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kian_03's review against another edition
adventurous
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
patchworkbunny's review
3.0
The future that Toby lives in is the earth after the eruption of Yellowstone’s super volcano, but not immediately. Those who live now have survived through the days of darkness and the ash clouds have cleared, leaving behind a harsh environment. The seas are acidic and overflowing with junk, with only the most hardy sea life surviving and the sunlight blinding.
The world-building is well thought out and didn’t jar at any point. However we only see a limited view of this world from Toby’s stand point. I was a little confused with the political situation; the back story is introduced at the start with a series of news clippings that piqued my interest but are never expanded upon.
Whilst the story follows Toby, there’s a great mix of male and female pirates and a girl that certainly doesn’t need rescuing, at least not in the traditional sense. Ayla is around Toby’s age but is second in command on her ship. She is the fighter, the one hardened to emotions and he is the one full of compassion, but a bit clueless.
Phoenix Rising is aimed at the younger end of the teen market, and I think it’s a great pirate adventure for younger readers, but one that was a little lacking in complexity for my personal taste. Toby is a bit naïve and has lived a sheltered life, despite living aboard a pirate ship and it makes him come across as a simple character.
The Captain’s advance artificial intelligence has been installed into a robotic parrot, but one made to look real so she is easily kept a secret. It’s a great ruse and had potential but there’s a point were Barnaby tells Polly (the parrot of course) that she’s supposed to predict Toby’s actions. Yet she isn’t really in a position to do anything other than tell him to be careful all the time. Was she supposed to be a mother figure to him?
Review copy provided by publisher.
The world-building is well thought out and didn’t jar at any point. However we only see a limited view of this world from Toby’s stand point. I was a little confused with the political situation; the back story is introduced at the start with a series of news clippings that piqued my interest but are never expanded upon.
Whilst the story follows Toby, there’s a great mix of male and female pirates and a girl that certainly doesn’t need rescuing, at least not in the traditional sense. Ayla is around Toby’s age but is second in command on her ship. She is the fighter, the one hardened to emotions and he is the one full of compassion, but a bit clueless.
Phoenix Rising is aimed at the younger end of the teen market, and I think it’s a great pirate adventure for younger readers, but one that was a little lacking in complexity for my personal taste. Toby is a bit naïve and has lived a sheltered life, despite living aboard a pirate ship and it makes him come across as a simple character.
The Captain’s advance artificial intelligence has been installed into a robotic parrot, but one made to look real so she is easily kept a secret. It’s a great ruse and had potential but there’s a point were Barnaby tells Polly (the parrot of course) that she’s supposed to predict Toby’s actions. Yet she isn’t really in a position to do anything other than tell him to be careful all the time. Was she supposed to be a mother figure to him?
Review copy provided by publisher.
darkclouds's review
DNF at 30%
I guess I'm just not a steampunk fan. Might try this again in the future but I just couldn't get into it.
I guess I'm just not a steampunk fan. Might try this again in the future but I just couldn't get into it.
amylandranch's review against another edition
4.0
A book labeled as junk-punk? That is a must read! I found myself immediately immersed in this original story. The juxtaposition of being set in the future, after a super volcano eruption has changed the world and the oceans are literally filled with floating junk, and pirate ships is pretty awesome. The Phoenix crew is like family and when Toby, the captain's son, runs into some trouble the crew help each other to escape. Full of adventure, science/inventions, and a tiny bit of romance, this is an action packed story that lots of kids will enjoy.
dustnfluff's review against another edition
2.0
Phoenix Rising follows the story of teenage pirate Toby Ford and his travels aboard the Phoenix in a world of garbage-filled seas and blinding sunlight. Years before the story starts, the world had run out of natural oil, bringing the governments and corporations into chaos as they fight for power and resources. While all of this happens, a supervolcano erupts, bringing the world into darkness caused by ash clouds. Along with this, the Earth's seas become so salty that it becomes near impossible for life to inhabit on it.
Toby Ford is doing his regular duties on the Phoenix, which are maintaining the boat's boiler room to make sure the paddles keep rowing. One day, he finds a piece of scrap out on the ocean, an airplane that may be filled with valuables. He and the Phoenix's crew don't know it yet, but this one salvage mission will bring problems for them in the future, mainly when against rival ship the Banshee.
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I hate this book.
I'll be blunt when I say most of this book did not float well with me, which is rather disheartening because the plot had so much potential to be good. Sadly, it did not live up to such a great idea.
There is a LOT of world building within this book, but it ends up useless when I don't care about anything that happens in the said world.
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There are multiple characters mentioned throughout the story, most of which have little to no personality. The man Toby saves in the prologue, Marcus, has so little personality that it surprises me that his rescue was even given any recognition. With this fatal flaw, whenever a character dies in the story, it just feels like background noise.
The characters that DO matter (Toby, Ayla, Nell, Barnaby, Polly, and Hiko) are just tropes upon tropes.
Toby is Thomas + Peeta + kind-hearted male dystopian protagonist number 150 - any common sense these people had that helped them survive such harsh conditions. Ayla is Katniss + Tris - anything that made them interesting. Hiko is any kid dystopian character that dies in the end but doesn't die. Polly is probably the only interesting character, which isn't saying much because she's a robotic parrot with a personality.
For a dystopian novel that constantly talks about battles aboard rusting ships surrounded by toxic waters and robot birds, it feels BORING. The first half simply drags on for too long for what is supposed to be an intense battle between two rival pirate groups. Even when the main characters reach a new port town, the story only picks up around the near end of that whole ordeal.
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Even worse is the formatting of this book. AT times, there are moments where you would see typos such as:
The formatting of this book irritates me to no end, which doesn't help the case for this book at all.
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Overall, Phoenix Rising is a boring book that only manages to be interesting for the twist. Although it is a GREAT twist, I feel like it does not serve this wreck of a book justice. It's clear the author put her heart and soul into this book, especially considering the map of the Phoenix + the news article clippings before the prologue. Sadly, they only make a rotten meal slightly more bearable.
Overall, Phoenix Rising gets 3 crackers out of 10.
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"Toby f0idg0ted."
- Bryony Pearce, Phoenix Rising
Toby Ford is doing his regular duties on the Phoenix, which are maintaining the boat's boiler room to make sure the paddles keep rowing. One day, he finds a piece of scrap out on the ocean, an airplane that may be filled with valuables. He and the Phoenix's crew don't know it yet, but this one salvage mission will bring problems for them in the future, mainly when against rival ship the Banshee.
▄▀▄▀▄▀▄▀▄▀▄▀▄▀▄
I hate this book.
I'll be blunt when I say most of this book did not float well with me, which is rather disheartening because the plot had so much potential to be good. Sadly, it did not live up to such a great idea.
There is a LOT of world building within this book, but it ends up useless when I don't care about anything that happens in the said world.
-----
There are multiple characters mentioned throughout the story, most of which have little to no personality. The man Toby saves in the prologue, Marcus, has so little personality that it surprises me that his rescue was even given any recognition. With this fatal flaw, whenever a character dies in the story, it just feels like background noise.
The characters that DO matter (Toby, Ayla, Nell, Barnaby, Polly, and Hiko) are just tropes upon tropes.
Toby is Thomas + Peeta + kind-hearted male dystopian protagonist number 150 - any common sense these people had that helped them survive such harsh conditions. Ayla is Katniss + Tris - anything that made them interesting. Hiko is any kid dystopian character that dies in the end but doesn't die. Polly is probably the only interesting character, which isn't saying much because she's a robotic parrot with a personality.
For a dystopian novel that constantly talks about battles aboard rusting ships surrounded by toxic waters and robot birds, it feels BORING. The first half simply drags on for too long for what is supposed to be an intense battle between two rival pirate groups. Even when the main characters reach a new port town, the story only picks up around the near end of that whole ordeal.
-----
Even worse is the formatting of this book. AT times, there are moments where you would see typos such as:
"Toby f0idg0ted."
The formatting of this book irritates me to no end, which doesn't help the case for this book at all.
▄▀▄▀▄▀▄▀▄▀▄▀▄▀▄
Overall, Phoenix Rising is a boring book that only manages to be interesting for the twist. Although it is a GREAT twist, I feel like it does not serve this wreck of a book justice. It's clear the author put her heart and soul into this book, especially considering the map of the Phoenix + the news article clippings before the prologue. Sadly, they only make a rotten meal slightly more bearable.
Overall, Phoenix Rising gets 3 crackers out of 10.
▄▀▄▀▄▀▄▀▄▀▄▀▄▀▄
"Toby f0idg0ted."
- Bryony Pearce, Phoenix Rising
sarahgb's review against another edition
4.0
Loved this! A pirate adventure on the high seas but with a very different, unique take on the setting which is post apocalypse Earth. The briny seas burn, the sun blinds and the seas are filled with useless junk making it difficult to navigate. The story rattles along with a good pace with plenty of swashbuckling action and burgeoning friendships. Throw in a quirky Polly parrot and rival pirate ships and you have a rollocking good page turner. The ending is a bit of a cliff hanger which is ok because the second book of the trilogy is well on it's way and I can't wait to read the further adventures of the Phoenix.
My thanks to NetGalley for a free digital proof in return for an honest review.
My thanks to NetGalley for a free digital proof in return for an honest review.
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