Chris Morphew, Blood In The Ashes (The Phoenix Files #2), Hardie Grant Egmont, 1 July 2015, 544pp., $19.95 (pbk) ISBN 978 1 7601 2426 7
Books three and four of the Phoenix Files series (in this second collected volume) continue the frantic efforts of Jordan, Luke and Peter as they flee from the clutches of the omnipotent and terrifying Shackleton Co-operative. Shackleton’s release of his doomsday weapon, Tabitha, grows closer with each passing page and the chapter headings promote a sense of drama by counting down the number of days to end of the world. There is much running, hiding, discovering of secret passages, intrigue and revelations in the 500 plus pages of this volume. New characters, such as the secretive Kara and Soren and the mysterious Overseers, contribute to the labyrinthine plot and leave both the reader and characters breathless with the rapid pace of events.
Book three throws the reader into the story with no recapping of the plot and the first fifty or so pages may be confusing if they have not read the preceding books. Jordan is the narrator of book three while it is Luke’s point of view that is heard in book four and the change in perspective adds to the appeal of the novel and sustains interest over the many pages.
The Australian setting helps to endear this text to the reader while the drama of the conspiracy creates a real sense of tension and threat. Morphew captures the colloquial language of modern youth and concerns of young romance, family, relationships and acceptance permeate the novel. However, it is the struggle for power and the lengths people will go to attain it that are the central focus of this dystopian text. It tests the endurance of those who resist Shackleton and challenges the reader to consider the forces and values present in our own society.
The next two books in this exciting series for teenagers are due for release in March 2016. While much is revealed in Blood In The Ashes, the reader is left eagerly anticipating a satisfying resolution to the many unanswered questions left hanging at the end of book five.
Reviewed by John Nolan
