{Review} A Review for Phoenix Rising by Elise Faber

Posted by Melanie
Release Date: October 6th, 2014
Finished Date: October 16th, 2015

Publishers: Blue Tulip Publishing
Genre: Adult, Fantasy, Paranormal Romance
Source: For Review
Format: eARC

Pages: 496
Buy: Amazon UK / Amazon US / Book Depo 

 

A dangerous man with piercing green eyes.

A powerful ability that is rearing out of control.

Daughtry stumbles into a world where magic is real and the possibilities for her future are greater than she’s ever believed possible.

But the road to that future isn’t easy to navigate.

As she engages in a wrenching game of give and take with Cody, the man who’s gripped her heart in his sexy-as-hell fist from the moment she’s met him, Daughtry must decide whether she’s willing to risk it all — heart, mind, and magic — to take a chance on the man she loves.

The Review: Phoenix Rising is the first book in the Phoenix series and I thought it was a pretty good read.

We start the story with Daughtry, a down on her luck woman, her life is in ruins – lost her job, dumped by her fiancé, being evicted and has turned to drink to numb a power she wishes would disappear. After making one of the worst decisions of her life, she is saved by a couple of men who want her to go with them to somewhere safe…..ummm no! but when they are forced to save her again and explain that a brutal enemy is out to get her…..she re thinks that decision and joins them on a road trip to a place full of people like her, a safe haven. The thing is… even with the people like her – she is an anomaly and feels more alone than ever. The one thing that is distracting her however is a gorgeous green eyed man, with emerald magic and the ability to infuriate and infatuate Daughtry all at once. Their connection and chemistry is as wild as both of their magics and also as rare - but there are enemies who will stop at nothing to break them.

I was intrigued by this first instalment of the Phoenix series, there were definitely a ton of questions that were raised throughout the story. I liked Daughtry’s character and it was easy to sympathise with her because she was so pathetic and basically on a path of self destruction – I can’t say that I blamed her to be honest because if you could see everyone’s death and not be able to do anything about it…. Your head would be pretty messed up too. When Cody entered her life, she was at her lowest and all she had was the connection to him but even though it was a sort of instalove, they both still had a way to go before they would be in a place that they would be willing to act on it. They both have issues that get in the way of what they mean or say, hurt on both sides plus they constantly don’t think before they speak which causes a lot of unnecessary bs. For all we don’t really get any sexytime until later on in the book, it still seemed rushed to me – I’m a fan of hate to love, sexual tension and little moments where they could give in that build up to a huge ‘can’t control the desire anymore’ situation that leaves you breathless and whilst the author tried in some ways, it didn’t hit the spot for me but was still appreciated overall.

The story was very interesting, I liked the world that was brought to life – a world filled with people with magic in various forms, a world with a deadly enemy and a world that Daughtry knew nothing about. I like that sort of premise in a book where the main character doesn’t really know their heritage or that they have power and there are others, I like to find out along with the character because I can easily put myself in that mindset and it was very easy here. I really liked the magic aspect and how each individual used their own, how they all had a colour to their magic and the possibilities it brings. As always when you find a group of people that have something others may want…. You get an enemy who is out to destroy you and in this they have a sort of vampiric nature and once were like the magic users but used their magic for nefarious purposes that tainted their souls. They are definitely a formidable enemy and also quite brutal and savage – which Daughtry will truly discover. They are really intriguing and I want to know more about them because from what we see in this – it’s only the tip of the iceberg. The same could also be said for the Rengalla –magic users- I want to know more about them and their origins, it was lightly touched upon but I would like more detail. I definitely want to know more about Daughtry, her parentage is a big question that needs answering and also Codys and how he became to be where he is.

Whilst most of the story is about the relationship, there is also a threat bubbling beneath the surface that has set their sights on Daughtry. Time and time again she is sought after, attacked, forced to run for her life or fight which brings some welcome action to the plot and some awesome action scenes where we can get a good glimpse of what Daughtry may be capable of….. someone wants something from this girl, she is special and even though we get a couple of answers, I have a feeling there’s a whole lot more to come. 

3.5 Stars!

Thank you to the Author and Publisher for gifting me this book in exchange for an honest review.