The Phoenix King has everything a reader should want in a fantasy novel. The worldbuilding was excellent. I was fully immersed in the kingdom of Ravence. It also had a unique magic system tied into religion, allowing for commentary on the relationship between religion and power. The characters were also written excellently. Elena proved to be a competent and well-rounded heroine, and it was interesting to see into Yassen's mind as well. My favorite perspective was from Elena's father, who was trying to do what he thought best both for his nation and his daughter. His motivations were the most interesting in the book. What was lacking for me was the pacing of the story. I felt like a lot of what happened could have been cut out. A more streamlined plot would have made the book a lot better. But overall, I did enjoy reading the Phoenix King, and the cliffhanger at the end makes me want to read more!