STARRED Book Review: Sacred Blood (The Phoenix Elite)

Reviewed by Chelsey Tucker

Fascinating technology, crazy schemes, and a bit of freaky science

Adam is a clumsy grad student at École Polytechnique in Switzerland. After causing another klutzy catastrophe, his crush Margot is abducted right before his eyes. He launches into action, but his attempt to save her falls short. 

As he lays in a hospital bed, a military man shows up with an orange envelope. Soon, he finds out that six more individuals from all around the world have also received orange envelopes with the same kind of device inside.

These seven are a part of a technically discontinued experiment: The Phoenix Elite Initiative. Back in 2003, James Bricker and Emmanuel Kebe were two of the main scientists working on the Phoenix Elite when the United Nations put an end to it. Bricker had become radicalized in the process, leading to Kebe losing his best friend and gaining the responsibility of becoming a handler of the sensitive material created from the initiative.

When the seven finally come together, they learn the truth behind the abductions of the world’s greatest scientists: Bricker. James Bricker and his son Zed have descended into insanity with a nuclear scheme that involves creating an ARK (I mean, his username being @TheRealNoah is crazy!). The team’s mission becomes clear—take out Bricker. Hopefully, Carlos is right: “Cut the head off the snake and the rest will wither and die.”

Kebe drops the biggest bombshell of their lives. Each one of them shares at least 99.5% DNA with a prominent historical figure. Adam is a muscular version of a “creative, eccentric genius.” Jacki is a French Lieutenant who must grapple with being a clone of her hero, a “devoutly religious teenager” from the 15th century. The team’s master of languages, Hala, shares her DNA with royalty, a “ground-breaking leader from Ancient Egypt.” The badass of the bunch, Carlos, discovers he shares DNA with a “controversial revolutionary guerrilla”—a surprise to no one in that training facility.

Guowei, however, is stunned to learn where his DNA stems from, “one of the greatest military strategists in history” who also is credited as one of the most ruthless. Another team member doesn’t initially resemble the personality of their donor. Nigel is seen as more self-centered and untrustworthy when compared to the “peacemaking activist” he sees often on the money he receives from his customers. When it is his turn, the tech-bro Brandon utters in disbelief “I can’t believe I didn’t go to Penn” when a very “recognizable Founding Father” comes across the screen.

Each character fits perfectly within The Phoenix Elite with their own strengths, quirks, and weaknesses stemming from intriguing backstories. C.T. Clark does a wonderful job weaving the characters’ pasts with their present, painting colorful portraits rather than dry biographies. The weapons that are paired with each team member are also elaborate and impressive. Most of the technology seems a bit ahead of our time, but is so realistic that the world always feels plausible and the tech adds some serious excitement to the already high-stakes plot.

Readers of many types are going to love this book: lovers of history, science, military strategy, and so many others. It’s a fast-paced, action-packed journey with the Phoenix Elite. Regardless of your interest, the concept of cloning historical figures to create a super team to save the world against nuclear destruction is wild and worth the ride. Sacred Blood will definitely be in contention for one of the best books I’ve read this year.

---

Thank you for reading Chelsey Tucker’s book review of Sacred Blood (The Phoenix Elite) by C.T. Clark! If you liked what you read, please spend some more time with us at the links below.