Book Review of A Flash of Fire
The Children’s Book Review
A Flash of Fire
Written by A.L. Wyss
Ages: 11+ | 310 Pages
Publisher: Carnelian & Quills (2023) | ISBN: 978-1-960479-07-5
A high school student’s life is turned upside down when she discovers her parents are Phoenix spies—she must embrace her own fire powers to save them from the rebel son of Hades and a traitorous god.
A Flash of Fire, the first book of The Phoenix Rising Trilogy by A.L. Wyss, follows Vivian Carmine, a seemingly ordinary teenager obsessed with winning her high school science fair. When her normal life abruptly ends the moment her project fails spectacularly in a flash of flames, the shocking revelation arises that her parents are immortal Phoenixes and secret agents.
When her parents vanish, Vivian is pulled into the world of RISE (Regulation for the Integration of the Special and Extraordinary), a secret organization working to help mythological creatures blend into the modern world. There, she must train with the mysterious junior agent Samael—who happens to be the son of the rebel leader Hades—and navigate a web of betrayal to rescue her family and find the Key of Light before an impending war of the gods destroys the world.
Rapid pacing and high-stakes action, particularly through intense set pieces like the science fair disaster, a rope course accident, and a final battle on the beach, make this story a page-turner. Layered with espionage and unexpected twists, such as the gradual uncovering of family secrets and the revelation of a traitor within RISE, the plot is always moving forward. Wyss uses clear, direct language and dialogue to help readers quickly navigate complex mythological concepts.
A Flash of Fire is an exciting blend of spy thriller and fantasy, offering a fast-paced narrative that will appeal primarily to Young Adult readers who enjoy Greek mythology retellings, secret government organizations, and coming-of-age stories centered on discovering hidden powers. The book is part of a trilogy, which continues with Drowning the Flames, Book 2, and Into Ashes, Book 3.
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About the Author
A mom and writer in the lovely Pacific Northwest, A.L. Wyss is an award-winning author, educational blogger, and freelance editor. When able to escape the hustle of day-to-day life, she loves taking walks in sparkly shoes or trying to fix something (that may or may not actually be broken) in her home. She wrote the Phoenix Rising Trilogy after being told to grow up more than once. People of all ages needed a little reminder…you need to believe in something to make it real.
