I received this book for free from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
The Phoenix Keeper by S.A. MacLean Series: Standalone
Published by Orbit Books on 2024 August 13
Genres: Romantasy, Cozy
Pages: 14
Format: Audiobook
Source: Netgalley
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As head phoenix keeper at a world-renowned zoo for magical creatures, Aila’s childhood dream of conserving critically endangered firebirds seems closer than ever. There’s just one glaring caveat: her zoo’s breeding program hasn’t functioned for a decade. When a tragic phoenix heist sabotages the flagship initiative at a neighboring zoo, Aila must prove her derelict facilities are fit to take the reins.
But saving an entire species from extinction requires more than stellar animal handling skills. Carnivorous water horses, tempestuous thunderhawks, mischievous dragons… Aila has no problem wrangling beasts. Inspiring zoo patrons? That’s another story. Mustering the courage to ask for help from the hotshot griffin keeper at the zoo’s most popular exhibit? Virtually impossible.
Especially when that hotshot griffin keeper happens to be her arch-rival from college: Luciana, an annoyingly brooding and insufferable know-it-all with the grace of a basilisk and the face of a goddess, who’s convinced that Aila’s beloved phoenix would serve their cause better as an active performer rather than a passive conservation exhibit.
With the world watching and the threat of poachers looming, Aila’s success isn’t only a matter of keeping her job: the future of a species depends on her.
Isn’t this the coziest and cutest book this 2024? The whole time I was reading The Phoenix Keeper, I felt like I got transported into the world of cozy games (i.e. Stardew Valley, Potion Permit, Animal Crossing) wherein I have to grind my ass planting and harvesting plants, and taking care of my livestock every single waking day and I did not mind all the work because everything’s just so enjoyable. The only difference is that The Phoenix Keeper deals with magical creatures, from dragons to phoenixes to unicorns to griffins to kelpies etc., being raised in a magical zoo to ensure the continuity of their existence. I never thought that following the daily life of an introverted and highly anxious magical zoo keeper would keep me entertained for almost fourteen hours.
Though Aila’s, our introverted heroine, life at the zoo seemed mundane as she spends most of her days overthinking, working hard to take care of the magical animals assigned to her, and interacting with her only friend, Tanya, I never felt that the story was dragging because the atmosphere and how MacLean designed the interactions and scenarios between the characters just gives off a sense of comfort and peace that you just want to listen to the story all day long while curled up in your bed.
And before I forget, I just want to tell you, however, that regardless of what the cover says about love, The Phoenix Keeper is more than just finding romance in the least unexpected places or person but it’s more of mustering courage and opening one’s self to the whole world. It’s about not giving up and doing what you can to get where you want to be no matter how long it takes. It’s about being your own person and loving yourself first before you can expect others to appreciate you the way you deserved to be treated. Really, it’s the overarching theme of playing to your strengths and coming out of your shell that made me stuck with The Phoenix Keeper all the way to the end because the plot, while executed properly, was kind of simplistic and the twist at the end was predictable.
And though this book feels like it’s YA (maybe because the audiobook narrator’s voice sounded very young) despite the characters being in their late twenties already, I don’t mind it that much because the coziness and the gush-inducing, slow-simmering romance were just too overwhelming to really nitpick about such details.
To sum it all up, I’ve just become a new fan of S.A. MacLean for writing such a poignant story about what it takes to get to the destination you’re aiming for. The cutie magical beasts and their antics are just bonuses. This is a must try for the cozy gamers out there, too.