The Phoenix King by Aparna Verma

Blurb

The Ravani kingdom was born of a prophecy, carved from unforgiving desert sands and ruled by the Ravence bloodline: those with the power to command the Eternal Fire.

Elena Aadya is the heir to the throne—and the only Ravence who cannot wield her family’s legendary magic. As her coronation approaches, she will do whatever it takes to prove herself a worthy successor to her revered father. But she doesn’t anticipate the arrival of Yassen Knight, the notorious assassin who now claims fealty to the throne. Elena’s father might trust Yassen to be a member of her royal guard, but she is certain he is hiding something.

As the threat of war looms like a storm on the horizon, the two begin a dangerous dance of intrigue and betrayal. And the choices they make could burn down the world.

First Impression

I read a LOT of fantasy, and to me the cover and blurb suggested more fantasy, so I was initially very disoriented when the story opened with a very sci-fi world and fight scene with pulse guns, blinding metal buildings, and face shields. It took me a couple chapters to settle into in, but I was definitely hooked from the first line.

What kept me reading (or didn’t).

The world and the story telling reminded me of Frank Herbert’s Dune. Not just because of the desert setting, but the style of writing, the ease of reading, and the way the political intrigue was laid out.

Honestly, it wasn’t hard to figure out who the players would end up being, but the author still made the revelations feel fresh and surprising. I fell in love with Yassen almost immediately as the assassin trying to escape his fate by any means necessary. I was truly caught off guard by his story, but he redeemed himself well.

Elena’s frustration with her father and her seeming lack of ability to control fire drove the story as she discovered all that had been hidden from her. My heart broke for her as she was betrayed over and over by those she desperately wanted to trust.

Not getting into Samson’s head at all in the story made him a true mystery, but it was obvious he had ulterior motives throughout the story. I really wanted to like him and trust his relationship with Yassen, but the author did a great job of securing the reader’s doubt in him.

After taste.

Betrayal abounds in this first installment of the Ravence Trilogy, and I am looking forward to the next book! I have to know what happens to Yassen and how Elena gets her throne back!

Final Thoughts.

The audio was excellent! All the Narrators fit the characters, and I hope they return for The Burning Queen which releases November 4, 2025.