This is the first book I've binged in a while! The perfect blend of cozy sunshine times at the zoo and the darker implications, I couldn't put it down!
As a science nerd, I greatly appreciated MacLean's descriptions of the zoo and the animals. It made the atmosphere feel so tangible and real (and inspired a real life zoo trip).

Did you too harbour childhood dreams of being a marine biologist? Or maybe a zookeeper? Aila did. Aila dreamed of working with phoenixes, and now she does. After a tragic incident at a nearby zoo, she's even applied to take on a second phoenix and restart her zoo's breeding program. But can she keep the birds safe? And accept the help of her fellow zoo staff (ew, people) to make it happen?

This is a cozy-adjacent fantasy full of magical creatures and relatable zoo staff. I think it's being mis-marketed as a romantasy - they barely even hold hands before the 75% mark. But it is an endearing story about learning to trust others, accept help, and letting people in, with the bonus of many lovable magical creatures in this, the most magical of all zoos.

Thank you to NetGalley and Orbit for the advance copy in exchange for an honest review!

After hearing that The Phoenix Keeper would be featured in an upcoming book box, I was excited to see that it was available for request on NetGalley! The idea of a magical zoo was exciting and different. What it didn't realize was that it would be in a contemporary setting and feel more like a contemporary romcom than a fantasy story. We follow Aila, whose life dream is to help bring a certain type of Phoenix back from the brink of extinction. She works to get a breeding program brought to her zoo after several phoenixes are stolen from another zoo. During this process, we get to meet a cast of other zoo employees and magical zoo creatures... and an unexpected romance begins to form. The end was a little rough for me and felt drawn out, although the zoo's magical creatures do get their moments to shine.

Thanks to the author, Orbit Books, and NetGalley for an eARC of this book for an honest review.

How about a cozy fantasy set in a Zoo for magical creatures with one of the cutest sapphic romances ever? If that sounds amazing then you definitely don’t want to miss this book.

I am finding that cozy books have a hard time of finding balance between fun character and relationship development, slice of life comfort, while still having a meaningful plot that continues to move the story forward. The Phoenix Keeper does all this very well and at just the right pace. I loved the story, the characters and all the animals.

If you are looking for a feel good book you can binge in a day or two, this is about the best cozy book I have read I a while!

This cozy delight was soooo good! Sweet zoo keepers care for mythological creature residents at the zoo - they have magical attributes that humans hunt them for. As a result, they are critically endangered. The zoo is working within a network to try and rebuild the creatures’ dwindling numbers. Poachers and oddity collectors threaten newly hatched baby phoenixes. Those sweet zoo keepers would give their own lives to keep that from happening. Aila is a passionate phoenix scholar with abysmal social skills. She was a dynamic and interesting main character to follow. Her best friend and other supporting cast members were equally endearing. I had fun in this world and recommending it anyone looking for a cozy fantasy with an animal heavy theme.

Thank you NetGalley, S. A. MacLean, Hachette Audio, and Orbit for the audiobook ARC and eARC of this super sweet delight.

The Phoenix Keeper
by S.A. MacLean
Cozy YA Fantasy
NetGalley eARC
Pub Date: Aug. 13, 2024
Orbit Books
Ages: 13+


In her early twenties, Aila is the head phoenix keeper at a famous zoo for endangered magical animals, living her childhood dream. But the one thing that would make all of her dreams come true is if she could restart the zoo's breeding program to save the endangered birds.

When the theft of phoenix chicks from another zoo leaves them with only the male, Aila needs to prove she can restart her zoo's breeding program. But Aila is fine with animals, it is people that scare her to the point she would rather hide than be around them, let alone ask them for help.


This was a cute, cozy, story; but I had to keep reminding myself that the characters were in their twenties and not teenagers because that was how they acted. Yeah, I get that animals make most adults giddy, but these adults overdid it, but they really cared for their animals.

As to the 'mystery' of the story... I guessed the 'bad guy' pretty quickly.

The romance label I feel is misleading. Yes, there is a love interest, but I feel that it's not front and center for the story, but it does add to it, though not enough for the label.

I loved the idea of a zoo for magical creatures, but I started to get bored about halfway through because there were times it felt as if the story wasn't going anywhere except in a circle, partly because of the immaturity of the characters. The MC I can relate with, but the people around her also came across as immature.

Overall not a bad story, I can see this suitable for the younger YA readers, 13+, and for those older readers who like a simple storyline with a mini mystery but without a lot of action or suspense.

3 Stars

The Phoenix Keeper by S. A. Maclean is an incredibly cozy, sweet, and heartwarming queer romance that I found to be a much needed respite in our crazy climate. It’s the kind of story you can just tuck into, nestle up with a cup of tea and get lost for a few hours. You won’t be on the edge of your seat, you won’t tense up when the plot line goes sideways… it’s truly a comfort read and I mean that in the best possible way. The way you grab your favorite soft blanket or the way you watch a movie you love on repeat. It’s that feeling, but in a book.

The story is set in a magical menagerie, a zoo of mystic beasts from dragons to krakens. Alia is such a delightfully relatable protagonist with a passionate heart! At the center of her story is a fight to save the zoo that means the world to her and a race to save the endangered Phoenix from going extinct. But that’s not all… Alia’s college nemesis also works at the zoo. And she’s really hot and really smart. But as a “enemies to lovers” spark ignites, Alia knows she has to stand her ground for the future of her beloved firebirds.

If you need a feel good, cozy read- this is it. And if you’re an animal lover like I am, you’re going to fall in love with Alia and her passion for all she does. I wanted to hug my book so many times(which would have been weird as I read this on Kindle). And when I finished, I just sat and smiled for a minute. It’s THAT kind of book. It’s just so… lovely.

Big thanks to NetGalley, Orbit Books, & S. A. MacLean for the advance copy of this delightful tale!

I have decided to DNF this book after trying to read it everyday for over a week. I just cannot get into it. It sounds magical and wonderful but I am so bored. I think this just isn’t for me.

The Phoenix Keeper is such a fun and cozy fantasy set in a magical zoo with all kinds of mythical creatures, from phoenixes to griffins. Aila, the head phoenix keeper, has to work with her former rival, Luciana, to help save the endangered firebirds. The story is sweet and heartwarming, with just the right mix of tension and adventure. And honestly, the magical animals are the real stars here!

Stephanie Bentley’s narration is spot on. She really brings Aila’s character to life and captures all the emotions perfectly. If you’re into cozy fantasy with a dash of romance and love unique magical settings, this audiobook is a great pick. It left me smiling and wanting more, so I’d highly recommend it for a feel-good, magical escape.

This story was so dang cute and wonderful. I absolutely loved how effortlessly diverse and healthy this story was. The story was perfectly cozy but never boring. The pacing was great and I felt immersed in the story and world but never like the stakes were too high or stressful. I just adore this and have already recommended it to everyone I know.

I’m a sucker for a good cozy fantasy, as I only just discovered last year, thanks to Travis Baldree. And the only way to improve on the cozy fantasy sub-genre is to add a queer romance to the story, especially when it’s described as “soul-restoring.” How could I possibly resist this book? It’s like it was written for me. Plus, I got approved for the audiobook version in addition to the book version, so it was a win-win, since I could listen to it when driving or doing chores and read when I couldn’t listen.

The book opens with gorgeous, vivid, and descriptive imagery. I love when a book can transport me to a whole other world while I’m reading, and that is one of the strengths in this book. Maclean’s writing is flowery and detailed, but not overly so—she strikes the perfect balance and never crosses into overkill. It almost reads like if Emily Wilde struggled with social anxiety rather than being on the spectrum, was obsessed with mythical birds rather than faeries, and was snarky AF. Which is a book that sounds really good to me.

In addition to the descriptive writing, MacLean treats readers to expansive world-building. Each of the animals in the zoo comes from a different location, and as individual animals are introduced in the story, a description of the area they come from is given, including the climate, geography, and some information about the species itself. It felt like going to a regular zoo and learning about all the animals featured there, so it was done perfectly. This is what caught my attention in the beginning, when everything was getting situated.

I really liked Aila’s character. We get to see her in her natural habitat (sorry, science nerd pun) when she’s talking to her bestie, who works at the same zoo with her. She’s able to speak normally to people she’s comfortable around, but any time she has to speak to someone she doesn’t know, or even worse, speak publicly (which is a part of her job), she clams up and can barely speak. Also, she’s bisexual, which I didn’t realize when starting this. If you go into this simply expecting a sapphic romance, you’re going to be disappointed, because that doesn’t come in until later into the story. There’s a weird love triangle thing going on in the story, mainly due to the timing, between Aila and a man and a woman.

The story is a slow-moving one, that is much more character-focused than plot-oriented. I did enjoy seeing Aila grow over the course of the book, and watching her interact with the other characters. The enemies-to-lovers romance is mainly just enemies for most of the book, but once it switches, it was worth the wait. The writing pulled me in immediately, and I really enjoyed reading this one despite many of the plot twists being predictable. That’s one of the joys of cozy fantasy, and I’ll definitely be watching for anything more that MacLean writes.

Thank you orbit and Netgalley for the eARC in exchange for an honest review

I loved this book way more than I was expecting!

This was my first cozy fantasy book (outside of fanfic where I already know and love the characters/relationship) and I definitely want more of this genre. It was so fun!

We follow Aila who is a socially awkward, shy, Phoenix keeper at a zoo in her attempt to breed phoenix's at her zoo to keep this species alive. I loved her passion and how much she truly loved her birds. She could be a little annoying at times, but it was very realistic, and never made me dislike her.

I liked all the characters and the relationships, both the friendships and romantic relationships.

I thought the ending and the big thing that happened was extremely predictable, but that didn't bother me. It's a cozy fantasy, not a mystery/thriller.

This book had me wanting to learn more about magical creatures, as well as learning how I can help endangered species in the real world. And looking up tickets to the zoo.

Overall I really liked this book and would definitely recommend it as a fun, chill, read.

This is a cozy fantasy novel about the day-to-day struggles of a socially awkward avian keeper at a magical zoo. Add in a rivals-to-lovers sapphic romance, an incredible best friend, an entire menagerie of magical creatures, an endangered phoenix or two.

I will say, the second-hand embarrassment is strong with this one. I cringed on Aila’s behalf so many times! She just struggles with social situations so much. I just wanted to grab her and give her a hug! That being said, Aila felt very relatable and I really appreciated the positive portrayal of therapy as a way to manage anxiety. Also, Tanya is amazing. She’s extremely patient and supportive, but isn’t afraid to give Aila a push if needed.

Most of the plot is set at a fairly slow pace and details day-to-day life at the zoo, but things speed up near the end. The story is split into four sections and each one begins with a sketch and short profile for a magical creature.

I came to The Phoenix Keeper in a bit of a reading slump. Happily, this took me right out of it is wonderful creatures and story. I loved seeing the zookeepers deal with the magical creatures, and Aila is definitely not perfect but grows so much as things go on. This was a cozy, sweet book that wasn’t too romance heavy. A perfect light read if you need a pick-me-up.

Note: ARC provided by the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

Fun read, loved the zoo setting and dedication to phoenix preservation. An engaging cast of characters.

An anxiety-ridden late twenty-something Aila Macbhairan had adored phoenixes since she was a child, and knew she wanted to work with the critically endangered birds. Her parents, though not totally understanding their daughter’s introversion, extreme social awkwardness, fear of public speaking, or hyper fixations, supported her as best they could. After sweating through college, and gaining her only friend Tanya, the two became employed in the aviary section of the San Tamculo zoo.

Aila is totally adept at caring for her avian and kelpie charges, though her fave is Rubra, the female phoenix. There are very few phoenixes alive anywhere in the world in zoos and none in the wild. The San Tamculo Zoo used to have a breeding program, though it’s been dormant for ten years, despite Aila’s requests each year to start it up again. After phoenix chicks at another zoo are stolen by poachers, Aila contacts the head of the International Magical Wildlife Service (IMWS) to convince them to move a male phoenix to San Tamculo Zoo so that the zoo can restart their breeding program.

When her request is granted, weeks after a rigorous inspection of the revamped breeding facility, Aila is over the moon, though deeply unhappy that her nemesis, Luciana, who manages the griffins and runs the super popular griffin show for the public, will be involved with the marketing of the phoenix breeding program. Aila, Tanya and Luciana have all been through the zoo program together at college, and an unfortunate incident during an oral presentation at school by the unable-to-manage-public-speaking Aila has thoroughly soured her on Luciana, as well as the necessity and advantages of zoo public relations, or really anything that takes Aila away from her birds.

Aila must acclimatize the phoenixes, and protect them from unscrupulous people while the birds raise their young, all while slowly getting out of her comfort zones after some hard and meaningful conversations with her best friend, and her supposed nemesis. She also tries dating, which goes about as well as one expects, for someone who is as much of a workaholic and obsessive as Aila is.


I had really looked forward to reading this book, and it has some great elements, such as:

-All the aviary maintenance details, as well as the process around preparing the aviary for the breeding program, then on getting Rubra and the male comfortable with each other.

-Tanya, whom I liked a LOT. I also liked Luciana. Both women are caring (obvious considering they're zoo keepers), but they both have a toughness and kindness that made me love them immediately.

-The variety of mythical and magical creatures present at the zoo.

Things that did not work for me in this book:

-I had a lot of trouble warming to Aila:
-I thought she acted like a self-absorbed twelve-year-old for most of the novel. Having social anxiety and being introverted does not mean that one ignores everything and everyone around oneself except for the one thing one is interested in. For example, Aila completely dismissed everything Tanya was pouring her heart into at the zoo, minimizing everything unless it was centred on phoenixes.

-Aila's complete disgust for the many different aspects of running a zoo, such as the public relations and marketing parts, and her unwillingness to get to know any other staff, shows a lack of consideration for others and a child's grasp of the complexity of a zoo, beyond cleaning enclosures, preparing and dispensing food, and ensuring the creatures were sufficiently stimulated to maintain their mental health.

-I also disliked how unkind Aila persisted in being, and not willing to confront her own biases till quite far into the novel. That she did eventually saved the novel from being a write-off.

-The worldbuilding felt paper thin; author S.A. Maclean's world felt like ours, but with mythical creatures dropped in for colour.

-I saw the twist coming for a particular character shortly after this person arrived on the page, and was not surprised when the person's selfishness and cruelty was revealed.

I think the best parts of this book were in the care and feeding of the animals, and that is what kept me reading. I would have loved much more time spent with Tanya, who is the best.

Thank you to Netgalley and to Orbit Books for this ARC in exchange for my review.

Aila is the head phoenix keeper at a zoo for magical creatures. This has been her dream since she was a child, caring for these magnificent creatures that are on the verge of extinction. She has hopes of rebooting the breeding program in order to preserve these creatures. When she suddenly gets approval, her life gets put into overdrive. Between handling multiple magical species, zoo visitors, a cute dragon keeper, her arch-college rival and trying to encourage two phoenix’s to mate, Aila will be put to the test.

First, thank you to NetGalley for the ARC!

I had mixed feelings about this book. On one hand, I enjoyed the concept of a cozy zoological book. I have and always will be a lover of animals and the zoo, so this touched a special place in my heart. As well as the anxiety representation, this was done very well.

On the other hand, Aila started to frustrate me to no end. I felt like she was not grateful for her job, blaming zoo patrons for a lot of her issues when really she would not have a job without the patrons. I also felt she was not a very good friend to Tanya. Especially when it came to Tanya’s own projects that fell into the shadow of Aila’s.

There was also some LGBTQ representation within this book, but I felt it was very lightly touched on but also heavily glossed over. We really didn’t get much page time regarding this until roughly the last quarter of the book.

Overall, this book was okay…the pulling back of the curtain into the zoology world was what really pushed it up to three stars.

The Phoenix Keeper is out now!

This book felt like a warm blanket and a hug. I don't usually read cozy fantasy but this one aws just sweet! The characters were surprisingly complex, nd Aila was extremely relatable.

This was the perfect cute, sweet fantasy and I recommend it for a casual read!

This is the perfect kind of cozy fantasy for me. It’s fun and adventurous with just a bit of thrilling mystery. The world building in this story is so vibrant and detailed that I wish I could actually visit this zoo! I love the queer and mental health rep in this book, but for me the best part really was the animals. Maclean did an incredible job creating these magical creatures and the amount of research she put in is clear in the level of detail each of the species have. The interactions Aila and the other keepers have with the animals always made me smile because they were just so relatable. I’ve had pets that, like Khonsu, are maybe just a little too smart and stubborn for their own good. Pets like Archie, who like to cause mischief especially at the most in opportune times. And pets like Nimit, who are so sweet and gentle. I can confidently say that this book is perfect for animal lovers and anyone who just think phoenixes are really cool!

This was such a cozy read and after finishing, I was surprised to find out that this was a debut novel. It had the perfect blend of coziness, romance, plot, and loveable characters. This was quite a pleasant read and I found myself loving every second of it. Even though it's not a fast paced book with things being thrown at you left and right, I was never bored, and I found myself rooting for Aila every step of the way. Aila was such a relatable character, not a fan of being in social situations or in front of people and prefers to be by herself, with her best friend Tanya, or with her birds. She had so much care for the animals and was always willing to put them and their care/needs first. I also loved that the story was based on Aila and her love of her birds and being a zookeeper, and that it was kept as the main focus of the story and didn't deviate from that and the romance was sort of a sub-plot.

If you're looking for your next cozy read with a heartwarming and exciting ending, then I highly recommend that you check out this book!