Review: Phoenix Overture by Jodi Meadows

Title: Phoenix Overture

Author: Jodi Meadows

Publisher: Katherine Tegen Books

Publishing Date: September 3, 2013

Pages/Format: 138, eBook

This breathtaking and lyrical novella captures a thrilling and momentous decision for a young man and the people he loves. Told from the perspective of Sam, the sensitive musician from Jodi Meadows’s Incarnate series, lifetimes before he meets Ana, Phoenix Overture is a story of love and loss, strength and courage, and facing the consequences of the hardest of decisions.

Phoenix Overture offers existing fans a deeper insight into a favorite character and the intriguing history of Heart, while new readers will find a stunning introduction to this rich world and the romantic, captivating fantasy of the Incarnate series.

In the wilds around the Community where Sam and his family have taken shelter, life is dangerous. Dragons, trolls, centaurs, and other monsters fill the world. The word comes from the council that everyone must leave and journey to rescue their leader, Janan, who has been abducted by a mysterious new enemy in the north. Faced with overwhelming threats that bring death and destruction, Sam and the others reach the northern Range and, reunited with Janan, are given an unimaginable opportunity. Although it would give them the privilege to live and learn and love without fear, the choice is not without its own dire consequences. And lives—though not theirs—are sure to be lost. Just how much are they willing to give up to save themselves?

Initial Reaction of Book in One Word: Saaaaam

I'm going to start this off by saying that reviewing novellas is hard. It's not easy to say whether I loved or liked it because of the length, and it's just not super easy (not that novels are) to put into words. So, I shall try my best. And I'll try to keep things somewhat vague so as not to spoil anything.

Also, did you know that Jodi's original title for Phoenix Overture was Bad Things Happen (To Sam)? Because that initial title is actually quite accurate.

In case you didn't know, Phoenix Overture is a novella that goes with the fabulous Newsoul trilogy by Jodi Meadows, and is suggested to be read after the second book, Asunder. I've heard that there are a few things from the first two books that can be recognized in the novella, and there are some familiar characters. I read this novella about seven months after reading Asunder, so my memory was a little spotty, but it was still totally readable. However, if you want to read Phoenix Overture and recognize all the little references, I'd recommend at least scanning the other books to refresh your memory, because I didn't see some of the references (though some things felt familiar, and that doesn't alter how I feel about the novella).

As for the novella itself, it's a nice (or not-so-nice, really) look into Sam pre-everything. It's Sam before souls were reincarnated, and it shows what his life was like and how reincarnation basically started. And oh, my Sam. My poor, poor Sam. I love Sam (or Dossam), and his life was filled with so many troubles, from an abusive father to lots of loss. I just wanted to reach through my Kindle and hug the poor guy; he didn't deserve so many things that came his way.

Fortunately, the whole novella wasn't all My-Poor-Baby-Sam. Things did look up...for a while, at least. He had two people that were there for him, one of whom was Stef. (Hmm, I think that name sounds familiar...) I enjoyed their friendship and how they were there for each other, and to see that it has lasted so long. (Forgive me if Stef is not who I think he is; like I said, my memory is spotty!)

One thing I really liked about Phoenix Overture was that it was different from Incarnate and Asunder. The world is different, the voice is different, and it separates itself (in a good way) from the trilogy. The writing and Sam's thoughts--I loved his love for music, which has been there for years--were great, and I appreciated how Meadows could be...is eclectic the word? I just liked how she was able to write two different things (or POVs) without having them sound like the same one.

In the end, Phoenix Overture is a nice insight into my boyfriend Sam and how the world of the Newsoul trilogy came to be. Really, I think I could've read the novella as a full-length novel, with more on Sam and what happened after the end of the book, and more on the mechanics, so to speak, of how the whole reincarnation really happened and came to be. (Which may have been mentioned in the previous books, but I don't remember.) If Jodi Meadows decides to write more about Sam, I wouldn't mind reading it. (I would totally read it.) In the meantime...can I have Infinite now?

Did I like it? Yes.

Did I love it? It's hard to say, but I'm going to say no, but that's because it's hard to say that with something of this length.

Would I reread it? Possibly!

Would I purchase it? Already have it! (And I wouldn't protest a physical copy, too.)

Would I recommend it? Yes! It's a nice insight into the trilogy, and, of course, SAM!