Phoenix Unbound by Grace Draven – a Review

Amazon / B&N / Kobo / BAM / Book Depository

Description:
Every year, each village is required to send a young woman to the Empire’s capital–her fate to be burned alive for the entertainment of the masses. For the last five years, one small village’s tithe has been the same woman. Gilene’s sacrifice protects all the other young women of her village, and her secret to staying alive lies with the magic only she possesses.

But this year is different.

Azarion, the Empire’s most famous gladiator, has somehow seen through her illusion–and is set on blackmailing Gilene into using her abilities to help him escape his life of slavery. And unknown to Gilene, he also wants to reclaim the birthright of his clan.

To protect her family and village, she will risk everything to return to the Empire–and burn once more

Review:

Phoenix Unbound by Grace Draven is the 1^st book in her new Fallen Empire series.  This is my first book by Draven, and I really enjoyed this  well written fantasy themed ‘enemies to lovers’ romance.  Phoenix Unbound is a slow built romance, but that is strictly in the background as the story takes center stage; filled with violence, betrayal, battles, and sacrifices.

Gilene, our heroine, lives in a small village which is part of the Empire.  Every year, all the villages have to send a woman to the capitol as a sacrifice to the Gods, as part of the Rites of Spring. For 5 years Gilene, who is a secret fire witch, saves the women in her village, by representing one of the women each year who are burned alive.  She has the ability to not burn from the fire, and also is able to create an illusion changing her looks.  She survives each year, suffering scars along the way.  Her village does not treat Gilene with appreciation, expecting her to do her duty, despite the danger and terrible toll it takes on her.

Azarion, our hero, is a gladiator, who was sold to the empire by his cousin, and is also the best gladiator.  But he must endure the cruelty as a slave, especially to the Empress who uses and abuses him sexually.  He desperately wants to escape and return home to his family, and reclaim the crown of his clan, which was stolen by his evil cousin.   The last few years, Azarion has been able to see through the disguise of this young lady who is able to return, and comes up with a plan to escape.

Azarion will force Gilene to help him escape, using her ability to use illusions to change how she looks.  He threatens to reveal her town’s trickery to the Empire, if she doesn’t help, but he does promise to let her go and keep her secret if she works with him.  When Gilene once again walks away from the burning fire, and helped Azarion escape, she runs to return home, only to have Azarion kidnap her.  He needs her to help him return home, and win back his rightful title.  What follows is an exciting, dark & action packed adventure filled with danger and violent situations.  When Azarion finally gets home safe, there is still the danger of his cousin, and proving to the fire witches that Gilene is indeed one of them. 

In the beginning, Gilene hates and does not trust Azarion, but over time, especially after the dangerous and harrowing adventure travelling to his home, and when she meets and gets to know his family, her feelings begin to change.  Azarion, despite his growing feelings for Gilene, plans to honor his word to help her return home.  Will Gilene go home to a town that used her, or will she stay with those she has come to care for, and Azarion?

I thought that Gilene was a great heroine, strong, brave, loyal and her powers were great; something she will learn to increase in time.  When the war escalates, it was amazing how awesome she was.  Azarion turned into a wonderful hero, who suffered horrible cruelty as a captive of the Empire.  When he began to fall in love with Gilene, it was wonderful to see how sweet he was to her; this was a beautiful enemies to lovers story. Everything does change for the better when Azarion rises up to his true destiny, and must find a way to save his people and fight the Empire. 

Phoenix Unbound was  an  excellently written fantasy that kept your attention throughout, with a bit of everything from wonderful heroes, romance, danger, cruelty, great characters and an exciting adventure all the way through.  If you enjoy fantasy, I suggest you start with Phoenix Unbound.

Reviewed by Barb

Copy provided by Publisher