The definition of cozy fantasy! A zoo filled with magical creatures is such a cool concept. I loved the romance aspect of this book and that it had queer representation. Perfect for fans of cosy reads like Legends and Lattes, the Hobbit, and the House on the Cerulean Sea.

The Phoenix Keeper is the epitome of a cozy fantasy with enough exciting plotlines to really drive the story. It follows Aila, a zookeeper in charge of the phoenix exhibit at the zoo. She's on a mission to jumpstart the zoo's defunct phoenix breeding program, while also avoiding having to participate in the massively popular griffin show that brings in huge audiences. Aila is such a relatable character for anyone who has ever struggled with social anxiety and I saw a lot of myself in her. The author's passion for zoos and conservation really shines throughout the book and made me want to pay my local zoo a visit! The romance is perfectly paced and the side characters were excellent. I would read so many more books just like this one.

I received an advance copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

What a hard review to write! The Phoenix Keeper was such an amazing hit in some ways and so incredibly annoying in others. I will be recommending this book with caveats to many people.

The world in this is so incredibly well done. So thought out, with so much detail to all of the creatures and countries. The author clearly loves animals, even magical ones, and I have never wanted to snuggle a bird so badly. But oh my goodness was the main character annoying. I have social anxiety, so I really appreciated the representation in this, but she wasn't just socially anxious, she was socially clueless. It was clear from the beginning that she disliked people who didn't deserve it, and she was just holding onto grudges. It says a lot to me about the world that I stuck around, that is how much I disliked Aila.

The other (nice) characters were well done, in my opinion. They had personalities and histories. The only one I thought was poorly done was the villain (no spoilers here), and this person felt a little obvious as the villain to me. Regardless, I really enjoyed Luciana (once we got to hear about her in ways other than Aila complaining about her).

While the cover advertises love, this is an extremely slow burn, and will likely bore the average romance reader. I didn't mind, but just an fyi.

Do you love animals? Do you love magic? Then check this out! Expect a fairly cozy time, with some annoyance sprinkled in. It's not that serious.

Thank you to Orbit Books and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review!

A magical zoo and a main character with serious anxiety? Yes, please.

Aila does a lot better with the animals she loves than with most people. She has almost crippling social anxiety and self-doubt, and it was portrayed in a realistic and thorough way, depicting how it impacts her work life and her personal life both. She has an amazing best friend in Tanya, and I love a book that shows that friendships matter as much as romantic relationships.

Speaking of, Aila and Luciana were arch rivals in college, and now find themselves facing a situation that places the phoenixes that Aila loves, very much in danger.

This is a sweet, cozy fantasy, full of lovely queer representation. I will definitely read whatever S. A. MacLean writes next!

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 neighbouring 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 the hotshot griffin keeper in question just so happens to be her arch-rival from college: Luciana, an annoyingly brooding and even more annoyingly insufferable know-it-all with the grace of a goblin 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 as a passive conservation exhibit. With the world watching and the threat of poachers looming, Aila's success is no longer merely a matter of keeping her job... She is the keeper of the phoenix, and the future of a species now rests on her shoulders. There's just one thing she has to remember: she is also not alone. Against an epic fantasy backdrop teeming with all your favourite mythical beasts from dragons and unicorns to kelpies and krakens!

What to Expect:
- Sapphic! LGBTQ+ rep (bi MC, lesbian LI, trans BFF) 🌈
- Rivals to lovers ❤️
- Cozy magical zoo 🦜
- Anxiety rep 😰

What I Loved:

“The Phoenix Keeper” really delivers on its premise! It dives deep into the life of Aila, head phoenix keeper at a magical zoo—an instant love for an animal lover like me.

I love that the author’s own wildlife experience shines through in the story.

🦜 I really enjoyed learning about the daily challenges of the zookeepers, especially with magical creatures adding to the chaos. The world-building is absolutely top-notch.

🌍 The book’s message about conservation was also a nice touch.

🐾 The animals were standout characters, and without them, my enjoyment might have wavered due to Alia’s character.

🏳️‍🌈 This book features fantastic representation: lesbian, bisexual, and trans characters, and a main character dealing with anxiety. As someone who understands anxiety and introversion, I was really excited to see these aspects represented.

Things I Was Less Enthused About:

I would have liked more of a cozy feel and focus on the animals.

At times, the story felt overly focused on Alia’s quest for perfection and learning, which made some parts read like clinical documents and less engaging.

While I appreciated the anxiety representation, Alia’s character could be annoying and self-centered. Also, Alia wasn’t always the best friend, especially compared to the supportive Tanya. It was good to see her growth in that aspect, but it felt a bit overdue.

Luciana initially seemed too perfect, but I liked how her character developed more depth towards the end. I was really rooting for her and Alia as a couple.

Despite these criticisms, “The Phoenix Keeper” was an amazing cozy, and at least for me, a fast-paced read!

Rating: Absolutely Loved It, 5 stars

If I could give 6 or 7 stars to this book, I absolutely would! It is easily my favorite book of the year so far, and it is everything that I didn't even know to hope for in my fantasy.

The Phoenix Keeper follows Aila, the head phoenix keeper of the San Tumulco zoo. The phoenix breeding program at this zoo has been shut down for a long time, but when tragedy strikes a neighboring zoo in the form of the heist of the female and newly hatched phoenix chicks, Aila must prove she and her program are the right choice for the transfer of the male phoenix.

This was honestly such a cozy, warm hug of a book. However, it also has the absolute highest stakes of saving an entire species from extinction. This book made my conservation and fantasy loving heart squeal for joy, and combined two of my passions in a way that I never even imagined would be possible. This story was modeled off the author's experiences with the California condor, and her own experiences with birds, and it really shows. The love and passion Aila has for all her charges and conservation of all species just leaps off the page. I loved all the magical species that the author includes in this - it made me long to live in a world where this really is the norm. Some of them are definitely inspired by mythology, like the kelpie and griffins, but others I hadn't run across before like the mirror flamingos and the vanishing ducks! I loved all the tidbits of information we got on them, and the personality of all the different animals that Aila cares for!

I also related intensely to Aila as someone who chose animals as a child because they were much less scary than people. The depiction of Aila's extreme introvertedness and her social anxiety was such incredible representation. Her inner monologue at times mirrored some of my own, and I saw so much of myself in her. I loved watching her come out of her shell a little bit and grow into herself! It was beautiful, and I cried multiple times because of both her growth as a character, and the beautiful moments with some of the animals.

The character interactions were perfect in this as well. We follow Aila, but the other characters were really well fleshed out, and the interactions with each other and with Aila were so well-done. I really felt like I was in the story and experiencing it all with them rather than reading about it from the outside. I also loved the romance in this! It's academic nemeses/rivals to lovers, and it was such a sweet progression! I really loved Luciana with her glamorous, tough-as-nails exterior and her intense love for her friends. The way that the miscommunication between Aila and ALL the characters was handled so SO well. Her parents were just the sweetest, Tanya, her best friend was an absolute force of nature, and all the animals were also just perfect! Archie was probably my favorite, and I literally cheered out loud for him over something at the end. As well as with Maisie! And Tanya's phoenix! Just perfect! I cried tears of joy and pride multiple times throughout this book.

Truly excellent writing, and I am floored that it is a debut. Immediately after finishing I went to the author's website to find all her other works, and was shocked when there weren't any others! I will 100% be anxiously awaiting anything else that S.A. MacLean puts out!

Thank you so much to Orbit and Netgalley for an eARC of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own. The Phoenix Keeper releases on August 13, 2024, and I HIGHLY recommend preordering it and reading it immediately! It's the best!

Book Review: The Phoenix Keeper by S.A. MacLean
Description:
Set in a magical zoo teeming with mythical beasts from dragons and unicorns to kelpies and krakens, The Phoenix Keeper is a fierce joy of a cozy fantasy novel with a soul-restoring queer romance at its heart, perfect for fans of The House in the Cerulean Sea and Legends and Lattes.

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. But 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 face of a goddess who's convinced that Aila's beloved phoenix would serve their cause better as an active performer rather than as a passive conservation exhibit. With the world watching and the threat of poachers looming, Aila's success is no longer merely a matter of keeping her job...

She is the keeper of the phoenix, and the future of a species—and her love life—now rests on her shoulders.

My Thoughts:
The Phoenix Keeper was a thoroughly enjoyable read. The vivid descriptions of the mystical animals transported me to the San Tamculo zoo, making it feel like a real and magical place. But what really captured my heart was the main character, Aila. Her quirkiness and social anxiety were incredibly relatable, and her friendship with Tanya was wonderfully depicted.

Aila's character growth throughout the story was impressive. It's refreshing to see a character with such a deep passion, and Aila's dedication to her phoenixes was palpable. Archie, the bird, was a standout character, adding charm and humor to the narrative. I found myself wishing he were real, as he truly stole the show.

Overall, The Phoenix Keeper by S.A. MacLean combines enchanting fantasy elements with a heartfelt romance, making it a must-read for fans of cozy fantasies. The blend of magical creatures, personal growth, and an engaging love story ensures this book will leave a lasting impression.

I have a bit of a mixed review for this one, because I do love the concept and it wasn't a bad book by any means, but overall I didn't really enjoy it all that much. There was something that kept me reading through the end and I don't regret finishing it, but at the same time it wasn't super satisfying.

I had hoped that my review would be a bit more positive, but it seems like I have more thoughts bout things that stood out to me in a negative way. However, if you do love magical creatures, a zoo life setting, lots of info dumping about magical creatures, an anxious bisexual FMC and a YA-esque story, stop reading this review and read the book instead as you might really like it. And the illustrations in the book are really pretty!

🐦‍🔥 Fantastical creatures
🐦‍🔥 Bisexual rep
🐦‍🔥 Anxious FMC with intense fear if speaking in public
🐦‍🔥 Magical zoo

The story starts off pretty heavily with descriptions of birds, magical animals and their histories and place of origin. It's a lot of info dumping of facts that made me feel a bit dumb because it was a hard for me to picture all these animals and place them in a world I didn't know, which was only made more difficult by the fact that they were fantastical creatures. So while I do love the idea of a (modern-day?) world with vanishing ducks, dragons, and phoenixes, the amount of information thrown at you right away was a bit much. It got a little bit less eventually, but maybe that's because I couldn't really focus on it so I paid less attention to it.

I'm conflicted about the FMC, because on the one hand I love seeing this anxiety rep. It was pretty believable and recognisable in some ways, as someone who has social anxiety and fear of speaking in public as well (to a point where it made me a little anxious reading the thoughts - a bit too similar perhaps?) but it came paired with childish grudges, selfishness and a lack of empathy. (I've explained a bit more about why these things bothered me on Goodreads, but they would be too spoilerly for NetGalley.)

While more enjoyable than the middle part, the final chapters didn't feel very realistic or believable (and I'm not talking about the magical creatures), which wasn't the worst thing in the world but did reinforce the idea that it would fit more into the YA genre. Sometimes it's satisfying to see something play out that you totally saw coming from the start, but sometimes it really isn't.

TLDR: I really enjoyed this book and thought it was really easy to be immersed in the universe. Solid 4 stars

The Phoenix Keeper follows Aila as she struggles with confidence, love, and phoenix breeding.

This story roped me in pretty easily. It is definitely a cozy, low fantasy, magical realism book but it has a good plot. The A Plot is Aila trying to fix up the phoenix breeding program at the zoo she works at and the B Plot is Aila trying to figure out her love life. She also has to figure out how to handle her crowd fear, anxiety, and working with her arch nemesis.
I liked all the descriptions of the magical creatures, the wildlife conservation undertone and the humour and twists. I went to a zoo IRL while I was reading this book and that made it that much better. Idk how to explain it but this book was almost nostalgic for me. I definitely saw every twist coming and wasn’t surprised but I was still glued to the page in the end.

I’d recommend this book to anyone who likes likes romance or magical realism. I also think this would be a great starter fantasy.

Content summary: 🖍️ swearing, some innuendo, lgbtq rep, so closed door you’re not even in the same house, anxiety rep 🖍️

this was a fine, light read that i would love to revisit, perhaps with the aid of the audiobook.

it does take the right kind of reader to enjoy this book. i was partially interested in wildlife conservation before The Phoenix Keeper, even followed a few animal sanctuary myself out of curiosity -- i felt like i wouldn't be able to stay engage in this story otherwise. the series of animal facts, accompanied by thin threads of worldbuilding (sensibly woven or otherwise, i wouldn't be able to tell you), were understandably thick, and also skimmable (although Aila would definitely yell at you). Aila herself was also not my favourite type of protagonist to follow (not her fault, just a personal reference). as passionate and good at her job as she might be, i felt like she was too passive and most of the time, was being stirred to action by poor Tanya too damn much. Luciana was also not a rootable love interest by any mean; her antagony toward Aila in the beginning was not fun to read about (more actual enemies and less lovers).

the occasional drawings (i assumed by the author) were lovely. i could feel the heart and passion layered into her writings and i wished that i could have loved this book more. all in all, i would say that any animal enthusiast who is looking for a (semi) cozy fantasy would find it in The Phoenix Keeper!

thanks to Netgalley and Orbit for the E-ARC!

This fantasy has an unique setting - a zoo dedicated to saving endangered mythical animals from extinction. The story is told from the perspective of Aila, the head keeper of the Phoenix exhibit. Aila is timid, introverted, and not a risk taker - not, that is, until her remaining charge, a female Phoenix’s eggs, are in danger of being stolen to be sold on the black market. Then she becomes as fierce as the birds whose care and safety are her responsibility.

Maclean has created a world full of Dragons, Griffins, Phoenixes, and all manner of other endangered species, including unicorns. While the book is generally well written, Maclean takes her time - too much time, perhaps - in getting her story going. Once on track, the book is hard to put down. The plot has twists and turns that will keep readers wanting to keep reading long after bedtime. There are some surprises along the way, too, like an unexpected enemies-to-lovers relationship. Readers will cheer Aila along as she becomes the person she was meant to be.

If you like fantasy, you’re going to love spending time in this zoo with its personable inhabitants. If you don’t like fantasy, maybe it’s time you set aside your assumptions about fantasy to give this delightful book a chance to change your mind.

My thanks to Orbit and NetGalley for an eARC.

Just adorable! Felt almost within the Fantastic Beasts universe where the perspective of the book is animal conservation. I think many people could benefit from a fiction book that exemplifies values of conservation and protection. Weirdly, the animals were some of my favorite "characters" as they all had varying personalities that benefitted the plot.

This is easily my favorite book of the year so far! a thrilling, cozy tale of a zookeeper pushing her own anxiety riddled boundaries to achieve the biggest dream of her life! Aila has always been a loner, an outcast, an anxiety riddled worry wart who can't seam to get past her crippling fear of crowds but when her chance comes to host a male, critically endangered Phoenix in her exhibit, to try for a clutch, she has to start pushing past all of her boundaries to do what's best for the birds... and if a lot of that ends up being what's best for her as well, well that's what happy endings are for. however, there is a threat looming just out of sight, poachers are constantly a threat to the birds, and the only reason she has the male Phoenix is because someone stole his mate and freshly hatched chicks. will the thieves make another attempt? even worse, can Aila follow her heart? if a smile has her fleeing in terror, what's going to happen when she's actually asked out on a date?

This book had me in a chokehold from beginning to end. i actually wanted to throw it across the room at one point i was so furious with the plot twist (in the best way!) i felt the absolute thrill and awe and passion that went into every word of this book. there was never a boring moment, never a lull in the passion. the descriptions and writing style were deeply engaging, and honestly if i could give this book ten stars, i absolutely would!

3.5 stars!

Thank you to S. A. MacLean and Orbit for this ARC in exchange for my full, honest review!

First and foremost, I love this book's commitment to its premise. It promises all the ins-and-outs of a phoenix keeper at a magical zoo and it provides exactly that in a very warm, fluffy package. I love the concept, and it seems like the kind of job I would have daydreamed about as a kid, so that probably explains why I picked it up. I also know that the author studied and worked with wildlife so I love that she's applying her own experiences.

What did I like about this book? As mentioned, my favorite parts were definitely just hearing about the zookeepers' daily duties and the complications that magical creatures add to an already-complicated work environment. There were a few moments, either in the romance or when Aila was confronting her anxiety, where I got a little emotional which was nice. The book doesn't set out to challenge you, which I think the cozy-fantasy crowd will very much enjoy. The real messaging about conservation was also a nice touch.

Now, for the things I struggled with. While cozy, this book is unbelievably predictable. Genuinely, nothing happened that I didn't expect, which make the "revelation" parts of the book really uninteresting. The stakes aren't wildly high, but a little moreso than other cozy fantasy books, so I would have expected a bit more thought or complexity to go into the plot. I didn't really connect to the characters, they felt quite flat although that might have been a side effect of the book's overall predictability. Luciana appears perfect, so of course she isn't. Tanya does so much for Aila, so of course she becomes frustrated. It was just difficult to engage with.

Overall, I didn't enjoy this as much as I could've. Maybe I should accept that most cozy fantasy won't be my thing, but it's difficult when cozy books with a lot of depth exist (Monk & Robot comes to mind). If you want depth, I don't think this is for you. If you like the premise, this book delivers on exactly that and not much more. If you love cozy fantasy, definitely give it a try!

Happy reading!

I'm really glad that I picked this up when I had more days off, because it was really hard to put this book down. Right from the start I was completely enveloped into the magical world of The Phoenix Keeper with all of its precious, magnificent inhabitants.

Our heroine Aila is a zookeeper, responsible for the fiery endangered birds - phoenixes. She loves these birds more than anything else and often spends her free time staying in the zoo after work hours and if not, reading textbooks about phoenixes in order to broaden her knowledge about her favourite birds. For years now, phoenixes have been on the verge of being extinct and the breeding program in her zoo hasn't been active in a decade, so when opportunity to change that presents itself, Aila instantly makes it her goal to do everything in her power to make it a success.

Aila is a captivating main character, who has anxiety and, as she tells herself, is not a people person, so some of her tasks at the zoo are quite challenging to her. That is why she prefers company of animals instead of humans with the exception of her best friend Tanya, who acts as a support system to Aila whenever she gets into socially awkward situations. We also encounter other important characters such as dragon keeper Connor, Aila's archnemesis Luciana and Tanya's boyfriend Theodore. I loved the friendship between Aila and Tanya, how they are always there for each other and even if conflicts arise, they still persevere and try to do anything they can to preserve their connection. Obviously I found Connor suspicious from the start and had doubts about him, which were valid when it came to the end. Oh, and how I hated him when he started treating Aila like a nuisance, like someone who was 'difficult to handle' just because she gets anxious sometimes. I wasn't sure about Luciana at the beginning, but little by little she grew on me and I was glad that she joined Aila's little circle of entrusted people. I really liked how her relationship with Aila progressed very slowly, from bitchy colleagues, to hesitant friends and finally to lovers. It never felt rushed or forced, but was quite natural.

When talking about characters, it is important not to forget the birds themselves. Author managed to create very distinctive personalities for each species and make them just as interesting (if not more at times) as humans. Like mischievous Archie, who always wants to steal the shiniest thing that comes in sight and playing tricks on everyone. Or the territorial Rubra, who doesn't want to start breeding just because a male phoenix dared to enter her aviary.

As for the plot itself, it was definitely a low stakes kind of situation, which, in some cases, can become boring if not portrayed correctly. In my opinion, this book doesn't have this problem at all. Although there's not that much action in general, I was entertained the whole time, whether it was Aila trying to overcome her fears and be less awkward, obsessing over phoenixes or a more intense rescue mission toward the end. I think it was very well executed with the help of colourful characters, beautiful descriptions and the cosy atmosphere that author created. I can't really think of any particular faults that I would like to mention as I thoroughly enjoyed the book and I am very happy that I had a chance to read it early.

Thank you to Orbit Books and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC of this book in exchange for my honest opinions!

Thank you so much, NetGalley and Orbit Books, for the chance to read this book in exchange of an honest review.

Aila is the phoenix keeper at the world-renowed zoo for magical creatures. Her dream is to help save the endangered firebirds and now that dream seems closer than ever. But her zoo's breeding program hasn't functioned for a decade and when a tragic phoenix heist sabotage the iniative at an another zoo, Aila has to prove her facilities can take the reins. The one glaring issue is Aila's social awkwardness. She has no problems dealing with phoenixes, dragons, carnivorous kelpies and such. Human beings? Not so much. Only her best friend Tanya, who knows her well enough to know when and how to push her our of her comfort zone. But modernize the facilities and prove they are fit to take the rein of the breeding program will soon be a group effort and Aila will find herself surrounded by colleagues, trying to get out of her comfort zone. Colleagues like her arch-rival from college, Luciana, beautiful and confident in a costant changing relationship between the two of them, because, maybe, things are not what they seem to be.
Aila has to be ready to protect her phoenixes, when the threats of poachers looms and to understand who to trust in this spectacular novel.

Set in a magical zoo filled with mythical beasts, The Phoenix Keeper is a brilliant, funny and heartwarming queer novel and it's impossible not to love everything. The author, through Aila, shows how much they care for animals and their well-beings, creating a wonderful zoo teeming with magical creatures and their habits and needs.
Aila is the star of this novel. She's shy, socially awkward and she's truly and impossibly relatable in her needs, desires and dreams and it was a pleasure following her, Tanya and, in time, their other friends, in this adventure, in this journey to protect and restore the breeding program in the zoo. How Aila's world, made of her animals and habits, begins to be bigger and scarier, but also more rewarding and filled with more people and confidence.
I loved the relationship between Aila and Tanya and how they respect each other's spaces and dreams, how they support one other, but they are not afraid to make the other notice if something is wrong and what to do with it.
Also, Aila and Luciana. The tension, the bickering, the slowing knowing each other, I loved every single thing.
The animals, the people's cruelty, the poachers...even though it's set in a fantastic world, the threats and abuses are real known in the our world and I loved how the author talk about the importance of protecting and saving the animals, like the endangered ones. Loved how many things are taken from the author's life, too, making the book even more real.
I loved every single thing.

5/5

Step inside San Tamculo Zoo and experience a whimsical cozy fantasy complete with a sapphic rivals to lovers romance. In a zoo abounding with magical creatures a zookeeper works to save a critically endangered species of firebird, and must rely on her college rival turned colleague in order to turn things around. The Phoenix Keeper is the perfect blend of cozy atmosphere, fantasy, romance, and heart. Impossibly, it feels like the inhabitants of San Tamculo Zoo have leapt off of the page fully formed and each chapter brings you further into the grounds. S.A. Maclean hones in on species conservation and the bureaucratic setbacks that make it all the more challenging. The stakes are as high as the tension between two workplace rivals turned allies who decidedly don't have feelings for one another. Expertly paced and laced with romance and intrigue, Maclean takes readers through the day-to-day operations of San Tamculo Zoo and the lives and loves of the charming zookeeping staff. The Phoenix Keeper had me wishing I was stepping through the gates of this zoo and getting to experience the magic of these fantastical species for myself. Maclean’s debut is a vivid cacophony of color, fluttering wings, and magic that you won't want to miss!

This will be featured in my Summer Reads blog feature!

For a debut, I don't think this was bad at all. I really liked the anxiety representation--especially the social anxiety. I also liked how there were steps taken for Aila to take the steps to combat her anxiety.

I think the book was strongest when it focused on the various zoo exhibits and animals. It really felt like the author both had a lot of fun and cared about creating the environments and the various animal behaviors. I could definitely picture the zoo and the way Aila navigated through it.

Unfortunately, that's kind of where I hit a wall. This book is by no means bad, don't get me wrong. It just felt very formulaic. Nothing felt out-of-the-box or fresh. The whole thing was very predictable. That's not to say that's a bad thing. There are plenty of books that feel kind of predictable that are still enjoyable. The problem is that I wanted and expected just a bit more from it.

Regardless of my feelings, I do think a lot of people--especially animal lovers or cozy fantasy lovers--will have a fun time with this one. I just wanted a little bit more from it than it gave me.

This book was cute. I wanted more cozy romantic moments and less her stressing out. I would have enjoyed more animal lore even. The romance doesn’t even hit until 80% into the book and while I appreciate a slow burn I wish it was less about Connor’s bad dates and more Luc and Aila spending time together. There a few scenes where they are truly adorable. Bi/nonbinary rep and an anxious fmc.

The only thing that drove me insane about this book are the expressions “skies and seas” and “horns and fangs”. It’s said every chapter. Horns and Famgs appears 18 times, Skies and seas a whopping 67 times. It was infuriating by the end of the book. I hope the author cuts some of them out.
Thank you NetGalley and Orbit books for sending this book (eARC) for review consideration. All opinions are my own.

- a must read for cozy fantasy lovers! animal lovers will also probably enjoy this :3
- the concept of the worldbuilding is fun and the majority of the book takes place within the zoo, where mythical creatures like phoenixes and griffins reside. it was fun learning about the different creatures at the zoo and their personalities!
- aila is our main character and she feels very real—she makes mistakes sometimes but owns up to them, she has flaws but at the end of the day she’s just doing her best 🥲
- the romance is so wholesome 🥹 it develops slowly and feels very genuine by the end of the book!
- i appreciate all the rep in this book 😌
- personally i’m finding that i don’t really enjoy cozy fantasies that much bc i was kinda bored reading this it put me to sleep many times 😭