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A review by momwithareadingproblem
The Phoenix Rising Destiny Calls by Phenice Arielle
5.0
Oh WOW! Where do I even begin?!?!
Towards the end of January I got an email through Goodreads from [a:Phenice Arielle|7134500|Phenice Arielle|https://d202m5krfqbpi5.cloudfront.net/authors/1379179113p2/7134500.jpg] whom I'd never heard of asking if I would read her book and review it for her. So apprehensive, I went to the book's info page and after seeing the cover I was like "I don't know....." then I read the synopsis and I thought, "okay I'll give it a go." And boy am I glad I did!
This book The Phoenix Rising - Destiny Calls is......it's.....I don't even have words! The story starts with a disturbing Preface (click here to read) that leaves you thinking that our MC is being tortured for the memories that become our story. Nanyamka, or Kay for short, is a beautiful African American college student in NYC who has been awarded the chance of a lifetime - a one month internship in South Africa for the NY Times. What journalism major could pass that up?! Well, if you could predict the future you would! At the airport in Cape Town, there's an explosion and Kay is kidnapped and forced into a poacher's slave camp. At the camp, another slave rescues her and the others that are imprisoned there and takes them to her tribe Ipharadisi (which translates to "paradise"). Here Kay learns about herself and what she is capable of doing for those she loves.
I loved these characters! Kay is so relatable in terms of her transformation from a normal American college student to a moral leader. The things that she encounters (love, loss, being kidnapped) all contribute to her development and I must say when faced with those atrocities she handles them well. She appropriately breaks down, but then she picks herself back up. Then there's the two men in her life: Callum (her American, not-so-much boyfriend, but definitely love of her life) and Erec (the doctor in the African tribe she takes refuge in). This is not a typical love-triangle scenario, instead put yourself in Kay's shoes....she's been kidnapped, probably is thought dead, no hope of returning home......I'd move on to the sweet, attractive doctor too! And I can't write a review without mentioning Beth and Tuki. Beth was Kay's college roommate and best friend, then the whole kidnapping thing happens. Tuki is the slave who saves Kay from the poachers and in turn becomes her best friend. I loved both of these characters so much. They bring the best out in Kay (just like friends should).
The writing is phenomenal. I loved each and every aspect of the plot and the imagery of South Africa. I felt like I was there, experiencing what Kay was feeling, hearing, and seeing. Told in first person POV, we get to see inside Kay's head and not only experience things as she does but also feel her emotions! What a roller coaster this book was! I was laughing out loud, crying and my heart warmed with some of her experiences.
This story has a little bit for everyone! Mystery, suspense, romance and a bonus it's a clean-read. I don't think I read a single foul word in the book! Though (my guess) Kay is 21 or 22 this book can be a YA or NA read with themes that I think teenagers will learn from. Caution though, there is a cliff-hanger! Can't wait to find out what happens to our Kay and the rest of the characters in book two!
I received a copy of this ebook from the author in exchange for an honest review.
Towards the end of January I got an email through Goodreads from [a:Phenice Arielle|7134500|Phenice Arielle|https://d202m5krfqbpi5.cloudfront.net/authors/1379179113p2/7134500.jpg] whom I'd never heard of asking if I would read her book and review it for her. So apprehensive, I went to the book's info page and after seeing the cover I was like "I don't know....." then I read the synopsis and I thought, "okay I'll give it a go." And boy am I glad I did!
This book The Phoenix Rising - Destiny Calls is......it's.....I don't even have words! The story starts with a disturbing Preface (click here to read) that leaves you thinking that our MC is being tortured for the memories that become our story. Nanyamka, or Kay for short, is a beautiful African American college student in NYC who has been awarded the chance of a lifetime - a one month internship in South Africa for the NY Times. What journalism major could pass that up?! Well, if you could predict the future you would! At the airport in Cape Town, there's an explosion and Kay is kidnapped and forced into a poacher's slave camp. At the camp, another slave rescues her and the others that are imprisoned there and takes them to her tribe Ipharadisi (which translates to "paradise"). Here Kay learns about herself and what she is capable of doing for those she loves.
I loved these characters! Kay is so relatable in terms of her transformation from a normal American college student to a moral leader. The things that she encounters (love, loss, being kidnapped) all contribute to her development and I must say when faced with those atrocities she handles them well. She appropriately breaks down, but then she picks herself back up. Then there's the two men in her life: Callum (her American, not-so-much boyfriend, but definitely love of her life) and Erec (the doctor in the African tribe she takes refuge in). This is not a typical love-triangle scenario, instead put yourself in Kay's shoes....she's been kidnapped, probably is thought dead, no hope of returning home......I'd move on to the sweet, attractive doctor too! And I can't write a review without mentioning Beth and Tuki. Beth was Kay's college roommate and best friend, then the whole kidnapping thing happens. Tuki is the slave who saves Kay from the poachers and in turn becomes her best friend. I loved both of these characters so much. They bring the best out in Kay (just like friends should).
The writing is phenomenal. I loved each and every aspect of the plot and the imagery of South Africa. I felt like I was there, experiencing what Kay was feeling, hearing, and seeing. Told in first person POV, we get to see inside Kay's head and not only experience things as she does but also feel her emotions! What a roller coaster this book was! I was laughing out loud, crying and my heart warmed with some of her experiences.
This story has a little bit for everyone! Mystery, suspense, romance and a bonus it's a clean-read. I don't think I read a single foul word in the book! Though (my guess) Kay is 21 or 22 this book can be a YA or NA read with themes that I think teenagers will learn from. Caution though, there is a cliff-hanger! Can't wait to find out what happens to our Kay and the rest of the characters in book two!
I received a copy of this ebook from the author in exchange for an honest review.