Synopsis:
Aila has spent her entire life dreaming of saving phoenixes.
She pulled countless all-nighters at uni just to sneak a toe in the door of the breathtakingly competitive field of conservation, stumbling through failed romance and disastrous class presentations thanks to social anxiety, while also surviving a ferocious class rivalry with the (unbearably beautiful) insufferably hotshot Luciana.
Somehow, she actually did it: landed her dream job as head phoenix keeper at the world-renowned zoo that inspired her as a child, tasked with rescuing the critically endangered Silimalo phoenix from the brink of extinction.
There are just two or three (thousand) impossible problems.
1. She can’t act sensibly around the charming dragon keeper, Connor.
2. Her plans to revive the phoenix programme are more precarious than ever, after a poacher attack at a neighbouring zoo.
3. Her best chance at success means teaming up with the star of the zoo, the universally adored griffin keeper, the hotshot showmaster of the most popular exhibit . . .
Yes, of course it’s Luciana.
Review:
Conservation biology and fantasy is a unique mix—and one that I absolutely adored. This was a combination that I didn’t know I needed in my life, and now I want more.
The main character of this tale, Aila, is the head phoenix keeper at her local zoo. She has other birds to take care of as well, but the Silimalo phoenix is her primary concern. The species is critically endangered, and it has been her lifelong dream to help rebuild the phoenix population. She’s incredibly passionate about her work, very knowledgeable, and ready to take on the challenge.
The problem is that not only is Aila an extreme introvert, she struggles with most social interactions. Her best friend, Tanya, who is the other phoenix keeper, seems to be the only person who truly understands and accepts her. And Tanya should win the best friend of the year award, because she is fantastic in this book. Sure, she and Aila sometimes have a rough patch, but they work things out (chocolate is often involved.) But Aila does overcome some of her aversions and awkwardness as she takes on more responsibilities. It isn’t easy for her, but watching her character growth throughout the book was really fun.
The bulk of the story is set at the zoo and Aila’s bid to have a male phoenix transferred to her facility for breeding. But there’s some romance involved too, some tension between Aila and other zookeepers, a conspiracy involving poachers/smugglers, and the theme of wildlife conservation is woven throughout. This book made my biologist’s heart happy.
The zoo creatures were by far my favorite part; Aila is also responsible for a kelpie, there are a number of magical birds, her arch-rival from college (Luciana) runs the gryphon exhibits, there are dragons, unicorns, and more mystical beasts than I can list here. I’ve always loved animals and making trips to the zoo, so I adored the idea of a fantasy zoo.
My only real issue with this book is that it’s very, very predictable. A few hundred pages before certain events happened, it was pretty obvious what would play out. I like to be surprised at least once while reading a story, but this book didn’t surprise me at all. But it’s still a good read and one I’d recommend for all the other reasons I described.
So if a fantasy zoo replete with phoenixes, gryphons, and dragons is your thing, definitely check out The Phoenix Keeper.
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