Just an astounding read. The characters and the world felt so very real. I fell in love with the passion and drive of our main character, and could easily relate to her love for her animals. Beautifully done.

I finished this book in 24 hours. Let that speak for itself. This was such a cozy, endearing, heartwarming queer fantasy following an adorably anxious phoenix keeper at a magical zoo, hell-bent on protecting her avian charges while falling in love against her will! From the friendships to the variety of queer representation (trans and sapphic characters make my heart go boom boom) to the lovable way Aila is willing to risk it all for the phoenixes she is responsible for, I loved this book from start to finish. I appreciated as well that while the conflict felt important and tense, I never felt *stressed out* in the way fantasies sometimes make me feel. I had faith they’d all turn out okay, and that aspect added to the level of warmth I felt for the book. So cute, a fast read, and absolutely worth a read if you love creatures like griffins, phoenixes, and dragons (oh my)! 4 burning ⭐

*Thank you again to NetGalley and the publishers for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.*

This was far too cozy for me. I felt like the story was just not going anywhere. I loved the world and the animals but overall not my style apparently.

Wasn’t really sure this book was for me. I seemed to have found my self a lot more uninterested in the plot. But unlike the concept of the bird being extinct gave a good twist to the story

I was looking forward to this when I requested my ARC and it really didn't disappoint. I think people are really missing out on this cozy little fantasy; it's criminally underrated if that's the kind of fantasy you like to read.

This is about Aila, a zookeeper who has loved phoenixes her whole life and wants nothing more than to bring them back from being endangered by showing the world how wonderful they are. It very low stakes - Aila's an awkward character (has social anxiety to the extreme, lack of self-esteem) when we first meet her, gets put in charge of the breeding program at her zoo and, through this process, learns about herself and her capabilities and finds a family she didn't know was just waiting for her..

I could tell MacLean did a lot of research about breeding programs, both on the ground level but also in regard to the politics and business aspects of them and how they impact zoos. This is fantasy but you get a glimpse into real world zoos and how they have to operate to stay relevant and why they're necessary.

The only reason I knocked off a star is that there is some repetitiveness - emphasizing Aila's anxiety over and over without any progress, her "hatred" of another character without any forward momentum toward a resolution. It just made the first part of the book drag just a tiny bit. However, the relationships between the human characters are wonderful and the animal depictions are a truly shining aspect (especially Archie).

Thank you so much to Netgalley and Orbit for this advanced reader copy. I knew it before but this helped solidify that pretty much anything Orbit publishes, I will read and enjoy.

"The Phoenix Keeper" by S.A. McLean is a gripping fantasy novel that transports readers to a world of magic and wonder. The story follows a young guardian entrusted with the care of a mythical phoenix, embarking on a journey filled with adventure and peril. McLean's rich world-building and compelling characters create an engaging narrative that keeps readers hooked from start to finish.

The Phoenix Keeper is an utterly charming and immersive cozy fantasy that stole my heart from the first page. If you love magical creatures, found family, and a touch of romance, this is a must-read!

Aila has always dreamed of working with phoenixes, and now she finally has her chance as a zookeeper at San Tamculo Zoo. Determined to save the critically endangered Silimalo Phoenix, she throws herself into reviving the breeding program—only to find herself forced to work alongside her (very attractive) former academic rival, Luciana. As Aila navigates her crippling social anxiety, the challenges of zookeeping, and the growing threat of poachers, she begins to realize that saving the phoenixes might require more than just her expertise—it might require trust, courage, and opening her heart.

The worldbuilding in this novel is truly magical. Maclean has crafted a vibrant, lived-in world where magical creatures feel as real as any animal you'd find in a zoo. The attention to detail in the daily care of these creatures, from mischievous archibirds to elusive kelpies, made this book feel both immersive and delightfully cozy.

Aila is a relatable protagonist, particularly for anyone who has ever struggled with anxiety or imposter syndrome. Her journey—both in her career and her personal life—was one of my favorite parts of the book. Luciana grew on me as well, and their slow-burn romance was perfectly balanced with the overarching plot. The friendships, especially between Aila and her best friend Tanya, were another highlight.

This is a slower-paced, character-driven story, but it never felt dull. The pacing picks up toward the end, leading to a satisfying and heartfelt conclusion. While some of the twists were predictable, they didn’t take away from my enjoyment. The Phoenix Keeper is a warm, comforting read, perfect for fans of Legends & Lattes or Emily Wilde's Encyclopaedia of Faeries. I can't wait to see what the author writes next!

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

This was such a fun read! It’s a cozy fantasy about a phoenix keeper working at this magical animal zoo. She has to work with an attractive “rival” from college since they’re trying to save this endangered species of Phoenix. I loved it sooooo much, definitely recommend ☺️ Perfect mélange of cozy fantasy and romance!

This was wonderful! I loved the writing style, the characters, the world-building…everything about it was top-notch. I will definitely be recommending this book!

DNF @ 22%. I was so excited for this since it was marketed for fans of Cerulean Sea and Legends & Lattes, both of which I love. It made me think this would be a cozy fantasy set in a zoo. However, this is a book tackling contemporary issues in a pretty weak fantasy setting. It's clearly set in America and pulls me out the story when the main character breaks the 4th wall and tells the reader that she's been failed by the healthcare system. But my biggest issue is that this feels like a bit of a bully romance. The MC has an incredibly immature rivalry with her love interest that feels like the kid thing of if he's pulling your pigtails on the playground and saying mean things, it means he actually likes you. Which is just yucky when the characters are post-graduate adults. The immaturity made me very uncomfortable and I couldn't wrap my brain around how I could get past that when the MC and love interest actually interact.

This just wasn't the story I was hoping for, so it didn't work for me. But thank you to Netgalley and Orbit for a digital copy for review.

This was truly such a fun and cozy read. As an avid zoo goer, it was fun to read a book that sort of sucked you into the life of someone who works at a zoo, and who's whole life resolves around their love of animals (or a specific animal in Aila's case). The only thing that really bothered me is for adult women who are in their mid to late twenties, I heard the work "dork" more than I think I should have. Still 4 stars.

Thank you for the eARC NetGalley and Orbit. All opinions provided are my own.

The Phoenix Keeper is a cozy fantasy about Aila, a zookeeper, who wants to desperately bring back the breeding program of the endangered Silimalo Phoenix at her zoo. The phoenix program is in a dilapidated state and Aila wants to revitalize it. One of the biggest hurdles she needs to overcome is finding a breeding partner for Rubra, the only Silimalo Phoenix at her zoo.

After reading so many fantasy books with epic plots and high stakes, it was nice to take a break and read a story where the end of the world is not ramping up around the corner. The biggest fantasy aspect of the book is the zoo. Every other kind of magical beast is mentioned. If you can think of it, it was probably mentioned. If you take the zoo out, the rest of the setting was normal. I wish there had been a little more fantasy aspect outside of the zoo; it wasn’t a huge disappointment there wasn’t more fantasy setting but I was greedy to see how magical beasts would affect society.

One of the biggest challenges that Aila faced was dealing with her anxiety. The author did a great job in representing how mental illness can affect our lives even with day to day tasks. I was totally cheering for Aila to overcome her anxiety and make her dreams happen. While I did enjoy the story and most of the characters, I will say Aila’s was on the border of annoying at times with how she dealt with her relationships. She’s supposed to be an adult in her mid-twenties but sometimes it felt like I was reading someone who is sixteen. I understand some of it might have been due to her anxiety but her mindset seemed to jump back when dealing with Luciana for ⅔ of the book.

Overall I enjoyed the book. It was fun reading about Aila’s work at the zoo and how she took care of the magical beast under her care. Every chapter I was cheering for her to get closer to her goal of having the breeding program up and running. I could feel every success and setback. I also liked how the author tackled the romance. It was nice to see bi people representative in a book.

4 stars for me and I’m curious to see what the author will write next.

This was a very cute story, and I loved the setting of the magical zoo — I was so into learning all about the creatures and their quirks at the beginning of the book, but as we slowed down from that and got into the character dynamics I got a little stuck. I fully understand people being anxious and in their own heads, but it got to the point here that I had a tough time continue reading. However, Alia turned a corner just in time to keep me invested, and I was happy with the way things ended up! A good read if you’re looking for something simple and sweet.

Cozy fantasy is something that is new to me.
I'm glad I gave this book a chance.
I would say it reads like a YA, but is still very enjoyable.

looking forward to more by this author.

Things I loved:
-the world of the zoo
-all of the animals (SO amazing)
-broad representation

Less ideal things:
-The way anxiety was represented felt inauthentic in how the main character progressed, especially in the timeline of her progression.
-Fairly predictable plot.

The Phoenix Keeper is a cozy fantasy debut that follows Aila, a passionate zookeeper dedicated to saving the endangered phoenix species at a magical zoo. When a tragic heist leaves their sister zoo in crisis, Aila teams up with her (attractive) college enemy to revive the breeding program and protect the remaining phoenixes. With a delightful mix of fantasy, romance, and heart, the book offers a slow-burn plot that’s never boring, thanks to its lovable characters and sweet queer romance. Aila, who struggles with social anxiety, is a relatable protagonist who prefers the company of magical animals to people, but her journey toward connection is both heartwarming and engaging. While somewhat predictable, The Phoenix Keeper is a charming and immersive read, perfect for fans of character-driven, cozy fantasy books.

OK, SO much yes in this book!! Cozy fantasy? Check. Magical zoo? Check. Queer? CHECK! Love me a good rivals to lovers, and especially when it's mixed into such a lovely and heartwarming story.

This ARC is one I have been desperately trying to get through for months and I finally have given up on it. At roughly 75% it feels like this book is still trying to figure out what it is and at ¾ through there should be a clear vision. This story felt like it was trying to be too many things. It was almost a love story, it was almost a heist story, it was almost a finding self story but it was almost too many things and didn’t feel grounded in a singular vision. I badly wanted to like this book and just didn’t. Even this review hurts to write, I have chosen not to share to my socials because I don’t want to bring any negativity to this new writer.

The Phoenix Keeper by S.A. MacLean
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

What I loved:
🔥Adorable animals
🔥The setting

This was such a fun fantasy read. I loved the world. I loved the zoo. I loved the FMCs' love for animals. I loved the zoo politics. I loved all the conservation issues and questions this raised that apply to real life. This was such a smart fantasy novel. It took so many actual real-world problems and viewed them through a fantastical lens whilst giving great commentary. It rode the line perfectly between entertainment and politics.

This book felt like a warm hug in book form. It was such a cozy fantasy. I loved the animals and their shenanigans. I frequently laughed. I just had a great time and was utterly captivated by this story.

The characters were all lovely and well written. I especially loved all the characters coming together for the phoenixes. The romance was light but well done. I loved how MacLean gave subtle hints for the romance throughout and allowed it to develop slowly and naturally.

The ending was funny, wild, and perfect. I thoroughly enjoyed that MacLean didn't forget about any of the animals and let them shine in the falling action. The resolution was sweet and satisfying.

There were only a few things I didn't love about this. One was the FMCs snappy attitude. She was incredibly rude to other characters at times and never apologized for it. It really grated on me. Also, her leading Connor on was agonizing to me. I will say she had a great arc and was better by the end, but not all the behavior was excusable. Also, the fight with the best friend had me confused. The FMC had to apologize because the best friend was swamped with her own project, and the FMC didn't notice because she was also busy? The best friend could have said something? That subplot just didn't make sense to me. Lastly, the ending felt a little quick. I just wanted more regarding the poachers and justice.

Overall, this was such a sweet and fun read. I absolutely recommend it, especially if you love fantastical animals. This was full of heart. The world was great. The commentary on conservation never felt preachy. MacLean wrote this masterfully. This is a book I can definitely see myself revisiting because there's never enough cute and mischievous animals!

A very cute cozy fantasy. I loved learning about all of the zoo’s creatures and the relationships in this were soo cute.