The Phoenix Crown
Books | Fiction / Historical / 20th Century / World War I
4.2
Kate Quinn
Janie Chang
From bestselling authors Janie Chang and Kate Quinn, a thrilling and unforgettable narrative about the intertwined lives of two wronged women, spanning from the chaos of the San Francisco earthquake to the glittering palaces of Versailles.San Francisco, 1906. In a city bustling with newly minted millionaires and scheming upstarts, two very different women hope to change their fortunes: Gemma, a golden-haired, silver-voiced soprano whose career desperately needs rekindling, and Suling, a petite and resolute Chinatown embroideress who is determined to escape an arranged marriage. Their paths cross when they are drawn into the orbit of Henry Thornton, a charming railroad magnate whose extraordinary collection of Chinese antiques includes the fabled Phoenix Crown, a legendary relic of Beijing’s fallen Summer Palace.His patronage offers Gemma and Suling the chance of a lifetime, but their lives are thrown into turmoil when a devastating earthquake rips San Francisco apart and Thornton disappears, leaving behind a mystery reaching further than anyone could have imagined . . . until the Phoenix Crown reappears five years later at a sumptuous Paris costume ball, drawing Gemma and Suling together in one last desperate quest for justice.
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Author
Kate Quinn
Pages
400
Publisher
HarperCollins
Published Date
2024-02-13
ISBN
0063304724 9780063304727
Community ReviewsSee all
"Much like “The Alice Network”, this Kate Quinn book was a disappointment. The plot also drew many parallels to “The Rose Code”. I was excited by a historical fiction book set in the early 1900s and in the famous Chinatown of San Francisco. Despite this, much of the plot fell flat. I was especially disappointed by each of the main characters. I expected more heroism, courage, and intellect. There were glimpses of these traits, but for the most part, they acted out of fear and selfishness. Nothing about the plot was surprising, especially given the title of the book. The earthquake, a main plot point, had odd timing. It felt anticlimactic and forgotten very shortly after. Overall, this was an average historical town that will not be considered a Kate Quinn great. 2/5"
Olivia Denning
"A story of women from different backgrounds working together to overcome an evil wealthy man. Loved it!"
Heidi Oneil
"The first half almost made me quit because it dragged so much, but stick with it. The complex characterization, tackling of significant social issues (racism against Chinese, lesbian relationships, women's work and opportunities or lack thereof, sexism in artistic industries and coercive patron relationships...) weave seamlessly into a story with an ultimately supremely satisfying comeuppance scene."
T P
Teresa Prokopanko
"The beginning of the book was promising. A unique time period and a tragedy not often written about. I was excited to read a historical fiction about the San Francisco fire. The setting and characters were organized well to be both engaging and educational to the time period. However, about half way through the book the story slowed and dragged on. The characters became cheesy and I felt that the connection with the Phoenix Crown didn’t have a strong punch. I wanted to enjoy this book more and I do think it has potential. "
Sara BB
