This was exactly what I was looking for in a cozy fantasy. I think sometimes, as fantasy readers, we can get a big bogged down by fantasies with incredibly high stakes, so a good cozy story is just what I needed.

The Phoenix Keeper is a cozy fantasy novel that follows Aila, a shy yet deeply devoted phoenix keeper tasked with protecting an endangered species of phoenix and attempting to help them breed before they vanish forever. Alongside her, there’s a vibrant cast of characters including Tanya, her charming and supportive best friend; Luciana, a confident and slightly intimidating coworker; and of course, a menagerie of mystical animals that bring the world to life. If you enjoy slice-of-life stories with a magical twist, especially those centered around animal care, this book is a delight.

Aila herself took me some time to warm up to, mostly because her personality contrasts so strongly with my own. She struggles with social interaction and people-facing responsibilities, finding far more comfort in the company of her creatures. But as the story unfolds, I grew to appreciate her quiet strength and the subtle growth she undergoes.

Although marketed as cozy fantasy, the novel doesn’t entirely fit the “low-stakes” mold. Without giving too much away, the climax features guns and violence that caught me off guard. Even so, the heart of the story remains uplifting and satisfying. What made it even more special for me was discovering that the book was inspired by the San Diego Zoo, the zoo I grew up visiting as a child. That connection made the reading experience feel all the more personal.

The Phoenix Keeper has a really intriguing premise, blending fantasy creatures with a cozy, slice-of-life feel. The worldbuilding is whimsical and creative, and the phoenix itself is one of the highlights—its presence adds warmth and magic to the story. The idea of a sanctuary for mythical creatures is charming and refreshing, and there are some genuinely sweet moments throughout.

That said, the pacing sometimes felt uneven, with long stretches of quiet character moments that slowed down the plot. While the book leans into a comforting and cozy tone, I found myself wanting a little more depth and tension to keep the momentum going. Some of the character development felt surface-level, and I occasionally struggled to connect with the emotional stakes.

Overall, this is a light, enjoyable read for fans of cozy fantasy who want a low-stakes escape. It may not reach the heights of other books in the genre, but it offers a gentle and imaginative journey.

This book is the perfect cozy read for summer. It felt like the perfect mix of romance and fantasy, and was super cozy and sweet. There isn't much going on in terms of a complex plot, but sometimes you need a book like that to switch it up and deliver the vibes you really want.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher!
Enjoyed Aila’s story, as she finds love amongst her magical zoo creatures!

This was one of the most delightful, charming books I've read this year. I'm not sure why it took me so long to get to it. A magical zoo?! What a delightful premise. It was cozy and funny, the animals were some of the best characters. I do feel like I figured out the mystery and who was involved (or at least suspected them) very quickly, but it did not diminish my enjoyment of the story or how it rolled out. The enemies to lovers romance was nice, I would not call this a romance perse as I was once element of the story and not the main story, but it was a cute element.
As with a lot of books I found the main character's insecurity to be just slightly too much. This could have been a 5 star read for me in terms of enjoyment if the the MC' had been just slightly less annoying. I understand authors' desire to create some inner conflict, but does it always have to be crippling self doubt?
Still this book was very cute and original and delight to read.

Thank you to Netgalley and Orbit for sending me a copy of this book! All opinions are my own!

Well this book was an absolute little delight! It was so cozy and heartwarming and I just felt warm and fuzzy inside every time I picked it up! From the magical animals to the lessons on hopes and dreams and self discovery, this book was like a warm hug! The romance was really cute and I loved the way it was a part of Aila's story and how she developed throughout her journey. Her journey definitely made me emotional as someone on the verge of their career dreams as well!

My only issue was the predictability of it. I generally can never guess endings, and I clocked this book from almost the start, which is telling. I wish I had been more surprised by the twists, but it was still highly enjoyable.

This was a super fun read that every cozy fantasy lover should get their hands on!

From the start I was already drawn in at the premise of a story set in a magical zoo...like what can be better than a zoo with phoenixes!! Once I actually started it I immediately fell in love with everything. It truly is the perfect mix of romance and fantasy with a touch of suspense.

***POSSIBLE SPOILERS***

A few tropes:
- Lesbian romance
- Rivals-to-lovers
- Magical creatures (dragons, phonixes, griffins, etc.)
- A heist
- Cozy vibes

Overall, I would defintiely recommend this book, especially if you're a fan of cozy fantasy! Amazing read!!!

A cozy, heartwarming fantasy set in a modern magical zoo, The Phoenix Keeper follows Aila, a timid but devoted phoenix keeper, as she strives to revive a defunct breeding program amidst threats of poaching and her own social anxiety. The real star is the relationship between Aila and her rival-turned-love-interest, Luciana-an enemies-to-lovers arc that unfolds at a gentle, satisfying pace.

I was a bit trepidatious as I don't love zoos but this sweet romance set in a world where magical creatures like the phoenix and griffin just exist and are sometimes in need of help to not go extinct, soon had me forget all that hesitation. Our phoenix keeper is very focused on her charge and everything she must do to help the phoenix thrive. The slow burn romance that bursts into flame one day is so sweet. The whole thing was delightful and I loved it. Even with poachers in the mix. Sigh.

I find some ‘cozy fantasy’ books to be a disappointing in terms of world building. Though I would have liked more exploration of this world, I was pleasantly surprised by how much I enjoyed this book.

The cast of characters - animal and human alike -were engaging and that made it easy to root for them. Though Aila could be rather self centered and a bit whiny, I enjoyed the development she had within the book. Her growth in terms of relationships was also really lovely to see and I adored Tonya as a character.

I was also impressed with the writing of this book. I’ve been disappointed with many debuts I’ve read over the last two years, but this was well paced and I couldn’t wait to read each chapter.

4.5 ⭐️ rounded up

This was delightfully cozy and had way more plot and intrigue than I ever imagined could happen in the zoo. If you are all like me and prefer 60+% plot to 40% or less romance, this is the cozy romantasy for you. The slow burn was delightful, the animals were adorable, the stakes were real, it was just so fun. I think it hit particularly well for me because when I was younger I dreamed of being a tiger handler at the zoo, so it felt very almost nostalgic for me. I would highly HIGHLY recommend this one.

Thank you to the publisher for providing me a copy to read and review.

Nothing really happens. I love a cozy fantasy as much as the next person but I can’t find it in me to care enough to finish this book. I’m not pulled in. Two stars because I wish I worked at a zoo with magical birds.

This had so much potential, but it felt like it was trying to hard to be clever or unique--instead of just letting the characters be who they are and letting the plot unfold naturally. So many moments took me out of the story that it was quite difficult to keep the narrative arc whole in my head.

This is one of those "not bad, not good" books that I would tell everyone to "give it a try, but don't force it if it's not working for you."


***Thank you to NetGalley and to the publisher for providing me with a digital copy of this book to review.***

The Phoenix Keeper is a compelling blend of myth and adventure. The world-building is vivid, with a fresh take on magical and historical elements, and the characters are engaging. The pacing is strong, though some plot twists can feel a bit predictable.

Overall, a solid and immersive read. Great for fans of myth-inspired fantasy with a touch of mystery.

I really wanted to love this book, with the idea of a magical zoo and the people working in it trying to save an at risk species, but I couldn't. The setting and the problems going with a zoo and a breeding program to help species at risk was well researched and reflects a lot of the trials that real life zoos face, which was amazing to see applied to a fantasy book. The characters were well developed and the relationships reflected real life relationships. Unfortunately, I lost interest at the slow moving pace. I think this book would be perfect for anyone who wants a low stakes, cozy fantasy. The writing was well done and the story was heart felt; I just found the pace a little slow.

I was not able to finish this book. Overall I felt it was too slow paced and it could not capture my attention. I tried on several different occasions and by 10% each time I just found myself wanting to read something different. Nothing wrong with it, just not for me!

A socially anxious zookeeper working in phoenix conservation gets the chance of a lifetime to breed phoenixes and falls in love with her rival/frenemy from the griffin show in the process. Sounds nice, right?

Books like this one almost frustrate me more than the real stinkers that deserve one or two stars. It's ALMOST there for me. The premise=great. The themes=great. A convergence of genres that I love, plus magical animals and nerds=great. But none of it came together the way I wanted it to, and the writing itself seemed to get in the way more often than not.

I also had no feelings whatsoever for any of the human characters, again because of the writing style, which read as really immature to me, in the way that a new writer or a writer who just doesn't have IT (whatever it is) can't make the leap from words on the page to bringing the story to life in your mind. My edition came with a forward from the author about how much of herself she put into this book, and I honestly think that might also be part of the problem. She was too close to it, and couldn't get far enough away to make it work for other people. I mean, obviously this is just my opinion and the book seems to be working for other people, but I am just so disappointed by it. Absolutely mediocre book for me, and I almost DNFed it about three times, but kept going bc cute animals.

The book is also very, very bloated. A cozy fantasy romance about a zookeeper has no business being longer than 400 pages, and this book hits a whopping 470. There was SO MUCH of this book that could have been cut out, plotlines and scenes alike. And that would have actually made room for more development of the stuff I did want to see, like the romance between the two main characters, and interactions with the cute animals.

Anyway, this was basically a miss for me in how mid it was. Not sure if I will read more from this author. We'll see!

I loved the setting- magical creatures galore! Zookeepers dedicated to preserving the species they adore through careful breeding programs and devoted care. A sweet love story.. what's not to like?
Then there's the MC, Aila. Introverted, but also whiny, rude and immature... and so annoying to read. Sigh. Read a lot more like YA than adult, which it is marketed as.
Just not the vibe I was looking for.


Thank you NetGalley & Orbit for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This book was fun at times, but it didn't feel like a fully-formed story.

It took a long time for much to happen. In fact, just before the climax happened, I was starting to wonder if the story was going to just end without one.

I was also surprised when I learned that the protagonist is in her late twenties. Most of the book reads like it's middle grade due to the level of maturity and drama the main character exhibits. She was incredibly selfish and believed that everyone should be there to help her, pouted whenever that didn't happen, and literally ran screaming when someone suggested putting makeup on her. Forgivable or funny for a middle grade, a bit over-the-top for an adult story, in my opinion.

Others may enjoy this book, but it wasn't really my cup of tea.

Thank you to NetGalley and Orbit Books for the ARC.