Phoenix Overture - Jodi Meadows

Phoenix Overture by Jodi Meadows
Series: Newsoul #2.5
Publisher: Katherine Tegen Books
Publication Date: September 3, 2013
Source/Format: Bought || Kindle e-book

In the wilds around the Community where Sam and his family have taken shelter, life is dangerous. Dragons, trolls, centaurs, and other monsters fill the world. The word comes from the council that everyone must leave and journey to rescue their leader, Janan, who has been abducted by a mysterious new enemy in the north. Faced with overwhelming threats that bring death and destruction, Sam and the others reach the northern Range and, reunited with Janan, are given an unimaginable opportunity. Although it would give them the privilege to live and learn and love without fear, the choice is not without its own dire consequences. And lives—though not theirs—are sure to be lost. Just how much are they willing to give up to save themselves? (from Goodreads)

Let me begin this review by warning you all that I'm supremely biased when it comes to the Newsoul series, as you can tell from my reviews of Incarnate and Asunder. It's phenomenally written, incredibly inventive, and Jodi Meadows has created a boy that I absolutely adore named Sam. It is so not a surprise then that I adored Phoenix Overture, in spite of the fact that it's (1) short and (2) set in Sam's life before he met Ana. 

In my notes, I simply wrote, "GOD, I ADORE SAM." It's basically the entire reason that this novella worked for me. I love Sam, so it made my novella purchase worth it just to learn more about him. Readers get a glimpse into his past, including his relationships then. He and his mother had a strong connection because of their musical abilities, while he and his father didn't exactly see eye to eye on his usefulness. And then, there's his brother Fayden, who I initially didn't like, but ended up really loving, and also Cris, who other fans might recall from the previous books in the series. Each of these people contributed greatly towards making Sam who he is when Ana meets him, and just thinking about that made the story even more interesting.

Phoenix Overture, even though it reads as a prequel novella, is actually better read after the first two books in this series. By then, readers will be invested in Sam and will enjoy this look into his past life as much as I did. Jodi Meadows weaves a very strong tale in a short amount of pages, and I look forward to seeing what happens next to Sam and Ana in Infinite, the final book in the Newsoul series.