The Last Phoenix (book 1)
Ren is a quiet teen in a small New Zealand town. He just wants to finish school, avoid the local bullies and maybe tell his best friend how he feels. But one blistering summer day he bursts into flames and emerges as the Sun God's champion: a radiant, female warrior. For generations, the Phoenix's power has passed through the women of his family, so his grandmother is as shocked as he is when it chooses a boy.
As Ren struggles to control fire, wings and teleportation, strange phenomena - frozen lakes in summer, earthquakes that seem to think - signal that the world is unraveling. Ancient enemies known as the Shadows of the Eclipse feed on chaos and are awakening. Torn between hiding in his hoodie and facing a destiny he never wanted, Ren must decide who he is, what he will fight for and whether to trust the boy who's always been by his side.
This isn't a fairytale. It's messy, queer, and sometimes heartbreaking. But if you're into mythic fantasy with real feelings, and a protagonist who literally sets himself on fire to save the world, jump in. The world's last Phoenix is a boy, and he's just getting started.
