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Prisoner’s Dilemma (The Phoenix Elite, 3)
by C.T. Clark
Genre: Science Fiction & Fantasy
ISBN: 9781962600088
Print Length: 394 pages
Reviewed by Chelsey Tucker
Suspenseful sci-fi that provokes questions of morality and tests the convictions of the characters we have come to love.
The Phoenix Elite are back again for a third time in the most exciting installment yet, Prisoner’s Dilemma. After the group publicly defeated the Hitler clones, more secrets surrounding Talos start to burn a deep desire for the truth.
Carlos and Lequoia begin to search all over the globe in hopes of finding the hidden prison that many of the members of the Phoenix Elite remember being at during their childhood. Eventually, they run into trouble and are warned off by warriors in animal masks. Now they have a new set of people to worry about, but it feels like they are on the right track.
While Carlos and Lequoia trek through the jungle, Adam is having a hard time adjusting to being a family man. Not because he isn’t a good husband or father, but because he is struggling with being confined to a wheelchair. He starts to suffer from even higher levels of anxiety and PTSD while questioning his purpose. “He was born the way he was for a reason. His anxious, relentless mind found purpose in the Phoenix Elite, defeating Bricker, dismantling his nuclear arsenal, and stopping Zed’s global insurrection. But was that all?”
Soon after Adam saved the world, video footage of the incident was analyzed. It turns out something remarkable had taken place: Adam shot some sort of energy out of the palm of his hand. The terror of the unknown was fueled by Talos, inciting doubt upon whether the Phoenix Elite will always be heroes and not liabilities. It is a race for the team to discover external and internal truths before they are outsmarted and wiped off the planet.
Each character seems to be in the final rounds of many of their personal battles all before their special talents can be fully harnessed. Everyone’s superpowers reflect their personality and/or point to something special about the person their DNA is sourced from. Two of the best superpowers belong to Carlos and Henrietta.
Carlos Ramirez is a badass doctor who is a clone of the fiery revolutionary Che Guevara. His insatiable thirst for truth and burning corrupt systems to the ground make it no surprise that he can throw fireballs out of his hands. “His fists burst into flames. Fire orbits his hands like ethereal torches, flickering with the wind. He doesn’t feel their heat. Papi told him the fire in his heart would come through his hands. Carlos always thought it meant the work in the ER. Guess not.”
Henrietta Kebe, the current director of the Phoenix Elite, is a clone of the great liberator Harriet Tubman. Entrusted with secrets beyond her zone of comfort, Henrietta often needs to get in and out of situations quickly, which makes teleporting an invaluable and perfect weapon for her.
The shifting perspectives from chapter to chapter add more suspense than we’ve seen previously in the Phoenix Elite series. Clark lets readers in on secrets that certain characters know and other things they don’t know while still keeping the mystery guarded for us until the right time. This book is filled with hard-hitting reveals.
There are times when certain scenes feel rushed, leaving me wanting more of a reaction out of other characters. However, the theme of unveiling secrets is consistent throughout. There are times when you don’t know who to trust or who is telling the truth. While constantly questioning everyone’s motives, you are confronted with the sense that for many of the characters, it could go either way whether or not they will finally get caught in a Talos trap.
Before starting Prisoner’s Dilemma I was excited to get back to the lives of the “Bird Buddies” as Brandon, the resident Benjamin Franklin clone, would say. Without a doubt, C.T. Clark did not disappoint with this one. I’m filled with as much giddy anticipation for the fourth book as I was the third.
This novel could be enjoyed on its own, but with how excellent the first few books are and how much fuller the world is by now because of it, I don’t know why you’d skip them. High school teachers and libraries will appreciate this series’ cross-genre capabilities, and sci-fi lovers with an appreciation of influential history will find it deeply satisfying.
Thank you for reading Chelsey Tucker’s book review of Prisoner’s Dilemma (The Phoenix Elite, 3) by C.T. Clark! If you liked what you read, please spend some more time with us at the links below.
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Civil War (The Phoenix Elite, 2)
by C.T. Clark
Genre: Sci-Fi & Fantasy / Adventure
ISBN: 9781962600064
Print Length: 392 pages
Reviewed by Chelsey Tucker
A spectacular collision of historical people, present problems, and futuristic technology
For the seven Phoenix Elite members who recently saved the world, adjusting back to normal life has been difficult.
Saving the world really fried Adam’s nerves; his “hurricane-force anxiety keeps him up late” with his Einstein brain constantly in overdrive. As for Hala and Guowei, they took on parenting roles and battled unseen illnesses. While the clones of Queen Hatshepsut and Genghis Khan are affronted by tablet tantrums, Jacki is facing threats and accusations of her being a terrorist.
Meanwhile, Carlos isn’t helping matters for Joan of Arc, posting radical proclamations on social media as he traverses South America offering medical services to anyone and everyone he comes across. Carlos never shied away from his “Che” tendencies whereas Nigel is only now embracing his Mandela way of life, even if it costs him the entire board of his company.
Lastly, there is Brandon who seemed to return to his normal life at MIT, but normal is never in the cards for the Bird Buddies. Another Kebe calls them back into action, and this time it’s even messier.
Even though the Phoenix Elite took down the threat of Bricker, his son Zed is still out there trying to cause chaos. The Lincoln look-alike ironically aims for global civil war. After a deep fake video and doxxing the entire Phoenix Elite team, Zed is successfully causing the whole world to see them as villains instead of heroes.
Henrietta Kebe has taken over for her late father in orchestrating the only team capable of destroying Zed. With the enormous and dire task facing them all, she holds onto her daddy’s words of wisdom, “‘Know where you come from, be who you are, and find the strength to move the world.’”
For a sequel, C.T. Clark does an excellent job of reintroducing characters while weaving in a recap of the first book and the new story. Instead of overwhelming us with too much at once, Clark utilizes multiple chapters to refresh us and move us forward.
Civil War immerses readers in the full weight of war, capturing its tragedy, pain, and the resilience of those caught in its wake. The emotions of the main characters are powerfully conveyed, making their struggles feel raw and real. For example, Adam’s PTSD is shown through his thoughts and actions rather than being explicitly stated: “Is an ARK terrorist waiting to pounce? Will a mysterious van speed at him? Is there a sniper lining him up? He has taught the graduate school’s advanced probability course, so he knows that these alleys are empty, but the heart skips a beat all the same.” Moments like these, along with the destruction, violence, and lingering hopelessness create an impactful story that’s going to stay with me.
The best part about this novel is how it blends modern technology, historical events, and recent political developments with futuristic yet entirely plausible advancements. The weaponry and technology used by the Phoenix Elite, while fictional, seem like a logical progression of what the public already believes to be part of military stockpiles.
While the novel maintains a fast-paced, action-packed rhythm, it also gives room for deep character development. The heavier, slower relationship-building moments are well-balanced with the high-stakes, world-saving thrills.
Both a good fit for Young Adult and Adult readers, this series will be a true gem for anyone with a passion for history, sci-fi politics, and action. The historical references and the striking parallels to today’s political landscape add depth and intrigue to the building conflict, and it’s all told with a quick wit and enough acts of sacrifice to leave you speechless.
Thank you for reading Chelsey Tucker’s book review of Civil War (The Phoenix Elite 2) by C.T. Clark! If you liked what you read, please spend some more time with us at the links below.
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