A review by synth
Phoenix Rising by Rebecca Harwell

1.0

Before anything, I have to mention that the cover, like for the first book, looks like a disgusting and ridiculous marketing ploy. Disgusting, as dark skinned characters are already rare enough in books and on covers, and don't need to be WHITEWASHED out of lesbian fiction too. And ridiculous, as anyone picking up that SECOND book in a series already knows the characters are dark skinned.

The "romance" part is actually done better than the blurb suggests. The other relationships are underdeveloped and not always believable.

Spoiler

For example, at no point in time did I think Nadya and Marko close friends, let alone best friends. Similarly, Shay and Jeta's almost familial relationship would have been really interesting to see more developed, but as it is, Jeta is unbelievable as Shay's savior. Nadya's mother and grandmother are barely seen, and even her almost ever-present father is inconsequential. Even Kesali feels conveniently absent.

The writing is not horrible but the story is simplistic. It could have been an okay book, if not for

Spoiler

the nonsensical discovery of the cure, which unravels the entire logic upon which the story rests. If Simza's skill is to know the truth of anything she touches, why on earth can she not sense the way the water is poisoned and purified without resorting to stealing the compound? But okay, sure, let's accept the explanation that water is hard to read... but still, why would Nadya need to ask Shay, and not say ANY city official or ANYONE else really, to go ask Simza to tell them about the composition of the compound that would save the entire city, including herself and her family?

Furthermore, I have the same qualms as in the first book about the depiction of the governing family. They feel very white-apologetic and Disney-naïve. Not to mention the sudden peace in the city, if somewhat believable when everyone is dying, is idealistic at best for their future.