Silver Phoenix: Beyond the Kingdom of Xia

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Silver Phoenix: Beyond the Kingdom of Xia

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Author(s)

Cindy Pon

Publisher

HarperTeen

Genre(s)

Age Range

12+

Release Date

April 17, 2009

ISBN

0061730211

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No one wanted Ai Ling. And deep down she is relieved—despite the dishonor she has brought upon her family—to be unbetrothed and free, not some stranger's subservient bride banished to the inner quarters.

But now, something is after her. Something terrifying—a force she cannot comprehend. And as pieces of the puzzle start to fit together, Ai Ling begins to understand that her journey to the Palace of Fragrant Dreams isn't only a quest to find her beloved father but a venture with stakes larger than she could have imagined.

Bravery, intelligence, the will to fight and fight hard . . . she will need all of these things. Just as she will need the new and mysterious power growing within her. She will also need help.

It is Chen Yong who finds her partly submerged and barely breathing at the edge of a deep lake. There is something of unspeakable evil trying to drag her under. On a quest of his own, Chen Yong offers that help . . . and perhaps more.

Editor reviews

2 reviews

Stunning start to a kickbutt duology

March 06, 2017 (Updated: June 21, 2026)

Overall rating

5.0

Plot

5.0

Characters

5.0

Writing Style

5.0

Illustrations/Photos (if applicable)

N/A

After several failed attempts to arrange a marriage, Ai Ling’s father travels to the palace to fix his reputation, which has been the cause of all the failures. After he doesn’t show up for a long time, Ai Ling sets out to find her father in the Palace of Fragrant Dreams, she doesn’t expect the dangerous journey she’s starting. She gets attacked by demons, ones that seem to specifically target her, and she encounters numerous life-threatening situations. Along the way, she meets Chen Yong, a young man who’s journey is also taking him the same direction. Ai Ling faces trial after trial while she attempts to find her father.

Cindy Pon is quickly becoming one of my favorite authors. SILVER PHOENIX is a stunning, lush novel. Like in SERPENTINE, Pon does a perfect job at setting up a journey story. Ai Ling has to travel far in attempt to save her father. The fighting scenes between her and various demons are incredible, and you won’t want to put down the book. Likewise, Ai Ling’s internal journey is just as magnificent. Even though her parents love and care for her, she’s still limited by her society. As she travels, she discovers a freedom she never knew she had, and she blossoms in it.

The minor romance with Chen Yong is a delicious slow-burn, full of romantic tension side plot. I love their interactions, as well as the the scenes with other secondary characters. There are some seriously heartfelt moments, and these characters will stay with you for a long time.

I couldn’t be more excited to read the sequel, FURY OF THE PHOENIX, soon. This duology-start is so incredible, and I can’t wait to see where the characters go next.

Originally posted at The Forest of Words and Pages: http://www.forestofwordsandpages.com/2017/02/review-silver-phoenix-cindy-pon/

Samantha Randolph Top 50 Reviewer 297 reviews

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2 reviews

Overall rating

3.0

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An RPG Novel

August 20, 2009 (Updated: June 21, 2026)

Overall rating

3.0

Plot

3.0

Characters

N/A

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Reader reviewed by Yan

Silver Phoenix definitely was a fantasy read. The way it was written made me think of an RPG (role-playing game). Granted I have not played a single video game in my entire life but I like to watch others play. It was set up as a fight monster A, talk to townspeople, fight monster B, eat and rest, and so forth until you fight final boss. And let me tell you, they ate quite frequently and was told in great detail. After a while even I started to get hungry, mostly because I have eaten many of the food described so I can imagine it, and ended skimming through those scenes. And there was many of those scenes skimmed&Kill final boss, gigantic scene where spirits and sparkly lights come out of said bosss mouth. Heroes or heroine in this case goes back home after completing her goal.

Cindy Pon had a never ending supply of mystical creatures! Some were interesting, others disturbing, but they were all, how should I say this, unique. But some scenes had me twitching like a rabid bunny.

The Life Seeker can easily be distinguished by the extra breast on her sternum. The tips are dark blue, as her tongue and womanhood. Legend has it that the extra breast was given to replace the heart she does not have& This is also a creature that wears a sheer top so you really cannot miss the other thing sticking out&Thankfully that is about the worst of the demons.

Another twitching scene: Dont worry, Ai Ling. My manhood may be sitting in a jar, but I can still satisfy you in every way& I may not be a guy, but this still makes me cringe and uncomfortable. Speaking of awkwardness, this book talks about rape and sex so if are not comfortable or allowed to read about such topics, then I suggest ask permission or skip those scenes. It is only a few short scenes, but a disclaimer can never hurt anyone.

This was a fast-paced book that took you all over the lands! From country side to country side, to the heavens and below, the reader embarks on the journey with Ai Ling. The tales were riveting and the details and explanations were exceptionally acute. Sometimes being more of the focal point than the actual plot.

Ai Ling and the rest of the characters took some time to get used to. She was a bit stubborn and naÃ¯ve but later learned to&tolerate?

What I would have wished for the more details of Silver Phoenix, Ai Ling is the reincarnation of her. I think it would be a great idea if she wrote a sequel/prequel type of book told in Silver Phoenixs point of view. It would clear up a lot of questions as well as provide another fascinating read.

Also this may be an ARC issue of not, but towards the end, Ai Lings father talks about Chen Yongs past. There is a sudden shift of point of views that took a while to figure out and by the time I did, it went back to third person. You know, with the hes/shes instead of Is. Either the editors missed some quotations marks or they did notice this fumble.

Overall: I hope to see some type of sequel to this gorgeously written novel.

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Decent Adventure in Ancient Fantasy China

April 19, 2009 (Updated: June 21, 2026)

Overall rating

3.0

Plot

3.0

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N/A

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Reader reviewed by Steph Su

Ai Ling has always led a
straightforward life, but that all changes when first her betrothal is broken
off because shes unacceptable and then her father does not return from a
trip to the Palace of Fragrant Dreams. Determined not to stay at home and worry
like a good female, Ai Ling sets off to the Palace to find out what happened to
her father.

Along the way she meets Chen Yong,
a half-foreign young man who is also on the way to the Palace. Not all the
company Ai Ling happens upon are as good as him, though; in fact, Ai Ling and
Chen Yong find themselves repeatedly engaged in battles with fierce demons that
neither of them had ever believed existed. It seems as if Ai Ling is not the
ordinary girl she thinks she is, and that something is definitely trying to
prevent her from achieving her goal. Armed with her friends, the Immortals
help, and the power of her legacy, however, Ai Ling just might be able to
overthrow the dark forces at work and succeed.

SILVER PHOENIX is first and
foremost a nonstop tale of fantastical adventure. Demons and mythical places
pop out of the pages nonstop, and so there is an almost constant stream of
butt-kicking, done by an extremely appealing heroine. Ai Ling is an enviable
protagonist, with her neverending arsenal of abilities. Even with all the
unwanted problems that destiny has placed upon her shoulders, she forges on,
not relying on others to do what she needs to get done.

The heavy reliance on evil
creatures to move the plot along, however, is also what disappointed me about
the story. The strength of the book lies in the imagined details, but not in
the overarching story line. Characters fall flat in the face of such physical
adversaries; almost all of the challenges that Ai Ling and Chen Yong face can
be overcome with physical actions, leaving very little psychology and mental
study in the story.

Despite the distance I felt from
the characters, however, I know that SILVER PHOENIX will appeal to the tomboy
who wants a different heroine and setting than the norm.