Drowning the Flames by A.L. Wyss continues the story of Vivian Carmine, a girl who recently discovered that she is an immortal phoenix with fire powers. She might have cleared her parents' names and saved the world from the wrath of Hades, but she is still needed to face Poseidon, the god of the sea, who seeks to destroy humanity and the fae. Poseidon wishes to drown the whole world by using the Key of Light, an ancient relic with immense power that can open the gates of Olympus. Vivian must work with Sam, a friend she has yet to forgive; Adrian, a merman leading a rebellion against Poseidon; and other unexpected allies to find the key and save the world from being immersed in water. The group travels to the Tokyo branch of RISE, the secret organization for mythical creatures that her family works for. Unfortunately, the plan to dive into the Mariana Trench may be a bad idea for Vivian. Her firepower and water are not the best combination, and her inexperience and loss of control will prove to be a challenge underwater. Join Vivian as she explores the deep seas and faces the fierce water god, Poseidon.

Drowning the Flames is the second book in the Phoenix Rising Trilogy by A.L. Wyss. It covers Vivian’s development, not only of her powers but also her emotional and social growth. Readers will see her navigate new relationships with the RISE council elders, her friends at RISE, and even her enemies like Ashton, who wish to chip in to save the world for their own interests. She can now navigate the complex hallways of RISE and is finding her place in this new world. Most of the story covers the world of the deep sea, and I loved the author's descriptions of the places, the creatures, and the social structures that govern life in the ocean. The story has interesting elements like Atlantis, sirens, and sea monsters, which you find in mythical tales. It also covers lore about dragons and phoenixes. I can’t wait for the last book in this series. Vivian’s got a lot to figure out—her purpose, the way the elders keep pulling RISE’s strings, and the key that always seems to cause trouble. Great work.

Fresh from discovering her family's long-held secret as agents of RISE, a secret agency that has made protecting the fae its primary goal, Vivian Carmine must juggle her new role as a phoenix with maintaining good grades at school. The problem with this responsibility is that some of her previous actions have created unforeseen consequences. Poseidon, god of the sea, has found a magical relic known as the Key. He plans to rule the world with it. Vivian calls on new friends like Adrian the merman to join the team and help her in this new quest, but expect sparks to fly and rivalries to unravel with old faces like Sam making the cut in A.L. Wyss's Drowning The Flames.

A.L. Wyss recaps Vivian's origin story to explain how her parents played an influential role in her decision to join RISE. This makes the narrative easier for readers to follow as a stand-alone while maintaining fluidity for series followers. The dialogue oscillates between serious, strategy-oriented sessions as Vivian and her cohorts plan how best to outsmart Poseidon, and hilariously witty ripostes amongst the team, especially between Vivian and Adrian's allies. Wyss inserts a thought-provoking potential romantic triangle featuring Sam, Adrian, and Vivian, highlighted by intense emotional moments from all three. What stands out in Drowning The Flames is the way the author blends cutting-edge technological gadgets, such as the squid-ink gun, into a narrative originally based on mythological characters. The result is a one-of-a-kind novel that will appeal to science fiction and fantasy enthusiasts in equal measure.