Phoenix follows the tale of Arkaen, a hero of the rebellion, now a disenfranchised high lord who must now rule a city of corrupt nobles and hidden enemies at every turn. By his side he has Lasha, his secret lover and protector who has the gift of foresight but whom everyone view as a demon and his sister, who is very cunning and trying to help Arkaen navigate the hostile politics. His storyline crosses paths with Niamsha, an orphan who is in debt to the mysterious leader of a notorious thieves guild, Nijel. She is desparately trying to keep herself and her brother alive and out of a life of crime and so agrees to spy on the nobles and work with the rogue baron. Arkaens enemy. Arkaen must try and persuade Niamsha to work with him to try and help stave off a coming civil war, but Niamsha has a lot of torn loyalities and is unsure who she can trust.
I really liked all the poltical scheming and plotting in the novel, I thought the mix of new intrigue and old conflict left over from the rebellion worked really well to create a compelling story, although at times I did feel like the story was a sequel and I had missed a book given how much the backstory played into the main story. The book was well paced and had enough mystery and substance to keep you wanted to read more - although it didn't feel like anything super special or unique (but did feel like a very familiar and comforting fantasy read!),
Whilst I liked the characters I didn't feel paticularly attached to anyone, which is probably why I didn't give the book a higher rating. I did really enjoy the relationship bewteen Arkaen and Lasha, I actually really like reading about already established relationships (especially in fantasy) and thought the mix of forbidden love and angst with the care and tenderness they had for each other worked really well. I also enjoyed seeing Niamsha choose between standing up for herself and her wants versus feeling obligated to her masters and trying to keep her brother out of trouble.
I will definitely keep an eye out for the sequel, I thought this was an enjoyable read that had some great world-building, fascinating politics and scheming and moments that kept you on the edge of your seat. It also had a lot of potential and set a foundation for a really solid series with characters that I know I could grow to love (although at the moment its only like!).
Wake of the Phoenix follows the tale of Arkaen, a hero of the rebellion, now a disenfranchised high lord who must now rule a city of corrupt nobles and hidden enemies at every turn. By his side he has Lasha, his secret lover and protector who has the gift of foresight but whom everyone view as a demon and his sister, who is very cunning and trying to help Arkaen navigate the hostile politics. His storyline crosses paths with Niamsha, an orphan who is in debt to the mysterious leader of a notorious thieves guild, Nijel. She is desparately trying to keep herself and her brother alive and out of a life of crime and so agrees to spy on the nobles and work with the rogue baron. Arkaens enemy. Arkaen must try and persuade Niamsha to work with him to try and help stave off a coming civil war, but Niamsha has a lot of torn loyalities and is unsure who she can trust.
I really liked all the poltical scheming and plotting in the novel, I thought the mix of new intrigue and old conflict left over from the rebellion worked really well to create a compelling story, although at times I did feel like the story was a sequel and I had missed a book given how much the backstory played into the main story. The book was well paced and had enough mystery and substance to keep you wanted to read more - although it didn't feel like anything super special or unique (but did feel like a very familiar and comforting fantasy read!),
Whilst I liked the characters I didn't feel paticularly attached to anyone, which is probably why I didn't give the book a higher rating. I did really enjoy the relationship bewteen Arkaen and Lasha, I actually really like reading about already established relationships (especially in fantasy) and thought the mix of forbidden love and angst with the care and tenderness they had for each other worked really well. I also enjoyed seeing Niamsha choose between standing up for herself and her wants versus feeling obligated to her masters and trying to keep her brother out of trouble.
I will definitely keep an eye out for the sequel, I thought this was an enjoyable read that had some great world-building, fascinating politics and scheming and moments that kept you on the edge of your seat. It also had a lot of potential and set a foundation for a really solid series with characters that I know I could grow to love (although at the moment its only like!).
March 29, 2022
4.5/5 — Thank you to Netgalley for providing me with this e-ARC.
This book was great. I genuinely had such a good time reading it, and I am so glad because I was nervous going in because of the low ratings. Despite the slower pace of the first half I was consistently entertained, and the conflicting opinions, and views on events from the different POV characters gave the story a lot of tension.
The plot does feel fairly typical for a political high fantasy story, and is not perfect in its execution; however, the ways in which the main characters become connected was compelling and I found myself invested in the 4 main protagonists (even when their actions frustrated me). The book does well at creating a balance within the characters where even the rashest, and most misinformed decisions they make, all feel justified from that characters outlook and with their motivations; becoming especially interesting as more often than not the characters are working without the full information necessary to make good decisions, directly causing issues in other plot lines.
The main romance, which is an established relationship from the start of the novel, was particularly well written. The love between these two men is powerful and clear, while the secret nature of their relationship and it’s implications on their political positions creates an extra tension, where whenever they were interacting on page I felt so deeply invested, and they were really a highlight of the novel.
While I don’t think Wake of the Phoenix will be for everyone, I cannot wait to see how this series proceeds and I’m extremely intrigued to see the wider workings of this world, as the world building gave just enough information about what is clearly a well detailed and thought out world to leave me wanting to find out more about what is going on and what has happened; as well as seeing what mistakes and connections these characters make next.
This book was great. I genuinely had such a good time reading it, and I am so glad because I was nervous going in because of the low ratings. Despite the slower pace of the first half I was consistently entertained, and the conflicting opinions, and views on events from the different POV characters gave the story a lot of tension.
The plot does feel fairly typical for a political high fantasy story, and is not perfect in its execution; however, the ways in which the main characters become connected was compelling and I found myself invested in the 4 main protagonists (even when their actions frustrated me). The book does well at creating a balance within the characters where even the rashest, and most misinformed decisions they make, all feel justified from that characters outlook and with their motivations; becoming especially interesting as more often than not the characters are working without the full information necessary to make good decisions, directly causing issues in other plot lines.
The main romance, which is an established relationship from the start of the novel, was particularly well written. The love between these two men is powerful and clear, while the secret nature of their relationship and it’s implications on their political positions creates an extra tension, where whenever they were interacting on page I felt so deeply invested, and they were really a highlight of the novel.
While I don’t think Wake of the Phoenix will be for everyone, I cannot wait to see how this series proceeds and I’m extremely intrigued to see the wider workings of this world, as the world building gave just enough information about what is clearly a well detailed and thought out world to leave me wanting to find out more about what is going on and what has happened; as well as seeing what mistakes and connections these characters make next.
May 21, 2022
Ummmm, so I thought I posted this review months ago. Oops.
3.5
I really enjoyed this. It took me a little while to get into it. Or rather to figure out what was what, with the fantasy land and a few fantasy words. But I caught on pretty quickly and even more quickly came to adore the characters. Each was trying desperately to do the right thing in difficult situations, with the information available to them at the time. All of which often set them against one another and, at times, their own interests.
I’d probably have given this a 5-star rating right up until the end. The writing/editing is clear and easy to read. As I said, I liked the characters. And the plot kept me gripped. There is a lot of history hinted at, which felt a bit like there should be a previous book. But even still, I think I’d have given it 5 stars, except for two things. Even if shocked, I couldn’t buy Niamsha believing as she did at the end and not seeing through the ploy. She’d been too savvy up to that point. And I was ready for the story to wrap up and it didn’t. It came to an acceptable place to pause, true, but I was ready for an ending. I felt denied by the lack.
All in all, however, I was really pleased with the story.
3.5
I really enjoyed this. It took me a little while to get into it. Or rather to figure out what was what, with the fantasy land and a few fantasy words. But I caught on pretty quickly and even more quickly came to adore the characters. Each was trying desperately to do the right thing in difficult situations, with the information available to them at the time. All of which often set them against one another and, at times, their own interests.
I’d probably have given this a 5-star rating right up until the end. The writing/editing is clear and easy to read. As I said, I liked the characters. And the plot kept me gripped. There is a lot of history hinted at, which felt a bit like there should be a previous book. But even still, I think I’d have given it 5 stars, except for two things. Even if shocked, I couldn’t buy Niamsha believing as she did at the end and not seeing through the ploy. She’d been too savvy up to that point. And I was ready for the story to wrap up and it didn’t. It came to an acceptable place to pause, true, but I was ready for an ending. I felt denied by the lack.
All in all, however, I was really pleased with the story.
September 12, 2021
Okay, I don’t know whose review I read that made me pick this one up on NetGalley but I am glad that I did because this is a good read. This was a whim but a good one, I think. I think what this book manages best is the aesthetic and world building. I was immediately reeled in with the world and how it worked. There’s a valid reason for me not rating it 4 or 5 stars though and I wish that in the next book, there will be growth in characters that won’t make me want to tear my hair out.
Arkaen is one of the key characters that we are introduced to. I am not quite sure if he is really the protagonist because despite being a war hero and being loved by the people of the land, he’s not the most interesting character I have read. He’s not a great person, in that, we never see a lot of depth from him other than him being in a relationship with Lasha in secret. He’s not willing to play the role set up for him, he won’t marry a woman just to please the society which I admire but there’s the issue of keeping their relationship hidden from everyone.
Lasha is an interesting character that I truly would have loved to know more about because there are so many hints at him being super interesting in regards to his powers and his history and just him in general. I am not sure if he was deliberately underused or if the author forgot to add layers to him but I wish he was explored more thoroughly because that’s the one character I would truly love to know. What makes him, what breaks him. His magical abilities seem neat and I would love to read more about him. (Can you tell he’s kinda my favourite in this novel?)
Niamsha. Ah, Niamsha. For someone who’s supposedly street smart, she sure is naive. I think I would have liked her more if she hadn’t fallen prey to the same treatment Arkaen got. Not super interesting even though she could have been. Also the way the author wrote her and her background was….interesting, shall we say. There were choices made in showing us what to think of the class struggles and how we are supposed to look at people who do not come with privilege. Niamsha is supposed to be an ally to Arkaen and they were supposed to be the super team up but the thing is, the way she is written and the obvious biased views imposed on me throughout the novel about people from lower class made it very hard for me to genuinely like her or even feel a lot for her.
There are issues other than just character work for me and those mostly come from the choices the author made. Sure, we could have a relationship with LGBT people who are not quite out yet and it could be done well in a fantasy setting but this particular relationship did not seem healthy or good. They could have been the literal power trying to stop the rebellion but instead, they were so much less. The romance could stand to be a little more romantic too, there were certain words that I would not want to read in a romance, no matter how medieval the setting is. Niamsha and her arc could have been done in a better light too, with the biased view that was obviously imposed on the reader.
However, overall, this one gets 3.50 rating simply because of the world building and the way it managed to reel me in. There’s good politics and intrigue written in between not-so-great characters. It is not easy to create believable worlds and Chelsea Harper did that and for that, this book gets the rating it does. I am hoping that the next books manage to show characters’ growth or even depth and more exploration of the personalities while keeping the world building and aesthetics at the same level. It didn’t disappoint me but I was extremely frustrated with the characters and how they were written and I can’t let go of that.
Arkaen is one of the key characters that we are introduced to. I am not quite sure if he is really the protagonist because despite being a war hero and being loved by the people of the land, he’s not the most interesting character I have read. He’s not a great person, in that, we never see a lot of depth from him other than him being in a relationship with Lasha in secret. He’s not willing to play the role set up for him, he won’t marry a woman just to please the society which I admire but there’s the issue of keeping their relationship hidden from everyone.
Lasha is an interesting character that I truly would have loved to know more about because there are so many hints at him being super interesting in regards to his powers and his history and just him in general. I am not sure if he was deliberately underused or if the author forgot to add layers to him but I wish he was explored more thoroughly because that’s the one character I would truly love to know. What makes him, what breaks him. His magical abilities seem neat and I would love to read more about him. (Can you tell he’s kinda my favourite in this novel?)
Niamsha. Ah, Niamsha. For someone who’s supposedly street smart, she sure is naive. I think I would have liked her more if she hadn’t fallen prey to the same treatment Arkaen got. Not super interesting even though she could have been. Also the way the author wrote her and her background was….interesting, shall we say. There were choices made in showing us what to think of the class struggles and how we are supposed to look at people who do not come with privilege. Niamsha is supposed to be an ally to Arkaen and they were supposed to be the super team up but the thing is, the way she is written and the obvious biased views imposed on me throughout the novel about people from lower class made it very hard for me to genuinely like her or even feel a lot for her.
There are issues other than just character work for me and those mostly come from the choices the author made. Sure, we could have a relationship with LGBT people who are not quite out yet and it could be done well in a fantasy setting but this particular relationship did not seem healthy or good. They could have been the literal power trying to stop the rebellion but instead, they were so much less. The romance could stand to be a little more romantic too, there were certain words that I would not want to read in a romance, no matter how medieval the setting is. Niamsha and her arc could have been done in a better light too, with the biased view that was obviously imposed on the reader.
However, overall, this one gets 3.50 rating simply because of the world building and the way it managed to reel me in. There’s good politics and intrigue written in between not-so-great characters. It is not easy to create believable worlds and Chelsea Harper did that and for that, this book gets the rating it does. I am hoping that the next books manage to show characters’ growth or even depth and more exploration of the personalities while keeping the world building and aesthetics at the same level. It didn’t disappoint me but I was extremely frustrated with the characters and how they were written and I can’t let go of that.
August 10, 2021
Wake of the Phoenix Has Incredible Worldbuilding, But Not Much Else:
The cover of Wake of the Phoenix first drew me in. The aesthetics and the description sounded like my precise brand of fantasy, particularly with the promise of some political turmoil, but in actuality, it was a cumbersome and frustrating read.
While Arkaen is the central protagonist, he is far from the most interesting or compelling character in Chelsea Harper’s novel. In fact, Arkaen is largely useless — as a character, a brother, and a general. He is essentially a heralded war hero turned do-nothing high lord, who lacks the tenacity to amount to what his people need as rumors of rebellion begin to swirl. The most interesting character associated with him is his established (and secret) lover Lasha, who is leagues more intriguing, but hardly utilized. Yes, this is the first book in the series, and perhaps Lasha will play a bigger role, but at what cost?
Lasha’s near-omniscient gift is shown and hinted at throughout the novel, but his magical abilities are never fully explained or given the kind of writing that the trite class struggles are given. Which is another area where the novel wavers in its quality. While the class struggle is expected and even good, the characters involved are poor caricatures of medieval-inspired serfdom and the downtrodden.
Niamsha is the sole lower class main character given her own chapters in Wake of the Phoenix and she is very nearly unlikable in her design. The way that the author represents the lower class through unbearable speech patterns, threats of rape, and murderous intent is… a choice. I felt absolutely nothing by the time that we arrived at her final beat in the story, which sets up the next installment in the series. She is designed as this potential ally for Arkaen, someone who can help him prevent the potential civil war threatening his city, but ultimately it just doesn’t feel meaningful.
In regards to Arkaen and Lasha’s relationship, it’s nice to see more queer representation in the fantasy genre, but it’s frustrating that the representation remains secretive and forbidden and underscored with snide homophobic remarks of “cocksucker” instead of treated with a modicum of respect like the romance typically find in the genre.
Despite my gripes with the actual characters that Chelsea Harper has created, I have to give her credit for worldbuilding. Fantasy worldbuilding is no easy feat and she has put in the work to create a realm as believable as Westeros. There’s politicking, scheming, and history that make you want to stay engaged with the story, despite the sluggish character plots.
I recognize that Wake of the Phoenix is the first installment in Harper’s Artifice of Power Saga, but the first in a series should not leave its readers feeling entirely unsatisfied. Some emotional and plot-driven closure would have been nice. As it stands, I’m not entirely certain if I will come back for the follow-up novel. Strong worldbuilding isn’t always enough.
The cover of Wake of the Phoenix first drew me in. The aesthetics and the description sounded like my precise brand of fantasy, particularly with the promise of some political turmoil, but in actuality, it was a cumbersome and frustrating read.
While Arkaen is the central protagonist, he is far from the most interesting or compelling character in Chelsea Harper’s novel. In fact, Arkaen is largely useless — as a character, a brother, and a general. He is essentially a heralded war hero turned do-nothing high lord, who lacks the tenacity to amount to what his people need as rumors of rebellion begin to swirl. The most interesting character associated with him is his established (and secret) lover Lasha, who is leagues more intriguing, but hardly utilized. Yes, this is the first book in the series, and perhaps Lasha will play a bigger role, but at what cost?
Lasha’s near-omniscient gift is shown and hinted at throughout the novel, but his magical abilities are never fully explained or given the kind of writing that the trite class struggles are given. Which is another area where the novel wavers in its quality. While the class struggle is expected and even good, the characters involved are poor caricatures of medieval-inspired serfdom and the downtrodden.
Niamsha is the sole lower class main character given her own chapters in Wake of the Phoenix and she is very nearly unlikable in her design. The way that the author represents the lower class through unbearable speech patterns, threats of rape, and murderous intent is… a choice. I felt absolutely nothing by the time that we arrived at her final beat in the story, which sets up the next installment in the series. She is designed as this potential ally for Arkaen, someone who can help him prevent the potential civil war threatening his city, but ultimately it just doesn’t feel meaningful.
In regards to Arkaen and Lasha’s relationship, it’s nice to see more queer representation in the fantasy genre, but it’s frustrating that the representation remains secretive and forbidden and underscored with snide homophobic remarks of “cocksucker” instead of treated with a modicum of respect like the romance typically find in the genre.
Despite my gripes with the actual characters that Chelsea Harper has created, I have to give her credit for worldbuilding. Fantasy worldbuilding is no easy feat and she has put in the work to create a realm as believable as Westeros. There’s politicking, scheming, and history that make you want to stay engaged with the story, despite the sluggish character plots.
I recognize that Wake of the Phoenix is the first installment in Harper’s Artifice of Power Saga, but the first in a series should not leave its readers feeling entirely unsatisfied. Some emotional and plot-driven closure would have been nice. As it stands, I’m not entirely certain if I will come back for the follow-up novel. Strong worldbuilding isn’t always enough.
February 5, 2022
RATING:
3.5 STARS
Chelsea Harper’s Wake of the Phoenix is an exciting start to a new fantasy series. Complete with amazing worldbuilding, an engaging storyline, and wonderful characters (plus a couple of minor issues here and there), I would recommend it to fans of epic fantasy or high fantasy.
The worldbuilding in this book is fantastic! It was riveting to learn more about all the different layers of the world in Wake of the Phoenix - from the setting to the very visible royals (the high lord and his court) to the less obvious but no less powerful figures like the Rogue Baron. I thought it was interesting how the author incorporated LGBTQ+ issues into the storyline and worldbuilding (same-sex pairings are outlawed). Out of all the characters in the book, Niamsha was my favorite. I enjoyed getting to witness her growth and development over the course of the story.
Despite my love of the storyline, the premise, and the characters, I was unable to give the book a full five stars mainly because of the pacing. It was so slow at the beginning of the story. It might just be a personal preference, but I prefer it when the action starts much earlier than it did in this book. It's never a good thing when a reader is questioning whether or not they want to stick out a read long enough to possibly get to the point where the real action starts. I hope that future books in the Artifice of Power saga will have a much faster and more balanced pace.
With regards to the audiobook, the narrator Scott Fleming produced a solid performance. It did the job, and I could tell when certain characters were speaking but unfortunately there was nothing particularly noteworthy or memorable. His speaking cadence is a bit slower, so I wasn’t able to use a 1.15x listening speed like I usually do. This aspect didn’t influence my rating of the book, but I did want to make a note of this as many I know usually speed up the narrations when they listen to audiobooks. Another pet peeve was that the narrator repeated the book title and author before every chapter - it felt excessive, and pulled me out of the story with those pauses.
Overall, an entertaining and convincing start to a new fantasy series. I would recommend it to those who enjoy high/epic fantasy books, akin to Wheel of Time or Lord of the Rings. Thank you to the author and Shannon at Reads and Reels Book Tours for providing me with a complimentary audiobook review copy of the book. I appreciate the opportunity to read and review Wake of the Phoenix immensely. Please note - I voluntarily read and reviewed Wake of the Phoenix. All opinions expressed in the review are my own and not influenced in any way.
TRIGGER WARNINGS: Mentions of Rape (Not On-Page), Violence, Foul Language, Torture
Chelsea Harper’s Wake of the Phoenix is an exciting start to a new fantasy series. Complete with amazing worldbuilding, an engaging storyline, and wonderful characters (plus a couple of minor issues here and there), I would recommend it to fans of epic fantasy or high fantasy.
The worldbuilding in this book is fantastic! It was riveting to learn more about all the different layers of the world in Wake of the Phoenix - from the setting to the very visible royals (the high lord and his court) to the less obvious but no less powerful figures like the Rogue Baron. I thought it was interesting how the author incorporated LGBTQ+ issues into the storyline and worldbuilding (same-sex pairings are outlawed). Out of all the characters in the book, Niamsha was my favorite. I enjoyed getting to witness her growth and development over the course of the story.
Despite my love of the storyline, the premise, and the characters, I was unable to give the book a full five stars mainly because of the pacing. It was so slow at the beginning of the story. It might just be a personal preference, but I prefer it when the action starts much earlier than it did in this book. It's never a good thing when a reader is questioning whether or not they want to stick out a read long enough to possibly get to the point where the real action starts. I hope that future books in the Artifice of Power saga will have a much faster and more balanced pace.
With regards to the audiobook, the narrator Scott Fleming produced a solid performance. It did the job, and I could tell when certain characters were speaking but unfortunately there was nothing particularly noteworthy or memorable. His speaking cadence is a bit slower, so I wasn’t able to use a 1.15x listening speed like I usually do. This aspect didn’t influence my rating of the book, but I did want to make a note of this as many I know usually speed up the narrations when they listen to audiobooks. Another pet peeve was that the narrator repeated the book title and author before every chapter - it felt excessive, and pulled me out of the story with those pauses.
Overall, an entertaining and convincing start to a new fantasy series. I would recommend it to those who enjoy high/epic fantasy books, akin to Wheel of Time or Lord of the Rings. Thank you to the author and Shannon at Reads and Reels Book Tours for providing me with a complimentary audiobook review copy of the book. I appreciate the opportunity to read and review Wake of the Phoenix immensely. Please note - I voluntarily read and reviewed Wake of the Phoenix. All opinions expressed in the review are my own and not influenced in any way.
TRIGGER WARNINGS: Mentions of Rape (Not On-Page), Violence, Foul Language, Torture
August 14, 2021
From the description of the book I was excited to get an advanced copy. But honestly, it quickly fell flat for me. For all the individual elements, this book did not come together in a cohesive way to the point that I am not sure I can describe the plot.
To the best of my knowledge this book centers on Arkaen as he tries to navigate creating stability under his rule following a brutal imperial rule while also planning for some big change in world? As the larger politics forms, Niamsha, an unwilling member of a rogues guild, is pressed into playing role in the attempted usurping of Arkaen and his allies while trying to keep her brother safe.
I saw little character change over the course of the book for any of the lead characters and little challenge to their world views. I generally don't mind when books only present you with a limited amount of information about the world at large. But I felt like I was missing all of the context for the entire book. The magic of foresight and the complications there of seemed interesting but so little explanation was given to it or its wielder except that it's important that I lost interest even in that detail. Above all though the two points the bothered me the most were as follows. There was an attempt at creating separate speech patterns to indicate class but this indication only applied to those characters associated with crime. Secondly, despite having a queer relationship, it was always presented as something the characters had and as a tool of mockery from others. That the rumor of queernees could ruin Arkaen was a somewhat consistent theme in the beginning of the book. And while I think there is a place for all kinds of queer storylines in fantasy I was not interested in this particular take on it at this point in my reading.
To the best of my knowledge this book centers on Arkaen as he tries to navigate creating stability under his rule following a brutal imperial rule while also planning for some big change in world? As the larger politics forms, Niamsha, an unwilling member of a rogues guild, is pressed into playing role in the attempted usurping of Arkaen and his allies while trying to keep her brother safe.
I saw little character change over the course of the book for any of the lead characters and little challenge to their world views. I generally don't mind when books only present you with a limited amount of information about the world at large. But I felt like I was missing all of the context for the entire book. The magic of foresight and the complications there of seemed interesting but so little explanation was given to it or its wielder except that it's important that I lost interest even in that detail. Above all though the two points the bothered me the most were as follows. There was an attempt at creating separate speech patterns to indicate class but this indication only applied to those characters associated with crime. Secondly, despite having a queer relationship, it was always presented as something the characters had and as a tool of mockery from others. That the rumor of queernees could ruin Arkaen was a somewhat consistent theme in the beginning of the book. And while I think there is a place for all kinds of queer storylines in fantasy I was not interested in this particular take on it at this point in my reading.
September 25, 2021
Thank you to Netgalley for the ARC
I’m not sure how to feel about this one – there was a lot in it that I should have liked, but unfortunately it didn’t work for me. I think this is largely a personal thing as objectively it wasn’t a bad book, it just wasn’t for me.
First, things I liked. It’s a well-plotted political fantasy with an established m/m relationship at the centre. That’s not something you see very much of and I did appreciate the representation. It was also very apparent that the author had put a lot of work into creating the world and the political set up. The world was real and felt lived in, and that’s something that’s quite tricky to do.
The only thing about the world building I didn’t like was the choice to make it homophobic. This is a personal thing – but I much prefer worlds that are queer friendly.
The thing that fell flat for me were the characters. I’m very much a character-driven reader and if I don’t care about the characters, I lose interest in the book. Sadly, none of the characters worked for me. I was mildly interested in Lasha, but the others fell a little flat.
Unfortunately – and this is a very personal thing – the author present the lower-class character’s speech with accents. This is something that’s never worked for me and it didn’t work here. It just left me with a slight feeling of irritation whenever these characters appeared on page and I feel terrible for that.
I probably won’t be continuing with this series, but I would be interested in looking at anything else the author were to write in future. She’s undoubtedly very good, but this book just wasn’t the one for me.
I’m not sure how to feel about this one – there was a lot in it that I should have liked, but unfortunately it didn’t work for me. I think this is largely a personal thing as objectively it wasn’t a bad book, it just wasn’t for me.
First, things I liked. It’s a well-plotted political fantasy with an established m/m relationship at the centre. That’s not something you see very much of and I did appreciate the representation. It was also very apparent that the author had put a lot of work into creating the world and the political set up. The world was real and felt lived in, and that’s something that’s quite tricky to do.
The only thing about the world building I didn’t like was the choice to make it homophobic. This is a personal thing – but I much prefer worlds that are queer friendly.
The thing that fell flat for me were the characters. I’m very much a character-driven reader and if I don’t care about the characters, I lose interest in the book. Sadly, none of the characters worked for me. I was mildly interested in Lasha, but the others fell a little flat.
Unfortunately – and this is a very personal thing – the author present the lower-class character’s speech with accents. This is something that’s never worked for me and it didn’t work here. It just left me with a slight feeling of irritation whenever these characters appeared on page and I feel terrible for that.
I probably won’t be continuing with this series, but I would be interested in looking at anything else the author were to write in future. She’s undoubtedly very good, but this book just wasn’t the one for me.
October 19, 2021
my link text
I wasn’t initially certain by Wake of the Phoenix. I struggled to identify with the characters, and the world and powers involved confused me. But it drew me in and I found myself gripped about where loyalties would lie and what the outcome would be. What more do you want?
Wake of the Phoenix is told through multiple narrations: a ruler, his lover/prophet/demon, his sister, and a street-smart young woman who lives on the wrong side of the law. The changing perspective made it hard to engage and harder still to figure out what was going on.
Arkaen is my favourite. He’s rash, headstrong and proud, but do not stand in his way when he’s righting a wrong. Unable to show his love for Kilasha, he instead throws himself into doing what’s best for his people.
Kilasha is… complicated. It’s hard to explain what his powers are other than seeing possible futures? This threw me off: witnessing multiple timelines made it tricky to determine what was really happening.
The Arkean/Kilasha relationship is gorgeous – they’re so tender with each other when in private. I loved them!
I wanted to like Niamsha, I really did. Considering she’s street-smart and has learnt to survive, she’s naïve. Her feelings come in absolutes and it was hard to connect to her. Chapters from her perspective didn’t draw me in the way the others did. She disappointed me.
It feels there’s a prequel with this due to the complex backstory. However, it contains a lot of off-screen violence. Descriptions of torture and sexual abuse were scattered throughout, and although retrospective, it was dark. It didn’t feel needed and could turn people off the book.
The story boils down to a rebellious lord trying overthrowing his ruler. But there’s so many different undercurrents and political schemes; remembering who was loyal proved challenging. As previously mentioned, it took a while before I felt I had picked up the current of the book and knew what was going on.
Perhaps due to this confusion, the pace felt slow and the tension didn’t start to really build for me until we reached the twists towards the end. It needed something to pull you in earlier.
I also didn’t like the ending. It was so absolute, and therefore frustrating, in the way a character changes opinion about everyone. It may set up the second book, but it didn’t work for me.
Despite the confusion and complexities of this world, I enjoyed Wake of the Phoenix. Once it picked up, I didn’t want to put it down. There were enough twists and surprises that I was eager to keep reading: I was invested in the characters and their story. A solid read.
I wasn’t initially certain by Wake of the Phoenix. I struggled to identify with the characters, and the world and powers involved confused me. But it drew me in and I found myself gripped about where loyalties would lie and what the outcome would be. What more do you want?
Wake of the Phoenix is told through multiple narrations: a ruler, his lover/prophet/demon, his sister, and a street-smart young woman who lives on the wrong side of the law. The changing perspective made it hard to engage and harder still to figure out what was going on.
Arkaen is my favourite. He’s rash, headstrong and proud, but do not stand in his way when he’s righting a wrong. Unable to show his love for Kilasha, he instead throws himself into doing what’s best for his people.
Kilasha is… complicated. It’s hard to explain what his powers are other than seeing possible futures? This threw me off: witnessing multiple timelines made it tricky to determine what was really happening.
The Arkean/Kilasha relationship is gorgeous – they’re so tender with each other when in private. I loved them!
I wanted to like Niamsha, I really did. Considering she’s street-smart and has learnt to survive, she’s naïve. Her feelings come in absolutes and it was hard to connect to her. Chapters from her perspective didn’t draw me in the way the others did. She disappointed me.
It feels there’s a prequel with this due to the complex backstory. However, it contains a lot of off-screen violence. Descriptions of torture and sexual abuse were scattered throughout, and although retrospective, it was dark. It didn’t feel needed and could turn people off the book.
The story boils down to a rebellious lord trying overthrowing his ruler. But there’s so many different undercurrents and political schemes; remembering who was loyal proved challenging. As previously mentioned, it took a while before I felt I had picked up the current of the book and knew what was going on.
Perhaps due to this confusion, the pace felt slow and the tension didn’t start to really build for me until we reached the twists towards the end. It needed something to pull you in earlier.
I also didn’t like the ending. It was so absolute, and therefore frustrating, in the way a character changes opinion about everyone. It may set up the second book, but it didn’t work for me.
Despite the confusion and complexities of this world, I enjoyed Wake of the Phoenix. Once it picked up, I didn’t want to put it down. There were enough twists and surprises that I was eager to keep reading: I was invested in the characters and their story. A solid read.
September 11, 2022
DNF @ 40%
I really did give this book a fair shot. It's been on my 'currently reading' over three months but I was just unable to finish it. My main issue with the book is that even though I enjoyed while I was reading it, the moment I put it down I had no desire to keep reading. I felt like the plot has not progressed from the start of the book. I just didn't know where we were supposed to be progressing to, what was the end goal. Characters were interesting but I just couldn't get attached to them. The relationship of the two main characters is already developed prior to the start of the book, and I think that I never fully bought into it.
I wasn't attached to the characters, I don't know what the plot is, or where the characters are supposed to end up or what the end goal was. And the thing that would probably get more explored by the end of the book, but I just could not stop from affecting my enjoyment is that there is basically no fantasy or magic system mentioned so far in the book. So, I didn't care for the characters, plot or the magic system. There was nothing to hold my interest anymore.
Reasons why you might like this book:
If you are the big fan of politics and maneuvering at court;
If you want minimal/low fantasy setting, this one is for you;
If you like stories with slow moving plots this book might just be for you.
Thank you NetGalley for the ARC.
I really did give this book a fair shot. It's been on my 'currently reading' over three months but I was just unable to finish it. My main issue with the book is that even though I enjoyed while I was reading it, the moment I put it down I had no desire to keep reading. I felt like the plot has not progressed from the start of the book. I just didn't know where we were supposed to be progressing to, what was the end goal. Characters were interesting but I just couldn't get attached to them. The relationship of the two main characters is already developed prior to the start of the book, and I think that I never fully bought into it.
I wasn't attached to the characters, I don't know what the plot is, or where the characters are supposed to end up or what the end goal was. And the thing that would probably get more explored by the end of the book, but I just could not stop from affecting my enjoyment is that there is basically no fantasy or magic system mentioned so far in the book. So, I didn't care for the characters, plot or the magic system. There was nothing to hold my interest anymore.
Reasons why you might like this book:
If you are the big fan of politics and maneuvering at court;
If you want minimal/low fantasy setting, this one is for you;
If you like stories with slow moving plots this book might just be for you.
Thank you NetGalley for the ARC.
August 17, 2021
I received this book as an ARC from NETGALLEY!
I was attracted by this book from the cover, I'm honest. I read the description and I was quite curious about it. But when I started it, I find something completely different. The first pages were very heavy, I'm honest, but I saw the potential in it. I would have appreciate a clearer and better explained worldbuilding, as well as a minimal explanation about the characters, but is my personal opinion.
There are three important characters: Arkaen, Kilasha and Niamsha.
I love the relationship between A and K, I was quite surprised to find this type of relationship in a book! I would like to have more moments between them but is ok.
I loved court dramas and Arkaen gossip, forced to hide his love for a person of the same sex because is forbidden :(
Kilasha is a very complex character, with his very strange power that sometimes overwhelms him.
I also appreciate the story about the thief Niamsha and his brother, with a different and more difficult life than the other characters in many points.
Right now I'm still confused about many political elements and relationships between many characters in the story.
But In conclusion, I appreciate this book and I rate it 3 stars!
I was attracted by this book from the cover, I'm honest. I read the description and I was quite curious about it. But when I started it, I find something completely different. The first pages were very heavy, I'm honest, but I saw the potential in it. I would have appreciate a clearer and better explained worldbuilding, as well as a minimal explanation about the characters, but is my personal opinion.
There are three important characters: Arkaen, Kilasha and Niamsha.
I love the relationship between A and K, I was quite surprised to find this type of relationship in a book! I would like to have more moments between them but is ok.
I loved court dramas and Arkaen gossip, forced to hide his love for a person of the same sex because is forbidden :(
Kilasha is a very complex character, with his very strange power that sometimes overwhelms him.
I also appreciate the story about the thief Niamsha and his brother, with a different and more difficult life than the other characters in many points.
Right now I'm still confused about many political elements and relationships between many characters in the story.
But In conclusion, I appreciate this book and I rate it 3 stars!
March 23, 2022
Some readers like slow pace, other readers don’t. I am a reader who enjoys well-written books regardless of the pace and that is what we have here! Wake of the Phoenix by Chelsea Harper is political, high fantasy with beautiful world building and deeply developed characters.
I’m a huge fan of high fantasy. This is a four person POV story which does take a little time to get used to. However, the characters are very well written and their POVs are necessary to the story. I.love morally gray characters. It is more intriguing to me to read about decisions that leave me a little frustrated than to get what I want, every time. It makes for a more compelling read because every action has a consensus.
The main love story is beautiful and deep. The implications and secrecy of their relationship because of the fact that it is two men is very clear. This brings more tension to the story and gives the reader so many emotions to deal with while watching everything unfold. The romance aspect was probably my favorite.
If you’re a fan of high fantasy and understand the pacing can sometimes be slow, I think Wake of the Phoenix is worth checking out. I can’t wait to see what’s next.
Thank you to R&R Book Tours for the free review copy. All opinions are my own and unbiased.
I’m a huge fan of high fantasy. This is a four person POV story which does take a little time to get used to. However, the characters are very well written and their POVs are necessary to the story. I.love morally gray characters. It is more intriguing to me to read about decisions that leave me a little frustrated than to get what I want, every time. It makes for a more compelling read because every action has a consensus.
The main love story is beautiful and deep. The implications and secrecy of their relationship because of the fact that it is two men is very clear. This brings more tension to the story and gives the reader so many emotions to deal with while watching everything unfold. The romance aspect was probably my favorite.
If you’re a fan of high fantasy and understand the pacing can sometimes be slow, I think Wake of the Phoenix is worth checking out. I can’t wait to see what’s next.
Thank you to R&R Book Tours for the free review copy. All opinions are my own and unbiased.
July 18, 2021
Got it thanks to NetGalley as an arc!
The cover was the first reason i wanted to read this book, than the description was so good looking that i went right to it!
It was a 3,5 stars read for me (put four).
I fell in love Arkaen, i really loved him and understood his decision, he was really « real » to me and human.i just adored his relation with Kilasha and my heart broke with him to what arkaen has to do.
Wasn’t a fan of niamsha but mostly because i was in love and focused on arkaen and kilasha !
The plot was good and logical!
The end though is too fast for me , i would have loved a little end scene with arkaen and kilasha to end the book on the immediate concern( kilasha’s powers, niamsha’s case and arkaen and kilasha’s relation’s stade) and maybe have more sweet moment between them.
Kilasha’s character is really complex and i adored his chapter, i could really feel that he was lost in his power, would have loved to hear more about his feelings for arkaen, i can easily feel arkaen’s love towards kilasha since the beginning where it took more time for kilasha!
Overall i enjoyed the book!total fan of kilasha and arkaen, i loved deyvan and jarod as well!
The cover was the first reason i wanted to read this book, than the description was so good looking that i went right to it!
It was a 3,5 stars read for me (put four).
I fell in love Arkaen, i really loved him and understood his decision, he was really « real » to me and human.i just adored his relation with Kilasha and my heart broke with him to what arkaen has to do.
Wasn’t a fan of niamsha but mostly because i was in love and focused on arkaen and kilasha !
The plot was good and logical!
The end though is too fast for me , i would have loved a little end scene with arkaen and kilasha to end the book on the immediate concern( kilasha’s powers, niamsha’s case and arkaen and kilasha’s relation’s stade) and maybe have more sweet moment between them.
Kilasha’s character is really complex and i adored his chapter, i could really feel that he was lost in his power, would have loved to hear more about his feelings for arkaen, i can easily feel arkaen’s love towards kilasha since the beginning where it took more time for kilasha!
Overall i enjoyed the book!total fan of kilasha and arkaen, i loved deyvan and jarod as well!
March 24, 2022
For the audiobook version
Overall: 4 out of 5
Narration: 4 out of 5
Story: 4 out of 5
Overall: A great story that will keep you captivated, with a wonderful narrator who brings the story to life.
Narration: Fleming did a great job bringing the story to life, and distinguishing between the characters. He really infused each character's personality into their speaking parts, which I greatly appreciated. It was a little annoying to have the title and author repeated at the start of each chapter, but otherwise I don't have any real complaints.
Story: Excellent world building, and the pacing was perfect. The characters were believable, and had decent depth to them. They felt real, with none of the main characters landing solidly on good or evil ground. I applaud Harper for working some very real-world LGBTQIA+ issues into the storyline, without it feeling forced. There's definitely quite a bit of political drama woven into the fantasy elements, but it helps move the story along smoothly. Perfect for fantasy lovers!
Overall: 4 out of 5
Narration: 4 out of 5
Story: 4 out of 5
Overall: A great story that will keep you captivated, with a wonderful narrator who brings the story to life.
Narration: Fleming did a great job bringing the story to life, and distinguishing between the characters. He really infused each character's personality into their speaking parts, which I greatly appreciated. It was a little annoying to have the title and author repeated at the start of each chapter, but otherwise I don't have any real complaints.
Story: Excellent world building, and the pacing was perfect. The characters were believable, and had decent depth to them. They felt real, with none of the main characters landing solidly on good or evil ground. I applaud Harper for working some very real-world LGBTQIA+ issues into the storyline, without it feeling forced. There's definitely quite a bit of political drama woven into the fantasy elements, but it helps move the story along smoothly. Perfect for fantasy lovers!
August 13, 2021
I received an ARC from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
"Wake of the Pheonix" was absolutely magnificent. Complex and political, original and at times difficult to follow, but with a whole cast of characters that was memorable and fantastic.
It's main characters, Arkean and Lasha, Niamsha and Saylina, are wonderfully complex and have unique relationships with one another. I especially loved Arkean and Lasha. Their relationship, the complex way they work together, the love and pain they hold for one another: it was to gut-wrenching to witness but also, it gave me that high-stakes, til-death-do-us-part kind of vibe that I rarely see in high fantasy (especially with same sex couples).
The writing is fantastic, the world-building original and magical, the atmosphere highly charged and political, with scheming and plots and life-changing prophecies and decisions, under the ever-present threat of war.
I loved it. A lot. Highly recommended
"Wake of the Pheonix" was absolutely magnificent. Complex and political, original and at times difficult to follow, but with a whole cast of characters that was memorable and fantastic.
It's main characters, Arkean and Lasha, Niamsha and Saylina, are wonderfully complex and have unique relationships with one another. I especially loved Arkean and Lasha. Their relationship, the complex way they work together, the love and pain they hold for one another: it was to gut-wrenching to witness but also, it gave me that high-stakes, til-death-do-us-part kind of vibe that I rarely see in high fantasy (especially with same sex couples).
The writing is fantastic, the world-building original and magical, the atmosphere highly charged and political, with scheming and plots and life-changing prophecies and decisions, under the ever-present threat of war.
I loved it. A lot. Highly recommended
September 7, 2021
This story was very enjoyable to read and I'm looking forward to seeing what will happen in the next book in the series.
The details within the store where wonderful pieces that truly helped paint a great picture of the story that unfolds. There is LGBTQ + representation that is done and brought to life within the pages really well. I do wish there had been a little more back story shown and discussed within the story about Arkaen and his love interest. But still really enjoyed their story that readers did get to see.
The bond that forms between Arkaen and Niamsha was one of my favorite parts of the story. Each of these characters plus Arkaen's love interest were very interesting and well done characters. The way they were written allowed for readers to connect and sympathize with them on different levels.
So many of the other elements within the story such as the political intrigue, mysterious and hidden enemies, and so much more keep me in the edge of my seat.
The details within the store where wonderful pieces that truly helped paint a great picture of the story that unfolds. There is LGBTQ + representation that is done and brought to life within the pages really well. I do wish there had been a little more back story shown and discussed within the story about Arkaen and his love interest. But still really enjoyed their story that readers did get to see.
The bond that forms between Arkaen and Niamsha was one of my favorite parts of the story. Each of these characters plus Arkaen's love interest were very interesting and well done characters. The way they were written allowed for readers to connect and sympathize with them on different levels.
So many of the other elements within the story such as the political intrigue, mysterious and hidden enemies, and so much more keep me in the edge of my seat.
March 17, 2022
I had a good time reading this book! The pace is a little slower than I normally like for a fantasy book but the characters and their actions are what really keep me reading. The romance between the two characters is one that was already established at the beginning but the love and the connection between them is strong and powerful. The world that the author has created I found to be very interesting. I'm hoping in the next book we will be able to dive deeper into things there and with the magic I would definitely like to hear more about that. Overall it was a entertaining and interesting read!
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