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A review by bookforthought
The Phoenix and the Firebird by Scott Forbes Crawford, Alexis Kossiakoff
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
The Phoenix and the Firebird is a magical adventure set in 1920s China, perfect for young readers and young-at-heart older ones alike!
Having fled her life in Russia to find haven in China, Lucy has already lost much. So when she receives news that her father will finally join her, she understandably rejoices. Except things don't quite go as planned: when the train he was travelling on is attacked and her father is taken prisoner by a cruel warlord who has set his sights on the Chinese capital, Lucy must decide whether to lose everything she has left or risk it all and take action. Accompanied by her quick-witted and courageous best friend Su and by the mysterious gangster known as Vlad the Deathless, and guided only by a mysterious feather, Lucy must set out on an adventure that might change all their lives.
I had a great time with this book! Lucy and Su's friendship is incredibly sweet and their different personalities complement each other beautifully, and their adventures were lots of fun to read about. I think younger me would have loved spending time with them.
The book also mixed historical elements with folklore very well, and I particularly appreciated the inclusion of both Chinese and Slavic mythological elements and creatures in this story. The appendix at the end giving a bit more information on the different creatures was also a really nice touch and super helpful to learn more about those readers may be less familiar with.
Some of the dialogues felt slightly unnatural and a few passages read as a tad clunky, which is the only reason I'm not giving this a full 5 stars, but it wasn't a major issue at all, taking nothing away from my enjoyment of this refreshing tale.
I received an advance review copy of this book for free via BookSirens. This did not affect my opinion of the book in any way.
Having fled her life in Russia to find haven in China, Lucy has already lost much. So when she receives news that her father will finally join her, she understandably rejoices. Except things don't quite go as planned: when the train he was travelling on is attacked and her father is taken prisoner by a cruel warlord who has set his sights on the Chinese capital, Lucy must decide whether to lose everything she has left or risk it all and take action. Accompanied by her quick-witted and courageous best friend Su and by the mysterious gangster known as Vlad the Deathless, and guided only by a mysterious feather, Lucy must set out on an adventure that might change all their lives.
I had a great time with this book! Lucy and Su's friendship is incredibly sweet and their different personalities complement each other beautifully, and their adventures were lots of fun to read about. I think younger me would have loved spending time with them.
The book also mixed historical elements with folklore very well, and I particularly appreciated the inclusion of both Chinese and Slavic mythological elements and creatures in this story. The appendix at the end giving a bit more information on the different creatures was also a really nice touch and super helpful to learn more about those readers may be less familiar with.
Some of the dialogues felt slightly unnatural and a few passages read as a tad clunky, which is the only reason I'm not giving this a full 5 stars, but it wasn't a major issue at all, taking nothing away from my enjoyment of this refreshing tale.
I received an advance review copy of this book for free via BookSirens. This did not affect my opinion of the book in any way.