Phoenix Team One: Selected by Claire Luana
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

“Your hands are as cold as ice.”
I smiled. “Cold-blooded.”
dark eyebrows shot up like two bushy caterpillars. “What are you?”
Rude. Didn’t this guy know anything? You didn’t ask a supe what kind of creature they were.
“Naga,” I answered. “Well, half anyway.”
…..Many mythical creatures—supes, as they’re called these days—share kinship or at least a passing resemblance with animals.
Nagas are snake supes. In ancient times, they were thought to be gods, and that suited them just fine. Nagas are capable of shifting between the form of a human and the form of a huge snake—or somewhere in the middle—human torso, snake lower half. Full-bloods have incredible power—they’re strong, fast and agile. All their senses are heightened, and they have an extra one too: Nagas can use their infrared glands to sense the heat of a nearby body one hundred yards away. Then there’s the poisonous venom, and the fact that Nagas can swallow someone whole. Though it isn’t a particularly pleasant experience, from what I’ve heard. You’re bloated as hell for days afterwards. As a half-blood, I can’t do most of that cool shit. My form is permanently stuck somewhere between a snake and a human. I have the slivered pupils and forked tongue of a Naga, together with a pattern of golden scales that stretch up my neck to my temples as Martin so classily observed. I have much of my race’s heightened senses: strength, speed, and venom. But compared to many supes, I’m weak. ”

“My gut tightened with anger as tears pricked my eyes. Impotent fury and soul-sucking grief, my two ever-present companions these past six weeks.”

“Nagas avenge our dead. It’s my right. I won’t be able to rest until I do. Dad won’t be able to rest until I do.”

Phoenix Team One: Selected is the first book in the Mythical Alliance: Phoenix Team series by Claire Luana. This is the first instalment/episode of the new serialized urban fantasy series which will consist of novella length instalments to follow along, as the story/series unfolds. This first book sets things off to a fantastic start- bringing all kinds of paranormal beings/creatures (supes), action, drama, danger, adventure, mystery, secrets, discovery, and lots more.
Zariya is on a quest for vengeance after the death of her father. She is determined to hunt down those responsible for his murder and wreak her revenge. But as she begins to investigate she discovers that things are much more complicated than she imagined. What she uncovers will change her perspective about everything she thought she knew and will set her on a life changing adventure.
I enjoyed this engaging story, and as expected Ms. Luana’s fantastic world building and endearing characters really brought everything to life, making it entirely realistic and believable.
Cannot wait to see where we go from here!

Thank you, Ms. Luana!

Reviewed by @angelahayes

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