“Who among you is brave and fearless?” she asked. But Axura was wise, and in humankind she saw not beings to rule over, but allies to fight alongside.Ītop Pyrmont’s highest peak, Axura took her phoenix form and made contact with the Pyraean communities who lived there. The war lasted centuries, and the world suffered under such a regime. Only light can defeat darkness, and so they did, beating back the strixes again and again. To combat Nox’s devouring ways, Axura’s own children, the phoenixes, joined the fray. She began sneaking into the sky during the day, unleashing her children, the strixes, to spread shadows over the world. In the beginning, there was light and dark, sun and moon-Axura and her sister, Nox.Īxura ruled the day, Nox ruled the night, and together there was balance.īut Nox, ever hungry, wanted more. Interspersed throughout is the story of Avalkyra Ashfire, the last Rider queen, who would rather see her empire burn than fall into her sister’s hands. Sometimes it must be taken.Ĭrown of Feathers is an epic fantasy about love’s incredible power to save-or to destroy. And meanwhile, the new empire has learned of the Riders’ return and intends to destroy them once and for all. Just as Veronyka finally feels like she belongs, her sister turns up and reveals a tangled web of lies between them that will change everything. After a shocking betrayal from her controlling sister, Veronyka strikes out alone to find the Riders-even if that means disguising herself as a boy to join their ranks.īut it is a fact of life that one must kill or be killed.

Sixteen years later, Veronyka is a war orphan who dreams of becoming a Phoenix Rider from the stories of old. I promised her the throne would not come between us. In a world ruled by fierce warrior queens, a grand empire was built upon the backs of Phoenix Riders-legendary heroes who soared through the sky on wings of fire-until a war between two sisters ripped it all apart. “Epic in the truest sense.” - Quill and QuireĪn Ember in the Ashes meets Three Dark Crowns in this lush debut fantasy novel about a girl who disguises herself as a boy to join a secret group of warriors that ride phoenixes into battle. “A beautifully told story about justice, sisterhood, and warrior women.” -Shea Ernshaw, New York Times bestselling author of The Wicked Deep “Absolutely unforgettable.” -Kendare Blake, #1 New York Times bestselling author of the Three Dark Crowns series

Crown of feathers by nicki pau preto