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New York : Greenwillow Books, ©2009.
Description
With her father long overdue from his journey and a lecherous merchant blackmailing her into marriage, seventeen-year-old Ai Ling becomes aware of a strange power within her as she goes in search of her parent.
Language
User reviews
LibraryThing member nellista
Ai Ling is on a journey to the Emperor's Palace to find her father, and along the way she learns something very important about herself. She has a special ability, and she will need all the resources she has to overcome the obstacles in her path. Along the way she meets with a young man Chen Yong,
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a half caste bent on discovering the true story about his birth parents. Along the way they encounter demons, meet Immortal beings, and see sights they never imagined. Of course all journey's require a bit of a respite and a stop for food......and Ai Ling loves her food! The dishes mentioned in the book are like a banquet! They are also joined by Chen Yong's younger brother Li Rong, who is an endearingly cheeky young man that flirts, banters, and adds a lightheartedness to the serious nature of the journey. Show Less
LibraryThing member stephxsu
Ai Ling has always led a straightforward life, but that all changes when first her betrothal is broken off because she’s “unacceptable” and then her father does not return from a trip to the Palace of Fragrant Dreams. Determined not to stay at home and worry like a good female, Ai Ling sets
Along the way she meets Chen Yong, a half-foreign young man who is also on the way to the Palace. Not all the company Ai Ling happens upon are as good as him, though; in fact, Ai Ling and Chen Yong find themselves repeatedly engaged in battles with fierce demons that neither of them had ever believed existed. It seems as if Ai Ling is not the ordinary girl she thinks she is, and that something is definitely trying to prevent her from achieving her goal. Armed with her friends, the Immortals’ help, and the power of her legacy, however, Ai Ling just might be able to overthrow the dark forces at work and succeed.
SILVER PHOENIX is first and foremost a nonstop tale of fantastical adventure. Demons and mythical places pop out of the pages nonstop, and so there is an almost constant stream of butt-kicking, done by an extremely appealing heroine. Ai Ling is an enviable protagonist, with her neverending arsenal of abilities. Even with all the unwanted problems that destiny has placed upon her shoulders, she forges on, not relying on others to do what she needs to get done.
The heavy reliance on evil creatures to move the plot along, however, is also what disappointed me about the story. The strength of the book lies in the imagined details, but not in the overarching story line. Characters fall flat in the face of such physical adversaries; almost all of the challenges that Ai Ling and Chen Yong face can be overcome with physical actions, leaving very little psychology and mental study in the story.
Despite the distance I felt from the characters, however, I know that SILVER PHOENIX will appeal to the tomboy who wants a different heroine and setting than the norm.
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off to the Palace to find out what happened to her father.Along the way she meets Chen Yong, a half-foreign young man who is also on the way to the Palace. Not all the company Ai Ling happens upon are as good as him, though; in fact, Ai Ling and Chen Yong find themselves repeatedly engaged in battles with fierce demons that neither of them had ever believed existed. It seems as if Ai Ling is not the ordinary girl she thinks she is, and that something is definitely trying to prevent her from achieving her goal. Armed with her friends, the Immortals’ help, and the power of her legacy, however, Ai Ling just might be able to overthrow the dark forces at work and succeed.
SILVER PHOENIX is first and foremost a nonstop tale of fantastical adventure. Demons and mythical places pop out of the pages nonstop, and so there is an almost constant stream of butt-kicking, done by an extremely appealing heroine. Ai Ling is an enviable protagonist, with her neverending arsenal of abilities. Even with all the unwanted problems that destiny has placed upon her shoulders, she forges on, not relying on others to do what she needs to get done.
The heavy reliance on evil creatures to move the plot along, however, is also what disappointed me about the story. The strength of the book lies in the imagined details, but not in the overarching story line. Characters fall flat in the face of such physical adversaries; almost all of the challenges that Ai Ling and Chen Yong face can be overcome with physical actions, leaving very little psychology and mental study in the story.
Despite the distance I felt from the characters, however, I know that SILVER PHOENIX will appeal to the tomboy who wants a different heroine and setting than the norm.
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LibraryThing member gaby317
Synopsis:
Ai Ling is a young girl who is raised differently from most girls. Her father had been a respected member of the Emperor's court and given his daughter the best education possible. Not only can Ai Ling read and write with a beautiful hand, she is familiar with the most sacred texts.
At the betrothal meeting, Ai Ling finds that she has the ability to hear people's thoughts. She hides her gift, but Ai Ling is considered an unsuitable match and is humiliated. Her bad fortune does not end there. As her parents search for a replacement match for Ai Ling, her father must suddenly journey to the Emperor's court. Before he leaves, he bestows on his daughter a special pendant to keep her safe. When he fails to return, Ai Ling and her mother have no one to turn to. Ai Ling is unable to solve their problems in the village and undertakes a quest to find her father and bring him home safely.
During this journey, Ai Ling befriends Chen Yong, a half Xian and half Western young man who is on a quest to learn more about his parents, and Li Rong, Chen Yong's adoptive brother. Together the friends encounters mythical beasts and dangerous enemies and must face challenges that they had not imagined and could not have prepared for.
Set in the Kingdom of Xia, the tale appears to takes place in a mythical world similar to the era of the 16 Kingdoms of China between 407 AD to 431 AD.
Review:
To be honest, I had been very excited about the book even before I had the chance to read it. A young adult fantasy novel set in Ancient China with a young, smart and brave Chinese heroine on a quest to save her father from an evil presence in the Emperor's Court!? Count me in, I thought! Growing up, I hadn't read that many books that were set in Asia or had strong women heroines. I had read The Good Earth by Pearl S. Buck, but the heroine there is worlds apart for Ai Ling.
While reading the book, I was very conscious that it had a young heroine whose family helped her develop her intellect and strength. Ai Ling was strong and had confidence in her abilities - this helps her through the trials ahead. I also got a kick out of how much the book reflected the flora, fauna, food and possibly myths of China so naturally in its references to images, scents and atmosphere. For instance, Ai Ling's betrothed was "a bamboo of a boy, the barely green type, with large almond eyes in a pale face." I'd be the first to admit that it's a bit silly to be happy that Ai Ling had dried mangoes and dried squid in her traveling pack and that she craved pork buns, hand pulled noodles, dumplings, and duck, but I was! I couldn't help but notice that even the scents and jewelry were Asian, from Ai Ling's mother's the gardenia oil and jade hairpin to the peonies that inspired Ai Ling to paint. Food and smells evoke memories and location in my mind and have appeared effectively in many of my favorite novels, so these descriptions resonated with me and was just another reason for me to chuckle while reading Silver Phoenix.
But putting aside my excitement to have an Asian heroine, I enjoyed the book for many other reasons. The writing was so clear and effective without being overdone. The characters were well established, seemed so natural and were so simpatico that I was on their side from the start. The kingdom of Xia was unique and well developed as a whole new world inhabited by demons and fantasy creatures that were different from the usual fantasy mold. Plus, the journey was action packed - I found myself constantly waiting for the next phase in their adventure to see how Ai Ling, Chen Yong and Li Rong would respond.
I highly recommend Silver Phoenix to anyone that likes adventure and fantasy stories. It's a book that I intend to give to my niece and friends' kids once they get older. It's a keeper!
Ai Ling is a young girl who is raised differently from most girls. Her father had been a respected member of the Emperor's court and given his daughter the best education possible. Not only can Ai Ling read and write with a beautiful hand, she is familiar with the most sacred texts.
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Despite her education and skills, Ai Ling is still subject to society's rules and finds herself betrothed to a well positioned young man whom she has not met.At the betrothal meeting, Ai Ling finds that she has the ability to hear people's thoughts. She hides her gift, but Ai Ling is considered an unsuitable match and is humiliated. Her bad fortune does not end there. As her parents search for a replacement match for Ai Ling, her father must suddenly journey to the Emperor's court. Before he leaves, he bestows on his daughter a special pendant to keep her safe. When he fails to return, Ai Ling and her mother have no one to turn to. Ai Ling is unable to solve their problems in the village and undertakes a quest to find her father and bring him home safely.
During this journey, Ai Ling befriends Chen Yong, a half Xian and half Western young man who is on a quest to learn more about his parents, and Li Rong, Chen Yong's adoptive brother. Together the friends encounters mythical beasts and dangerous enemies and must face challenges that they had not imagined and could not have prepared for.
Set in the Kingdom of Xia, the tale appears to takes place in a mythical world similar to the era of the 16 Kingdoms of China between 407 AD to 431 AD.
Review:
To be honest, I had been very excited about the book even before I had the chance to read it. A young adult fantasy novel set in Ancient China with a young, smart and brave Chinese heroine on a quest to save her father from an evil presence in the Emperor's Court!? Count me in, I thought! Growing up, I hadn't read that many books that were set in Asia or had strong women heroines. I had read The Good Earth by Pearl S. Buck, but the heroine there is worlds apart for Ai Ling.
While reading the book, I was very conscious that it had a young heroine whose family helped her develop her intellect and strength. Ai Ling was strong and had confidence in her abilities - this helps her through the trials ahead. I also got a kick out of how much the book reflected the flora, fauna, food and possibly myths of China so naturally in its references to images, scents and atmosphere. For instance, Ai Ling's betrothed was "a bamboo of a boy, the barely green type, with large almond eyes in a pale face." I'd be the first to admit that it's a bit silly to be happy that Ai Ling had dried mangoes and dried squid in her traveling pack and that she craved pork buns, hand pulled noodles, dumplings, and duck, but I was! I couldn't help but notice that even the scents and jewelry were Asian, from Ai Ling's mother's the gardenia oil and jade hairpin to the peonies that inspired Ai Ling to paint. Food and smells evoke memories and location in my mind and have appeared effectively in many of my favorite novels, so these descriptions resonated with me and was just another reason for me to chuckle while reading Silver Phoenix.
But putting aside my excitement to have an Asian heroine, I enjoyed the book for many other reasons. The writing was so clear and effective without being overdone. The characters were well established, seemed so natural and were so simpatico that I was on their side from the start. The kingdom of Xia was unique and well developed as a whole new world inhabited by demons and fantasy creatures that were different from the usual fantasy mold. Plus, the journey was action packed - I found myself constantly waiting for the next phase in their adventure to see how Ai Ling, Chen Yong and Li Rong would respond.
I highly recommend Silver Phoenix to anyone that likes adventure and fantasy stories. It's a book that I intend to give to my niece and friends' kids once they get older. It's a keeper!
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LibraryThing member krau0098
This is the first book in Beyond the Kingdom of Xia duology by Pon. The second book, Fury of the Phoenix, has already been released. I have not heard about any additional books after that one. This was a decent read, but a bit simplistic in writing style.
Ai Lang is the daughter of a couple of
I enjoyed the story but found the writing to be a bit simplistic and the dialogue between characters a bit clunky and awkward sounding. This made it very hard to engage with the characters because they just come off as awkward and simplistic.
Ai Lang comes off as too timid and naive but occasionally, uncharacteristically, she does something brash and bold. The main hero of the story, Chen Yong, comes off as a colossal jerk...he constantly has boyish fits of anger and is at best dismissive to Ai Lang. Needless to say I had a lot of trouble connecting and engaging with these characters.
--------------SPOILER START--------------------------
When Ai Lang is nearly raped Chen Yong stomps off in a boyish fit and blames her for causing a scene. Ugh...really...it was the epitome of what is wrong with the society portrayed in this novel.
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There is a lot of emphasis put on women as male property and as sexual objects to males. Not my favorite type of society to read about, in fact I was a bit surprised by the emphasis on sex in this book. There aren’t any explicit sex acts described, but there is a lot of discussion about it.
The book is an okay read, but I just found everything about it to be okay. Nothing really blew me away. The story was fairly predictable. The magic system not all that well explained. Some parts of the story where the characters journey beyond Xia are fairly ambiguous as well.
On a side note Pon evidently likes her food a lot because there are a lot of detailed descriptions about what the characters eat in this book. Seriously they stop to eat a lot and by the end of the book I felt like I knew more about what food the characters liked to eat than the characters themselves.
Overall an okay read but not great. The writing style was too simplistic, the characters hard to engage with, and the story predictable. I usually love these type of adventure fantasy stories, but this one left me feeling cold. Looking back at this review there just wasn’t a lot I actually enjoyed about this book. At this point I don’t plan on reading Fury of the Phoenix...I have the book but will just pass it on to someone who wants to read it more than I do.
Ai Lang is the daughter of a couple of
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parents who married for love; her father is a well learned professor. He is forced to go on a journey to the palace and leaves Ai Lang a special necklace that is supposed to protect her. When her father doesn’t return for many months Ai Lang decides to leave her mother and journey on her own to the palace. Along the road she meets Chen Yong and finds that the road is plagued by many demons.I enjoyed the story but found the writing to be a bit simplistic and the dialogue between characters a bit clunky and awkward sounding. This made it very hard to engage with the characters because they just come off as awkward and simplistic.
Ai Lang comes off as too timid and naive but occasionally, uncharacteristically, she does something brash and bold. The main hero of the story, Chen Yong, comes off as a colossal jerk...he constantly has boyish fits of anger and is at best dismissive to Ai Lang. Needless to say I had a lot of trouble connecting and engaging with these characters.
--------------SPOILER START--------------------------
When Ai Lang is nearly raped Chen Yong stomps off in a boyish fit and blames her for causing a scene. Ugh...really...it was the epitome of what is wrong with the society portrayed in this novel.
--------------SPOILER START--------------------------
There is a lot of emphasis put on women as male property and as sexual objects to males. Not my favorite type of society to read about, in fact I was a bit surprised by the emphasis on sex in this book. There aren’t any explicit sex acts described, but there is a lot of discussion about it.
The book is an okay read, but I just found everything about it to be okay. Nothing really blew me away. The story was fairly predictable. The magic system not all that well explained. Some parts of the story where the characters journey beyond Xia are fairly ambiguous as well.
On a side note Pon evidently likes her food a lot because there are a lot of detailed descriptions about what the characters eat in this book. Seriously they stop to eat a lot and by the end of the book I felt like I knew more about what food the characters liked to eat than the characters themselves.
Overall an okay read but not great. The writing style was too simplistic, the characters hard to engage with, and the story predictable. I usually love these type of adventure fantasy stories, but this one left me feeling cold. Looking back at this review there just wasn’t a lot I actually enjoyed about this book. At this point I don’t plan on reading Fury of the Phoenix...I have the book but will just pass it on to someone who wants to read it more than I do.
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LibraryThing member TheDreamerReader
It was not what I expected...
The Good: It was a SPECTACULAR fantasy read. The characters are diverse and their personalities are so unique that I had no trouble telling who from who.
Not only was it fulfilling as a fantasty, but it had culture! With the Chinese backgrounds, I was enchanted.
And
Silver Phoenix kept me reading and waiting to see what would happen next, I couldn't put it down!!
The Bad: Some parts were really... awkward. There's of sexual references like rape and well, sex that are really cringe-worthy. I think what made me most uncomfortable was that she writes it so bluntly. Examples (passages from the awesome Yan who also reviewed this book):
"The Life Seeker can easily be distinguished by the extra breast on her sternum. The tips are dark blue, as her tongue and womanhood. Legend has it that the extra breast was given to replace the heart she does not have…”
!?!?
‘"Don’t worry, Ai Ling. My manhood may be sitting in a jar, but I can still satisfy you in every way…”
!?!?!?!?!?!?
That's the only two cringe-worthy moments in the book, but still, reader discretion is advised.
Some parts felt really boring (I'm such a hypocrite) and maybe, there was constantly new legends and creatures thrown at you that sometimes, it gets a little confusing. So I suggest that you take your time reading it.
Also, the ending. OH MY GOSH, really?! I mean, really?! Maybe because I'm a hopeless romantic, but I did not like the ending. I could see how Cindy Pon could write it, because that situation does happen. It doesn't matter if you live in world full of mythical creatures or if you don't, it still happens. But still... REALLY?!
Overall: Silver Phoenix: Beyond the Kingdom of Xia is a very unique and interesting debut that will have you begging for a sequel (which there will be!).
Grade: B
The Good: It was a SPECTACULAR fantasy read. The characters are diverse and their personalities are so unique that I had no trouble telling who from who.
Not only was it fulfilling as a fantasty, but it had culture! With the Chinese backgrounds, I was enchanted.
And
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surprisingly, there were moments where I laughed! Usually fantasy books don't have much humor (that you could understand), but Silver Phoenix was the exception!Silver Phoenix kept me reading and waiting to see what would happen next, I couldn't put it down!!
The Bad: Some parts were really... awkward. There's of sexual references like rape and well, sex that are really cringe-worthy. I think what made me most uncomfortable was that she writes it so bluntly. Examples (passages from the awesome Yan who also reviewed this book):
"The Life Seeker can easily be distinguished by the extra breast on her sternum. The tips are dark blue, as her tongue and womanhood. Legend has it that the extra breast was given to replace the heart she does not have…”
!?!?
‘"Don’t worry, Ai Ling. My manhood may be sitting in a jar, but I can still satisfy you in every way…”
!?!?!?!?!?!?
That's the only two cringe-worthy moments in the book, but still, reader discretion is advised.
Some parts felt really boring (I'm such a hypocrite) and maybe, there was constantly new legends and creatures thrown at you that sometimes, it gets a little confusing. So I suggest that you take your time reading it.
Also, the ending. OH MY GOSH, really?! I mean, really?! Maybe because I'm a hopeless romantic, but I did not like the ending. I could see how Cindy Pon could write it, because that situation does happen. It doesn't matter if you live in world full of mythical creatures or if you don't, it still happens. But still... REALLY?!
Overall: Silver Phoenix: Beyond the Kingdom of Xia is a very unique and interesting debut that will have you begging for a sequel (which there will be!).
Grade: B
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LibraryThing member booksofcolor
Silver Phoenix has many pleasures. The descriptions are vivid and clear; Ai Ling is real, neither "feisty" (although one person calls her that) nor constantly heroic. She is not a trained warrior; she is, however, slowly growing in mindreading (a very mixed blessing), and carrying a knife blessed
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by a monk. She's no Mary Sue -- she is not strikingly lovely, she has a temper, and she sometimes abuses her mindreading powers. The world itself is a treasure for me: Ai Ling's alt!China contains Chinese demons and gods, Chinese clothing and architecture, and Chinese mythology. I really enjoyed encountering all these things for the first time, as well as envying Ai Ling's lovingly-described meals. Along the way, Ai Ling suffers genuine losses; in the final battle against the ultimate evil, she fights and wins alone, but not at all in the way I was expecting. Furthermore, at the end of the book, she decides to keep wandering. I wish I could have read this book when I was sixteen. Show Less
LibraryThing member elissajanine
This was a very entertaining story about a young girl's quest to save her father--the writing is beautiful and colorful, and I loved the way the magic works its way into the detailed realistic setting. Delicious descriptions of interesting foods, fully-realized worlds, and mythical creatures kept
The protagonist, Ai Ling, is also engaging, and her voice is natural. I thought this book would be very suitable for middle school readers on up who enjoy lyrical language and strong, dynamic characters. I'm excited to read the sequel to see the characters interact once more. :)
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me turning the pages, and the story itself, though somewhat simple in that it is a pretty straight-forward quest structure, has a lot of appeal, too, and allows Ai Ling to be a true hero, saving both her personal family and the rest of the kingdom by extension.The protagonist, Ai Ling, is also engaging, and her voice is natural. I thought this book would be very suitable for middle school readers on up who enjoy lyrical language and strong, dynamic characters. I'm excited to read the sequel to see the characters interact once more. :)
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LibraryThing member 5aweek
Silver Phoenix: Beyond the Kingdom of Xia, by Cindy Pon
I can't really do justice to the magic of "Silver Phoenix" - it is an absolutely beautifully crafted book, with an engrossing story and heroine. I couldn't put it down once starting.
Ai Ling is a rarity - unmarried at seventeen, spoiled by her
Pon perfectly captures the essence of a father-daughter relationship, reminding me of my own close relationship with my father; Ai Ling is someone I was able to identify with and I wanted to follow her on her journey. And when her story mingles with elements of the fantastic, the author makes it so seamless that it's easy to believe.
For Xia is in the grip of an evil entity, a man that has lived long past his normal lifetime by stealing the souls of others. Ai Ling's destiny is entwined with his, and with that of Chen Yong, a half Xian-half foreigner young man Ai Ling meets on her travels.
There's a little of everything in "Silver Phoenix:" great worldbuilding, an intriguing story, nice mythology and beasts, a strong but believable heroine, and just the tiniest bit of romance, all told with beautiful language and descriptions. The words felt like they flowed across the page.
It's a little hard to believe this is a debut novel, and I'm eager to read the continuation of Ai Ling's tale. "Silver Phoenix" is nicely summed up at the end, so you aren't waiting months for a conclusion, but Pon also leaves some threads for the sequel.
5/5.
I can't really do justice to the magic of "Silver Phoenix" - it is an absolutely beautifully crafted book, with an engrossing story and heroine. I couldn't put it down once starting.
Ai Ling is a rarity - unmarried at seventeen, spoiled by her
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parents, educated. Most young Xian girls are betrothed at birth or soon after, and married after becoming women. But Ai Ling has not been accepted as a bride, so she continues to live at home. Thus she has a very close relationship with her parents, and when her father doesn't come home after a trip to the palace, she sneaks out on her own in an attempt to rescue him.Pon perfectly captures the essence of a father-daughter relationship, reminding me of my own close relationship with my father; Ai Ling is someone I was able to identify with and I wanted to follow her on her journey. And when her story mingles with elements of the fantastic, the author makes it so seamless that it's easy to believe.
For Xia is in the grip of an evil entity, a man that has lived long past his normal lifetime by stealing the souls of others. Ai Ling's destiny is entwined with his, and with that of Chen Yong, a half Xian-half foreigner young man Ai Ling meets on her travels.
There's a little of everything in "Silver Phoenix:" great worldbuilding, an intriguing story, nice mythology and beasts, a strong but believable heroine, and just the tiniest bit of romance, all told with beautiful language and descriptions. The words felt like they flowed across the page.
It's a little hard to believe this is a debut novel, and I'm eager to read the continuation of Ai Ling's tale. "Silver Phoenix" is nicely summed up at the end, so you aren't waiting months for a conclusion, but Pon also leaves some threads for the sequel.
5/5.
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LibraryThing member noahsmae
Wow, I'm so impressed with this book. It's a lovely, unique contribution to YA literature. It's killing me not knowing what is going on Chen Yong's mind and how he feels about Ai Ling! Can't wait for the "pre-sequel".
LibraryThing member fredamans
AH-mazing!
Ai-Ling is one fierce girl, but for the longest time she has no what's going on. That's part of what makes the story really interesting though.
Then Chen Yong really shone through. I found myself wanting to follow his story in the end.
Strong women will love the strong female lead in this
A really fantabulous story that I definitely want to continue with the second book, Fury of the Phoenix.
Ai-Ling is one fierce girl, but for the longest time she has no what's going on. That's part of what makes the story really interesting though.
Then Chen Yong really shone through. I found myself wanting to follow his story in the end.
Strong women will love the strong female lead in this
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story, and because the author is so good at describing the characters and setting up the scene, the guys will like it and think of movies like Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon.A really fantabulous story that I definitely want to continue with the second book, Fury of the Phoenix.
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LibraryThing member KimmyDavis
Highly recommend. However, the author does focus a lot on food, and a few times I found my stomach growling :)
LibraryThing member LittleAngel7698
I loved all the twists and turns of the book and it was hard to put down. I just love the mythology, the people, and the plot. but I wan't pleased with the ending. She led up to this romatic moment and it just floped. now I finished the next one and it was amazing but really there was a part of me
I was talking to my LA teacher who knows the athor and she was tellingm me they changed the cover from this one to something diffrent. I was so mad when I saw the new one. I loved this one it is colorful bright and I just love it in general but then they had to go and change it! well it was a good book anyway.
I highly recomend.
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that just wanted the two to get maried right then and there (though I knew that wasn't going to happen.)I was talking to my LA teacher who knows the athor and she was tellingm me they changed the cover from this one to something diffrent. I was so mad when I saw the new one. I loved this one it is colorful bright and I just love it in general but then they had to go and change it! well it was a good book anyway.
I highly recomend.
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LibraryThing member newskepticx
I've decided once I've gotten 50% into a book and I still don't like it there's nothing to be had for it, so thus my new shelf. I get it, it's meant for a younger audience than me (but so is most of what I read) but I found it pretty lacking even considering I read it to broaden my SFF picks to be
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more diverse. Show Less
LibraryThing member pandaris
Initially I was excited by the idea of this book, set in a magical, ancient Asian country. The title alone was enough to grab my attention first thing at the book store. But the story's execution completely failed for me. I really wanted to like this book, I'd seen so many other people who loved
The characters did not feel developed to me. Many of the occurrances throughout the novel seemed to happen all of a sudden with no forewarning, no build-up. The romance was vaguely hinted at and then thrown at you all at once near the end. And the backstory. There was hardly any, leaving me to wonder who is this Silver Phoenix, what kind of person was she, and why did this guy obsess over her? I will say though that the descriptions of the places were lovely and vivid. I felt like I was there. That was what I loved about this book. Everything else kind of paled in comparison.
Overall this felt like it was trying to be more than it was, and it wasn't succeeding. I will read the next one because I'm intrigued about this girl's past life as Silver Phoenix, and would like to know more. If you need a fantasy book, I would say give this a try, as I know there are many who absolutely loved it. Unfortunately it wasn't quite my cup of tea.
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it. And I'd read something similar in the adult fantasy genre.The characters did not feel developed to me. Many of the occurrances throughout the novel seemed to happen all of a sudden with no forewarning, no build-up. The romance was vaguely hinted at and then thrown at you all at once near the end. And the backstory. There was hardly any, leaving me to wonder who is this Silver Phoenix, what kind of person was she, and why did this guy obsess over her? I will say though that the descriptions of the places were lovely and vivid. I felt like I was there. That was what I loved about this book. Everything else kind of paled in comparison.
Overall this felt like it was trying to be more than it was, and it wasn't succeeding. I will read the next one because I'm intrigued about this girl's past life as Silver Phoenix, and would like to know more. If you need a fantasy book, I would say give this a try, as I know there are many who absolutely loved it. Unfortunately it wasn't quite my cup of tea.
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LibraryThing member ItsBookishMe
Amazing, thrilling, wonderful, I might be repeating myself but I can't find the right words to say how much I enjoyed this book. I've always had an interest in cultural myths, whether it be Greek or Asian Mythos. Some of my favorite books are about Mythology, especially when it's written this
This story follows Ai Ling's journey to find her father when he didn't return months after he left on business and to also learn about her unusual ability and why is evil stalking her.
I really like Ai Ling, she had all the qualities for a very fun and interesting heroine. I also liked how Ms. Pon built her character from a seemingly simply girl who just wants to be a good daughter and not bring shame to her parents. As Ai Ling journeyed out on her own, we see a strong willed young woman emerge, Ai Ling was impulsive, stubborn, and quick to offend. I really connected with her and just couldn't wait to see what she would get herself into next. She was a strong protagonist who carried the story well.
I loved the addition of Chen Yong and Li Rong to the story. Chen Yong seemed, reserved, but protective. He became very protective of Ai Ling and had to apologize to her a lot for unknowingly offending her. It was funny sometimes to see him wiggle his way out of another offense against her and possibly all women. I really liked Li Rong, Chen Yong's younger brother, he was such a flirt, and very funny. He added the lightheartedness to the story.
In Silver Phoenix Chinese mythology was brought to life. There were Demons, Dragons, Goddesses, Spirits, other Chinese Mythological Creatures, and many more lore brought to life. The world building was stunning, and imaginative. The landscapes sounded so fantastical and mesmerizing. I could see that the costumes and food were very important to the author it made the story even more enticing. The detailed narration of the food made my mouth water and I hungered for just a taste or even a real life visual of the spread. If it was up to Ai Ling I don't think I would even get a taste, that girl can surely eat. I didn't get that fast paced, urgency from the story but it was very captivating and thrilling all the same. This was a beautiful, rich retelling of Chinese Mythology.
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beautifully.This story follows Ai Ling's journey to find her father when he didn't return months after he left on business and to also learn about her unusual ability and why is evil stalking her.
I really like Ai Ling, she had all the qualities for a very fun and interesting heroine. I also liked how Ms. Pon built her character from a seemingly simply girl who just wants to be a good daughter and not bring shame to her parents. As Ai Ling journeyed out on her own, we see a strong willed young woman emerge, Ai Ling was impulsive, stubborn, and quick to offend. I really connected with her and just couldn't wait to see what she would get herself into next. She was a strong protagonist who carried the story well.
I loved the addition of Chen Yong and Li Rong to the story. Chen Yong seemed, reserved, but protective. He became very protective of Ai Ling and had to apologize to her a lot for unknowingly offending her. It was funny sometimes to see him wiggle his way out of another offense against her and possibly all women. I really liked Li Rong, Chen Yong's younger brother, he was such a flirt, and very funny. He added the lightheartedness to the story.
In Silver Phoenix Chinese mythology was brought to life. There were Demons, Dragons, Goddesses, Spirits, other Chinese Mythological Creatures, and many more lore brought to life. The world building was stunning, and imaginative. The landscapes sounded so fantastical and mesmerizing. I could see that the costumes and food were very important to the author it made the story even more enticing. The detailed narration of the food made my mouth water and I hungered for just a taste or even a real life visual of the spread. If it was up to Ai Ling I don't think I would even get a taste, that girl can surely eat. I didn't get that fast paced, urgency from the story but it was very captivating and thrilling all the same. This was a beautiful, rich retelling of Chinese Mythology.
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LibraryThing member nx74defiant
A very good fantasy book set in a fictional land resembling ancient China.
There are a lot of things unanswered. What was the story of the original Silver Phoenix? I look forward to finding out.
There are a lot of things unanswered. What was the story of the original Silver Phoenix? I look forward to finding out.
LibraryThing member lilrongal
I found this book VERY easy to read and in fact, read the whole thing in one night. Very fantastical and beautifully written. I loved that the main character had a voracious appetite.
LibraryThing member shadrachanki
I expected to enjoy this book more than I did, given the setting and the premise of the story. The writing is solid, and things are fairly well paced. All these things combine to make, well, an average story instead of a gripping one.
LibraryThing member pwaites
Silver Phoenix is the story of Ai Ling, a girl who goes on a journey to find her missing father and to escape an unwanted marriage at home. Along the way, she faces takes from numerous demons and discovers a strange power within her self.
For the most part, Silver Phoenix was readable. It even
The writing is very simplistic and reminds me of a middle grade novel more than a young adult one. However, the level of sexual harassment and the attempted rapes put this firmly out of the middle school age zone.
The setting of Silver Phoenix, Xia, is very patriarchal. Girls are forced into arranged marriages and are usually not allowed to leave the house. Throughout the book, Ai Ling is repeatedly harassed and almost raped twice. It’s frequent enough to be a drinking game.
The plot itself didn’t stand together very well, especially at first. the events don’t really seem connected to each other or add drive to the plot. The scenes (mainly of various demon attacks) feel stringed together and don’t really add up to a whole. Not to mention that Ai Ling, the protagonist, doesn’t really do much for the majority of the book. Mainly things have happened to her, and what she ends up causing is mainly a result of her magic amulet (until the end, when she finally has to stop relying on it).
On the positive side, I liked Ai Ling more by the end and the love interest was decent throughout. I was initially off put by a major character death, but I liked the way that wrapped up.
So, I don’t really know who I’d recommend this one to or if I would recommend it. Maybe if you’re looking for Asian themed fantasy books?
Originally posted on The Illustrated Page.
For the most part, Silver Phoenix was readable. It even
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ventured towards enjoyable in some sections, but ultimately it’s not a book I have any desire to read the sequel of or even to hang onto my copy.The writing is very simplistic and reminds me of a middle grade novel more than a young adult one. However, the level of sexual harassment and the attempted rapes put this firmly out of the middle school age zone.
The setting of Silver Phoenix, Xia, is very patriarchal. Girls are forced into arranged marriages and are usually not allowed to leave the house. Throughout the book, Ai Ling is repeatedly harassed and almost raped twice. It’s frequent enough to be a drinking game.
The plot itself didn’t stand together very well, especially at first. the events don’t really seem connected to each other or add drive to the plot. The scenes (mainly of various demon attacks) feel stringed together and don’t really add up to a whole. Not to mention that Ai Ling, the protagonist, doesn’t really do much for the majority of the book. Mainly things have happened to her, and what she ends up causing is mainly a result of her magic amulet (until the end, when she finally has to stop relying on it).
On the positive side, I liked Ai Ling more by the end and the love interest was decent throughout. I was initially off put by a major character death, but I liked the way that wrapped up.
So, I don’t really know who I’d recommend this one to or if I would recommend it. Maybe if you’re looking for Asian themed fantasy books?
Originally posted on The Illustrated Page.
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LibraryThing member renkellym
Silver Phoenix started out really nice— a girl trying to avoid an arranged marriage and find her father. Then about a quarter of the way through, shit got weird.
I guess it’s because the book started off so realistic (despite being set in a fantasy China-like country) that I was taken aback by
So I suppose I feel that the fantasy elements of the novel were not smoothly incorporated. Once I got used to the idea that Ai Ling, the protagonist, would encounter many fantastical beings, the book was fine, if a bit dramatic.
What I really enjoyed about Silver Phoenix was the Asian-influenced land it was set in. The culture and folklore of the kingdom of Xia was fascinating to me.
Also, despite how bad it sounds, the parts of the book I found most engrossing were when Ai Ling found herself in danger! I don’t hate the girl, but I found that she was a much more interesting character when her chastity was at risk or her life was in danger.
In terms of writing, Silver Phoenix read very quickly. It was interesting to read that Cindy Pon was not a native English speaker— you definitely can’t tell! It’s an exciting read, once you get used to the idea of dragons, demons, and goddesses, oh my!
(Originally posted to 365 Days of Reading)
I guess it’s because the book started off so realistic (despite being set in a fantasy China-like country) that I was taken aback by
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dragons and demons suddenly popping up out of nowhere.So I suppose I feel that the fantasy elements of the novel were not smoothly incorporated. Once I got used to the idea that Ai Ling, the protagonist, would encounter many fantastical beings, the book was fine, if a bit dramatic.
What I really enjoyed about Silver Phoenix was the Asian-influenced land it was set in. The culture and folklore of the kingdom of Xia was fascinating to me.
Also, despite how bad it sounds, the parts of the book I found most engrossing were when Ai Ling found herself in danger! I don’t hate the girl, but I found that she was a much more interesting character when her chastity was at risk or her life was in danger.
In terms of writing, Silver Phoenix read very quickly. It was interesting to read that Cindy Pon was not a native English speaker— you definitely can’t tell! It’s an exciting read, once you get used to the idea of dragons, demons, and goddesses, oh my!
(Originally posted to 365 Days of Reading)
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LibraryThing member Isana
It was a really interesting book. Good characters who I liked a lot. I really loved Ai Ling. She was brave and I really felt for her. It was really nice that the love interest was there, but she didn't lose he mind over him. She kept to her mission and he supported her and it was great. The writing
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was also good. It was detailed, but not so much that you want to skip things or stop reading. The only thing I would say is that A LOT happened in this book. I would possible venture to call it too much. It didn't matter so much in the end. I enjoyed everything and the climax was pretty interesting in that there was a nice long descent in the pages after, which is usually a lot more than I'm given. But, yes. A lot happened very fast and in a short time, but it was somehow believable enough that it didn't ruin anything. A good read. Go for it. Show Less
LibraryThing member FuZiYun
This book is about a Chinese girl named Ai Ling. She goes on a great adventure to the Kingdom of Xia. Ai Ling meets a boy named Chen Yong on the way to the Kingdom of Xia where they fight monsters together. Chen Yong is adopted and he has a brother named Li Rong who is killed by a monster who's
I liked the book because it was exciting and dangerous and it kept my interest. There was one part of the book I found a little inappropriate.
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long nail pierces through Li Rong's body. They are on this adventure in the Kingdom of Xia to find Ai Ling's father and to find Chen Yong's birth father.I liked the book because it was exciting and dangerous and it kept my interest. There was one part of the book I found a little inappropriate.
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LibraryThing member lexilewords
I won't lie, I've always been a fan of fairy tales and legends. I grew up reading all the Grimm Brothers and Hans Christian Anderson and Andrew Lang stories, fell in love with Arabian Nights and sought out other lesser known tales from anywhere else I could.
Silver Phoenix reads very much like an
I'll admit some of it didn't work so well for me, I think that there could have been more said about her past life and why it was affecting her now and why it made the villain seem even worse, but overall I greatly enjoyed the book. Its a book of thrilling adventures, fantastical journeys and a young girl coming into her own.
Silver Phoenix reads very much like an
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epic fairy tale or legend. The unlucky heroine on a quest to find out more about herself and save a loved one. Love and friendship and dire circumstances and a villain who is bent on winning at any cost. I'll admit some of it didn't work so well for me, I think that there could have been more said about her past life and why it was affecting her now and why it made the villain seem even worse, but overall I greatly enjoyed the book. Its a book of thrilling adventures, fantastical journeys and a young girl coming into her own.
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