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“A couple of blackbirds cawed, then took off from the corner of the funeral home roof and headed toward the cemetery. Jesus, those birds liked following us around. Were we just good entertainment? Or were they trying to warn us of something? Maybe they were just reminding us it wasn’t too late to just fly away, escape while we still could. Thomas noticed them, too. ‘Crows are very intelligent. Scientific studies have shown they also hold a grudge for up to seventeen years.’ Nearly as long as I’d been alive. Jesus, was that why they were always yacking at me? Were they somehow angry I’d been born? Honestly, there were times I felt the same way.”

From The Phoenix, Chapter 5, “The Delamorte Family Funeral Home”

The reviews are coming in …

“An engaging, multilayered story that finely balances action with introspection and the real with the mystical.” - Kirkus Reviews

Read the full Kirkus review here.

“Great plot with intriguing characters.”-Claire C., NetGalley

“A distrusting teenager acclimates to a new life-and to supernatural realities-in the surprising novel, The Phoenix.” -Foreward Clarion Reviews

“…a thrilling blend of mystery, supernatural intrigue, and heart. If you love creepy funeral homes, ancient magic, and a tough teenage heroine, this one’s for you.” - J. Delgadillo, NetGalley

“… a fun read for YA fans that want something that’s atmospheric and not full-fledged complicated fantasy.” -Tyler Mai, Goodreads

“There’s a lot of honesty . . . when it comes to feelings of grief, loneliness, and the struggles the three children face.” -April Goff, TheStoryGraph

“It was late.

Like, eyes-rolling-back-in-your-head late. When your heart finally slows down enough to sleep. And I was almost there. Asleep that is, when I heard it. The familiar sounds down in the parking lot of our apartment complex.

Coughing and gagging. Shoes scraping across the asphalt, then clacking on the ragged concrete steps leading up to our third-floor apartment. Keys jangling, feet shuffling across the dusty breezeway leading to our door.

She was making too much noise, attracting too much attention. Someone was always watching.”

-The Phoenix, Chapter 1, “Lesser Superpowers”

About the Author:

Eric Van Allen has been a psychologist for thirty years, working primarily with children and teens in the foster care system. When not working, he enjoys writing in coffee shops throughout the Pacific Northwest. He also enjoys photography, exploring, sometimes cooking, and wondering what he is going to be when he grows up. He currently lives in Seattle, Washington with his two cats.