The Phoenix and the Firebird

by Alexis Kossiakoff, Scott Forbes Crawford

A bullet-riddled train staggers into a Chinese station in 1920, and Lucy discovers that her father, a Russian officer, has been kidnapped. A mysterious feather guides her into a dangerous realm of magic and monsters to rescue him. But she knows she can’t take on the quest alone. With her friend Su, a girl as quick with words as with her fists, the two uncover the terrifying truth: a notorious warlord has seized Lucy’s father. Worse, he is about to invade their city. The friends confront the criminal underworld, cross a haunted forest, and outsmart creatures they thought lived only in fairytales. But will their wits and bravery be enough to beat the warlord’s army of human soldiers and magical beasts?

Nominated for the 2025-2026 Sakura Medal.


"With cinematographic crispness, this romantic vision of a distant time and culture conjures up a tale of friendship, family, and magic. Stay up all night to read it, and you’ll freshly understand the old Russian adage, 'The morning is wiser than the night.' I was enchanted."

- Gregory Maguire, author of Wicked

"It was a joy from start to finish! The world was brilliantly imagined, the plot filled with excitement and I loved the fusion of Chinese and Russian folklore."

- Abi Elphinstone, author of Sky Song

"A Peking caught between an imperial city and a new republic; a world where harsh reality mingles with myth and magic. Warlords, exiled Russians, gangsters, a child in search of her father. There are worlds within worlds in old Peking - real and imagined. Kossiakoff and Crawford bring them all together and to life."

- Paul French, author of Midnight in Peking and City of Devils

“The magical story, told in melodic prose, held this reader rapt with wonder throughout. An absolute gem of a read!”

—Alice Poon, author of The Heavenly Sword and The Earthly Blaze

Genres: Fantasy, Middle Grade, Childrens, Fiction

226 pages, Kindle Edition

Published August 20, 2024

Reviews

[Rosh ~catching up slowly~ · Rating 4 out of 5]

In a Nutshell: A middle-grade fantasy-adventure combining elements from Chinese and Slavic mythology. As an adult, I’d have preferred some plot points and the characters to be further developed, but a child would mostly enjoy this story. Some scary sequences, so might not be for sensitive or younger tweens.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Plot Preview:

1920. Peking (modern-day Beijing), China. Twelve-year-old Lucy has spent the last three years away from her father, who was serving in the Russian army. But now, he is on his way to Peking. When Lucy goes to receive him at the station, she discovers that the train has been attacked and her father kidnapped by a notorious ganglord. The only clue left is a mysterious firebird feather. With the help of her best friend Su and a local Russian club owner, Lucy goes on a quest to rescue her father. Along the way, she learns that reality as she knew it was not actually accurate.
The story comes to us in Lucy’s first-person perspective.

Bookish Yays:
💐 The lead characters of Lucy and Su: Lovely examples of friendship, bravery, intelligence, and supportiveness. Though Lucy is the main lead, I liked Su better for her honesty and her spunkiness. Lucy is also good but she takes time to grow on you.

💐 The amazing combination of Slavic plus Chinese lore characters. Very few books combine mythological characters from multiple folklores, and when the lores are as rich as Russian and Chinese, the task is humongous. I enjoyed revisiting some old favourite mythical beings and learning about some new ones.

💐 Lyrical descriptions that make it easy to visualise the scene and the characters.

💐 The somewhat episodic adventure, which, though not my favourite kind of writing, works well in children’s books. It is interesting to see a mix of riddles and prophetic clues with mythical appearances on Lucy’s quest.

💐 I adored the four appendices at the end: one for Chinese mythological animals, one for the beings from Slavic folklore , a third explaining China's situation at the time of the story, and the final one talking about Russia's circumstances at the same time. A great way of understanding the story better! There’s also an additional section where the author talks about her great grandfather, and how certain events and people in his life inspired her to pen this story.

💐 The cover and the title are excellent.


Bookish Mixed Bags:
🌹 Trivial point, but this always makes a big difference in my reading experience – I like knowing the ages of the key characters early in the book. Lucy’s age is revealed only at the 20% mark. Until then, I was struggling to understand how old she was as she seemed to be anywhere between 10 to 18 in her behaviour. Su’s age is not revealed throughout, though we know that she is slightly older than Lucy. I wish there had been a better detailing of the character’s backgrounds.

🌹 Somehow, the book doesn’t feel historical except for a couple of minor points. As the main plot is fantastical, it is anyway timeless. But Lucy and Su’s conversational style and their behaviour with each other and other adults seem slightly atypical of the era. This might still work for kids as they would anyway prefer English they can vibe with.

🌹 There are some impossible situations and convenient coincidences. Most of the troubles the girls face on the quest are sorted out almost immediately without much conflict. Certain character decisions are questionable. For instance, the Russian club owner Vlad doesn't take his henchmen along on the quest, saying that they would slow him down. Yet he is readily willing to take two inexperienced young girls along. Again, this might not be an issue for tweens.

🌹 As this is a debut work, it suffers from a minor version of the ‘kitchen sink syndrome’, not in terms of themes but in terms of mythical beings. Many mystical and mythological beings from both folklores make an appearance in the book, but most get only a passing mention, creating a rushed feel. (The biggest disappointment to me was the rusalka’s blind-and-you-miss appearance.) Moreover, situations are sometimes created just for an opportunity to educate the reader about some trivia connected to China or Russia, even if it isn’t needed for the main plot. These offered really interesting facts, but they broke the flow of the narrative.


Bookish Nays:
🌵 Certain events at the climax were too farfetched, even for a middle-grade fantasy adventure.

🌵 Some things are left unexplained. I know the fantasy parts don’t need to be clarified, but the human characters and their decisions and actions needed to be more fleshed out.


All in all, this can be an entertaining and adventurous book for children as it is filled with many exciting moments. Most of my issues spring from my perspective as an adult. Children might not bother so much about the technicalities of plot and character development.

Some scenes might be too scary for younger middle graders. The content has mentions of casinos and gambling, bloodshed, revolution, war, kidnap, parental death (prior to book events), kidnapping, imprisonment, and cannibalistic creatures. So take a call based on your child’s comfort level with darkish plot points.

Recommended to older middle-graders and younger teens who would enjoy a fantasy-adventure in an unusual historical setting.

3.5 stars, rounding up for the appendices and for the fact that it ought to work better for the right age group.


My thanks to author Scott Forbes Crawford and Earnshaw Books for providing the DRC of “The Phoenix and the Firebird” via NetGalley. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion about the book.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Connect with me through:
My Blog || The StoryGraph || Instagram || X/Twitter || Facebook ||

[Mai H. · Rating 4 out of 5]

I saw Rosh's review and was immediately interested. She also gave my name to the publisher, who kindly sent me this book, along with a few others.

I've been on a journey to learn more about East Asian mythology. Because China ruled Vietnam for so long, a lot of our myth is steeped from the same source. That would be the phoenix in this title.

Unrelated to me, but I have always been a bit of a Russophile, and find the old dynasty and mythology fascinating. I'm been familiar with the firebird after The Winternight Trilogy and children's tales such as Vasilisa the Beautiful. While you may not think China and Russia share a lot in common, they do share a border, and things tend to overlap.

It is 1920. Russian born Lucy now lives in China after the Russian Revolution. With her friend Su, she looks for her missing father. Along the way, they encounter magic and danger in the criminal underworld. If you're familiar with the mythology, you'll recognize Vlad and some others.

I'm notoriously more lenient with middle grade novels than young adult, but this one was really well done. It's definitely something I would consider purchasing for younger members of my family.

📱 Thank you to Earnshaw Books

[Sophie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This historical fantasy is an excellent way to combine both Slavic and Chinese culture, and to tell a tale about the importance of bravery, friendship, love and what it means to belong. I learned a lot about mythology too! With beautiful descriptions, touching moments and intriguing characters, this is for anyone regardless of age. I only wish there was more to read!

I knew such a creature could bring doom or good fortune depending on its mood, but finding a Firebird feather only meant one thing: the beginning of a quest.

[ Contains some spoilers ]

PLOT SUMMARY
Set in 1920s Peking (now known as Beijing), 20-year-old Russian refugee Lucy is awaiting her father at the train station as he reunites with her after the end of the civil war. She has not seen him in three years. As the train pulls in, she instead discovers it is riddled with bullet holes and the passengers are missing, including her father. The only trace of his existence is a single Firebird feather sitting on one of the seats.

It is revealed her father has been taken prisoner by henchmen of The Taotie, an evil warlord seeking to capture Peking. He intends to have him serve in his army. With her Chinese friend Su Feng in tow, Lucy makes it her mission to find and free her father from this tyrant. If she finds the Firebird, she will find her father.

To do so, she must seek the help of a man who cannot die, the mysterious and dangerous Vlad the Deathless, but must also undergo five trials against the wu hsing (elements): fire, wood, water, earth and metal.

As they journey through many perils into a fantasy realm and meet many strange and fantastical characters they only believed existed in stories (from nine-tailed foxes to nightingales to ghosts), Lucy and Su find themselves faced with the greatest trials of all: will their friendship through this last and either save all or bring utter peril?

This is told from the first-person past-tense POV of Lucy.

INSPIRATION
Alexis Kossiakoff and Scott Forbes Crawford who have co-written this book are a married couple. Alexis, as beautifully told in the Notes at the back of the book, was heavily inspired by her own Russian family’s history: her grandfather Alexander Kossiakoff had a cousin named Lucy who mysteriously disappeared! It is not known what happened but this Lucy was the muse for the protagonist Lucy here in this story:

Over the years, I’ve often wondered what she was like and what became of her. As a result, she became the inspiration for Lucy in this book, a character who is an amalgam of what I imagined the real-life Lucy to be: brave, caring, adventurous and loyal.

I think this is such a lovely idea, and this story and character are a great homage to her ancestors!

Other inspirations include Alexis’ great-grandfather (Alexander’s father), Ivan Kossiakoff who was a cavalry officer in the Russian army. He got his wife and son on one of the last trains from Russia to China before all trains were terminated. This is just like Lucy’s father in the story. Alexander and his mother made a fresh start while they waited for the end of the war and the reunion with Ivan. Until then Alexander received letters from his father, much like the one in the prologue of this story from Lucy’s father to Lucy.

I have traveled a very long way to get here. By train, by horse, and on my feet, and my journey is far from over. Not until I see you will it be complete. I will swim across rivers, I will chase leopards and sneak past sleeping tigers. I will even track the Firebird through the forest if I must. After the three years we have been apart, nothing will stop me from joining you.

The latter inspiration I really love! This is probably because I adore old-fashioned heartfelt correspondences but I think a lot of people can relate to the importance of words: social media and messaging services make it so easy to send things these days, but a letter and the effort into writing and sending something back then is something else entirely. We hear so many stories of love letters and letters that never made it to their loved ones during the war. and I feel this makes the opening of the story more touching. This is a father looking forward to seeing his girl again and we the reader know before we even get to the first chapter this is not the case.

OVERALL OPINIONS
This is a middle-grade book (so readers around 8 to 12 years old), something which I did not realise until I began but this quickly became clear due to the length and pacing of the story. For the audience it is set for, I think this is brilliant and something that I could imagine my prior school teachers reading to us and answering questions about. There are some sophisticated descriptions, particularly in terms of scenery and locations.

There was also some good use of word choice throughout, for example when talking of her doll, “That secret would be sewn in me forever” – like the idea of the sewing of the doll!

A few descriptions and actions of people reminded me of that of Tolkien: especially Vlad, how he dances, and longs to stay in the forest, much like the elves in The Lord of the Rings with their longing for the sea. This moment with Vlad here when “his hunched shoulders straightened and appeared to expand by several inches. It was as if he had been a wilting plant at last given water” also reminds me so much of Aragorn as he often, in the trilogy, would straighten up with confidence whenever he mentioned his claim to the throne of Gondor.

I felt a lot of vibes from Scott Crawford’s collaboration of short stories “Besting the Beast”. This story really gave the opportunity to take everything from before and combine into something incredibly unique, whilst showcasing Crawford’s captivating style of writing. I say this in particular about the following:
The plot: A tyrant desiring to take over is in some ways like “A Thief’s Work”
Descriptions of action and monsters: fighting the Nightingale was reminiscent of Resh fighting Cerebeasts “The Carving of a Warrior”
Descriptions of characters: The tale of an evil sorcerer Koschei the Immortal made me think of Rhio Honta in A Thief’s Work, and the hungry ghost reminded me of the bizarre Kong Si from “Half-Baked Hero”

My favourite thing is Lucy and Su’s friendship. Their oath is interesting:

I want to be your friend
Forever and ever without break or decay
When the hills are all flat
And the rivers are all dry,
When it lightnings and thunders in winter
When it rains and snows in summer.
When Heaven and Earth mingle
Not till then will I part from you.”

<< The Title >>
“The Phoenix and The Firebird” is an interesting title choice! This is a Chinese and Russian term respectively, and Su and Lucy’s respective cultures. These days, the two terms are interchangeable as it means a mythical bird, but in this story, this is not the case. They come from different cultures and thus have different meanings. A Chinese Phoenix has no set look, symbolises goodness, and appears before a wise emperor came into power. A Russian Phoenix can be a blessing or bring about doom.

During the novel, Lucy and Su argue about whether the feather she found on the train belongs to a Firebird or Phoenix, but they have to journey to Phoenix Mountain to get to the warlord, and he keeps a Firebird.

The title is rather fitting as it hints to the book’s collaboration of cultures, and the fact that despite disagreeing on what creature the feather belongs to, Su and Lucy team up to go on this adventure. It is very clever!

<< Mythology >>
I learned a lot about mythology thanks to this story. All the information about the mythical beings mentioned in this tale can be found in the excellent informative Appendices, split into the different cultures, but I will mention a few things.
• There were quite a lot of creatures I had not heard of like Hungry Ghosts, Rusalka and Taotie!
• The Fox Spirit with nine tails was most pleasing to see, as this is often featured in many media such as my introduction to it via Ninetales from Pokémon as the nine-tailed fox idea was adopted from Chinese into Japanese culture, and more recently when watching the CDrama Eternal Love of Dream or it is sometimes known as Three Lives, Three Worlds, The Pillow Book, the main character Bai Fengjiu is the last nine-tailed fox of her kind.

<< Positives >>
🠚The cover is stunning and covers most things mentioned in the story: the creatures in four corners and the two girls’ silhouettes. All that is missing is Vlad.
🠚The friendship between Lucy and Su was one of the best aspects of this story.
🠚There was a lot of unexpected humour, which I enjoyed! Particularly from Vlad, and Lucy sometimes says silly or stupid things. My favourite conversation is when she is asking about the monster “What does it look like?” I asked. | “Not sure. Nobody knows. They only know how it sounds.” | “Well, how does it sound?” I pressed. ? He snorted. “How would I know? I’m here, aren’t I?”
🠚The story was mostly predictable, but this did not take any joy out of reading it. One such thing I predicted was Vlad’s identity. Predicted the ghost’s return but forgot about him until he came back haha! The feather was really cool.
🠚None of the characters introduced as the story goes on are too confusing to follow.
🠚A very poetic end for the villain!
🠚There were a lot of educational moments such as providing the pronunciation of Taotie (it is ‘tao-tee-yuh’, which I mistakenly assumed was ‘tai-yoo-tee’).

<< Negatives >>
🠚I wish it had been longer, only because I enjoyed the concept of it and desire to read more. This would help some sections be fleshed out, and would be the reason for a higher rating. I will emphasise heavily here that the book itself is the ideal length for the target age range, and this was done very well!
🠚The paragraph/section divider could have been a feather!
🠚I wanted more information about Lucy and Su. Lucy’s age is revealed a quarter of the way in, but nothing of Su. It can be assumed she is probably around the same age.
🠚Lucy’s character felt weak and unlikeable in some places. And then, so did Su. There were moments like earlier on when Su is angry at Lucy and how she did it got on my nerves. Lucy sometimes annoyed me because of her stupidity. I think some of it felt sudden and unrealistic but as the story progressed, I liked them both.
🠚I had hoped that because some creatures were mentioned, like the dragon and qilin (unicorn-like creature), it would have featured more. Though, I am happy a dragon was there all the same. I feel no fantasy world is complete without one!
🠚Small thing but, logic-wise, I wonder why Li Bai did not help Du Fu considering they respected each other but one was rich and the other was poor.

CHARACTERS
-ˋˏ ꒰ Lucy꒱ ˎˊ-
↳ I like her friendship with Su. Some moments show they are true friends, such as “knowing what you’re feeling before you do” and “With only our eyes, Su and I held a conversation... Sometimes if you really know someone, you don’t need words to exchange opinions.” I found this whole aspect relatable.
🠚It is interesting we do not learn her last name, and this feels more personal both in the sense that we know her because we hear her point of view, and that she could be anyone.
🠚Lucy is smart in her own way, in terms of understanding how people tick and how best to earn their trust, such as in her conversation with Vlad she mentions his horse because she knows how much it means to him. Very observational too!

I gathered my wits and found my anger at this monster who had taken my father from me and caused untold suffering to so many others. “I am not part of your collection!” I spat.

-ˋˏ ꒰ Su꒱ ˎˊ-
↳ It is admirable that Su is looking after her father and you have that immediate contrast between her and Lucy: she has a father and Lucy doesn’t at this point.
🠚I like that despite their disagreements, and her feeling betrayed at Lucy’s plan to go with her father once she finds him, she still comes back and saves her! That’s a true friend right there.

“When you have almost nothing in your life, trust is the greatest treasure in the world. More valuable than all of your jewels.”

-ˋˏ ꒰ Vlad꒱ ˎˊ-
↳ One of, if not the most interesting of characters in this story. He is my absolute favourite! I knew I liked him the moment he appeared based on his description, but what sealed it for me was the scene where they ask him how he knows the two goons are asleep and he replies “Because I did it to them” and then before anyone can say anything, he says “Now it’s time to depart!”
🠚I enjoyed every page he was on, so was disappointed when he did disappear halfway through. But I’m glad he didn’t betray them!

“The wise gambler knows when to stop. The bold gambler knows when the only choice is to bet everything.”

FAV QUOTES
• “He’d make a man whose house is on fire stop to hear his tale before running to safety.”
• “There’s a saying in Chinese: ‘Those who survive hard times will later meet good fortune.’ I suppose it is something we must all remember.”
• I took a deep breath, remembering what Papa used to tell me. “If you are scared of wolves, don’t go in the woods.” You can only lose from fear, never gain. And when Papa’s life hung in the balance, fear was not a luxury I could afford.
• What an assortment of deadbeats, each looking more desperate and untrustworthy than the next.
• “Even in times of war, a gentleman needs proper tea.” I wasn’t particularly sold on the gentleman part, though I did enjoy the tea.
• “It is never over. War has no home. It just slips from place to place like a traveling salesman peddling an endless supply of misery.”
• He was trying to protect us, but it frustrated me all the same. If there was one thing I hated, it was being underestimated.
• “I’m scared.” Once I uttered the words, I knew I had to be careful. Fears can take root, branching out under the surface, until without your even noticing, they have sprouted into mighty, immovable trees. We hugged each other tightly, relishing our shared heat.
• It was far more beautiful than anything I could ever have imagined. No words could capture its exquisiteness. It stood to my shoulder. Its silky feathers shone brighter than all the jewels of the world. Awestruck, I stumbled over, shading my eyes against its brilliant glow. The Firebird turned and stared back at me with its sad eyes like two red-gold sunsets.
• a flash of his honey-colored eyes would scorch your blood, as if you were bitten by a viper.
• he was barely recognizable, but underneath the layers of sweat, blood and dirt, his neck still smelled the same. It was the smell of comfort, love, family. How strange, that of all my senses and memories, it should be his scent that made the moment real.
• “I’ll always have a home as long as people continue to tell my story. Promise you will do that? Write about me in books, tell your children my name. Maybe even mention that I wasn’t all bad.”
• “Belushka, a home is not made from a comfortable chair or velvet curtains, but the people within its walls.”

══════════ ⋆★⋆ ══════════

I received an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review and I’d like to thank Alexis Kossiakoff, Scott Forbes Crawford, and BookSirens for the opportunity. This has not affected my opinion in any way.

[Ana Cob · Rating 5 out of 5]

What an epic read! I loved Lucy and Su’s adventure story through China to rescue Lucy’s father from the hands of a warlord. The combination of historical fiction and mythology was really well done and I was excited to learn about different mythical creatures from China and Russia. This will be a go to recommendation to my students!

[Mallory · Rating 5 out of 5]

The story follows Lucy and Su as they go on this adventure of sorts to save her father who has been captured. This isn't your typical middle grade adventure novel, there was a call to action and the story follows the ensuing events. However, I would argue that this story goes beyond the cliché a bit. It blends historical events of the early 20th century (Fall of the Qing Dynasty and Russian Revolution), with folklore from China and Russia into this fantastical story. This is an absolutely fantastic read!


This was such a joy to read! It was breath of fresh air among everything else that I have read recently! Also kudos to the author for providing the glossary of mythical creatures from each folk tradition. It was a nice touch to have along with the explanations of each.
5/5

Thank you NetGalley and Earnshaw books for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review!!

[Joana · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is such a good middle grade adventure book!!! This was fun and magical!!! I LOVE how the book, while being fantasy, takes place in an historical setting, having the costs of war and displacement in its background, introducing and merging two cultures I was glad to learn more about... the story also centers itself and is carried by the great friendship and chemistry between Lucy and Su, as this two girls go on an epic adventure to save Lucy's kidnapped father!!! Both the history and adventure are aided by the rich Russian and Chinese mythology building into this fantasy world and the various quests they have to get through!!! Definitely a really fun read for kids, that allows you to also learn a bit about Russian and Chinese History and Culture!!

I received this book through BookSirens in exchange of an honest review :)

[Sara Jesus · Rating 4 out of 5]

The journey of Lucy to save her father for an evil warlock. With the help of her best friend Su and the mysterious Vlad, this girl will face legendary monsters and meets the characters of her father stories. Inspired in the russian and chinese folklore, this is the tale of friendship and find your true home.

[Viki Holmes · Rating 5 out of 5]

Immersive and captivating, the hidden treasures within the pages of this multi-faceted historical fantasy will enchant readers of all ages. The seamless weaving together of Chinese and Russian folk-tales makes for a lush tapestry of mythic resonance; foregrounded by an immensely human tale of the search for lost family, and the finding of friends in unexpected places. Lucy and Su are likeable, relatable heroines, and the backdrop of 1920s China is as evocative and enchanting as the mythic figures that help and hinder the two friends on their journey.

The adventures unfold at a breakneck space, balanced by a poet's love for language, and an historian's eye for detail. The world building is superb, whether in its evocation of 1920s Shanghai, or the more liminal worlds  inhabited by magical creatures, in a glorious exploration of folklores that are rarely combined. Story is my first love, and this wonderful book has treasures aplenty, but it also houses the slower burn of beautifully realised characters whose focus on loyalty, courage, and kindness in the face of increasing difficulties, will resonate with all ages. This generous spirited and masterfully written heroine's journey is one of my favourites this year. 

[Literary Box · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Phoenix and Firebird" is an epic fantasy adventure that really hits the mark. The story takes you into a vibrant world where girls of different nations yet same within embark on journey of finding Lucy's father along with a famous ruffian who is looking for his horse who were forcefully taken away.

The world-building is impressive, creating a setting that's both detailed and immersive. The characters are well-developed, with their personal struggles and growth making for an engaging read. The author’s writing is both lyrical and clear, balancing action with moments of introspection. The display of friendship in whole story is mesmerizing

Overall, it’s a thrilling read that combines magical elements with strong characters. If you’re into fantasy with a rich setting and compelling characters, this book is definitely worth picking up!

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Frida · Rating 4 out of 5]

RTC

[Peter Baran · Rating 5 out of 5]

There's something impressive about a really good kids book. This is a fantasy for the preteen who is a good reader and interested in history, adventure and excitement. Adventures through mysterious lands now less mysterious seem almost hokey to the modern sensibility but actually this is an all ages fantasy. A quest for a young girl to find her kidnapped father in 1920's China: she's Russian already an exile from her wartorn country, and now she has to deal with a foreign nation, warlords, zealots, oh and did I mention the fantasy creatures of both China and her homeland. A lot is going on in The Phoenix in the Firebird and a lot of that lot is really good, adventurous fun.

Crawford and Kossiakoff, the authors, have a lot of experience with both Russia, China and the Far East and their mythological creatures. The lead character Lucy is loosely based on Kossiakoff's long lost great-great aunt, and there is a theme in the book of family between both how Lucy relates to her dead mother, her missing father, and her best friend Su: who has an ill father at home. Nevertheless, the book plays all of this backstory lightly, it doesn't assume any knowledge and it knows its audience will not know anything about post-revolutionary Russia, or the first days of the Chinese Republic and so therefore can be quite clear-headed in the way that it describes the basics of the political setup. This is a book for kids though, so we don't need to dwell too much on massacres from the Bolsheviks or the brutalism of the Chinese warlords, though the villain here is very much a Chinese warlord. He's collecting mythical creatures, magical tokens and, unfortunately for Lucy, soldiers which is a category her father fits into. But slowly plunging herself into the world of I-Ching fortune telling, Lucy is told how to retrieve her father and that there will be five tasks to complete corresponding to each of the Chinese elements of earth, air, fire, water, and metal. As Lucy and Su battle their way through the wilderness in China they have to deal with old women setting riddles, nine-tailed foxes, but also perennials of Russian folklore. As the author suggests: if people can be exiles why not their mythical beings too?

The Phoenix and the Firebird is really good fun and I wish I had been 10 to read it. Never condescending, consistently exciting, and with the right kind of moral and social dilemmas that challenge the development of the audience of a Book Like This. Lucy is a compelling heroine, brave but still very young, complemented by her friend Su (who also has a touch of martial artist in her back pocket). Even I came away learning quite a lot from the book and, I knew the broad brush of the political situation, but I wasn't aware quite how much Russian immigration there was in China in the twenties, or indeed how local warlords really were running private fiefdoms. But even if you aren't here for the history, you got a wonderful picturesque adventure with two spunky young girls learning to trust each other and learning what's important in the world. Oh and lots of magical creatures to aid and abet them in their daring escapes. Highly recommended.

[Lanie Brown · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lucy is a young girl living in Peking, China, at the turn of the century, having been forced to flee her home in St. Petersburg she goes from a well to do young lady with maids and beautiful dresses to living a drafty home with a woman who treats her like dirt. Su came from a upper class family whose father was an Imperial Scholar before the Emperor fell. These two girls found each other in the worst of circumstances and have become the very best of friends. But now, three years later, Lucy's father is in danger, and Lucy will stop at nothing to save him, and Su will stop at nothing to keep her friend safe. These two daring girls team up with a Russian gangster of all people to trek into the heart of a dangerous warlord to save her Lucy's father and they will learn that the world they thought they knew was so much bigger than the ever imagined.

This was a really sweet read that does an excellent job of combining Slavic and Chinese fairy tales and folklore into a simply fun fantasy adventure. It is a middle grade read so I would definitely recommend it for that age group but I found it to be completely enjoyable read myself and it would make a perfect beginners guide to both of these cultures creatures regardless of the readers age.


Overall, I definitely recommend this for all ages. However, I think this book would do the most good in the hands of the age group it's written for. With both the Ukranian war and The Gaza War (are we calling it a war? I'm calling it a war) I know my own children have had more refugees than ever in their classes. While we live in a neighborhood that has always had a larger than average immigrant population, I think books like this are needed now more than ever. Being "stateless," as Lucy says, is something most people will never experience, and this is a perfect story to help children empathize with their peers that may be refugees while giving those children that have had to flee their homes a voice.

As always, thanks to NetGalley and Earnshaw Books.

[Lisa · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Phoenix and the Firebird

4 ⭐️
YA themed- suited for a younger audience

What to expect:
Friendship
Found family

What a beautifully written and descriptive tale full of adventure, friendship, and fantasy. The story follows two young heroines who set out on an adventure to find a captured father with the guidance of a magical feather. It is full of Russian and Chinese folklore as well as some historical events and does have some really well written appendixes at the back of the book explaining the different creatures and folklore. You can really feel the connection of the writers to these cultures and to the characters themselves as if they were beloved family members.

I highly recommend this book for pre- teens or teens looking for a wonderful friendship based tale. Thank you NetGalley for the ARC 👏🏼

[Kelsey Rae · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 rounded up to 5!
There is something so beautiful about a Middle-Grade book with a “found family” trope. It is also very refreshing to see an author who respects the younger generation by not writing at a lower level than they deserve. This book was written almost to a YA level with the plot. It leaves just enough intrigue to keep the reader yearning to finish it in a night and has enough historical folklore that might get a keen mind researching for more.

We see a strong contrast between the two main characters, Lucy and Su. Lucy is our protagonist: Russian, clever in her own right, and friendly. Su is her best friend. She is Chinese, determined, intelligent, and a fighter. They bond through turmoil and persevere on an adventure that potentially drives a wedge in their friendship.

Some cheesy parts were more than a little predictable, but regardless, this is a solid story for a young person who is eager to read, learn, and explore. I’ll be thoroughly suggesting it to my friends with children and the members of my library team. Thank you so much, NetGalley, for this ARC!

[Johan Olausson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Phoenix and the Firebird is a beautifully magical story set during the Russian Revolution and early 20th century Beijing. Authors Alexis Kossiakoff and Scott Forbes Crawford combine historical events, warlords, dark forests, folklore, and magical creatures into a captivating tale.

Inspired by Alexis’ own family history, the story follows a young girl's search for her father and her quest for a place to call home. The rich descriptions and vivid settings draw readers in, while the deep friendships and many references to poetry add emotional depth.

This blend of history and fantasy creates an immersive and compelling read. Phoenix and the Firebird is a wonderful adventure. Five out of five stars!

[Tired Tiger · Rating 4 out of 5]

Little me would have been so excited to be on this journey with Lucy and Su! I loved all the companions they found along the way and reading about the myths coming to life. The focus on their friendship was so beautiful to see. Growing up, I didn’t have a lot of depictions of young female friendships to read about, and this was precious and scratched that hitch.

This story follows Lucy, a Russian girl who had to evacuate to China 3 years prior and is anxiously awaiting her father’s return only to discover he was ambushed and kidnapped on the train ride to Peking. Enlisting the help of her best friend Su and an unlikely ally, they set out to rescue Lucy’s father, facing five elemental trials along the way.

I have two main criticisms. First, the stakes didn’t feel high. I need it to be understood that they were technically high. In Lucy’s position, I too would be freaking out. But I lacked connection to those stakes, I never feared for anybody’s safety or wellbeing (physical and mental), so a bit more work could have been done there. This would have helped the conflict in the friendship as well.
Second, some bits of the writing itself pulled me out of it, like a line about the stakes being high, and some of the dialogue sounding a bit too modern for the 1910s. I don’t mean this at the cost of simplicity for the age demographic, but rather because it breaks the illusion the writings were trying to create. Sometimes I forgot when the story was set, and you never want that with historical fiction, even if it’s of the fantastical variety.

Regardless, this was sweet and fun, and 12-year-old me would have eaten it right up. I was also moved by Kossiakoff’s author’s note at the end. Knowing the inspiration behind this story certainly makes me appreciate it more.

Thank you so much to NetGalley, Alexis Kossiakoff & Scott Forbes Crawford, and Earnshaw Books for the opportunity to read and review this book.

[Santiago Villa · Rating 5 out of 5]

From old Beijing's criminal underworld to magical forests, "The Phoenix and the Firebird" is a page-turner in which an intriguing mystery becomes a rivetting magical adventure, set in an explosive decade that saw both the end of imperial China and czarist Russia.
Lucy, a Russian girl that escapes St. Petersburg just before the arrival of the Bolsheviks, has to search for her kidnapped father, with the help of her Chinese best friend, Su, while warlords and bandits ravage China.
Kossiakoff and Crawford tap into their deep knowledge of both Russian and Chinese cultures to recreate a time when the supernatural still creeps into daily life, and all established orders and centuries of certainties have been upended.
Characters are dynamic, complex and relatable, with dialogue that flows and highlights their contrasting personalities. Each scene introduces a new character or element that adds depth and wonder to this believable fictional world.
The novel's cinematic storytelling and fast-paced narrative style is enabled by its tight chapter, sentence and paragraph structures.
The Phoenix and the Firebird makes for a fun and engaging read that will appeal to a wide reader audience: from teenagers, to both young and mature adults.
I lived 4 years as a journalist in China and the descriptions of Beijing brought me back to the hutong alleys and bustling life. The supernatural beings, the literary allusions, the activities characters engage in, and even their culinary preferences made me feel in a genuinely Chinese environment. Mixing that with a Russian cultural background just added to make this novel a rich literary immersion. I also enjoyed the smart and witty characters and the adventure they took me on.
I strongly recommend reading "The Phoenix and the Firebird."

[Abigail · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a story that follows two friends, Lucy and Su, on an adventure to go save Lucy's father who was captured. A story that involves adventure, challenges, exploration of friendships (and so much more) that was done so well and I loved it!
In this story, you see Chinese and Russian folklore intertwine and cause for such an amazing story and learning experience while also it being based off the early 20th century in China and Russia.
And it was so awesome that the authors included appendixes in the back of the book that explains the different folklores mentioned within this book. Along with the authors adding their own history and what brought them to write this book, it made it even better to know the passion and inspiration behind it.

I will say, I feel this reads on the older side of Middle Grade, I would feel kids 10+ would love and appreciate and learn more than the younger ones. But overall, it was a great book!
If you have kids, nieces or nephews, work with young kids, I would say this is a great book for them to pick up and read!
I will be buying this once it releases to have for my future kids to read.

Thank you so much NetGalley for this ARC in return for a honest review!

[Suchona Hasnat]

Reading this book, I got the sinking feelings of not being the target audience of this. I loved the cover and was intrigued by the synopsis. But all the things I imagined this book to be was my own projection. And all the things it turned out to be was miles away from my area of expertise or knowledge. This book is heavily intertwined with Slavic and Chinese mythical and folk creatures and their tales. My knowledge in both of these are close to zero which is my shortcoming and one can actually enjoy the book without having prior knowledge of the myths and magics but it stood in the way of my enjoyment.

It is also a middle-grade book. And sometimes, with middle grade books, we get stories that are heartfelt, soul crunching and excruciatingly moving. But sometimes we also get books that don’t dive too deep into the complex human emotions. So I am a little unsure if I should hold it against the book for not taking us inside the inner struggle of a young girl torn by war and alone in a foreign world, struggling to find her father.

What this book did for me though, is made me interested in seeking out slavic and Chinese mythology, folktales in future.

Thanks to NetGalley and Earnshaw Books Ltd for providing me with an eArc of this book in exchange for my honest opinion.

[Grace · Rating 4 out of 5]

Intriguing and sweet, The Phoenix and the Firebird is a tale of two girls daring to brave both the dangers of the mythical realm of Russian and Chinese lore, and the dangers of the all too familiar power of tyrants.
Surviving the fall of the Russian regime and the Chinese Imperial system, our two heroes-- Lucy and Su-- prove their cunning, endurance, and admirable stubbornness to not let more life fall to greed and violence. But as they journey to find Lucy's kidnapped father, they must encounter all sorts of strange and mysterious characters, and rely on their wits to solve the riddles that will aide them in their quest.

I enjoyed the simple friendship and loyalty displayed, where the friend you can rely on to have your back is always there, even if you're not always seeing eye-to-eye. It's themes are loyalty and courage, and bravery in the face of the bizarre. It shows that even small acts in the face of large odds matter in the end, and that no kindness is forgotten-- especially by the mythical folk! I would recommend its audience to be between 8-14, but certainly not limited to it.

[ I received an advance copy of this story in exchange for a review. If you'd also be interested in reading upcoming books in exchange for a helpful review, head over to BookSirens!]

[Nadine Taney · Rating 4 out of 5]

I just completed this read and can say with absolute certainty that I have become a fast fan of these authors.
here are just a few of things I liked:
* The accuracy of the timeline that was used in both Chinese history and Russian history. The authors did a fantastic job of really making sure that they infused as much detail as possible while still keeping in mind their intended audience.

* This is so well written, the language is right on point with the age of our main characters. It also was so well thought out and it progressed so nicely. There were thrills and suspense along the way. Overall it came together for one amazing story that will keep you up at night in a hurry to see what happens.

* Speaking of the end…Right when you have finished this amazing read you turn the page and get 4 appendixes. This for me was above and beyond and it really pushed me to begin looking into what books I can read next for chinese and russian mythology.

A full review can be found here https://alltherightreads.com/2024/07/...

[Mnsheryl · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this book!!!
Lucy and Su were such fun main characters - full of spirit and strong female leads. They seek out to save Lucy's father and face many difficulties along the way.
This book is YA, but as an adult who has lived in China and has an adopted Russian daughter, I loved this adventurous tale!! I learned so much about the myths and legends of both Chinese and Russian culture. I could visualize each character through the author's detailed descriptions and learned some pronunciations, too.
I also appreciated learning about the author's family and her inspiration for the book at the end. She shared actual photos and artifacts from her family's history. What an inspiration for aspiring writers!!

[MikeLikesBooks · Rating 5 out of 5]

First, the cover is gorgeous. Second, I love that the author’s own personal family history inspired this story. And third, even though this is categorized as a middle grade book, it is so well written that even adults will enjoy it. This story begins in the early 1900s when revolution was changing the face of Russia and Lucy’s father, a Russian soldier is kidnapped. With the help of her friend, Su, a magic feather and others, Lucy has to rescue her father after he was taken to China. This story is exciting, keeps a good pace, and will keep the children’s attention as they read it.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Tony · Rating 5 out of 5]

Set in the fluid and dynamic period of the early 20th century, the Phoenix and the Firebird takes the reader on an enchanting journey, rich with references to the tumultuous paths that China and Russia were journeying on during that period of history. Much like the countries that provide the story's setting, the heroine is on a treacherous path and must navigate a complex and fantastical landscape, filled with danger, intrigue, transformation, and self-discovery. I especially enjoyed the vivid references to traditional Chinese and Russian culture, sprinkled with quotations from some of China's most famous poets from the Tang Dynasty. A delightful read.

[Alexander Moir · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is another amazing book by SF Crawford and his wife Alexis. Any lucky young reader (or inquisitive and imaginative adult for that matter) will love learning able both Russian and Chinese folklore, topics on which the authors are qualified experts. The story is true high adventure and will remind the reader of anything from Lord of the Rings to the Dark Crystal. Full of characters to love and loathe, this is a young adult must read.

[Therearenobadbooks · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 This novel has so many elements that I love. Young characters are on a journey to rescue their family, strange journey companions, and eerie mythology, in this case, a clever combination of Chinese and Slavic mythology, including creatures and legends. The author plunges us into the world instead of explaining too much; sometimes, too much explaining can take us away from the experience, and that doesn't happen here. We experience it all through the eyes of the young character, and her growth and bravery make this book a wonderful journey.
readers should know you received this book for free.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Est · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a fun read !! I read it a while ago, so I don't remember as much as I should, but it was enjoyable. It tells a story of a Russian girl who lives in China, and after her father doesn;t when he should've , she gets worried, and sets out into the wild to find him, it shows the journey she takes, along with her best friend, as they encounter people from Chinese and Russian myths along the way. It was really really good.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[mars · Rating 3 out of 5]

thank you netgalley for this opportunity!
this book felt very fresh in my opinion but i had some difficulties with the story. i think that i’m definitely out of target and that this book would be great for people around the same age as the protagonist. i think a great point would be how the authors described the landscapes and the surroundings of the story, it felt real and immersive. sometimes the pace was weird but overall it’s a good book!

[Ashley · Rating 4 out of 5]

I found The Phoenix and the Firebird to be a beautiful read. This book is written for a younger audience (middle grade), but I was still able to enjoy the story.

Some of the aspects that I loved most from the story, are Lucy and Su’s friendship, the adventure of searching for Lucy’s father and the Chinese and Russian folklore.

The story is set in the 1920s, so you have a historical fiction story based on the diaspora community of Russian refugees in China, that is perfectly mixed with the magical realism of mythical creatures from Russian and Chinese folklore.

I also loved seeing Lucy and Su grow as individual characters in the story, as well as the growth that took place in their friendship.

I received an advance review copy for free from Book Sirens, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Hviareadsbooks · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is perfect for the middle schoolers in your life, regardless of their gender. The story will captivate them and keep them hooked during the entire tale. How do I know? I received this as an ARC and read it alongside my 13 year old brother and 12 year old sibling so I could give a review that was accurate and fair.

Here's what the 13 year old said:
"Is there gonna be another book? I liked it"

and the 12 year old:
"It's a vibe".

For children who respond "k" when I ask them what they want for their birthday, this is high praise.

As a 24 year old, I enjoyed this book. It reminds me of a YA Six of Crows, which I really appreciate. If you are looking to have a book you can read with your middle schooler, I recommend this one.