MARGARITA ARTISTA’S JOURNEY THROUGH THE PHOENIX KEEPER SERIES - VORAKA.

ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED IN VORAKA

Article Published on 26 February 2025 by Gloria Poletti | www.vorakamag.com

The Phoenix Keeper and the City of the Sun can best be described as a delectable, layered experience, offering a taste of popular tropes mixed with the lasting flavors of Artista’s unique flair and intelligent inquisitions. It is coated with the appeal of an urban romantic fantasy, featuring a magic system and corresponding lore that is highly inspired and derived from mythology. Underneath the tale of the strong female lead and the morally grey male counterpart lies a quiet yet looming curiosity about various themes, such as wealth, politics, and power.

Artista commands the page the same way one commands a room: with striking details, smooth entrances, and a delivery that exudes both confidence and invitation. The pacing of her work flows mostly from the memorable dialogue bursting with distinctive personalities, topped with beautiful, immersive descriptions, and sprinkled with the occasional glimpse into a pertinent character’s mind. Artista’s exposition is impressionable and boasts clear thought and consideration, with no moment feeling less deserving of attention than the rest.

The Phoenix Keeper and the City of the Sun has a lot to offer to new adult readers, standing assuredly in its own spotlight while setting the stage for the rest of a promising series to come.

BUY NOW

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

“I want to read my own stars. I want to write my own legacy”

Those are the powerful words of Seraphine Pierre, the main character rich with personality and presence in Margarita Artista’s urban fantasy series, The Phoenix Keeper. They movingly exemplify the female lead’s key motivations—and align quite suitably with Artista’s goals as she emerges in the global book market.

To Artista, writing is akin to what meditation is for others: a reflective practice, an intentional process, and a means for facilitating focus and introspection. The 26-year-old has been jotting down thoughts and ideas, some more developed than others, ever since she could hold a pen. Artista originally entered the independent book market with three collections of poetry and two children’s books; these were creative journeys mainly explored during the pandemic that alleviated the feelings of disorientation the public health crisis caused her. The Phoenix Keeper series is her first fiction series adventure—a passion project into which she has poured blood, sweat, and tears for over twelve years. Much like her main character, Artista hopes to leave her mark; specifically, she intends to redefine what it means to be an independent author. Incorporating learnings from her studies in Sociology, she aims to use her stories as meaningful interrogations into the world that surrounds her and her readers. This includes highlighting various societal institutions and how their intersecting dynamics affect how we live. Ultimately, it is Margarita’s goal to contribute to the overall awareness of social structures, the importance of critical thinking, and the value of the individual and the group.

As for an impact, Artista dreams of leaving her readers feeling inspired, driven to innovate, and encouraged to explore their own musings. She believes creativity and storytelling come in many different mediums and forms and highly recommends her readers share their own stories in their respective artistic endeavors. Above all, it is important to Artista that her readers leave each of her books feeling as though they’ve found a dear, lifelong friend.

Artista was born and raised in BC, Canada, and currently resides there with her fiancé and three pet birds. She is an avid reader and particularly enjoys the works of Sarah J. Maas, Christopher Paolini, Oscar Wilde, Emily Brontë, and Ernest Hemingway.

EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW WITH AUTHOR MARGARITA ARTISTA

What inspired your urban fantasy series The Phoenix Keeper, and how has your journey influenced its creation?

I always loved fantasy books and video games. I specifically loved dragon stories, especially Eragon by Christopher Paolini. 

I really wanted to do a “dragon” fantasy book, but not with dragons—I wanted to put my own spin on it. Phoenixes were mythological creatures I always wanted to read more of, and thus, The Phoenix Keeper was born!

How does your introspective writing process shape the characters and 

themes in your books?

To continue reading the full interview, click here to download our Literature special issue.