Name: Marsh's review of The Phoenix Keeper by S. A. MacLean
Item: The Phoenix Keeper
Rating: 4
Author: Marsh

S. A. MacLean

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, for fans ofThe 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.

The Phoenix Keeper

halfmoon

Marsh

Cosy, heart-warming, low angst fantasy with a beautifully unfurling romance!

Aila is about as anxiety ridden as I am.  She overthinks, over plans and always thinks she's not good enough.  However, she has to be one of the most hard working and capable keepers of magical creatures, which leads to her being put in charge of a Phoenix breeding programme after the tragic recent theft of a clutch of eggs.

Aila isn't above a little massaging of facts (and using her boss' email!) to get things off the ground and with the assistance of her bestie, they are determined to be THE phoenix exhibit.  Alia however, also has to navigate the advances of a handsome dragon keeper and having to work with her college crush/nemesis.

I loves meeting Aila and co.  Aila is sweet, kind of naïve, too trusting and slightly self-absorbed. But she does learn that the world won't end when things can and do go wrong.  She also learns that others have problems too and all the disasters she lays at the feet of others weren't aimed at her but she perceived them as slights towards her.

Slow paced, low angst with a heist to unravel and thieves to unmask.  Great LGBTQIA main characters and cosy romantasy to curl up and enjoy.

Nicola Sarah Brooks

Cosy, heart-warming, low angst fantasy with a beautifully unfurling romance!

Aila is about as anxiety ridden as I am.  She overthinks, over plans and always thinks she's not good enough.  However, she has to be one of the most hard working and capable keepers of magical creatures, which leads to her being put in charge of a Phoenix breeding programme after the tragic recent theft of a clutch of eggs.

Aila isn't above a little massaging of facts (and using her boss' email!) to get things off the ground and with the assistance of her bestie, they are determined to be THE phoenix exhibit.  Alia however, also has to navigate the advances of a handsome dragon keeper and having to work with her college crush/nemesis.

I loves meeting Aila and co.  Aila is sweet, kind of naïve, too trusting and slightly self-absorbed. But she does learn that the world won't end when things can and do go wrong.  She also learns that others have problems too and all the disasters she lays at the feet of others weren't aimed at her but she perceived them as slights towards her.

Slow paced, low angst with a heist to unravel and thieves to unmask.  Great LGBTQIA main characters and cosy romantasy to curl up and enjoy.

halfmoon &
The Phoenix Keeper by S. A. MacLean

Reviews

Join the club

halfmoon &The Phoenix Keeper by S. A. MacLean

Reviews

Join the club

halfmoon &
The Phoenix Keeper by S. A. MacLean