Cindy Pon's debut novel "Silver Phoenix" is a breathtaking adventure. The heroine of this tale is Ai Ling, a young woman on the brink of facing the traditional expectations of her Xian society. She is expected to marry well and live quietly in the inner quarters. Fate has other plans for her, however, and Ai Ling is thrust into a journey full of monsters and strange lands in order to find her missing father. Along the way, her path crosses with Chen Yong, a young man looking for his own answers, and together they battle towards the Palace of Fragrant Dreams. This novel was full of unexpected twists and turns. Every time Ai Ling encountered a new monster or stumbled into a strange land, I was mesmerized by Cindy Pon's ability to describe these fantastical elements. I had no trouble painting the images she described in my mind and this really helped me to feel absorbed in the story. It was a very exciting read because just when I thought the main characters were safe, they were thrown into another seemingly impossible situation. Ai Ling is a strong and determined character but my favourite aspect of this book would have to be the fantastic world that Ms. Pon created for her heroine. I also enjoyed the relationship between Ai Ling and Chen Yong because it progressed very realistically but I do hope their relationship blossoms a lot more in the next book!