The Phoenix Crown by Kate Quinn and Janie Chang

4/5 Stars

With historical fiction being my favorite genre and Kate Quinn being one of my favorite authors, I was excited for the opportunity to read The Phoenix Crown by Kate Quinn and Janie Chang.  I enjoyed the book a great deal.  It was not my favorite book written by Quinn, but I am happy to have read it because it was unique. 

First, the book was written by two authors, but it flowed like it was written by one.  These two women must have amazing chemistry to be able to craft a cohesive and interesting plot line so seamlessly.  Second, I love that this book was set during a time for which I admittedly know little about – the San Francisco earthquake in 1906.

Four very different women – Gemma, a talented soprano opera singer, Suling, a Chinatown resident desperate to escape an arranged marriage, Alice, a brilliant botanist with an unmatched love of flora, and Nellie, a free-spirited bohemian artist – are all equally as strong and equally determined in this thrilling and plot-twisting novel.  And they are all linked together through one man – Hentry Thornton, a wealthy, conniving, and deceptive criminal.  Their paths cross with Thornton prior to, during and after the great earthquake and subsequent fire of San Francisco in 1906.  And their last meeting with Thronton happens far from San Francisco and carries a satisfying ending.  The novel explores the lives of these women trying to thrive in a world in which they have little influence. It is about courage, determination, and perseverance.

Suffice it to say, this story will grab and keep your attention. I do not really know how to write much about this novel without giving away too much of the plotline.  It is an easy and interesting read, and I am fascinated by the fact that it was written collaboratively.

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