Phoenix

Desen and Jurbi - Having to learn to love and live again. Sometimes you have to take risks.

I am always too happy to read anything by Kim Fielding, as she has slowly become a favorite of mine. 'Phoenix' is a short story in this year's Dreamspinner Press anthology, 'Never Too Late'. The theme for this year is most appropriate as each of these stories tells the tale of someone taking charge of their life, their desires, their dreams, and their world. I was enchanted by this story, as I'm sure you will be, also.
This installment is set in a fantasy world which includes flying carpets, magic spells, and two kingdoms with very different cultures. Juberi has spent most of his life collecting the rare feathers of the very extinct phoenix, in the hopes that with the correct spells, he can recreate these beautiful, extinct, birds. Juberi was once an ambassador to Tamrat where he received quite a few culture shocks as Tamrat is much more liberal than Kokoto where he is from. The biggest shock of all was the open acceptance of two men as lovers, which is forbidden in Kokoto.
When Juberi meets Desen, the son of a close friend, all the feelings he left behind in Tamrat over twenty years ago come rushing back to the fore. But Juberi is conflicted and feels he is too old to return to Tamrat and begin a new life.
“Why a phoenix?” Desen finally asked, his voice soft.
“What do you mean?”
Desen regarded him steadily. His eyes were mournful. “You’ve spent years trying to bring a dead thing back to life. Why?”
Ah, Kim, my friend, you've done it again. You completely enchanted me with this short story. I adored the ending, and I think you brought out the best in Juberi.
NOTE: This book was provided by Dreamspinner Press for the purpose of a review on Rainbow Book Reviews