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The Crane Moon Cycle #1
The Phoenix and the Sword
Aili Fallon is desperate.
Determined to escape her past, she refuses to let anything impede her training as a combat nurse - until the woman she's falling in love with disappears in a fiery tempest, leaving Aili burdened with terrible immortality and destroying flame.
Gambling with her own existence, Aili crosses into a spiritual realm in search of her lost love -- the only person that can give her answers. But beneath the life she has known is a life shaped by secrets, and a love that was doomed a thousand years before.
And unless Aili discovers the truth, the powers she now bears will destroy her.
The Phoenix and the Sword is the first book in the Crane Moon Cycle duology, a queer epic fantasy set in a world of spiritual powers, past lives, and beings of myth and legend. Perfect for those looking for a story of love, loss, and redemption that crosses centuries and worlds.
The Crane Moon Cycle is set in a world that includes war and violence, and themes that may be difficult for some readers. Please see the author's website for list and details.
Determined to escape her past, she refuses to let anything impede her training as a combat nurse - until the woman she's falling in love with disappears in a fiery tempest, leaving Aili burdened with terrible immortality and destroying flame.
Gambling with her own existence, Aili crosses into a spiritual realm in search of her lost love -- the only person that can give her answers. But beneath the life she has known is a life shaped by secrets, and a love that was doomed a thousand years before.
And unless Aili discovers the truth, the powers she now bears will destroy her.
The Phoenix and the Sword is the first book in the Crane Moon Cycle duology, a queer epic fantasy set in a world of spiritual powers, past lives, and beings of myth and legend. Perfect for those looking for a story of love, loss, and redemption that crosses centuries and worlds.
The Crane Moon Cycle is set in a world that includes war and violence, and themes that may be difficult for some readers. Please see the author's website for list and details.
294 pages, Kindle Edition
Published July 17, 2022
50 people are currently reading
426 people want to read
About the author
J.C. Snow
5 books52 followersJ. C. Snow (she/her) is a queer fantasy author who lives with her wife, child, dog, and a wild garden in the Bay Area. She writes novels and stories centering queer characters, usually with plenty of fight scenes, love stories, trauma and healing. She holds a doctorate in Religious Studies from Columbia University and has also published extensively on the history of race and religion in the United States. Her current non-fantasy-writing life goal is to be certified as a scuba diver.
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February 6, 2025I’ve had enough. I am aware the book is marketed as LGBTQ, I think it should be a firm M/M because that’s the bulk of the pairing. Because if it was categorised as such I wouldn’t even try to read it.
The beginning characters started as F/F, yes, but then something rather, it turned M/M. I tried to endure as much but I really cannot be bothered reading about men. I feel a bit duped, a bit of false advertising, and this is my opinion only. And despite the F/F, I was dubious to continue because the introduction of characters, the world building was on shaky grounds. But I pushed through that thinking it will get better. Then, the M/M happened. I threw in the towel 58% in.
The beginning characters started as F/F, yes, but then something rather, it turned M/M. I tried to endure as much but I really cannot be bothered reading about men. I feel a bit duped, a bit of false advertising, and this is my opinion only. And despite the F/F, I was dubious to continue because the introduction of characters, the world building was on shaky grounds. But I pushed through that thinking it will get better. Then, the M/M happened. I threw in the towel 58% in.
August 7, 2023
For the fans of Song of Silver, Flame Like Night comes another epic cultivation fantasy from the pen of J. C. Snow. The Phoenix and the Sword is a queer romance fantasy inspired by the Chinese contemporary genre of xianxia (pronounced syen-sya) and many Chinese web novelists in the danmei genre. Xianxia, literally translated as „Immortal Heroes“, are stories based on Chinese folklore. These stories have many different spiritual beings (demons, ghosts) and immortal protagonists. According to the author, in xianxia novels, human beings can develop spiritual powers and even become deities with the help of meditation, hard work, and talent. Xianxia novels are closely related to wuxia (pronounced ooh-sya) novels, which include protagonists training in Chinese martial arts, and internal energy cultivation, to gain a supernatural fighting ability.
In The Phoenix and the Sword, we follow Aili Fallon, a combat nurse about to be dispatched to a battlefield. Right before her disembarkment, she meets an enchanting woman who calls herself Tairei. Tairei reveals her true name is Liu Chenguang, but the rest of her life story is veiled in mystery. Despite her friend's protests, Aili trusts Chenguang and discovers incredible things about her past life and concealed power. With the help of Chenguang's courageous sibling, Tainu, Aili is whisked off through a Phoenix gate into the unknown world of the Spirit Realm. Tainu and Aili journey through the unpredictable Spirit Realm to reunite with Chenguang. But when the two women's paths cross again, they will discover one cannot escape their past, no matter how unbelievable it may be.
This is quite an adventurous story told in two timelines. One timeline is set in the present day, focusing on exploring the newly unraveled connection between Aili and Tairei; the other timeline is set in a distant past depicting the life of a cultivator of the Crane Moon sect. The cultivator's name is Hong Deming. The transition from the first into the second timeline is well-incorporated and smooth. We watch as Hong Deming befriends and slowly falls in love with Crane Moon's curious new servant. Perhaps the new servant holds great power, but who will help him unleash it?
Despite the rocky start, J. C. Snow's debut novel is everything promised in the blurb. The first few chapters were overwhelming, and the world-building is not strong. I did not know The Phoenix and the Sword was a cultivation fantasy, so being thrust into a magical world with specific terminology was confusing. Having read one cultivational fantasy before, I was more familiar with the magic system. For all readers who have not read xianxia before, I suggest searching the glossary of terms used in wuxia and xianxia. The novel will not ease you into the magical world of Crane Moon duology.
In regards to world-building, it could have been better established inside the story. This book would benefit a map, even the most simply sketched one. Most of the plot happens in specific cities or places, but I had a problem with the general geographical orientation. The author mentions rivers, cities, and mountains, which remain unsubstantial as we have no idea where those places are, concerning the characters' current location. Regardless, I think my issue does not play an important role in the overall enjoyment of the novel. Since this is a romance first, fantasy second novel, do not expect much political intrigue or social commentary. I liked the pacing of the story. The story is fast-paced, action-packed, with fearless main characters, but the love story is slower. Aili and Chenguag's love story is messier, more complex, and restrained in contrast to the openly shown and more liberated relationship between Hond Deming and the servant.
Thank you to BookSirens, and J. C. Snow for the free review copy!
In The Phoenix and the Sword, we follow Aili Fallon, a combat nurse about to be dispatched to a battlefield. Right before her disembarkment, she meets an enchanting woman who calls herself Tairei. Tairei reveals her true name is Liu Chenguang, but the rest of her life story is veiled in mystery. Despite her friend's protests, Aili trusts Chenguang and discovers incredible things about her past life and concealed power. With the help of Chenguang's courageous sibling, Tainu, Aili is whisked off through a Phoenix gate into the unknown world of the Spirit Realm. Tainu and Aili journey through the unpredictable Spirit Realm to reunite with Chenguang. But when the two women's paths cross again, they will discover one cannot escape their past, no matter how unbelievable it may be.
This is quite an adventurous story told in two timelines. One timeline is set in the present day, focusing on exploring the newly unraveled connection between Aili and Tairei; the other timeline is set in a distant past depicting the life of a cultivator of the Crane Moon sect. The cultivator's name is Hong Deming. The transition from the first into the second timeline is well-incorporated and smooth. We watch as Hong Deming befriends and slowly falls in love with Crane Moon's curious new servant. Perhaps the new servant holds great power, but who will help him unleash it?
Despite the rocky start, J. C. Snow's debut novel is everything promised in the blurb. The first few chapters were overwhelming, and the world-building is not strong. I did not know The Phoenix and the Sword was a cultivation fantasy, so being thrust into a magical world with specific terminology was confusing. Having read one cultivational fantasy before, I was more familiar with the magic system. For all readers who have not read xianxia before, I suggest searching the glossary of terms used in wuxia and xianxia. The novel will not ease you into the magical world of Crane Moon duology.
In regards to world-building, it could have been better established inside the story. This book would benefit a map, even the most simply sketched one. Most of the plot happens in specific cities or places, but I had a problem with the general geographical orientation. The author mentions rivers, cities, and mountains, which remain unsubstantial as we have no idea where those places are, concerning the characters' current location. Regardless, I think my issue does not play an important role in the overall enjoyment of the novel. Since this is a romance first, fantasy second novel, do not expect much political intrigue or social commentary. I liked the pacing of the story. The story is fast-paced, action-packed, with fearless main characters, but the love story is slower. Aili and Chenguag's love story is messier, more complex, and restrained in contrast to the openly shown and more liberated relationship between Hond Deming and the servant.
Thank you to BookSirens, and J. C. Snow for the free review copy!
July 6, 2023
I’ll be honest, this book was my entryway to actually reading cultivation fantasy. I was familiar with the genre - several good friends are fans, so I’ve gotten a lot secondhand - and I’ve read its western cousin, progression fantasy. After reading The Phoenix and the Sword and its sequel, The Shoreless River, I understand the appeal.
This book and its sequel are multi-POV, which worked in its favor on my first read as it took me a bit of time to get attached to the characters.
Don’t get me wrong, it’s not that I dislike Aili Fallon, especially now, but she suffers the misfortune of being a woman in her twenties from a small town and relatively insulated upbringing and it shows. For a solid portion of the book, my thoughts toward here were a solid mix of “oh honey”/”bless your heart” and “Aili NO!” It works, though; it’s not overplayed, but believable, and ultimately works to the favor of her character arc.
Working in tandem to Aili and her counterpart - Tairei - as they journey through the present is the centuries-earlier tale of Hong Deming and Liu Chenguang. This portion of the story connected a bit more easily for me, although Hong Deming is definitely no better at making the best of decisions. It’s just that his bad decisions and his associated cast of side characters were a bit more familiar/relatable to my own life.
It’s with the antagonist, however, that I knew I was in it for the long haul with this story. I don’t want to spoil things, but he’s *exquisitely* done. For much of the story, I found myself simultaneously calling for his death and desperate for more of him.
By the end of the first book of this two-part story, I was somewhere between satisfied and devastated emotionally. The stopping point for the first book leaves readers with a solid understanding of the interwoven timelines of past and present and a clear view of the end, so to speak. Except there’s one problem: at the end of book one, you’re left with another ~114k words and the absolute certainty that JC Snow is going to use a solid portion of them to make the characters - and you - suffer. Whatever fate awaits the core cast and their world, it’s one they’re going to have to work for.
This book and its sequel are multi-POV, which worked in its favor on my first read as it took me a bit of time to get attached to the characters.
Don’t get me wrong, it’s not that I dislike Aili Fallon, especially now, but she suffers the misfortune of being a woman in her twenties from a small town and relatively insulated upbringing and it shows. For a solid portion of the book, my thoughts toward here were a solid mix of “oh honey”/”bless your heart” and “Aili NO!” It works, though; it’s not overplayed, but believable, and ultimately works to the favor of her character arc.
Working in tandem to Aili and her counterpart - Tairei - as they journey through the present is the centuries-earlier tale of Hong Deming and Liu Chenguang. This portion of the story connected a bit more easily for me, although Hong Deming is definitely no better at making the best of decisions. It’s just that his bad decisions and his associated cast of side characters were a bit more familiar/relatable to my own life.
It’s with the antagonist, however, that I knew I was in it for the long haul with this story. I don’t want to spoil things, but he’s *exquisitely* done. For much of the story, I found myself simultaneously calling for his death and desperate for more of him.
By the end of the first book of this two-part story, I was somewhere between satisfied and devastated emotionally. The stopping point for the first book leaves readers with a solid understanding of the interwoven timelines of past and present and a clear view of the end, so to speak. Except there’s one problem: at the end of book one, you’re left with another ~114k words and the absolute certainty that JC Snow is going to use a solid portion of them to make the characters - and you - suffer. Whatever fate awaits the core cast and their world, it’s one they’re going to have to work for.
November 12, 2022
This is going to be a hard review to write without spoilers, but The Phoenix and the Sword by J.C. Snow is an unusual slow-burn queer romantic fantasy with phoenixes, a cultivation-based magic system, and an ambitious plot structure spanning millennia.
I picked up this book after asking on Twitter for recommendations for a queer fantasy romance that wasn’t too long and was moderately spicy or more. This book doesn’t technically fulfil several of these criteria—it’s more of a romantic fantasy than a romance, and it’s not spicy at all—but it’s still an enjoyable and thought-provoking read.
I loved the book’s opening. Aili, a combat medic about to ship out to war, meets an intriguing woman called Tairei. Plot shenanigans immediately ensue, and the process of discovering more and more about Tairei and the mysterious phoenix aspect kept me glued to the pages in the first quarter of the book. I adored Tairei, and the budding relationship between her and Aili was a delight. Part of the mystery involves Tairei’s apparent connection to Aili, which is teased but not revealed for quite a while. I loved Tairei and Aili. A lot. Which is why I had some reservations about where the book goes next.
About a quarter of the way through, we enter another realm through a portal of sorts, and we get introduced to an entirely new cast of characters, including a pair of male characters worth pining for: Liu Chenguang and Hong Deming. From this point on, the bulk of the story follows Liu and Hong, with occasional flashes back to Aili and Tairei.
Liu and Hong’s story is a complex one involving some quality fantasy storytelling: magic that must be cultivated, various sects practicing their own cultivation methods, and a looming war that sometimes pits the sects against each other. The love story between Liu and Hong was a pleasant surprise, but I kept longing for more of Aili and Tairei, which we only get in shorter bits. I did occasionally get confused about the dual storylines, but that’s par for the course with complex fantasy, and my brain eventually sorted it all out.
As the book progresses, the connections between the two storylines become clearer, and it’s quite an ambitious and interesting project. I wished we could have spent more time with the original couple, but I loved seeing an author shoot for the moon in terms of storytelling. The romantic arcs in this book are complex and fulfilling, though I wouldn’t call it a romance. The fantasy story is of equal importance, so the term romantic fantasy feels more appropriate.
Because at first I thought I was reading a romance, I was disappointed when we switched storylines, though in time I came to care a great deal about Lui Chenguang and Hong Deming, and their slow-burn romance is quite touching. And the ending wraps up the two storylines in a satisfying way, though I would have loved to see it a little more balanced between the two.
I should also mention an important side character, Zhu Guiren, who’s delightfully messy and mysterious in his own right. I love how we never know quite what to think of him, how much to love or hate him, so we end up doing both. Zhu might be the most complex character in the book, and he’s certainly the most entertaining.
You should read The Phoenix and the Sword if you want a complex romantic fantasy with queer characters, innovative storytelling, and of course phoenixes. It’s a lovely book that does something I’ve never quite seen before, so kudos to the author on that. Just don’t go into this thinking it’s a Romance with a capital R.
I picked up this book after asking on Twitter for recommendations for a queer fantasy romance that wasn’t too long and was moderately spicy or more. This book doesn’t technically fulfil several of these criteria—it’s more of a romantic fantasy than a romance, and it’s not spicy at all—but it’s still an enjoyable and thought-provoking read.
I loved the book’s opening. Aili, a combat medic about to ship out to war, meets an intriguing woman called Tairei. Plot shenanigans immediately ensue, and the process of discovering more and more about Tairei and the mysterious phoenix aspect kept me glued to the pages in the first quarter of the book. I adored Tairei, and the budding relationship between her and Aili was a delight. Part of the mystery involves Tairei’s apparent connection to Aili, which is teased but not revealed for quite a while. I loved Tairei and Aili. A lot. Which is why I had some reservations about where the book goes next.
About a quarter of the way through, we enter another realm through a portal of sorts, and we get introduced to an entirely new cast of characters, including a pair of male characters worth pining for: Liu Chenguang and Hong Deming. From this point on, the bulk of the story follows Liu and Hong, with occasional flashes back to Aili and Tairei.
Liu and Hong’s story is a complex one involving some quality fantasy storytelling: magic that must be cultivated, various sects practicing their own cultivation methods, and a looming war that sometimes pits the sects against each other. The love story between Liu and Hong was a pleasant surprise, but I kept longing for more of Aili and Tairei, which we only get in shorter bits. I did occasionally get confused about the dual storylines, but that’s par for the course with complex fantasy, and my brain eventually sorted it all out.
As the book progresses, the connections between the two storylines become clearer, and it’s quite an ambitious and interesting project. I wished we could have spent more time with the original couple, but I loved seeing an author shoot for the moon in terms of storytelling. The romantic arcs in this book are complex and fulfilling, though I wouldn’t call it a romance. The fantasy story is of equal importance, so the term romantic fantasy feels more appropriate.
Because at first I thought I was reading a romance, I was disappointed when we switched storylines, though in time I came to care a great deal about Lui Chenguang and Hong Deming, and their slow-burn romance is quite touching. And the ending wraps up the two storylines in a satisfying way, though I would have loved to see it a little more balanced between the two.
I should also mention an important side character, Zhu Guiren, who’s delightfully messy and mysterious in his own right. I love how we never know quite what to think of him, how much to love or hate him, so we end up doing both. Zhu might be the most complex character in the book, and he’s certainly the most entertaining.
You should read The Phoenix and the Sword if you want a complex romantic fantasy with queer characters, innovative storytelling, and of course phoenixes. It’s a lovely book that does something I’ve never quite seen before, so kudos to the author on that. Just don’t go into this thinking it’s a Romance with a capital R.
September 7, 2023
I love fantasy C-dramas that cross multiple lifespans, so this was a book I should obviously read. Right from the start, I was surprised because instead of the cultivator aesthetic I'd expected, we begin in a time and place with aircraft and gun warfare. This was a refreshing setting in what otherwise felt like a traditional setup in a multiple-life romance. The cute catch is that only one of the couple remembers the other! Following that traditional epic style, our heroes start out young and naive. The pacing at the start is a bit slow. There’s a best friend, Nora, who is calling out the red-flag behavior of a character who is not actually human, and I was totally here for that because as much as I understand that we’re headed into a star-crossed lovers plot, the behavior is so suspicious, so the besty's feedback adds realism.
There are some heavy hitting plot points. However, Snow’s style maintains a certain distance so that nothing feels that dark or difficult. It reminds me of the clean sets of xianxia dramas. Both protagonists are archetypes of goodness and innocence. Their good intentions are part of the overall feeling that all will turn out well in this story.
While I was interested in the stories of the protagonists, I became hooked when we moved into the stories of a past life. The main story of The Phoenix and the Sword follows Hong Deming, Liu Chenguang, and Zhu Guiren. It’s an adventure, a sweet love story, and tale of a twisted friendship in need of redemption. The interpersonal relationships are a major strength of the book, which features phoenixes and a demon. (Shocking no one, the demon was my favorite character.) The phoenixes are powerful creatures of healing that are unable to attack. The Phoenix and the Sword pairs a powerful healer with a skilled swordsperson, bringing many beloved and familiar tropes as a gentle romantasy.
Multiple lives mean multiple deaths. A tricky part of telling this sort of story is that we feel a bit like the story has ended along with certain deaths. Snow layered the story so that when we return to the timeline we began on, we understand the characters and their relationships in a new way. However, this is a duology, so the end of The Phoenix and the Sword is just half of the story. Therefore, some parts of the novel feel significantly weaker than others because they are unfinished. I’m interested to see how Snow completes the story in The Shoreless River, and if the innocence of our protagonists will be lost.
There are some heavy hitting plot points. However, Snow’s style maintains a certain distance so that nothing feels that dark or difficult. It reminds me of the clean sets of xianxia dramas. Both protagonists are archetypes of goodness and innocence. Their good intentions are part of the overall feeling that all will turn out well in this story.
While I was interested in the stories of the protagonists, I became hooked when we moved into the stories of a past life. The main story of The Phoenix and the Sword follows Hong Deming, Liu Chenguang, and Zhu Guiren. It’s an adventure, a sweet love story, and tale of a twisted friendship in need of redemption. The interpersonal relationships are a major strength of the book, which features phoenixes and a demon. (Shocking no one, the demon was my favorite character.) The phoenixes are powerful creatures of healing that are unable to attack. The Phoenix and the Sword pairs a powerful healer with a skilled swordsperson, bringing many beloved and familiar tropes as a gentle romantasy.
Multiple lives mean multiple deaths. A tricky part of telling this sort of story is that we feel a bit like the story has ended along with certain deaths. Snow layered the story so that when we return to the timeline we began on, we understand the characters and their relationships in a new way. However, this is a duology, so the end of The Phoenix and the Sword is just half of the story. Therefore, some parts of the novel feel significantly weaker than others because they are unfinished. I’m interested to see how Snow completes the story in The Shoreless River, and if the innocence of our protagonists will be lost.
Want to read
March 11, 2024This is not a full review. I read through the beginning of all 300 SPFBO9 contest entries. This was a book I wanted to read more of.
A woman on the verge of deployment does the natural thing: look for someone with whom to share her fist kiss. But none of the women at this bar are interesting … until a chance meeting
This just manages to do enough to hold my interest and make me wonder where the story will go next. It reminds me very much of an anime I could have watched in the 2000s.
The low but very relatable stakes of looking for someone to share an evening with are heightened by the impending prospect of war, and the fact that our MC is thinking only or a kiss make her seem very sweet.
The scraps of worldbuilding that drift into the narrative are immersive and well placed, with different peoples and referenced languages mingling on the page.
The woman our MC chances to meet is unusual - magical even! Healing a bone deep slash in her arm in moments. I’m left to wonder whether this kind of magic in this world is unique, but it remains interesting.
This LGBTQ+ story is off to a fun start. A few is the ideas feel tossed off, but it seems like a light read with YA appeal, & is moving right along. The characters & world feel distinct. I don’t know just where this will lead, but it’s done enough. I’m in!
A woman on the verge of deployment does the natural thing: look for someone with whom to share her fist kiss. But none of the women at this bar are interesting … until a chance meeting
This just manages to do enough to hold my interest and make me wonder where the story will go next. It reminds me very much of an anime I could have watched in the 2000s.
The low but very relatable stakes of looking for someone to share an evening with are heightened by the impending prospect of war, and the fact that our MC is thinking only or a kiss make her seem very sweet.
The scraps of worldbuilding that drift into the narrative are immersive and well placed, with different peoples and referenced languages mingling on the page.
The woman our MC chances to meet is unusual - magical even! Healing a bone deep slash in her arm in moments. I’m left to wonder whether this kind of magic in this world is unique, but it remains interesting.
This LGBTQ+ story is off to a fun start. A few is the ideas feel tossed off, but it seems like a light read with YA appeal, & is moving right along. The characters & world feel distinct. I don’t know just where this will lead, but it’s done enough. I’m in!
June 3, 2024
In my saga to read and learn more about Asian fantasy and mythology, the Crane Moon Cycle drew my attention, especially with its queer characters. This was my introduction to xianxia and the concepts that inhabit this genre, and even though the book doesn't spend many words explaining the terms it uses, I found it easy to understand what they meant and keep up the pace with what was happening.
The beginning was a bit of a struggle. I kept wondering where were the spiritual powers and mythical creatures the blurb teased me with, and while in retrospect I see the importance of those first chapters, I do believe they could've been shorter. Switching to a male protagonist also caught me off-guard, but I enjoyed the whole use of different lives/different forms.
I'm intrigued to see where the second book will go, and hoping we'll get to see more of Aili in action now! Also very curious to learn more about a certain demon's motivations...
The beginning was a bit of a struggle. I kept wondering where were the spiritual powers and mythical creatures the blurb teased me with, and while in retrospect I see the importance of those first chapters, I do believe they could've been shorter. Switching to a male protagonist also caught me off-guard, but I enjoyed the whole use of different lives/different forms.
I'm intrigued to see where the second book will go, and hoping we'll get to see more of Aili in action now! Also very curious to learn more about a certain demon's motivations...
August 5, 2022
Angsty romance, millennium-spanning intrigue, and fantastic worlds
Got slow-burn, angsty romance? Check.
Demon-spawned, millenium-spanning intrigues? Check.
Intricate imperial politics and cultivation sect rivalries? Check.
More time could have been spent on showing the relationships and motivations of the supporting characters, but there was still plenty of first-rate entertainment:
* Fantastic creatures--even a Cthulhu-like soul devourer.
* Gory battles in both the mortal and spirit worlds.
And even philosophy for those who enjoy it--and I definitely do. Here's an exemplary quote:
My first complete read of a cultivation-inspired novel was thought-provoking and fun; I could even see this story make a splash as an anime.
Got slow-burn, angsty romance? Check.
Demon-spawned, millenium-spanning intrigues? Check.
Intricate imperial politics and cultivation sect rivalries? Check.
More time could have been spent on showing the relationships and motivations of the supporting characters, but there was still plenty of first-rate entertainment:
* Fantastic creatures--even a Cthulhu-like soul devourer.
* Gory battles in both the mortal and spirit worlds.
And even philosophy for those who enjoy it--and I definitely do. Here's an exemplary quote:
"The body was the way in which they loved one another; the body wasn’t the person that she loved."
My first complete read of a cultivation-inspired novel was thought-provoking and fun; I could even see this story make a splash as an anime.
September 18, 2022
I really struggled in the first part, with the war with the Kuronese, because there was not enough worldbuilding to understand what was happening. It took some time to grasp what the book was about, but when I did, I enjoyed the story as well as the characters. The cultivation aspect is really well done, and the author managed to avoid the tedious explanations of how it works while still giving enough to understand it. I first thought the characters quite two-dimensional, but it's actually deceiving: there's a depth to them that I didn't expect but you have to reach the last part to fully get it. As for the writing, there was often a strange use of comas, but nothing too disturbing. I'll definitely read the next book.
November 29, 2024
Slow start but wow
The story begins in one time and quicky spins to another. At first I was confused and had to go back. There are definitely cultural pieces here that I know I am missing bc my foundations don't discuss reincarnation. Even without that, understanding or approach, I still really really enjoy this book. I want to walk the realms and see the things. I related deeply to Aili's character always serious, protecting others and deeply conflicted over choices and things not in her control.
Very well written. And I will be looking into the suggestions JC Snow makes from sources she drew from: martial arts, escention, etc. then returning to read it.
TY for an amazing, unique to me fantasy novel.
The story begins in one time and quicky spins to another. At first I was confused and had to go back. There are definitely cultural pieces here that I know I am missing bc my foundations don't discuss reincarnation. Even without that, understanding or approach, I still really really enjoy this book. I want to walk the realms and see the things. I related deeply to Aili's character always serious, protecting others and deeply conflicted over choices and things not in her control.
Very well written. And I will be looking into the suggestions JC Snow makes from sources she drew from: martial arts, escention, etc. then returning to read it.
TY for an amazing, unique to me fantasy novel.
Read
July 11, 2023Intriguing adult portal fantasy. I can't deny that at first the characters didn't interest me that much, whether due to the setting or something else. I don't think it was the writing. But it has a lot of very interesting elements, relating to the phoenixes, the demons, and the way their magic - often based in their blood - affects each other and regular mortals. As well as some interesting relationships that cross time and bodies, and some very neat ways in which things tie together and shadow each other. That got me quite invested before the end.
Full review will be posted on the omnibus edition.
Full review will be posted on the omnibus edition.
October 13, 2022
I enjoyed this book. I got into it in the beginning but as the story split I found it a little difficult to be emotionally invested, it was hard to understand all the variables. However, as the book progressed I did find myself getting involved with the characters. I found a way to understand the two main characters and see them as the same but different. That is a nifty piece of writing to be able to bring that out so well in the book. By the end I was definitely hooked. I can't wait to read more.
October 31, 2022
* I received a free copy of this book from Voracious Readers Only *
DNF
I wanted to be into this book, but I found myself getting confused with the switching between past and present, and the different names. I liked the concept, and the character interactions, but I felt I was skipping through a lot of it at the same time.
DNF
I wanted to be into this book, but I found myself getting confused with the switching between past and present, and the different names. I liked the concept, and the character interactions, but I felt I was skipping through a lot of it at the same time.
September 5, 2025
This was sold to me as a F/F. It's not. It's way more of a M/M than a F/F.
Also, it's a chinese story about love and reincarnation. So, as expected from this genre, the first life of our main characters doesn't end well. At all. Thankfully, it's not their last life.
Still tho, it is rather heartbreaking to read.
Overall, I really enjoy this story and I can't wait to read book 2!
Also, it's a chinese story about love and reincarnation. So, as expected from this genre, the first life of our main characters doesn't end well. At all. Thankfully, it's not their last life.
Still tho, it is rather heartbreaking to read.
Overall, I really enjoy this story and I can't wait to read book 2!
Read
August 24, 2023#SPFBO9 review forthcoming.
October 16, 2022
This is a unique fantasy filled with adventure, political intrigue, and a timeless romance. It’s about a Phoenix that fell in love in the past, who was reborn, finds their original love and tries to win them back, along with a few other adventures along the way 😁 I love romances that involve time and a “will they or won’t they” situation. Plus, I love Phoenixes and so to read a book with them will hook me!
After the way this book ended, it makes me want to know what happens next! I received a free gifted copy of the book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
After the way this book ended, it makes me want to know what happens next! I received a free gifted copy of the book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
January 24, 2025
Not for me. Confusing.
October 23, 2025
It took me a while to find my stride with this book, but once I did, I couldn't put it down. It's a cultivation fantasy and queer, two things that immediately make me sit up and take notice. I'm a sucker for all kinds of cultivation books/ shows and when they come with queer content, it's HEAVEN.
The book starts in a war similar to one of our world wars where Aili, one of our protagonists is dragged to a bar by her best friend Nora to find a cute girl. Both Aili and Nora are nurses, training to go out into the warzone. Aili meets Tairei, a Daxian, with whom she feels an immediate connection. Despite misunderstandings, the two come to something close to a romance before Tairei sacrifices herself for Aili, leaving Aili with weird powers of healing and regeneration. During a mission, Nora is killed and Aili meets Tainu who promises her answers but only in the spirit realm.
What follows is a memorable tale of past lives, rebirths, and a love that has lasted over a thousand years.
I have no words to express just how much I loved this book. I was so invested in Aili and Tairei's story that when the past life flashback happened, I was annoyed. Of course, it's a staple of cultivation fantasy, and many important events are shown in the flashbacks which adds depth to the events of the present and makes sense of the characters and their relationships. Still, I loved that the author interspersed the past with the present so readers could follow both.
The characters and the emotions are the strong point of this. The pacing was rather slow in the beginning, and though it picked up speed, it is a sedate journey. Character development is given more space than anything else, and it is well worth it. While I loved Aili and Tairei/ Liu Chenguang, I was more intrigued by the dynamic between Tainu and Zhu Guiren, especially considering some of the revelations from the past.
I was up all night reading this, and I was so invested that I started the sequel immediately and finished it in one go.
The book being an eastern fantasy is written in the style of Eastern fantasies, which I personally adore. But east or west, a good story is a good story and well written characters are universal. If you love fantasy, well rounded characters who are flawed and human, mythological beasts, lots of magic, and romance, you will love this book.
The book starts in a war similar to one of our world wars where Aili, one of our protagonists is dragged to a bar by her best friend Nora to find a cute girl. Both Aili and Nora are nurses, training to go out into the warzone. Aili meets Tairei, a Daxian, with whom she feels an immediate connection. Despite misunderstandings, the two come to something close to a romance before Tairei sacrifices herself for Aili, leaving Aili with weird powers of healing and regeneration. During a mission, Nora is killed and Aili meets Tainu who promises her answers but only in the spirit realm.
What follows is a memorable tale of past lives, rebirths, and a love that has lasted over a thousand years.
I have no words to express just how much I loved this book. I was so invested in Aili and Tairei's story that when the past life flashback happened, I was annoyed. Of course, it's a staple of cultivation fantasy, and many important events are shown in the flashbacks which adds depth to the events of the present and makes sense of the characters and their relationships. Still, I loved that the author interspersed the past with the present so readers could follow both.
The characters and the emotions are the strong point of this. The pacing was rather slow in the beginning, and though it picked up speed, it is a sedate journey. Character development is given more space than anything else, and it is well worth it. While I loved Aili and Tairei/ Liu Chenguang, I was more intrigued by the dynamic between Tainu and Zhu Guiren, especially considering some of the revelations from the past.
I was up all night reading this, and I was so invested that I started the sequel immediately and finished it in one go.
The book being an eastern fantasy is written in the style of Eastern fantasies, which I personally adore. But east or west, a good story is a good story and well written characters are universal. If you love fantasy, well rounded characters who are flawed and human, mythological beasts, lots of magic, and romance, you will love this book.
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