Stealing Phoenix - Joss Stirling Review.

Book details:

Paperback: 272 pages

Publisher: OUP Oxford (1 Sep 2011)

Language English

ISBN-10: 0192756583

ISBN-13: 978-0192756589

Summary:

This is about getting you out...I'm stealing you. 

Phoenix belongs to the Community - a gang of thieves with paranormal powers. Yves Benedict - an American student visiting London - is her mark. But Yves turns out to be more than just a target. He is her destiny. Her soul mate. But the Community owns Phoenix's past and it wants her future too.

Links to buy:

Buy on Amazon.

Buy it at Waterstones. 

Rating:

My review:

Thanks first and foremost to Oxford Uni Press for sending me not one, but two copies of this gorgeous book, one for review and one for a giveaway for you guys! After reading this review be sure to look out for the giveaway for this! :D It may have to be UK only since I’m paying for postage but we’ll see how I feel (:

Analysis of plot:

Anyway, prior to this was the first book, “Finding Sky” which revolved around a special family and their powers, and focussed on the relationship of Zed and Sky. I loved loved loved the first book by Stirling, it was beautifully written with well rounded characters, and I was anticipating eagerly to read the follow up to it which is this book, Stealing Phoenix.

In this novel, it doesn’t follow Zed and Sky, but instead another member of Zed’s large family, his brother – Yves. I originally thought that nothing could match the Sky & Zed relationship from the previous book yet I was wrong – I loved them more if that was possible.

Set in my beautiful home city of London where Yves comes to study, where his two brothers also are residing.  Here, he meets the mysterious Phoenix, who also posses magical powers and is a Savant like he is – and they’re soul mates. Sounds cheesy right? I assure you, it’s far from it. Yet the character of Phoenix isn’t a free soul, she’s being controlled by a gang and seers who use her powers to steal as she can freeze time (how awesome is that?!) which allows her to take her steals quickly and efficiently. Her next target was the unsuspecting Yves yet little did she know that he was “the one for her” and when they both encounter each other in a mugging that doesn’t go quite as Phoenix plans, Yves ends up losing something much more important than the iPhone she was after, instead he loses his heart ;)

Twisted and pitted against each other despite being soul mates, Stirling takes both characters on a journey where they fight against the odds to be together and Stirling’s writing matches the beautiful fluid writing he displays so easily in his work. It’s so easy to get caught up in his writing as he creates such realistic imagery, especially when set in London, details are hard to describe as London is such a lively city. Yet Stirling’s writing captured the essence of not only the place, but brought the characters to life in the city itself. It was magical ;)

Analysis of characters:

Not just in finding Sky, but in this book too, the character were all so.. real, despite the fact that they have paranormal powers, they’re emotions, actions, manners, they’re all real. They’re flawed and I like that too, it makes it more believable. A particular favourite feature of Stirling’s writing for me is the fact that his heroines are strong willed too, they don’t settle for what’s handed to them, instead they know how to stand for themselves and this I saw most in Phoenix’s character who wasn’t defined by the guy she was with, but more by her own personality. A huge thumbs up for that. *points thumbs up*

Overall:

I definitely loved this book and I’m glad Oxford Uni Press sent this to me, ‘cause I devoured it so quickly but it took me a while to write up the review so I can get it just right! Nonteless, anyone who enjoyed Finding Sky, or just want a story that will leave you with a smile on your face, then pick this up. It’ll steal your heart ;) 


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