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Silver Phoenix (Kingdom of Xia #1)

by Cindy Pon (Goodreads Author)

3.63 of 5 stars 3.63 · rating details · 1,949 ratings · 415 reviews

No one wanted Ai Ling. And deep down she is relieved—despite the dishonor she has brought upon her family—to be unbetrothed and free, not some stranger's subservient bride banished to the inner quarters.

But now, something is after her. Something terrifying—a force she cannot comprehend. And as pieces of the puzzle start to fit together, Ai Ling begins to understand that...more

Hardcover, 338 pages

Published April 28th 2009 by Greenwillow Books (first published April 17th 2009)

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Community Reviews

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Feb 19, 2011 Jillian -always aspiring- rated it 3 of 5 stars Recommends it for: Those who are interested in reading a Chinese fairy tale

Shelves: covers-i-love, titles-i-love, could-have-been-better, should-have-loved-it-but-didn-t, disappointing-books, 2011-reads, reviewed

Confession: Something must be wrong with me since I kept expecting Mushu to show up in this book.

. . .

Yes, you read right. I meant this Mushu:

description

. . .Okay, okay, I know what you're thinking. 'Jillian's trying to tell me that this book is a bit like Mulan, right?' Sort of. Admittedly, I'm a tough critic when it comes to Asian-inspired stories: actually, my imagination grew and blazed on the tinder of Japanese manga, many of which are inspired by Japanese, Chinese, and Korean myths and folklore. (And...more

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Jun 09, 2010 Kristi (The Story Siren) rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: books-i-own, signed-books

Silver Phoenix was a fascinating novel. I literally could not stop reading it once I started. It was beautifully written and I was completely captivated by the world and characters that Cindy created.

I thought Ai Ling was a very well developed protag. She was impulsive, courageous, yet shy, selfish, and yet compassionate. I wish we would have been divulged into the entire history of Silver Phoenix. I want to know more about her!

I loved the creatures that were presented in this novel and all of...more

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Feb 08, 2011 Nikki rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: children-s-and-ya, fantasy, dragons

Up to a point, this review shouldn't be majorly spoilery about events (although it will be about themes). I'll let you know just before I do the spoilery part.

I had honestly never heard of Cindy Pon until the day before yesterday, and I might not have picked up her book to read even if I had. Mostly because I'm not supposed to be buying new books at the moment, admittedly. But inkstone's post about it, here, a post about the whitewashing of the covers for this book, caught my eye. You can find o...more

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Apr 05, 2009 Yan rated it 3 of 5 stars

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. Silver Phoenix definitely was a fantasy read. The way it was written made me think of an RPG (role-playing game). Granted I have not played a single video game in my entire life but I like to watch others play. It was set up as a fight monster A, talk to townspeople, fight monster B, eat and rest, and so forth until you fight final boss. And let me tell you, they ate quite frequently and was told in great detail. After a while even I started to get hungry, mostly because I have eaten many of the...more Silver Phoenix definitely was a fantasy read. The way it was written made me think of an RPG (role-playing game). Granted I have not played a single video game in my entire life but I like to watch others play. It was set up as a fight monster A, talk to townspeople, fight monster B, eat and rest, and so forth until you fight final boss. And let me tell you, they ate quite frequently and was told in great detail. After a while even I started to get hungry, mostly because I have eaten many of the food described so I can imagine it, and ended skimming through those scenes. And there was many of those scenes skimmed…Kill final boss, gigantic scene where spirits and sparkly lights come out of said boss’s mouth. Heroes or heroine in this case goes back home after completing her goal.

Cindy Pon had a never ending supply of mystical creatures! Some were interesting, others disturbing, but they were all, how should I say this, unique. But some scenes had me twitching like a rabid bunny.

“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…” This is also a creature that wears a sheer top so you really cannot miss the other “thing” sticking out…Thankfully that is about the worst of the demons.

Another twitching scene: ‘“Don’t worry, Ai Ling. My manhood may be sitting in a jar, but I can still satisfy you in every way…” I may not be a guy, but this still makes me cringe and uncomfortable. Speaking of awkwardness, this book talks about rape and sex so if are not comfortable or allowed to read about such topics, then I suggest ask permission or skip those scenes. It is only a few short scenes, but a disclaimer can never hurt anyone.

This was a fast-paced book that took you all over the lands! From country side to country side, to the heavens and below, the reader embarks on the journey with Ai Ling. The tales were riveting and the details and explanations were exceptionally acute. Sometimes being more of the focal point than the actual plot.

Ai Ling and the rest of the characters took some time to get used to. She was a bit stubborn and naïve but later learned to…tolerate?

What I would have wished for the more details of Silver Phoenix, Ai Ling is the reincarnation of her. I think it would be a great idea if she wrote a sequel/prequel type of book told in Silver Phoenix’s point of view. It would clear up a lot of questions as well as provide another fascinating read.

Also this may be an ARC issue of not, but towards the end, Ai Ling’s father talks about Chen Yong’s past. There is a sudden shift of point of views that took a while to figure out and by the time I did, it went back to third person. You know, with the he’s/she’s instead of I’s, either the editors missed some quotations marked or they did notice this fumble.

Overall: I hope to see some type of sequel to this gorgeously written novel. (less)

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Jan 18, 2009 Sarah MacLean rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: young-adult, debs2009

Ok...the back copy of SILVER PHOENIX references Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon, which is one of my favorite movies of all time...so I had extremely high hopes for this one. And Cindy Pon delivers. Ai Ling is an amazing character, I can't decide which I want to do more--be her BFF or hire her to be my bitchin' bodyguard. There's a perfectly vile villain and a rich, wonderfully built world that sucks you in. And can we talk about Chen Yong? And how much I love him? He's hawt. And tough. Which happ...more

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Apr 25, 2013 June Tan rated it 3 of 5 stars

Sudah lama baca, tapi baru sekarang bikin review.. hehe
Karena soal cerita sudah ada di sinopsis, saya nggak akan cerita lagi. Bahas yang lain aja deh :3

hem... mulai dari mana yak

Pertama tertarik dengan buku ini karena ada temen yang nyebut2 buku ini bagus. Apalagi settingnya adalah China klasik. China plus fantasi. Jadilah mulanya saya berpikir kisah di buku ini bakal sejenis sama cerita-cerita Liao Zhai atau minimal Chinese Paladin lah.

Dan saya *hiks* kecewa.

Waktu baca ada yang nge-review kalo...more

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Mar 31, 2009 Margo Kelly rated it 3 of 5 stars

I'm a sucker for cool covers and I thought this cover was really cool.

In a time period when women were told what to do and when to do it - this book gives us an interesting character that is rebellious and heads out on her own to save her father. She comes to discover that she has unique powers that allow her to do some amazing things. She hooks up with another character who does not fit into the sterotypical ancient Chinese mold. Together, they battle evil and attempt to save the reincarnated l...more I'm a sucker for cool covers and I thought this cover was really cool.

In a time period when women were told what to do and when to do it - this book gives us an interesting character that is rebellious and heads out on her own to save her father. She comes to discover that she has unique powers that allow her to do some amazing things. She hooks up with another character who does not fit into the sterotypical ancient Chinese mold. Together, they battle evil and attempt to save the reincarnated lives of many souls. The adventure and action scenes in this book are fun to read.

Cindy Pon does an excellent job of describing all of the foods and meals the characters get to enjoy in the book, however, I wish she did just as great of a job describing the time period and the setting of the book.

I am such a dunce, that when I read the beginning of the book and saw that a character rode in a "sedan" - I thought that meant she rode in a car. So, I was confused about the time period of the story for most of the book until another "sedan" was described, and I realized it was not a car, but something that was carried by other people.

Also, not knowing much about the ancient Chinese lifestyle, I wish the locations were described better. The mystical locations were described wonderfully, but I wish the realistic locations were pictured better for me.

There was not a pretty bow at the end. I'm not sure if it was left open for a sequel or just left open to keep you wondering for a few days. But, I wish the ending would have wrapped up the relationship better between Ai Ling and Chen Yong.

Finally, I always like to rate a book based on language, sex, and violence - because these are things that I consider - especially when recommending books to my teenage kids. The language was totally fine. The voilence was not offensive. There were a lot of sexual references and one small "almost" sex scene. I don't think it was too much for an older teenage girl to read, but I certainly wouldn't want my boys to read this book because it describes the female anatomy quite often.

Again, I think the sexual references would have been more appropriate if the setting and time period had been better established. I know it may be assumed that most people understand there were concubines and arranged marriages in ancient China (AND that women were objectified rather than valued as individuals with rights) - but not everyone knows this.(less)

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Cindy thanks for the extensive review, margo! and i find that fans of historicals may not like my novel as well. alas. YA tends to be fast paced compared to...more
Mar 31, 2009 02:52pm

Margo Kelly Please know that I did enjoy your book and I will read future books written by you. I went into the book WANTING to like it a LOT. So, I may have set...more
Mar 31, 2009 03:22pm

Cindy awww, thank you margo! three stars is good imo! it's what i averaged in school. haha! but i've had other friends tell me they wished SP had more descr...more
Mar 31, 2009 03:32pm

Dec 18, 2009 Dioskoroi rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Wow, banyak mitos dan legenda cina yg diexpose -- dan bukan yg umum2 doang kayak naga dan phoenix -- tapi mahluk2 mitologi aneh kayak cewek-ular, cewek-penggoda-bepayudara-tiga, manusia-cacing, kesurupan-ala-cina, dan masih banyak lagi deh..

Universe yg dibangun juga berdasar riset yg memuaskan, dari cara berpakaian, makanan sampe adat pernikahan (dan buku-penyatuan-dua-sejoli sejenis kamasutra, hihi)

Petualangannya seru, membuat penasaran dan sukses membuat gw nggak berenti baca sebelum tamat..

Sa...more

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Jan 08, 2013 oliviasbooks rated it 2 of 5 stars

Shelves: young-adult-fiction, historical-fantasy, paranormal-humans, unfinished-2013, other-creatures, gods-demons-angels-immortals, available-for-swapping, swapped-or-given-away

Another book that has to go unfinished (after 108 pages).

In the beginning I had a good feeling. Although the characters behaved a little anachronistically, which is completely alright for a fantasy novel set in an alternative version of an existing region, I liked them and I enjoyed the lush and exotic scenery - the food, the fabric, the means of transport. The 'problems' started with the onset of the road trip plot: The heroine flees an arranged marriage to an old, rich pervert and goes to sear...more

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Mar 13, 2013 Kim rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: fantasy, ya

Silver Phoenix is the latest book (that I know of) to suffer the whitewashing of its cover. Except that what it really suffered was the powers-that-be in two major chain bookstores, Barnes & Noble and Borders, deciding not to stock the hardcover in their brick-and-mortar stores, so that it lost out on impulse sales. The publisher decided to remedy the situation by changing the cover design for the paperback edition. However, the new covers not only obscure the race of the protagonist, they m...more Silver Phoenix is the latest book (that I know of) to suffer the whitewashing of its cover. Except that what it really suffered was the powers-that-be in two major chain bookstores, Barnes & Noble and Borders, deciding not to stock the hardcover in their brick-and-mortar stores, so that it lost out on impulse sales. The publisher decided to remedy the situation by changing the cover design for the paperback edition. However, the new covers not only obscure the race of the protagonist, they make Silver Phoenix look identical to many of the YA paranormal romances that are so popular these days, when really it's not. Instead, Silver Phoenix is a traditional fantasy that just so happens to be set in China during the Xi Xia dynasty. I'd say the audience for this book is not Twilight fans, as the new covers suggest, but fans of Tamora Pierce or Lian Hearn.

Ai Ling is seventeen years old, and ripe for marriage, but when her betrothed calls off the wedding due to a family scandal, she is actually relieved. That is, until her father leaves and, in his absence, a greedy neighbor tries to blackmail Ai Ling into marrying him. She sets off to find her father, along the way discovering she has mysterious powers and meeting with strange beings, monsters, and possibly even her true love . . .

Ai Ling is a strong character, who throughout the novel discovers powers that make her a force to be reckoned with. She is also well educated and would rather not be married if not for love, traits I wasn't sure were realistic for her culture but which certainly made her easy to relate to for a 21st century reader. I think it's really difficult to create a strong heroine living in an oppressive society without having her espouse anachronistic feminist ideals, and Pon doesn't quite succeed. When people express amazement that Ai Ling, a woman, is traveling on her own, I can't help but wonder at the wisdom of anyone traveling alone in a society without mass transportation; it simply doesn't seem safe. Of course, Ai Ling soon finds herself a traveling companion, the handsome half-foreign Chen Yong, and also discovers almost by accident that she has supernatural abilities. I liked these powers, which came in handy against many a foe; however, I liked them best once she actually understood how they worked.

Where I think this novel really shines is in its depiction of the world Ai Ling lives in, from the food she eats (warning: do not read this book while hungry) to the mythical creatures she encounters to the spiritual beliefs of her society. The problem is, for much of the novel the emphasis is on showing the reader this fantastical world, and there seems to be little urgency behind Ai Ling's quest. At about the midpoint or even later Ai Ling makes a discovery about herself that ups the ante and refocuses the narrative, which had hitherto felt rather episodic. I therefore have high expectations for the sequel, which I think will benefit from its world being (now) less novel, and Ai Ling's powers better understood.
(less)

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Aug 09, 2011 Estara rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition Recommends it for: people who would enjoy dipping into non-European fantasy, especially if they haven't done so a lot

Shelves: ebook, read-in-2011

Well, I was glad to have read it but I don't think it's a reread for me. It was most convincing to me when the author dwelled on the dialogue between the people sharing the adventure and when she lovingly described the food ^^ - being a long-time manga reader and anime watcher the shiny bits (the descriptions of the monsters, of the different world, of the fight scenes) were probably not as polished and detailed as I'm used to.

Ai Ling went at things a bit too unquestioningly for me (especially w...more

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Jul 29, 2010 indri rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: fantasia

#2010-67#

Awalnya saya pikir ini cerita fantasy oriental sepeti Dragon Keeper, perjalanan dan petualangan anak perempuan. Jalan ceritanya sih menarik, tapi latar belakang yang tidak jelas membuat saya bingung.

Perjalanan Ai Ling dan Chen Yong melewati berbagai tempat dan menemukan berbagai lawan yang bisa mereka hadapi adalah plot standar penceritaan. Yah, seperti review teman-teman yang lain, ada benang merah yang hilang dalam cerita ini. Silver Phoenixnya sendiri yang hilang. Seharusnya, ketika...more

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Feb 15, 2010 e.c.h.a rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Recommended to e.c.h.a by: Mas Haikal

Shelves: fantasi, milik-sendiri, petualangan, sejarah-budaya, sedang-dipinjam

Mmmmm...where do I begin....

OK bagaimana kalau di mulai dengan satu hal yang membuat saya harus mengeluarkan liur. Kenapa? Karena pendeskripsian makanan di dalam buku ini yang bener-bener bikin "muka pengen" serasa makanan tersebut benat-benar dihidangkan di depan muka saya. Tokoh utamanya Ai Ling sangat-sangat menikmati dan mencintai makanan, bahkan saat Ia makan manisan saja bisa membuat saya juga meneteskan liur. Belum kalau Ai Ling sedang kelaparan dan bisa menemukan makanan hangat walaupun...more

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Apr 13, 2010 Natalie (Mindful Musings) rated it 4 of 5 stars

Silver Phoenix was entirely different than what I expected, but in a good way. I’ve always been intrigued by authors who manage to incorporate fantasy into history—especially when it’s obvious that a lot of research has gone into making sure that history is correct.

The word that immediately comes to my mind to describe Silver Phoenix is “unique.” Not only do I feel that the historical fantasy genre holds an untapped wealth of ideas, but I also think that the publishing world is in need of some f...more Silver Phoenix was entirely different than what I expected, but in a good way. I’ve always been intrigued by authors who manage to incorporate fantasy into history—especially when it’s obvious that a lot of research has gone into making sure that history is correct.

The word that immediately comes to my mind to describe Silver Phoenix is “unique.” Not only do I feel that the historical fantasy genre holds an untapped wealth of ideas, but I also think that the publishing world is in need of some fresh voices. Don’t get me wrong, there are a lot of GREAT books out there, but when you read as much as I do, few books really stand out after awhile.

Silver Phoenix had a lot of what I love in books—excellent writing, good plot development, and (what I found to be EXTREMELY refreshing), characters that were real. And for once, the entire book didn’t revolve entirely around two teens suddenly realizing that they were desperately and irrevocably “in love” (quotes are there for a reason, guys) with each other. ***SLIGHT SPOILER*** Not to say that there wasn’t romantic tension, because there definitely was. And I’m not going to say that I don’t want the two main characters to get together eventually, because I definitely do. ***END SLIGHT SPOILER*** It was nice to see characters who hadn’t found their “soul mates” (again, quotes) by page 75. I don’t mind romance (in fact, I tend to like it quite a bit), but characters who get together so incredibly quickly tend to make me think of the relationship as cheap and superficial.

I was really impressed to find that Silver Phoenix is Cindy Pon’s debut novel. Wow! Silver Phoenix ranks high on my list regardless, but to know that this is the author’s first published book makes me respect the novel even more. A lot of times, I find that debut authors take a little time to find their own voice and ideas, but Pon jumped right in with a beautiful piece of work. I’m definitely excited to see what she has planned for the future! (And I heard there’s a sequel in the works. Yay)!

Silver Phoenix is an excellent debut novel with a unique approach, realistic characters, and a good writing style. (less)

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Apr 13, 2011 Margaret rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: children-s-and-ya-fiction, fantasy-and-science-fiction, poc-50-book-challenge, authors-op

Ai Ling is supposed to be getting married, as a good daughter should. But at the dinner that's meant to seal her betrothal, her prospective mother-in-law publicly rejects her, ruining her chances for a good marriage. In order to escape a bad one, Ai Ling journeys to the Emperor's court at the Palace of Fragrant Dreams to seek her father. Along the way, she meets Chen Yong, who has a quest of his own. Their quests are made more challenging by the new and mysterious power emerging within Ai Ling a...more

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Sep 10, 2009 Jackie "the Librarian" rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: fantasy, youngadult, magic

This is a decent fantasy set in ancient China (here called Xia) that incorporates demons and other folkloric elements into this quest tale. Seventeen-year-old Ai Ling's father was once a high-ranking official at the emperor's court. Because of his role in shielding a love affair between one of the emperor's concubines and a foreign scholar, he was forced to leave in disgrace.

Now, he has been called back to the court, and has not returned. It is up to Ai Ling to rescue him from the evil forces h...more This is a decent fantasy set in ancient China (here called Xia) that incorporates demons and other folkloric elements into this quest tale. Seventeen-year-old Ai Ling's father was once a high-ranking official at the emperor's court. Because of his role in shielding a love affair between one of the emperor's concubines and a foreign scholar, he was forced to leave in disgrace.

Now, he has been called back to the court, and has not returned. It is up to Ai Ling to rescue him from the evil forces holding him there, aided by her unusual ability to read minds, and the jade pendant her father gave her which has protective abilities and a variety of powers. Too many powers for the good of the book, actually. It becomes a deus ex machine, saving the day over and over again.

Along the road, she is joined by Chen Long, a young man of mixed heritage. His past is intertwined with Ai Ling's, which readers will figure out immediately, but the characters will not discover until the end. Together they battle the demons that Ai Ling's adversaries have sent against her, and also accept the help of goddesses on whose side they are fighting.

I was surprised by the big climactic battle between Ai Ling and her father's adversary, because of the sexually graphic nature of the encounter. This, for me, places the book squarely in young adult territory, and I wouldn't hand this to elementary age kids.

I wish Ai Ling would have relied less on the pendant, and more on her own strengths to survive her journey, or even that she had to figure out how to use the pendant's magic to make it work for her. As it was, she was a bit too passive as a heroine for my tastes. For a more self-reliant heroine, I recommend Tamora Pierce's "Alanna" books. There's no character development here, just quest with a side of mild romance. But because of the way the book leaves Ai Ling's and Chen Long's relationship unresolved, I expect a sequel.
Not bad, I enjoyed the Chinese setting and the unfamiliar demons and goddesses, but not great either. I give this one a shrug.
WashYARG book.(less)

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Apr 04, 2009 Barry added it

Hurray for non-Western fantasy...we need more of it! Really liked this, though I could quibble with the ending, which I found a bit unsatisfying...but I suspect there's a sequel in the works. Give this to fans of Shannon Hale.

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Aug 01, 2009 Books written by POC added it

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 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 Chine...more

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Jan 14, 2013 Kathy rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: read-in-january-2013, young-adult, fantasy

I enjoyed this book very much.

Ai Ling is an amusing, indomitable character. Unlike the other girls she knows, she can read and enjoys studies with her father. She is chagrined that no one wants her as a bride, because of the implied insult to her family. However, she is also pleased, because she really didn't want any of the proposed bridegrooms as her husband. It is during one of the failed betrothals that Ai Ling first begins to suspect she has the ability to listen to other people's thoughts...more

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Jan 13, 2013 Isana rated it 2 of 5 stars

I probably should rate this 1.5 stars. The 0.5 is because at least Pon put in some effort, unlike Turgeon and Kress, but it didn't measure up.

Not fond of the internalized misogyny in this. We get it, Ai Ling is Not Like Other Girls. She also distrusts every other woman in this book that is not her mother, and for the most part, she is right. But I wanted to bang my head against a table when she didn't even trust a character who had a similar upbringing to herself, and made absolutely no effort...more

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Dec 09, 2012 Liza Wiemer added it

Shelves: post-about-the-book-on-my-blog

This novel was recommended to me by Heidi @ YABibliophile.com. Thanks Heidi! I got sucked into the folklore immediately and feel in love with the characters. Seventeen-year-old Ai Ling waits for her father to return from the Palace of Fragment Dreams. When he doesn't return and Ai Ling may be forced to marry a horrible man as his fourth wife, she leaves home alone in a quest to find her father. On her journey she meets Chen Yong. They travel through the Kingdom of Xia and into the Immortal Realm...more

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Nov 15, 2012 Grace rated it 1 of 5 stars

Shelves: fantasy, magic, travel, ya, dnf

I was so in awe by the book trailer (apparently the author is really talented) that I could not wait to read this book. But then... it all fell apart. FYI, this was a DNF, but I'll tell you why.

First, the blurb makes no sense at all. It makes it seem like Ai Ling is unwanted, possibly an orphan, maybe crippled (so she's useless and unbetrothed). But she's NOT. She's apparently attractive enough to get a marriage proposal (albeit from a really gross old man). And she's the ONLY child and the pare...more I was so in awe by the book trailer (apparently the author is really talented) that I could not wait to read this book. But then... it all fell apart. FYI, this was a DNF, but I'll tell you why.

First, the blurb makes no sense at all. It makes it seem like Ai Ling is unwanted, possibly an orphan, maybe crippled (so she's useless and unbetrothed). But she's NOT. She's apparently attractive enough to get a marriage proposal (albeit from a really gross old man). And she's the ONLY child and the parents clearly LOVE her. So it's setting you up to anticipate some drama that makes no sense.

Right at the beginning, the setting is not done as completely as Eon, but that's fine. The author's prose isn't weighed down by page-engulfing paragraphs of descriptions. You're not completely within the scenery, but that's fine since my imagination works well, so it can fill in the blanks. The story comes to a point very early on where the main girl has to run away in order to apparently find her dad so that they can pay the creditor. Obviously her mom is useless (being a female, apparently). Her dad has disappeared. All this I can accept. What I can't accept is that this girl, whose days consist of calligraphy and maybe bargaining with local merchants, suddenly decides to run away?!? HOW was there even momentum?? I mean, she is not some poor girl who was brought up like a cast-off, and made to do servants' work. She sat, day-to-day doing embroidery and calligraphy, just WAITING to get married. So already because of the blurb and the trailer, I'm thinking, "No one wanted Ai Ling?" Everyone wants Ai Ling, is what it seems like! And there wasn't even sufficient time for Ai Ling to be dishonored -- she sneaks off in the middle of the night, leaving her mother helpless and alone (and without servants, b/c they had to let them go). Already, I'm thinking, what was the author thinking to approve the blurb and the trailer?

Okay, that's fine. So she runs off. She's walking, walking, walking along. Unbeknownst to a lot of people, Chinese women's feet binding was only a small part of history, so luckily she's able to make it far. But she collapses at the edge of a river, in the middle of NOWHERE, might I add, and then a good-hearted, good-looking mixed-breed dude FINDS her??? RIDICULOUS. Absolutely RIDICULOUS. I mean, we ARE assuming this is in the middle of nowhere, right? And it just so happens that there's an instantaneous spark or rapport between them.

At this point, I couldn't read on. TERRIBLE. (less)

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Aug 19, 2012 Enna Isilee (Squeaky Books) rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: read-in-2012, possible-12-in-12

I LOVED this book! Thanks so much to Megan for being such a big fan and getting me to read it.

First of all, what I ADORED was the setting. I loved how everything in Ai Ling's world balanced on the tip of "normal" and magical. She would only occasionally see creatures that we would think of as "fantastic" and sometimes she reacted calmly, and other times it was clearly a shock. It really made me want to dive into this world and discover its secrets. Is magic common? What kind of creatures roam t...more I LOVED this book! Thanks so much to Megan for being such a big fan and getting me to read it.

First of all, what I ADORED was the setting. I loved how everything in Ai Ling's world balanced on the tip of "normal" and magical. She would only occasionally see creatures that we would think of as "fantastic" and sometimes she reacted calmly, and other times it was clearly a shock. It really made me want to dive into this world and discover its secrets. Is magic common? What kind of creatures roam the land? And a map! I need a map! You know I love a setting if I need a map. The only things I strugged with were names. They were all like Ai Ling, Li Rong, Wai Pen, etc. I actually can't tell you from memory what the love interest's name was because my brain just couldn't wrap itself around that kind of names. Doesn't mean I didn't like it; it just confused me.

Even though I couldn't grasp their names, the characters in this book were GREAT! I found the romantic and friendship relationships completely authentic. I really was invested in these characters. When bad things happened to them my heart broke. When marvelous things happened, I felt my eyes widen in wonder. I loved them! It was them interacting with that wonderful setting that made this book truly amazing.

My ONLY complaint is that it seemed to go by really fast. Every time we're introduced to something fantastic we only see it for a few pages, then the characters move on! TAKE A MINUTE! Yes, I know that monster is trying to kill you, but can you just hold still a minute so I can examine it? There was one time where these "worm demons" attack and they were only there for like, two pages! The characters were like "oh, run away!" And then when they escaped they simply said "those were worm demons," and moved on. I WANT TO KNOW MORE! Seriously. If I could have had an illustrated encyclopedia of all things Xia I would be happy.

As a note: there is A LOT of sexual content in this book. At least, a lot for me. None of it is very graphic, but it is all VERY plainly stated.(less)

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Jul 19, 2012 Matt Heppe rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: fantasy

Silver Phoenix is the story of Ai Ling, a strong, independent young woman who leaves her home to both escape an unwanted marriage and to find her missing father. A fantasy in a world based on ancient China, Silver Phoenix is filled with adventure, strange creatures, and great characters. Ai Ling is joined on her adventure by a pair of brothers, the strong, serious Chen Yong and his love-crazed younger brother, Li Rong. I found the three characters to be well-written and distinct individuals.

Worl...more Silver Phoenix is the story of Ai Ling, a strong, independent young woman who leaves her home to both escape an unwanted marriage and to find her missing father. A fantasy in a world based on ancient China, Silver Phoenix is filled with adventure, strange creatures, and great characters. Ai Ling is joined on her adventure by a pair of brothers, the strong, serious Chen Yong and his love-crazed younger brother, Li Rong. I found the three characters to be well-written and distinct individuals.

World building: Unlike most of the fantasy novels I’ve read, Silver Phoenix has an Asian setting. It was a refreshing change from your typical pseudo-European world. It was a great to see characters confronted by new and unique gods, demons, and monsters instead of the standard orcs, elves, and ogres (or variants thereof). I loved the author’s world-building efforts; her descriptions of architecture, food, clothing, and the environment made the world come alive.

Engagement: A very engaging novel, Silver Phoenix definitely keeps the action rolling. It is fast-paced and tightly written. My only serious complaints would be with the rapidity with which Ai Ling’s powers developed and the presence of an overly helpful magic item. Other than that, I found myself engrossed in both the story and the world the author created.

Writing: The author writes very clear, straightforward prose. I enjoyed her style. Silver Phoenix reads like a blend of historical fiction, fairy tale, and fantasy. Having said that, my knowledge of ancient Chinese history is pretty sketchy and the author has clearly stated that Xia is only based on Chinese culture and folklore - it is not supposed to strictly represent China at any particular time period. The novel was, in every way, professionally written.

Impact: Although classified as a young adult novel, I thoroughly enjoyed the novel from an adult perspective. While aimed at a YA audience, some scenes felt very grown up. A few times I felt myself wondering if it was a serious fantasy or a lighter fairy tale. However, these were minor distractions. I loved the characters, there was a lot of action, tension was high throughout, and the world building was outstanding. As soon as I finished Silver Phoenix I immediately downloaded Fury of the Phoenix. (less)

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Jun 11, 2012 Nic rated it 3 of 5 stars

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. I like the worldbuilding, especially the food, which is described in loving detail (and I love me some food descriptions), and the bizarre fairy-tale creatures of the world of Xia. I especially like the part where Ai Ling, Chen Yong, and Li Rong are in the garden of the Immortals. I think the reason I didn't enjoy the book more overall is mostly that the tone is more solemn than I like. There are a few other things (see below), but I think a writing style and tone that clicked more with me would...more I like the worldbuilding, especially the food, which is described in loving detail (and I love me some food descriptions), and the bizarre fairy-tale creatures of the world of Xia. I especially like the part where Ai Ling, Chen Yong, and Li Rong are in the garden of the Immortals. I think the reason I didn't enjoy the book more overall is mostly that the tone is more solemn than I like. There are a few other things (see below), but I think a writing style and tone that clicked more with me would have made all of them okay.

I seem not to like scenes wherein people practice their fighting skills. Or rather, I sometimes don't. Scenes of this type are done extremely well in Eon: Dragoneye Reborn, but the one here between Chen Yong and Li Rong is one of those scenes where I don't see what's happening in the story so much as I see what the author is trying to do. (In this case, show how close the brothers are, and that both have fighting skills, and how attractive and generally badass Chen Yong is.) It works in Eon because the act of displaying one's fighting skills is an enormously important part of the plot early in the book, and practicing for that is a major part of the protagonist's life. Mostly, though, I prefer to see characters show off their fighting skills via ACTUAL FIGHTING. Maybe this is partly because practice/fake fighting usually has low stakes (again, Eon is an exception), and the very act of imitating battle makes me aware of how much higher the stakes COULD be if this were a real fight. It may also be that displays of fighting skills are inherently visual in nature and thus don't work well for me in writing the way they could in, say, a movie (like in Hellboy II when Nuada is practicing with his spear and is super-awesome). Probably it's a combination of these factors. Anyway, the practice-fight scene here is short and not terribly important, but it doesn't really float my boat.

Also, I kind of wanted to punch Ai Ling in the face in that one scene where Chen Yong is like, "Maybe you should read that weird guy's mind to make sure he's not leading us into a trap," and she's like, "I don't wanna, because mind-reading makes me feel guilty, but fine," and she reads his mind just enough to get that the guy thinks his Chief will be pleased to receive them, which she decides means NOT A TRAP. Ai Ling. That has "trap" written all over it. Also, would it have hurt to stay in mind-reading mode long enough to get something slightly more definitive before telling Chen Yong there's nothing to worry about? She does a fantastic job getting them out of danger once they're (of course) captured, so I will give her that. If her carelessness hadn't put them in that situation in the first place, I'd be giving Ai Ling major props, but as it is, her great rescue just redeems her in my eyes for that stupid mistake.

I'm not really feeling the romance between Ai Ling and Chen Yong, either. I don't dislike either of them, but I don't feel they really have a moment or anything that makes me want to see them get together.

To finish with a more upbeat note (sort of), this book does creepiness quite well. In fact, it does atmosphere in general pretty well. Like I said before, good worldbuilding.(less)

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May 10, 2012 Karen (Book Light Graveyard) rated it 3 of 5 stars

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. So this is one of those books that I feel didn’t quite live up to its potential. It really had some awesome things going for it, number one being that it takes place in ancient China. On top of that, it has some Chinese mythology and fantasy elements going on, which were pretty fascinating. And I really liked the storyline with Zhong Ye, the bad guy, and thought that whole thing was cool in a creepy way.

But . . . the writing never quite won me over—it never seemed to gain any real depth or insi...more

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Mar 14, 2012 Cari rated it 4 of 5 stars

Lovely.
I won't summarize but I will list all the reasons you should read this book. Minor spoilers.
1. Asian main character: (How many of those do you see? Yeah! Already separates itself from the majority)
2. Asian character majority. (I love my white characters just as much as I love everyone else, but this Chinese setting was quite refreshing)
3. Ai-ling is likable.
4. Not bogged down by romance. (Thank the YA Gods. After reading all the Twilight clones and books that are supposed to be fantasy...more

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Feb 19, 2012 Maggie Desmond-O'Brien rated it 4 of 5 stars

I always approach books by folks I follow on Twitter with more than a little trepidation. I've usually heard so much about their writing process, and have seen the "man behind the curtain," if you will, that it takes away some of the joy of a good story. Also, there's always that lingering question in the back of your mind. What if it just plain sucks?

Well, thankfully, Silver Phoenix didn't suck. At all. Being the first full-on frontal fantasy I've read in awhile - the genre seems to have been a...more I always approach books by folks I follow on Twitter with more than a little trepidation. I've usually heard so much about their writing process, and have seen the "man behind the curtain," if you will, that it takes away some of the joy of a good story. Also, there's always that lingering question in the back of your mind. What if it just plain sucks?

Well, thankfully, Silver Phoenix didn't suck. At all. Being the first full-on frontal fantasy I've read in awhile - the genre seems to have been almost entirely replaced by the paranormal - it took me awhile to find my stride. Learning an entirely new world is always more difficult than learning one you almost know. But as soon as I moved past the first few chapters, I was completely swept up in Cindy Pon's incredible world. And a burning question sat on the tip of my tongue. Why, exactly, isn't there more Chinese-inspired fantasy? Or Asian-inspired fantasy in general? The success of shows like Avatar: The Last Airbender (if you ignore the abomination of a movie) surely demonstrates that there's a market, right? Who doesn't love reading about dragons and goddesses and places with names like the Palace of Fragrant Dreams? Well. I guess that's a post for another day, but I, for one, found it refreshing to read fantasy with nary an elf nor orc in sight.

Also, the food. Oh my dear sweet goodness, the food. Pon's descriptions border on pornographic for foodies like me, and I turned the last page wanting decent Chinese food SO FREAKING BAD. (I'm still waiting, by the way. All we have around here are really crummy Americanized buffets with Jello and chocolate pudding as the primary offerings.)

Anyway, beyond just food, though that was definitely where it stood out the most, Pon's descriptions made this book for me. Her prose and character development left a little more to be desired - (highlight to read spoiler) I was really, really pissed at how much Ai Ling wants to bring back Li Rong from the dead when that's obviously a stupid idea, and I felt like Zhong Ye's death was hugely anticlimactic - but honestly, I needed a good fantasy read so badly that I didn't really care. Fantasy is rarely about the writing or characters, anyway. Both were decent enough to give us a gorgeous world, and that's what really matters here. I can't wait to return to it in Fury of the Phoenix! (less)

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May 21, 2011 Cyndy Aleo rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: young-adult, fantasy

My first exposure to Cindy Pon's Silver Phoenix: Beyond the Kingdom of Xia was via blogs: The publisher had changed the cover of her novel, taking the obviously Asian-inspired, gorgeous cover art and replacing it with a more trendy and generic black cover.

I'm still sort of angry on the behalf of all of us for that change.

There are trends in young adult fiction at the moment: paranormal creatures; sweet smart love stories ...

Silver Phoenix is none of those things, and I feel the cover should have...more

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Apr 16, 2011 Ashleyn Poston rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: blog

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here.

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About Cindy Pon

my debut, SILVER PHOENIX : Beyond the Kingdom of Xia was released by greenwillow books / harpercollins on april 28, 2009.

Fury of the Phoenix is out April 2011 and a children's picture book with my chinese brush art will follow.

...

on the day of her first betrothal meeting--and rejection--ai ling discovers a power welling deep within her. she can reach into other people's spirits, hear their thought...more

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Fury of the Phoenix (Kingdom of Xia, #2)

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Quotes from Silver Phoenix

“A plate of roast duck, steamed dumplings, spicy noodles with beef gravy, pickled cucumbers, stewed tongue and eggs if you have them, cold please, and sticky rice pearls, too,' Ai Ling said, before the server girl could open her mouth. "I don't know what he wants." Ai Ling nodded toward Chen Yong.

'I'm not sure I have enough coins to order anything more,' he said, laughing.” — 14 people liked it

“You judge the gods by who bows down at their altars?" Ai Ling asked.” — 8 people liked it

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Silver Phoenix (Kingdom of Xia #1)

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