Phoenix Unbound by Grace Draven – Stockholm Syndrome? Maybe not!

Phoenix Unbound by Grace Draven
Published by Penguin ISBN: 9780451489760
on September 25, 2018
Genres: Fantasy, Romance, Paranormal
Pages: 400
Read it as: eBook
Source: Purchased
My rating:
Check it out in Goodreads
Synopsis

Every year, each village is required to send a young woman to the Empire's capital--her fate to be burned alive for the entertainment of the masses. For the last five years, one small village's tithe has been the same woman. Gilene's sacrifice protects all the other young women of her village, and her secret to staying alive lies with the magic only she possesses.

But this year is different.

Azarion, the Empire's most famous gladiator, has somehow seen through her illusion--and is set on blackmailing Gilene into using her abilities to help him escape his life of slavery. Unknown to Gilene, he also wants to reclaim the birthright of his clan.

To protect her family and village, she will abandon everything to return to the Empire--and burn once more.

 

I read another book by this author a while ago, Radiance, and it was… it was something. Reading this one really made me see that she writes unconventional but good romance books with compelling plots.

If the rating is any indication, yes, I loved this one. I couldn’t put it down!

[alert type=”info” close=”false”]Trigger warning: Rape, abuse, derrogatory terms towards women[/alert]

 

The stakes for these characters are sky high

The author pulls no punches with the dire situation these characters are in. This is a bleak world where everyone has to bow to the Emperor and Empress of the land. And they amuse themselves orchestating shows of cruelty for the delight of the masses and their own.

The Empress specially is quite evil, and has been abusing Azarion for almost ten years. It’s horrible to know he’s powerless to do anything. Because, he could very well just let himself be killed, but no, he’s determined to survive. That’s what got him to be the best gladiator of all, for the amusement of the spectators, but also so he could live enough to do something about his situation.

And boy does he have a plan, which, unfortunately for Gilene, includes her.

Gilene has problems of her own, which entail sacrificing herself each year as a different looking woman so that the other women from her village would not burn. Only her, because she’s the only one who can take it.

I can’t with how brave and determined she is.

They’re two different people whose paths cross and seem to be slaves of the same master in their own ways. This is the story of how they find who they are when they’re not, and how they fall in love in the process.

 

But yes, he kinda abducts her

And that’s where it gets interesting. For most of the book, Gilene stays with Azarion, because he’s blackmailing her into it. Because he still needs her help. He doesn’t wish her ill, but he decides to puts his needs over hers, at least for the time being, though he promises her she’ll be delivered to her home unharmed once she’s helped him.

We know he’s telling the truth, but Gilene doesn’t, and obviously, she’s not buying that crap.

So, I was a bit wary when I read some reviews and saw talk of an Stockholm syndrome possibility. After reading it, I have to agree with the ones saying it’s not the case.

It felt like the author took great pains to always keep consent in mind. Once their relationship shifts from unwilling alliance to something else, Gilene begins acknowledging these changes. Even so, she remains firm in her own goals and needs. However she might feel for the man, she had duties. And I liked that she didn’t bother denying her feelings. There was communication between them, and once there was trust, she also knew he’d keep his promises.

You may disagree though, so do read it so you can see for yourself! (Have I convinced you yet?)

 

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The worldbuilding is a thing of beauty, and I might dedicate a whole section to that, but the winners here are definitely the characters. All of them, even the antagonists, and the foul-mouthed prison guards. Everything makes for a more real experience. At first everything seems so horrible and then you cheer on for the characters to finally have their freedom.

Totally recommend it, but the trigger warnings are no joke. There are a few scenes early on that depict abuse, and some of the men are pretty mysoginistic throughout. Your health is first, always.

 

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