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A review by literarylillie
The Phoenix Keeper by S.A. MacLean
adventurous
funny
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
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? No
5.0
[5 stars] one of my favorite reads of the year, sat on the pedestal right next to emily wilde. i am so shocked this is s.a. maclean’s debut novel. it was so well written and crafted, paced perfectly, and had me yearning for every next detail about the zoo. the phoenix keeper is full to the brim of mythical creatures like phoenixes (duh), dragons, kelpies, krakens, and unicorns. you find yourself immersed in a zoo full of these wondrous creatures, each with their own personalities that you come to love, and you get a glimpse into what it’s like to be a zoologist. this story is a blast and is stress inducing in all the best ways.
i could see myself heavily reflected in aila and all her anxious tendencies, and that made me root even harder for her conservation efforts to come to fruition. she is an endearing character whose motivation, work ethic, and compassion were inspiring. i read this of my own interest but also as a prompt for sapphic september, so of course !!! that was a highlight of the book. luciana and aila’s ups & downs through school, relationship at the zoo, and budding romance were a good driving force of the story, but not the main focus! the exploration of the zoo and all it’s magnificence, along with how to save the dwindling silimalo phoenix population was first and foremost.
i think i’ve discovered a new love of books that feature magical creatures, conservation movements, field notes, etc etc. this subgenre of fantasy is everything to me and im so so fond of the phoenix keeper. please!!read!!!!! cozy fantasy, firebirds, wlw, and so much more!!
i could see myself heavily reflected in aila and all her anxious tendencies, and that made me root even harder for her conservation efforts to come to fruition. she is an endearing character whose motivation, work ethic, and compassion were inspiring. i read this of my own interest but also as a prompt for sapphic september, so of course !!! that was a highlight of the book. luciana and aila’s ups & downs through school, relationship at the zoo, and budding romance were a good driving force of the story, but not the main focus! the exploration of the zoo and all it’s magnificence, along with how to save the dwindling silimalo phoenix population was first and foremost.
i think i’ve discovered a new love of books that feature magical creatures, conservation movements, field notes, etc etc. this subgenre of fantasy is everything to me and im so so fond of the phoenix keeper. please!!read!!!!! cozy fantasy, firebirds, wlw, and so much more!!