Review for The Phoenix Project: Book 1: Flight

I initially chose this book because the blurb reminded me of books I’ve really enjoyed in the past, including the Shatter Me series and the Project E.L.E. series. The idea of a “super” teen is very appealing, especially one designed for nefarious purposes who rebels against her makers. 

The book is set in first person so it’s a fairly simple matter of slipping into the mind of the main character, Ashe. Made in a lab and trained to be an unfeeling killing machine, she revolts and her ‘family’ escapes into the slums of a city known as Luca. Now Ashe might be inexperienced with life, but she is a certified badass chimera and responsible for three other lives so she does her best to care for her own in a place where people are starving. 

The initial “us against the world” vibe is altered when the MC does a terrible deed against those who don’t deserve to suffer, and guilt sets in. Once the guilt exists, the rest unfolds. She joins the Phoenix Project, those she wronged, to fight for what is right. Soon it’s a family affair, and, of course, there are a couple boys. The good looking Nick is also part of the Phoenix Project, and he’s got his own grudge against the establishment, while Gabe, her childhood love, haunts her every day. 

It doesn’t take long for everything to go wrong and for Ashe to face a terrible choice: to allow her family to risk themselves to save their new friends, or run and hide, offering a chance for Ashe and her family to live another day. 

Of course, no good story would be complete without the main antagonist, the Institute, the very place where Ashe was created and fled with her family into hiding. Once she joins the Phoenix Project, she comes face to face with her oldest nemesis, Adam. Not only is does he seem void of emotions, he is eager to recapture Eve and bring her back to the Institute.

The story continues on with action and suspense. There are flares of romance and passion. Soon she has to return to the place that created her to fight her destiny to make the choices she believes in. The conclusion, as part of a trilogy, leaves a cliffhanger, but good news, the rest of the The Phoenix Project Trilogy are available now. 

While there are a few punctuation and sentence flow issues another editing pass would easily fix, overall I found the story to be well-written and a quick, fun adventure. Although there were a few emotional scenes, this book is fast-paced, and I am sure anyone who picks up The Phoenix Project: Book 1: Flight will enjoy the time they spend in Katherine Macdonald’s world. 

My official rating of The Phoenix Project: Book 1: Flight is ★★★★☆. 
Book I of the explosive Phoenix Project Trilogy.
YA/NA: mild language, mild sexual content.
Find the book here: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B084FCM8L7

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