The Phoenix Keeper

Aila is the head phoenix keeper at a world-renowned zoo for magical creatures, where her childhood dream of conserving critically endangered firebirds seems within reach. Yet the zoo’s breeding program hasn’t functioned for a decade. When a phoenix heist sabotages a neighboring zoo’s flagship initiative, Aila must prove that her derelict facilities are capable of saving a species from extinction. Saving a phoenix, however, demands more than expert animal handling. Carnivorous water horses, tempestuous thunderhawks, and mischievous dragons are just the beginning. The journey forces Aila to confront her greatest challenge: asking for help from the hotshot griffin keeper—her arch-rival, Luciana—whose confidence and sharp wit clash with Aila’s steady resolve. With poachers threatening the species and the world watching, Aila’s success is no longer just about keeping her job. She is the keeper of the phoenix, and the future of an entire species rests on her shoulders. Yet she is not alone.

Against an epic fantasy backdrop crowded with beloved mythical beasts—from dragons to kelpies to krakens—The Phoenix Keeper blends cozy fantasy stakes with a warm contemporary romance. Aila’s world is shaped by ecology, ambition, and the fragile tie between stewardship and spectacle.

The Phoenix Keeper is a standalone cosy fantasy set in a magical zoo of mythical creatures by ecology expert and debut author S. A. MacLean.