Thank you for an e-arc of this book. This was a huge success for me and I am so excited for reading it. The plot idea is unique and it impressed me. I also really enjoyed all the characters. All in all, it was an enjoyable experience and I highly recommend this!

The gorgeous bright colors of this cover immediately drew my eye. And the description of mech dragons, magic, and revolution kept me intrigued.

Jebi only wants to paint, but a trapped mech dragon and revolution on the horizon will make their dreams more difficult.

This was such a fun read. We had some really great enby representation in our protagonist. And there was some fascinating relationships in this story. Jebi’s relationship with their sister is complicated and difficult, even as it is evident that they both love each other. Jebi also gets a romance, although I felt that that wasn’t as developed for me as I would have liked.

I really loved the combination of both fantasy elements and sci if. There was some really interesting magic in this story, based in painting. I would have loved so much more depth on this on how the magic worked. But we also got mech dragons and automata and moon bases!

The pacing on this felt a little uneven, with most of it being a slow burn, with brief quick moments of action until everything comes to a head in the last five percent of the story. It felt rushed and the last chapter felt more like it should have been the first chapter of a sequel.

I will eagerly be looking for more by Lee, and I’d be super interested in a sequel to this!

Thanks to NetGalley and Rebellion for this ARC!

Yoon Ha Lee never disappoints, and I loved this YA science fantasy story - one of my favorites in recent years. It's truly got everything: futuristic tech, magical art, and of course dragons (and a nonbinary MC)!! It's definitely fantasy, but the world building is loosely (yet clearly) based on the Japanese occupation of South Korea. The plot, characters, and world building all drew me in easily. I've been recommending this to people for awhile now.

*Thank you to NetGalley and Solaris for granting me access to an early copy of this book*

DNF at roughly 50%

As much as I went in wanting to like this book, it was clear from the first few pages that this was just not a book for me. Normally when I'm debating quitting a book I will push onto the half way point because my frustration lies with the characters or with the plot. While I had issues with both of these (which I will get into later) the thing that immediately made me disconnect with the story was the writing style. It was very dry and overwhelming, and that did change through the entirety of my read which made me feel very removed from its contents. Aside from the writing style, there were three things about this book that solidified my DNF, two of which pertain to the protagonist Gyen. There was a revel early on in the book (which the synopsis teased) that I didn't react strongly to, but Gyen should have and the fact that they didn't kind of baffled me. Even if they couldn't have verbal protested, there should have been some internal struggle and there really wasn't. The other thing about Gyen that honestly left a bad taste in my mouth was the budding romance with their jailor. I have now read two books with that scenario being the basis for the relationship, and I have really disliked them both. It comes across as problematic because of a power imbalance, and is never going to be something I few as romantic. So the fact that this became an increasing focus of the first half at least made it an unpleasant reading experience. As I was debating on if this book was worth continuing I looked at some reviews and learned what happens at the end, which made me go both "WTF" and "That's bleak". For a book that was already on thin ice, my thoughts on the ending solidified that this was just not a book that I was going to enjoy. Despite my feelings on the contents, I do still love the cover.

(Content warnings: colonisation, confinement/imprisonment, xenophobia, sexual content, violence, death, blood)

I don't have that much to say about this book other than it was incredibly fun! It's super easy to get into and engaging, the worldbuilding kicks ass, and while the magic-powered automaton dragon absolutely steals the show, Jebi's a great character, as well. Quite a unique protagonist, too, especially in the dystopian genre - they're an artist, nonbinary, kinda a coward, kinda selfish, overall very flawed, and I absolutely love that about them <3 I think the romance was a little lacking in chemistry, but other than that, this was a very enjoyable book.

(Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC!)

This book had such an interesting premise but sadly the execution was subpar. Loved Jebi, Bongsunga and Vei and the sassy inner monologues of Jebi, the queernorm world building, the thematic discussions about colonialism and oppression but the plot is where it all breaks down. The major plot point of the heist, which is what attracted me to the book simply failed to deliver. So I am going with a 2.5/5 stars for this one

I love Yoon Ha Lee's writing. This one was interesting but felt much less substantial than much of his other work, and I was left wanting a little more from it. Still, such cool worldbuilding and concepts being explored. Characters were intriguing but not as well developed as I wanted.

Phoenix Extravagant is a beautifully written SF/fantasy standalone by Yoon Ha Lee. First published in 2020, this reformat and re-release 17th Aug 2021 by Rebellion on their Solaris imprint is 464 pages and is available in paperback and ebook formats. It's worth noting that the ebook format has a handy interactive table of contents as well as interactive links and references throughout. I've really become enamored of ebooks with interactive formats lately.

There was so much to engage with in this vividly imagined story full of magic and strife. It's an intricate epic fantasy peopled with distinctly rendered characters who are subtle and believable. I was struck by both the magnitude of the overarching setting - an occupied people, living under the rule of their colonizers, alongside the minutiae of day to day life for individuals as they go about their lives working, creating, and assimilating and even building friendships and relationships across enemy lines. In addition, I loved the magic and world building. The automata are creepy and interesting at the same time and the particular magical twist to make the animating inks was amazingly effectively written.

The denouement and end resolution were unexpected and a bit flat for me personally. It almost felt spliced in, but it didn't ruin the story or anything; it was just disjointed. (I could've believed that it had been written as a coda by another author altogether - it was that different stylistically).

I loved the LGBTQ+ representation and that it wasn't *the* thing driving the entire narrative. I also enjoyed the way the author handled the subtle (and not so subtle) themes of racism and assimilation. I liked the wry humor in the way the most humane and honorable characters weren't human at all.

Four and a half stars. Beautifully and powerfully written. My best speculative fiction read this year thus far.

Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.

Loved it so Much I bought a physical copy! Would rec to fans of Sanderson's style of worldbuilding. Yoon Ha Lee never fails to amaze me with their skill in worldbuilding. Though this is mentioned as stand-alone I would love more

I kept postponing this review because I didn't know what to write and I still don't but I guess I'll have to (this is a problem I have when I like a book).

So, why did I want to read Phoenix Extravagant you ask? See that cool dragon on the cover? Yupp, that's why. Yoon Ha Lee said dragons, art, revolution, and I ate it up.

* About the book:

Gyen Jebi isn’t a fighter, or a subversive. They just want to paint.

One day they’re jobless and desperate; the next, Jebi finds themself recruited by the Ministry of Armor to paint the mystical sigils that animate the occupying government’s automaton soldiers.

But when Jebi discovers the depths of the Razanei government’s horrifying crimes—and the awful source of the magical pigments they use—they find they can no longer stay out of politics.

What they can do is steal Arazi, the ministry’s mighty dragon automaton, and find a way to fight…

I loved this book so much but at the same time, I wanted more. Some parts escalated quickly or weren't as emotional as I expected them to be and I was confused but I didn't mind it. It's a wonderful story and I was absolutely thrilled that the main character was non-binary.

All in all, I enjoyed reading this book and would recommend it to everyone.

I adored this book, for a multitude of reasons, but I just want to highlight that this book has a decently sized cast and there's only 3-4 named male characters. The majority are women and nonbinary people and I think that's so neat, especially within the fantasy genre, which has, historically been male dominated. This is a queer-norm world and all the queer characters are characters outside their identities. It was so refreshing to see a cast like this and I loved every second of it.

As a protagonist, I loved Jebi. They were their own breed of reluctant hero who gets pulled into the revolution after losing a contest. They're a struggling artist who doesn't like to resort to violence and that was equally refreshing to see in fantasy. Most protagonists are either willing to cause violence or are bred to see it as needed. Not here. Similarly, their relationships with Vei and Arazi and Bongsunga were all so well done and filled with nuance.

This is a four simply because the beginning meandered just a little, but it's closer to a 4.5-4.75. This really is just a quick, but thoughtful and beautiful crafted read.

Jebi is an artist and being an artist is all they've ever wanted. But as they try to find a path to support themselves they are drawn into the occupying empire. The more they learn, the more they turn from a disinterested party into a dissident. But the question is whether they can or will use their art for the revolution.

Overall, this was okay reading. The first third was very engaging, but lost my interest a bit after that. It also started to read a lot like a younger YA novel, especially once the robot dragon comes into play, which I was surprised about. I did wish there was more clear description of how the magic worked since it seemed interesting but a bit hand-wavy. We also spend a lot of time in Jebi's head and their anxieties, but it does give one perspective of all of their complex relationships. Also, the end seemed to come a bit out of the blue. Overall, okay read, but might be interesting for folks looking to read a story about a reluctant/accidental rebel.

Thank you to rebellion publishing and netgalley for the gifted e-copy!

This was such a good, short read. The world building with magic pigments that bring automaton to life was fascinating, and I loved that this story in a world full of war, conquest, and colonization was told through the perspective of an artist, not a traditional fighter.

This is a new to me author and I had no idea what to expect going in. The book itself was really good. I loved so many things about it but also felt just ok with a lot of things as well. The focus on pacifism was interesting and not entirely expected, and I loved that.

The magic was something I loved but also felt it was brutal. The way they made that special pigment for the paint actually physically hurt me. I think it would physically hurt anyone who loves art or identify as an artist.

Very nicely written. I'm interested in picking up more from this author at some point as I really enjoyed the writing.

I've been putting off this review for a long while since I'm finding it very difficult rate the book. Let me put it like this. I really enjoyed the reading experience of the book but felt it lacked some critical elements that would have made it better but in retrospect, I really appreciate the insight that Phoenix Extravagant gives.

So what is this book about? It is about a non binary artist Jebi, living in an occupied nation, who finds themselves coerced into working for their oppressors to repair a mechanical dragoon given life by art pigments derived from destroyed artifacts. But the sentient dragon convinces Jebi to organize a heist to escape.
First, the sass. The entire book was incredibly sassy and I loved that. Jebi's internal monologue is filled with a wry kind of wit and its very refreshing. I also loved how queernormative the society is in the book.
Phoenix Extravagant deals with some heavy themes such as colonialism, oppression and how art and history is distorted and influenced by these factors. It also accurately portrays how life under oppression slowly changes people.
The characters are incredible with Bongsunga and Vei being my favorites. They are very complex and while not easy to love, they are easy to feel for.
that being said, the heist part really didn't deliver. The book focused so much on the thematic concerns that the actual plot was pretty lukewarm. There was so much potential for the magic system and I felt that the ending didn't fit the general aesthetic of the book. Overall, a solid book for ruminations of colonialism, rebellions and how queernormative societies makes things simpler for all of us.

I really enjoyed Phoenix Extravagant by Yoon Ha Lee! I will admit I went into this book thinking there would be a lot more action than there is, but what I did find was a lovely character-driven political intrigue story. Jebi is such a relatable main character: they're an artist who simply wants to create art and hasn't paid much attention to politics. They are comfortable enough and willing to assimilate as much as possible into the culture of their country's oppressors until they get a true peek behind the curtain. Jebi is often scared and unsure on their journey, but they keep dredging up the strength to do what's right. They just felt like such a realistic character, and you can really see their character develop throughout the story. The dragon Arazi is also an absolute delight and I do wish there had been a little more Arazi in the story (I just love a good dragon character!) There is a lovely, complex sibling relationship in Phoenix Extravagant, which I really enjoyed. I'd highly recommend this if you're looking for a diverse and unique political scifi/fantasy that's got a nonbinary MC!

I badly wanted Phoenix Extravagant to be an awesome dragon fantasy but unfortunately it just isn't. Despite a few bright spots like a nonbinary main character, it’s hard to recommend it. The bits of quality writing and world buildup that make up the core of it are overwhelmingly obscured by flat characters who I personally never cared for then layered over by a thick paste of inconsistent rules, (story convenience was an issue for me as the you can literally bribe any guard in this world to get away with anything.) and lack of overall dragon content.
Full review to come on my YouTube channel.

I had my eyes on this book for a while, never read anything by this author but heard good things. Actually really liked the book, the story and magic system where different in its own way, I liked the characters.
Still would have liked it to be a bit more explained or clear, sometimes it got a bit confusing, but it was still enjoyable.
The romance wasn't bad, but don't rely on it, since it isn't much. The magic is pretty cool, and the story is really unique. But I did love the relationship between jebi and the dragon!

trigger warning
<spoiler> racism, kidnapping, torture, blackmail, death by fire, trauma, grief, earthquake, colonialism </spoiler>

Artist Jebi fails the entry exam for the Ministry of Art, and has to find an occupation fast, as money lenders are hot on their tail. Rumors say the Ministry of Armor is looking for artists - but can Jebi do that, not only working for the enemy's empire, but for the enemy's war effort?

We have setting that is asian inspired, from the everyday life of the people involved to the tales they tell, and the country this is set in has been invaded by outside forces. Our protagonist and their sister belong to what now is an ethnic minority in their own home. As if that were not enough to worry about, there are rumours that the Western World - Jebi is very vague on what this really means, never having bothered to learn more - is trying to reach for this part of the country as well.

Both fantastical and science fi aspects appear, we have magic and magical creatures on one hand, and the construction of automata on the other.

Our protagonist is gloriously non binary, and it doesn't really matter. This is seen as this weird thing the people from territory 14 have, but as all traditions are despised, there is no special animosity towards non binary people. The invaders tolerate non binary people, and while we're told that single individuals may have problems with that, such a person does not make an appearance.

A poly relationship features in this as well. Jebi's love interest whom I am not going to name for spoiler reasons has three parents, and in the second half of the book, once the three parents once appeared, they play a certain role. It's not a big role, but the manner of their relationship is explored a bit. At all times it's clear this person just has three parents, everyone of them has their own expertise, and they're happy as they are.

Then there's the dragon. The pacifist dragon. I love Arazi, and I'd have liked a discussion about pronouns, because I don't understand why the it pronouns were used when Arazi showed they're a person. A manmade person, but they have their own thoughts and plans.

I had fun. I will read more by this author, and more about dragons. Hopefully more about dragons and non binary people.
The arc was provided by the publisher.

In PHOENIX EXTRAVAGANT, a non-binary artist (Jebi) in an occupied country must learn to navigate a treacherous landscape of collaborators, occupiers, and rebels.

Modeled loosely after occupied Korea, the novel introduces a lot of background that Western readers may be unaware of. However, it does so in a way that felt organic to me, and while it was pretty obvious to me personally what was going on I don't think you need to know the history of this part of the world to enjoy the story, its characters, and its world.

One of the things I liked the most about this story is that there are no simplifications. Jebi's choices are complex, and so are those made by the people around them. This added a great level of depth and increased my enjoyement of the story considerably.

I also really enjoyed the character relationships. Also: talking metal dragon? Yes please!

Anyway, if you like complicated political fantasy and SFF, give this a read. You won't be disappointed.

(Note that despite the Netgalley publication date of August 17, 2021, this title first released in October of 2020.)