If you like high stakes political and epic fantasy, Dawn of the Firebird is for you. Carve out some time to sit down with this one. You won’t regret it! Keep reading this book review of Dawn of the Firebird for my full thoughts.
Summary
Khamilla Zahr-zad’s life has been built on a foundation of violence and vengeance. Every home she’s known has been destroyed by war. As the daughter of an emperor’s clan, she spent her childhood training to maintain his throne. But when her clansmen are assassinated by another rival empire, plans change. With her heavenly magic of nur, Khamilla is a weapon even enemies would wield—especially those in the magical, scholarly city of Za’skar. Hiding her identity, Khamilla joins the enemy’s army school full of jinn, magic and martial arts, risking it all to topple her adversaries, avenge her clan and reclaim their throne.
To survive, she studies under cutthroat mystic monks and battles in a series of contests to outmaneuver her fellow soldiers. She must win at all costs, even if it means embracing the darkness lurking inside her. But the more she excels, the more she is faced with history that contradicts her father’s teachings. With a war brewing among the kingdoms and a new twisted magic overtaking the land, Khamilla is torn between two impossible vengeance or salvation.
Review
(Disclaimer: I received this book from the publisher. This has not impacted my review which is unbiased and honest.)
Dawn of the Firebird is about transformation. It begins a story about a girl without a name so desperate to prove her worth. She needs to be seen as someone worthy. Watching her navigate the politics of her studies, she is transformed into steel. Hardened by the loss of her home and family, Khamilla is forced to let her past self die to be the stronger person she has to be. Dawn of the Firebird is full of these painful transformations. Of becoming a weapon, of choosing to wait, and of questioning. With political manipulations and power moves, Khamilla encounters the academy and training, of constantly proving herself and being on a knife’s edge of ruin.
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Dawn of the Firebird is action focused. While I was missing a few moments of emotional connection, this is for fans of the journey to prove ourselves. She has to reconsider her own biases and wonder if she needs to sacrifice everyone around her for her own goals. It is a quick read. I wish there were a few more moment of larger world building especially considering the action towards the latter half of the book. Overall, it’s a good fit for those who like to read about proving ourselves even if it takes everything from us. Find Dawn of the Firebird on Goodreads, Storygraph, Amazon, Bookshop. org, Blackwells, & Libro. fm.