kevinscorner 's review for:

The Phoenix Keeper by S.A. MacLean

4.0

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

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The Phoenix Keeper is a standalone queer cozy fantasy set in a world filled with magical creatures. Aila has always dreamed of working with phoenixes. Now the head phoenix keeper in a renowned zoo for magical creatures, she is determined to revive the zoo’s defunct phoenix breeding program. When a heist in a neighboring zoo opens up an opportunity, she seizes her chance. But between her crippling social ancient, the zoo’s aging facilities, the threat of poachers, a rival griffin keeper trying to outmaneuver her, and a budding romance with a handsome dragon keeper, she’s got her work cut out for her.

I ended up liking this book more than I expected, especially after such a rough start. At nearly 500 pages, it feels about a third too long for the cozy story it’s telling. There’s a lot of waiting around, and the pacing really needed tightening. The first third or so is mostly Aila beating herself down and wallowing in self-pity. But once the breeding program actually gets underway, the story picks up and leads to a fairly exciting climax that fits its cozy fantasy tone. While it’s undeniably a cozy fantasy, the fantastical element is really just the creatures, and the rest of the world feels essentially non-magical.

Aila could be kind of insufferable, often using her social anxiety as an excuse, but I was mostly able to look past that. While this was marketed as having a sapphic romance, Aila is actually bisexual and spent most of the book trying to make things work with a male coworker. I liked that choice as it played with our expectations, but that may not sit well with everyone. Either way, the romance is more of a subplot; the real heart of the story lies in the zoo-keeping and magical creature care and conservation.

The Phoenix Keeper could definitely benefit from some trimming down, but it can still be a satisfying low stakes cozy fantasy read.