Fury of the Phoenix

Beautiful Asian High Fantasy Adventure!

What first captured me about Cindy Pon was her way of creating a world that's very Chinese at its heart, yet in a world of its own. Even better, her descriptions are lush and detailed, painting an image that's easy to visualize. Best of all is the lore. At first, I truly thought mythical creatures such as Life Seekers and Zhen fish were from traditional Chinese folklore, but in an upcoming interview with Pon, I discovered that all of these beings came from her own imagination. Silver Phoenix is heavier on this aspect, which I think is why I love it best. It has all of the traditional elements epic, sweeping fantasies do and I couldn't put it down for a moment, even upon my second time reading the book. For those new to the series, Silver Phoenix revolves around a courageous girl named Ai Ling who runs away from home rather than be married off to a horrible old neighbor. She flees for the palace, hoping to save her father, and is soon accompanied by two brothers named Chen Yong and Li Rong. She finds out that the Immortals have set a course for her and if she doesn't fulfill her destiny, her father-and the entire kingdom-will soon be destroyed.

Fury of the Phoenix is a companion novel that reunites us with Ai Ling and Chen Yong, as well as other characters from the first book. The story is split in two and weaves back and forth between the past and the present. In the present, Ai Ling sneaks onboard a ship and follows Chen Yong to Jiang Dao, a far away country that reminded me of when people traveled to the New World. Along the way, Pon weaves more mystical demons such as Sea Shifters, giving the story a sense of the flavor that made Silver Phoenix so special. In the first book, I really wanted Ai Ling and Chen Yong to wind up together, but it isn't until Fury of the Phoenix that my wait paid off. There's so much tension building between our favorite couple; I was constantly on the edge of my seat just hoping that things would work out this time around.

On top of that, Pon merges a second perspective into the novel, one that tells the story of Silver Phoenix and Zhong Ye. At first, I didn't want to know more about Zhong Ye, but by the novel's end, I had really come to understand and appreciate why he became so twisted later in life. After reading Silver Phoenix, I never thought I could care for him as a person. Pon's storytelling is so tight, that while all isn't forgiven, there's still room to embrace this flawed man. I also loved learning the back story of Silver Phoenix, which was only hinted at in the first book despite the fact that the novel was named after her. At first, flipping back and forth between the past and present was jarring, but I soon settled in and found myself wanting to read more about the plight of both sets of characters.

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

Immediately drawn in

I must admit I liked it better then book 1. Don't get me wrong book 1 has it's qualities but sometimes I was lost in all the detail.
In Fury of the Phoenix, I was immediately drawn in wanting to know what was going to happen to Ai Lang and Chen Yong on their journey to Jiang. At first, I wasn't too happy how Zhong Ye's story was interwoven sporadically but once I got to the end it made sense. I needed to understand him, his story. Silver Phoenix's death surprised me. I mean of course how she died; their story was sad.
I like that in this book there weren't any useless story lines just thrown in like I felt book 1 had. Every detail had a purpose no matter how small they kept the story moving.
I'd defiantly recommend these two books & this author. I can see her growth as an author in just these two books. There's so much promise for any other book she may venture into.

Reviewed by Cat for TeensReadToo

Gold Star Award Winner! I must confess: I *loved* Cindy Pon's 2009 debut YA novel SILVER PHOENIX. So when she graciously offered a review copy of the sequel, FURY OF THE PHOENIX, I (literally) started bouncing up and down with glee. As with the first novel, the heroine, Ai Ling, is again embarking on a treacherous journey. Whereas she was previously fleeing an unwanted engagement in search of her missing father, this time Ai Ling is on a mission of protection. She has been warned in a dream that the young man she loves, Chen Yong, will not survive the trip to his father's homeland without her. Although she manages sneak aboard the Gliding Dragon after its departure, she is quickly discovered by the ship's captain and presented to Chen Yong after claiming to be his sister. Though Chen Yong confirms Ai Ling's story, he's clearly not happy to see her - and soon informs Ai Ling of his betrothal to another girl. Despite the pain of this heartbreak, Ai Ling is determined to keep Chen Yong safe. Interspersed with the narrative of Ai Ling and Chen Yong's voyage is the story of a young eunuch in the Emperor's palace. As we follow two star-crossed lovers across the ocean, we also follow this character's rise to a position of unmatched power as he transforms from an ambitious, cunning, flawed, but loving individual into the terrifying monster Ai Ling faced in SILVER PHOENIX: Zhong Ye. I had no idea how much I missed Ai Ling, her story, and the sumptuous beauty of Cindy Pon's writing until I picked up FURY OF THE PHOENIX. Ms. Pon takes us into completely unexplored territory, both literally (with Ai Ling leaving Xia to explore Jiang) and figuratively (as we mine the history and circumstances that shaped Zhong Ye's villainy). FURY OF THE PHOENIX is a perfect example of a sequel at its best: diving further beneath the surface of characters we love, an expansion and enrichment of the established world, and a brand new, engrossing story, satisfying not just in and of itself, but also one that enhances the series as a whole. Ms. Pon didn't just match my hopes with FURY OF THE PHOENIX, she exceeded far beyond anything I ever could have imagined. This one's headed right for the keeper shelf, just like its predecessor.

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