Crown of Feathers

This book follows a set of sisters, Veronyka and Val. They are animages who are living day to day after a bloody revolution ripped their country apart. At the opening of the book, they are incubating 2 phoenix eggs they found. When one hatches for Veronyka but not for Val, Val's brutal personality is fully exposed. Veronyka runs off in search of the Phoenix Riders. What follows is a story of heartbreak, deceptions, and love.

This is the first book in a while that I have wanted to stay up all night reading. I didn't want to put it down. I was enthralled. I read a lot of reviews saying the pacing was off, but I didn't really have a problem with it. I love Veronyka as a protagonist. She is fierce, but very kind. Sev was such a great side character. His arc was so unique from what you find in most YA books, but I was rooting for him and Kade from the outset. All of the revelations in the last quarter of the book had me squealing out loud. I didn't guess any of them. I like that a lot of the tropes were twisted a little to be unique. Also, who WOULDN'T want to read about people that can connect magically to animals and RIDE PHOENIXES? Like, what more do you need to know going into this story?

Nicki Pau Preto has done an excellent job creating unique characters, an enthralling setting, and a captivating plot line. I have already requested the next two books from my library because I just cannot wait to read the rest of this series, and anything else this author releases.

TW: animal death, death, emotional abuse, gaslighting, mind control, slavery, war