The Phoenix Keeper

S. A. MacLean

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Paperback

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English

Gollancz
13 August 2024

Romance

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'A lovely, gentle romantasy' STEPHANIE BURGIS

'Witty, poignant, and joyfully romantic' LYRA SELENE

'The perfect blend of escapism and romance' HOLLY RACE

'A sparkling debut' LAURA R. SAMOTIN

'Delightfully inventive and charming' JULIE LEONG

'A perfect cozy fantasy!' K. M. ENRIGHT

'Don't miss out!' VANESSA LE

WELCOME TO THE SAN TAMCULO ZOO OF MAGICAL CREATURES!

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.

Against an epic fantasy backdrop teeming with all your favourite mythical beasts from dragons and unicorns to kelpies and krakens, The Phoenix Keeper combines the cozy fantasy stakes of TJ Klune and Travis Baldree with the heartwarming contemporary romance of Alice Oseman and Casey McQuiston.

WHAT READERS ARE SAYING:

'Apparently all I've been missing in my life is cozy fantasies set in a zoo, because this book was everything... I read it in one sitting!' 5-star NetGalley review

'This book is everything. It's so much more than I expected, and I want to read it again and again. The world building is immaculate... I want more! I want textbooks and documentaries and just generally to devour every single scrap of information about this world... I intend to send everybody I know a copy for Christmas!' 5-star NetGalley review

'My top read of the year so far! I loved this book from start to finish... I shall be keeping my eye out for this author's next book for sure!' 5-star NetGalley review

'This is a gorgeous book that needs to be on your beach/pool side reads for this summer' 5-star NetGalley review

By: S. A. MacLean
Imprint: Gollancz
Country of Publication: United Kingdom
Dimensions: Height: 232mm, Width: 152mm, Spine: 38mm
Weight: 580g
ISBN: 9781399616560
ISBN 10: 1399616560
Pages: 480
Publication Date: 13 August 2024
Audience: General/trade , ELT Advanced
Format: Paperback
Publisher's Status: Active

S. A. MacLean is a fantasy romance author from sunny Southern California. Infatuated with magical worlds since her days of brewing mud potions in her childhood garden, she fell in love with the romantasy genre after realising all her favourite fantasy novels had kisses in them. Her stories invariably feature quirky humour, sassy animal companions, and queer casts who represent her voice as a chaotic bisexual woman. Sarah received her BS in Natural Resources from Cornell University and a PhD in Environmental Science from UC Berkeley. She left the research track to teach environmental science at her local community college, inspiring the next generation of students to save the planet. Follow her on social media @authorsamaclean.

Reviews for The Phoenix Keeper

This book has it all: some good old pining, a healthy amount of nerdiness, a cast of characters you'll consider friends, one amazing griffin keeper - and at its heart, a warming story about passion, preservation, and childhood dreams... Spiritually, I'm still at San Tamculo Zoo. Don't miss out! * Vanessa Le, author of THE LAST BLOODCARVER * Filled with mystical creatures so vivid I could swear they're real, two endearingly relatable zookeepers, and the coziest possible combination of intrigue and romance, The Phoenix Keeper is a sparkling debut. I'd give anything for a ticket to the San Tamculo Zoo, and MacLean's transporting book made me feel like I'd truly gone for a visit. I look forward to whatever's next from this magically creative new voice in fantasy * Laura R. Samotin, author of THE SINS ON THEIR BONES * Delightfully inventive and charming, The Phoenix Keeper is a sweet sapphic romance set in the most magical zoo you can imagine. MacLean's empathy for all living things - from vanishing ducks and endangered phoenixes, to endearingly awkward zookeepers and their crushes - shines through in every word. I couldn't stop smiling the whole way through. Sign me up for a lifetime membership to the San Tamculo Zoo, please! * Julie Leong, author of THE TELLER OF SMALL FORTUNES *