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The Phoenix King

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The Phoenix King

By: Aparna Verma
Narrated by: Soneela Nankani, Deepti Gupta, Vikas Adam, Akshay Kumar
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The fate of a desert kingdom rests in the hands of a princess desperate for power and an assassin with a dark secret, in this action-packed debut of fire magic and ancient prophecy from a stunning new voice in fantasy.

"A captivating adventure." —Peter V. Brett, author of the Nightfall Saga series

The Ravani kingdom was born of a prophecy, carved from unforgiving desert sands and ruled by the Ravence bloodline: those with the power to command the Eternal Fire.

Elena Aadya is the heir to the throne—and the only Ravence who cannot wield her family’s legendary magic. As her coronation approaches, she will do whatever it takes to prove herself a worthy successor to her revered father. But she doesn’t anticipate the arrival of Yassen Knight, the notorious assassin who now claims fealty to the throne. Elena’s father might trust Yassen to be a member of her royal guard, but she is certain he is hiding something.

As the threat of war looms like a storm on the horizon, the two begin a dangerous dance of intrigue and betrayal. And the choices they make could burn down the world.

"Characters you just can’t get out of your head.” —Vaishnavi Patel, NYT bestselling author of Kaikeyi

"Elegant and intelligent storytelling ... an exhilarating adventure perfect for fans of S.A. Chakraborty." —Library Journal

"A riveting page turner." —Booklist

"This exciting fantasy promises good things from the series to come." —Publishers Weekly

 Action & Adventure Adventure Science Fiction South Asian Creators Magic Epic Fantasy Royalty Epic Fantasy Fiction

Critic reviews

“A captivating adventure from a gifted new voice.”—Peter V. Brett, New York Times bestselling author of the Demon Cycle
“The kind of book you sit down with to read one chapter and end up spending the whole day on. Come for the science fantasy worldbuilding and stay for the characters you just can’t get out of your head.”—Vaishnavi Patel, New York Times bestselling author of Kaikeyi
"A heady and seamless blend of sci fi and fantasy infused with Indian inspiration. An engrossing read that will have you quickly turning through the chapters."—R.R. Virdi, USA Today bestselling author of The First Binding
"The worldbuilding is seamlessly woven into the plot, alongside the threads of love, sacrifice, betrayal, and greed. There’s also a dash of enemies-to-lovers romance among the morally gray characters, who are both heartbreaking and inspiring. This is elegant and intelligent storytelling that starts out as conniving and treacherous intrigue and transforms into an exhilarating adventure without losing that touch of mystery. Perfect for fans of S.A. Chakraborty."—Library Journal
"A riveting page-turner...which will leave readers anxiously awaiting the next book."—Booklist
“Vast and fascinating.…A satisfying slow-burn romance only enhances the political machinations. This exciting fantasy promises good things from the series to come.”—Publishers Weekly
“Verma seamlessly blends fantasy with sci-fi.…A highly recommended read.”—Fantasy Hive

Continue the series
The Burning Queen Audiobook By Aparna Verma cover art
The Burning Queen By: Aparna Verma
Captivating Storyline • Rich Worldbuilding • Fantastic Narrators • Cultural Representation • Unpredictable Twists

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I really enjoyed this book. The story was excellent and it was very well read. Can’t wait for #2

The story is excellent

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I found the characters to be layered and easy to root for. I thought both the FMC and MMC were likeable and I was on both of their sides for pretty much the entire story. I think the story itself is really enjoyable. There wasn't enough world building for my taste though. it could be just a personal preference thing but I found there wasn't enough exposition and I felt somewhat confused about the technology level of the world and how fire magic works into it. That being said, I'm going to listen to the second book.

Strong Characters; Weak Worldbuilding

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Fascinating new world! Loved the narration and different variety of narrators. Characters were rich, complex and the storyline compelling. I laughed and cried, Would highly recommend!

Loved!

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The narrators were phenomenal. The story was deep and the world building epic. I fell in love with the characters and their journeys.

gripping story, amazing voices

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Verma did a great job building a universe with a slow build. Her love for the desert is beautifully illustrated. A fallible but strong female lead. I can’t wait for the second book. Also the narration adds so much to the prose. It was a joy to listen to.

Great first book and amazing narration

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