Pau Preto has packed a lot of world-building into a 477-page book. I’m very eager to see how they further develop in the follow-up instalments in this trilogy! Worldbuilding His chapters start off slower than the other two POVs, but they get extremely thrilling towards the end of this book, as his plotline ties into the others.Īll three main characters have interesting story arcs over the course of this novel. Sev, the third POV of the story, is an Empire soldier who’s secretly an animage, but he cannot let anyone know or he will be treated as less than everyone else. Their scenes are cute and refreshing, and if you’re expecting some awkwardness a la “Twelfth Night” by William Shakespeare (he does think she’s a boy after all), then you’re in for a treat!

It becomes apparent right away that he’s Veronyka’s love interest. Tristan is the son of Commander Cassian, who is the leader of the Phoenix Riders and runs the place where the apprentices are being trained.

I absolutely love her unadulterated adulation of phoenixes and her sheer will to do whatever it takes to become a Phoenix Rider. Her storyline is perhaps the most engaging, as it is the main focus of the story. All three of them overcome their fears over the span of the first novel in this trilogy and begin the journey of accepting who they truly are.įirst off, there’s Veronyka, the protagonist, who escapes from her (let’s face it-abusive) sister to join the Phoenix Riders while masquerading as a boy. All three of them have fascinating story arcs. We primarily follow three characters in this book. It’s difficult to separate out characters and plot for this book, since there are several point of view characters, and each of their plotlines are heavily influenced by who they are. The only catch? If she wants to become a Phoenix Rider–to follow in her parents’ footsteps and become the hero she’s always dreamt of being-she’s going to have to pretend to be a boy.

Val and Veronyka want nothing more than to become Phoenix Riders, like the heroes who fought during the war.Īfter a terrible betrayal, Veronyka flees from her sister and finds a sanctuary for her kind, a place where apprentices are being trained as Phoenix Riders. This is not uncommon in the world they live in, but ever since the war their kind have been persecuted. Veronyka and her sister are “animages”, and have the ability to communicate with animals. Veronyka is a war orphan who was raised by her deceased grandmother and her older sister, Val.

Crown of feathers nicki pau preto