What do you get when you cross a Victorian drawing room, a psychedelic ceremony, and a baby dragon?
Something wonderful. In Carolyn Mathews's THE ZOOKEEPER'S DRAGON: A Magical Modern Fantasy Tale for Grown-Ups, Phil's mom has a gift shop and Phil has his ex-girlfriend's parrot Saffy. Together, they look after his father's zoo and live a very typical life. Until Rhodri hatches, that is; Phil has no idea what to do with a dragon.
After Phil's academic uncle goes on a psychedelic trip and discovers a live egg, he sends it to Phil—who is now also responsible for a dragon hatchling and the elements needed to help him thrive. Along with his fling with Pearle, the return of his ex Tanya, his meddling mother, and a ceremony envisioning the closing of chakras, and it's clear that Phil has a very full life. He also needs information about old ceremonies, the dragon blood tree, and the ancient rites that bind them all together.
Yet for all this improbable charm, it's the writing itself that sets THE ZOOKEEPER'S DRAGON apart. The prose is deeply empathic and elegant, which suits the slightly old-fashioned focus on domestic life. Just as the characters have to navigate difficult circumstances, so too does the novel hold its many worlds in a deft and charming balance. This tension is perhaps best captured in a moment of domestic anxiety: "If she let her remain here, Saffy would probably pine for her and relapse into a deep decline, which this time could be fatal."
These emotional contrasts tell readers everything about the heart of THE ZOOKEEPER'S DRAGON. With conflicts between old-world country life, new-age philosophy, LSD ceremonies, spirit guides, and the divine law of dragons, comedy gold is tied in with a heartwarming story.
Some of the characters are slightly less developed (e.g., Pearle), yet each has a distinct and very quirky personality that helps to develop and intertwine everything. From the mystic Faye to the very grounded Abi, everybody adds a quirky appeal to the narrative; and it's through these characters that the novel's deeper currents begin to surface. Mathews has written a story that develops naturally, despite the fantasy element—showing us that there is more to the world than we might know or see, and that timing is sometimes everything.
It's short, and the ending comes perhaps too quickly; but there are no wasted words and no wandering distractions. Part Harry Potter, part Jane Austen, THE ZOOKEEPER'S DRAGON is an absolutely delightful weekend read.
THE ZOOKEEPER'S DRAGON: A Magical Modern Fantasy Tale for Grown-Ups charmingly manages to be funny, tender, and completely quirky all at once. Carolyn Mathews writes with an elegance that feels both timeless and entirely her own. This book reminds you of how much you love reading.
~ Nicci Attfield for IndieReader