Ebony Gate: The Phoenix Hoard is a book full of compelling hooks that drew me in quickly. The idea of families hosting different kinds of magic is always fascinating, and Emiko’s place in that world, being seemingly depowered, was what initially grabbed my attention. There’s a strong emphasis on how Emiko relies on tools to help her outwit and outmaneuver those that would have magical advantages over her. That setup almost felt like My Hero Academia, where a character without power tries to survive in a world that revolves around it. But, much like that series, the story doesn’t commit to the powerless angle. The reveal that Emiko isn’t powerless at all but in fact stronger than most people rubbed me the wrong way. It’s a trope I find overdone, and it undermined what could have been a more unique arc.
That said, the other elements of the book really carried it for me. The blood debt to the shinigami, the concept of talons as currency, and the scheme to control a gate to the underworld were excellent pieces of worldbuilding. Those threads gave the story a sense of weight and danger that kept me invested. While I may not have loved the “secretly superpowered protagonist” angle, I still found the story engaging and well-paced.
Ebony Gate delivered a magical world full of intrigue, danger, and sharp ideas. Even with some tropes I didn’t love, I enjoyed the ride and am excited to see where the series goes next.
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