Review of ‘Phoenix Flame’

Maddie Morrow thought her problems were over. She saved the Inn at Havenfall--a sanctuary between magical worlds hidden deep in the mountains of Colorado--from the evil Silver Prince. Her uncle the Innkeeper is slowly recovering from a mysterious spell that has left him not quite human. And there are still a few weeks of summer left to spend with her handsome, more-than-just-a-friend Brekken, even though she can't stop thinking about Taya.

But Maddie soon realizes there's more work to be done to protect the place her family has run for centuries. She must embark on a dangerous mission to put an end to the black-market trading of magical objects and open the Inn's doors to Solaria, the once feared land of shapeshifters.

As she tries to accomplish both seemingly impossible tasks, Maddie uncovers family secrets that could change everything. What if saving everyone means destroying the only home she's known?

This next breathtaking fantasy from New York Times bestselling Everless author Sara Holland is perfect for fans of Melissa Albert and Holly Black.

Review

Phoenix Flame continues Maddie’s journey at Havenfall, the Inn that serves as a bridge between worlds. However, now the stakes are higher than ever for Maddie and her friends.

Compelling Sequel

Phoenix Flame is a compelling sequel that was more engaging than its predecessor. The momentum here is non-stop, making it a compelling read.

It is a thrilling, action-packed sequel with more action that did not exist in the previous novel. The story moves at a rapid pace. Havenfall established the world-building and the character dynamics, whereas Phoenix Flame delves deeper into the fantasy involved in making this world. A mythical object called the Phoenix flame allows its wearer to live in another realm other than their own. Furthermore, Maddie is also discovering more about her mother’s past. The tension rises when Maddie finds her father, ventures to Frioden, and reunites with Taya. As the story develops, the dynamics shift, and the tension rises higher, giving the story an engaging pace.

Holland also delves more into fantasy, magic, and folklore. These elements were lacking in the previous novel and to see them explored makes this a sequel that is more interesting than its predecessor.

Character Growth

Given everything that happened in the previous novel, the characters have grown. The dynamics have changed and become more complex, and the story delves further into exploring the politics of the fantastical realms surrounding Havenfall.

Maddie has changed since the previous novel. Her relationship with Brekken is strained and has changed. Readers can see that Maddie has outgrown who they were, and it is unclear if the relationship is going to change or if they are going to grow together.

Then, of course, there is her relationship with Taya. Hollands leaves it up to the reader if they will explore their mutual attraction or remain friends. Too much has happened too quickly for both characters. It adds good character development and tension to the dynamics.

The characters, alongside the plot, have evolved since the previous book, and it was nice to see. The characters have more personality to them that makes them more relatable as far as characterization goes.

Final Thoughts

Phoenix Flame is far more engaging than Havenfall with a more action-packed and engaging plot giving the characters more personality while also creating great tension.

Rating: 3.5 out of 5.

Like this review?

Don’t forget to follow Cyn’s Workshop on Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | Tumblr | Spotify | YouTube | BookBub | Goodreads | LinkedIn to stay tuned for future reviews.

About the Author

Cynthia Bujnicki graduated from Emerson College with a BA in Writing, Literature and Publishing. She has always loved to read since she was a child. A contributing writer for YA Fantasy Addicts, she is also the Editor-in-Chief for Cyn's Workshop. She lives in sunny South Florida with her husband and son and their two cats, Mr. J the Kitten and Nyx.