The critics say ...

"The Rise of the Phoenix is a wonderful tale full of plot twists and unexpected surprises. In a book driven by fate and prophecy, Ms. Rivers Baker allows her characters a freedom of choice, which is gratifying and which heightens the suspense of the story. I highly recommend this book to anyone who enjoys fantasy, romance, or psychological drama. Bring on the sequel!" Roundtable Reviews

"The Rise of the Phoenix is a fantasy novel, set in a world we only partly recognize. Readers might hear echoes of Anne McCaffery, Frank Herbert, even some of the potentialities which seem to lurk at the edges of theoretical physics. But for all its other-worldliness, this is a story that evokes themes for us in the here and now, about what we think of as our will, our destiny, about the importance of our intuition, and about what’s worth living for, and dying for." Tom Milligan, WSKG Radio (Author Dawn Rivers Baker was Tom Milligan's guest on the February 25, 2003 edition of Off The Page on WSKG Radio (NPR). Click here to listen to the program! [requires Real Player])

"The Rise of The Phoenix is an impressive and engaging debut novel by Dawn Rivers Baker about the impending fate of an Empire, the dark force that menaces it, and the Prophecy surrounding two fraternal twins caught in the twists and machinations of grand schemes. A transcendent and splendor-filled work of high fantasy, The Rise of The Phoenix is vividly descriptive and complexly woven, filled with intrigue throughout, and enthusiastically recommended reading." The Midwest Book Review

"Baker's writing style is lyrical and dense. She has given much thought to her world building, and while comparisons could be made to both "Dune" and "Darkover," this world is wholly her own. Baker excels at dialogue, and her words are a joy to read. This is one "Phoenix" most definitely on the rise." Inscriptions Magazine