Fury of a Phoenix: The Nix Series, Book 1

By: Shannon Mayer

Narrated by: Khristine Hvam

Length: 10 hrs and 3 mins

Publisher's Summary

I knew the sins of my past would call to collect what was left of my soul. If I'd known the price I'd pay, I would've sacrificed more to stay hidden from the magic.

In the middle of Wyoming - away from the abnormals of the world - I thought I was free and clear. I started a new life. Found a love I'd never known in a husband, and a son who was my everything.

And in a blinding instant, that life was stolen from me.

The rage of a grieving mother is an ugly beast. More so when she has the skills and killer instinct to back up the wrath and the knowledge that an accident was anything but.

Once more, I will pick up my guns. This time to hunt those who took my husband's and son's lives.

Let them see the assassin, trained to kill abnormals and stalk the shadows again.

Let them see the Phoenix rise from the fragments of a broken life as she burns with a fury that cannot be contained.

Let the killing games begin.

©2017 Hijinks Ink Publishing (P)2017 Hijinks Ink Publishing

Another hit for Shannon Mayer. Love it!

The story starts with action and vengeance and only slows for Nix’s recuperation. I admire Nix. As an assassin, she leaves no bodies behind to come at her back. (This is a pet peeve of mine. Many protagonists in a show of mercy, leave behind an adversary who only come back later for a kill.)

Nix is human sharing a world that is inhabited by abnormals. I have become jaded thinking that as a human she would be vulnerable against a paranormal. Well Nix has skills, which paranormals fear She was trained at the age of 6 to be an assassin by her father and those were skills she still has.

In her quest for vengeance, she discovered the true identity of the man she loved who was the father of her boy and that she was not quite as hidden as she thought. Now she trying to find who put the hit on her family, the mob or Lucan Romano, her father. Her father who made a deal with the demon Bazixal for power and money all his life.

With her girls on her hips, guns Dinah and Eleanor, Abe her dog and an unlikely ally, Simon she travels to Las Vegas to kill the head of the most powerful organization, her father.
She meets old friends, and former lovers, many who are now traitors. Action, action, action. It is a fast paced enjoyable book with the fault… a cliff hanger.

5 Stars!

This is one of the best books I've read and listened to all year. Khristine Hvam is so very talented and my favorite narrator! Shannon Mayer has outdone herself with this book! If I could give it 10 stars I would. I urge you to buy the Audible book and the Kindle version! You won't be disappointed at all.
Looking forward to listening to Blood of a Phoenix. I've read it and it's even better than this one.

A Female John Wick

"People keep asking me if I'm back. Well yeah, I'm back"

Title says it all. Former [world's best] assassin tries to have a normal life, but someone goes and kills loved ones... enter bad-ass version. 10+ years out of the game, yet the same people in her former life are still there, still doing the same exact things they did over a decade ago, same restaurants, same office, probably same passwords, etc.

The author tries to add a supernatural element to the story, but it is not described in detail at all. I understand that losing a loved one really sucks, but I probably would have liked the book more if we weren't reminded of it every paragraph.

Listen if you want to see a former assassin basically do everything perfectly and get revenge, but I highly suggest going at a high speed to minimize the amount of time you have to hear about her lost family and revenge inner monologues.

Fury of a woman scorned

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

Yes, It is non stop action w/o the sappy romance

Who was your favorite character and why?

Nix-she's badass, Simon-he sneaky, Abe-he's a dog, what's not to love?

Which scene was your favorite?

would be a spoiler

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

When she has to let Bear go.

Any additional comments?

I think in the world of Shannon Mayer I'm a rookie. I've read and adored the Rylee Adamson series. I've read the Venom books and liked the world/story better than the MC. This was a whole new experience. The beginning is tragic and as a mom some parts were extremely hard especially at the time she looses her boys. I've read some of the reviews that readers had a hard time connecting to Nix or liking her and I can see that BUT if you think about it, it would be hard to connect with someone who only ever loved or was loved by two people that were tragically taken from her. I found by the last 1/4 of the book her character was making a shift that I think will make it easier for people to connect with her. I loved everything about the book and holy cliffhanger batman.....have preordered #2.

Khristine Hvam is one of my all-time favorites and does a fantastic job with the characters.

Unexpected Fun

I typically find these "woman bent on revenge" stories to follow a standard formula. I am also not a fan of the super natural. However, in this book both elements work. The author doesn't waste time explaining the magic, yet lets it unfold with the story. This female also does not need a male partner backing her up. The mention of her name is enough to cause tough men to trimble. I enjoyed this book very much and will check out the next in the series.

Fury of a Phoenix

Thank goodness I picked this series next. I've been burdened with a bunch of 1 and 2 star books. It was a bit depressing.

Fury of Phoenix starts off with flashbacks and I getting weary. I'm not a fan of flashbacks, but this author did it well enough that I was able to push through them.

We get to know Phoenix aka Nix who has been in hiding and living a normal life. Her family is attacked and she slides back into her old life to get revenge.

The book is done really well. Though emotional connection to the family is created early. The action scenes have enough details to make them entertaining but not so much that your bombarded with unnecessary information.

Nix is not a typical female heroine. She doesnt doubt herself or tremble in the wake of killing. She gets the job done and doesn't hold back. It's a bit refreshing. Usually we get this women who are conflicted between being a "good person" and being a kickass chick.

The author uses terms like "abnormal" to describe those of the magical community. I'm still on the fence with how I feel about her terminology. There are a few things that have been done before but I feel the author puts a fresh take on them to keep it interesting. I especially like the canine side kick and the talking weapons. The weapons give you a few good laughs. Similar to Firebrand in the Knightlord series, her guns help her kill and sometimes keep her motivated.

The narrator is Kristine Hvam. She does an excellent job as always. The only small issue is that I'm so use to hearing her voice and thinking "Jane Yellowrock". It took me a few chapters to get use to this being a different character.

Badassery at its best!

Great read with Dirty Harryesque lady named Phoenix! Loved it! Hoping to see her kill every bastard in Romanos world.

No spoilers

This was a first time for me with this author. I had trouble connecting with the main character. I got she lost a great deal. But it felt like she whined constantly about one thing or another. I almost put down the book then in came the guns. That keep me going. How ever the whining keep up. She was supposed to be a bad a**. I don't know I might try one more because I really liked link and the ladies. The narrator MS Hvam was ok not bad but not great that may have been the story she read. She did the voices very well and told the story with emotion. So over all I'd listen to her again.

Good start to a new series

Interesting enough to go on to the next book. Strong heroine with enough twists & turns to keep me listening.

crying in her soup? oh yes.

got to chapter 3, there is so much fussing about her husband and child. when is the story going to start? I can see talking about it. but dragging it out so long? NO.

Brilliant

Shannon Mayer is in her usual top form!
Loved this, and can’t wait for the next instalment
The narrator also did a great job. Fit the role really well.

Just OK

Great narration, weak story.
I had the impression it would be a great fey story where a I find its really a mob gangster plot with a few magic bits thrown in to justify a fantasy status - sorry won't be following Nix again

Nick G

Breathtaking thriller

Buckle up and prepare yourself for a story like you’ve never heard. A woman hellbent on revenge. A family unlike any you’ve ever met. Supernaturals that are not playing for the balance of good between humans and themselves. Twists and turns and revelations that will have you on the edge of your seat, catching your breath and still hoping and praying for that outcome you are rooting for.
Absolutely one of the best narrated suspense/thriller I’ve listened to.

Great book 😊

This was a great book that left me desperate for the next one 😁 you felt the characters pain and anger in the words almost as though they could have been your own, you were sucked into the world from the beginning right to the end. Definitely a recommendation for any book lover

Excellent!

A killer hidden for more than a decade comes back for one simple thing, revenge. Even though the story is nothing other than revenge. As like many other Mayer books, Fury of a Phoenix is non-stop action. The person you should hate, a killer, you will actually be rooting for. A first for me! The narrator did a great job!

Urban Fantasy at its Best

Wow! Ms Mayer is one of the best story tellers out there and she certainly didn’t disappoint with this wild ride. Nix has lost everything and she’s on a mission for revenge - will she be able to avenge her lost ones! This has everything in it, magic, mayhem and adventure - oh and two wonderful side kicks in the shape of Dinah and Eleanor. I’ve listened to a few audios narrated by Khristine Hvam and she’s fast becoming one of my favourites! An easy 5 stars from me.

Hooked

I was completely hooked within the first few minutes of the book. The raw emotions of grief and revenge came through clearly in the narration. I am so looking forward to the next book.

Kill Bill meets mother's vengeance

Such a gripping story made even more powerful with a great narrator. Nyx had thought she left her past behind her until the worse thing that can happen to a mother occurs. Now she will get her vengeance to everyone who is responsible for taking away her son. With the help of her talking guns (weird but they have a great sense of humour) and her loveable dog, she starts to work on her plan.
I wasn't sure that I would like this story as I don't like any stories involving child loss but this is beautifully written and the cliff hanger ending at the end has me gripped and I'm downloading the next book as I type this review. Highly recommend this book.

Amazing

Nix is amazing and a badass she takes no bs from anyone. Even the mention of her name brings fear to most people so make sure she never has to come looking for you. Khristine Hvam narrates each character perfectly.