Stealing Phoenix

Geschreven bij Stealing Phoenix

A book – a thief? With a little imagination, it might be possible.
How? Six words: 'Stealing Phoenix', written by Joss Stirling.

Although I didn’t expect it, I immediately liked this book. I’m usually not a big fan of fantasy books, but somehow this one was different. (It wasn’t about vampires or werewolves, for a start.) The main character, Phoenix – Phee – Corrigan, is a thief with paranormal powers who’s forced to use her ‘gift’ for all the wrong reasons. She’s part of a group of thieves known as the Community, controlled by a heartless leader called the Seer. Phoenix doesn’t believe in the fairy tale that somewhere on earth there is a guy walking around who’s her soulmate – her match made in heaven. But when she’s ordered to steal from Yves Benedict, an American student – read 'genius raised to a square' – currently visiting London, her world as she knows it starts to fall apart. Can Yves really be her soulmate? And if he is – will the Seer allow her to leave?

The story is written from Phees point of view, which gives you insight in her character and makes you feel as if she’s a close friend who generously shares her thoughts and feelings with you. I also love the name ‘Phoenix’. It suggests she’s someone special, a one-of-a-kind, just like the mythological bird that shares her name and is visible on the intriguing cover. It’s cool she hasn’t got a random name, but the name of a bird – like a bird, Phee needs to fly away from her problems and break free from her troubled past.

Since Phoenix has been alone for such a long time, she finds it very hard – harder than anything else – to trust. Yet that’s exactly what Yves is asking from her. I like the way he won’t give up on Phee – he won’t stop until he’s got her safe. What I like as well is the fact that both Phoenix and Yves feel so real. If only I had paranormal powers, I could be Phee. If you had them, you could be Yves. Joss Stirling has done a great job giving the two of them authenticity, making you warm up to them more with every page you read.

The informal style perfectly fits in with the story and genre, described by the author as a dark romance. It’s nice the book isn’t just a remake of 'Finding Sky', the awesome first book in this series, which I read immediately after I’d finished 'Stealing Phoenix'. A difference is the fact that Phees story has its setting in London – all the little references towards historical buildings and famous places as the Barbican Centre make the story even more fun to read. 'Finding Sky' on the other hand, has its setting in the American Rockies, which suits Sky’s story just fine. Of course there are similarities between the books as well: the main characters are both troubled girls who find a Benedict brother who loves and saves them and live happily ever after. But who cares about that when their stories are this great?

So to get back to my first line, yes, I believe a book can be considered as a thief. 'Stealing Phoenix' stole my attention at the book shop, my thoughts at home, my sleep at night, and – most important of all – my heart.
In conclusion I loved this book. I really did – which leads to the following question: would I think of this book as my soulmate come to life in the form of a nice, dog-eared paperback? 'Stealing Phoenix' – my wonderful, fantastic, unforgettable and 100 % right match made in heaven in the world of books? Well… I don’t suppose I would go that far – but it’s definitely close ;)!

Het is zoveel beter dan de nederlandse versie! En het blijft een van mn favo series en schrijvers

ik heb deze serie alleen dit jaar al 3x gelezen en ik heb ze al jaren. wat begon met lenen bij de bieb eindigde met eerst in het nederlands en toen in het engels. alle 6 zijn ze aanraders

Ik heb dit boek inmiddels al een paar keer gelezen, en het blijft leuk! Dit boek erg underrated, je hoort er bijna nooit iets over. Het verhaal is heel spannend, en de personages zijn super uitgewerkt! Ik hou van Phoenix, ze is zo'n leuk en begrijpbaar personage. De Benedict familie was ook super leuk, en de scenes met hen waren geweldig om te lezen. Het boek is überhaupt echt goed geschreven; de actie, de liefde, de dialogen... De liefde tussen Yves en Phoenix was zo mooi! Ik wil ook een soulmate (en dan het liefste Yves, natuurlijk) :)
Dit boek is geen literair hoogstandje of heel diep, maar dat hoeft ook niet en ik heb ervan genoten! Super leuk en een echte aanrader.
(En, niet te vergeten, kijk eens naar de cover! Prachtig, toch? :D)

Spannend en romantisch. Goed vervolg op finding sky. Ik vond het leuk dat er wat meer van de familie te lezen viel. Hoop dat over de andere broers ook nog een deel komt

Leuke lichte leesstof, leest lekker weg!