The Phoenix Keeper

During my membership of this BookClub (I am a 78 year old male) I have read several books that I would not have looked at on the Library shelves. This was another completely out of my preferred Genres of Historical, Crime and Military novels (amongst others). Perhaps it was because this book was not 'the usual' Fantasy - Romanc' that I actually enjoyed it. Perhaps it was that the animals were so realistically described that I almost believed them to be possible. Perhaps it is just that I am an old bloke reading something that doesn't, on the face of it, appeal to me. Perhaps it is just that I'm different. Anyway - that's my 2 pennyworth. Should you read it - maybe, maybe not, but I hope you enjoy it anyway. I certainly see and respect how more avid readers of this Genre would come to a different view. Happy reading, Phil

This book was a big disappointment unfortunately. It doesn't live up to either the romance nor the fantasy genre expectations, and just felt really flat and predictable throughout. Characters: Unfortunately the FMC felt really quite irritating. Yes, it's good for characters to have flaws - but she's just a total wet blanket and acts / sounds like a 13 yo (despite being supposedly 28). More importantly, she doesn't develop at all throughout the whole story, and is just as wet blanket-y at the end. In terms of the other characters, some did have potential (e.g. Tanya) but this just wasn't explored at all. Romance: Predictable, felt like a teen "omg he's so cute I don't know how to be sensible around him *giggle*" vibe, and not properly developed. Romance is supposed to have tension and yearning and will-they-won't-they, but the two romantic interests just appeared fully-formed and didn't really inspire any feelings. I get that the author was trying to do some kind of enemies-to-lovers or slow-burn type trope, but it didn't work at all - the end-game romantic interest was not a true "enemy" at all (just a classmate who the FMC felt somewhat in awe of / looked down upon by), and there is no long term build up to the relationship - they go from "oh she's a total witch" to "oh she's cute" in just a few paragraphs, just because the FMC finally got forced to actually talk to / work with her. Fantasy: I do love the fantasy setting. The descriptions of all the magical animals was great, the word building was relatively well done, and there were some novel ideas. However, fantasy books are meant to have an actual plot - some kind of mystery to solve or grand quest / adventure (why didn't they ride off on the back of a dragon to rescue the missing phoenixes lol?). There should be a feeling of suspense and anticipation throughout. The only fantasy "plot" was that she has to last minute clean out a phoenix enclosure because for some reason she'd been neglecting to do her actual job for years. The mystery of the phoenix thief was VERY predictable and didn't really get introduced anyway until about 70% of the way through the book, so felt thrown in as an afterthought. (I get that this is supposedly "cosy" fantasy, but it still needs plot...) Overall, this book had great potential and I did like the setting / worldbuilding, but unfortunately the characters and lack of plot really let it down.