Review

Honestly I really loved this book overall. I do wish the end was less violent and stuck with the cozy vibes the book is being promoted as.

I truly loved the main character. Her social awkwardness and anxious thoughts were really relatable. I loved watching her grow through the book. While I can’t relate to her nerves in front of others, I think others will relate to that. Her friend was also really great. I love how supportive they are of each other and their solid established friendship. Not sure I love the love interest; not sure why but I just don’t see them working out long term.

The animals 🥺 if you read this book for any reason it’s definitely for them. One hundred percent they MAKE this book.

As for the end… (skip this paragraph to avoid light spoilers) I didn’t love involving such a high level intense situation. I feel like saying this is cozy is inaccurate. The scenes were quite scary and life endangering. To me, that’s the opposite of cozy.

I really loved the audiobook and thought the narrator brought it all to life well.

4.5 stars rounded up!
Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for an advance copy in exchange for my honest review.

The Phoenix Keeper is the story of a magical zoo and its keeper. Full of fantastical beasts and mythical creatures, it will enthrall you. The narrator did a great job too.

A charming cozy fantasy involving a sapphic romance and mythical creatures? Sign me up! The audiobook for this is just as charming as the story is. I think the narrator perfectly captured how I pictured our main character and the vibe of the story.

This is a cute, heartwarming tale. I related to the main character Alia a lot; she's an anxious bookworm who is trying her best at something she is extremely passionate about. The creatures in this are fun, quirky, and interesting. I love an enemies-to-lovers story, especially when it's sapphic, and I loved it so much that my only critique is that I wish there was more romance in it! Highly recommend this beautiful cozy story.

The Phoenix Keeper is the epitome of a cozy fantasy with enough exciting plot lines to really drive the story. It follows Aila, a zookeeper in charge of the phoenix exhibit at the zoo. She's on a mission to jump start the zoo's defunct phoenix breeding program, while also avoiding having to participate in the massively popular griffin show that brings in huge audiences. Aila is such a relatable character for anyone who has ever struggled with social anxiety and I saw a lot of myself in her. The author's passion for zoos and conservation really shines throughout the book and made me want to pay my local zoo a visit! The romance is perfectly paced and the side characters were excellent. I would read so many more books just like this one.

The audio book narrator was perfect for Aila - she perfectly captures Aila's anxiety and excitement. I would absolutely listen to more of her work.

I received an advance copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.