The Phoenix and the Firebird

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By Alexis Kossiakoff & Scott Forbes Crawford

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Publisher Description

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 brave 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?

Soar into a grand adventure, a world of Chinese and Slavic myths ... into the world of The Phoenix and the Firebird.

14 Reviews

4.0

JLynnElse Author

Created 3 months ago

“1920, Peking. Instead of reuniting with her father, twelve-year-old Lucy finds a single scarlet-gold feather resting in his otherwise empty train seat. A firebird feather. Lucy knows this means only one thing: the beginning of a quest. It has been three years since Lucy’s father sent her to China as the Russian Civil War raged. He’s been captured by the warlord Taotie to forcefully serve in his army, and Taotie will soon use this army to invade Peking. With her friend Su, Lucy sets out to rescue her father. When a prophecy reveals they must seek the help of a Russian gangster named Vlad, Lucy will need to sneak into a den of dangerous gangsters and gamblers to enlist his help. Su doesn’t trust the gangster, but Lucy feels there’s something familiar about Vlad. Su, whose family has fallen from grace, and Lucy, a refugee, are best friends. This bond will be challenged as they venture into an unexpected, mystical landscape. The historical setting isn’t very strong; instead, recent events and their effects are succinctly recounted. For the middle-grade audience, the folklore elements take center stage. Both girls think and act appropriately for their ages. Lucy must overcome her fears, and the enduring love she has for her father helps bolster her during difficult times. Older readers may find resolutions to problems a bit simplistic, but the twists and turns to the plot feel appropriate for its intended audience. Additionally, the book’s hopeful outlook and sense of wonder warm the heart. Blending Russian and Chinese folklore, Kossiakoff and Crawford have penned a sweet, enchanting, and poignant story about family, friendship, and belonging. Review originally posted via the Historical Novel Society at: https://historicalnovelsociety.org/reviews/the-phoenix-and-the-firebird/”

Hviareadsbooks

Created 4 months ago

“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.”

Rosh

Created 8 months ago

“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:”

ashleythebookisbetter

Created 8 months ago

“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.”

sheilasbookreviewer

Created 8 months ago

“The title of this novel caught my attention at the start. I was interested in what the difference was between a Phoenix and a Firebird or were they the same? Here is what I found... {The phoenix and the firebird are both mythical bird-like creatures, but they have some distinct differences: The phoenix is a mythical bird from Greek and Egyptian mythology. It is known for cyclically burning itself to death and then rising renewed from the ashes. The phoenix is associated with the sun, fire, and renewal. It is often depicted as a large, beautiful bird with red and gold plumage. In contrast, the firebird is a mythical creature from Slavic folklore. It is typically described as a large, magnificent bird with glowing, luminescent feathers, often in shades of red, orange, and gold. The firebird is known for its mystical powers and is often sought after by heroes in Slavic folktales. Unlike the phoenix, the firebird does not cyclically burn and regenerate itself but is more associated with bringing good fortune to those who glimpse or capture it. So in summary, the key differences are the phoenix's strong associations with the sun, fire, and cyclical rebirth, versus the firebird's connection to Slavic folklore and its glowing, luminescent appearance and mystical powers, without the same cyclical regeneration motif.} This middle-grade novel offers an engaging mix of early 20th-century Russian and Chinese life, filled with exciting fantasy elements. It begins with an intriguing beginning that pulls readers in right away. The story follows two heroines, Lucy and Su, who set out on a mission to save Lucy's father from a wicked tyrant. Su, who became Lucy's friend when she moved to China three years earlier, stands by her side. Together, they build a strong bond based on trust and support, as they learn to be courageous as they forge ahead on this dangerous journey. The story is even more thrilling because of the inclusion of Russian and Chinese folklore. Young readers will be fascinated by the many strange and mystical creatures they meet along the way. I enjoyed the many riddles the girls had to figure out to help them in their quest to find Lucy's father. This makes the book appealing to a wide range of readers, not just for middle-grade or teen readers. The writing flows well, and the intriguing legends will be well-liked by readers of all ages. The authors did a phenomenal job and it was especially amazing to have the appendices at the end to send me off for continued learning about Chinese and Russian mythology. The Phoenix and the Firebird is a great new fantasy adventure that readers, young and old will enjoy reading.”

About Alexis Kossiakoff

Trained as an anthropologist and now an international teacher, Alexis Kossiakoff is fascinated by the meeting of cultures. Alexis' research into the history of her family, who escaped from revolution and war in Russia to China, inspired the writing of The Phoenix and the Firebird.

Scott Forbes Crawford

Scott grew up in Japan and studied at a Chinese university. He is the author of the novel Silk Road Centurion ("compulsive reading due to its many colorful characters and twisting plot points" - Taipei Times), a history book on ancient China ("a fast-moving, readable narrative" - Asian Review of Books), and numerous fantasy, adventure, and mystery short stories. He's also an award-winning poet. Scott and Alexis live in Japan with their daughter.