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3.95 AVERAGE
3.95 AVERAGE
emotional
funny
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
relaxing
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
The Phoenix Keeper was such a cozy, heartwarming read with a premise that totally grabbed me from the start. A magical zoo filled with mythical creatures? Yes, please. I loved the worldbuilding—it had that soft, comforting feel while still exploring real stakes, such as species conservation, burnout, and the pressure to succeed when everyone is watching.
Aila is easy to root for—passionate about her work, totally devoted to her phoenixes, and trying her best even when she’s overwhelmed. The romance with Luciana had that classic rivals-to-lovers tension, but I’ll admit it didn’t always hit as hard as I wanted. The slow burn was cute, and their history gave the relationship weight, but sometimes their dynamic felt a little too understated for me. I wanted just a bit more fire (pun intended) between them.
The pacing also wobbled in places. Some moments were so soft and quiet that I found myself wishing the tension would return, especially during the middle stretch. However, the final act brought everything together in a truly satisfying way, and the emotional payoff made it worthwhile to stick with the slower moments.
Overall, this is a sweet and whimsical read with strong themes of care—for animals, the planet, and for one another. It didn’t blow me away, but it definitely warmed my heart. If you're looking for gentle fantasy with a soft queer romance and a cozy setting, The Phoenix Keeper is a lovely choice.
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
THE PHOENIX KEEPER IS A HEARTWARMING, COZY FANTASY SET IN A MAGICAL ZOO. A LOVELY, LOW-STAKES ESCAPE THAT LEAVES YOUR HEART A LITTLE BRIGHTER.
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
relaxing
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
This was a cute and cozy fantasy and I really enjoyed it! Having worked in a zoo, I found it really fun to read and enjoyed all of the conservation messaging!
What I didn’t love:
What I didn’t love:
- This book was sooooo long… as much as I loved it, it did not need to be 460 pages long…
- It was very predictable but that’s what also makes it so great! All of the plot twists and developments could be seen coming from a mile away but that was what I wanted from this read.
What I loved:
- A magical zoo with a cast of magical animals! How much better can a cozy fantasy get?!
- Such amazing representation and diversity in the characters
- The characters felt true to their development!
- A phoenix breeding programme? I mean what more can you want?
This is a great book if you’re look for a light hearted and cozy read!
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
challenging
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
relaxing
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
lighthearted
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
hopeful
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders
Moderate: Gun violence, Grief
adventurous
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
this book was a little predictable to me and was very millennial at times but overall i enjoyed it. i’m not a fantasy reader (or fiction reader at all for that matter), so i found it easy to follow along and didn’t involve too much keeping track of the world. aila was a bit annoying and self absorbed to me, but i did think she grew over the course of the book.
i do wonder what ethnicity many of the characters are intended to be, it was hard for me to decipher the diversity aspect (or possibly lack there of). [side note on that: was maria rivera REALLY the only Latiné name the author could think of?? it’s giving jk r*wling’s “cho chang” and other stereotypical names associated with race].
i do wonder what ethnicity many of the characters are intended to be, it was hard for me to decipher the diversity aspect (or possibly lack there of). [side note on that: was maria rivera REALLY the only Latiné name the author could think of?? it’s giving jk r*wling’s “cho chang” and other stereotypical names associated with race].
i really did not like the narrator of this audiobook and it was difficult to not let that sway my opinion. ESPECIALLY when she was doing lower toned voices jfc. if i wanted a robotic sounding voice, i’d ask AI to read it (not actually cause AI is terrible).
i really did not like the constant use of the phrases “horns & fangs and skies & seas.” i think it fit into the premise and world, but the overuse made me feel annoyed while reading.