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3.95 AVERAGE
3.95 AVERAGE
funny
inspiring
relaxing
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
mysterious
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
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Sometimes you don’t need high-stakes battles or epic quests. Sometimes it is just really lovely to read about the day-to-day life of a magical zookeeper, and The Phoenix Keeper delivers exactly that with all the cosy vibes.
Aila has always been fascinated by animals, especially phoenixes. As head phoenix keeper at her dream job, she is determined to restart a struggling breeding programme for this critically endangered species. When phoenix chicks are stolen from a sister zoo, she becomes even more focused on making it a success. The only problem is that she has to work closely with her old college rival to make it happen.
This book was truly delightful. Listening to it felt like a warm hug. I seriously wish this zoo was real because I would visit in a heartbeat.
Aila is such a relatable protagonist. She is socially awkward, dreads public speaking, and often finds it easier to be around animals than people. I have never related to a character more.
The side characters are all well developed, and there is some really great LGBTQ+ representation throughout.
My only issue is that the pacing dips a little in the middle, but it really picks up towards the final third.
Even though this is a cosier fantasy, it still has real emotional stakes and a story that keeps you invested.
Sometimes you don’t need high-stakes battles or epic quests. Sometimes it is just really lovely to read about the day-to-day life of a magical zookeeper, and The Phoenix Keeper delivers exactly that with all the cosy vibes.
Aila has always been fascinated by animals, especially phoenixes. As head phoenix keeper at her dream job, she is determined to restart a struggling breeding programme for this critically endangered species. When phoenix chicks are stolen from a sister zoo, she becomes even more focused on making it a success. The only problem is that she has to work closely with her old college rival to make it happen.
This book was truly delightful. Listening to it felt like a warm hug. I seriously wish this zoo was real because I would visit in a heartbeat.
Aila is such a relatable protagonist. She is socially awkward, dreads public speaking, and often finds it easier to be around animals than people. I have never related to a character more.
The side characters are all well developed, and there is some really great LGBTQ+ representation throughout.
My only issue is that the pacing dips a little in the middle, but it really picks up towards the final third.
Even though this is a cosier fantasy, it still has real emotional stakes and a story that keeps you invested.
2.5 for effort. I thought the main character was so annoying. Complaining about her job when she chose this. You can do something else to help endangered animals. Don't be a jerk to other people just b cause they are better with the crowd than you are.
lighthearted
slow-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
I loved this. Never in a million years would I have guessed I’d find a character to relate to so much! Just another reason why diversity is so important in books - seeing yourself in the main character is truly a joy that everyone should be able to experience.
This was a very cozy read that I’d recommend to anyone who’s ever dreamed of working with animals. I also enjoyed the neurodiversity and queer-normativity, it made the story feel quite modern in the way it was written. In general I’d say the writing and pacing were good, perhaps a bit on the slow side but not much that I would call “filler.”
The only real complaint I have is that it was all INCREDIBLY predictable. I knew how the plot was going to end less than 20% of the way through, and every “twist” was so easy to guess that I almost felt like skimming through every conflict/resolution, but I enjoyed the story too much to do that. This kind of predictability works very well for cozy fantasy, but it makes me hesitate to pick up this author’s other works because I fear I might get too bored…
Anyway, loved the animals and loved the characters. Can’t believe I waited so long to pick this up!
This was a very cozy read that I’d recommend to anyone who’s ever dreamed of working with animals. I also enjoyed the neurodiversity and queer-normativity, it made the story feel quite modern in the way it was written. In general I’d say the writing and pacing were good, perhaps a bit on the slow side but not much that I would call “filler.”
The only real complaint I have is that it was all INCREDIBLY predictable. I knew how the plot was going to end less than 20% of the way through, and every “twist” was so easy to guess that I almost felt like skimming through every conflict/resolution, but I enjoyed the story too much to do that. This kind of predictability works very well for cozy fantasy, but it makes me hesitate to pick up this author’s other works because I fear I might get too bored…
Anyway, loved the animals and loved the characters. Can’t believe I waited so long to pick this up!
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
This cozy fantasy was absolutely perfect to me. Its major selling point is the workplace rivals to lovers sapphic love story, but truly this is a story about a young woman trying to become the person she wants to be. The love story takes a back seat, especially as we spend the first half of the book in pursuit of one of their other male coworkers. Our main zookeeper has sever social anxiety and only wishes to reestablish the phoenix breeding program in their magical zoo. This book takes place over almost two full years as she works to earn the program and then build it up, as she works up the courage to ask our her male coworker and get better at conversation. This story is rich in description and is slow-paced with low stakes until the climactic action right at the end. I adored the detail and care with which the author describes the animals, the zoo, and the day-to-day in their mundanely magical lives. There’s so much personal growth with our main character and so much representation within her and our side characters, and the payout of the successful breeding program, the defeat of the antagonists, and the build up of the sapphic love story feel so earned. The acknowledgements at the end really solidified this five stars for me, as our author thanks specific birds she worked with during her collegiate programs.
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!