Phoenix Rise    by Karina Espinosa

    review by Katy Grant

With the collar, that controlled the power of her Phoenix, placed around her neck Octavia was powerless to resist the commands of the evil monster that is Morningstar. He forced her to watch as her family was burned alive by her hand. Now a prisoner in a gilded cage, or at least a beautiful bedroom with two grumpy minions to watch over her, she had refused to eat anything for the last two weeks. Patience gone, Morningstar insisted she join him for dinner, but it would bring him no pleasure. He had missed the knife placed next to her fork, so was caught unawares as she casually picked it up and took her own life.

As punishment, for daring to defy him, Octavia awoke in a damp, dark dungeon curled up on a dirt floor. It was here that she met Michael the other prisoner. He called out to her, encouraged her to eat, to regain her strength, he spoke to her of Cecilia, her great great great grandmother, whose power of the Phoenix she had passed on to Octavia, at her death. After two weeks in the dungeon, she finally agreed to do as Morningstar wanted. She would make a bargain with him, hers and Michael’s freedom in exchange for her help, but as they shook hands, Michael tried to stop her. Only when she drew her hand away did she see the mark left on her hand. The mark that would connect them until Morningstar got what he wanted, and if she didn’t uphold her end of the bargain, he would take her. She didn’t know then who she had made a bargain with.

Many of the characters from Phoenix Burn return, with a few more intriguing guests added. Even after escaping Morningstar’s clutches with the help of her friends, she is still caught in his evil web. She would need help to learn how to control and extend the power of her Phoenix. It was the shape shifter, Killian that offered the suggestion that they find another Phoenix to teach her. But it was Tristian who would guard her with his life. The composed, cool, unrufflable vampire wouldn’t rest until he had Octavia free of Morningstar’s control. But to do that it would take some help from a witch, Killian’s pack of shape shifters, Maverick, Echo and a little help from Heaven. This is the second in the trilogy that offers more in site, pain and understanding of what is being demanded of Octavia. It answers the question of who Morningstar is and why he has sought her out, but leaves us still with questions of how to stop him and rid herself of his mark that controls her almost as effectively as the collar. There is Tristian’s care of her family after the fire, the beautiful burial sites he tends so lovingly tends, and his growing feelings for her and hers for him. A Vampire and a Phoenix two creatures that legends tell us are the most hated enemies.

The finish to this tale legends are made of, romance, and evil will conclude in Dark Phoenix expected to hit the streets…Friday, November 13, 2020.

Reviewed offered from an Advanced Reader's Copy for my personal opinion of the story.