This is a really hard review to write because I usually LOVE anything Jess Haines puts out into the world, but ASHES OF THE PHOENIX just didn't do it for me.

Although ASHES OF THE PHOENIX is full of action, I couldn't get into the characters or storyline enough to enjoy it. With the length of this novella, there wasn't enough time to really introduce and develop the characters of the story. I think I would have liked it more if it was longer and a little more in-depth. The storyline was interesting, but I just needed more out of it to get me excited.

The romance aspect of ASHES OF THE PHOENIX also fell flat for me. I mean, Lyra was a phoenix for most of the book, so it's not like any romance could happen anyways, but the love interest was the ex-boyfriend that tried to steal from her. He does do some redeeming things, so maybe I'm being too hard on him.

ASHES OF THE PHOENIX just needed more. More character development, more world building, more explanations and a little less action maybe to fit it all in.

* This book was provided free of charge from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

Lyra runs a magical book store - despite having no magic herself. Still, she thought she was well protected against most of the tricks wizards can pull

Until a man stole one her more valuable books

And turned her into a bird. Neither of those are things she’s willing to let go

This book caught my attention because I haven’t seen a lot of phoenixes in the genre. And a book where the main character spent it entirely as a bird is definitely incredibly different and a completely novel concept. Things like this interest me as it points to an author thinking so far outside of the tropes we’re used to having

It’s also really well done - I can see this as the struggles a human would have when forced into such an alien body they don’t know how to pilot.

The world setting also is highly promising. Not just phoenixes and demons but a definite range of magic, magical creatures and big differences and implications with which with a clear rich and involved magical world.

The concept of the phoenix is also really original and curious - even if it’s only fully realised at the end of the book which is epic and is the main thing about this book that really drew me to wanting to see where this is going. There is a foundation for an absolutely awesome series here - so much can be developed in so many amazing ways

I did have an issue though - beyond the complete erasure of POC and LGBTQ people and any other minorities.

Unfortunately I kind of feel like a deadline was looming and the author had to get this book to the publisher like yesterday because it feels vaguely unfinished. I know less is more (except when talking about bacon, of course) but in this case I could have used some more expansion

As I said, this book is here to introduce a new world, a new concept and a whole load of new characters. Which is great - and it does a good job of beginning to introduce these people, these concepts and this world (and I’m intrigued) but not enough for me to get fully invested in them (especially the characters). Everything, the world building, the creatures, the monsters, the magic, and the characters (definitely the characters) could use a bit more to get me invested in them

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