There’s actually quite a lot of historical parallels thrown around in this. And as Japan has previously annexed Korea (particularly during the early twentieth century, roughly the time this novel takes place), there’s certainly a historic precedent. If you weren’t aware, Korea and Japan have a… complex relationship, at least historically. The Chinese were mentioned too, but only in passing, and I didn’t take note of their pseudonym. The Hwaguk people were obviously styled after Korea, with the Razan invaders from a nearby archipelago were clearly Japan. In general, the world-building wasn’t terribly creative. As they grow more deeply embedded in Razanei society, so too do they develop as a character, as someone capable of telling a full story alone while maintaining an interesting lead. Not the best narrator (at least I would’ve sworn early on). A bit sheltered from the world, a bit caught up in their head, a bit off, odd. I actually really enjoyed Phoenix Extravagant, something that I would not’ve expected after the first 50-odd pages.

Phoenix Extravagant combines a unique magical system, an automated dragon of infinite potential, a beautiful by deadly duelist, and a rather bland artist that would rather fame had simply passed them by.

But the methods used are too horrifying even from them to imagine, which prompts Jebi to answer a question about themselves-will they emerge from the shadows and try to lead their people into the light, or will they instead focus on their art, the only thing they’ve ever wanted? In one stroke Jebi is cut off from their friends, their family, their life before-and ensconced in the Ministry’s fortress, where they learn to create and paint that which keeps their people in bondage.

But instead of the Ministry of Art, the test instead lands them a job at the mysterious Ministry of Armor, where they are set to painting the curious symbols used to animate the Razanei’s fearsome automata. They just want to paint.īut as the native child of an occupied territory, the future of their country, their people may depend on them and what they choose to do.Īnd yet it all starts when they forsake their heritage, donning a foreign name so that they might become a ministry artist-comfortably housed and paid-just so they might paint to their heart’s content. Many thanks to Solaris and NetGalley for the ARC! All opinions are my own. I was kindly provided an advance-copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.

Phoenix extravagant by yoon ha lee