Flowing in oriental imagery, Silver Phoenix is a wonderful addition to the YA fantasy genre today. It is stunning, it is amazing, and had me drooling for the sequel (which comes out in spring 2011). Silver Phoenix takes us through the journey of Ai Ling, a strong competent heroine. However, she's a rejected bride-to-be, who's now considered inauspicious and unlucky for wedded bliss. With few choices in life, Ai Ling has resigned herself to a life of spinsterhood or worse, until her father fails to return from his journey to the castle. With the threat of an unwanted marriage to a horrid man, Ai Ling leaves the only life she has ever known, to search for her father and find her true place in the world. By taking solace and companionship in her new-found friends Chen Yong and Li Rong, Ai Ling steps bravely into a world woven deeply of things she's only read about before - the supernatural world of immortals and creatures of the sky. Silver Phoenix provides a classic story of heroine's journey into power, confidence and a place of her own. A budding romance, a painful heartbreaking scene, and mysteries that have only started being revealed mark Silver Phoenix as one of the best pieces of YA fiction today. 
 I think it's clear that I adore Silver Phoenix. I've read it twice already, and during my first run through I enjoyed it, but it took the second read for me to adore it. Silver Phoenix simply excels in many points that other YA fantasy fiction books can't get right. It has a perfectly strong, humorous, and quite likable heroine, without being too feisty, or headstrong. Ai Ling is definitely human, she makes mistakes and risks lives but ultimately she's able to stick to her promises and pull out a-okay. It is a quick addictive read, yet it never fails to lose your attention. With a fast moving plot, action and supernatural powers, Silver Phoenix catches your eye at every page. The romance is absolutely, heartrendingly adorable, there is nothing that solidifies it but it's a lingering subtle mark on the series. Pon loves to tease us with Ai Ling x Chen Yong moments, and I think it really works! I am absolutely dying to read the next novel. 
 However, some people complain that Ai Ling is too competent, and that she can overcome all her obstacles, but all I see is a girl on the brink of adulthood, grappling over personal issues. She may be powerful but Ai Ling is as flawed as any one of us. In one respect Silver Phoenix is indeed the classic poor heroine grows up and becomes powerful and finds her destiny/saves the world type of book, much like the way Eragon is, but I think the formula works in any regard. Pon's writing is just wonderfully swift, carefully concise, and beautifully imaginative to win over the readers in every sense. The world building is also absolutely fascinating. By embracing oriental elements and incorporating new imaginative parts, Silver Phoenix excels at being a child of dreams and eloquence. 
 Silver Phoenix is simply an enjoyable read, for any reader. It is not deeply poignant, yet it provides readers with a sense of questions and greater themes already. Ai Ling is definitely a heroine to watch out for, perhaps she can even rival Katniss Everdeen (from the Hunger Games trilogy) for popularity. Richly inquisitive and blanketed by a layer of Asian myths and spells, Silver Phoenix provides a world of true fantasy to a lackluster YA market. Highly recommended.