A word that might sum up Phoenix would be mislabeled.  Having read the original Five Ancestors series, I was eager to read another exciting Jeff Stone martial arts novel.  However,  I discovered that while Phoenix had elements of the original Five Ancestors series, it was really more about biking than martial arts.  This isn’t to say it isn’t a good book; it’s an fast-paced read and will keep readers involved and interested with its plot twists and intriguing characters.  However, as mentioned, this novel’s connection to the original series is loose at best, and this fact may mar the experience for readers picking it up expecting another martial arts saga.  Despite this, I find myself awaiting the next installment in the series to see where Jeff Stone takes us next.

Content Analysis:

Profanity/Language:  None

Violence/Gore Rating: There are several bike-related injuries; characters are knocked out several times; a character receives minor burns; several characters are shot and killed; several characters are injured in chases; several characters threaten each other; property is destroyed without casualties; one report of a fight.

Sex/Nudity: None

Mature Subject Matter:

Death, addiction, steriods, immortality.

Alcohol / Drug Use:

One character is addicted to a performance enhancing substance