venation's review
4.0
Easily following up the tension of Silver Phoenix, Fury of the Phoenix delivers even more of the same action, teasing romance and strong heroine-ism, that Cindy Pon is known for. Fury of the Phoenix continues with Chen Yong boarding a ship set to look for his father, and Ai Ling secretly chasing him aboard - not out of mischief but to protect him from the demons of the underworld. As the tale progresses, Ai Ling and Chen Yong become closer and forge a bond beyond companions. Yet, Fury of the Phoenix is also a novel of the past - the story of Silver Phoenix and Zhong Ye is revealed in parallel with Ai Ling's modern day quest to protect Chen Yong.
Fury of the Phoenix offers any reader what they've wanted for from Silver Phoenix - a conclusion to the Chen Yong and Ai Ling love and the story of the past. If you've waited for this, then Fury of the Phoenix delivers perfectly on the mark. However, if you've wanted a little more action on Ai Ling's part, don't expect a major new action quest.
In this novel, Ai Ling deals with her questions on her relationship with Chen Yong, as well as unsettled questions about her power. The bond between the two is not always clear, and in some ways it is marred by restraint, jealousy and misunderstanding. As they reach a new land of Jiang(?) to find Chen Yong's birth father - new tensions and family crises emerge causing confusion and hurt. Ai Ling's role in this book is one more of drama and love rather than action or hot headed craziness, though there are moments of both.
However, I really enjoyed the past about Zhong Ye and Silver Phoenix. I won't list them here, but many things about the two come as a surprise, and actually allow for more empathy toward Zhong Ye. The secret behind Silver Phoenix and his marriage is told, and the past is just as riveting as Ai Ling's adventure in book one.
Overall, Fury of the Phoenix is a great follow up, but may suffer a bit from the second book slump. In some ways, it's even more of a prequel than a new action story. But scenes with Chen Yong and Ai Ling will melt anyone's heart, and treasure this conclusive novel. Once again, Cindy Pon has proven her ability to weave a story of mysticism, pure love and blurring lines between the past and present.
Fury of the Phoenix offers any reader what they've wanted for from Silver Phoenix - a conclusion to the Chen Yong and Ai Ling love and the story of the past. If you've waited for this, then Fury of the Phoenix delivers perfectly on the mark. However, if you've wanted a little more action on Ai Ling's part, don't expect a major new action quest.
In this novel, Ai Ling deals with her questions on her relationship with Chen Yong, as well as unsettled questions about her power. The bond between the two is not always clear, and in some ways it is marred by restraint, jealousy and misunderstanding. As they reach a new land of Jiang(?) to find Chen Yong's birth father - new tensions and family crises emerge causing confusion and hurt. Ai Ling's role in this book is one more of drama and love rather than action or hot headed craziness, though there are moments of both.
However, I really enjoyed the past about Zhong Ye and Silver Phoenix. I won't list them here, but many things about the two come as a surprise, and actually allow for more empathy toward Zhong Ye. The secret behind Silver Phoenix and his marriage is told, and the past is just as riveting as Ai Ling's adventure in book one.
Overall, Fury of the Phoenix is a great follow up, but may suffer a bit from the second book slump. In some ways, it's even more of a prequel than a new action story. But scenes with Chen Yong and Ai Ling will melt anyone's heart, and treasure this conclusive novel. Once again, Cindy Pon has proven her ability to weave a story of mysticism, pure love and blurring lines between the past and present.
nina1117's review
5.0
I'm going to be honest. I bought the first book, Silver Phoenix, because the main character Ai Ling has the same name as my best friend and I thought that was pretty hilarious. But then I read it and enjoyed it a lot. I happen to love fantasy, young adult books, China and handsome guys, so it was pretty much a given. However, I did not like the ending; I wanted more! So I was of course pleased to hear that Pon was writing a sequel. Fast forward to now and I can now gush about how much I love this series! Despite my giggles at Ai Ling's name (sorry dear friend, but you would laugh too!), she is a wonderful character. Her determination to live her life the way she wants to and to take care of those she loves makes her a standout in a sea of wimpy teen characters. Chen Yong was still his hot self, (yay for hapa guys!) and Peng was a fun character to kinda spice things up (I was secretly hoping for a love triangle). I loved that Pon brought in the dual view points this time; I feel like the story was so much better for it. All in all, I think this was a great book in a fun series, and I bought both books to put in my classroom library!
isnicoreading's review
5.0
one word Fantastic!!! The story in my opinion was very original and I loved all the characters!! One of my favorite books I was very lucky and honored to win an ARC of this amazing book in Goodreads First Reads!!
stephhreads's review
3.0
First off, I'd just like to say that the summary may be one of the most misleading summaries I have ever read. For one, it makes the book sound like Zhong Ye is some dark, omnipresent force working with Silver Phoenix to throw evil and trouble at Chen Yong because for some reason he has become a target (a special, "the one" child, perhaps?) Also, the events it describes don't occur until over 3/4 of the way through the book. And none of the drama described in the summary is really all that dramatic. It's pretty short, actually.
I also had some issues with the writing, but other than that, I liked the story. What the summary doesn't tell you is that Fury of the Phoenix weaves Ai Ling's current story (following Chen Yong onto a ship) with a story of Zhong Ye's origins and his romance with Silver Phoenix. Actually, the only really interesting part was Zhong Ye's story. I don't remember much from Silver Phoenix, but here, Zhong Ye is cast in a relatively sympathetic light, and it was interesting. Other than that, Ai Ling's tagging along with Chen Yong is nice in that it continues that love story, but otherwise rather unremarkable. Side characters are unmemorable and sadly flat, and Chen Yong and Ai Ling weren't even all that brilliant in my eyes.
I also had some issues with the writing, but other than that, I liked the story. What the summary doesn't tell you is that Fury of the Phoenix weaves Ai Ling's current story (following Chen Yong onto a ship) with a story of Zhong Ye's origins and his romance with Silver Phoenix. Actually, the only really interesting part was Zhong Ye's story. I don't remember much from Silver Phoenix, but here, Zhong Ye is cast in a relatively sympathetic light, and it was interesting. Other than that, Ai Ling's tagging along with Chen Yong is nice in that it continues that love story, but otherwise rather unremarkable. Side characters are unmemorable and sadly flat, and Chen Yong and Ai Ling weren't even all that brilliant in my eyes.
beecheralyson's review
5.0
Since finishing Silver Phoenix, I have been wanting to read the sequel. I wanted to be back in the world that Cindy Pon had created and to be back with Ai Ling and Chen Yong. I am not sure what I was fully expecting with the sequel but it wasn't where Pon went. I'm not stating that negatively at all. Rather, I loved where she went. It wasn't predictable and she added an additional layer to the story that I really found intriguing. Throughout the story, I kept trying to figure out how she was going to pull it all together and do so in a way that would be satisfying. And guess what...she did pull the whole story together and I loved the ending.
Fury of the Phoenix kicks off with Ai Ling attempting to get onto a ship without anyone knowing in order to save Chen Yong's life (no spoilers...all told in the first chapter). Though the action is significantly different in this story, as is the journey, I found myself loving the back history that is revealed and how the past and present provide a mystery & love story that sucks the reader in. (Note: I have a huge fictional crush on Chen Yong. Gosh he is yummy!)
I want to say more but I don't want to spoil this especially since the book won't be out for another 3 to 4 months. If you loved Silver Phoenix, you'll love Fury of the Phoenix. If you haven't read Silver Phoenix go read it so that you can be ready for Fury's release.
Fury of the Phoenix kicks off with Ai Ling attempting to get onto a ship without anyone knowing in order to save Chen Yong's life (no spoilers...all told in the first chapter). Though the action is significantly different in this story, as is the journey, I found myself loving the back history that is revealed and how the past and present provide a mystery & love story that sucks the reader in. (Note: I have a huge fictional crush on Chen Yong. Gosh he is yummy!)
I want to say more but I don't want to spoil this especially since the book won't be out for another 3 to 4 months. If you loved Silver Phoenix, you'll love Fury of the Phoenix. If you haven't read Silver Phoenix go read it so that you can be ready for Fury's release.
valhecka's review against another edition
4.0
So satisfying. I like how much Ai Ling grows throughout the duology - she and Chen Yong, really. Their changing understandings of love and tradition and piety (in the filial sense) strike true for adolescence in multiple cultures and supernatural experiences - how are you supposed to go be a traditional married woman after you've ridden dragons and slain demons?
Also impressed and pleased that Cindy Pon enriched and complexified the story of Zhong Ye and Silver Phoenix in such a humanizing way. In the first book, their tale seems almost Disneyish, but here it's developed into something mature and real, echoing the theme of how many ways love can work in the real world.
Also impressed and pleased that Cindy Pon enriched and complexified the story of Zhong Ye and Silver Phoenix in such a humanizing way. In the first book, their tale seems almost Disneyish, but here it's developed into something mature and real, echoing the theme of how many ways love can work in the real world.
katrina_sur's review against another edition
adventurous
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
5.0
The first book in the series was one of my favorite books and I didn’t know there was a sequel. I enjoyed this book a lot. The plot is very original and unlike any other book I’ve read.
cynicalnovas's review against another edition
4.0
The ending was so intense and emotional that I actually dreamed about it the night I finished! I thought this was a trilogy but I think this tied the story up ::sad::
virginiaduan's review against another edition
3.0
Very enjoyable sequel! And the hell part reminded me of old chinese myths I remember reading as a kid.
hannahsophialin's review against another edition
4.0
Original Review posted on Bookwyrming Thoughts
Note: Formatting is lost due to copy and paste.
*Warning: May contain minor spoilers from the previous novel*
Remember the evil sorcerer by the name of Zhong Ye from the previous novel, Silver Phoenix? In Fury of the Phoenix, the sequel to Silver Phoenix, it's been a few months after Zhong Ye's death and Ai Ling receives warning from a dream that Chen Yong is in danger. Knowing that, Ai Ling finds a way to try and find him.
During Ai Ling's journey, we go through a few flashbacks throughout the book entering Zhong Ye's life when he's just a worker in the Emperor's Palace (I'm not talking about the buffet) trying to climb up in rank to how he came to be in Silver Phoenix. Ai Ling and Chen Yong have also changed a lot and matured a bit (maybe a lot?) since the previous novel.
I'm not exactly sure what to make of the second (and I think final?) component to the Kingdom of Xia series. I personally picked up the series because it was based on Ancient China (just in general terms – there are fictional stuff as well) and thought it would be really interesting to read. But staying away from the series – actually, I never even knew a sequel existed until I joined Goodreads – and then coming back to it has made me realize that I'm missing out in the world that Cindy Pon creates in Silver Phoenix and Fury of the Phoenix. In fact, I even miss the dumplings and buns. And that's coming from someone who has those often... :p I also want to visit China one day, though I certainly don't want to meet some of the unpleasant creatures both Ai Ling, Chen Yong and Zhong Ye encounter in the book.
Note: Formatting is lost due to copy and paste.
*Warning: May contain minor spoilers from the previous novel*
Remember the evil sorcerer by the name of Zhong Ye from the previous novel, Silver Phoenix? In Fury of the Phoenix, the sequel to Silver Phoenix, it's been a few months after Zhong Ye's death and Ai Ling receives warning from a dream that Chen Yong is in danger. Knowing that, Ai Ling finds a way to try and find him.
During Ai Ling's journey, we go through a few flashbacks throughout the book entering Zhong Ye's life when he's just a worker in the Emperor's Palace (I'm not talking about the buffet) trying to climb up in rank to how he came to be in Silver Phoenix. Ai Ling and Chen Yong have also changed a lot and matured a bit (maybe a lot?) since the previous novel.
I'm not exactly sure what to make of the second (and I think final?) component to the Kingdom of Xia series. I personally picked up the series because it was based on Ancient China (just in general terms – there are fictional stuff as well) and thought it would be really interesting to read. But staying away from the series – actually, I never even knew a sequel existed until I joined Goodreads – and then coming back to it has made me realize that I'm missing out in the world that Cindy Pon creates in Silver Phoenix and Fury of the Phoenix. In fact, I even miss the dumplings and buns. And that's coming from someone who has those often... :p I also want to visit China one day, though I certainly don't want to meet some of the unpleasant creatures both Ai Ling, Chen Yong and Zhong Ye encounter in the book.