Review of Klutz: Phoenix Revenge (But Did You Die? #4) by K.A. Linde
When I first dove into Klutz: Phoenix Revenge, the fourth installment in K.A. Linde’s But Did You Die? series, I was filled with excitement and anticipation. Ryls had captured my heart with her blend of humor, wit, and a dash of badassery, making her an unforgettable protagonist. However, this installment left me feeling a bit like Ryls grappling with another blow of bad luck—disappointed and yearning for answers.
This book picks up amidst the chaos of Ryls’s life, where the stakes are high and the intrigue is palpable. However, as I turned the pages, the plot often seemed chaotic in less-than-desirable ways. Readers are thrown into a whirlwind of developments, yet many are left frustratingly unexplained. It’s as if Linde, while crafting her narrative, disregarded some of the foundational rules of successful world-building—especially the laws of magic that we hold dear, à la Sanderson. Each time Ryls finds herself in a pinch, a new power appears, evaporating the suspense and stakes that had previously enriched her journey. I found myself thinking, “Wait, didn’t she just gain cosmic strength last chapter?”
Let’s talk about the characters—Ryls’s mates. The introduction of yet another mate, Willard, feels more like a plot twist thrown in for convenience than an organic growth of the character dynamics we’d been cheering for in previous books. Linde beautifully set up the relationships in earlier installments, but here they felt rushed and somewhat neglected. With four books in, I expected a deeper exploration of our beloved characters and a resolution to pressing questions about the Shadow and Xerxes’s rise to power. Instead, it feels as if they scroll past, like an Instagram story fading into oblivion.
Now, don’t get me wrong, Klutz: Phoenix Revenge has its shining moments—Linde’s talent for crafting thrilling action scenes is still evident, but the climactic train derailment, unfortunately, missed the mark for me. It felt contrived rather than exhilarating. I wanted to root for Ryls in those moments and instead found myself rolling my eyes at the absurdity.
Furthermore, the pivotal shift in the world’s magic system, where Ryls can now die permanently unless her mates are killed? What happened to the stakes that had us holding our breath? My heart ached for the resolution of Trevor’s fate, a question left dangling that adds to the frustration. Are these threads going to be picked up in the next book, or will they be relegated to the shadows like our lost connections?
In conclusion, while Klutz: Phoenix Revenge has its thrilling sparks and remains engaging, I am left feeling more like a curious onlooker than an invested reader. It seems like there’s a significant potential that could have been realized, but in this round, it edges toward chaos. If you’re a longtime fan, you’ll likely find value in the series’ continuation, but I urge new readers to start from the beginning to fully appreciate the characters’ journeys. I’ll be following along for the closure, but my enthusiasm has definitely tempered. Maybe in the next book, Ryls will reclaim her luck and bring us the answers we’ve been thirsting for. Here’s hoping! 🥺
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