The Phoenix Crown by Kate Quinn and Janie Chang review

For those ready to delve into another historical fiction novel, The Phoenix Crown by Kate Quinn and Janie Chang is one to check out. It is set in the days and hours leading up to the 1906 earthquake in San Francisco.

This is a novel from two authors in one. It’s beautifully intertwined, with both Quinn and Change working together seamlessly to create a full story. With the backdrop of 1906 San Francisco and then heading into the early 1910s in Paris, this story is one that will bring up many reminders of the past.

What is The Phoenix Crown by Kate Quinn and Janie Chang about?

The initial story takes place in 1906 in San Francisco. The city is bustling with those wanting to make a living, and we follow two women from very different walks of life. The first is Gemma, a soprano who is looking to restart her opera career. The second is Suling, a Chinatown embroideress who is determined to escape the fate her Third Uncle has set out for her.

The two end up drawn to one man, Henry Thronton. He promises them both a way out of the lives they’re living, but he also threatens their futures. Henry’s secrets come out just as a devastating earthquake destroys San Francisco. With Henry now in the wind, can Gemma, Suling, and other women find a way to bring him to justice?

The Phoenix Crown review: A slow start with an exciting ending

The Phoenix Crown does have a slow start. It’s worth the back story and understanding who the characters are, but I did forget what the mystery was going to end up being. After all, I know Kate Quinn as an author, and she always has some sort of mystery to her story.

I loved the way Gemma and Suling’s lives end up connecting, and it’s not just through Henry. They both know the same woman, but under a different name. To Suling, the woman in Reggie, but to Gemma, she is Nellie. Both of them want to find their friend, and it turns out that Henry may be involved in someway.

One of my favorite parts of the history is learning more about San Francisco at the time. I’m a huge fan of Warrior and the reminder of what Chinatown used to be. That’s what it still is, but the 1906 earthquake changes everything. It’s at the end that we learn how Chinatown became what it is today.

I also adore the way characters come together. Some are based on real people, while others are completely fictionalized. They all have their place in the story, as we see how women of the time would need to work together. We are reminded of how powerful men could control everything.

I’ve never read Janie Chang’s novels before, but The Phoenix Crown makes me want to. I have a feeling she will be another author I constantly follow. Her words flowed effortlessly on the page, painting a harrowing but also beautiful backdrop of 1906 San Francisco and the plight of Chinese-American women.

The Phoenix Crown is available to purchase on Amazon, Barnes & Nobel, and anywhere you buy books.