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Children of the Aether #1
The Phoenix and the Spider
A dark-winged beacon of hope and a monstrous purveyor of death.
The Phoenix and the Spider have haunted Theo's dreams for as long as she can remember. One evokes a feeling of warm comfort, the other unbridled fear. Yet their presence in her otherwise unremarkable existence remains a mystery.
Hidden in these visions lie the secrets of a past that spans countless lifetimes, each one filled with love, death, and untold power waiting to be reawakened. If Theo doesn't unravel the truth soon though, she will be doomed to the same cruel fate that has followed her for millennia.
***
The Phoenix and the Spider is the first book of the Children of the Aether series. Told through multiple character perspectives, this slow-burn dark fantasy combines a modern-day narrative with immersive historical flashbacks spanning from ancient Mesopotamia to pre-WWI Siberia.
* Content warning: This novel is recommended for a 16+ audience as it contains adult themes including violence, murder, torture, sexual assault, suicidal ideation, self-harm, and mental illness.
The Phoenix and the Spider have haunted Theo's dreams for as long as she can remember. One evokes a feeling of warm comfort, the other unbridled fear. Yet their presence in her otherwise unremarkable existence remains a mystery.
Hidden in these visions lie the secrets of a past that spans countless lifetimes, each one filled with love, death, and untold power waiting to be reawakened. If Theo doesn't unravel the truth soon though, she will be doomed to the same cruel fate that has followed her for millennia.
***
The Phoenix and the Spider is the first book of the Children of the Aether series. Told through multiple character perspectives, this slow-burn dark fantasy combines a modern-day narrative with immersive historical flashbacks spanning from ancient Mesopotamia to pre-WWI Siberia.
* Content warning: This novel is recommended for a 16+ audience as it contains adult themes including violence, murder, torture, sexual assault, suicidal ideation, self-harm, and mental illness.
606 pages, Paperback
First published June 1, 2022
72 people are currently reading
649 people want to read
About the author
Benny Charles
1 book18 followersWhen he’s not transferring his boundless story ideas from brain to keyboard, Benny is a bar manager who enjoys travelling with his partner in life and writing, Alex Robinson. He loves film, music, literature, video games, and basically any other outlet for turning pain into productivity.
If broken down into his base elements, he would be composed of 65% imagination, 25% heavy music, 7% disappointment at the failings of mankind, 2% common sense, and 1% pure stubbornness.
If broken down into his base elements, he would be composed of 65% imagination, 25% heavy music, 7% disappointment at the failings of mankind, 2% common sense, and 1% pure stubbornness.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 43 reviews
August 6, 2023
5 stars🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
no 100 stars and beyond🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
Every once in a while, though becoming rarer these days, a book comes along that touches your soul, heart and mind. It leaves you so awe struck that you need time to process what you've just read
I am so blessed that this month ended with such a book
I think The Phoenix and the Spider is the best low fantasy I've read this year
for many many many reasons
It is a book about hope, despair, triumph, loss, good, evil but above all LOVE, engulfed with characters that were written in such a charismatic and diverse way that their existence served a purpose. They were not just there to be there!
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Theme: Good vs Evil
TW: a lot so mind them please especially depression and thoughts of suicide
tropes : slow burn - age gap
conflicts: gender affirmation - soulmates lost/found - despair
representation: race - LGBTQ+ (at its finest) - diverse POC
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
a few notes before I proceed
* It's a big book: There are 792 pages in print. I know that some would steer clear from books that long but believe me I was never bored. as a matter of fact, I wanted it to be longer. Only knowing there is a second book (though this one does NOT end on a cliffhanger) made me a little patient.
advice when reading a big book: Don't read it in one setting. divide it into days and read something light in between
* the chapters are long: again, this is something that many readers dislike. but acknowledging that each chapter is a story of its own and that it is divided into scenes helps a lot.
* Though the stories may seem repetitative in their outcomes, each one has it's own purpose and lesson
* The book can be read as a pure fantasy story. But if you are anything like me, there is a substantial prospect for analysis and symbolism (will be discussed later)
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Spider is this evil entity that is haunting the Phoenix throughout Time, generations and places. He is determined to eliminate any trace of the Phoenix and keep him in the Aether. In order to do that, the Spider must torment the Phoenix until the edge of despair, only then he could kill him.
We jump through time in the present to ancient past, back to the present, and then to the past again seeing the different reincarnated lives of two soulmates persevering in the face of the injust they endure from the Spider before he destroys them.
All these past lives are connected to our two main characters Theo and Auryn, two lost souls living in modern time going through the mundane life of work and depression. On the surface, Theo and Auryn are average people trying to live day by day, but inside they harbor huge power and a love that transcended time itself.
however, both are plagued by life-like dreams that tell the stories of past lives, of people like them yet different. People with different race, gender, nationality and dreams, yet all had the same pull to find their significant other
and here is the beauty of the book
THE SIGNIFICANT OTHER IS NOT ALWAYS THE OPPOSITE LOVE INTEREST
the love depicted here is
- the love between man and woman
- same sex love
- love for adventure
- self love
- mother's love
- protective love
- love of life
in short, LOVE in all it's shapes and forms. Love that saw no boundaries and acknowledged no obstacles neither time, age, race, color or place.
and in all these stories, the soulmates have inner power. Sometimes they discover their powers, sometimes it remains hidden. and in each story, the lovers had to fight the cruelty of the all powerful Spider who is determined on ending them.
Why does the Spider want to destroy the lovers?
well, why does Evil want to destroy goodness?
Power hungry selfish people don't need a reason to destroy others
they do it because they can, because they want to, because they need to be the only one's yielding the Power
So you could read the book as this. A battle over time between good/love and pure evil
==================================================================
But I read it as a Literature enthusiate who nips and tucks every story and tries to find the symbolism and messages in the book ((even if it weren't the authors' intenstion ))
SO PLEASE MIND: MAJOR SPOILERS AHEAD
.
.
.
.
.
To me, the Spider represents every fear we have in our lives. When we allow our fears to overcome us, this is where we truly lose and it is only when we face these fears with determination, reason, and LOVE, we gain everything. To face our fears we need the courage that does not come from the first try. We have to fail sometimes and maybe over and over until, like a PHOENIX, we rise from the ashes and overcome
1- The first story we see only one half of the soulmates, Ashur. His greatest fear is living alone through life. So the Spider played on that and killed all his family and loved ones. The minute Ashur realizes this, he despairs and ultimately loses to Anasazi (the spider)
2- Story 2 takes a different path in ancient Egypt in a tribe far away. Makdoki is a women by her tribe's standards but she rebels agains the constriction of her society. She doesn't want to be either woman or man. She wants to be a warrior. Their love is for themself. And because of the language, she kept refering to herself as She. Her fear is to never prove herself the great warrior she aspires to be. In the end, Anasazi finishes her off in a land far away from her tribe, unacknowledged and a stranger.
3- It is with the third story that the bases of the soulmates is set. It is with Leila and Ingram we witness the essence of the soulmate and their love's birthplace, the island. For both Leila and Ingram, the fear of losing the other is what haunts their life. the Spider plays on this and steals Ingram away. Leila finally succumbs to her misery and dies alone on the island
4- the 4th story takes place in old Scandinavia. Einar has the great fear of not gaining his freedom, of always living in captivity. Alva is his salvation and savoir. Although they were allowed to be together for a while, the fear of losing this freedom brought the Spider upon them and Einar dies unfulfilling his power as a slave.
5- This is probably my favorite of all the stories because of the POC characters and how they were given the chance to live together. Adaeze, from Mali, and Nergui, from Mongolia, survives the wrath of the Spider not just because of their strength but becuause another element that proves to be their salvation and their greatest fear , TIME. Nergui is much older than Adaeze, and it was old age that took him away.
6- Iris's was probably the hardest to read. It was the fear of losing innocence. It's about violation of trust and consent, of how some evil people would prey on your dreams and use them against you. Iris is kidnapped and tortured, her body is broken, her soul fractured so bad that she did not recoginze Jelani as her soulmate. He had to take her to all the places of the past. A healing Journey for her Trauma. But a person with deep Trauma can't always let go of what happened and the Spider finds them again
7- This was perhaps the shortest of all the stories but the most surprising with its twist. I won't spoil it for you. All I will say is that the Love of the mates here is different from the others and the Spider uses the greatest Love of all time.
8- The final short story is where we see a different kind of fear. It's the Spider's fear. his fear that someone would defeat him. and someone unexpected does.
All these stories are told withing another story. One that takes place in our time. It is that of Theo and Auryn. they both have the same FEAR. "to not live life"
They both suffer from depression
both are alone until they find each other
Theo even contemplates ending her life
their story had to be told in details, to witness their anguish, their internal struggles and how even when they found each other, they doubted their importance
Auryn finds his peace first
He didn't need someone to change the weather, he just needed someone who wasn't afraid of the storm
and it is when Theo also realizes that she is enough, that Auryn is enough that her and his Phoenixes rise to defeat the Spider
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
the writing of this book was immaculate
the description takes you to all the places mentioned
the internal feelings makes you relate to each and every character
sure there were some bumps along the way
like using the word "okay" in ancient times. this immediately removes me from the mood
or the overly descriptive paragraphs and sometimes repetitive narrative
but who cares when you are having the time of your life reading such an amazing book
no 100 stars and beyond🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
Every once in a while, though becoming rarer these days, a book comes along that touches your soul, heart and mind. It leaves you so awe struck that you need time to process what you've just read
I am so blessed that this month ended with such a book
I think The Phoenix and the Spider is the best low fantasy I've read this year
for many many many reasons
It is a book about hope, despair, triumph, loss, good, evil but above all LOVE, engulfed with characters that were written in such a charismatic and diverse way that their existence served a purpose. They were not just there to be there!
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Theme: Good vs Evil
TW: a lot so mind them please especially depression and thoughts of suicide
tropes : slow burn - age gap
conflicts: gender affirmation - soulmates lost/found - despair
representation: race - LGBTQ+ (at its finest) - diverse POC
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
a few notes before I proceed
* It's a big book: There are 792 pages in print. I know that some would steer clear from books that long but believe me I was never bored. as a matter of fact, I wanted it to be longer. Only knowing there is a second book (though this one does NOT end on a cliffhanger) made me a little patient.
advice when reading a big book: Don't read it in one setting. divide it into days and read something light in between
* the chapters are long: again, this is something that many readers dislike. but acknowledging that each chapter is a story of its own and that it is divided into scenes helps a lot.
* Though the stories may seem repetitative in their outcomes, each one has it's own purpose and lesson
* The book can be read as a pure fantasy story. But if you are anything like me, there is a substantial prospect for analysis and symbolism (will be discussed later)
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Spider is this evil entity that is haunting the Phoenix throughout Time, generations and places. He is determined to eliminate any trace of the Phoenix and keep him in the Aether. In order to do that, the Spider must torment the Phoenix until the edge of despair, only then he could kill him.
We jump through time in the present to ancient past, back to the present, and then to the past again seeing the different reincarnated lives of two soulmates persevering in the face of the injust they endure from the Spider before he destroys them.
All these past lives are connected to our two main characters Theo and Auryn, two lost souls living in modern time going through the mundane life of work and depression. On the surface, Theo and Auryn are average people trying to live day by day, but inside they harbor huge power and a love that transcended time itself.
however, both are plagued by life-like dreams that tell the stories of past lives, of people like them yet different. People with different race, gender, nationality and dreams, yet all had the same pull to find their significant other
and here is the beauty of the book
THE SIGNIFICANT OTHER IS NOT ALWAYS THE OPPOSITE LOVE INTEREST
the love depicted here is
- the love between man and woman
- same sex love
- love for adventure
- self love
- mother's love
- protective love
- love of life
in short, LOVE in all it's shapes and forms. Love that saw no boundaries and acknowledged no obstacles neither time, age, race, color or place.
and in all these stories, the soulmates have inner power. Sometimes they discover their powers, sometimes it remains hidden. and in each story, the lovers had to fight the cruelty of the all powerful Spider who is determined on ending them.
Why does the Spider want to destroy the lovers?
well, why does Evil want to destroy goodness?
Power hungry selfish people don't need a reason to destroy others
they do it because they can, because they want to, because they need to be the only one's yielding the Power
So you could read the book as this. A battle over time between good/love and pure evil
==================================================================
But I read it as a Literature enthusiate who nips and tucks every story and tries to find the symbolism and messages in the book ((even if it weren't the authors' intenstion ))
SO PLEASE MIND: MAJOR SPOILERS AHEAD
.
.
.
.
.
To me, the Spider represents every fear we have in our lives. When we allow our fears to overcome us, this is where we truly lose and it is only when we face these fears with determination, reason, and LOVE, we gain everything. To face our fears we need the courage that does not come from the first try. We have to fail sometimes and maybe over and over until, like a PHOENIX, we rise from the ashes and overcome
1- The first story we see only one half of the soulmates, Ashur. His greatest fear is living alone through life. So the Spider played on that and killed all his family and loved ones. The minute Ashur realizes this, he despairs and ultimately loses to Anasazi (the spider)
2- Story 2 takes a different path in ancient Egypt in a tribe far away. Makdoki is a women by her tribe's standards but she rebels agains the constriction of her society. She doesn't want to be either woman or man. She wants to be a warrior. Their love is for themself. And because of the language, she kept refering to herself as She. Her fear is to never prove herself the great warrior she aspires to be. In the end, Anasazi finishes her off in a land far away from her tribe, unacknowledged and a stranger.
3- It is with the third story that the bases of the soulmates is set. It is with Leila and Ingram we witness the essence of the soulmate and their love's birthplace, the island. For both Leila and Ingram, the fear of losing the other is what haunts their life. the Spider plays on this and steals Ingram away. Leila finally succumbs to her misery and dies alone on the island
4- the 4th story takes place in old Scandinavia. Einar has the great fear of not gaining his freedom, of always living in captivity. Alva is his salvation and savoir. Although they were allowed to be together for a while, the fear of losing this freedom brought the Spider upon them and Einar dies unfulfilling his power as a slave.
5- This is probably my favorite of all the stories because of the POC characters and how they were given the chance to live together. Adaeze, from Mali, and Nergui, from Mongolia, survives the wrath of the Spider not just because of their strength but becuause another element that proves to be their salvation and their greatest fear , TIME. Nergui is much older than Adaeze, and it was old age that took him away.
6- Iris's was probably the hardest to read. It was the fear of losing innocence. It's about violation of trust and consent, of how some evil people would prey on your dreams and use them against you. Iris is kidnapped and tortured, her body is broken, her soul fractured so bad that she did not recoginze Jelani as her soulmate. He had to take her to all the places of the past. A healing Journey for her Trauma. But a person with deep Trauma can't always let go of what happened and the Spider finds them again
7- This was perhaps the shortest of all the stories but the most surprising with its twist. I won't spoil it for you. All I will say is that the Love of the mates here is different from the others and the Spider uses the greatest Love of all time.
8- The final short story is where we see a different kind of fear. It's the Spider's fear. his fear that someone would defeat him. and someone unexpected does.
All these stories are told withing another story. One that takes place in our time. It is that of Theo and Auryn. they both have the same FEAR. "to not live life"
They both suffer from depression
both are alone until they find each other
Theo even contemplates ending her life
their story had to be told in details, to witness their anguish, their internal struggles and how even when they found each other, they doubted their importance
Auryn finds his peace first
He didn't need someone to change the weather, he just needed someone who wasn't afraid of the storm
and it is when Theo also realizes that she is enough, that Auryn is enough that her and his Phoenixes rise to defeat the Spider
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
the writing of this book was immaculate
the description takes you to all the places mentioned
the internal feelings makes you relate to each and every character
sure there were some bumps along the way
like using the word "okay" in ancient times. this immediately removes me from the mood
or the overly descriptive paragraphs and sometimes repetitive narrative
but who cares when you are having the time of your life reading such an amazing book
April 8, 2023
TL;DR at the very bottom.
This book seemed like it would be a perfect fit, and was recommened in a facebook group some months ago (I think possibly by the author?) and I made myself finish it so I could review it fairly, so I want to start out with all the things that were great because there is plenty to praise.
This book really was a recipe for perfection, the exact thing I'd been looking for-rich history, reincarnation, the fantasy, violence and fights, soulmates searching for eachother.
The diversity of the characters and the time periods were particularly lovely, the worldbuilding was thorough but never tiresome, just enough for you to see the character and how their life is, where they come from. I feel like I genuinely learnt some history with this book because I spent so much time checking word meanings, the added accuracy of the worldbuilding just making it that much better.
They asked and answered questions about the problems with soulmates wonderfully: What if you find eachother and one is too old, and one too young? How long it takes for them to find eachother when battling ginormous distances? Or a language barrier? Economic differences? Mental trauma? Examples next:
< spoiler > Like having the nordic warrior battle and claim any slave she likes as her prize to rescue her soulmate. The fact that the Mongolian had travelled a great distance through war before searching for the pull on his heart. The maid that was much older than her soulmate so spent years hidden besides her, caring from the background < /spoiler >.
And then the problem for me with this book
I hated the antagonist. I found them to be really, really flat, with no reason for their cruelty other than this boring obsession with "power", even though the people the antagonists hunt do not want that. The lack of background on the antagonists part made the end of each iteration of soulmates feel dull, even though the rest of the content itself (the soulmates, side characters, worldbuilding etc.) were all good.
Around half-way through I decided instead of putting it down I'd see where it goes, because I was *sure* the plot must wrap up somewhere. There would be a moment where everything clicks and it suddenly becomes super interesting, and I'd finish the rest of it in one obsessive sitting because I couldn't put it down.
However, this never came.
Due to this general flatness caused by the antagonist, the things in the book that should make your hair stand on end with nervous anticipation, also fell flat and became boring, like epic final fights for characters, or the worry that the bad guy could come back, or the feeling you've walked into a trap. But it didn't, there was a predictability that just made everything so meh.
It was hard to finish this, I had to genuinely task myself with sticking to it to find out what happens.
Also, if I had a shot every time " x's depression and anxiety" came up, I think I'd die of alcohol poisoning.
Everything felt similarly grey for me with this read, and I was determined to finish it in hopes I'd suddenly have that "click". I'm not sure what to think about the ending. It wrapped up in the same way it started; as one long note. No peaks or troughs. I really, really wanted to love this book but it fell so short.
TL;DR Recipe for perfection, but dangerouslty undercooked.
This book seemed like it would be a perfect fit, and was recommened in a facebook group some months ago (I think possibly by the author?) and I made myself finish it so I could review it fairly, so I want to start out with all the things that were great because there is plenty to praise.
This book really was a recipe for perfection, the exact thing I'd been looking for-rich history, reincarnation, the fantasy, violence and fights, soulmates searching for eachother.
The diversity of the characters and the time periods were particularly lovely, the worldbuilding was thorough but never tiresome, just enough for you to see the character and how their life is, where they come from. I feel like I genuinely learnt some history with this book because I spent so much time checking word meanings, the added accuracy of the worldbuilding just making it that much better.
They asked and answered questions about the problems with soulmates wonderfully: What if you find eachother and one is too old, and one too young? How long it takes for them to find eachother when battling ginormous distances? Or a language barrier? Economic differences? Mental trauma? Examples next:
< spoiler > Like having the nordic warrior battle and claim any slave she likes as her prize to rescue her soulmate. The fact that the Mongolian had travelled a great distance through war before searching for the pull on his heart. The maid that was much older than her soulmate so spent years hidden besides her, caring from the background < /spoiler >.
And then the problem for me with this book
I hated the antagonist. I found them to be really, really flat, with no reason for their cruelty other than this boring obsession with "power", even though the people the antagonists hunt do not want that. The lack of background on the antagonists part made the end of each iteration of soulmates feel dull, even though the rest of the content itself (the soulmates, side characters, worldbuilding etc.) were all good.
Around half-way through I decided instead of putting it down I'd see where it goes, because I was *sure* the plot must wrap up somewhere. There would be a moment where everything clicks and it suddenly becomes super interesting, and I'd finish the rest of it in one obsessive sitting because I couldn't put it down.
However, this never came.
Due to this general flatness caused by the antagonist, the things in the book that should make your hair stand on end with nervous anticipation, also fell flat and became boring, like epic final fights for characters, or the worry that the bad guy could come back, or the feeling you've walked into a trap. But it didn't, there was a predictability that just made everything so meh.
It was hard to finish this, I had to genuinely task myself with sticking to it to find out what happens.
Also, if I had a shot every time " x's depression and anxiety" came up, I think I'd die of alcohol poisoning.
Everything felt similarly grey for me with this read, and I was determined to finish it in hopes I'd suddenly have that "click". I'm not sure what to think about the ending. It wrapped up in the same way it started; as one long note. No peaks or troughs. I really, really wanted to love this book but it fell so short.
TL;DR Recipe for perfection, but dangerouslty undercooked.
October 15, 2022
I just finished the book. I loved it! Depictions of depression, anxiety, eating disorders, etc. are spot on, and reading about them in the book made me feel less alone in my own experiences. The imagery was beautiful and offered a sense of escape into different lands. Historical fiction is one of my favorite genres, and reading about so many different eras in one book scratched an itch. Something else I found noteworthy is the quality of the book itself. The cover has a nice texture and the pages are thick. That doesn't usually matter to me, but it's something I noticed. I am looking forward to reading next one.
April 27, 2023
Amazing beginning to a series. It’s a slow burn dark fantasy but one of good taste. I’m definitely continuing this series.
August 24, 2022
Book Review:
As I came to the final sentence of #ChildrenoftheAether Book One: #ThePhoenixandTheSpider, I automatically knew I was ready for Book Two! It’s been quite some time since I read a book of this size, roughly 590 pages, so quicky. That is solely due to #BennyCharles and #AlexRobinson’s imaginative, centuries spanning narrative. Compelling is not a strong enough word, so I will use riveting, spellbinding, and addictive; this book is all three of those things.
Let’s start with our two main characters, #TheoShaw and #AurynBerenger. This is such an engrossing plot set between a couple of ordinary people who feel so real and personal, littered with all the intricate details that makes us messy, imperfect, lovable human beings. They’re not some perfect, pompous characters who will show up with a pep in their step and a rainbow over their heads, nor do they ever pretend to be. The innerworkings of their thoughts can be brutal and realistic, making these two extremely relatable in their daily struggles. Their chapters start as a slow burn, but once you realize the arc they are on, it makes their happiness, their joy, and their healing so blindingly satisfying. I fell in love with these characters, and I believe you would too.
The rest of the book jumps between perspectives across centuries of time such as: Mesopotamia, England, and even bloody Transylvania! (By the way, the Transylvania chapter is quite bone-chilling). This structure really dives into the history and lore of the aforementioned Phoenix and Spider. Such a fascinating web of rivalry they weave; it is entertaining with many, MANY plot twists and “I must read that part again” moments. Every single time I arrived at one of these chapters, I wanted to roll up my sleeves, make myself an iced Arnold Palmer, and dig into the wealth of words, sentences, and paragraphs.
In conclusion:
The Phoenix and The Spider is the first published book by Benny and Alex. They worked on this epic for many years, and put blood, sweat, and tears into seeing it come to fruition. They are kind, generous, and caring people who deserve all the success in the world. Despite that praise, this book stands on its own, even if you didn’t know the authors. Firstly, it is well-written, incredibly well-written. Benny’s creativity paired with Alex’s FABULOUS word play, intelligent phrasing, and eye for pin-point accuracy when it comes to punctuation makes for an expertly crafted book. I never became bored during my read, and I never found myself wishing it would hurry up and be over. As I stated before, I wanted more. I cannot wait for more. Look, I’m not telling you what to do, but if I was, I’d tell you to pick up a copy of this great work. You won’t be disappointed. #ChildrenoftheAether Book One: #ThePhoenixandTheSpider gets a 10 out of 10 for me.
As I came to the final sentence of #ChildrenoftheAether Book One: #ThePhoenixandTheSpider, I automatically knew I was ready for Book Two! It’s been quite some time since I read a book of this size, roughly 590 pages, so quicky. That is solely due to #BennyCharles and #AlexRobinson’s imaginative, centuries spanning narrative. Compelling is not a strong enough word, so I will use riveting, spellbinding, and addictive; this book is all three of those things.
Let’s start with our two main characters, #TheoShaw and #AurynBerenger. This is such an engrossing plot set between a couple of ordinary people who feel so real and personal, littered with all the intricate details that makes us messy, imperfect, lovable human beings. They’re not some perfect, pompous characters who will show up with a pep in their step and a rainbow over their heads, nor do they ever pretend to be. The innerworkings of their thoughts can be brutal and realistic, making these two extremely relatable in their daily struggles. Their chapters start as a slow burn, but once you realize the arc they are on, it makes their happiness, their joy, and their healing so blindingly satisfying. I fell in love with these characters, and I believe you would too.
The rest of the book jumps between perspectives across centuries of time such as: Mesopotamia, England, and even bloody Transylvania! (By the way, the Transylvania chapter is quite bone-chilling). This structure really dives into the history and lore of the aforementioned Phoenix and Spider. Such a fascinating web of rivalry they weave; it is entertaining with many, MANY plot twists and “I must read that part again” moments. Every single time I arrived at one of these chapters, I wanted to roll up my sleeves, make myself an iced Arnold Palmer, and dig into the wealth of words, sentences, and paragraphs.
In conclusion:
The Phoenix and The Spider is the first published book by Benny and Alex. They worked on this epic for many years, and put blood, sweat, and tears into seeing it come to fruition. They are kind, generous, and caring people who deserve all the success in the world. Despite that praise, this book stands on its own, even if you didn’t know the authors. Firstly, it is well-written, incredibly well-written. Benny’s creativity paired with Alex’s FABULOUS word play, intelligent phrasing, and eye for pin-point accuracy when it comes to punctuation makes for an expertly crafted book. I never became bored during my read, and I never found myself wishing it would hurry up and be over. As I stated before, I wanted more. I cannot wait for more. Look, I’m not telling you what to do, but if I was, I’d tell you to pick up a copy of this great work. You won’t be disappointed. #ChildrenoftheAether Book One: #ThePhoenixandTheSpider gets a 10 out of 10 for me.
November 26, 2022
The Phoenix and the Spider was sold to me as a "dark fantasy" but it felt more like a supernatural thriller. Neither of those are genres I prefer, but I did really enjoy this book. So lets get into it!
The world and character building was amazing. Benny Charles & Alex Robinson did a really good job! The characters are graphically realistic. I have loved many characters in books before, but these were so loveable and hateable all at once. The best way to describe her protagonists is that they are heroes with sins. The authors were not afraid to portray the dark sides of their characters, and it gave each person you met a sharp edge.
The world itself is literally our world, but seen through the eyes of three characters who keep getting reincarnated amidst their mortal combat. Some chapters take place in a modern day city, and others in ancient cultures.
The plot is a series of the lives of three reincarnating characters, the Phoenix, his lover, and the Spider, who likes to call himself "Anasazi." Each chapter we either see Anasazi kill the phoenix once again, in his attempts to send him to the aether, or the current happening in the lives of Theo and Auryn the modern reincarnations of the phoenix and his lover.
As I read, the chapters skipping between Auryn, some random reincarnation of the Phoenix, and Theo, I felt more and more dread for what I knew would eventually happen. Each chapter about the past always ended with the Spider showing up, and I knew the story of Theo and Auryn would have to cross paths with the Spider eventually.
The authors built very realistic characters, in a very realistic word, and underlined it with thickening dread.
Read the full review at https://jpbiddlecome.weebly.com/book-...
The world and character building was amazing. Benny Charles & Alex Robinson did a really good job! The characters are graphically realistic. I have loved many characters in books before, but these were so loveable and hateable all at once. The best way to describe her protagonists is that they are heroes with sins. The authors were not afraid to portray the dark sides of their characters, and it gave each person you met a sharp edge.
The world itself is literally our world, but seen through the eyes of three characters who keep getting reincarnated amidst their mortal combat. Some chapters take place in a modern day city, and others in ancient cultures.
The plot is a series of the lives of three reincarnating characters, the Phoenix, his lover, and the Spider, who likes to call himself "Anasazi." Each chapter we either see Anasazi kill the phoenix once again, in his attempts to send him to the aether, or the current happening in the lives of Theo and Auryn the modern reincarnations of the phoenix and his lover.
As I read, the chapters skipping between Auryn, some random reincarnation of the Phoenix, and Theo, I felt more and more dread for what I knew would eventually happen. Each chapter about the past always ended with the Spider showing up, and I knew the story of Theo and Auryn would have to cross paths with the Spider eventually.
The authors built very realistic characters, in a very realistic word, and underlined it with thickening dread.
Read the full review at https://jpbiddlecome.weebly.com/book-...
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 27, 2022
I got this book as an ARC and I cannot give it enough stellar reviews. The story centers on Theo and Auryn - two people living in present-day Australia - and their various past lives as they keep finding and losing each other while attempting to defeat an incredible enemy who has sworn to kill them in each life. While you quickly realize Theo and Auryn are the current day versions of all these lives you're reading, I have to applaud the plot twist that came in the end because I definitely didn't see it coming. Nor did I correctly guess their enemy in their current life (although there were several possibilities).
Theo is extremely likeable and realistic, and anyone who has battled with depression will definitely relate to her. Auryn is absolutely wonderful, and it was so refreshing to read a male character unafraid to discuss his insecurities and mental health. These two characters worked well separately and even better together and you truly become invested in their relationship, rooting for them and cheering them on.
You can clearly tell a lot of research went into making the past lives seem realistic and accurate. And although sometimes the dialogue felt a little modern for characters living centuries or thousands of years in the past, their stories flowed incredibly well and made you care about them as individual characters and as the future characters they become and which we spend most of our time with.
I can say without a doubt, this book is a labor of love and the authors created something truly magical and wonderful. I honestly cannot wait for the second one.
Theo is extremely likeable and realistic, and anyone who has battled with depression will definitely relate to her. Auryn is absolutely wonderful, and it was so refreshing to read a male character unafraid to discuss his insecurities and mental health. These two characters worked well separately and even better together and you truly become invested in their relationship, rooting for them and cheering them on.
You can clearly tell a lot of research went into making the past lives seem realistic and accurate. And although sometimes the dialogue felt a little modern for characters living centuries or thousands of years in the past, their stories flowed incredibly well and made you care about them as individual characters and as the future characters they become and which we spend most of our time with.
I can say without a doubt, this book is a labor of love and the authors created something truly magical and wonderful. I honestly cannot wait for the second one.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 20, 2022
The story is from the POV of Theo & Auryn living in Australia. The storyline concentrates on their past lives and reincarnation of being basically soulmates finding and losing each other each lifetime (not be confused with romance troupes this just a dark fantasy). In each life they fight a dark enemy only to be killed only to do it again. There is a timeline of weaving through the past and present to explain more and more about the characters as well as their enemy. Theo was very realistic and the writing spoke of dealing with depression. Auryn a very amazing character because though he was a male he didn't have the toxic masculinity as you see in a lot male fantasy characters... he was able to talk about and embrace his insecurities without overly trying to compensate. There's a few mental health issues brought up in the story that makes this book relatable though it's fantasy from depression, eating disorders, and anxiety. There's very detailed history aspects to this book and as you read you can see the research and effort that was put into the writing this amazing story.
The flow of the story was smooth and as a reader who reads somewhat faster I appreciated the length of the book being longer. This is a dark fantasy and I actually enjoyed reading it. The chapters had so much details that really enthralled you and it was very much appreciated with all the historical research to write this book. As a person not big on fantasy I was definitely impressed by this book...from the artwork of the cover, to the plot, to the ending. An amazing start to a series if you ask me.
The flow of the story was smooth and as a reader who reads somewhat faster I appreciated the length of the book being longer. This is a dark fantasy and I actually enjoyed reading it. The chapters had so much details that really enthralled you and it was very much appreciated with all the historical research to write this book. As a person not big on fantasy I was definitely impressed by this book...from the artwork of the cover, to the plot, to the ending. An amazing start to a series if you ask me.
September 22, 2022
I should probably start with the fantastic cover. It tells the story of the book and captures both the light and the darkness of the characters.
I am in love with anything Fantasy, and this book delivered and surpassed all expectations. The Phoenix and The Spider is twisted darkness and glorious light all tangled up to spin an unforgettable story of soulmates. It is fair to say the story is very dark, and I advise reading the authors’ disclosure and warnings. However, if Dark Fantasy is your thing, prepare to be spoiled.
The writing style is descriptive, poetic, and very skilled. There are no gaps, and the story flows in a very comprehensive way.
A considerable amount of research went into this book, and those who love Historic Fantasy are in for a treat.
I strongly recommend this book to Brandon Sanderson and Joe Abercrombie fans. I think the fans of Laura Thalassa will also love this; just be ready for more gloom. In my opinion, the added darkness makes The Phoenix and The Spider a statement of originality.
I am in love with anything Fantasy, and this book delivered and surpassed all expectations. The Phoenix and The Spider is twisted darkness and glorious light all tangled up to spin an unforgettable story of soulmates. It is fair to say the story is very dark, and I advise reading the authors’ disclosure and warnings. However, if Dark Fantasy is your thing, prepare to be spoiled.
The writing style is descriptive, poetic, and very skilled. There are no gaps, and the story flows in a very comprehensive way.
A considerable amount of research went into this book, and those who love Historic Fantasy are in for a treat.
I strongly recommend this book to Brandon Sanderson and Joe Abercrombie fans. I think the fans of Laura Thalassa will also love this; just be ready for more gloom. In my opinion, the added darkness makes The Phoenix and The Spider a statement of originality.
October 1, 2022
5 stars but I didn’t get it
Potential spoilers ahead:
I love supporting indie authors and 5 stars for effort and for braving the world of publishing and getting your ideas out in the world.
Things that I liked:
I enjoyed the main characters, Theo in particular, in spite her struggles she maintained her badasserie, and pulled Auryn with her.
I liked their relationship, they hit it off and kept at it and in this world of uncertainty they cling to eachother and push eachother up and I liked that.
Things I’m not sure I got:
The purpose of the book - not sure I actually got the message or where the authors were going with this.
I think the ending was supposed to be a not so subtle nod to the ‘millennial meh’ or at least that’s how I saw it.
Things I didn’t enjoy :
I didn’t enjoy the villain and the way the past lives of the phoenix and the butterfly were written.
The spider was getting smarter whilst the other reincarnations just flipped between dumb and dumber. How could it possibly be that some iterations were smart and prepared and others were just clueless, including Theo and Auryn. I found the explanation that ‘sometimes we remember sometimes we don’t’ very superficial. There was no system - the villain just kept winning.
I did not enjoy the length of the book given the rushed ending. I got major ‘meh’ vibes at the end and I felt like the finale just made the whole book seem unnecessary - they didn’t remember, they battled, they won and then they went ‘meh’ and it was over. I failed to see the point of all the reincarnations and really the bulk of the story since it didn’t impact on anything.
Things I would’ve liked and didn’t get:
An epic ending, where Theo and Auryn actually remember, and win against the spider because of the knowledge of all their past lives.
As much as I appreciate a millennial ‘meh’ I was hoping for a HEA and when the book said it was a slow burn I didn’t expect all of it to be super slow - would’ve enjoyed more of the romance and the supportive relationship between the main characters, they were truly the main showstoppers. All other past lives just didn’t make sense.
Would’ve liked to have understood the villain - his reasoning or suffering haven’t really been explained until the end - i would’ve liked to know what brought him to this murdering rampage in the first place and why the obsession with the phoenix - would’ve liked to know this.
I hope the authors keep writing my review in no means represents the only opinion out there and it’s not meant to be harsh or mean - I really did love the main characters and I wish I would’ve gotten more of them throughout the story, without all the noise.
Would love to know if Theo and Auryn end up travelling I feel like that would really make my day.
Stay awesome! And thanks for sharing this book with us the readers!
Potential spoilers ahead:
I love supporting indie authors and 5 stars for effort and for braving the world of publishing and getting your ideas out in the world.
Things that I liked:
I enjoyed the main characters, Theo in particular, in spite her struggles she maintained her badasserie, and pulled Auryn with her.
I liked their relationship, they hit it off and kept at it and in this world of uncertainty they cling to eachother and push eachother up and I liked that.
Things I’m not sure I got:
The purpose of the book - not sure I actually got the message or where the authors were going with this.
I think the ending was supposed to be a not so subtle nod to the ‘millennial meh’ or at least that’s how I saw it.
Things I didn’t enjoy :
I didn’t enjoy the villain and the way the past lives of the phoenix and the butterfly were written.
The spider was getting smarter whilst the other reincarnations just flipped between dumb and dumber. How could it possibly be that some iterations were smart and prepared and others were just clueless, including Theo and Auryn. I found the explanation that ‘sometimes we remember sometimes we don’t’ very superficial. There was no system - the villain just kept winning.
I did not enjoy the length of the book given the rushed ending. I got major ‘meh’ vibes at the end and I felt like the finale just made the whole book seem unnecessary - they didn’t remember, they battled, they won and then they went ‘meh’ and it was over. I failed to see the point of all the reincarnations and really the bulk of the story since it didn’t impact on anything.
Things I would’ve liked and didn’t get:
An epic ending, where Theo and Auryn actually remember, and win against the spider because of the knowledge of all their past lives.
As much as I appreciate a millennial ‘meh’ I was hoping for a HEA and when the book said it was a slow burn I didn’t expect all of it to be super slow - would’ve enjoyed more of the romance and the supportive relationship between the main characters, they were truly the main showstoppers. All other past lives just didn’t make sense.
Would’ve liked to have understood the villain - his reasoning or suffering haven’t really been explained until the end - i would’ve liked to know what brought him to this murdering rampage in the first place and why the obsession with the phoenix - would’ve liked to know this.
I hope the authors keep writing my review in no means represents the only opinion out there and it’s not meant to be harsh or mean - I really did love the main characters and I wish I would’ve gotten more of them throughout the story, without all the noise.
Would love to know if Theo and Auryn end up travelling I feel like that would really make my day.
Stay awesome! And thanks for sharing this book with us the readers!
July 12, 2022
The Phoenix and the Spider is a riveting story following the life times of one woman. Plagued by dreams of two monsters, one that brings her hope and the other one delivering fear, Theo must figure out what these dreams mean, or else her life will end in the same way it has in lifetimes before.
This story has been one of my favorite fantasy reads in quite a while. Theo's character was relatable and I absolutely loved her. The lives she's had were intriguing and had me invested entire time. Auryn was an interesting character and while he wasn't my personal favorite, he was still interesting.
The dialogue needed a little bit of work, since some of it didn't feel natural. There were points when we were reading a flashback that the character interactions and dialogue felt just like dialogie instead of characters speaking to each other. However, given the Era the characters were in, I believe the author did a great job in conveying the characters at the time the best they could.
Overall, the book was absolutely fantastic and I would highly recommend to anyone who is interested in fantasy.
This story has been one of my favorite fantasy reads in quite a while. Theo's character was relatable and I absolutely loved her. The lives she's had were intriguing and had me invested entire time. Auryn was an interesting character and while he wasn't my personal favorite, he was still interesting.
The dialogue needed a little bit of work, since some of it didn't feel natural. There were points when we were reading a flashback that the character interactions and dialogue felt just like dialogie instead of characters speaking to each other. However, given the Era the characters were in, I believe the author did a great job in conveying the characters at the time the best they could.
Overall, the book was absolutely fantastic and I would highly recommend to anyone who is interested in fantasy.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 30, 2022
The Phoenix and the Spider is now one of my favourite fantasy books. In my opinion, it is a great start of the Children of the Aether series. For starters, with me being a huge fan of dark fantasy and multiple POVs, it was of no surprise that I was thrilled when I got the book. But it turned down even better than I thought it would. I kept thinking about what happens next when I wasn’t reading. The story is phenomenal and it really kept me on my toes. Another strong point of the book is its characters. They are in-depth and properly introduced in a way where you can immediately tell that they are something more than what they seem at first. Together with an extensive and insightful worldbuilding, I really recommend it and I cannot wait for the sequel!
I'd like to thank the author for providing me an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
I'd like to thank the author for providing me an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
May 31, 2022
I was lucky enough to be an arc reader for this book in exchange for an honest review:
The authors have explored such an interesting reincarnation concept with this story, one that I haven’t read elsewhere!
It has gorgeous world building that is immersive with scenic descriptions that are so easy to see in your minds eye.
It is full of realistic characters with a relentless bad guy - what more could you ask for!
It’s a dark fantasy with a complex plot that I would recommend, I would say more but that would involve spoilers!
The authors have explored such an interesting reincarnation concept with this story, one that I haven’t read elsewhere!
It has gorgeous world building that is immersive with scenic descriptions that are so easy to see in your minds eye.
It is full of realistic characters with a relentless bad guy - what more could you ask for!
It’s a dark fantasy with a complex plot that I would recommend, I would say more but that would involve spoilers!
July 7, 2022
Extraordinarily captivating! I loved it and bought 9 copies to share with like-minded readers! I can't wait for the next instalment!
November 27, 2022
Wow! This is an amazing read. Definitely recommend. Its exciting and can't wait for the next one 😊
January 15, 2024
I loved the characters. Theo turned out to be such a spunky, genuine soul and I loved her. Strangely I also really loved Tony even though he was a small part of the story.
I loved the love story and the the fact that they kept finding each other in the new lives they had.
I enjoyed the concept of this story and I found it very intriguing and fascinating.
The vilian was definitely unlikable and the roles were set out really well.
This book was incredibly well written. From beginning to end and I really found it easy to read and follow.
That being said I did have some drawbacks.
I felt the backstory became too much and too long. It was a lot of information to take in.
This was an absolute beast of a book and I feel some things could have been dramatically shortened.
If you are a slow burn lover then this would be perfect for you.
I loved the love story and the the fact that they kept finding each other in the new lives they had.
I enjoyed the concept of this story and I found it very intriguing and fascinating.
The vilian was definitely unlikable and the roles were set out really well.
This book was incredibly well written. From beginning to end and I really found it easy to read and follow.
That being said I did have some drawbacks.
I felt the backstory became too much and too long. It was a lot of information to take in.
This was an absolute beast of a book and I feel some things could have been dramatically shortened.
If you are a slow burn lover then this would be perfect for you.
January 4, 2023
This book sounded intriguing so I wanted to give it a shot. It's different from anything else I have read.
I love Theo and Auryn. Both work in the hospitality industry, work crazy hours and have little free time. Both prefer to spend time alone rather than have to deal with the aggravation of society. From the first time they meet they feel a pull toward the other, but aside from knowing that they care for one another, they have no idea what that pull is.
This book bounces back and forth quite a bit. A chapter from Theo's point of view, a chapter from Auryn's point of view, then a chapter that is a past life. In this book Theo and Auryn have extremely old souls. They have lived countless lives over centuries.
I look forward to seeing what comes next.
I love Theo and Auryn. Both work in the hospitality industry, work crazy hours and have little free time. Both prefer to spend time alone rather than have to deal with the aggravation of society. From the first time they meet they feel a pull toward the other, but aside from knowing that they care for one another, they have no idea what that pull is.
This book bounces back and forth quite a bit. A chapter from Theo's point of view, a chapter from Auryn's point of view, then a chapter that is a past life. In this book Theo and Auryn have extremely old souls. They have lived countless lives over centuries.
I look forward to seeing what comes next.
February 9, 2023
I got this book on kindle first as the Author had commented on a video where I had stated I loved things set way back in time. Then, only after a little bit of reading did I realize I would need the physical copy, so I purchased that as well.
This book spans multiple historical points and is done so in a fabulous manner!
It's a supernatural thriller that follows the journey of a couple that shares multiple life times of love.
The historical references, the journeys and even down to the settings during those particular times was vivid and spot on.
I loved traveling to Transylvania, London, Egypt, Siberia and more in the epic journey.
I highly recommend you grab this book, snuggle in and enjoy the journey
This book spans multiple historical points and is done so in a fabulous manner!
It's a supernatural thriller that follows the journey of a couple that shares multiple life times of love.
The historical references, the journeys and even down to the settings during those particular times was vivid and spot on.
I loved traveling to Transylvania, London, Egypt, Siberia and more in the epic journey.
I highly recommend you grab this book, snuggle in and enjoy the journey
June 1, 2023
At first I thought this book was a mystery and as I was sucked into each past lives, I tried hard to gather clues. However, at around the 35% mark, I figured out this was not the case and shelved it for awhile until I was more in the mood for dark fantasy.
I haven't read a book which explores depression and obsession since The Dark Decent of Elizabeth Frankenstein. This one did an excellent job of hinting at light and hope and healing without making any of those things a requirement for self love.
Overall the book ended with more questions than it answered as it sets the story up for Book 2. I can't say I loved the story. I liked it okay. It does, however, get an extra star for how masterfully it was written.
I haven't read a book which explores depression and obsession since The Dark Decent of Elizabeth Frankenstein. This one did an excellent job of hinting at light and hope and healing without making any of those things a requirement for self love.
Overall the book ended with more questions than it answered as it sets the story up for Book 2. I can't say I loved the story. I liked it okay. It does, however, get an extra star for how masterfully it was written.
October 29, 2022
This book took me a couple of re reads and talks with the author who is so great in answering questions and offering suggestions when I was I admit lost.
It was a perfect blend of modern day angst and past life experiences. I liked that the MCs weren't your straight forward heroes and that you got to see glimpses of their past lives, made you love them more realising they had flaws even if they couldn't always remember them in your everyday context but instead in dreams and nightmares.
Thank you to the Authors for the Arc in exchange for this review.
It was a perfect blend of modern day angst and past life experiences. I liked that the MCs weren't your straight forward heroes and that you got to see glimpses of their past lives, made you love them more realising they had flaws even if they couldn't always remember them in your everyday context but instead in dreams and nightmares.
Thank you to the Authors for the Arc in exchange for this review.
December 31, 2022
It took me a long while to get into this book as it was jumping between characters and eras, which at times I found a tad confusing, but as you get deeper into the story it all starts knitting together quite nicely. By the time you get to Viola and Richard you’re eager to get to the end to see what the final outcome will be between Theo and Auryn. They’re both great characters and I love how they support each other through their times of depression and anxiety. I’m not sure if another book would do this story justice or if it’s just best to leave it as it ended.
September 18, 2022
This was a new category of book for me and I found the writing both absorbing and immersive. The historical chapters were particularly engrossing and gave a great sense of the time and location.
The modern day chapters had me empathising and willing the characters on as I became invested in their struggles and hoped they would succeed. Whilst the darkness of depression was there throughout the book so too was hope from the soulmates found. I look forward to more from these two authors.
The modern day chapters had me empathising and willing the characters on as I became invested in their struggles and hoped they would succeed. Whilst the darkness of depression was there throughout the book so too was hope from the soulmates found. I look forward to more from these two authors.
September 6, 2022
I love how dark this is. the characters were so authentic and real . it was heartwarming to read a fantasy novel where the characters support eachothers through depression and compliment eachother so beautifully
without giving too much away it took me by surprise how original and creative the story line is
without giving too much away it took me by surprise how original and creative the story line is
December 7, 2022
I really didn’t know what to expect when I started this book, other than that it looked epic. Epic is an understatement… it is beyond anything I could have imagined. The storytelling is phenomenal, with so many beautiful details you fall in love with every single character. It leaves you wanting more and I cannot wait for book 2!
September 16, 2024
TLDR Summary of Review:
- Rating: 3 stars, possibly generous.
- General Feeling: The book wasn't enjoyable, possibly due to not liking dark fantasy or the story itself.
Key Points:
1. Antagonist Issues:
- Antagonist is repetitive, flat, and overly obsessed with tormenting the protagonists, making it tiresome.
- His speeches and behavior become predictable and irritating.
2. Plot Weaknesses:
- The plot feels aimless and lacks structure. It focuses too much on the characters' past lives and mental health struggles without development in the present.
- Protagonists’ journey feels stagnant, with no emotional highs or lows to engage the reader.
3. Character Development:
- The protagonists, Theo and Auryn, are overshadowed by their mental health struggles, making their character development weak.
- Their relationship lacks depth, relying on mundane activities instead of meaningful growth.
4. Missed Potential:
- The historical fiction sections were well-executed, more nuanced than the present-day narrative.
- The last 100 pages improved, but the ending felt rushed.
5. Final Thoughts:
- While the depiction of mental health struggles was appreciated, the repetitive antagonist and lack of character development made it hard to enjoy the book.
— longer review; written as soon as i was done reading —
3 star might be a generous one but it’s what i felt. either i don’t enjoy dark fantasy or maybe this book in particular just isn’t my cup of tea. tw on everything mental health related. and my review is everywhere and will be repetitive which is ironic as that’s my main complaint about the antagonist.
the main antagonist is flat af and just reminds me of obsessive sadistic losers who won’t stop inflicting misery on people who are merely just trying to exist and enjoy life. his obsession and his speech got too repetitive and i was rolling my eyes after the 3rd time. the first time he died it just felt comical.
on top of that, every time i feel like the plot was going somewhere, it fell flat because there is no plot structure. we would either learn what fear killed our MCs in their past lives or in which area of bad mental health they’re currently mulling about in their present lives, but then left to wonder what development would our present day protagonists would have have and ultimately feeling dissatisfied as it went nowhere.
i wanted to like this book. but i got tired. so many things fell flat when they could have been presented like hair rising moments because our MCs never win and our antagonist kept spewing the same speech. after a while it became so predictable that the lessons for every story from their past was lost in an endless sea of despair, no peaks or troughs. no waves of emotions. hard to connect with present times.
i appreciate the depiction of depression, anxiety, eating disorder, and general insecurities. having historical fiction with a touch of fantasy should have excited me but god the antagonist was infuriating to read. he may be representing fear and that those fears then manifested their deaths in the past lives, but then their present selves were so riddled with bad mental health and equally bad working environment that it almost felt like that’s all they’re known for. their struggles overshadowed what could have been a well thought out character development. theo and auryn could have been a more fleshed out duo that aren’t just defined by their painful upbringing, lost dreams, and broken hearts.
i love long books. i can devour long books. but this book is not my cup of tea as it felt drawn out and i do not care enough about theo and auryn or whoever else would be children of the aether in the next book. i liked their set up in the beginning but they don’t really grow as a pair other than movies and pizzas and staying in on their off days (which i get because they work in hospitality) but this felt like lazy writing to me. i would have loved for them to get to know each other more with conversations and other “shown” activities and not just explained. the two exceptions were when they played boardgames and auryn quit his job. WHICH THEN GOT THINGS LOOKING INTERESTING IN THE LAST 100 PAGES AFTER THAT. …then the ending felt rushed.
(sometimes throughout different points of the book i felt like they spent so much time perfecting the historical fiction parts of the book that they left their present protagonists sitting in their depression and insecurities with no plan for character development.)
on that note, i do think that the authors did great with the historical fiction parts of the book; i loved them. they felt like a collection of short stories or novellas. and, those characters had more nuances than theo and auryn. but the book as a whole felt like a need to be perfected at every turn, rather than a well thought-out journey as a plot. i can’t even decide what the destination would have been because every time i wanted the protagonists to win they were bested by the sadist. well, most of the time.
i get it. the antagonist wants to break them until their soul no longer wants to reborn/reincarnate to new bodies in future lives. the spider orchestrated all the selfish desires of the people around the protagonists so they’d feel isolated and rejected. and the depictions do mimic real life. but this is a bloody book and when it feels like there hasn’t been any other development or changes, it feels like it’s never gonna go anywhere. i can accept that that would be the point, but then because of this the ending felt too rushed and somehow everything just falls into place???? it worked out???
honestly if i was theo or auryn i would have given up after my 3rd reincarnation and let the spider win because god i couldn’t enjoy life with an obsessive maniac like that roaming around for millennia(s).
- Rating: 3 stars, possibly generous.
- General Feeling: The book wasn't enjoyable, possibly due to not liking dark fantasy or the story itself.
Key Points:
1. Antagonist Issues:
- Antagonist is repetitive, flat, and overly obsessed with tormenting the protagonists, making it tiresome.
- His speeches and behavior become predictable and irritating.
2. Plot Weaknesses:
- The plot feels aimless and lacks structure. It focuses too much on the characters' past lives and mental health struggles without development in the present.
- Protagonists’ journey feels stagnant, with no emotional highs or lows to engage the reader.
3. Character Development:
- The protagonists, Theo and Auryn, are overshadowed by their mental health struggles, making their character development weak.
- Their relationship lacks depth, relying on mundane activities instead of meaningful growth.
4. Missed Potential:
- The historical fiction sections were well-executed, more nuanced than the present-day narrative.
- The last 100 pages improved, but the ending felt rushed.
5. Final Thoughts:
- While the depiction of mental health struggles was appreciated, the repetitive antagonist and lack of character development made it hard to enjoy the book.
— longer review; written as soon as i was done reading —
3 star might be a generous one but it’s what i felt. either i don’t enjoy dark fantasy or maybe this book in particular just isn’t my cup of tea. tw on everything mental health related. and my review is everywhere and will be repetitive which is ironic as that’s my main complaint about the antagonist.
the main antagonist is flat af and just reminds me of obsessive sadistic losers who won’t stop inflicting misery on people who are merely just trying to exist and enjoy life. his obsession and his speech got too repetitive and i was rolling my eyes after the 3rd time. the first time he died it just felt comical.
on top of that, every time i feel like the plot was going somewhere, it fell flat because there is no plot structure. we would either learn what fear killed our MCs in their past lives or in which area of bad mental health they’re currently mulling about in their present lives, but then left to wonder what development would our present day protagonists would have have and ultimately feeling dissatisfied as it went nowhere.
i wanted to like this book. but i got tired. so many things fell flat when they could have been presented like hair rising moments because our MCs never win and our antagonist kept spewing the same speech. after a while it became so predictable that the lessons for every story from their past was lost in an endless sea of despair, no peaks or troughs. no waves of emotions. hard to connect with present times.
i appreciate the depiction of depression, anxiety, eating disorder, and general insecurities. having historical fiction with a touch of fantasy should have excited me but god the antagonist was infuriating to read. he may be representing fear and that those fears then manifested their deaths in the past lives, but then their present selves were so riddled with bad mental health and equally bad working environment that it almost felt like that’s all they’re known for. their struggles overshadowed what could have been a well thought out character development. theo and auryn could have been a more fleshed out duo that aren’t just defined by their painful upbringing, lost dreams, and broken hearts.
i love long books. i can devour long books. but this book is not my cup of tea as it felt drawn out and i do not care enough about theo and auryn or whoever else would be children of the aether in the next book. i liked their set up in the beginning but they don’t really grow as a pair other than movies and pizzas and staying in on their off days (which i get because they work in hospitality) but this felt like lazy writing to me. i would have loved for them to get to know each other more with conversations and other “shown” activities and not just explained. the two exceptions were when they played boardgames and auryn quit his job. WHICH THEN GOT THINGS LOOKING INTERESTING IN THE LAST 100 PAGES AFTER THAT. …then the ending felt rushed.
(sometimes throughout different points of the book i felt like they spent so much time perfecting the historical fiction parts of the book that they left their present protagonists sitting in their depression and insecurities with no plan for character development.)
on that note, i do think that the authors did great with the historical fiction parts of the book; i loved them. they felt like a collection of short stories or novellas. and, those characters had more nuances than theo and auryn. but the book as a whole felt like a need to be perfected at every turn, rather than a well thought-out journey as a plot. i can’t even decide what the destination would have been because every time i wanted the protagonists to win they were bested by the sadist. well, most of the time.
i get it. the antagonist wants to break them until their soul no longer wants to reborn/reincarnate to new bodies in future lives. the spider orchestrated all the selfish desires of the people around the protagonists so they’d feel isolated and rejected. and the depictions do mimic real life. but this is a bloody book and when it feels like there hasn’t been any other development or changes, it feels like it’s never gonna go anywhere. i can accept that that would be the point, but then because of this the ending felt too rushed and somehow everything just falls into place???? it worked out???
honestly if i was theo or auryn i would have given up after my 3rd reincarnation and let the spider win because god i couldn’t enjoy life with an obsessive maniac like that roaming around for millennia(s).
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 8, 2024
WOW is the only word I can use to describe this book. Very in depth character descriptions, and will blow you away.
I didn't expect it to be as awesome as it is! We have Theo, the main female character suffering from deep depression and we follow her through part of her life as it changes and grows. I can't say too much as I don't want to spoil this for anyone. Theo and Auryn are so well written characters that I fell in love with them too.
Don't let it's size or length bother you, I read this in a few days and nothing else could take my mind power. It is most definitely worth the read.
Thank you Benny and Alex for bringing this book alive 🙌
I didn't expect it to be as awesome as it is! We have Theo, the main female character suffering from deep depression and we follow her through part of her life as it changes and grows. I can't say too much as I don't want to spoil this for anyone. Theo and Auryn are so well written characters that I fell in love with them too.
Don't let it's size or length bother you, I read this in a few days and nothing else could take my mind power. It is most definitely worth the read.
Thank you Benny and Alex for bringing this book alive 🙌
January 15, 2024
So many emotions, full of darkness but also hope. The visual narrative was fantastic and so descriptive it really allowed me to see the scenes unfolding. The feeling of hope kept me going but the book was very long and drawn out and it was a struggle to get to the end.
August 14, 2024
Cloud atlas meets urban fantasy. Enjoyable read. Wish there was a 'where are they now' thing at the end. I have a few unanswered questions but hopefully will be answered in the next book.
October 20, 2023
Book review 📚: The Phoenix And The Spider- Children Of The Aether: book one
Genre fantasy/adventure
(Read trigger points warnings before starting)
Wow what a ride! After having to put this one down to complete other reading tasks I am so glad I finally finished this beauty.
Theo dreams every night of being in a far away land and being hunted by the Spider, a nightmare that haunts her even when she is awake, she meets Auryn one night a bartender that takes her mind and calms the storms in her heart. They haven't known each other long but feel the connection right away. She feels safe in his arms even after waking up from nightmares she knows he's not far away from her heart. Auryn will do anything to protect Theo even if it means giving up himself, as their love grows the stronger the power will be.
Genre fantasy/adventure
(Read trigger points warnings before starting)
Wow what a ride! After having to put this one down to complete other reading tasks I am so glad I finally finished this beauty.
Theo dreams every night of being in a far away land and being hunted by the Spider, a nightmare that haunts her even when she is awake, she meets Auryn one night a bartender that takes her mind and calms the storms in her heart. They haven't known each other long but feel the connection right away. She feels safe in his arms even after waking up from nightmares she knows he's not far away from her heart. Auryn will do anything to protect Theo even if it means giving up himself, as their love grows the stronger the power will be.
April 8, 2024
Well written, enjoyed the story line :)
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