The Phoenix in Flight

In "The Phoenix in Flight," the first book of their five-part space opera series, Smith and Trowbridge craft a vivid universe that combines the adventurous spirit of "Star Wars" with the intricate dynamics of "Dangerous Liaisons" and a touch of comedic chaos reminiscent of the Three Stooges. Following Brandon nyr-Arkad, the wayward youngest son of a powerful ruler, the narrative captures his flight into the lawless Rift and the unfolding chaos as his family's realm spirals into violence and vengeance. With his brothers deceased and his father imprisoned, Brandon finds himself as the unlikely last hope for the Panarchy amidst interstellar turmoil.