The Voice of a Phoenix

By Zylkia Swensen

The Voice of a Phoenix is a very personal book. It took me a long time to finish it because I still feel the pain of my “darker times.” Writing The Voice of a Phoenix helped me immensely because I was able to understand my pain. With every chapter I wrote, I learned things, discovered so much about myself, and applied anything that could be beneficial to my own life. Pain is part of life; you can’t learn without it, step-by-step, but never stop. Life is worth living and worth fighting for no matter how many times you must start over. A phoenix never dies.

“Suicide is never an option” (Zee).

• Language: English
• Publisher: Covenant Books, Inc.
• Release date: Jul 1, 2021
• ISBN: 9781636309156

Reviews for The Voice of a Phoenix

[Zylkia Swensen · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Loved it! ?
Inspirational book with a hopeful message to those suffering from mental illness.

SYNOPSIS
This book is about my life and an example of Suicide is Never the answer.

"Because a queen builds her castle Edith the same rocks that were thrown @ her."

Now working with a Publisher, Covenant Publishers, and is in the Editing phase. Book is NOT OPEN FOR THE PUBLIC< Publish Date Pending
Updated 12/20/2020

Swensen offers an intimate look into mental illness, providing personal experiences of her own battle. The author writes that she wanted to publish this book before Christmas, since it is "the highest rate of suicide." I found these sentiments to be heartfelt and vital to the potential readers looking for assistance with their mental and emotional struggles. The holidays can be stressful enough, but 2020 has taken stress to a whole other level. If there was ever a time to write an autobiographical self-help book, 2020 is the year to do it.

One of my favorite lines in The Voice of the Phoenix, is "There is one lesson I have learned is that when the cup is half full or half empty, it does matter what you choose." Swensen tells readers that you do have control over your life and your mental health. No matter how far down the rabbit hole you feel, there is always a way to pull yourself back up. As someone who suffers from depression and anxiety, this spoke to me. Life can feel like a tailspin, but choosing how you handle your symptoms can give a person a sense of control.

The author pours her heart out throughout the rest of the book; discussing relationships, shopping addiction, and post-traumatic stress. Swensen is an army vet with problem after problem, but continues to fight even off the battlefield. the message is there: Suicide is never the answer.

Swensen finishes her book with advice and positive vibes. She says, "Searching for closure should start by forgiving yourself". Swensen implores that you look inside yourself and work on self-love. The Voice of the Phoenix is honest and worth the read for anyone suffering with mental illness.

REVIEWED BY

Rachel M. Patterson
Following
Rachel Patterson's poetry has been published in several literary journals, such as The Penmen Review. She has a Bachelor’s Degree in Creative Writing and English, and she is completing her MFA in Creative Writing. Rachel lives near Pittsburgh with her husband, son, and three crazy cats.