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Crown of the Phoenix #1
Crown of the Phoenix
‘Each tick brought her closer to her doom. Tick. Aurelia forgot how to breathe. Tick. Panic consumed her. Tick. She needed to get free. Tick. Before it was too late. Tick.”
Aurelia Vesta did everything with her sister, Septima… including running away from home. When their father announced their arranged betrothals, her sister vowed to die before following through with the marriage. Aurelia, determined to find a place where Septima would be allowed to be with another woman, led the way into the Howling Forest, but their late night escape landed the pair in a fantasy realm full of death and danger.
Their new world grants her sister equal rights, but that freedom comes with a heavy cost. Aurelia finds herself among the fae as their world teeters on the precipice of a war, and suddenly the blissful future she’d promised Septima doesn’t feel so certain. But, even with the promise of violence hanging over their heads, the Vesta girls find love… until dark secrets and hidden betrayals taint their new lives.
When her closest ally deceives her and a blood-thirsty king threatens to conquer both worlds, can Aurelia find the courage to survive? Or will the magical warfare claim her as a victim?
This Book One of the series does end in a captivating cliff hanger! You won’t have to wait for Book Two though! I promise! The Crown of the Phoenix series is expected to be a trilogy…
This book contains mature themes, situations, and language.
Aurelia Vesta did everything with her sister, Septima… including running away from home. When their father announced their arranged betrothals, her sister vowed to die before following through with the marriage. Aurelia, determined to find a place where Septima would be allowed to be with another woman, led the way into the Howling Forest, but their late night escape landed the pair in a fantasy realm full of death and danger.
Their new world grants her sister equal rights, but that freedom comes with a heavy cost. Aurelia finds herself among the fae as their world teeters on the precipice of a war, and suddenly the blissful future she’d promised Septima doesn’t feel so certain. But, even with the promise of violence hanging over their heads, the Vesta girls find love… until dark secrets and hidden betrayals taint their new lives.
When her closest ally deceives her and a blood-thirsty king threatens to conquer both worlds, can Aurelia find the courage to survive? Or will the magical warfare claim her as a victim?
This Book One of the series does end in a captivating cliff hanger! You won’t have to wait for Book Two though! I promise! The Crown of the Phoenix series is expected to be a trilogy…
This book contains mature themes, situations, and language.
343 pages, ebook
Published May 24, 2022
192 people are currently reading
1460 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 64 reviews
May 24, 2022
I received an arc copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
I enjoyed it, the beginning seemed a bit rushed to me and felt like I was coming in at the middle just a bit, but after a few chapters I was able to get into it more and enjoy the character development and story line. Besides the above comment I don’t have anything negative to say about it, and will be looking forward to reading the second installment! 😊
I enjoyed it, the beginning seemed a bit rushed to me and felt like I was coming in at the middle just a bit, but after a few chapters I was able to get into it more and enjoy the character development and story line. Besides the above comment I don’t have anything negative to say about it, and will be looking forward to reading the second installment! 😊
May 12, 2022
Crown of the Phoenix by C.A. Varian is the first book in an exciting new Fantasy series.
This intriguing page turner grabs your attention right from the beginning and keeps you hooked until the cliffhanger ending!
I cannot wait to read what happens next!
Thank you to the author for giving me the opportunity to read this book.
This intriguing page turner grabs your attention right from the beginning and keeps you hooked until the cliffhanger ending!
I cannot wait to read what happens next!
Thank you to the author for giving me the opportunity to read this book.
May 24, 2022
I received an ARC of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review.
The plot line was ok. Definitely in the realm of my favorite genre- Fae, royalty, adventure, war, etc. Two sisters run away from home to avoid arranged marriages to find themselves in the Fae world. It’s full of powerful females (although not the main character, read the next paragraph for that explanation), several LGBTQ characters, a pet tiger, and of course- dragons. Some of the characters’ secrets become obvious quickly, which make it a little predictable for my tastes.
The writing is what sets this book back.
The romantic couples in the story don’t really have much chemistry. They don’t even get to know each other before anything happens. It’s like wait, what? There’s hints that conversation of getting to know each other happened but it wasn’t enough to convince me. Some of the other groups have zero chemistry and I just didn’t get it.
The main female character, Aurelia, is weak and immature. Other than someone saying she’s a good fighter (this is only mentioned once after there are repeated comments that she’s not a good fighter), she doesn’t seem to be useful or have a purpose in any part of the plot. She just seems to be dragged along, scared and confused, for the adventures but doesn’t have much of a purpose. Maybe that’s intentional though in the plot and she turns strong and powerful in a future book. I don’t know. The giggling and self-consciousness about everything has got to go in order for her to be a believable heroine. Otherwise, she’s just a side character.
The awkward wording and immature narrative voice made it difficult for me to get through. I wasn’t sure if it was intentional or not. The two main female characters, sisters, acted and sounded more like pre-teens than 19(?) and 21.
Some examples of these are (NO spoilers-I specially picked these because they don’t give anything away!):
* “They were left out of the loop, but Aurelia did not mind.”
* “It is so obvious that you have a crush on him.”
* “Septima nodded and squeezed her butt into the small amount of space between the two.”
* “It’s hard to walk into a battle you may not survive. But when you’re fighting for something worth dying for, it doesn’t matter if you’re scared.”
* “Although she had never hunted in her life, Aurelia was flooded with relief. She’d much rather stalk a beast through the forest than be sent on a dangerous mission for the cause. She simply wasn’t ready for that yet.”
* “Spectre Forest belongs to no one, least of all you! And Aegricia is not yours. Our crown will never bow to your worthless king.”
* “Aurelia was bored out of her mind, but relieved the weather was tolerable.”
I think the story has potential but some of the above issues would need to be fixed for me to continue with the trilogy. Also, anyone else notice the cover art is almost identical to “Crown of Secrets”? 🤔
The plot line was ok. Definitely in the realm of my favorite genre- Fae, royalty, adventure, war, etc. Two sisters run away from home to avoid arranged marriages to find themselves in the Fae world. It’s full of powerful females (although not the main character, read the next paragraph for that explanation), several LGBTQ characters, a pet tiger, and of course- dragons. Some of the characters’ secrets become obvious quickly, which make it a little predictable for my tastes.
The writing is what sets this book back.
The romantic couples in the story don’t really have much chemistry. They don’t even get to know each other before anything happens. It’s like wait, what? There’s hints that conversation of getting to know each other happened but it wasn’t enough to convince me. Some of the other groups have zero chemistry and I just didn’t get it.
The main female character, Aurelia, is weak and immature. Other than someone saying she’s a good fighter (this is only mentioned once after there are repeated comments that she’s not a good fighter), she doesn’t seem to be useful or have a purpose in any part of the plot. She just seems to be dragged along, scared and confused, for the adventures but doesn’t have much of a purpose. Maybe that’s intentional though in the plot and she turns strong and powerful in a future book. I don’t know. The giggling and self-consciousness about everything has got to go in order for her to be a believable heroine. Otherwise, she’s just a side character.
The awkward wording and immature narrative voice made it difficult for me to get through. I wasn’t sure if it was intentional or not. The two main female characters, sisters, acted and sounded more like pre-teens than 19(?) and 21.
Some examples of these are (NO spoilers-I specially picked these because they don’t give anything away!):
* “They were left out of the loop, but Aurelia did not mind.”
* “It is so obvious that you have a crush on him.”
* “Septima nodded and squeezed her butt into the small amount of space between the two.”
* “It’s hard to walk into a battle you may not survive. But when you’re fighting for something worth dying for, it doesn’t matter if you’re scared.”
* “Although she had never hunted in her life, Aurelia was flooded with relief. She’d much rather stalk a beast through the forest than be sent on a dangerous mission for the cause. She simply wasn’t ready for that yet.”
* “Spectre Forest belongs to no one, least of all you! And Aegricia is not yours. Our crown will never bow to your worthless king.”
* “Aurelia was bored out of her mind, but relieved the weather was tolerable.”
I think the story has potential but some of the above issues would need to be fixed for me to continue with the trilogy. Also, anyone else notice the cover art is almost identical to “Crown of Secrets”? 🤔
May 24, 2022
I received an ARC of this book. Here is my honest review:
Crown of the Phoenix is such a fun book and I had an absolute blast reading it. My favorite part is honestly the rich worldbuilding. The descriptions were beautiful and the differences in the culture and aesthetic - even climate - of Ekotoria was noticed and appreciated (sidenote: I would love to vacation in Diapolis!). The magical creatures were so fun and exciting to meet on page. I don’t want to list all of them so readers can experience them fresh like I did but it was a really cool blend of traditional and more contemporary fantasy creatures. I have to say: Dewdrop is fantastic and I loved her.
The book’s twists were also great. They weren’t drawn out and overcomplicated and I had a fun time trying to figure them out before they were revealed. No spoilers here but I was genuinely surprised!
I did feel some of the character interaction/relationship development was a tad bit rushed - but at the same time I was so excited for the story to go on that I didn’t really mind it a whole lot.
On a more personal note:I found Aurelia and Septima’s sister relationship to be really heartwarming. I also am the elder sister of an LGBT+ younger sister with the same age gap and it was personally a really nice read to dive into the same - but very different - relationship dynamic.
The only reason I didn’t inhale this book in one sitting is because I’m a new mom with a sweet snuggly baby who requires a lot of attention. Every time she napped and any other chance I got I pulled up this book in my Kindle app and read!
I can’t wait for Crown of the Exiled to come out and will be snatching that book up immediately. The cliffhanger at the end of this one has me biting my nails. I cannot wait to see what comes next!
Crown of the Phoenix is such a fun book and I had an absolute blast reading it. My favorite part is honestly the rich worldbuilding. The descriptions were beautiful and the differences in the culture and aesthetic - even climate - of Ekotoria was noticed and appreciated (sidenote: I would love to vacation in Diapolis!). The magical creatures were so fun and exciting to meet on page. I don’t want to list all of them so readers can experience them fresh like I did but it was a really cool blend of traditional and more contemporary fantasy creatures. I have to say: Dewdrop is fantastic and I loved her.
The book’s twists were also great. They weren’t drawn out and overcomplicated and I had a fun time trying to figure them out before they were revealed. No spoilers here but I was genuinely surprised!
I did feel some of the character interaction/relationship development was a tad bit rushed - but at the same time I was so excited for the story to go on that I didn’t really mind it a whole lot.
On a more personal note:I found Aurelia and Septima’s sister relationship to be really heartwarming. I also am the elder sister of an LGBT+ younger sister with the same age gap and it was personally a really nice read to dive into the same - but very different - relationship dynamic.
The only reason I didn’t inhale this book in one sitting is because I’m a new mom with a sweet snuggly baby who requires a lot of attention. Every time she napped and any other chance I got I pulled up this book in my Kindle app and read!
I can’t wait for Crown of the Exiled to come out and will be snatching that book up immediately. The cliffhanger at the end of this one has me biting my nails. I cannot wait to see what comes next!
May 14, 2022
I received an ARC copy of this book with the stipulation that I would leave an honest review. In summary: I would read the second book and I would recommend it to a friend.
Pros:
1. Well done descriptions that give enough detail without going overboard. Minimal errors and the plot is interesting and addictive.
2. Characters are well thought out with unique personality traits that are not typical of fantasy/romance books. I particularly loved the lead males approach to wooing the female as it illustrated consent.
3. Steamy scenes were frequent with enough description without going too far. The book felt like a solid fantasy book with a good plot and that just happened to have a love interest that was followed.
Cons:
1. My major complaint is that book 1 does not end with any real conclusion. I am left with major cliffhangers and the main plot points were never resolved.
2. Character motivations seem shallow. For instance, I kept expecting there to be more to why the main lead fell for the girl. What was special about her? He acted like she was his “mate” but never said.
Overall, I liked the book and am excited to read the next one. While the writing was better than anything available in romance/fantasy apps, the author still has room to grow as she develops characters and satisfies plot points. I appreciated the opportunity to read this and hope the author continues to write.
Pros:
1. Well done descriptions that give enough detail without going overboard. Minimal errors and the plot is interesting and addictive.
2. Characters are well thought out with unique personality traits that are not typical of fantasy/romance books. I particularly loved the lead males approach to wooing the female as it illustrated consent.
3. Steamy scenes were frequent with enough description without going too far. The book felt like a solid fantasy book with a good plot and that just happened to have a love interest that was followed.
Cons:
1. My major complaint is that book 1 does not end with any real conclusion. I am left with major cliffhangers and the main plot points were never resolved.
2. Character motivations seem shallow. For instance, I kept expecting there to be more to why the main lead fell for the girl. What was special about her? He acted like she was his “mate” but never said.
Overall, I liked the book and am excited to read the next one. While the writing was better than anything available in romance/fantasy apps, the author still has room to grow as she develops characters and satisfies plot points. I appreciated the opportunity to read this and hope the author continues to write.
June 9, 2022
I received an arc of this book in exchange for an honest review. This was my first arc book and I really wanted to like it. I think my excitement over receiving an arc led to unrealistic expectations.
I’ll be honest, I haven’t finished reading it. Whether that’s because it hasn’t quite sucked me in, or because it’s a kindle copy (I prefer physical books over digital) we may never know.
Crown of the Phoenix is an overall easy read. That was a breath of fresh air in comparison to some other books I’m reading right now. When physically reading it, I did enjoy it, but I had a hard time picking it back up.
The beginning seemed a little rushed. We didn’t get a good backstory or feeling of how the girls lives were before they fled. We find out their marriages are arranged and all the sudden they decide to leave and end up in a new world. Everyone in the beginning of this book is way too trusting of one another…the girls run into these women in the middle of the woods and decide to give up their entire lives, never to return again, to go with these strangers?! Yeah right. I do enjoy the fact that the women are the warriors and leaders. There are some clever aspects of this book (Aurelia dreams about the captured queen) which I guess I’ll find out more about when I continue reading and finish the book. That being said, when I do finish, I’ll update my review the better reflect my full opinion.
I’ll be honest, I haven’t finished reading it. Whether that’s because it hasn’t quite sucked me in, or because it’s a kindle copy (I prefer physical books over digital) we may never know.
Crown of the Phoenix is an overall easy read. That was a breath of fresh air in comparison to some other books I’m reading right now. When physically reading it, I did enjoy it, but I had a hard time picking it back up.
The beginning seemed a little rushed. We didn’t get a good backstory or feeling of how the girls lives were before they fled. We find out their marriages are arranged and all the sudden they decide to leave and end up in a new world. Everyone in the beginning of this book is way too trusting of one another…the girls run into these women in the middle of the woods and decide to give up their entire lives, never to return again, to go with these strangers?! Yeah right. I do enjoy the fact that the women are the warriors and leaders. There are some clever aspects of this book (Aurelia dreams about the captured queen) which I guess I’ll find out more about when I continue reading and finish the book. That being said, when I do finish, I’ll update my review the better reflect my full opinion.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 26, 2022
Fantastic book!!
This is the first time I have read a book by this author. It was awesome!! Now I am going to read the other books she has. This is about Aurelia and her sister Septima. They run away from their father because he has arranged marriages for them both. They head into the Howling Forest. But they end up in a fantasy realm full of danger and death. Aurelia swore to get Septima to a place where she could be with who ever she wants to to be with. Both girls may of found love. But will they make it through the battle that will happen soon? Or will they die fighting for what they think is right? This book is full of action. I love the character development between the sisters. The ending brought tears to my eyes, but I can't wait to see what happens in book 2. Loved this book!!!
This is the first time I have read a book by this author. It was awesome!! Now I am going to read the other books she has. This is about Aurelia and her sister Septima. They run away from their father because he has arranged marriages for them both. They head into the Howling Forest. But they end up in a fantasy realm full of danger and death. Aurelia swore to get Septima to a place where she could be with who ever she wants to to be with. Both girls may of found love. But will they make it through the battle that will happen soon? Or will they die fighting for what they think is right? This book is full of action. I love the character development between the sisters. The ending brought tears to my eyes, but I can't wait to see what happens in book 2. Loved this book!!!
July 16, 2022
This is set in a really intriguing read, stars very likable characters that I easily sympathized with off the bat, and some fierce female warriors, etc. It depicts humans being introduced to supernaturals and other worlds, etc., things they didn’t think possible, which is always fun.
It’s fairly brilliantly woven, and if the author’s writing style included less telling and more showing, it’d be completely epic. As it stands, it’s still enjoyable, an interesting listen.
3 stars.
⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️
Audio:
The narrator was okay—not one I’d seek out again, but one I can tolerate if the content is amazing. She sounded mildly robotic at times, and dramatic at times it wasn’t called for, but her voice was pleasant enough. 3-star performance.
It’s fairly brilliantly woven, and if the author’s writing style included less telling and more showing, it’d be completely epic. As it stands, it’s still enjoyable, an interesting listen.
3 stars.
⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️
Audio:
The narrator was okay—not one I’d seek out again, but one I can tolerate if the content is amazing. She sounded mildly robotic at times, and dramatic at times it wasn’t called for, but her voice was pleasant enough. 3-star performance.
August 8, 2022
I received an ARC copy for an honest review.
I would buy this and read it again in a heartbeat. This was an excellent first installment of this series and I am beyond excited to read the next one. Varian is a jerk for that cliffhanger ending. I don't want to wait for book two to come out to find out what happens.
At the beginning I was nervous because the characters were immature, but as the story progressed thier character development became very evident. I think I can see where they are going to grow from here and I am so excited for the next adventure.
I would buy this and read it again in a heartbeat. This was an excellent first installment of this series and I am beyond excited to read the next one. Varian is a jerk for that cliffhanger ending. I don't want to wait for book two to come out to find out what happens.
At the beginning I was nervous because the characters were immature, but as the story progressed thier character development became very evident. I think I can see where they are going to grow from here and I am so excited for the next adventure.
July 25, 2022
✨3.5/5 ✨
I received an Arc copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review directly from the author.
I really, really wanted to love this book. I loved the cover, I loved the synopsis about it when asking to read the ARC, but there was just something missing. Now, although I *might* read the next book in the series, I just couldn't fall in love with this.
Pros:
- quick read, easy to follow
- romance, it's always a pro
Cons:
- The characters were just thrown at us, and so so fast, we didn't get a time to bond with them, learn about them, or fall in love with them
- A lot of scenes were missing details or descriptions, I couldn't quite grasp what I was "looking" at when reading this story
- Everyone just trusted each other so quickly, that I was literally screaming, "YOU JUST MET" so many times
I received an Arc copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review directly from the author.
I really, really wanted to love this book. I loved the cover, I loved the synopsis about it when asking to read the ARC, but there was just something missing. Now, although I *might* read the next book in the series, I just couldn't fall in love with this.
Pros:
- quick read, easy to follow
- romance, it's always a pro
Cons:
- The characters were just thrown at us, and so so fast, we didn't get a time to bond with them, learn about them, or fall in love with them
- A lot of scenes were missing details or descriptions, I couldn't quite grasp what I was "looking" at when reading this story
- Everyone just trusted each other so quickly, that I was literally screaming, "YOU JUST MET" so many times
September 18, 2022
Aurelia and her sister Septima decided to play a game of hide in seek in the forest with Aurelia's pet tiger Kano after getting tired of sparring with their brother Amadeus.
Aurelia had been told that her crimson hair had been a gift of Vena and like her, she loved to spar and learning to weld weapons which was forbidden in their society. Women were not to make a man feel weak in her presence, but you never knew when such skills would be helpful and so she and her sister practiced with their older brother in secret.
At twenty-one Aurelia knew she would have to marry soon, but she would much rather be a warrior. Her sister Septima just wanted adventure and she refused to be married to a male and marrying a woman was strictly forbidden in Vacros.
When they are returning to the villa they look up when Kano growls deep in his throat. Her father is standing in the foyer with two strange men. Their father demanded that they clean up immediately and come down for dinner to get to know their future husbands.
Septima refuses to marry a man and tells Aurelia she has to leave and Aurelia says she will go with her. So they pack what they can carry, forage the kitchen for some food, fling their swords over their shoulders and head for the Howling Forest looking for adventure.
I loved this book! It is very well written and the characters are fully developed and relatable. Aurelia and Septima were looking for adventure but in their wildest dreams never expected to find themselves in the realm of the fae and join women phoenix's in a war to save the human realm.
This book is action-packed from word one. They are immersed in the middle of a dangerous war in this magical world of fae shifters. This story is full of twists and turns and unexpected revelations. Expect a cliffhanger, but the story is well worth it. Looking forward to the conclusion of this duet.
This audiobook is narrated by the amazing Teena Scott who does another amazing job depicting all of these wonderful characters and the danger they are facing.
This is the first CA Varian book and I will definitely be looking for more. Her characters are fully developed and the plot grips and holds you throughout this wonderful story. Highly recommend!
Aurelia had been told that her crimson hair had been a gift of Vena and like her, she loved to spar and learning to weld weapons which was forbidden in their society. Women were not to make a man feel weak in her presence, but you never knew when such skills would be helpful and so she and her sister practiced with their older brother in secret.
At twenty-one Aurelia knew she would have to marry soon, but she would much rather be a warrior. Her sister Septima just wanted adventure and she refused to be married to a male and marrying a woman was strictly forbidden in Vacros.
When they are returning to the villa they look up when Kano growls deep in his throat. Her father is standing in the foyer with two strange men. Their father demanded that they clean up immediately and come down for dinner to get to know their future husbands.
Septima refuses to marry a man and tells Aurelia she has to leave and Aurelia says she will go with her. So they pack what they can carry, forage the kitchen for some food, fling their swords over their shoulders and head for the Howling Forest looking for adventure.
I loved this book! It is very well written and the characters are fully developed and relatable. Aurelia and Septima were looking for adventure but in their wildest dreams never expected to find themselves in the realm of the fae and join women phoenix's in a war to save the human realm.
This book is action-packed from word one. They are immersed in the middle of a dangerous war in this magical world of fae shifters. This story is full of twists and turns and unexpected revelations. Expect a cliffhanger, but the story is well worth it. Looking forward to the conclusion of this duet.
This audiobook is narrated by the amazing Teena Scott who does another amazing job depicting all of these wonderful characters and the danger they are facing.
This is the first CA Varian book and I will definitely be looking for more. Her characters are fully developed and the plot grips and holds you throughout this wonderful story. Highly recommend!
May 27, 2022
I kindly received an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
The story follows the main character, Aurelia, and her sister Septima as they flee their home in search of a better, more accepting way of life. They come across 2 fae women who take them under their (literal) wings and discover so much about their world and other realms that they didn’t know before.
Overall, I quite enjoyed this book. The romance, once it began, was interesting and endearing. I still think there is something deeper going on between the main love interests though which I’m intrigued about. This book had everything you’d want from a fantasy book: phoenixes, fae, dragons, battles, weapons and interesting world-building. I found the world-building itself easy to follow and the descriptions of the places allowed me to vividly picture everything. There was also a good mixture of some predictable and some unexpected plot twists that kept me on my toes.
The only criticisms I have is that I initially thought the story started very quickly, but after the rest of the plot unfolded I forgave it easily. I also think the romance started very suddenly too, but the relationships were still enjoyable to read. Finally, I hit a bit of a point about a third of the way through where it seemed to drag and I didn’t feel like the story was going anywhere, but after pushing through, I found it picked up pace again and I sped through.
Overall an enjoyable fantasy adventure and I look forward to the sequel! (Especially with that ending!)
With thanks to C. A. Varian for the Advanced Reader Copy and for generally being a lovely person!
The story follows the main character, Aurelia, and her sister Septima as they flee their home in search of a better, more accepting way of life. They come across 2 fae women who take them under their (literal) wings and discover so much about their world and other realms that they didn’t know before.
Overall, I quite enjoyed this book. The romance, once it began, was interesting and endearing. I still think there is something deeper going on between the main love interests though which I’m intrigued about. This book had everything you’d want from a fantasy book: phoenixes, fae, dragons, battles, weapons and interesting world-building. I found the world-building itself easy to follow and the descriptions of the places allowed me to vividly picture everything. There was also a good mixture of some predictable and some unexpected plot twists that kept me on my toes.
The only criticisms I have is that I initially thought the story started very quickly, but after the rest of the plot unfolded I forgave it easily. I also think the romance started very suddenly too, but the relationships were still enjoyable to read. Finally, I hit a bit of a point about a third of the way through where it seemed to drag and I didn’t feel like the story was going anywhere, but after pushing through, I found it picked up pace again and I sped through.
Overall an enjoyable fantasy adventure and I look forward to the sequel! (Especially with that ending!)
With thanks to C. A. Varian for the Advanced Reader Copy and for generally being a lovely person!
September 22, 2022
There is a rich and heartfelt world inside Crown of the Phoenix by C A Varian. What starts out as a seemingly normal adventure soon ends up with all a reader would expect from the Fantasy genre: Fae, dragons, monsters, intriguing characters, a rich culture, and of course a fantastical journey.
I really liked the main character, Aurelia, and felt that her realtionship with her sister Septima felt really organic and well developed. This can be said for a number of other characters who Aurelia meets along the way, and there are a whole cast of characters whom I really enjoyed. Aurelia's seemingly weaknesses and timidness on occasion will ultimately be her strength once she finds her true calling in this new world, and I look forward to her development in future books.
The word within this book is detailed and interesting, and the text is packed with customs and ideologies that I could really get behind. It reflects to some extent our modern values of equality and acceptance which is something I enjoyed. These subtle undertones are there for all to find but not overly prominent, just like they should be in any well written text.
The ending to this book felt a little abrupt in that it is setting itself for the sequel. I'm not too fussed about this as I'm sure to pick it up, however some may find the lack of a conclusion a little frustrating.
This is a great Fantasy book sure to delight many fans of the genre. With its rich world and interesting characters, this book is one to savour and enjoy.
I really liked the main character, Aurelia, and felt that her realtionship with her sister Septima felt really organic and well developed. This can be said for a number of other characters who Aurelia meets along the way, and there are a whole cast of characters whom I really enjoyed. Aurelia's seemingly weaknesses and timidness on occasion will ultimately be her strength once she finds her true calling in this new world, and I look forward to her development in future books.
The word within this book is detailed and interesting, and the text is packed with customs and ideologies that I could really get behind. It reflects to some extent our modern values of equality and acceptance which is something I enjoyed. These subtle undertones are there for all to find but not overly prominent, just like they should be in any well written text.
The ending to this book felt a little abrupt in that it is setting itself for the sequel. I'm not too fussed about this as I'm sure to pick it up, however some may find the lack of a conclusion a little frustrating.
This is a great Fantasy book sure to delight many fans of the genre. With its rich world and interesting characters, this book is one to savour and enjoy.
May 19, 2022
ARC Review
Sisters Aurelia and Septima have been raised in a world where women don’t have rights, they are expected to become homemakers, wives and mothers and that is about it. When their father brings home two strange men and announces
that they are to marry them, they know they must do something. They decide to run. After escaping their father, they are found in the woods by two warrior women. These women offer them sanctuary but warn them that they will be free, but not without significant danger. The sisters decide to travel with them and learn that their new companions are from a fantasy realm that's fully engulfed in conflict. The new world is full of Fae, Shifters and more mythical things than they could ever imagine. When they come face to face with the war for the human realm, will they survive?
⚔️ ⚔️ ⚔️ ⚔️
Book one in a new high fantasy series is fast paced and keeps you interested. There were a few twists and there is a cliffhanger at the end.
I really enjoyed this world. I like that we get a
little bit from all over the kingdom as far as perspectives go. There wasn’t really any point where I was ready to get on with it and I loved that. The world building was great and interesting. This has a lot of elements I love from other fantasy books.
Overall, this was an excellent story 100% worth the read and I can not wait for more in this world! Especially after that ending!
Sisters Aurelia and Septima have been raised in a world where women don’t have rights, they are expected to become homemakers, wives and mothers and that is about it. When their father brings home two strange men and announces
that they are to marry them, they know they must do something. They decide to run. After escaping their father, they are found in the woods by two warrior women. These women offer them sanctuary but warn them that they will be free, but not without significant danger. The sisters decide to travel with them and learn that their new companions are from a fantasy realm that's fully engulfed in conflict. The new world is full of Fae, Shifters and more mythical things than they could ever imagine. When they come face to face with the war for the human realm, will they survive?
⚔️ ⚔️ ⚔️ ⚔️
Book one in a new high fantasy series is fast paced and keeps you interested. There were a few twists and there is a cliffhanger at the end.
I really enjoyed this world. I like that we get a
little bit from all over the kingdom as far as perspectives go. There wasn’t really any point where I was ready to get on with it and I loved that. The world building was great and interesting. This has a lot of elements I love from other fantasy books.
Overall, this was an excellent story 100% worth the read and I can not wait for more in this world! Especially after that ending!
May 13, 2022
I received an Arc copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review.
Overall, I definitely enjoyed this book and would read the next book in the series. I do have some definite pro’s and con’s though.
Cons:
-These characters are late teens/early 20’s and the way the societies and details of the world are described set the scene for a more renaissance-esque era, but the dialogue at times was pretty modern. It doesn’t necessarily take away from the story but can make it feel disjointed at times.
-I started notice grammatical errors throughout the book and that can also take you out of the story at times.
-We met all of the main characters pretty fast but after that it took awhile to have some side characters introduced. I would have felt more immersed into the world if we could have met/gotten to know other characters sooner/more in-depth.
Pros:
-Fast paced and easy to follow, makes the reading super fun.
-The romance is sweet. I will admit, and maybe it’s because I read this book in about 2-3 sittings, I don’t think that I grasped the passage of time well in this book. It kind of felt like the characters were all very quick to trust each other, romantically and just generally.
Like I said, I definitely enjoyed this book. I would recommend it if you’re looking for a quick read or are in need of a palette cleanse.
Overall, I definitely enjoyed this book and would read the next book in the series. I do have some definite pro’s and con’s though.
Cons:
-These characters are late teens/early 20’s and the way the societies and details of the world are described set the scene for a more renaissance-esque era, but the dialogue at times was pretty modern. It doesn’t necessarily take away from the story but can make it feel disjointed at times.
-I started notice grammatical errors throughout the book and that can also take you out of the story at times.
-We met all of the main characters pretty fast but after that it took awhile to have some side characters introduced. I would have felt more immersed into the world if we could have met/gotten to know other characters sooner/more in-depth.
Pros:
-Fast paced and easy to follow, makes the reading super fun.
-The romance is sweet. I will admit, and maybe it’s because I read this book in about 2-3 sittings, I don’t think that I grasped the passage of time well in this book. It kind of felt like the characters were all very quick to trust each other, romantically and just generally.
Like I said, I definitely enjoyed this book. I would recommend it if you’re looking for a quick read or are in need of a palette cleanse.
July 4, 2024
Forbidden loves? Yes.
Female-led war parties? Yes
An imprisoned Queen? Yes
An unbeatable army, possibly supported by "dark forces"? Yes
Magic? Yes
Phoenixes? Yes
Tigers? Yes
Sex? Yes
Really good writing? No
The apparent lead character, a young woman searching for her sister, jumps impetuously into "love" and bed with a young man with a secret. Why? Just because he seems to have rescued her from prison.
The characters are a bit thin - there is the lover, the missing sister, her lover, the army leader, the Queen, the King - because they are given no time to develop their characters. The apparent lead spends a lot of time feeling sorry for herself and trying hard not to throw up in battles. Descriptions of situations are mostly simple - foggy forest, forbidding forest, cold mountain pass - so there is no real feel of the the country.
And the book ends with an important character missing, her lover badly wounded in battle, and our "heroine" so obsessed with finding her sister that she ends the story in bed with her lover.
If the sequels were available as regular Kindle books I might be tempted to read them. As they are only available for KindleUnlimited readers I won't.
Female-led war parties? Yes
An imprisoned Queen? Yes
An unbeatable army, possibly supported by "dark forces"? Yes
Magic? Yes
Phoenixes? Yes
Tigers? Yes
Sex? Yes
Really good writing? No
The apparent lead character, a young woman searching for her sister, jumps impetuously into "love" and bed with a young man with a secret. Why? Just because he seems to have rescued her from prison.
The characters are a bit thin - there is the lover, the missing sister, her lover, the army leader, the Queen, the King - because they are given no time to develop their characters. The apparent lead spends a lot of time feeling sorry for herself and trying hard not to throw up in battles. Descriptions of situations are mostly simple - foggy forest, forbidding forest, cold mountain pass - so there is no real feel of the the country.
And the book ends with an important character missing, her lover badly wounded in battle, and our "heroine" so obsessed with finding her sister that she ends the story in bed with her lover.
If the sequels were available as regular Kindle books I might be tempted to read them. As they are only available for KindleUnlimited readers I won't.
May 25, 2022
I was given an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
I have not finished the entire book yet, so I will potentially update my review at a later date. I like the idea this book presented. A group of Phoenix-shifting fae at war to save their fallen queen is an interesting concept and one I was looking forward to reading, however I had a hard time getting sucked into the story. Page after page had a sense of rambling to them, like the author really had no clear idea of where the story was going. Certain details flip-flopped—the father seemed kind enough to adopt an orphan and a baby tiger, but later he's stern and no-nonsense. Others just weren't plausible in the real world—the girls decide to run away from their betrothals and just “learn” how to hunt or gather edible plants to survive on their own, and the trust among the girls and the strangers they meet is way too easy.
It was easy to read and understand the story without it being too complex (so far), which some readers may appreciate. I could be proven wrong as I progress through the rest of the story, but it really wasn't my cup of tea.
I have not finished the entire book yet, so I will potentially update my review at a later date. I like the idea this book presented. A group of Phoenix-shifting fae at war to save their fallen queen is an interesting concept and one I was looking forward to reading, however I had a hard time getting sucked into the story. Page after page had a sense of rambling to them, like the author really had no clear idea of where the story was going. Certain details flip-flopped—the father seemed kind enough to adopt an orphan and a baby tiger, but later he's stern and no-nonsense. Others just weren't plausible in the real world—the girls decide to run away from their betrothals and just “learn” how to hunt or gather edible plants to survive on their own, and the trust among the girls and the strangers they meet is way too easy.
It was easy to read and understand the story without it being too complex (so far), which some readers may appreciate. I could be proven wrong as I progress through the rest of the story, but it really wasn't my cup of tea.
May 16, 2022
**ARC PROVIDED FOR AN HONEST REVIEW**
This is the perfect first installment for the series. I love the take on the fae, especially since the females are more powerful than the males.
Aurelia is so strong - willing to sacrifice her life for the people she loves most. She has gone through so much in this book that there is no questioning whether she is a fighter or not.
Septima has found her place in the world, at last, although not the human one, and found love along the way just like her sister. The love interests were perfectly chosen for them both and although there were a few misunderstandings they dealt with them.
The map was a nice addition - always recommended in a fantasy book - and that at the beginning of every chapter it said the location helping with the orientation. The scenery was painted so vividly that I felt like I was there myself.
The novel ended with a cliffhanger and I can not wait to see what happens next - hopefully, all good things.
This is the perfect first installment for the series. I love the take on the fae, especially since the females are more powerful than the males.
Aurelia is so strong - willing to sacrifice her life for the people she loves most. She has gone through so much in this book that there is no questioning whether she is a fighter or not.
Septima has found her place in the world, at last, although not the human one, and found love along the way just like her sister. The love interests were perfectly chosen for them both and although there were a few misunderstandings they dealt with them.
The map was a nice addition - always recommended in a fantasy book - and that at the beginning of every chapter it said the location helping with the orientation. The scenery was painted so vividly that I felt like I was there myself.
The novel ended with a cliffhanger and I can not wait to see what happens next - hopefully, all good things.
February 9, 2023
5☆☆☆☆☆
Absolutely phenomenal read, I had to make myself slow down, I didn't want it to be over. Amazing characters. You will love Kano... the world-building is astonishing.
Sisters Aurelia and Septima determined to escape unwanted marriages arranged by their father, fled into the Howling forest. What they did not expect was to happen upon the Fae Phoenix shifting and traveling into their realm.
Where they learn to fight, to love, and become the person they dreamed of becoming.
There are so many great moments in this book. Chapter 27 wow wasn't expecting that little detail.
And spice 🌶🌶🌶 was not expecting that either.
"Raging fires will fade to gentle embers, and a new day will make a new dawn. When the throneless queen falls, the Phoenix will be reborn from the ashes and rise again, bringing with it unity and peace once more".... my favorite quote from the book.
Yes, I immediately bought the 2nd book.
Absolutely phenomenal read, I had to make myself slow down, I didn't want it to be over. Amazing characters. You will love Kano... the world-building is astonishing.
Sisters Aurelia and Septima determined to escape unwanted marriages arranged by their father, fled into the Howling forest. What they did not expect was to happen upon the Fae Phoenix shifting and traveling into their realm.
Where they learn to fight, to love, and become the person they dreamed of becoming.
There are so many great moments in this book. Chapter 27 wow wasn't expecting that little detail.
And spice 🌶🌶🌶 was not expecting that either.
"Raging fires will fade to gentle embers, and a new day will make a new dawn. When the throneless queen falls, the Phoenix will be reborn from the ashes and rise again, bringing with it unity and peace once more".... my favorite quote from the book.
Yes, I immediately bought the 2nd book.
November 11, 2024
I read this book via audio. A friend and I listened to it during a few road trips. My friend had never read anything in the fantasy or romantasy genre. She and I agree that the author captivated our attention in this genre right away. There was a certain sense of comfort in getting to know the characters quickly with her descriptive character development! C.A.Varian quickly strings things together as she works us into her world building. We're looking forward to reading the next two books in the series!
I do not rate an audiobook based on a narrator, but we have issues with the narration sounding immature. This is not the first book I've read through this narrator. I have bought the physical book, and I have already read it. I look forward to future books, as they become published, perhaps being narrated by different narrators.
Again, overall, a stunning story!
I do not rate an audiobook based on a narrator, but we have issues with the narration sounding immature. This is not the first book I've read through this narrator. I have bought the physical book, and I have already read it. I look forward to future books, as they become published, perhaps being narrated by different narrators.
Again, overall, a stunning story!
May 23, 2022
I received an Arc copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review.
I enjoy reading a variety of genres, but I tend to go with similar ones if I choose my own book. I volunteered for this, and I am SO glad I did as I enjoyed this book. It is an engaging tale, but a lot happens within a short space of time, so it can get quite confusing in parts. Nonetheless it kept me engrossed and I wanted to find out more, it is far from predictable with lots of plot twists thrown in. Unfortunately, it doesn’t go into too much detail with some elements, but if you enjoy raunchy novels then this delivers. I didn’t know what was going to happen at the end, but I liked how it was left because it definitely persuaded me that I must read the next book.
I enjoy reading a variety of genres, but I tend to go with similar ones if I choose my own book. I volunteered for this, and I am SO glad I did as I enjoyed this book. It is an engaging tale, but a lot happens within a short space of time, so it can get quite confusing in parts. Nonetheless it kept me engrossed and I wanted to find out more, it is far from predictable with lots of plot twists thrown in. Unfortunately, it doesn’t go into too much detail with some elements, but if you enjoy raunchy novels then this delivers. I didn’t know what was going to happen at the end, but I liked how it was left because it definitely persuaded me that I must read the next book.
May 25, 2022
Possible spoilers btw The book was super interesting. Its an interesting concept. I’m not all the way through the book yet but definitely like the whole idea of there being other realms and crossing into them. I thought it was interesting how Once they went through they had to leave their old life behind. Also who else would want a pet tiger? Just me. Ok. I liked the pacing in the first fifty pages but I just couldn’t get myself to keep reading to get through it at first. I do like the fact that there is queer representation in the book and love the female warriors. It’s giving very much Amazon warriors vibes and I’m here for it. When I read the last sentence my jaw dropped (girl I think you dropped something? My jaw) but I did overall like the book
June 11, 2022
I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
I’ll get my negative opinion out of the way first. At times, I felt like the book was rushed, other times trailed on, and at times it didn’t pull me in. But overall, the story is intriguing and leaves you wanting to know more. More of the human world the girls were born into, more of the magical land they travel to. More of the mothers backstory, more of cristos and his backstory. I’m excited for the next book to come out because of that longing for more - and because the story is great. I, personally, found it to be very unique and exciting, and it let you feel deeply what the main character was feeling. I hope to see this book, and eventual series, become loved by many. I would 110% recommend it.
I’ll get my negative opinion out of the way first. At times, I felt like the book was rushed, other times trailed on, and at times it didn’t pull me in. But overall, the story is intriguing and leaves you wanting to know more. More of the human world the girls were born into, more of the magical land they travel to. More of the mothers backstory, more of cristos and his backstory. I’m excited for the next book to come out because of that longing for more - and because the story is great. I, personally, found it to be very unique and exciting, and it let you feel deeply what the main character was feeling. I hope to see this book, and eventual series, become loved by many. I would 110% recommend it.
January 3, 2024
An easy, engaging read set in a unique fantasy world that makes you want to learn more about it, with characters that are easy to root for.
3 stars because while I enjoyed it, the story is fairly predictable and straight forward, and the book ends with a "to be continued" rather than closing the story. Women are constantly referred to as "females", and the main romance felt somewhat forced to begin with and stilted at times, before becoming overly sappy for how long the characters had known each other.
That said, I liked the prevalence and acceptance of queer characters, and I'm looking forward to reading the second book to see how the story progresses there.
3 stars because while I enjoyed it, the story is fairly predictable and straight forward, and the book ends with a "to be continued" rather than closing the story. Women are constantly referred to as "females", and the main romance felt somewhat forced to begin with and stilted at times, before becoming overly sappy for how long the characters had known each other.
That said, I liked the prevalence and acceptance of queer characters, and I'm looking forward to reading the second book to see how the story progresses there.
September 28, 2025
I have the special edition Omnibus and was able to read all 3 books and the prequel. and in a short breakdown, the storyline was really good, 10/10 on the spice. If I had 1 complaint, it would be that I wish the author would have focused a little more on her powers, and I really wish she would have made her a badass FMC. When the prequel starts, Holera is a powerful feminine character, and I was all for that. Aurelia was powerful in her own way. I just wish she would have been portrayed stronger. I love the diversity also. There were all types of relationships in this book. Not only between humans and Fae, this is definitely something you want to read if you support the LGBTQ+ community.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 28, 2022
enjoyed this adventure
It ends on a cliffhanger so beware of that.
I really enjoyed Aurelian’s character and to see her change throughout the book. There are a few plot holes concerning her past and what is happening with some kind of visions but it definitely feels like those will be resolved in book two.
I loved Cristos from the moment we met him. I enjoyed reading his relationship with Aurelia and it is refreshing that there is no misunderstanding trope that could ruin their relationship.
All around a fun read and I look forward to book 2!
It ends on a cliffhanger so beware of that.
I really enjoyed Aurelian’s character and to see her change throughout the book. There are a few plot holes concerning her past and what is happening with some kind of visions but it definitely feels like those will be resolved in book two.
I loved Cristos from the moment we met him. I enjoyed reading his relationship with Aurelia and it is refreshing that there is no misunderstanding trope that could ruin their relationship.
All around a fun read and I look forward to book 2!
September 27, 2022
so I recieved this book in return for a review which was really awesome but I'm gonna be honest. I liked the book it has a good plot! the spice was limited and bland but that's ok! what really bugged me was a random character being thrown in the mix of povs there was no notice of the character switch. the character is mentioned by the others but it was unexpected to get them as a pov. plus their pov is rare and random so much so it didn't make sense to have it.
even with all of that though I still really enjoyed the book and can't wait for book 2
even with all of that though I still really enjoyed the book and can't wait for book 2
October 13, 2022
Absolutely loved this book! There is such great character development from Septima and Aurelia being naïve, young but tough young women who knew what they wanted but were afraid of what was to come. Brave enough to make the leap into a world they knew existed and was embraced into it. The end of finding different groups of people fighting for similar causes of independence, leadership and sense of helping others. They embark on new adventures, friendships and love. Cannot wait to read the next one!
November 19, 2022
I loved the narration of Teena Scott, she brings out the action, heat and plot. Making it a great listen.
Sisters Aurelia and Septima are expected to become homemakers, wives and mothers their father brings home two strange men and announces that they are to marry them. They escape their father; they are found in the woods by two warrior women. These women offer them sanctuary. The new world is full of Fae, Shifters.
It ends in a cliff hanger....
Sisters Aurelia and Septima are expected to become homemakers, wives and mothers their father brings home two strange men and announces that they are to marry them. They escape their father; they are found in the woods by two warrior women. These women offer them sanctuary. The new world is full of Fae, Shifters.
It ends in a cliff hanger....
August 26, 2023
I loved this book! I actually read the novella first so I was familiar with some of the characters and what happened prior to this story (which I also loved!).
I really enjoyed the characters and how well each character was represented! It's action packed and fast paced giving the reader a page turning experience. I'll be finishing out this series and definitely purchasing more from this author in the future!
I really enjoyed the characters and how well each character was represented! It's action packed and fast paced giving the reader a page turning experience. I'll be finishing out this series and definitely purchasing more from this author in the future!
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