What do you think?
Rate this book
The Blood and Water Saga #2
The Phoenix Priest
Elias Loch has nothing left to believe in.
After the loss of his battlemate, all he wants is to go home to Nyx and lose himself to grief. But when the Goddess of Death summons him to Artem, a kingdom of fire and steel, he finds himself plunged into a series of trials to earn him and his princely companion an audience with Artem’s Empress—trials that will force him to confront what it truly means to have faith in his goddess…and himself.
Finnick Atlas is playing a game against the gods, and he’s used up all his cheats.
Burdened by his new title and the two gods walking his halls, he needs to be at the top of his game to keep control over his kingdom. But with a maddening magic threatening to steal what’s left of his sanity, a goddess puppeting his little sister’s body for nefarious ends, and an arranged marriage with the Queen of Lapis looming on the horizon, he’s running out of sleeves to slip aces into. Luckily, a new friend from the Lapisian delegation may just be the key to winning all his games…if he can trick a worshipper of the Trickster Goddess.
Soren Nyx can’t seem to die.
Trapped inside her own body, she has only one goal left: to keep Anima, Goddess of Life, from seeing into her memories and finding her family’s weaknesses. But retreating into the depths of her own mind has unintended consequences, and with the help of an old friend, Soren must navigate the lost memories of her childhood as Soleil, all with one question in mind: will she finally give in to the death that’s been chasing her since girlhood, or will she rise again as someone new?
After the loss of his battlemate, all he wants is to go home to Nyx and lose himself to grief. But when the Goddess of Death summons him to Artem, a kingdom of fire and steel, he finds himself plunged into a series of trials to earn him and his princely companion an audience with Artem’s Empress—trials that will force him to confront what it truly means to have faith in his goddess…and himself.
Finnick Atlas is playing a game against the gods, and he’s used up all his cheats.
Burdened by his new title and the two gods walking his halls, he needs to be at the top of his game to keep control over his kingdom. But with a maddening magic threatening to steal what’s left of his sanity, a goddess puppeting his little sister’s body for nefarious ends, and an arranged marriage with the Queen of Lapis looming on the horizon, he’s running out of sleeves to slip aces into. Luckily, a new friend from the Lapisian delegation may just be the key to winning all his games…if he can trick a worshipper of the Trickster Goddess.
Soren Nyx can’t seem to die.
Trapped inside her own body, she has only one goal left: to keep Anima, Goddess of Life, from seeing into her memories and finding her family’s weaknesses. But retreating into the depths of her own mind has unintended consequences, and with the help of an old friend, Soren must navigate the lost memories of her childhood as Soleil, all with one question in mind: will she finally give in to the death that’s been chasing her since girlhood, or will she rise again as someone new?
779 pages, Kindle Edition
First published April 1, 2022
8 people are currently reading
161 people want to read
About the author
Cassidy Clarke
8 books77 followersCassidy Clarke is a college senior about to graduate with her BA in Creative Writing, an aspiring author, and freelance editor. She absolutely loves working together with authors to get their books ready for publication, and considers it a privilege to partner with them on their journeys.
She loves books that are chock-full of magic, sarcasm, and found families. Her debut novel, The Saltwater Heir, is a story about a girl, a broken family, and two best friends who would go the ends of the earth for one another. To learn more, take a peek at her Instagram, @cclarkewriting.
She loves books that are chock-full of magic, sarcasm, and found families. Her debut novel, The Saltwater Heir, is a story about a girl, a broken family, and two best friends who would go the ends of the earth for one another. To learn more, take a peek at her Instagram, @cclarkewriting.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 28 of 28 reviews
April 22, 2022
It's official: Cassidy Clarke is a powerful new voice to watch out for if we're talking fantasy books. Living up to as epic a book as "The Saltwater Heir" is no easy feat, but Clarke has done it. Even more so—she's made it look easy.
Elias Loch is lost to grief. After the loss of his battlemate and one true love, he's lost all faith and all will to live, and the only thing keeping him alive is the promise of getting revenge on those who took Soren away from her. With the Goddess of Death haunting his days, and prince Kallias by his side, he embarks on a quest to Artem that will change him forever… Leaving Atlas behind, where a goddess tries to pass as Soleil Atlas and a Trickster Prince attempts to survive the intrigues and nuances of courtly matters such as international marriages.
We all knew how poetic and fiery Clarke's quill is after her stellar debut, "The Saltwater Heir", but I believe that she's managed to take it to a whole new level in "The Phoenix Priest". The paragraphs flow into one another as effortlessly as fish swimming down a stream, to the point that it's difficult to not get mesmerized by the book's prose alone. Many times I would have to stop reading, go back to the beginning of the chapter, and tell my brain to actually understand what the words were trying to tell me instead of just gaping at the beauty of them put together! Which is not to say that the plot wasn't interesting, or that the writing was difficult to understand—I'm just easily distracted by gorgeousness.
Believe me, though: the plot is just as awesome. In this book we follow quite a number of characters: Kallias, Elias, Finn, Anima, and Soren all get the floor, each of them busy with their own storyline. The arc I personally loved the most was Finn's, as he continued to be my favourite trickster in the entire kingdom—but also showed us his softer side. Fidget and him made me smile and laugh a heavy lot, and their mission kept me at the edge of my seat! I also enjoyed Kallias and Elias' journey into Artem quite a bit, as the Artemisian culture and society were quite different to both Atlas and Nyx. Elias' arc was a bit hard for me to get through, at first, because he just didn't appeal to my empathy despite how much I understood his pain; but things started rolling halfway through the book, and I definitely championed him from there on. I had a similar issue with Anima, as I didn't quite grasp her personality, but this was made up for by the extra layer of family drama she provided. (In case you couldn't tell, I'm a sucker for family drama)
Despite how thick this book is, I promise that it doesn't feel long at all! The events tie so neatly into one another, I barely even noticed how the pages went by. The end, of course, left me thirsty for the third installment in this series—and now I can't believe I have to deal with yet another Cassidy Clarke Book Hangover! Wasn't the first one hard enough!?
Elias Loch is lost to grief. After the loss of his battlemate and one true love, he's lost all faith and all will to live, and the only thing keeping him alive is the promise of getting revenge on those who took Soren away from her. With the Goddess of Death haunting his days, and prince Kallias by his side, he embarks on a quest to Artem that will change him forever… Leaving Atlas behind, where a goddess tries to pass as Soleil Atlas and a Trickster Prince attempts to survive the intrigues and nuances of courtly matters such as international marriages.
We all knew how poetic and fiery Clarke's quill is after her stellar debut, "The Saltwater Heir", but I believe that she's managed to take it to a whole new level in "The Phoenix Priest". The paragraphs flow into one another as effortlessly as fish swimming down a stream, to the point that it's difficult to not get mesmerized by the book's prose alone. Many times I would have to stop reading, go back to the beginning of the chapter, and tell my brain to actually understand what the words were trying to tell me instead of just gaping at the beauty of them put together! Which is not to say that the plot wasn't interesting, or that the writing was difficult to understand—I'm just easily distracted by gorgeousness.
Believe me, though: the plot is just as awesome. In this book we follow quite a number of characters: Kallias, Elias, Finn, Anima, and Soren all get the floor, each of them busy with their own storyline. The arc I personally loved the most was Finn's, as he continued to be my favourite trickster in the entire kingdom—but also showed us his softer side. Fidget and him made me smile and laugh a heavy lot, and their mission kept me at the edge of my seat! I also enjoyed Kallias and Elias' journey into Artem quite a bit, as the Artemisian culture and society were quite different to both Atlas and Nyx. Elias' arc was a bit hard for me to get through, at first, because he just didn't appeal to my empathy despite how much I understood his pain; but things started rolling halfway through the book, and I definitely championed him from there on. I had a similar issue with Anima, as I didn't quite grasp her personality, but this was made up for by the extra layer of family drama she provided. (In case you couldn't tell, I'm a sucker for family drama)
Despite how thick this book is, I promise that it doesn't feel long at all! The events tie so neatly into one another, I barely even noticed how the pages went by. The end, of course, left me thirsty for the third installment in this series—and now I can't believe I have to deal with yet another Cassidy Clarke Book Hangover! Wasn't the first one hard enough!?
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 29, 2022
Triumphant. Gut wrenching. Pulse pounding. This is a book you do NOT want want miss.
My very favorite thing about THE PHOENIX PRIEST is how it does something I find so rare in books nowadays: it takes its time with grief. Elias in particular is a character who has suffered an absolutely earth shattering loss, and he doesn't just put on a stalwart face and plod forward. He is ripped to shreds, and the story takes time to explore the impact that has on his relationships, his outlook, his inner reflection, and his faith. Because of this, every step in the story feels earned. By the end, I had gone on a journey WITH Elias. No lack of showing over telling, by the time you finish TPP, you'll have felt the beautiful steps leading up to it, too ♥️
The other arcs are difficult to delve into without spoilers. Finn's is particularly clever, cunning, and the outcome is among the best I've ever read. Kallias's is an exploration into the personal and community impacts of war as he wrestles with an enemy made of his own wartime choices and struggles to work with people defined by the wartime choices of others. Ani provides a unique perspective into the more supernatural side of things, while Soren's is a journey of discovering what to fight for.
Where TPP leaves off, you'll find yourself DYING for the next installment. With each book, Clarke continues to hook readers in deeper and deeper. I can only begin to imagine what Book 3 has in store, but I am READY FOR IT!!
My very favorite thing about THE PHOENIX PRIEST is how it does something I find so rare in books nowadays: it takes its time with grief. Elias in particular is a character who has suffered an absolutely earth shattering loss, and he doesn't just put on a stalwart face and plod forward. He is ripped to shreds, and the story takes time to explore the impact that has on his relationships, his outlook, his inner reflection, and his faith. Because of this, every step in the story feels earned. By the end, I had gone on a journey WITH Elias. No lack of showing over telling, by the time you finish TPP, you'll have felt the beautiful steps leading up to it, too ♥️
The other arcs are difficult to delve into without spoilers. Finn's is particularly clever, cunning, and the outcome is among the best I've ever read. Kallias's is an exploration into the personal and community impacts of war as he wrestles with an enemy made of his own wartime choices and struggles to work with people defined by the wartime choices of others. Ani provides a unique perspective into the more supernatural side of things, while Soren's is a journey of discovering what to fight for.
Where TPP leaves off, you'll find yourself DYING for the next installment. With each book, Clarke continues to hook readers in deeper and deeper. I can only begin to imagine what Book 3 has in store, but I am READY FOR IT!!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 25, 2022
The Phoenix Priest took what I loved most about The Saltwater Heir and brought it to the next level. The family drama and the complexity of all the relationships—family, friend, and foe alike—are so well done. And the exploration of grief throughout got me in the feels time and time again. 😭❤️🥹 I can’t wait to see what happens next for these characters as they move forward with their plans!
October 15, 2022
READ THIS SERIES.
BLOG || INSTAGRAM
I am so impressed by this series. 800 pages and I hardly notice. I love the writing. It’s captivating and keeps the pace moving. The characters are extremely easy to get attached to and I can’t believe some of the things that happened this round?! NOT OKAY.
I love how much depth we got from many characters. Specifically this time, Elias. He went through the ringer (and fire, literal fire) and now I can see just how strong of a character role he’s going to continue to play. And his bromance with Kallias? ADORE!!!!! We stan strong friendships. Moving towards Kallias, do I spy a romance? The slow burn is torturous, but oh so good.
MY SWEET BABY FINN. Easily my favorite character for this book. Wow his story took so many turns. I loved it. I love his morally gray, but fiercely protective self. My heart hurts for where his arc may lead. I need him comforted ASAP.
The plot moved beautifully. A mix of action and politicking. Sneaking out at night and creatures coming out of the woodwork. I loved the changes in scenery and all of the new characters that I got to meet. Everyone felt pertinent to the story and only added to how much I love reading these books.
ADD TO YOUR TBR ASAP PLEASE.
Overall audience notes:
- Fantasy
- Language: little
- Romance: kisses
- Violence: med/high
- Trigger/Content Warnings: kidnapping, torture, physical altercations, creature attacks, near death - experiences, poison, grief depiction
BLOG || INSTAGRAM
I am so impressed by this series. 800 pages and I hardly notice. I love the writing. It’s captivating and keeps the pace moving. The characters are extremely easy to get attached to and I can’t believe some of the things that happened this round?! NOT OKAY.
I love how much depth we got from many characters. Specifically this time, Elias. He went through the ringer (and fire, literal fire) and now I can see just how strong of a character role he’s going to continue to play. And his bromance with Kallias? ADORE!!!!! We stan strong friendships. Moving towards Kallias, do I spy a romance? The slow burn is torturous, but oh so good.
MY SWEET BABY FINN. Easily my favorite character for this book. Wow his story took so many turns. I loved it. I love his morally gray, but fiercely protective self. My heart hurts for where his arc may lead. I need him comforted ASAP.
The plot moved beautifully. A mix of action and politicking. Sneaking out at night and creatures coming out of the woodwork. I loved the changes in scenery and all of the new characters that I got to meet. Everyone felt pertinent to the story and only added to how much I love reading these books.
ADD TO YOUR TBR ASAP PLEASE.
Overall audience notes:
- Fantasy
- Language: little
- Romance: kisses
- Violence: med/high
- Trigger/Content Warnings: kidnapping, torture, physical altercations, creature attacks, near death - experiences, poison, grief depiction
Read
June 16, 2022I had the pleasure of beta reading this book, which was an undoubtful 5 star read! I will review once I read the final copy though :)
May 12, 2022
Hey babes thought u could escape me, huh? Well unfortunately for u my readers block has disappeared and I am BACK to haunt y’all
Anyway go read this RIGHT NOW it is SO GOOD I aM MORE DEVASTATED THAN I WAS WHEN I ACCIDENTALLY DROPPED MY PIZZA ON THE FLOOR
genuinely no idea how I’m going to survive until the next book comes out. beyond depressing. Clarke give me serotonin petition
guys I’m like obsessed w my stuffie his name is bear I love him just letting u know
Anyway go read this RIGHT NOW it is SO GOOD I aM MORE DEVASTATED THAN I WAS WHEN I ACCIDENTALLY DROPPED MY PIZZA ON THE FLOOR
genuinely no idea how I’m going to survive until the next book comes out. beyond depressing. Clarke give me serotonin petition
guys I’m like obsessed w my stuffie his name is bear I love him just letting u know
January 16, 2023
I had the honor of beta reading this book and it was AMAZING! I can't wait to read the final copy!
June 2, 2022
Really pleasantly surprised by this YA/NA series.
It’s mature but accessible. Lots of great family dynamics and politics and only just a sprinkling of romance, none of which is cringe worthy. I’m really looking forward to the next book in this series.
It’s mature but accessible. Lots of great family dynamics and politics and only just a sprinkling of romance, none of which is cringe worthy. I’m really looking forward to the next book in this series.
April 28, 2022
This review will contain minor spoilers from The Saltwater Heir.
Huge thank you to Cassidy Clarke and the team at Sapphire Ink Press for sharing this e-arc with me! The following review reflects my honest reading experience.
I cannot express to you how excited I was to receive an advanced copy of The Phoenix Priest! The Saltwater Heir was one of my top reads from last year. It’s also an all-time favorite read. The Saltwater Heir ended with so many twists and such a major cliffhanger that I could not wait to get my hands on the sequel. I’m so happy to say that The Phoenix Priest was an excellent follow-up! Cassidy Clarke has done it again!
The Phoenix Priest picks up right where The Saltwater Heir left off. Elias and Kallias are off to Nyx, Finn remains in the palace, and Soren is currently sharing her body with the goddess Anima. The story is told through these multiple points of view and it is so well done. Each POV really added depth, growth, and perspective to the story and the characters. For example, I really wanted to just blindly hate Anima. However, the author did an excellent job of using her chapters to paint a bigger picture and actually make me feel for her. She’s still not my favorite character, but I definitely understand her more. And speaking of Anima . . . there is much more interaction with the gods in The Phoenix Priest! It was so cool to learn more about them and their powers. I can’t wait to find out even more as the series goes on!
My favorite part of this series is the relationships between the characters. This is done a bit differently this time because the Atlas siblings are scattered throughout the world. I did not really care too much for Kallias in the first book, but man did The Phoenix Priest change my opinion of him. I totally love Kallias, and his friendship with Elias was one of my favorite parts of this book. I loved watching their friendship grow! These two men go on quite the journey, both physical and mental, together. Elias especially is dealing with his unimaginable grief and a deep depression. I thought that the author did a great job of writing Elias and his despair. Mental health can easily be used as just a plot point or an attention grabber, but Cassidy Clarke incorporated it into the story beautifully.
Finn stole my heart in The Saltwater Heir and he still hasn’t let it go! My sarcastic, fun-loving prince is a bit broken in this book. He is processing his grief and trauma all while dealing with the pressures of being a royal plus insane gods and goddesses. Finn still has his wit and cleverness, but he is much more vulnerable and fragile this time around. This book added more depth to all the characters, but especially Finn. I feel like we are just starting to peel away some of his masks. I just wanted to jump into the pages and give him the biggest hug! And he really needs a hug because his journey in The Phoenix Priest is a rollercoaster.
If you read my review of The Saltwater Heir you know that I love this world that Clarke has crafted. This gorgeous and creative world expands in The Phoenix Priest and we get to discover and learn about so many new places! I found the mountain city in Artem so fascinating, and I was in awe of the Mirrors from Lapis! It looks like we are going to explore even more of this awesome world in the next book and I am so excited!
Now, I bet you’re wondering why I did not give The Phoenix Priest five stars. I absolutely loved it, but the first third-halfish of this book was slow. It took me a bit to really get into the story. However, once it got going I was totally hooked.
The Phoenix Priest ends with another great cliffhanger. It’s not nearly as shocking as The Saltwater Heir, but it is super impactful. This ending really sets up the next story. Our characters are once again scattered and they all have quite the journey ahead. I cannot wait to find out what happens next in book three!
THE PHOENIX PRIEST WAS RELEASED APRIL 22ND, 2022.
PS: THIS AWESOME SERIES IS AVAILABLE ON KINDLE UNLIMITED!
https://talesofanavidreader.com/2022/...
Huge thank you to Cassidy Clarke and the team at Sapphire Ink Press for sharing this e-arc with me! The following review reflects my honest reading experience.
I cannot express to you how excited I was to receive an advanced copy of The Phoenix Priest! The Saltwater Heir was one of my top reads from last year. It’s also an all-time favorite read. The Saltwater Heir ended with so many twists and such a major cliffhanger that I could not wait to get my hands on the sequel. I’m so happy to say that The Phoenix Priest was an excellent follow-up! Cassidy Clarke has done it again!
The Phoenix Priest picks up right where The Saltwater Heir left off. Elias and Kallias are off to Nyx, Finn remains in the palace, and Soren is currently sharing her body with the goddess Anima. The story is told through these multiple points of view and it is so well done. Each POV really added depth, growth, and perspective to the story and the characters. For example, I really wanted to just blindly hate Anima. However, the author did an excellent job of using her chapters to paint a bigger picture and actually make me feel for her. She’s still not my favorite character, but I definitely understand her more. And speaking of Anima . . . there is much more interaction with the gods in The Phoenix Priest! It was so cool to learn more about them and their powers. I can’t wait to find out even more as the series goes on!
My favorite part of this series is the relationships between the characters. This is done a bit differently this time because the Atlas siblings are scattered throughout the world. I did not really care too much for Kallias in the first book, but man did The Phoenix Priest change my opinion of him. I totally love Kallias, and his friendship with Elias was one of my favorite parts of this book. I loved watching their friendship grow! These two men go on quite the journey, both physical and mental, together. Elias especially is dealing with his unimaginable grief and a deep depression. I thought that the author did a great job of writing Elias and his despair. Mental health can easily be used as just a plot point or an attention grabber, but Cassidy Clarke incorporated it into the story beautifully.
Finn stole my heart in The Saltwater Heir and he still hasn’t let it go! My sarcastic, fun-loving prince is a bit broken in this book. He is processing his grief and trauma all while dealing with the pressures of being a royal plus insane gods and goddesses. Finn still has his wit and cleverness, but he is much more vulnerable and fragile this time around. This book added more depth to all the characters, but especially Finn. I feel like we are just starting to peel away some of his masks. I just wanted to jump into the pages and give him the biggest hug! And he really needs a hug because his journey in The Phoenix Priest is a rollercoaster.
If you read my review of The Saltwater Heir you know that I love this world that Clarke has crafted. This gorgeous and creative world expands in The Phoenix Priest and we get to discover and learn about so many new places! I found the mountain city in Artem so fascinating, and I was in awe of the Mirrors from Lapis! It looks like we are going to explore even more of this awesome world in the next book and I am so excited!
Now, I bet you’re wondering why I did not give The Phoenix Priest five stars. I absolutely loved it, but the first third-halfish of this book was slow. It took me a bit to really get into the story. However, once it got going I was totally hooked.
The Phoenix Priest ends with another great cliffhanger. It’s not nearly as shocking as The Saltwater Heir, but it is super impactful. This ending really sets up the next story. Our characters are once again scattered and they all have quite the journey ahead. I cannot wait to find out what happens next in book three!
THE PHOENIX PRIEST WAS RELEASED APRIL 22ND, 2022.
PS: THIS AWESOME SERIES IS AVAILABLE ON KINDLE UNLIMITED!
https://talesofanavidreader.com/2022/...
April 21, 2022
Elias Loch has nothing left but grief for his lost battlemate. While in Artem to warn an equally grieving empress of the new dangers occurring in Atlas, Elias is plunged into trials that will test his faith more than ever.
What I liked:
– The prose. I've said it before, and I'll say it again: Clarke’s writing style is poetic. The descriptions, the choice of words, and everything in between melds together perfectly. It's what my novels want to look like when they grow up.
– Finn. The Trickster Prince stole my heart since the beginning, and his storyline in TPP was just... *chef's kiss* I got giddy each time his chapter header appeared, and I eagerly devoured those chapters.
– The nod to steampunk. What kind of steampunk author would I be if I didn't appreciate the couple of elements from the genre I write? They made me smile while reading, and I can't wait to be able to discuss them with others!
What I didn’t like:
– The first few chapters. This is just a personal preference, but I'm not big on political discussions in books or even in movies. Forming alliances or not, it makes my eyes glossy and goes right over my head. I just want to get to the action!
– Anima. Another personal preference, but I dislike her, and I just couldn't get into her chapters. Unlike the giddiness I felt with Finn, I internally groaned each time I came upon her chapter headers. Also, (TSH SPOILER!) I've found that I'm not a fan of reading two people in one headspace.
Overall:
– While it didn't quite reach the same level as TSH did for me, it's still an amazing book, and I can’t wait for the next one! Things are getting intense!
What I liked:
– The prose. I've said it before, and I'll say it again: Clarke’s writing style is poetic. The descriptions, the choice of words, and everything in between melds together perfectly. It's what my novels want to look like when they grow up.
– Finn. The Trickster Prince stole my heart since the beginning, and his storyline in TPP was just... *chef's kiss* I got giddy each time his chapter header appeared, and I eagerly devoured those chapters.
– The nod to steampunk. What kind of steampunk author would I be if I didn't appreciate the couple of elements from the genre I write? They made me smile while reading, and I can't wait to be able to discuss them with others!
What I didn’t like:
– The first few chapters. This is just a personal preference, but I'm not big on political discussions in books or even in movies. Forming alliances or not, it makes my eyes glossy and goes right over my head. I just want to get to the action!
– Anima. Another personal preference, but I dislike her, and I just couldn't get into her chapters. Unlike the giddiness I felt with Finn, I internally groaned each time I came upon her chapter headers. Also, (TSH SPOILER!) I've found that I'm not a fan of reading two people in one headspace.
Overall:
– While it didn't quite reach the same level as TSH did for me, it's still an amazing book, and I can’t wait for the next one! Things are getting intense!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 17, 2023
*I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review*
This book made me laugh, made me cry, made me smile, made me gasp and yell at the characters and kept me guessing until the very last page. I was a bit worried starting it because I enjoyed the first book so much that I wasn't certain if TPP could live up to TSH, but oh boy was I wrong! The Phoenix Priest masterfully builds on plotlines, themes, and characters introduced in The Saltwater Heir. The mythology and the different kingdoms were fleshed out in a way that felt so rich and complex to me, and my favorite aspect of TSH, the sibling relationships, were just as good, if not better as they were in the previous book. All of the character arcs felt as though I had merely paused a movie halfway through and then resumed it, and the mysterious threads left untied in TSH were revealed in ways that I didn't see coming and that shocked me but that were SO GOOD. And the ending... how am I supposed to wait for Book 3?
Basically, this book is absolutely everything and deserves much more than five stars! If you haven't picked it up, or Book 1, The Saltwater Heir, take this as your sign to do so: you won't regret it!
This book made me laugh, made me cry, made me smile, made me gasp and yell at the characters and kept me guessing until the very last page. I was a bit worried starting it because I enjoyed the first book so much that I wasn't certain if TPP could live up to TSH, but oh boy was I wrong! The Phoenix Priest masterfully builds on plotlines, themes, and characters introduced in The Saltwater Heir. The mythology and the different kingdoms were fleshed out in a way that felt so rich and complex to me, and my favorite aspect of TSH, the sibling relationships, were just as good, if not better as they were in the previous book. All of the character arcs felt as though I had merely paused a movie halfway through and then resumed it, and the mysterious threads left untied in TSH were revealed in ways that I didn't see coming and that shocked me but that were SO GOOD. And the ending... how am I supposed to wait for Book 3?
Basically, this book is absolutely everything and deserves much more than five stars! If you haven't picked it up, or Book 1, The Saltwater Heir, take this as your sign to do so: you won't regret it!
January 30, 2022
Ok full disclosure I had the pleasure to participate in the Beta read of this. I WILL be reading the finished book as well and will hold off to review then. All opinions are own. And if the beta read is indication…I anticipate a all of those empty stars spaces to be completely filled…
May 10, 2022
Amazing Sequel!
Loved it as much as I loved the first… though this one definitely hurt my heart more. My poor Atlas siblings! 😭 Especially Finn! 😭 I can’t wait for the third book. I need to know what happens to them!
Loved it as much as I loved the first… though this one definitely hurt my heart more. My poor Atlas siblings! 😭 Especially Finn! 😭 I can’t wait for the third book. I need to know what happens to them!
May 6, 2022
Clarke has built a fully fleshed amazing world with rival kingdoms that all feel truly different. The worldbuilding is so well done that the locations feel unique and the new side characters feel real and have their own new cultural motivations. As this world continues to expand around the Atlas family and Elias I only feel more and more fully immersed. This series is amazing. Vibrant. Heart wrenching. A glorious fantasy. I cannot wait for book three and the MORE it brings. More locations. More mythology. More danger, betrayal, loyalty and love. So so ready for The Goddess Eye!!
April 22, 2022
I was lucky enough to be part of the beta team for this and I absolutely LOVED it!! Cassidy knocks it outta the park with this one!!
I adore Soren! She's one of those tough bad a$$ characters that are my fav! In this book she's not quite dead but reliving memories she's forgotten with an old friend. Sounds odd but it reads so so well! I loved getting to know her background and family better!!
Finn became my absolute favorite character! He's broken and sarcastic which makes him so interesting and easy for me to connect with. He's way smarter than he lets on which leads to some really cunning plans! He's got some of the best with banter which I live for!!
Elias is so sad and broken at the beginning of this book. His character growth in this book is so amazing to read! It's raw and real! And I really love the relationships Elias has with all the other characters!!
This book is paced well so it sucks you right back in! Tricky Gods and Goddesses make the story twist and turn! It's honestly a roller coaster of emotions! I laughed, I cried, I was so sad and happy and hopeful! You know it's a 5 star book when you connect with the characters so well you're feeling all the feelings!! I can't recommend this book more!! Lol, and yes, I'm absolutely dying for the next book!! This series is definitely one of my favorite series!!!
I adore Soren! She's one of those tough bad a$$ characters that are my fav! In this book she's not quite dead but reliving memories she's forgotten with an old friend. Sounds odd but it reads so so well! I loved getting to know her background and family better!!
Finn became my absolute favorite character! He's broken and sarcastic which makes him so interesting and easy for me to connect with. He's way smarter than he lets on which leads to some really cunning plans! He's got some of the best with banter which I live for!!
Elias is so sad and broken at the beginning of this book. His character growth in this book is so amazing to read! It's raw and real! And I really love the relationships Elias has with all the other characters!!
This book is paced well so it sucks you right back in! Tricky Gods and Goddesses make the story twist and turn! It's honestly a roller coaster of emotions! I laughed, I cried, I was so sad and happy and hopeful! You know it's a 5 star book when you connect with the characters so well you're feeling all the feelings!! I can't recommend this book more!! Lol, and yes, I'm absolutely dying for the next book!! This series is definitely one of my favorite series!!!
April 8, 2022
4.5 out of 5 stars
I was fortunate enough to receive an ARC of this book, after having thoroughly enjoyed The Saltwater Heir. It's definitely hard to say everything I want to without spoilers, but I found this another wonderful read by Clarke.
I loved Finn's journey the most. I feel that there was so much depth to his storyline and some shocking twists that I didn't see coming. I loved seeing more of his fragility and vulnerability, mixed in with his usual confidence and cleverness. It made for really fleshing out his character even more, and I truly think he's one of the most complex characters in this series.
Elias and Kallias's friendship and growing dynamic was also a lot of fun to explore! I love that there was so much depth with Elias's grief, and him navigating his way through some complicated emotions, as well as some other revelations about himself.
I did enjoy Soren's arc, I can't say too much about it without spoilers, but I wish we had a little more of her. She felt a little sidelined in favour of some of the other characters, but I do understand this is more Elias's book whereas the first one was more Soren's, so it made sense. I also would have loved more of Jericho, but again, I know that's simply personal preference.
Overall, this was a solid sequel with incredible character development and I am really excited to see where Clarke takes us in the next book!
I was fortunate enough to receive an ARC of this book, after having thoroughly enjoyed The Saltwater Heir. It's definitely hard to say everything I want to without spoilers, but I found this another wonderful read by Clarke.
I loved Finn's journey the most. I feel that there was so much depth to his storyline and some shocking twists that I didn't see coming. I loved seeing more of his fragility and vulnerability, mixed in with his usual confidence and cleverness. It made for really fleshing out his character even more, and I truly think he's one of the most complex characters in this series.
Elias and Kallias's friendship and growing dynamic was also a lot of fun to explore! I love that there was so much depth with Elias's grief, and him navigating his way through some complicated emotions, as well as some other revelations about himself.
I did enjoy Soren's arc, I can't say too much about it without spoilers, but I wish we had a little more of her. She felt a little sidelined in favour of some of the other characters, but I do understand this is more Elias's book whereas the first one was more Soren's, so it made sense. I also would have loved more of Jericho, but again, I know that's simply personal preference.
Overall, this was a solid sequel with incredible character development and I am really excited to see where Clarke takes us in the next book!
April 11, 2022
UUUGGGHHHHH. Everything I loved about book one, came for me with a vengeance in book two. It’s painful. It’s hilarious. It’s smart and sneaky and SO GOOD. i got the pleasure of being a beta reader, and I was not disappointed. Every scene, every new character and ship: amazing.
I can’t wait to read it again when it comes out. And relive all my emotions. Of which there are many. And just. Cassidy. 🙌🏻🙌🏻🙌🏻 allow me to bow down to your talent.
I can’t wait to read it again when it comes out. And relive all my emotions. Of which there are many. And just. Cassidy. 🙌🏻🙌🏻🙌🏻 allow me to bow down to your talent.
Read
May 12, 2022losing my mind hate everything. kallias you idiot (affectionate)
September 16, 2025
Wow… just wow
May 2, 2023
Amazing addition to this fantasy saga! The Phoenix Priest does an excellent job of balancing multiple POV of characters introduced in book one, as well as introducing new players who will be essential to the continuation of the story. Despite the large cast, it isn't difficult to follow along the diverging plotlines. I love that the action, suspense, and plot twists are kept up with in this sequel; it certainly doesn't suffer from second-book syndrome (you know, where book 1 was excellent and book 2 is just a bunch of feet-dragging when the real plot is saved for later). The Phoenix Priest builds on what was established in book one, fleshing out everything from physical worldbuilding to spiritual, while also keeping me on the edge of my seat. The amount of fear I have knowing that something terrible could happen to any of my favorite characters at any moment is astronomical. I absolutely loved this book. The size may be daunting, but trust me, once you begin reading, you'll want all those pages of material to get more insight on the characters, witty quips, and all of the angst. So much angst. I hope one day these characters may have the chance to be HAPPY AND SAFE!!! But I know book three will bring even more to the table, so I need to get my hands on it, immediately.
July 13, 2024
Like I didn’t love the depression era of all my favorite characters, it was kinda rough. But you best believe I was reading page after page bc I had to know. Once again this book goes hard and there is so much happening at one time. 10/10 recommend this series even though it will hurt your feelings and also I would say wait til all the books are out bc now I’m just gonna be wondering for WHO KNOWS HOW LONG ABT WHAT HAPPENS anyways it’s fine. 😒
February 27, 2023
Book two was just as enchanting as the first. It was filled with stunning prose and lovable characters. I loved that we got to see so much more of the other kingdoms in Clarke’s world. The Phoenix Priest was darker, full of heartache, and trials, and growth. Just like the first it ended on a cliffhanger, leaving me eagerly awaiting book three.
November 2, 2022
I wanted to give this a 5 ⭐️ but it left me with so many questions....
However the plot, characters and emotions were fantastic, I could not put it down!
However the plot, characters and emotions were fantastic, I could not put it down!
October 9, 2024
Clarke continues to have excellent character development coupled with non-stop action with palatable but expansive world building. Excited to read the next one.
November 13, 2024
SO GOOD. 😭 MY HEART.
November 26, 2024
I’m thoroughly enjoying these—but this one was a tad slow
April 22, 2022
😱😱😱
Seriously?! I’ve finished?! And now I have to wait for the next book again?!!!
This was an excellent sequel to The Saltwater Heir. I didn’t think it was possible, but I’m even more attached to these characters than I was at the end of book one. The journeys these characters are going through! 😭 And my poor Finn! You know what you did! 😢
This book drew me in immediately, just like TSH. There is just something about Clarke’s writing style and descriptive word choice that sucks me right in to the world and the characters’ mindsets. I hear each characters’ voice when reading their chapters and the transition between them is smooth and easy.
I am so excited for the next stage of the adventure. 😃I’ll be eagerly waiting for the next sequel after that ending! 😬😬
I have hope for my “ships” to sail happily into the sunset and I’m not giving up on them regardless of the heartbreak I have to go through in the meantime. 🤣🥺❤️
(I received a free eARC in exchange for my honest review 😄)
Seriously?! I’ve finished?! And now I have to wait for the next book again?!!!
This was an excellent sequel to The Saltwater Heir. I didn’t think it was possible, but I’m even more attached to these characters than I was at the end of book one. The journeys these characters are going through! 😭 And my poor Finn! You know what you did! 😢
This book drew me in immediately, just like TSH. There is just something about Clarke’s writing style and descriptive word choice that sucks me right in to the world and the characters’ mindsets. I hear each characters’ voice when reading their chapters and the transition between them is smooth and easy.
I am so excited for the next stage of the adventure. 😃I’ll be eagerly waiting for the next sequel after that ending! 😬😬
I have hope for my “ships” to sail happily into the sunset and I’m not giving up on them regardless of the heartbreak I have to go through in the meantime. 🤣🥺❤️
(I received a free eARC in exchange for my honest review 😄)
May 24, 2022
It’s difficult for me to coherently express my love for this book. The sequel to The Saltwater Heir did not disappoint AT ALL, building off the momentum from the shocking and heartbreaking ending of book 1 to…more shocks and heartbreak.
I am optimistic that my babies Finn and Elias (and Kallias and Soren…okay I love them all) will be happy someday…but they have not reached that part of their journey yet. They really go through the ringer in this book. It hurts but it just makes me love this series even more as the portrayals of grief are so raw and real. There is still enough banter and humor to balance out the heavy emotions, and the Kallias/Elias bromance is everything to me.
I love the world building in this book, visiting new kingdoms, learning more about the gods’ backstories, discovering magical creatures (including a dragon who lives in a bakery!), and developing the elemental(ish) magic system. Cassidy Clarke does a great job of writing complicated and conflicted characters, so that even the villains earn some sympathy.
This had more romance than the first book with additional Atlas siblings getting love interest (with some of my favorite tropes). Keep in mind, this is a fantasy series with romantic subplots, NOT a fantasy romance series.
This is my new favorite series and I need everyone to read it so I have more than two people to talk to about it. Available on Kindle Unlimited!
Blog | Instagram
I am optimistic that my babies Finn and Elias (and Kallias and Soren…okay I love them all) will be happy someday…but they have not reached that part of their journey yet. They really go through the ringer in this book. It hurts but it just makes me love this series even more as the portrayals of grief are so raw and real. There is still enough banter and humor to balance out the heavy emotions, and the Kallias/Elias bromance is everything to me.
I love the world building in this book, visiting new kingdoms, learning more about the gods’ backstories, discovering magical creatures (including a dragon who lives in a bakery!), and developing the elemental(ish) magic system. Cassidy Clarke does a great job of writing complicated and conflicted characters, so that even the villains earn some sympathy.
This had more romance than the first book with additional Atlas siblings getting love interest (with some of my favorite tropes). Keep in mind, this is a fantasy series with romantic subplots, NOT a fantasy romance series.
This is my new favorite series and I need everyone to read it so I have more than two people to talk to about it. Available on Kindle Unlimited!
Blog | Instagram
Displaying 1 - 28 of 28 reviews