The Leaning Pile of Books is a feature in which I highlight books I got over the last week that sound interesting—old or new, bought or received in the mail for review consideration. Since I hope you will find new books you’re interested in reading in these posts, I try to be as informative as possible. If I can find them, links to excerpts, author’s websites, and places where you can find more information on the book are included, along with series information and the publisher’s book description.

Disclosure: I am an affiliate of Bookshop.org, and I will earn a commission if you click through and make a purchase.

Two books that sound compelling came in the mail last week: a cozy fantasy novel and a reimagining of Irish mythology.

Cover of The Teller of Small Fortunes by Julie Leong

The Teller of Small Fortunes by Julie Leong

This cozy fantasy debut novel will be released on November 5 (trade paperback, ebook, audiobook read by Phyllis Ho).

The Penguin Random House website has text and audio excerpts from The Teller of Small Fortunes, as well as Julie Leong’s tour schedule. Currently, this is an event in San Francisco a couple days after release.

I’ve been interested in reading this one since reading a sample on Reactor. It sounds delightful, and I’m also intrigued by the (slightly) magical cat!

 

A wandering fortune teller finds an unexpected family in this warm and wonderful debut fantasy, perfect for readers of Travis Baldree and Sangu Mandanna.

Tao is an immigrant fortune teller, traveling between villages with just her trusty mule for company. She only tells “small” fortunes: whether it will hail next week; which boy the barmaid will kiss; when the cow will calve. She knows from bitter experience that big fortunes come with big consequences…

Even if it’s a lonely life, it’s better than the one she left behind. But a small fortune unexpectedly becomes something more when a (semi) reformed thief and an ex-mercenary recruit her into their desperate search for a lost child. Soon, they’re joined by a baker with a “knead” for adventure, and—of course—a slightly magical cat.

Tao starts down a new path with companions as big-hearted as her fortunes are small. But as she lowers her walls, the shadows of her past close in—and she’ll have to decide whether to risk everything to preserve the family she never thought she could have.

Cover of The Winter Goddess by Megan Barnard

The Winter Goddess by Megan Barnard

This novel focusing on the goddess Cailleach will be released on March 11, 2025 (trade paperback, ebook, audiobook).

The Winter Goddess is Megan Barnard’s second novel following Jezebel, a reimagining of the story of the princess from Tyre.

 

A goddess is cursed to endlessly live and die as a mortal until she understands the value of human life, in this inventive, moving reimagining of Irish mythology.

Cailleach, goddess of winter, was not born to be a blight on humanity, but she became one. She would say with scorn that it was their own fault: mortals were selfish, thoughtless, and destructive, bringing harm to each other and the earth without cause or qualms.

One day, Cailleach goes too far. Thousands die, lost to her brutal winter. In punishment, her mother Danu, queen of the gods, strips the goddess of her powers and sends Cailleach to earth, to live and die as the mortals she so despises, until she understands what it is to be one of them. Though determined to live in solitude, Cailleach finds that she cannot help but reach for the people she once held in such disdain. She loves and mourns in equal measure, and in opening herself to humanity, hears tales not meant for immortal ears—including a long-buried secret that will redefine what it means to be a god.

From the author of the “stunning . . . riveting” historical reenvisioning Jezebel (Library Journal), a vividly imagined and arresting story of a goddess punished—and a goddess reborn, as she discovers the importance of a life ephemeral…and what it means to truly be alive.

The Leaning Pile of Books is a feature in which I highlight books I got over the last week that sound interesting—old or new, bought or received in the mail for review consideration. Since I hope you will find new books you’re interested in reading in these posts, I try to be as informative as possible. If I can find them, links to excerpts, author’s websites, and places where you can find more information on the book are included, along with series information and the publisher’s book description.

Disclosure: I am an affiliate of Bookshop.org, and I will earn a commission if you click through and make a purchase.

It’s been a few weeks since the last one of these, but last week brought a couple of book purchases plus another book in the mail. I’m also including an ebook I downloaded a couple of weeks ago but hadn’t covered yet since I was trying to finish a book review I was working on.

I already highlighted one of my book purchases in a post in June, The Mountain Crown by Karin Lowachee. It’s out now and I really wanted a physical copy since it’s one of my favorite 2024 releases (plus I have a hard time reviewing ebooks and I definitely want to write something about this one!). If you missed it, Karin Lowachee did an AMA on r/Fantasy on its release date and had some really interesting things to say about her writing.

There have been a couple of new reviews since the last one of these features:

  • Goddess of the River by Vaishnavi Patel This reimagining of the Mahabharata focusing on Ganga and her son is one of my favorite 2024 releases. I thought the first-person perspective of the goddess was really well done, and it also tackles some interesting themes and questions.
  • The Phoenix Keeper by S. A. MacLean I had mixed feelings about this cozy fantasy novel about a zookeeper working with magical creatures. I loved the animals, especially the birds, but that was the only part that really worked for me—plus I found the protagonist rather frustrating since she’s often so obviously wrong.

On to the newest additions to the TBR!

Cover of I'm Afraid You've Got Dragons by Peter S. Beagle

I’m Afraid You’ve Got Dragons by Peter S. Beagle

This novel came out earlier this year (hardcover, ebook, audiobook). The trade paperback is scheduled for publication in May 2025.

The Simon & Schuster website has both a text sample and an excerpt from the audiobook read by Shaun Taylor-Corbett.

I’m Afraid You’ve Got Dragons was on my list of anticipated 2024 speculative fiction releases since it sounds delightful and is written by Peter S. Beagle. When I was trying to narrow down what to buy with The Mountain Crown, it seemed fitting to pick another book with dragons!

 

From the New York Times bestselling author of The Last Unicorn comes a new novel with equal amounts of power and whimsy in which a loveable cast of characters trapped within their roles of dragon hunter, princess, and more must come together to take their fates into their own hands.

Dragons are common in the backwater kingdom of Bellemontagne, coming in sizes from mouse-like vermin all the way up to castle-smashing monsters. Gaius Aurelius Constantine Heliogabalus Thrax (who would much rather people call him Robert) has recently inherited his deceased dad’s job as a dragon catcher/exterminator, a career he detests with all his heart in part because he likes dragons, feeling a kinship with them, but mainly because his dream has always been the impossible one of transcending his humble origin to someday become a prince’s valet. Needless to say, fate has something rather different in mind…

Cover of Blood Over Bright Haven by M. L. Wang

Blood Over Bright Haven by M. L. Wang

This novel, originally self published last year, is coming out in hardcover and audiobook (read by Moira Quirk) on October 29.

The Penguin Random House website has excerpts from both the text and audio editions of Blood Over Bright Haven.

M. L. Wang won the Self-Published Fantasy Blog Off (SPFBO) for her novel Sword of Kaigen in 2019, and I’ve also heard great things about this dark academia novel.

 

The first woman ever admitted to a prestigious order of mages unravels a secret conspiracy that could change the practice of magic forever, in this standalone dark fantasy from the author of The Sword of Kaigen.

The stunning first edition hardcover will feature red stained edges, gold and red foil on the jacket, a full-color endpaper map, and an interior illustration of an in-world magical item

“Powerful, thought-provoking. . . . Fans of R.F. Kuang’s Babel will find much to admire here, from the intricate magic system to the unflinching exploration of societal issues.”—Booklist

For twenty years, Sciona has devoted every waking moment to the study of magic, fueled by a mad desire to achieve the impossible: to be the first woman ever admitted to the High Magistry at the University of Magics and Industry.

When Sciona finally passes the qualifying exam and becomes a highmage, she finds her challenges have just begun. Her new colleagues are determined to make her feel unwelcome—and, instead of a qualified lab assistant, they give her a janitor.

What neither Sciona nor her peers realize is that her taciturn assistant was not always a janitor. Ten years ago, he was a nomadic hunter who lost his family on their perilous journey from the wild plains to the city. But now he sees the opportunity to understand the forces that decimated his tribe, drove him from his homeland, and keep the privileged in power.

At first, mage and outsider have a fractious relationship. But working together, they uncover an ancient secret that could change the course of magic forever—if it doesn’t get them killed first.

Cover of Reign & Ruin by J. D. Evans

Reign & Ruin (Mages of the Wheel #1) by J. D. Evans

Reign & Ruin won the Self-Published Fantasy Blog Off (SPFBO) in 2021. This is the first book in the fantasy romance series Mages of the Wheel, which also includes:

I’ve heard some good things about this one on r/fantasyromance, and after looking at a sample, I figured I’d give it a try. When we had a power outage a little while ago, I purchased it and put it on my Kindle while I still could just in case I couldn’t read by light later. I haven’t started it yet since the power was only out for a couple hours, but it’s on the TBR now!

 

“All magic is beautiful…and terrible. Do you not see the beauty in yours, or the terror in mine? You can stop a heart, and I can stop your breath.”

She is heir to a Sultanate that once ruled the world. He is an unwanted prince with the power to destroy.

She is order and intellect, a woman fit to rule in a man’s place. He is chaos and violence and will stop at nothing to protect his people.

His magic answers hers with shadow for light. They need each other, but the cost of balance may be too high a price. Magic is dying and the only way to save it is to enlist mages who wield the forbidden power of death, mages cast out centuries ago in a brutal and bloody war.

Now, a new war is coming. Science and machines to replace magic and old religion.

They must find a way to save their people from annihilation and balance the sacred Wheel—but first, they will have to balance their own forbidden passion. His peace for her tempest, his restlessness for her calm…

Night and day, dusk and dawn, the end, and the beginning.

The Phoenix Keeper
by S. A. MacLean
496pp (Trade Paperback)
My Rating: 5/10
Amazon Rating: 4.3/5
LibraryThing Rating: 3.36/5
Goodreads Rating: 3.98/5
 

As an Amazon Associate and Bookshop affiliate, I earn from qualifying purchases.

Book Description:

Set in a magical zoo teeming with mythical beasts from dragons and unicorns to kelpies and krakens, The Phoenix Keeper is a fierce joy of a cozy fantasy novel with a soul-restoring queer romance at its heart, for fans of The House in the Cerulean Sea and Legends and Lattes.

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.

But saving an entire species from extinction requires more than stellar animal handling skills. Carnivorous water horses, tempestuous thunderhawks, mischievous dragons… Aila has no problem wrangling beasts. But mustering the courage to ask for help from the hotshot griffin keeper at the zoo’s most popular exhibit? Virtually impossible.

Especially when that hotshot griffin keeper happens to be her arch-rival from college: Luciana, an annoyingly brooding and insufferable know-it-all with the face of a goddess who’s convinced that Aila’s beloved phoenix would serve their cause better as an active performer rather than as a passive conservation exhibit. With the world watching and the threat of poachers looming, Aila’s success is no longer merely a matter of keeping her job…

She is the keeper of the phoenix, and the future of a species– and her love life– now rests on her shoulders.

The Phoenix Keeper, S. A. MacLean’s debut novel, was one of my most anticipated 2024 speculative fiction book releases because I loved the idea of a book set in a zoo filled with mythical creatures written by an author with experience in ecology and environmental science. However, I ended up having mixed feelings about it: although I adored everything to do with the animals, I was underwhelmed by the human characters, plot, and writing. Furthermore, main protagonist Aila was my least favorite character who wasn’t a villain.

The story takes place in a contemporary setting in a secondary fantasy world, and although other places are mentioned, it’s mostly confined to the zoo with an occasional foray to another location in the same city (Aila’s apartment, her best friend’s home, her family’s restaurant, etc.). I loved that this was a zoo dedicated to preserving creatures from endangered fantastical species and educating the public about them. It served as a wildlife sanctuary for some varieties of dragons, phoenixes, griffins, and birds, as well as unicorns and a kelpie, and it had animals that were there due to injuries that kept them from being able to survive in the wild, who served as ambassadors for their species. There were also some animal shows for visitors’ entertainment, an issue that caused some tension between Aila and another zookeeper who wanted her phoenix to perform in them. Aila felt that being able to watch the animals existing should be enough for people to take an interest in them, but the performances garnered a lot of attention and were a big factor in visitors wanting to support wildlife.

A clear love for animals shines through The Phoenix Keeper, and its best parts were those centered on the zoo and its inhabitants. These characters were imbued with personality, and although I loved all the animals, I especially adored the mischievous archibird. He had saliva that acted as an adhesive for shiny metal objects, which he built into a tower in an attempt to impress the females of his species, and was overall a menace, stealing items that caught his eye and irritating his keeper (all while being too adorable for her to stay upset with him for very long). As someone who has had impish birds before, I felt S. A. MacLean successfully captured their essence, and this one was easily my favorite character.

Aside from the animals, The Phoenix Keeper didn’t really work for me, though. Aila and her third-person perspective lacked the sort of charm I was hoping to see in a cozy fantasy novel, and neither she nor the prose stood out as compelling to me (even if I did admire her devotion to her animals). Our phoenix keeper is primarily characterized as an awkward, anxious introvert who loves her animals and is knowledgeable about them, would do anything to help them, and works hard on their behalf. She has realistic, relatable struggles as someone dealing with anxiety and a fear of public speaking, but she often feels like an overdone caricature of someone who isn’t great with people considering just how consistently and badly she ends up with her foot in her mouth. Aila is also frustrating because she is infuriatingly wrong so much of the time: she misjudges people and overlooks the obvious a lot, and she gets so wrapped up in her own problems that she doesn’t even notice the struggles of those around her, including those of her supportive best friend. Her main character arc involves learning to get outside of herself, and though it’s not unrealistic that someone would go through something like this, it is a long journey given that Aila is flawed in an annoying, straightforward way rather than in a fascinating, complex way.

The plot mainly focuses on Aila’s work at the zoo, particularly with starting a new phoenix breeding program. Given the rarity of the species, her female Silimalo phoenix does not have a mate, but Aila sees an opportunity to procure one for her after another zoo’s female and young are stolen. Aila has to overcome her fears and anxieties enough to convince others that the best move is transferring the remaining male to her zoo in hopes that he’ll bond with her phoenix, which means rebuilding their long out-of-use facilities—which she can’t do on her own, or even with the help of her best friend, forcing her to enlist the aid of others in the zoo like her nemesis from their college days. I liked the parts that involved the birds themselves, but like the characterization that tied into this plot, the rest of it was a bit simplistic for me. It’s also pretty clear what the climactic scene is going to involve long before it happens, and though predictability doesn’t have to be bad, this wasn’t the type of scene I eagerly anticipated or had fun reading. It was just a relief when Aila finally realized what had been obvious all along, and there were some parts that came across as cheesy to me throughout this sequence.

Though The Phoenix Keeper is described as having a “queer romance at its heart,” those who are primarily reading for the romance might be disappointed by how long it takes to get there. (If you’re looking for stories where queer characters don’t have to deal with obstacles and microaggressions, it does deliver on that front, though.) There isn’t exactly a love triangle, but there are two separate romantic subplots involving a male zookeeper and a female zookeeper. The endgame love story is cute, but there isn’t really a lot of focus on this romance and it’s immediately clear that the other love interest isn’t right for Aila, even setting aside what’s in the book description. I thought the relationship Aila had with her best friend, a trans woman named Tanya who also worked in the zoo, was both more central to the story and better done, even when I was frustrated on Tanya’s behalf.

The Phoenix Keeper is a difficult book for me to summarize and rate: I only finished it because of the zoo and its residents, and though they’re a large part of the book, so are the things I found less appealing such as the main protagonist’s blunt character arc and the novel’s overall lack of finesse. By the end, the aspects that didn’t work for me seemed more prominent, but since I did love the animals, I’m going with a middle-of-the-road rating.

My Rating: 5/10

Where I got my reading copy: Finished copy from the publisher.

 

As an Amazon Associate and Bookshop affiliate, I earn from qualifying purchases.

Goddess of the River is Vaishnavi Patel’s second novel, following her beautifully written reimagining of the story of the vilified titular queen from the Ramayana, Kaikeyi. Like her first novel, this gives a voice to a female character who had an important role but is often overlooked in texts and studies focusing on the original work: this time, by reimagining the story of the river goddess Ganga from the Mahabharata, particularly how being cursed to live as a mortal and a mother affected her, and in turn, impacted the kingdom of Hastinapur.

The novel opens long before the conflict of the Mahabharata, beginning with Ganga’s descent to earth in response to humans’ prayers for water. Bound to an area around a mountaintop by Shiva (also in response to mortals’ prayers when they feared her power would destroy their world), she observed humans and became fond of the company of the eight godlings known as the Vasus.

When the mischievous Vasus are cursed to live as mortals, Ganga’s attempts to intervene on their behalf result in her being cursed along with them: to live a mortal life of her own as their mother. Soon after becoming mortal, Ganga is found by a king, who is strangely eager to marry this random woman he found in a river, and the two are wed.

Once Ganga fulfills the conditions of her curse, she is restored to godhood and returns to her former life like the other godlings—except for the last Vasu. Forced to live as a mortal, her son takes an oath removing himself from the line of succession for the good of his father and kingdom, which eventually results in the war between the two branches of the royal family.

Nearly a third of Goddess of the River focuses solely on Ganga, culminating shortly after the birth of Devavrata, her son who later became known as Bhishma, and her return to godhood. After this, the novel alternates between her first-person perspective and Bhishma’s third-person perspective, as the author wanted “to imagine the interplay between her and her son all the way through the war and how they influenced each other.” Bhishma’s viewpoint begins when he is older, starting by showing the growing rift between the grandnephews who are like grandsons to him, and Ganga’s covers the time from her son’s childhood through the end of the war.

This is beautifully done, combining the sweeping events of an epic with a poignant tale of a goddess who is changed through her time as a mortal and her inability to escape human concerns in large part because of her love for the son who continues to live among them. It also tackles a lot of themes: how everything is connected, how duty and honor may not be the same as justice, the horrors of war, and the necessity of change, to name a few that particularly stood out to me.

Like Vaishnavi Patel’s debut novel, Goddess of the River is a lovely mythic story, and I think this is even a little stronger than her first with more dimensional main characters. In fact, this is one of my two favorite 2024 releases so far, largely because of the goddess’s unique perspective and views on humanity, as well as the novel’s thoughtful exploration of its major themes and focus on knowing and doing what is right.

As much as I love the epic-ness of stories with lots of gods and those aspects of this one, my favorite part was the two main characters at its heart. In particular, I enjoyed how otherworldly Ganga’s viewpoint was as a goddess and a river, despite her ability to experience things relatable to us, like loneliness, rage, sorrow, and love. When she became mortal, she went from being larger than life to contained in a single small form, leaving her baffled at human senses and her sudden inability to hold so many ideas at once. I appreciated her wry observations about humanity and its rules—particularly those that they attributed to the gods though they were, in fact, the inventions of mortals—and how she was transformed throughout the story because she had a mortal life.

Bhishma’s perspective was also wonderfully done, especially because I completely understood both the other characters’ frustration with him for holding so tightly to his vows as well as why he did so. Though he certainly had flaws and made mistakes, he also was truly trying to do what he thought was right, having internalized that he had a responsibility to be dutiful (as a prince) and that he should hold himself to a higher standard than others (as the son of a god). It was tragic that he strove so hard to be fair and impartial when following his heart may have been the best thing he could have done, and personally, I loved this.

The main reason I’m not giving this the highest rating possible is that I would have actually liked a bit more exploration of the big questions being asked and more narrative subtlety since this is a book that lays out what the main characters are thinking and feeling. This is, of course, my preference and I can also understand why it may have been seen as necessary to thoroughly explain Ganga’s views given that she is so different as a goddess and a river. It was also a bit difficult at times to keep track of all the characters involved in the war, but I cared enough to keep going back to the family tree graphic to figure out how everyone fit in so this is a heads up for potential readers rather than something I considered negative, especially since that’s due to my not having more familiarity with the Mahabharata. (Also, for those who want to avoid certain content, there are warnings at the beginning of the book as well as on the author’s post on Goodreads.)

Small quibbles aside, Goddess of the River is an incredible novel that stands out as something different from the recent books I’ve read given its focus on a mother and son as central characters, its truly unique first-person perspective of a goddess, and its inclusion of a variety of themes and questions. It’s one of my 2024 highlights, and I’m excited for Vaishnavi Patel’s next novel (Ten Incarnations of Rebellion).

My Rating: 8.5/10

Where I got my reading copy: Finished copy from the publisher.

Read “Divorcing the Evil Stepmother” by Vaishnavi Patel from Women in SF&F Month 2022

The Leaning Pile of Books is a feature in which I highlight books I got over the last week that sound interesting—old or new, bought or received in the mail for review consideration. Since I hope you will find new books you’re interested in reading in these posts, I try to be as informative as possible. If I can find them, links to excerpts, author’s websites, and places where you can find more information on the book are included, along with series information and the publisher’s book description.

Disclosure: I am an affiliate of Bookshop.org, and I will earn a commission if you click through and make a purchase.

This should have been featured last weekend, but I didn’t feel up to putting it together due to getting my flu and Covid vaccines the day before. (It wasn’t as bad as I thought it might be based on previous experience, but it still affected my arm for about a day.)

The latest book on my TBR is a retelling and the first book in a romantic fantasy duology.

Cover of The Legend of Meneka by Kritika H. Rao

The Legend of Meneka (The Divine Dancers Duology #1) by Kritika H. Rao

The first book in a new duology by The Surviving Sky author Kritika H. Rao will be released on January 21, 2025 (hardcover, ebook, audiobook).

The Legend of Meneka is a Hindu-inspired romantic fantasy novel reimagining the love story of the titular aspara and Sage Vishwamitra.

 

Kritika H. Rao weaves a luscious, exhilarating fantasy inspired by one of the most famous romances in Hindu mythology— the story of a celestial dancer tasked with seducing a human sage, but when she finds herself falling for her mark, she will be forced to choose between loyalties and being true to herself.

Across the mortal and immortal realms, celestial dancers known as apsaras are revered for their beauty, allure, and enchanting magic. But Meneka knows that is not all they are. Trained as a weapon—a warrior—Meneka despises leaving each of her marks in thrall to her potent illusions. With every seduction Lord Indra, king of heaven, demands of her for his political gain, she craves her freedom more and more.

When a mortal sage’s growing powers threaten Indra’s supremacy in his own realm, Meneka seizes a rare opportunity. She strikes a deal—if she can seduce this dangerous man, Indra will allow her to forgo future missions. But upon meeting the sage, Kaushika, Meneka finds herself captivated by his energy, ignited by his empathy and passion, even though he challenges everything she’s ever known. Can she overthrow the man who is—little by little—stealing her heart, or is Kaushika seducing her instead? As war looms in the skies, Meneka must choose between her duty to protect her home, and the sage who is showing her what true love can mean.

Romantic, spellbinding, and empowering, The Legend of Meneka breathes new life into Hindu mythology to weave a lustrous tale of a woman discovering the cosmic power within herself. Perfect for readers of Daughter of the Moon GoddessKaikeyi, and Circe, this first book in the Divine Dancers duology is a completely unputdownable adventure for lovers of romantasy and myth retellings.

The Leaning Pile of Books is a feature in which I highlight books I got over the last week that sound interesting—old or new, bought or received in the mail for review consideration. Since I hope you will find new books you’re interested in reading in these posts, I try to be as informative as possible. If I can find them, links to excerpts, author’s websites, and places where you can find more information on the book are included, along with series information and the publisher’s book description.

Disclosure: I am an affiliate of Bookshop.org, and I will earn a commission if you click through and make a purchase.

One new book showed up in the mail last week, and it’s one I’m particularly excited about since it was on my list of anticipated 2024 speculative fiction book releases!

Cover of The Phoenix Keeper by S. A. MacLean

The Phoenix Keeper by S. A. MacLean

This fantasy romance novel with a zoo filled with magical animals just came out in August (trade paperback, ebook, audiobook).

Orbit’s acquisition announcement for The Phoenix Keeper piqued my interest, describing it as follows:

This effervescent standalone is set in a magical zoo of mythical creatures and follows the academic rivals-to-lovers slow burn romance between socially anxious phoenix keeper Aila and hotshot fan-favorite griffin keeper Luciana.

Perfect for fans of cozy fantasy reads like Legends & Lattes and The Undertaking of Hart & MercyThe Phoenix Keeper is set in a world teeming with all your favorite mythical beasties, from dragons and unicorns to kelpies and krakens. MacLean has drawn on her formidable decade of experience in researching and teaching ecology and environmental science to weave a story of hope, courage, and conservation that is, at its heart, an ode to queer joy.

I love animals and fantastical animal companions, so I’m rather interested in this novel’s focus on mythical creatures and seeing how the author weaves her experience in ecology and environmental science into it.

 

Set in a magical zoo teeming with mythical beasts from dragons and unicorns to kelpies and krakens, The Phoenix Keeper is a fierce joy of a cozy fantasy novel with a soul-restoring queer romance at its heart, for fans of The House in the Cerulean Sea and Legends and Lattes.

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.

But saving an entire species from extinction requires more than stellar animal handling skills. Carnivorous water horses, tempestuous thunderhawks, mischievous dragons… Aila has no problem wrangling beasts. But mustering the courage to ask for help from the hotshot griffin keeper at the zoo’s most popular exhibit? Virtually impossible.

Especially when that hotshot griffin keeper happens to be her arch-rival from college: Luciana, an annoyingly brooding and insufferable know-it-all with the face of a goddess who’s convinced that Aila’s beloved phoenix would serve their cause better as an active performer rather than as a passive conservation exhibit. With the world watching and the threat of poachers looming, Aila’s success is no longer merely a matter of keeping her job…

She is the keeper of the phoenix, and the future of a species– and her love life– now rests on her shoulders.