Dodi's Reviews > The Phoenix Crown

It felt like the pacing of The Phoenix Crown was very slow. There were elements of this historical-fiction novel that I enjoyed. The setting of San Francisco in the early 1900s leading up to the earthquake and subsequent fire initially piqued my interest. The details of Chinese immigrants' treatment and the desperation of supporting oneself in an unwelcoming society was enlightening. Gemma's (one of the protagonists) experiences as an opera singer added another interesting layer. My favorite part was the authors notes at the end.