Book Review: The Phoenix Keeper

Book #3 for 2025: The Phoenix Keeper by S.A. MacLean, 3/5 ★
496 pages / published August 2024 / available here

Goodreads blurb: As head phoenix keeper at a world-renowned zoo for magical creatures, Aila's childhood dream of conserving critically endangered firebirds seems closer than ever. There's just one glaring caveat: her zoo's breeding program hasn't functioned for a decade. When a tragic phoenix heist sabotages the flagship initiative at a neighboring zoo, Aila must prove her derelict facilities are fit to take the reins.

My review: Touted as a "cozy fantasy" (because apparently everything is these days), this one intrigued me most because of its interesting setting – it’s not often you come across a book set in a magical zoo. That being said, it was a bit slow going for me. Maybe it's because I read this after several more adventure-heavy books, but the plot is very low-stakes for probably 80%. I also didn't realize it was a "romantasy," so there was far too much waffling-about-crushes for me. Many reviewers were frustrated with this being marketed as an adult book when it feels much more YA, but frankly without that info going in, it read as YA so I wasn't put off by that. Lots of reviews were also very critical of Aila's personality, but I personally read it as a pretty clear (?) interpretation of a neurodivergent MC, similar to Emily Wilde's, so that also felt like it mostly made sense...whether that was intended or not, I don't know. The menagerie of fantasy creatures featured in the book are really the star of the show. There is a lot of repetition in the writing. In some places, I attributed it to the self-interpreted neurodivergence of the protagonist, but in other places, it was a bit painful. In particular, two in-world expressions of emphasis/exasperation are used FAR too often: “skies and seas” and “horns and fangs.” Seriously…where was the editor on those?! However, the ending felt somehow both predictable and more action-packed than I expected, so I left the book feeling like it was a decently fun read overall. 

CW: mild profanity, a couple smoldering kissing scenes