Doomsday Can Wait

Phoenix Chronicles #2

by Lori Handeland

It took the near annihilation of humanity for Liz Phoenix to understand the true meaning of her premonitions. Liz is one of the sacred few on earth who has the psychic powers to fight the malevolent forces that have tried to wipe out the human race since the beginning of time. She battled these beings once, thwarting Doomsday but losing most of her soldiers in the massacre. Now she must replenish her troops quickly—because the supernatural war isn’t over yet. As the new leader of the federation, Liz is marked for death by a Navajo witch with a link to her past. To survive, she must rely on her few remaining allies—her mentor, a shaman with too many secrets, as well as ex-lover, Jimmy Sanducci. Bringing Jimmy into the mix is a dangerous move, for Liz’s darkest desires are razor-sharp—and her longing for Jimmy is at a fever pitch. But can Liz afford to give into the cravings that burn inside her, with the next shot at Doomsday just around the corner? This time, if evil wins, chaos will reign—and the world as we know it will be lost forever…

Genres: Urban Fantasy, Paranormal, Vampires, Fantasy, Paranormal Romance, Romance, Demons

352 pages, ebook

First published April 28, 2009

About the author

Lori Handeland is a five-time nominee and two-time winner of the prestigious RITA Award from Romance Writers of America, as well as the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of over sixty novels spanning the genres of paranormal romance, urban fantasy, contemporary romance, historical romance and historical fantasy.

After a quarter-century of success and accolades, she began a new chapter in her career with her women’s fiction debut, Just Once (Severn House, January 2019), which received a coveted, starred review from Library Journal and was optioned as a feature film by Catalyst Global Media.

Lori lives in Southern Wisconsin with her husband of over thirty-five years. In between writing and reading, she enjoys long walks with their rescue mutt, Arnold, and visits from her two grown sons, awesome daughter-in-law and perfectly adorable grandchildren.

Reviews

[new_user · Rating 4 out of 5]

So this is the second in the Elizabeth Phoenix series by Handeland. After reading the first book, I wasn't exactly in a rush to read the sequel. The action was kickin, but the prose was a little less precise and efficient, the rules unclear, the "romance" a little haphazard.

I needn't have worried. The prose in Doomsday Can Wait stepped further away from Paranormal Romance and into Urban Fantasy with spare, precise narration that's more modern and concrete from a heroine who is humble and funny.

The narrative flowed, never slipping out of character or dragging with infodumps and internal monologues. The rules of Elizabeth's world were also made explicitly clear, like Elizabeth's powers, and the events concerning Sawyer and Jimmy in the last book were summarized in a few helpful words. That said, readers probably want to start this series with the first book for full effect, since there are some important developments in the relationships between the characters-- not to mention, that is when we meet them and learn their history.

Relationships. That was another aspect of this sequel I was delighted to find. Character relationships feature strongly in Doomsday Can Wait. I'll try not to give too much away, but fans of the bad boy will want to read this. He's front and center in this novel-- and his history too. We learn so much about this powerful figure in this book, enough to sympathize surprisingly. He's fascinating, and he had it rough. *sigh* I loved the tension between him and Elizabeth all throughout. He's determined to get her in his bed, and his tactics are sound, LOL. This is the real romance, or budding relationship, missing from the last book, albeit there were some revived old flames and some lust in the first. There's also more developments with Summer the fairy.

So, in short, read this series if you're a UF fan, especially if you like a goodly dose of relationships/character development, as seen in series like Richelle Mead's Dark Swan series.

[Chade66 · Rating 1 out of 5]

Having lived for six years near the Navajo Reservation, I really can't read something this poorly researched.

[Coucher de soleil · Rating 2 out of 5]

NB: Reviewer's note... After some reflection, I am reinstating the reviews I had deleted and will hold off on deleting the rest. I will link to an explanation at my blog page ASAP.
--------------------
-See my review of the prequel to this series.
-See my review of book 1 in this series.

All in all I was really disappointed in this one. I quite enjoyed the first book in this series, so I had high expectations for this one. Unfortunately, it didn't deliver.

Good points: The world building, despite being somewhat generic (i.e. because it felt like the author had the equivalent of a thesaurus for monsters and that a different monster was randomly inserted in every story segment which featured the mention 'insert monster here'), was enjoyable. The characters were in general likeable/enjoyable. The plot did move along at a good pace.

Bad points/constructive criticism:

(i) PLEASE STOP WITH THE WHITEWASHING!! There, I said it. Again, I don't know if it's the author's or the publisher's fault and I DON'T CARE. The main character IS NOT WHITE, so why have an obviously white woman on the cover? This is highly offensive.

(ii) Apparently many of the issues from the last novel exist in this one, because Sawyer (i.e. one of the main character's two love interests) mentions that the main character 'would never let him forget' that he 'touched her'.

Um, sweetie, let me put it to you this way.

YOU DRUGGED HER AND RAPED HER.

Now, still wonder why she doesn't trust you?

Unlike the main character, not only would I never talk to such a man again, but I would also report his ass to the police. And I would certainly never willingly sleep with him! Ugh.

I've been trying to read this while putting aside the fact that this author apparently doesn't understand the meaning of CONSENT, but it's getting rather ridiculous, here.

Hello, misogyny. Thy name frequently is (sometimes female) authors who fail to understand the meaning of consent.

/rant

(iii) One of the biggest beefs I had with this book is the fact that when I got to then end, well...

The characters had suffered, bled, and endured. The main character had discovered that the apocalypse would occur if she did not manage to defeat the leader of the forces of darkness (who was an evil Navajo spirit). In order to do so she needed to become evil. Becoming evil involved betraying a man who was a former lover of hers (and really, this all didn't make sense to me at all and it was NEVER EXPLAINED by the author). Said character was betrayed and the fight with the evil spirit woman thing happened...

...AND THE APOCALYPSE WAS STILL ON.

Not only that, but defeating the spirit woman apparently freed a whole pile of evil demons from the hell they had been in. Also, the main character was now evil and would remain that way (except for when a spell could permit her to be mostly herself). The end.

Do you have any idea how annoying this is to the reader? Because really, why did I bother reading this book if this was the way it all ended?

Oh wait, I forgot. I'm supposed to read 17 more books in this series before anything good happens and/or before anything is resolved. Silly me.

/sarcasm

(iv) Various plot elements did not make any kind of sense:
-For instance, why had there been a lull in worlwide catastrophes if the apocalypse had never been halted? This was never explained. What was also never explained was why so many of the 'oracle' type of characters who should have been in the know got it wrong when they said the apocalypse had been postponed after the events at the end of the first book of the series.
-Jimmy (i.e. the former squeeze the main character betrayed) listed all his evil/bad deeds in an effort to dissuade her from sleeping with him (i.e. which was what the betrayal involved). For some reason he never mentioned the fact that he had recently slept with the woman who had been the cause of their breakup (i.e. Summer)?
-Why was it easier to control the main character's 'evil nature' if the evil she absorbed came from her old flame Jimmy than if it came from some other demon? This was never really explained.
-Why did the main character need to be evil in order to defeat the evil spirit woman? This was also never really explained.
-Why didn't this final battle result in anything good? This was left hanging (to be explained in the next several books of the series, presumably).

These were just the biggest elements that didn't make sense, but I think you get my drift.

(v) I wanted to like the 'other woman' who had broken up the main character and her former flame Jimmy, especially upon learning that she had been a pawn in the events that unfolded (i.e. Jimmy had been made to sleep with her on purpose in order to break him and the main character up so that she would be ready to face the apocalypse or somesuch -and hey there's another thing that was never explained). This was, apparently, something the author wished to have happen as well, as suggested by the fact that the main character begins to like her somewhat despite their shared history with Jimmy.

Unfortunately (and especially after this other girl apparently *enjoyed* the fact that the main character touched her and got a psychic flash of this other girl and Jimmy recently having sex, which she knew would happen since she knew of the main character's abilities), I personally could only conclude that this other girl Summer was a cunt.

All in all, I'd suggest people not bother with this one.

[Darcy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really like this new series. I find myself liking this book even better than the 1st one. I think that may be because the world and rules have been established. One thing that I really like is how Liz just seems like a normal person, someone who we could know in real life, but then her life is thrown way off course by things out of her control, mainly her heritage. She seems torn between Jimmy and Sawyer. I have to say that I don't really like Jimmy. He seems really selfish and a bastard. Sawyer has those traits as well, but he seems to accept Liz for who she is and who she needs to be to save the whole. While with Jimmy he seems like he want her to be how they were when they first fell in love as kids. This book has a lot of action and rounds out the world a little more. I am looking forward to the next one and to see / hear more about Luther. I think that kid will play an important role.

[Julie (jjmachshev) · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Doomsday Can Wait" was another hit for me by Lori Handeland. This is urban fantasy with hot sex and enough paranormal critters to keep anybody happy. There's blood, but not gore. There's a cool twist on reality that's more than just a cast of supernatural beings. And there's a tight plot that keeps you turning pages as fast as you can read.

Since Liz recently managed to stave off Doomsday (not that any normal humans know about that, thank God) she's been enjoying a little down time. She deserves it seeing how she had to kill her boyfriend (OK, he's a vampire so he's undead) and almost died herself. She's also not seen sexy Sawyer and she's pretty sure she's happy about that. But when a mysterious shadow woman keeps trying to kill her and Sawyer's talisman is the only thing stopping her, Liz sets off to find both of them. Once she does, she must make a difficult choice carefully because the wrong choice could start Doomsday...again.

I can't begin to include all the cool stuff in this series. Even though it's not marketed as paranormal romance, there's plenty of sexual tension and follow-through in Liz's life. She has her childhood sweetheart who will always occupy a special place in her heart and was the one to help her understand her new powers, and the smoldering mystic who practices sex magic on and with Liz. Fans of the early Anita Blake (by Laurell K. Hamilton) will likely succumb to Liz's world just like I have...and be happy to do so.

So whether you call it urban fantasy, paranormal romance, or contemporary fantasy, it's all good. Lori Handeland's world is distinct and different, and her characters are built slowly but surely into people with all the complexities of any race. This isn't hearts and flowers, and it's a very different series from Handeland's 'Moon' books. But it's a serious I'm happy to read, and anxious to find out where it will take me next.

[Mephistia · Rating 1 out of 5]

I like the cover?

The writing . . . meh. Actually, this is one of those books that gives aspiring authors hope. Much like the Twilight series, the realization that this book was published -- and more than that, it's apparently part of a series -- is at once depressing and exhilarating.

Depressing because it's simply awful -- not in terms of plot, which had promise, but in terms of the actual writing. Dead writing, badly paced, and a lot of "telling," not "showing." There were times when I felt as though I was reading a badly written screenplay, because the focus was so much on dialogue and not at all on description.

Exhilarating, because if books like these get published on a regular basis, that gives any aspiring author of even minimal talent peace of mind. Sort of a, "If she can do it, god knows I can."

[Cindi · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lori Handeland writes the most incredible series, and I get emotionally involved with her characters in every book. The Phoenix Chronicles is no exception. Her female heroines are tough girls, whether or not they start out that way, and her men are to die for; unfortunately, Lizzie Phoenix has to do just that - die - several times, actually, in her position as leader of the Light. Luckily she's got some nifty skillsets and interesting somewhat human friends to help her prevent a second death, as that would be bad and bring about Doomsday for sure (and then Apocolypse happens). Oh shit!

[Literary Lusts · Rating 4 out of 5]

I thought this book was just an entertaining as the first. On the romantic side I definitely seem to be rooting for Sawyer, which there were a few developments there. But to me I didn't feel like there was any big movements in that area though. There are some HUGE plot developments however. It definitely kept me at the edge of my seat.

[Antonio Fanelli · Rating 2 out of 5]

Probabilmente il mio errore è leggere questi romanzi uno dopo l'altro.
Penso siano scritti sapendo che verranno letti a distanza di un anno l'uno dall'altro.
Però non so farne a meno :)
IL solito accumulo di ostacoli impossibili da superare fino alle ultime pagine ...
Tanto ora comincio il terzo e spero ultimo.

[LadyAileen · Rating 3 out of 5]

Siamo giunti al secondo volume della serie per adulti urban fantasy The Phoenix Chronicles che vede protagonista Liz Phoenix una ex-poliziotta diventata una Veggente dai poteri incredibili diventata per caso il capo delle forze del Bene in vista dell'imminente Apocalisse. A questo bisogna aggiungere la presenza di due fusti: Jimmy Sanducci (mezzo vampiro) ex fidanzato di Liz e Sawyer uno stregone Navajo, un versipelle misterioso e sfuggente.
Una serie urban fantasy incentrata principalmente sull'eterna lotta tra Bene e Male e dove faranno la comparsa ogni tipo di creatura paranormale esistente (con origini a dir poco strane ma originali).
La storia è raccontata in prima persona da Elizabeth e il punto di vista rimane solo ed esclusivamente il suo. Liz è una tipa tosta e allo stesso tempo vulnerabile ma la scelta di farle acquisire poteri attraverso il sesso non riesco ad apprezzarlo. Sawyer è il personaggio che più mi ha intrigato, nel volume precedente non aveva avuto molto spazio ma in questo cominciamo a conoscere il suo lato umano.
La storia ha senza dubbio del potenziale ma dopo questo volume non ho intenzione di continuare, non credo che sia brutto ma non mi ha coinvolto come mi aspettavo (in alcuni punti il romanzo è un po' lento).
Il finale non lascia l'amaro in bocca ma come tutti i volumi che fanno parte di una serie la storia non è ancora totalmente conclusa.

[Tracy Brant · Rating 3 out of 5]

Can't put it down

But, I don't know if ill continue the series. Same stuff new battle. The bad they fight keeps happening no matter how they hurt each other. All issues would be solved if they were just honest and so I'm starting to seriously dislike all of them. And its getting more and more convoluted and make less and less sense. We will see

[Debora M | Nasreen · Rating 4 out of 5]

La Fine può attendere di Lori Handeland, secondo romanzo della serie Phoenix Chronicles, edita da Delos Books per la collana Odissea Streghe.

Protagonista della serie è Liz Phoenix, ex-poliziotta Veggente dai poteri incredibili, nuovo capo delle forze del Bene in vista dell’imminente Apocalisse. Non per sua scelta, potremmo aggiungere.

Il primo volume si conclude con l’uccisione del Capo dell’esercito del Male (esercito che è composto da Nephlilim, ibridi nati da umani e angeli), a opera di Liz aiutata da Sawyer, stregone Navajo e versipelle in grado di risvegliare i poteri altrui tramite il sesso, e contrastata dall’ex fidanzato Jimmy Sanducci, dhampir e traditore in tutti i sensi!, che dopo aver tradito la fazione del Bene, Liz e tutti gli AD (ammazza demoni), ha tentato di ucciderla dopo averla violentata più volte. Liz, nonostante ciò, è riuscita ad avere la meglio su Jimmy, sul suo cuore spezzato, sul padre purosangue di Jimmy e sull’inizio dell’Apocalisse.

Le vicende ripartono proprio da questo punto: Jimmy è sparito una volta resosi conto di essere stato una marionetta nelle mani del padre ed aver ormai perso il controllo sulla sua parte vampiresca, Liz è a capo di un gruppo di Ammazza Demoni ormai decimato, il punto di riferimento di Veggenti che non la conoscono e quindi si nascondono perfino da lei, l’inquietante obiettivo delle attenzioni di un versipelle Navajo figlio di uno spirito del Male che cerca di farle la pelle ogni due su tre e, come se non bastasse, fiancheggiata dall’unica donna – o meglio fata – che vorrebbe veder crocefissa al muro, in quanto donna con la quale il suo ex, Jimmy, l’ha tradita anni prima. Una situazione facile facile, insomma.

Se il primo romanzo della serie ha rappresentato l’introduzione delle vicende di Liz, che conteneva qualche incertezza e punto forzatamente oscuro, con “La Fine può attendere” le cose si evolvono con costanza e con colpi di scena sempre più avvincenti. Un mix perfetto che, se mantenuto costante con i prossimi volumi, può rappresentare una garanzia di successo.

L’ironia della protagonista, che spesso ricorda un po’ la nostra Anita Blake dei primi volumi, si assicurerà l’affetto incontrastato di tutti i fan della serie della Hamilton e non solo. Ma Liz non condivide solamente l’ironia con Anita, o la capacità di veggente di Cassandra Palmer, la Pitia di Karen Chance, ma anche la forza, l’indipendenza e la forza d’animo che la porta ad anteporre il “bene comune” al proprio senza perdere l’umanità, e quindi le debolezze, che la contraddistinguono.

Il romanzo è raccontato in prima persona, dal punto di vista di Liz, che ci permetterà di gustar ancor di più i vari colpi di scena che la Handeland non farà mancare per tutta la durata del libro, accompagnati dai monologhi autoironici di Liz. Assolutamente da non perdere!

Altro punto forte di “La Fine può attendere” è anche l’evoluzione psicologica dei vari personaggi che vengono approfonditi e, alcuni, riscattati. La matrigna di Liz si mostrerà ai nostri occhi come un “Capo” obbligato a fare scelte e dare ordini che non avrebbe mai voluto dare; scopriremo che Jimmy è meno crudele di quel che pensavamo e Sawyer, incredibile ma vero, perfino più umano di quanto avevamo osato sperare.

Il minimo cenno al triangolo fra Liz, Sawyer e Jimmy non viene rimarcato troppo, il rapporto fra i tre è tutto da stabilire e non c’è nulla di definito nelle loro scelte.

L’aspetto romantico e sessuale è piuttosto marcato (perfino più che nel primo romanzo, per quanto incredibile) ma trattato dall’autrice con estrema maturità, soprattutto senza sovrastare l’azione e sconvolgere la natura “urban fantasy” della serie.

Un romanzo ambivalente, che punta tutto sul continuo gioco fra bene, male e l’infinita scala di “grigi” che è la vita. Non c’è buono che non sia stato sporcato dal male, non amore senza dolore e passione e non esiste personaggio che non abbia sbagliato, cambiato fazione o che sembri essere continuamente in bilico fra giusto e sbagliato. Un libro sicuramente da leggere, che risolverà molti interrogativi pur sollevandone altri ma senza lasciare l’amaro in bocca al lettore a causa di fastidiosi cliffhanger. Non resta che attendere il prossimo volume della serie per sapere che cosa ne sarà di Liz e dell’intera umanità.

[Skye · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's been a long while since I read Any Given Doomsday. So it did take a little time to get into this... mostly because I kept forgetting what had happened in the past book. But, once I got my head back into the world building... I was hooked.

One of the things I still find weird about this series is the whole sexual empath thing. Its certainly enjoyably unique, but I've been mainlining contemporary romances lately. And this really doesn't fit the bill. Again, something that took me a little while to get my head around. But, I am looking forward to seeing how that will evolve in the following book.

I liked the idea of Liz and Jimmy reuniting in Any Given Doomsday. But the more I got to know Sawyer in this, the more I enjoyed their dynamic. The complexities of the relationships in this world got very heavy very quickly in Doomsday Can Wait. I can't wait to see how they will develop further into the series.

I was completely taken by the relationship complexities in this novel. But there was a lot of action as well. Liz's desire to win the day, no matter the cost and the fight between good and evil was pretty intense. It added a brilliant and much needed element of darkness to this fantastic story.

[Bella (Bella's Wonderworld) · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Glut" ist der zweite Band von Lori Handelands Phoenix-Chroniken. Elizabeth Phoenix (kurz Lizzy) ist eine Seherin mit ausergewöhnlichen Fähigkeiten. Zusammen mit einigen übrig gebliebenen Dämonenkämpfer tritt sie erneut gegen die böse Mächte der Finsternis an.

Lizzy hat es dieses mal mit einer mächtigen Navajo Hexe zu tun, die nicht nur die Weltherrschaft an sich reisen möchte sondern auch noch ihren Sohn Sawyer auf ihre Seite ziehen möchte. Obwohl Lizzy nicht 100 %-ig daran glaubt das Sawyer weiterhin mit ihr gegen das Böse kämpft entschließt sie sich dazu ihm zu vertrauen. Zusammen nehmen sie die Suche nach einer italienischen Hexe auf, in der Hoffnung von ihr wichtige Informationen über ihre Gegenerin ans Licht zu bringen. Auf ihrem Weg stoßen sie auf einen jungen Fellläufer, den Sawyer aufnimmt um ihn als Kämpfer des Lichts gegen das Böse auszubilden.

Um die Mächte der Finsternis besiegen zu können muss sich Lizzy ihrem Ex-Geliebten und Vampir Jimmy Sanducchi und den noch immer vorhandenen Gefühlen für ihn stellen, so dass sie selbst durch ihn zu einem Vampir gemacht wird. Bis zum allerletzt steht dieses schwere Vorhaben auf Messers Schneide.

Schon "Asche", der erste Band der Phoenix-Chroniken, war super spannend und fesselnd. Nach einem so gelungenen Serienstart hatte ich große Erwartungen an den Folgeband, und ich wurde nicht enttäuscht!

Lori Handeland hat in den Phoenixchroniken eine paranormale Welt erschaffen in der es einfach alles gibt, von Sehern über Hexen, Felläufer, Vampire, Dhampire und was mir besonders gut gefällt der Ursprung der Magie bei dem Indianervolk der Navajo’s. So vielfältig die Gestaltenauswahl in den Phoenixchroniken ist so unterschiedlich und einzigartig gestaltet die Autorin auch ihre Charaktere. Besonders faszinierend finde ich den Felläufer Sawyer, der sich schon durch seine tätowierte Haut und der Zurückgezogenheit, in der er Lebt, eine gewisse Mystik heraufbeschwört. Ich fand es schön das man in "Glut" nun mehr über ihn erfährt.

Die starke Anziehungskraft die schon seit jeher zwischen Sawyer und Lizzy geherrscht hat bricht auch im zweiten Band der Chroniken hervor, man bekommt immer mehr das Gefühl das zwischen ihnen eine ganz besondere Verbindung besteht die tief unter die Haut geht. Lizzy jedoch wird zusätzlich sehr stark von ihren Gefühlen zu Jimmy mitgerissen. Auf der einen Seite will sie mit Sawyer zusammensein, aber da sie in ihm nur jemanden sieht der durch Sex seine Pflicht erfüllt geht sie immer wieder auf Abstand und gerät somit in Gedanken an ihrer tiefen Nähe zu Jimmy.

Lori Handeland ist es gelungen eine Fortsetzung niederzuschreiben, die mich durch die herrschende Spannung und prickelnde Erotik in ihren Bann zieht.

Mein Fazit:

Eine aufreibende Story über den Kampf zwischen Licht und Finsterniss gepaart mit prickelnder Erotik!

[Shelley · Rating 3 out of 5]

Synopsis: It took the near annihilation of humanity for Liz Phoenix to understand the true meaning of her premonitions. Liz is one of the sacred few on earth who has the psychic powers to fight the malevolent forces that have tried to wipe out the human race since the beginning of time. She battled these beings once, thwarting Doomsday but losing most of her soldiers in the massacre. Now she must replenish her troops quickly--because the supernatural war isn't over yet.

As the new leader of the federation, Liz is marked for death by a Navajo witch with a link to her past. To survive, she must rely on her few remaining allies--her mentor, a shaman with too many secrets, as well as ex-lover, Jimmy Sanducci. Bringing Jimmy into the mix is a dangerous move, for Liz's darkest desires are razor-sharp--and her longing for Jimmy is at a fever pitch. But can Liz afford to give into the cravings that burn inside her, with the next shot at Doomsday just around the corner? This time, if evil wins, chaos will reign--and the world as we know it will be lost forever...

**Review** Liz gets a first hand look at Sawyers evil mother who wants nothing better than to kill her, and unleash the Grigori on mankind in order to speed along the apocalpse. Unfortunately for Phoenix, she finds that in order to battle evil, she must become evil as well. But first she has to find her missing on-again-off-again romantic partner, Jimmy, half vampire/half demon who she's known since she was under Ruthie's roof. She ends up with the perkie and annoying fairie Summer who has a thing for Jimmy. Then, in the quest to stop some evil people from wholesale destruction of a town, she meets up with Sawyer, looses Summer and finds a stray lion cub. Only the lion cub doesn't realise he's part lion shifter. Liz is also a demon killer and a seer, which her mentor Ruthie, somehow saw coming.

I love this series, even though at times it wanders at times, and the choice between Jimmy and Sawyer although a no brainer for some, isn't that easy. Sawyer has a secret that will come to forefront soon.

[Debbie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Adjusting to what she now knows to be part of her life, Liz Phoenix also realizes that she can’t do it alone. No training could prepare her to fight the demons that are trying to bring on doomsday, but to go into it as a seer and a DK (demon killer) leaves her with her wits, the little bit of information that her ghost of a mentor givers her through her dreams, visions and a voice she hears every time a demon is around and anyone who could possibly help her. The help available isn’t the most reliable either. Her ex-boyfriend Jimmy became a vampire and tried to kill her, then there is Summer, a faerie more interested in Jimmy than anything else, and Sawyer in a skin walker who trains the new recruits for the secret federation that Liz now finds herself the leader of. Sawyer is good at bringing out the special talents of each new recruit, but no one knows where his allegiance lies especially now that Liz has found out that his mother is one strong demon that she feels only she will be able to kill, even though no one knows how to do that.

Book 2 ….. Ok, I wasn’t sure about this series after reading the first one. This one did redeem it a bit for me. The concept of the leader being thrown into the position blind is always good, especially when up against something that they didn’t even knew existed until recently. Some of the characters grew on me. I really didn’t like any of them all that much after the last book, but by the end I did actually like Sawyer a lot and Jimmy a little. Still not a big fan of Liz for some reason, maybe it was that she is the cocky type, which in her circumstance seemed out of place and reckless. Still it was enough of an improvement to the series for me to look at reading the next one - Apocalypse Happens

quote from page 108 of the book, Liz was looking down at a wound on her chest and thought …..
“Since I’d never been killed before, I wasn’t sure how long it would last or how well it would heal.”

[Bluefly · Rating 5 out of 5]

Non riesco a dare meno del massimo a questo romanzo della Handeland. Lo stile dell'autrice mi ha catturata, i suoi personaggi mi sono entrati nel sangue.
A mio parere il punto di forza di questa saga è l'ambientazione: si respira il sapore del deserto americano, della terra dei nativi, delle magie sciamaniche che arricchiscono il panorama più tradizionale dell'urban fantasy, con vampiri, nephilim ecc. Mi sembra di vederle, quelle lande aride, ricche di leggende, a cui il carattere della protagonista si adatta perfettamente. Altro punto di forza, i personaggi, tutti, in primis il meraviglioso Sawyer, un Navajo figlio di Nephilim, stregone, sensuale e misterioso, che in questo secondo capitolo cominciamo a conoscere un po' meglio. Lui da solo vale tutto il libro e "buca le pagine". La Handeland riesce a infondere linfa vitale ai suoi protagonisti, che non sono mai delle macchiette. Sfumati e contorti, difensori del bene che portano in sé il seme del male. Mi piace persino Summer, la fata rivale in amore di Liz, che l'autrice riesce a rendere convincente, senza cadere nella tentazione di farne un'antagonista stereotipata che serva solo di contrasto alla protagonista principale.
Se c'è invece un difetto in questo romanzo, è quello tipico dei secondi capitoli. Le molte cose e le molte nozioni descritte nel primo vengono riprese e spiegate nel secondo, per aiutare il lettore a orientarsi, ma questo porta continua interruzioni della narrazione che possono infastidire. Superata però la prima parte, la storia procede e cattura.
Altra caratteristica che apprezzo enormemente: i personaggi fanno sesso senza per forza dichiararsi amore eterno. Si amano senza per forza annullarsi. Niente melassa. Sono duri e fragili, e lo dimostrano nei sentimenti come nella lotta che portano avanti contro i demoni.
In sintesi, è un urban fantasy e non un paranormal romance.

[Bookmom · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the second book in the Phoenix Chronicles series, following the fight between the light and the dark, and the role of leader that Liz never wanted, but has come to accept. Unlike her Moon series, this one is told in the first person POV with a continuing story. It's also loaded with creatures from mythology outside of the normal shifters and vampires we've come to expect from Urban Fantasies.

Most of her army was killed in the first book and Liz needs Jimmy's help to locate the others that went into hiding. Only Jimmy is trying to hide from her because his father brought out his vampire beast and now he feels he's too dangerous to be around others; especially Liz.

While this is going on, a woman who turns into smoke, Sawyer's mother, is trying to kill her. How do you kill an evil spirit who plans on releasing the Grigori, causing total chaos on the planet? Sawyer has been trying for years. Along the way, two more people get picked up and added to her arsenal.

I like the fact that while Liz is in many ways a kick-butt heroine, she's definitely vulnerable. She doesn't know the limits of what she can do, but thinks outside of the box to solve problems. And yes, she does make some mistakes. The story contains elements of humor and there is a romantic interest in two men that may or may not go anywhere. The mythology isn't just thrown at us; we get a short history lesson on various creatures, entities and objects.

I found it difficult to put the book down, but do not recommend that anyone start it before reading Any Given Doomsday. You'd be missing too much.

[Silvia Liotta · Rating 4 out of 5]

Dopo aver eliminato la striga ed aver combattuto una battaglia all'ultimo sangue, Liz
cerca di ritornare alla normalità, sempre se la sua vita può considerarsi normale. Le fila
degli AD si sono ridotte all'osso dopo il combattimento ma soprattutto dopo che Jimmy
Sanducci, l'amore-odio di Liz, ha spifferato ai nemici le loro identità segrete. Durante
un tranquillo turno nel bar di Megan, Liz si ritrova a fronteggiare la temibile donna di fumo:
un essere talmente potente che nessuno è mai riuscito ad eliminarla. Dopo questo affronto
la nostra eroina si rimetterà in marcia decisa una volta per tutte a recuperare Jimmy e
a porre fine all'Apocalisse. "La fine può attendere" è un degno seguito del primo volume
che ha conquistato la nostra attenzione grazie ad un ritmo ancora più incalzante. In questa
nuova avventura Liz non potrà più tentennare sul da farsi: l'Apocalisse sta arrivando e non
c'è modo di evitarla. La protagonista, rinata dalle sue ceneri proprio come la Fenice che ritroviamo
vuoi per caso nel suo cognome, metterà insieme qualche piccolo tassello dell'immenso puzzle
del mondo sovrannaturale che la circonda e delle creature che cercano di prendere il sopravvento
sul bene. Liz è donna forte e caparbia che non si tira mai indietro di fronte alle sfide,
ed anche qui si butterà a capofitto nella battaglia mettendo a repentaglio la sua vita
innumerevoli volte. Ma cosa sarà mai una vita se paragonata alla salvezza dell'intera umanità?
Un libro consigliatissimo, che vi incanterà grazie alla maestria narrativa dell'autrice.

[Zauberfeder Gedankenschnörkel · Rating 2 out of 5]

Der 330 Seiten lange Band der Phoenix-Chroniken ist im Stil eines Road-Trips gehalten, da Liz sehr viel unterwegs ist. Sie sieht sich diesmal einer Navajo-Hexe gegenüber, die sich auch noch als Saywers Mutter entpuppt, und nebenbei hat sie sich zum Ziel gesetzt, Jimmy zur Vernunft zu bringen und um seine Hilfe zu bitten. Doch der ist verschwunden....

Dieser Roadtrip beinhaltet einige sehr spannende Szenen, was vor allem das Auftauchen von Feinden angeht. Summer ist für mich das Highlight des Buches gewesen, denn die Fee lässt sich nach wie vor nicht viel von Liz sagen und ist einfach klasse!
Ein Aber folgt auf dem Fuße, was allerdings Spoiler beinhaltet. Diese Spoiler-Passage schreibe ich zwischen ////, damit ihr sie überspringen könnt, wenn ihr möchtet.



//// Einige Szenen waren mehr als seltsam, gerade in Bezug auf Sex-Szenen. Liz ist mir insgesamt viel zu sexbezogen. Dafür, dass sie immer noch behauptet, ihre Gabe zu hassen, nutzt sie sie bereitwillig. Auch finde ich ihr Gefühlschaos schwierig, da sie immer mehr zwischen Jimmy und Saywer zu stehen scheint. Das verwirrt und frustriert mich, denn hier ist mir zu wenig Einblick in die Charakterentwicklung bzw. Liz zu sprunghaft. ////



Insgesamt bin ich echt enttäuscht von dem Buch. Da ich die beiden nachfolgenden Bände noch hier habe, hoffe ich einfach auf Besserung... Das Buch erhält 2 von 5 Punkten, da das Cover hübsch und sehr passend ist und ich die spannenden Szenen von Glut nicht verleugnen möchte. Lori Handelands Schreibstil ist wirklich gut, aber offenbar ist dies hier einfach nicht meine Reihe....

[jammaster_mom · Rating 2 out of 5]

So I wanted to like this book. It has every element that makes a for a good, if not great, urban fantasy series; it just never really came together.

I know this book has been out for awhile now. I have had it in my to-be-read pile for a long time. I enjoyed the first book in the series enough to hunt down a copy of this book. I must have liked it because if it isn't at one of my local libraries I usually decide to just not read it.

I have been trying to figure out what bothered me the most about this book. A lot of it felt forced. It felt like Elisabeth was being forced from place to place and just reacting to what was happening. I feel like the whole reluctant hero bit went on for too long. She did attempt to take control and be proactive near the end, but then that was turned against her as a set up for the next book. I also have a problem with characters who lie constantly and consistently without there seeming to be a reason. Sawyer fits that to a tee.

What is Elizabeth fighting for personally? It doesn't seem like she has much in her life that is worth fighting for. Few deep significant relationships that are worth the sacrifices she is making. No love interest that seems like it would work into a long term relationship and no old flames that would work out for the future.

Sadly, I do not think I will be reading any more books in this series. I just don't think it is worth tracking down a copy.

[Dorri · Rating 4 out of 5]

For Elizabeth Phoenix, fighting everyday human evil was hard enough. Now, firmly in position of the leader of the Light, she has to battle the not-so-ordinary evil. Unfortunately for Phoenix, she finds that in order to battle evil, she must become evil. But becoming something unnatural is just not that easy. First she has to find her missing on-again-off-again romantic partner, Jimmy. Unfortunately she ends up with the pert annoying fairie Summer. Then, in the quest to stop some evil people from wholesale destruction of a town, she meets up with Sawyer, looses Summer and finds a stray lion cub. Only the lion cub doesn't realise he's part lion shifter. Explainations insue, visions are needed to save the day, a random suicide happens and mysteries unfold into new more desperate patterns. Phoenix has her work cut out for her and it doesn't look like it's going to end any time soon.

This book is a fast paced, delightful read. It has enough tension to keep you reading and enough action to keep you satisfied. The end only leads to more beginings so I'm looking forward to the next installment.

[Nadine · Rating 4 out of 5]

Der zweite Teil geht auch gleich gut weiter. Es fehlt wieder an nichts, Schreibstil flüssig, alles dabei liebe , Erotik und genügend Action.
Im Vordergrund diesmal ist die Mutter von Saywer die Jagd auf Liz macht um diese aus dem Weg zu räumen , aber das ist nicht so einfach.
In der Zeit hat unsere liebe Fee , Jimmy an einen Ort gebracht wo er nun lernen soll das Biest in sich zu beherrschen und das ist nichtmal so leicht.
So wollen dann Liz und Saywer die Frau aus Rauch finden und sie vorher beseitigen , bevor sie Liz umbringt.
Eine fahrt quer durch die Welt, so kommt es ein vor , beginnt.
Unterwegs treffen sie noch einen Jungen der einen Löwen in sich hat ;)
Da Saywer früher Dämonenjäger angeworben hat, nimmt er ihn gleich unter seine Fittiche.
Das Buch hat sich auh wider flüssig gelesen, es war spannend den ich wollte unbedingt wissen wie sie Saywers Mutter umnieten können, die wurde ziemlich nervig.
Lori schafft es in dem zweiten Teil auch weiter dieses Magische Band zwischen Liz und Saywer zuhalten, wo man nicht genau weiß , was nun aus den beiden wird .
Wer weiß...hab ja noch 2 Teile vor mir :)

[Barbara ★ · Rating 4 out of 5]

Liz Phoenix - who reminds me of Mercy Thompson - is amazing. She does whatever needs to be done regardless of the cost to herself or anyone else in her quest to stop the apocalypse from happening. I really like Sawyer. He's been so abused (as a child) and was so withdrawn from socity until Liz entered his life. Maybe there is hope for him yet. And poor Jimmy Sanducci. He's been terrorized and turned dhampir - half vampire/half demon. He hates himself and wants to die but Liz won't let him since the Federation needs all it's soldiers. I hope he makes peace with his beast and with himself.

I liked this better than Any Given Doomsday but maybe just because I knew all the characters and the purpose which wasn't all that clear in the first book.

[Schnaucl · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book. It was a nice addition to the series.

The story picks up not long after the end of book 1. There's a relative lull in the chaos being caused by the dark side and the light side hypothesizes that because Liz killed the dark leader, the timing of the apocalypse was set back, presumably until the leader of light is killed.

The focus this time is on trying to help Jimmy recover and finally kill off the woman of smoke a.k.a. Sawyer's mother.

I'm not really sure yet how I feel about the twist at the end, but Sawyer is definitely growing on me and I think the professor character could be interesting -- provided Sawyer doesn't kill him.

[Anja · Rating 3 out of 5]

I like the way she writes and the pace is always good, but there's always one thing she adds to her books I don't like. In this series it's the whole Sawyer and sex thing. Don't like this guy, don't like the sex thing.

The mythology was a bit too heavy for my taste. I tend to shut down if there's too much info from this and that and too much pages. But that happens in every book I read. I prefer just the necessary info.

Apart from that. I'm interested to see where she takes the story with the whole vampire thing and Jimmy.

[Runningrabbit · Rating 1 out of 5]

This novel was complete and utter babble. The mumbling of a sadly deranged woman. It mundanely rambled on about on with psychobabble, good vs evil, light vs dark, blah blah blah. Bored me to tears. I must have skimmed, on and off, about 100 pages.

The driving character was a waste of space, a complete and utter twit, and I have no real idea why I bothered with the end. This second novel achieved nothing and took the story nowhere. I must be stark raving mad to have made it to the finish line.

[Melanie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Loved this almost as much as the first one - seriously, I can hardly WAIT for the next installment of this series! The story is so interesting and sexy, it's full of great characters and twists. I do feel so dorky carrying it around though, like I'm going to whip out my D&D board (or whatever they use) any second. But I don't care that much because the book is so awesome.

[Jessica · Rating 2 out of 5]

I loved Lori Handeland's other series. This one I just have been disappointed with. I got about half way through this book before finding that I just didn't have any desire to pick it up. Sadly I think I will not read any more from this series. However I am excited that she is writing more in her other series!

[Amanda · Rating 3 out of 5]

Book # 16 of 2010

Sawyer's mommy dearest shows up as the antagonist in this outing. More action, more Doomsday. Another fairly decent read.

Also fulfills #6 in the March Monthly Challenge: Read a book with a single female on the cover.