The Phoenix Crown

I couldn't put it down. One whole afternoon into the evening...the dog

I can appreciate some facets of this novel deeply but at the end of the day, the characters all feel kind of flat to me and lack the depth to make them truly pop against a background of interest/the fires. Some of them especially feel neglected- it just feels clunky throughout the story line. I think the bones of this story were good, but it did not quite live up to the potential.

This was a fun and interesting historical novel set mainly during the days immediately before, during, and after the San Francisco earthquake of 1906.  An unlikely foursome of women are brought together by a complicated series of events in the days leading up to the earthquake. After the quake and the traumatic events surrounding it, the women separate to try to continue their lives—only to be called back together to find revenge and closure.

I enjoyed the story. The individual experiences of the women were all interesting and enlightening, and the plot was fast-moving. The writing was excellent. My only criticism is that perhaps it tried to do a bit too much—an historical, action, feminist, caper novel? It was a bit overwhelming—but in a good way. I loved it and highly recommend it.

I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.