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jnishi's review
5.0
If I could rate this book more than 5 stars I would. I’d give it and this series all the stars in the sky. Absolutely one of the best written middle grade fantasy series I’ve read. I inhaled this last one in a day and am starting to reread it tomorrow, annotating and analyzing it for my first intermediate book club this upcoming school year. Seriously, if you’ve got kids and want them to read, give them this series. My 4th graders last year all loved it so much not only were the first two books both voted books of the month, Sparrow Rising was voted book of the year!
captain_valour's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
fast-paced
5.0
vixenvertigo's review
3.0
I’m sorry Ellie has cousins??? She has family??? Why was she staying at an orphanage if she has family???
Also her narrator for the audiobook does this annoying quivering voice thing, at some point her entire voice became so grating
Also her narrator for the audiobook does this annoying quivering voice thing, at some point her entire voice became so grating
ktmiller_14's review
4.0
I've been reading this series since November because of school and life obligations, but this book made it all worth it.
I'll start with what I liked. The world building was fantastic. Since the first book I'd loved the idea of Khoury exploring how the different clans are and how they express themselves. Perceptions and reality truly clash here, but the boundaries are broken in the best way.
I really felt for Nox when he was struggling with controlling his fire. His struggle gave me Frozen vibes, especially with the way it was written and how his unease around it began. Through all that he meet Icara, the sorcerer's daughter, and I didn't see how much of a role she had in the story. She reminded me a bit of Palutena from Kid Icarus, but Icara was colder.
The stakes are at their breaking point for the story, and it shows. From the first page the story is intense, emotional, and had me on the edge of my seat. I wish I'd had the ability to read it in one sitting because it was so action packed.
What I wished could have been included were points of view for Gussie and Twig. Near the end of the book Corion's point of view was used again, and I wanted to see what was going on with Gussie and Twig during the final battle.
The writing style wasn't always my favorite at points, but it didn't affect my enjoyment of the book. For consistently 300-page approaching novels, I think at some points the explanations were rushed or not elaborated on enough, but it was for the sake of the intensity of the plot.
That, and Garion's motivation for wanting the Phoenix Clan dead is never explained. I didn't believe that he wanted them dead just for gaining more power, but that's just me.
I'm looking forward to more from Jessica Khoury. I'm so glad I picked up the first book on a whim at B&N, otherwise I wouldn't be writing this review!
writehollydavis's review
5.0
A middle grade masterpiece! One of my favorite middle grade series alongside Pendragon and Artemis Fowl. I legit felt every emotion while reading this book. From the worldbuilding to the character arcs, it was perfection on the page. I'm not ready to say goodbye! Let me join the Goldwings as part of the Fangirl Clan. :)
thedizzyreader's review
4.0
"The truth will shine in golden eyes, from ash alone may a Phoenix rise."