Phoenix Rising

by Ephie Risho, Celia Risho

Overview

A strange creature attacks Amber's village and burns one of the fields. Is it a dragon, a troll, or something more? And why are the pixies suddenly disappearing? While her family and village prepare for more possible attacks, twelve-year-old Amber-armed only with her archery skills and a nudging from the pixies-bravely sets out on a quest to discover why this is happening and how to stop it. But her journey becomes far more important than imagined. The attack seems to be a small part of a greater diabolical plan. One that could cost innocent lives-and push Amber to the frontlines of the battle. She'll need help from new friends Basil and Theo, insights from a hard-to-find wizard, and knowledge of ancient powers capable of matching the encroaching evil. Otherwise, the peaceful world she knows may disappear forever. 

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781734974119
Publisher:	The Elementalists
Publication date:	05/29/2020
Series:	The Elementalists , #1
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
Pages:	331
Sales rank:	861,993
File size:	3 MB
Age Range:	13 - 15 Years

About the Author

Ephie (dad) has been writing his whole life. Inspired by his sixth-grade teacher to write a story every week, he enrolled in the writing program at his undergrad Middlebury College and has been writing ever since. He loves the outdoors, music, community, his family, and telling stories. He currently lives in beautiful Bozeman, Montana, where he works in software development and is active in various community groups.
Celia (daughter) is an avid book lover and packs a novel with her wherever she goes. She developed the book idea at age nine inspired by a 3rd grade writing assignment. She was born in Vancouver, Canada where her first two syllable word was "hockey"! She, along with her brother, is being raised in the mountains of Montana, where she enjoys sewing, 4H, performance art, and visiting hot springs.

Editorial Reviews

2020-11-30
This YA fantasy debut presents a magical realm overrun with strange creatures and a group of element-manipulating teens who seek to stop them.

Twelve-year-old Amber lives in the town of Seabrook in the land of Arendon. One day, while in the woods showing off her new black-and-yellow hat to Flurry, her pixie friend, Amber hears the town bells ring. Rushing home, she smells smoke and encounters Seabrook’s courier, 16-year-old Ryder, who explains that a field is on fire and asks her to get help. Soon, during a tumultuous battle, Ryder makes “sweeping gestures with his hands” to magically move dirt that smothers the flames. The people of Seabrook determine that the fire wasn’t natural, blaming it on a “giant red-and-orange flaming eagle” seen nearby. Could this be the once-friendly phoenix from the time of Amber’s great-grandfather? Raising the tension in town is a recent sighting of five goblins, dressed to fight, and the exodus of pixies from the woodlands. When Amber’s father asks her older siblings to take up new tasks to fortify the town, she sneaks off to speak with Flurry, who gives her an enchanted stone to help her in case she ever gets lost. Amber’s mother suggests she visit Mr. Thompson, a knowledgeable old man outside town. He eventually points Amber toward Sage, a wizard who may be able to advise her on dealing with magical creatures. Along the way, she meets teens Basil and Theo; they all share a destiny and face grander opponents than any of them ever could have imagined.Ephie Risho and Celia Risho, a father-and-daughter writing team, offer a YA fantasy series opener that skews toward a young audience but promises epic adventure. Pixies and goblins aren’t the only genre staples here; there are also copious travel by horseback and a prophecy that shapes the narrative. The stakes rise in earnest when Amber and company learn that “evil can be stopped by youngsters who are able to unite the six core elements,” which include fire, water, wind, animals, plants, and earth. It’s noteworthy that the heroes have never seen their special skills—such as Amber’s affinity for plants—as a reason to consider themselves better than others. Their humbleness is one of several excellent lessons for YA readers woven into the story. Another is shown in Mr. Thompson’s line that “there are many great motivators—love, honor, respect. But fear isn’t one of them.” Fans of the Legend of Zelda video games may chuckle whenever the heroes slay goblins and ransack their corpses for treasure. Although the goblins do present genuine danger and die violently, the authors never add unnecessary gore to the proceedings. They offer detailed explanations of elemental powers, as when Basil guides the group through a cave and notes “where the high-pressure spots were pushing the lows and where the cold air was forcing up the warm.” Bushana’s color illustrations and map are fabulous, and readers will wish there were a dozen more of them.

A tale that lays steady groundwork for a YA epic to come.

Kirkus Reviews