Orbit US has acquired the irresistible queer debut romantasy The Phoenix Keeper by ecology professor and debut author S.A. MacLean!

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 & Mercy, The 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.

The Phoenix Keeper will hit shelves in Summer 2024. For more information, check out the press release on The Bookseller website.

Editorial Director Bethan Morgan pre-empted World All Language rights for Gollancz from John Baker at Bell Lomax Moreton, with Priyanka Krishnan, senior editor, acquiring North American rights for Orbit US.