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The Beast Keepers
The Beast Keepers has been awarded the Literary Titan Gold Book Award 2025, , Best Cover for the Wishing Shelf Award 2024, and was an American Writing Awards Finalist 2025, Digital Book Today Award Honorable Mention, Eric Hoffer award nominee 2024, Wishing Shelf Award Finalist 2024, and and SPR Award Finalist in 2023. It is the story of Jonathan F. St. Roche, a young veterinarian who takes a job in the rural Ohio town of Carrollton. He soon discovers it is a safe haven for a menagerie of mythical creatures (including a pregnant pegasus, a flying monkey with a sprained wing, a centaur with Cushing’s disease, and a unicorn with a sweet tooth) who rely on him for their medical care and shelter from the outside world. When a deadly basilisk threatens the town, Jonathan and his new friends must balance the dangerous creature’s needs against the risk to the community.
321 pages, Paperback
Published July 27, 2023
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 68 reviews
August 17, 2023
After coming to terms with the reality of the equine world of veterinary medicine, or at least getting to know the clientele. Jonathan F. St. Roche DVM has hit a rough patch in his budding veterinary career. Luckily he finds an ad for a veterinary positions
“Vet retiring and looking for clever, open-minded individual with diverse skills to join rural Ohio practice. Not much money, but a stimulating and varied clientele, with an opportunity for growth.”
Jonathan travels to Ohio, back to the familiar Midwest, to apply for the position.
The veterinary practice seems like your basic rural clinic, with average patients and humble clients. So, Jonathan happily accepts the position. But not long after he finds that rural does not always mean basic. His patients are much more “exotic” than he originally thought and the “diverse skills” needed for this position were definitely not taught in vet school.
I was thrilled to receive an eARC of this book from NetGalley! As the daughter of a midwestern veterinarian, who basically grew up in a vet clinic, this book called to me. And it was very much worth the read. I will be recommending to all of our veterinary staff and anyone who is a lover of animals, and fantasy.
If you like a bit of magic mixed into everyday life mixed with a helping of rural coziness, give this book a read!
“Vet retiring and looking for clever, open-minded individual with diverse skills to join rural Ohio practice. Not much money, but a stimulating and varied clientele, with an opportunity for growth.”
Jonathan travels to Ohio, back to the familiar Midwest, to apply for the position.
The veterinary practice seems like your basic rural clinic, with average patients and humble clients. So, Jonathan happily accepts the position. But not long after he finds that rural does not always mean basic. His patients are much more “exotic” than he originally thought and the “diverse skills” needed for this position were definitely not taught in vet school.
I was thrilled to receive an eARC of this book from NetGalley! As the daughter of a midwestern veterinarian, who basically grew up in a vet clinic, this book called to me. And it was very much worth the read. I will be recommending to all of our veterinary staff and anyone who is a lover of animals, and fantasy.
If you like a bit of magic mixed into everyday life mixed with a helping of rural coziness, give this book a read!
August 14, 2023
Original and charming!
“Small town vet who treats mythical creatures” is a great premise, and this one leans into the Midwest James Herriot vibe with a rural Ohio cast of characters, meticulously researched veterinary science, and cozy-yet-serious drama instigated both by the titular beasts and the protagonist’s romantic entanglements.
Take a break from undead armies and angsty teen vampire assassins, grab a cup of tea, and curl up with your favorite critters for a delightful tale!
“Small town vet who treats mythical creatures” is a great premise, and this one leans into the Midwest James Herriot vibe with a rural Ohio cast of characters, meticulously researched veterinary science, and cozy-yet-serious drama instigated both by the titular beasts and the protagonist’s romantic entanglements.
Take a break from undead armies and angsty teen vampire assassins, grab a cup of tea, and curl up with your favorite critters for a delightful tale!
August 15, 2023
The beast keepers is a quirky and witty read. It’s full of mythological beasts in a modern day setting. This book is great for any vets out there wanting to read a bit of a fanciful take on the role.
The star of the show is a dog called Mr. Bingley, as a fan of Pride and Prejudice I loved this. There’s plump unicorns among dangerous beasts, making for a fun read.
The time shifts made the reading flow disjointed, I think this added to the quirkiness of the read.
I enjoyed the playful use of language, for example good use of onomatopoeia and animal noises like buzz and honk are well utilised.
The ending is sweet.
Thank you to NetGalley and Boyle & Dalton for an E-ARC. This is a voluntary review of my own thoughts.
The star of the show is a dog called Mr. Bingley, as a fan of Pride and Prejudice I loved this. There’s plump unicorns among dangerous beasts, making for a fun read.
The time shifts made the reading flow disjointed, I think this added to the quirkiness of the read.
I enjoyed the playful use of language, for example good use of onomatopoeia and animal noises like buzz and honk are well utilised.
The ending is sweet.
Thank you to NetGalley and Boyle & Dalton for an E-ARC. This is a voluntary review of my own thoughts.
August 13, 2023
The Beast Keepers, by Julie Fudge Smith, is a new favorite book. It has characters with integrity, loyalty, and intelligence.
Jonathan St. Roche is a veterinarian who is searching for a new job. He is tired of dealing with the owners of the horses he treats. He responds to an ad for a rural practice in Ohio. The practice has a secret group of patients, including flying
monkeys, a pregnant pegasus, a goose that lays Bavarian eggs, centaurs, and a faun. A dangerous creature is discovered hiding in an old barn, and Jonathan has to determine the best course of action for everyone.
The author has written a charming yet powerful novel about the consequences of choices made with the best intentions. I plan to purchase a copy for the local library.
I received a copy of this book from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you for the opportunity.
Jonathan St. Roche is a veterinarian who is searching for a new job. He is tired of dealing with the owners of the horses he treats. He responds to an ad for a rural practice in Ohio. The practice has a secret group of patients, including flying
monkeys, a pregnant pegasus, a goose that lays Bavarian eggs, centaurs, and a faun. A dangerous creature is discovered hiding in an old barn, and Jonathan has to determine the best course of action for everyone.
The author has written a charming yet powerful novel about the consequences of choices made with the best intentions. I plan to purchase a copy for the local library.
I received a copy of this book from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you for the opportunity.
August 19, 2023
Thank you NetGalley and publishers for providing an arc copy for this book
The Beast Keepers is a cozy fantasy read filled with mythical creatures. Together with the cover, the premise of this book really caught my attention. I went in with high expectations and ended up enjoying this story because of the animals, the writing, and the coziness of the town.
However, there were also a few disappointments in The Beast Keepers. For one, I found the story to contain a few too many characters. If you put together all the characters that played bigger roles in the book, you get too many names to remember and it starts becoming confusing. And even though the story was cute, it missed a real something to set it apart. The whole premise that a basilisk threatens the town didn't really become that big of a thing for me.
The Beast Keepers is a cozy fantasy read filled with mythical creatures. Together with the cover, the premise of this book really caught my attention. I went in with high expectations and ended up enjoying this story because of the animals, the writing, and the coziness of the town.
However, there were also a few disappointments in The Beast Keepers. For one, I found the story to contain a few too many characters. If you put together all the characters that played bigger roles in the book, you get too many names to remember and it starts becoming confusing. And even though the story was cute, it missed a real something to set it apart. The whole premise that a basilisk threatens the town didn't really become that big of a thing for me.
October 14, 2023
Our gem this evening came to me in the form of a beautiful Bavarian carved egg shell. Imagine my delight when I realized that unlike the usual bucolic scene and colorful egg, instead I found a black and white egg with cryptids and creatures of all sorts, including Flying Monkeys, a Pegasus and a Gryphon! I knew immediately who this tale was about, my old Veterinarian, Dr. Xavier Doolittle Pratt!
This is first time Gem Maker, Julie Fudge Smith’s debit novel, The Beast Keepers. She has captured my old stomping grounds of Carrollton, Ohio perfectly. I still live in a spacious cave in the foothills of Appalachia in Ohio, as this area gave me more room to spread my wings, but I still saw Dr. Pratt for small issues that didn’t require the Knights Templar Hospital deep in a Welsh Cave.
This particular tale includes Centaurs, Gryphons, a Faun and even a Unicorn. Even my species is mentioned. These are my tribe. Everyone believes we are mythical but you and I know better, do we not? This particular tale is a mystery, a romance and lastly an adventure with
Dr. Pratt decides to bring in a new vet as a partner because he’s getting a bit long in the tooth and he’d like to take it easier. He decides on Dr. Jonathan St. Roche. Jon is young, a graduate of Cornell and a true animal lover. Jonathan takes to the practice like a Mermaid takes to water.
When he’s introduced to the local cryptid population he doesn’t flinch (much) and comes to love them, too. Everything in this story is absorbing. I could not put it down! I had to see how Jonathan’s romance would turn out, how he would get along in the community, and lastly how he would cope with a deadly beauty who could not be trusted, whose deadly manner was a danger to all who crossed his path.
This is a sort of fairy tale for grown ups, though older children and teens may enjoy it as well. It is wholesome, I can’t remember a single curse word, no blatant sex and no gore. This was, without doubt, refreshing and exciting.
If you are an animal lover, if you loved stories like Old Yeller, and Narnia, if you are still a kid at heart, this is for you. I know you will love the drama, the adventure and the love found between its pages. Julie Fudge Smith could hold her own at a meeting of The Inklings. I hope this isn’t the only adventure we get in Carroll County. Sold wherever fine books are sold.
This is first time Gem Maker, Julie Fudge Smith’s debit novel, The Beast Keepers. She has captured my old stomping grounds of Carrollton, Ohio perfectly. I still live in a spacious cave in the foothills of Appalachia in Ohio, as this area gave me more room to spread my wings, but I still saw Dr. Pratt for small issues that didn’t require the Knights Templar Hospital deep in a Welsh Cave.
This particular tale includes Centaurs, Gryphons, a Faun and even a Unicorn. Even my species is mentioned. These are my tribe. Everyone believes we are mythical but you and I know better, do we not? This particular tale is a mystery, a romance and lastly an adventure with
Dr. Pratt decides to bring in a new vet as a partner because he’s getting a bit long in the tooth and he’d like to take it easier. He decides on Dr. Jonathan St. Roche. Jon is young, a graduate of Cornell and a true animal lover. Jonathan takes to the practice like a Mermaid takes to water.
When he’s introduced to the local cryptid population he doesn’t flinch (much) and comes to love them, too. Everything in this story is absorbing. I could not put it down! I had to see how Jonathan’s romance would turn out, how he would get along in the community, and lastly how he would cope with a deadly beauty who could not be trusted, whose deadly manner was a danger to all who crossed his path.
This is a sort of fairy tale for grown ups, though older children and teens may enjoy it as well. It is wholesome, I can’t remember a single curse word, no blatant sex and no gore. This was, without doubt, refreshing and exciting.
If you are an animal lover, if you loved stories like Old Yeller, and Narnia, if you are still a kid at heart, this is for you. I know you will love the drama, the adventure and the love found between its pages. Julie Fudge Smith could hold her own at a meeting of The Inklings. I hope this isn’t the only adventure we get in Carroll County. Sold wherever fine books are sold.
August 18, 2023
"The Beast Keepers" is a standalone contemporary fantasy written by Julie Fudge Smith.
The story follows young veterinarian Jonathan F. St. Roche, who after graduation followed his passion for horses, taking care of them. Until the smug and haughty attitude of the animals' owners eventually discourages and wearies him, prompting him to seek employment elsewhere. In his search he comes across an ad to run the veterinary practice of a retiring veterinarian in the rural town of Carrollton, Ohio. An announcement that requires "an open mind "and "diverse skills." Soon Jonathan realizes that all is not as it seems and the small town is more peculiar than it appears on the surface. In fact, in addition to the care of local pets and livestock, the facility has a more peculiar group of patients: unicorns, talking dogs, flying monkeys, pegasus, gryphons, centaurs, and more. Mythical and gentle creatures, well-integrated into the community, which guards and protects them. The tranquility, however, is shattered when the latest arrival in Carrollton, a basilisk, threatens to expose the secret of the town and the inhabitants themselves.
The enchanting premises of this book intrigued me so much! A small town full of mythological creatures and a veterinarian who takes care of them?! I jumped right in! Not quite sure what to expect, I tried not to get my expectations too high, hoping not to be disappointed. In the end, I found it an enjoyable and very cozy read, although it didn't excite and convince me completely.
The writing is an element that I appreciated quite a bit. I found it evocative, suggestive and lyrical, full of vivid descriptions. The prose is highly researched, careful in word choices and loaded with detail. I enjoyed it a lot, but I admit that at times it seemed far too dense, with excessive and unnecessary detail. Too much information, too many digressions, which risked giving me a sense of heaviness and slowness.
The setting is another element that I enjoyed. I found the town of Carrollton lovely, well illustrated and very characteristic. The feeling of unity among the inhabitants, their solidarity, is something beautiful. And what about the mythical creatures that secretly live among them, protected and guarded? Between pegasus, flying monkeys, unicorns, centaurs, fauns and more, I kind of melted over the sweetness. I found them all wonderful and adorable and would have loved to read them much more!
The plot proceeds placidly and quietly, almost sleepily, with no big jolts. In my opinion, there is no real danger, no real threat, which is why the pace may not be compelling or rapid. In general it is the story of Jon and the other characters, who take care of the various mythical creatures while dealing with their personal situations. As far as I am concerned, I found it a pleasant, comfortable narration that gave me the feeling of a warm embrace. In short, very cozy!
The characters, main and secondary, unfortunately are the big negative point for me. I found them all superficial and flat, with little depth. I could not connect with them, they conveyed nothing to me. I felt them cold in their attitude, as well as being annoyingly contradictory at times. The presence of several povs unfortunately brought no benefit, leaving me completely indifferent to their fates and the romance present. The dialogues then seemed to me absurd, frequently forced. I am sorry, because the prose in general is great, the mythical creatures are wonderful, however, the characters just seemed to me to be a jarring note.
All in all, I found it a pleasantly cozy read, which unfortunately disappointed a lot on the characters side!
Thank you to the Publisher and NetGalley for giving me an ARC of this book in exchange of an honest review.
The story follows young veterinarian Jonathan F. St. Roche, who after graduation followed his passion for horses, taking care of them. Until the smug and haughty attitude of the animals' owners eventually discourages and wearies him, prompting him to seek employment elsewhere. In his search he comes across an ad to run the veterinary practice of a retiring veterinarian in the rural town of Carrollton, Ohio. An announcement that requires "an open mind "and "diverse skills." Soon Jonathan realizes that all is not as it seems and the small town is more peculiar than it appears on the surface. In fact, in addition to the care of local pets and livestock, the facility has a more peculiar group of patients: unicorns, talking dogs, flying monkeys, pegasus, gryphons, centaurs, and more. Mythical and gentle creatures, well-integrated into the community, which guards and protects them. The tranquility, however, is shattered when the latest arrival in Carrollton, a basilisk, threatens to expose the secret of the town and the inhabitants themselves.
The enchanting premises of this book intrigued me so much! A small town full of mythological creatures and a veterinarian who takes care of them?! I jumped right in! Not quite sure what to expect, I tried not to get my expectations too high, hoping not to be disappointed. In the end, I found it an enjoyable and very cozy read, although it didn't excite and convince me completely.
The writing is an element that I appreciated quite a bit. I found it evocative, suggestive and lyrical, full of vivid descriptions. The prose is highly researched, careful in word choices and loaded with detail. I enjoyed it a lot, but I admit that at times it seemed far too dense, with excessive and unnecessary detail. Too much information, too many digressions, which risked giving me a sense of heaviness and slowness.
The setting is another element that I enjoyed. I found the town of Carrollton lovely, well illustrated and very characteristic. The feeling of unity among the inhabitants, their solidarity, is something beautiful. And what about the mythical creatures that secretly live among them, protected and guarded? Between pegasus, flying monkeys, unicorns, centaurs, fauns and more, I kind of melted over the sweetness. I found them all wonderful and adorable and would have loved to read them much more!
The plot proceeds placidly and quietly, almost sleepily, with no big jolts. In my opinion, there is no real danger, no real threat, which is why the pace may not be compelling or rapid. In general it is the story of Jon and the other characters, who take care of the various mythical creatures while dealing with their personal situations. As far as I am concerned, I found it a pleasant, comfortable narration that gave me the feeling of a warm embrace. In short, very cozy!
The characters, main and secondary, unfortunately are the big negative point for me. I found them all superficial and flat, with little depth. I could not connect with them, they conveyed nothing to me. I felt them cold in their attitude, as well as being annoyingly contradictory at times. The presence of several povs unfortunately brought no benefit, leaving me completely indifferent to their fates and the romance present. The dialogues then seemed to me absurd, frequently forced. I am sorry, because the prose in general is great, the mythical creatures are wonderful, however, the characters just seemed to me to be a jarring note.
All in all, I found it a pleasantly cozy read, which unfortunately disappointed a lot on the characters side!
Thank you to the Publisher and NetGalley for giving me an ARC of this book in exchange of an honest review.
August 11, 2023
BOOK REVIEW 📚 of The Beast Keepers by Julie Fudge Smith
My thanks to NetGalley for providing me with an e-arc for review.
Jonathan F. St Roche has found himself at a crossroads in life. Having completed his veterinary degree, he had planned to follow his passion for equine health to the East Coast horse shows. But with the elitist attitude of the upper-crust horsey set discouraging Jon, he turns towards finding something a bit closer to his MidWest roots. Answering an ad to take over the practice of a retiring vet in Carrollton, Ohio, Jon makes the journey to meet Doctor Pratt and discuss the changeover. However, Carrollton is not all it seems, and Jon quickly discovers why the job ad requested an ‘open minded’ candidate with ‘diverse skills’- some of Jonathan’s patients will be mythical creatures. Living free, but secretly, amongst the population with human caretakers, Jon will treat the maladies of gryphons, a Pegasus, flying monkeys and more. But not all magical creatures are as benign and human friendly, and when Carrollton’s newest arrival is a basilisk, Jon and the residents must not only contain the threat but keep it under wraps from the reporter sniffing around town.
I was really excited to read this tale- I love fantasy books and part of that is the presence of imaginary creatures. I enjoyed this story for what it was, and appreciate the unique plot line. I loved that it included mythical animals in a contemporary setting and the idea of them living amongst humans freely was fantastic. I also found Gertrude and her egg laying and the lovely descriptions of the animals positives.
I believe this book could benefit from some editing and role play work- there were a lot of unnecessary descriptions of addresses, history, clothing etc that felt like filler, and it impeded the flow of the narrative. I felt that my main draw to the story was the animals and yet interactions with them were so minimal. I also found that the dialogue between characters was stilted/unrealistic at times, and the beginning felt a little rushed, with the timeline spanning years within the first 20% of the book. I would have loved more build, perhaps from Xavier’s POV, at the beginning to really set this story up and become invested in the main character.
I think with more emotional connection to the MC, more story focussed on the animals themselves and some pacing/editing work, this book could rival House on the Cerulean Sea with such a great premise.
The cover art is stunning 😍
My thanks to NetGalley for providing me with an e-arc for review.
Jonathan F. St Roche has found himself at a crossroads in life. Having completed his veterinary degree, he had planned to follow his passion for equine health to the East Coast horse shows. But with the elitist attitude of the upper-crust horsey set discouraging Jon, he turns towards finding something a bit closer to his MidWest roots. Answering an ad to take over the practice of a retiring vet in Carrollton, Ohio, Jon makes the journey to meet Doctor Pratt and discuss the changeover. However, Carrollton is not all it seems, and Jon quickly discovers why the job ad requested an ‘open minded’ candidate with ‘diverse skills’- some of Jonathan’s patients will be mythical creatures. Living free, but secretly, amongst the population with human caretakers, Jon will treat the maladies of gryphons, a Pegasus, flying monkeys and more. But not all magical creatures are as benign and human friendly, and when Carrollton’s newest arrival is a basilisk, Jon and the residents must not only contain the threat but keep it under wraps from the reporter sniffing around town.
I was really excited to read this tale- I love fantasy books and part of that is the presence of imaginary creatures. I enjoyed this story for what it was, and appreciate the unique plot line. I loved that it included mythical animals in a contemporary setting and the idea of them living amongst humans freely was fantastic. I also found Gertrude and her egg laying and the lovely descriptions of the animals positives.
I believe this book could benefit from some editing and role play work- there were a lot of unnecessary descriptions of addresses, history, clothing etc that felt like filler, and it impeded the flow of the narrative. I felt that my main draw to the story was the animals and yet interactions with them were so minimal. I also found that the dialogue between characters was stilted/unrealistic at times, and the beginning felt a little rushed, with the timeline spanning years within the first 20% of the book. I would have loved more build, perhaps from Xavier’s POV, at the beginning to really set this story up and become invested in the main character.
I think with more emotional connection to the MC, more story focussed on the animals themselves and some pacing/editing work, this book could rival House on the Cerulean Sea with such a great premise.
The cover art is stunning 😍
August 17, 2023
I can definitely recommend this book, whether you're a reader of light fantasy or not. This is a great "what if" story plunked down in the middle of a rural Ohio fracking county, so it features, not only mythical creatures in the care of a somewhat novice veterinarian, but also a cast of local characters who are somewhat quirky but also very real in their interactions with each other. (I suppose that's the very definition of "light fantasy"!) The historical background and setting details show the author's familiarity with, and respect for, the area, and the people she portrays transcend typical notions about rural folk. Throughout, the author wrangles with a pretty important question: "What do we owe the animals in our care?" She deals with her theme with insight, and manages to balance the seriousness of her story with a light sense of humor. (And a little romance.) This book kept me wondering what would happen, all the way to the end. I love Dr. St. Roche and can only hope he may appear in another novel. Highly recommend, and looking forward to seeing more work by this talented storyteller.
August 19, 2023
Book Review 📚
The Beast Keepers by Julie Fudge Smith - 4/5 ⭐
A beautiful fantasy filled with mythical creatures. I was sold on the cover and title alone. The illustrations to the cover are beautiful and it looks gorgeous.
The writing in this book is phenomenal. Smith goes above and beyond with such utterly fantastic descriptions. Both people and creatures alike, they are all described so perfectly that there isn't even a bit of hesitation when picturing them. It's so thorough and detailed. That really made the book for me.
Although a slow paced book, it was definitely still fantastic. It was missing bits of excitement and suspense but I thoroughly enjoyed reading it. Some people can't cope with a slow burn but I refuse to DNF a book for that reason alone.
It was so wonderfully written, a great plot and wonderful characters and creatures. Smith has produced a brilliant fantasy story about mythical creatures.
Thank you to NetGalley and Victory Editing for allowing me to read this ARC - this is an HONEST review from my own personal opinion.
The Beast Keepers by Julie Fudge Smith - 4/5 ⭐
A beautiful fantasy filled with mythical creatures. I was sold on the cover and title alone. The illustrations to the cover are beautiful and it looks gorgeous.
The writing in this book is phenomenal. Smith goes above and beyond with such utterly fantastic descriptions. Both people and creatures alike, they are all described so perfectly that there isn't even a bit of hesitation when picturing them. It's so thorough and detailed. That really made the book for me.
Although a slow paced book, it was definitely still fantastic. It was missing bits of excitement and suspense but I thoroughly enjoyed reading it. Some people can't cope with a slow burn but I refuse to DNF a book for that reason alone.
It was so wonderfully written, a great plot and wonderful characters and creatures. Smith has produced a brilliant fantasy story about mythical creatures.
Thank you to NetGalley and Victory Editing for allowing me to read this ARC - this is an HONEST review from my own personal opinion.
August 29, 2023
Thank you to NetGalley for the eARC in exchange for my honest opinion of the book.
The first thing that came to mind instantly was the pacing, the beginning was rushed in an unattractive way that made me wish for more depth. It contrasts the in depth descriptions of setting.
Going from just meeting the character to the lengthy dialogue was disjointed and made it hard to read. I also found some of it cliché and cringey at points, almost feeding into weird veterinary stereotypes.
From the get go, I didn’t like Jon’s character. The weird horse lady stereotype to how he interacts with DeeDee. I really could’ve done without any romance in this book — it added nothing.
As a veterinary student, the charm of the idea of this book was really the potential for fun patient/doctor interaction and I just didn’t get that. This book had so much potential and it really fell flat.
The first thing that came to mind instantly was the pacing, the beginning was rushed in an unattractive way that made me wish for more depth. It contrasts the in depth descriptions of setting.
Going from just meeting the character to the lengthy dialogue was disjointed and made it hard to read. I also found some of it cliché and cringey at points, almost feeding into weird veterinary stereotypes.
From the get go, I didn’t like Jon’s character. The weird horse lady stereotype to how he interacts with DeeDee. I really could’ve done without any romance in this book — it added nothing.
As a veterinary student, the charm of the idea of this book was really the potential for fun patient/doctor interaction and I just didn’t get that. This book had so much potential and it really fell flat.
August 27, 2023
The Beast Keepers is the story of Jonothan F. St. Roche, a vet who decides to change the field he's specialising in and takes a job in the rural town of Carrollton, Ohio where he encounters a whole host of interesting clients.
I read The Beast Keepers over a couple of nights while away camping and it was a really lovely, easy read.
It didn't quite get to 5 stars for me because I've been reading a lot of cosy fantasy books recently and this wasn't my favourite. But I would still absolutely recommend it to fans of cosy fantasy. Especially if you like a mythical animal or two.
Thank you to Netgalley for the ARC
I read The Beast Keepers over a couple of nights while away camping and it was a really lovely, easy read.
It didn't quite get to 5 stars for me because I've been reading a lot of cosy fantasy books recently and this wasn't my favourite. But I would still absolutely recommend it to fans of cosy fantasy. Especially if you like a mythical animal or two.
Thank you to Netgalley for the ARC
August 8, 2023
Thank you to the publishers - Victory Editing NetGalley Co-op, Boyle & Dalton – for giving me access to this book as an E-ARC via Netgalley. All opinions are my own.
A cute little story about a young veterinarian fresh out of veterinary school who happens to get to work in a practice where mythical creatures are treated. It had a nice little world building going on and a nice comedic tone to the writing itself. The text flowed very nicely.
The story itself was alright, maybe a bit too okay-ish but the comedic tone of the text was something I very much enjoyed even though the story was a bit bland.
A cute little story about a young veterinarian fresh out of veterinary school who happens to get to work in a practice where mythical creatures are treated. It had a nice little world building going on and a nice comedic tone to the writing itself. The text flowed very nicely.
The story itself was alright, maybe a bit too okay-ish but the comedic tone of the text was something I very much enjoyed even though the story was a bit bland.
October 25, 2023
I absolutely loved this book. The blend of mythology and present day was perfect, it never felt out of place. The animals are charming and I loved reading about them all. The story is short but well balanced and it didn't feel lacking in any aspect. The characters are well developed and relatable.
I would definitely recommend this book to all animal lovers, and anyone who loves a cosy fantasy.
I would definitely recommend this book to all animal lovers, and anyone who loves a cosy fantasy.
August 22, 2023
Thank you NetGalley and Boyle & Dalton for the ARC!
I received an ARC of 'The Beast Keepers' for my honest and true feedback. I applaud first time authors and it's upsetting when you want to like a book so much and somehow it just falls flat.
Let me open with the understanding that I was 100% sold on this premise. As an Ohioan myself, its exciting to see a fiction book that idolizes the beauty of the midwest. The story just needs some serious editing.
No one will be eager to visit Ohio with the infrequent and short descriptions of the scenery. It is not enough to have a main character standing on a porch enjoying a cup of coffee. <-- That sentence doesn't elicit the smell of a richly brewed french roast mixing with the woodsy aroma of decaying leaves and the smell of moss and metallic that lingers after a rainstorm.
There was little to no world building and a circus of characters that are introduced for two sentences a chapter and with whom the story relies upon to continue the plot. Despite an upwards of 20 different characters, Bingley was by far the funniest and most well rounded. Yet Bingley isn't present for a majority of the major plot points. Following the lack of world building, there seems to be a lack of presence in the story. There are very little emotional and sensational descriptions. The story is told in a manner similar to 'The Old Man and the Sea'; it's chock full of single sentence statements. When Jonathan is having his irrational internal dialogue, we get nothing but definite sentences around his confusion, his longing. How does your body react when you're longing for someone else. You feel the heat climbing up your neck, the rapid heartbeat and the little voice in the back of your head arguing with everything you're consciously thinking. This was missing in the book. It needs a way to feel real as opposed to a story being dictated.
The pacing is also incredibly off, especially in the first ten chapters or so. It would be more prudent to open with Jonathan already moved to Ohio and the reader can get up to speed on his life decision through his memories, maybe on his first vet appt. This will help to continue to the pace of the story and eliminate the abrupt chapter transitions. Otherwise, we're jumping days, to weeks, to a year all within 60 pages.
My final note is that the story is not believable to the reader. Jonathan is vet, an experienced and qualified vet. That's EIGHT YEARS of SCIENCE class, while practicing in different countries with their own indigenous animals. However, it takes all of three sentenced for Jonathan to make a HUGE leap towards mythical creatures. There is no thought process around how maybe these are just the most evolved versions of a creature dominant to the area. There wasn't even a reference to how this could generate an internal struggle to reconcile a lifelong pursuit of reason and science with the bizarre animals he finds himself exposed to. It would have been a far more interesting storyline if the author weaved in his suspended belief and gave us a story around biological evolution vs this incredibly unrealistic relationship with Anita. Anita got the shaft as far as storylines go. It does make me feel sorry for her in the end.
The author provides personal details around the acknowledgments section at the end of the book. It is admirable the amount of research to depict the veterinary sciences accurately in the story. My final, I promise this is the final, thought; remember the story description. This is a book of pure fiction, it's a fantasy. At any point during the research phase, did you ask the vets what their thought process would be if they were told mythical animals were not only real, but they'd be treating them in secret?
I received an ARC of 'The Beast Keepers' for my honest and true feedback. I applaud first time authors and it's upsetting when you want to like a book so much and somehow it just falls flat.
Let me open with the understanding that I was 100% sold on this premise. As an Ohioan myself, its exciting to see a fiction book that idolizes the beauty of the midwest. The story just needs some serious editing.
No one will be eager to visit Ohio with the infrequent and short descriptions of the scenery. It is not enough to have a main character standing on a porch enjoying a cup of coffee. <-- That sentence doesn't elicit the smell of a richly brewed french roast mixing with the woodsy aroma of decaying leaves and the smell of moss and metallic that lingers after a rainstorm.
There was little to no world building and a circus of characters that are introduced for two sentences a chapter and with whom the story relies upon to continue the plot. Despite an upwards of 20 different characters, Bingley was by far the funniest and most well rounded. Yet Bingley isn't present for a majority of the major plot points. Following the lack of world building, there seems to be a lack of presence in the story. There are very little emotional and sensational descriptions. The story is told in a manner similar to 'The Old Man and the Sea'; it's chock full of single sentence statements. When Jonathan is having his irrational internal dialogue, we get nothing but definite sentences around his confusion, his longing. How does your body react when you're longing for someone else. You feel the heat climbing up your neck, the rapid heartbeat and the little voice in the back of your head arguing with everything you're consciously thinking. This was missing in the book. It needs a way to feel real as opposed to a story being dictated.
The pacing is also incredibly off, especially in the first ten chapters or so. It would be more prudent to open with Jonathan already moved to Ohio and the reader can get up to speed on his life decision through his memories, maybe on his first vet appt. This will help to continue to the pace of the story and eliminate the abrupt chapter transitions. Otherwise, we're jumping days, to weeks, to a year all within 60 pages.
My final note is that the story is not believable to the reader. Jonathan is vet, an experienced and qualified vet. That's EIGHT YEARS of SCIENCE class, while practicing in different countries with their own indigenous animals. However, it takes all of three sentenced for Jonathan to make a HUGE leap towards mythical creatures. There is no thought process around how maybe these are just the most evolved versions of a creature dominant to the area. There wasn't even a reference to how this could generate an internal struggle to reconcile a lifelong pursuit of reason and science with the bizarre animals he finds himself exposed to. It would have been a far more interesting storyline if the author weaved in his suspended belief and gave us a story around biological evolution vs this incredibly unrealistic relationship with Anita. Anita got the shaft as far as storylines go. It does make me feel sorry for her in the end.
The author provides personal details around the acknowledgments section at the end of the book. It is admirable the amount of research to depict the veterinary sciences accurately in the story. My final, I promise this is the final, thought; remember the story description. This is a book of pure fiction, it's a fantasy. At any point during the research phase, did you ask the vets what their thought process would be if they were told mythical animals were not only real, but they'd be treating them in secret?
August 7, 2023
Thank you to @netgalley for the e-ARC, in exchange for my honest review of this wonderfully charming, action packed and witty tale for lovers of mythical beasts.
Starting a new job is always daunting at first but when veterinarian Jonathan starts his latest position he gets the feeling that things are not quite what they seem. Alongside caring for the local pets and livestock, Jon is stunned to discover that he is also responsible for caring for the communities best kept secret: a menagerie of mythical creatures. While navigating the challenges of caring for each of his new patients, Jon discovers an unusual creature that threatens the safety of everyone in the community and he must decide where his duty of care lies.
Packed full of endearing and loveable characters (an amorous centaur who likes mead, a cockney flying monkey and a hairdressing faun to name a few) this story is unique and enchanting and I suspect readers will want a Mr Bingley of their own.
SPOILERS BELOW:
There were a few pitfalls with the plot or characters that I noted down:
- Gremsboc is from East London, England, so he would say ‘arse’, not ‘ass’.
- There are a lot of characters in the book, and at times it was tricky remember who was who. Some of the humans are identified using either their first names or surnames or sometimes both in the same chapter, which became confusing.
- Jonathan comes across as a man of honesty and integrity so it seemed a bit strange that he was willing to be publicly affectionate with another woman at the ball, when he was already in a relationship. He was very quick to point out that there was a spark between Anita and another man at the same event and even seemed abit shocked! His relationship didn’t seem to add much purpose to the story, other than to provide him with a temporary dating option and point out how incompatible they were, compared to another character.
- It seemed strange that Jonathan was still mentally considering leaving at the end of his contract, despite a specific tragedy that would have resulted in there being no other vet to take over the clinic.
- There were points in the story where large chunks of time seemed to pass between sentences - for example at one point Jonathan is on his way to meet a patient, in the next sentence he is finishing the patient's examination.
Connolly Davis’s involvement didn’t add much to the overall story, other than to highlight that the town has a secret and not everyone is part of the inner circle. This could have formed a much larger part of the threat-to-the-secret side of the story.
Starting a new job is always daunting at first but when veterinarian Jonathan starts his latest position he gets the feeling that things are not quite what they seem. Alongside caring for the local pets and livestock, Jon is stunned to discover that he is also responsible for caring for the communities best kept secret: a menagerie of mythical creatures. While navigating the challenges of caring for each of his new patients, Jon discovers an unusual creature that threatens the safety of everyone in the community and he must decide where his duty of care lies.
Packed full of endearing and loveable characters (an amorous centaur who likes mead, a cockney flying monkey and a hairdressing faun to name a few) this story is unique and enchanting and I suspect readers will want a Mr Bingley of their own.
SPOILERS BELOW:
There were a few pitfalls with the plot or characters that I noted down:
- Gremsboc is from East London, England, so he would say ‘arse’, not ‘ass’.
- There are a lot of characters in the book, and at times it was tricky remember who was who. Some of the humans are identified using either their first names or surnames or sometimes both in the same chapter, which became confusing.
- Jonathan comes across as a man of honesty and integrity so it seemed a bit strange that he was willing to be publicly affectionate with another woman at the ball, when he was already in a relationship. He was very quick to point out that there was a spark between Anita and another man at the same event and even seemed abit shocked! His relationship didn’t seem to add much purpose to the story, other than to provide him with a temporary dating option and point out how incompatible they were, compared to another character.
- It seemed strange that Jonathan was still mentally considering leaving at the end of his contract, despite a specific tragedy that would have resulted in there being no other vet to take over the clinic.
- There were points in the story where large chunks of time seemed to pass between sentences - for example at one point Jonathan is on his way to meet a patient, in the next sentence he is finishing the patient's examination.
Connolly Davis’s involvement didn’t add much to the overall story, other than to highlight that the town has a secret and not everyone is part of the inner circle. This could have formed a much larger part of the threat-to-the-secret side of the story.
August 11, 2023
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an eARC of this title in exchange for an honest review.
Personally, I am a bit disappointed with this book. The premise seemed really interesting, and I love a cast of mythical characters, but the story fell flat. There was a lot of information in this book— it’s clear the author did her research— but unfortunately that information tended to edge out any sort of plot this novel could have had. I felt at times like I was in a vet class, rather than reading a fantasy novel.
The pacing was very off as well. It never felt like there was a sense of urgency with anything that was going on (partially because there was often so MUCH going on). Without that sense of urgency drawing the plot forward I found myself getting easily distracted from the novel. It felt more like I was getting a journal of Jon’s life rather than a story about him protecting and helping mythical beasts. Even the “antagonist” of the basilisk didn’t provide any sense of urgency— the characters just kept figuring out ways to deal with the creature, until suddenly they didn’t. I was never worried for any of the characters, or even that the secret of the mythical creatures would be revealed, because it didn’t feel as though there were any stakes to these things. Everything came really easy to these characters, and then suddenly something drastic would happen, but some other character always had an easy answer.
The characters themselves, as well, fell flat. None of them were particularly fleshed out as to feel like real people. There were also so many different people to keep track of that I’d find myself getting lost and confused while reading— because often characters were introduced once in passing and you were expected to remember exactly who they are and how they fit into the town. I felt a bit like I was at a social gathering being introduced to fifty people I’d never met, and then later there was a quiz on all of their names.
Overall, I was never really engaged with this novel. Nothing about it kept me in the story after the description drew me in. Without a plot it was just the story of a vet with an unusual clientele and his day to day life— just one day after another.
November 28, 2025
The Beast Keepers tells the story of Jonathan St. Roche, a young veterinarian who takes a job in rural Ohio and discovers that his new patients include mythological creatures hiding in plain sight. The book follows Jonathan as he learns to care for flying monkeys, unicorns, gryphons, and even a pregnant Pegasus, all while untangling his own past and falling into a quiet, hopeful romance. The story blends warm small-town life with danger, mystery, and a deep sense of wonder as Jonathan faces ethical choices and moments of real heartbreak, including an emotional situation with a basilisk.
I loved the way the author mixed everyday farm routines with bizarre surprises. One moment I was listening to a farmer brag about his border collies, and the next, there was a Pegasus unfurling honey-scented wings that glowed in the sun. The writing has this gentle rhythm to it. It pulls you into the fields and barns without feeling forced. Sometimes the book drifts into long conversations, but I liked that. It made the place feel authentic. Even when a scene turned tense, like when the team hunted the dangerous basilisk in the woods, there was still this grounded sense of companionship and purpose.
I also grew surprisingly attached to the characters. Jonathan’s mix of idealism and exhaustion felt honest. His reactions made sense. He stumbled, tried again, cared too much, and sometimes cried when he had to do the hard thing for the right reason. I liked DeeDee too. Their story is gentle and sweet, and the moment they finally kissed made me grin because it felt earned and warm and a little awkward in the best way. What surprised me most was how the book handled the mythical creatures. They are wondrous, but they are not props. They have needs, instincts, dangers, and sometimes tragic flaws. The book treats them with respect, and that gave the story emotional weight that stayed with me.
When I finished the last page, I felt good, and a bit wistful, and honestly kind of sad to leave the world behind. I would recommend this book to anyone who loves gentle fantasy with real emotional stakes, especially readers who enjoy animal stories, cozy rural settings, and small-town friendships. It is also a great pick for people who want fantasy that feels new but still comforting.
I loved the way the author mixed everyday farm routines with bizarre surprises. One moment I was listening to a farmer brag about his border collies, and the next, there was a Pegasus unfurling honey-scented wings that glowed in the sun. The writing has this gentle rhythm to it. It pulls you into the fields and barns without feeling forced. Sometimes the book drifts into long conversations, but I liked that. It made the place feel authentic. Even when a scene turned tense, like when the team hunted the dangerous basilisk in the woods, there was still this grounded sense of companionship and purpose.
I also grew surprisingly attached to the characters. Jonathan’s mix of idealism and exhaustion felt honest. His reactions made sense. He stumbled, tried again, cared too much, and sometimes cried when he had to do the hard thing for the right reason. I liked DeeDee too. Their story is gentle and sweet, and the moment they finally kissed made me grin because it felt earned and warm and a little awkward in the best way. What surprised me most was how the book handled the mythical creatures. They are wondrous, but they are not props. They have needs, instincts, dangers, and sometimes tragic flaws. The book treats them with respect, and that gave the story emotional weight that stayed with me.
When I finished the last page, I felt good, and a bit wistful, and honestly kind of sad to leave the world behind. I would recommend this book to anyone who loves gentle fantasy with real emotional stakes, especially readers who enjoy animal stories, cozy rural settings, and small-town friendships. It is also a great pick for people who want fantasy that feels new but still comforting.
August 15, 2023
The Beast Keepers is about Jonathan St. Roche, a veterinarian who decides to take a position as a vet in rural Ohio. It turns out that the practice also serves some more unconventional animals that the area has successfully kept hidden for years. There, he treats patients, finds out more about their world, and starts feeling a connection with DeeDee, the hot human doctor in the area. I LOVE animals of myth and thought this seemed like a fun premise for a book!
This book definitely has a fun premise and some interesting background characters. I'm also from close to the area where the book takes place (which is not often represented in any kind of media) and liked getting to recognize some of the landmarks that are mentioned. I liked seeing animals of different myths represented in the modern world and it was fun thinking about how someone would treat them for health problems. I came out of this desperately wishing that I had a chonky unicorn that I could feed toffees to!
My problem is that the main characters are the WORST! Jonathan in particular was insufferable to me. He has a meet cute with DeeDee, decides she's the love of his life, and then realizes she's dating someone else. No matter, Jonathan decides to pivot to the annoying blonde lady who shows some interest in him because hey, she's cute, right? The rest of the book is him pining after DeeDee and being super judgmental when her boyfriend does anything. At one point, Jonathan seethes that he would never look at another woman if he was dating the wonderful DeeDee. And THEN, he has a moment on the balcony with her when he's supposed to be with his actual girlfriend! One of the characters even points this out and Jonathan has no self-reflection on how he might have contributed to the situation. Ugh. I want to root for you, Jonathan, but I can't when you're being a jerk!
The rest of the book is felt pretty episodic to me without much of a plot outside of wanting to date DeeDee and not being able to. Everyone likes Jonathan immediately (for some reason, even though he's rude and judgmental to a lot of people in his life) and a big tension is whether he will stay in the area. I found myself wanting him to leave so someone more interesting could take the practice and I could learn about them!
Overall, I think this book had a great idea but fell short for me in practice. 2 stars from me. Thank you to NetGalley and Boyle & Dalton for the electronic advanced reader's copy of this book in exchange for my honest review!
This book definitely has a fun premise and some interesting background characters. I'm also from close to the area where the book takes place (which is not often represented in any kind of media) and liked getting to recognize some of the landmarks that are mentioned. I liked seeing animals of different myths represented in the modern world and it was fun thinking about how someone would treat them for health problems. I came out of this desperately wishing that I had a chonky unicorn that I could feed toffees to!
My problem is that the main characters are the WORST! Jonathan in particular was insufferable to me. He has a meet cute with DeeDee, decides she's the love of his life, and then realizes she's dating someone else. No matter, Jonathan decides to pivot to the annoying blonde lady who shows some interest in him because hey, she's cute, right? The rest of the book is him pining after DeeDee and being super judgmental when her boyfriend does anything. At one point, Jonathan seethes that he would never look at another woman if he was dating the wonderful DeeDee. And THEN, he has a moment on the balcony with her when he's supposed to be with his actual girlfriend! One of the characters even points this out and Jonathan has no self-reflection on how he might have contributed to the situation. Ugh. I want to root for you, Jonathan, but I can't when you're being a jerk!
The rest of the book is felt pretty episodic to me without much of a plot outside of wanting to date DeeDee and not being able to. Everyone likes Jonathan immediately (for some reason, even though he's rude and judgmental to a lot of people in his life) and a big tension is whether he will stay in the area. I found myself wanting him to leave so someone more interesting could take the practice and I could learn about them!
Overall, I think this book had a great idea but fell short for me in practice. 2 stars from me. Thank you to NetGalley and Boyle & Dalton for the electronic advanced reader's copy of this book in exchange for my honest review!
August 26, 2024
This book was entered in The Wishing Shelf Book Awards. This is what our readers thought:
Title: The Beast Keepers
Author: Julie Fudge Smith
Star Rating: 5 Stars
Number of Readers: 15
Stats
Editing: 9/10
Writing Style: 9/10
Content: 9/10
Cover: 5/5
Of the 15 readers:
14 would read another book by this author.
15 thought the cover was good or excellent.
15 felt it was easy to follow.
14 would recommend this book to another reader to try.
Of all the readers, 6 felt the author’s strongest skill was ‘plotting a story’.
Of all the readers, 5 felt the author’s strongest skill was ‘developing the characters’.
Of all the readers, 4 felt the author’s strongest skill was ‘writing style’.
14 felt the pacing was good or excellent.
15 thought the author understood the readership and what they wanted.
Readers’ Comments
“Loved this book! It’s funny, clever, with richly drawn characters. I’d recommend to anybody who enjoys light, fun read.” Female reader, aged 55
“I love the mix of fantasy, drama, and adventure. The author did a wonderful job of developing her MC, and keeping the reader on tenterhooks till the very end. I will be looking out for the author’s next book!” Female reader, aged 65
“Harry Potter in Ohio – who’s have thought it!? 😊 I hope the author will write more books set in this modern day, fantasy-filled town.” Male reader, aged 32
“ A little romance, a little magic, and a lot of drama; what a superb novel. I happen to be a vet myself, so particularly enjoyed it.” Female reader, aged 52
“An excellent example of a summer book – strong pacing, interesting characters, and plenty of dilemmas – and mythical animals!” Female reader, aged 43
To Sum It Up:
‘A wonderfully original novel with a memorable cast of characters. A FINALIST and highly recommended!’ The Wishing Shelf Book Awards
Title: The Beast Keepers
Author: Julie Fudge Smith
Star Rating: 5 Stars
Number of Readers: 15
Stats
Editing: 9/10
Writing Style: 9/10
Content: 9/10
Cover: 5/5
Of the 15 readers:
14 would read another book by this author.
15 thought the cover was good or excellent.
15 felt it was easy to follow.
14 would recommend this book to another reader to try.
Of all the readers, 6 felt the author’s strongest skill was ‘plotting a story’.
Of all the readers, 5 felt the author’s strongest skill was ‘developing the characters’.
Of all the readers, 4 felt the author’s strongest skill was ‘writing style’.
14 felt the pacing was good or excellent.
15 thought the author understood the readership and what they wanted.
Readers’ Comments
“Loved this book! It’s funny, clever, with richly drawn characters. I’d recommend to anybody who enjoys light, fun read.” Female reader, aged 55
“I love the mix of fantasy, drama, and adventure. The author did a wonderful job of developing her MC, and keeping the reader on tenterhooks till the very end. I will be looking out for the author’s next book!” Female reader, aged 65
“Harry Potter in Ohio – who’s have thought it!? 😊 I hope the author will write more books set in this modern day, fantasy-filled town.” Male reader, aged 32
“ A little romance, a little magic, and a lot of drama; what a superb novel. I happen to be a vet myself, so particularly enjoyed it.” Female reader, aged 52
“An excellent example of a summer book – strong pacing, interesting characters, and plenty of dilemmas – and mythical animals!” Female reader, aged 43
To Sum It Up:
‘A wonderfully original novel with a memorable cast of characters. A FINALIST and highly recommended!’ The Wishing Shelf Book Awards
September 19, 2023
4 out of 5 stars!
The Beast Keepers is a dream read for anyone who loved the idea of mystical and legendary animals in their backyard as a kid. Thank you to Netgalley and Victory Editing Netgalley Co-op for the digital ARC. I love the cover art!
I loved the premise, Jonathan St Roche, is a veterinarian looking to move back to the Midwest. He takes a job in a small town, where he ends up treating not just dogs, cats, horses, and farm animals, but the fantastic beasts of fairytale and legend. These creatures need care the same as our companion pets, and they have received it for generations, living in and around Carrollton, Ohio.
Of course, not all the creatures are friendly and nice, which is where the story takes a turn!
I enjoyed Julie’s interpretation of how the animals and creatures from story or fable would have evolved or adapted through generations. The positive training techniques the characters try with one of the creatures spoke to her extensive experience as a dog trainer.
I struggle to recommend an age range for this story. I enjoyed it as an adult, who enjoyed reading fairytales and legends as a child. The story itself is on the cusp of middle grade, but is too complex for me to recommend freely to younger than YA.
While I enjoyed The Beast Keepers, choosing one piece to follow would have cleaned it up and made it a five star book for me. Any of the “nosy reporter”, “evil creature”, or “oil fracking affects habitat” story lines would have been compelling by themselves, and would have been great arcs for further books in the Carrollton setting. Using all three in one book got muddy.
The Beast Keepers is a dream read for anyone who loved the idea of mystical and legendary animals in their backyard as a kid. Thank you to Netgalley and Victory Editing Netgalley Co-op for the digital ARC. I love the cover art!
I loved the premise, Jonathan St Roche, is a veterinarian looking to move back to the Midwest. He takes a job in a small town, where he ends up treating not just dogs, cats, horses, and farm animals, but the fantastic beasts of fairytale and legend. These creatures need care the same as our companion pets, and they have received it for generations, living in and around Carrollton, Ohio.
Of course, not all the creatures are friendly and nice, which is where the story takes a turn!
I enjoyed Julie’s interpretation of how the animals and creatures from story or fable would have evolved or adapted through generations. The positive training techniques the characters try with one of the creatures spoke to her extensive experience as a dog trainer.
I struggle to recommend an age range for this story. I enjoyed it as an adult, who enjoyed reading fairytales and legends as a child. The story itself is on the cusp of middle grade, but is too complex for me to recommend freely to younger than YA.
While I enjoyed The Beast Keepers, choosing one piece to follow would have cleaned it up and made it a five star book for me. Any of the “nosy reporter”, “evil creature”, or “oil fracking affects habitat” story lines would have been compelling by themselves, and would have been great arcs for further books in the Carrollton setting. Using all three in one book got muddy.
June 17, 2024
From the cover, I kept expecting this to be a children’s book, but it is actually a gentle adult book that tweens upwards could happily read.
I was reminded of a cross between Gerald Durrell’s The Talking Parcel (which is my all-time favourite children’s book from my own youth), James Herriot’s veterinary adventure series and Dr Dolittle – a heady combination of adult moral dilemmas and relationships mixed with a fantastic sprinkling of mythological creatures.
The book follows main character Jonathan St. Roche as he narrates his veterinary training and subsequent engagement as a qualified vet to a very unique community in Ohio. There are plenty of interesting fictional fantasy-vet anecdotes, some humorous and some touching; some cosy fantasy and clean romance and a surprising dash of tragedy.
Jonathan is a brilliantly drawn and nuanced main character but the ‘ordinary’ side characters do get a bit lost and pushed aside here in favour of the mythological animals, which I can’t really blame the author for, as they were what I was most interested in too! The book works as a standalone story but also makes a great scene-setter for a potential series set in Carrollton among the unicorns and flying monkeys.
Adult readers looking for a light, easy fantasy read will enjoy this twist on the more traditional veterinary memoir books and precocious younger readers will likely enjoy it too. I can tell you that while I liked this as an adult reader, I would have LOVED this as a middle-grader – animals, mythology and humour – all my childhood favourites in one story!
I was reminded of a cross between Gerald Durrell’s The Talking Parcel (which is my all-time favourite children’s book from my own youth), James Herriot’s veterinary adventure series and Dr Dolittle – a heady combination of adult moral dilemmas and relationships mixed with a fantastic sprinkling of mythological creatures.
The book follows main character Jonathan St. Roche as he narrates his veterinary training and subsequent engagement as a qualified vet to a very unique community in Ohio. There are plenty of interesting fictional fantasy-vet anecdotes, some humorous and some touching; some cosy fantasy and clean romance and a surprising dash of tragedy.
Jonathan is a brilliantly drawn and nuanced main character but the ‘ordinary’ side characters do get a bit lost and pushed aside here in favour of the mythological animals, which I can’t really blame the author for, as they were what I was most interested in too! The book works as a standalone story but also makes a great scene-setter for a potential series set in Carrollton among the unicorns and flying monkeys.
Adult readers looking for a light, easy fantasy read will enjoy this twist on the more traditional veterinary memoir books and precocious younger readers will likely enjoy it too. I can tell you that while I liked this as an adult reader, I would have LOVED this as a middle-grader – animals, mythology and humour – all my childhood favourites in one story!
September 5, 2023
Originally posted on my blog Nonstop Reader.
The Beast Keepers is a whimsical light slice of life rural fantasy with strong romance subplot by Julie Fudge Smith. Released 1st Aug 2023 by Boyle & Dalton, it's 321 pages and is available in paperback and ebook formats. It's worth noting that the ebook format has a handy interactive table of contents as well as interactive links. I've really become enamored of ebooks with interactive formats.
This is a fantasy featuring a young veterinarian who moves to rural Appalachian Ohio to join a multi-animal veterinary practice. His daily life includes the more mundane patients like cats, dogs, and horses, but also exotics such as inebriated flying monkeys, unicorns, and talking dogs. The book is full of charm and whimsy, but the pacing is often off (years pass in a few pages and then there are pages written about single days).
Three and a half stars. It's a debut book, and could have benefited from a more thorough editing process, but it's quite readable and fun. Very light and whimsical fantasy. It's unclear from the publisher/author info provided for review, but it would be nice to find out what's in store for Dr. Roche and his canine companion.
Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.
The Beast Keepers is a whimsical light slice of life rural fantasy with strong romance subplot by Julie Fudge Smith. Released 1st Aug 2023 by Boyle & Dalton, it's 321 pages and is available in paperback and ebook formats. It's worth noting that the ebook format has a handy interactive table of contents as well as interactive links. I've really become enamored of ebooks with interactive formats.
This is a fantasy featuring a young veterinarian who moves to rural Appalachian Ohio to join a multi-animal veterinary practice. His daily life includes the more mundane patients like cats, dogs, and horses, but also exotics such as inebriated flying monkeys, unicorns, and talking dogs. The book is full of charm and whimsy, but the pacing is often off (years pass in a few pages and then there are pages written about single days).
Three and a half stars. It's a debut book, and could have benefited from a more thorough editing process, but it's quite readable and fun. Very light and whimsical fantasy. It's unclear from the publisher/author info provided for review, but it would be nice to find out what's in store for Dr. Roche and his canine companion.
Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.
September 10, 2023
When Dr. Jonathan LaRoche moves to Carroll County to become the new veterinarian he has no idea what he’s in for. He will meet a goose who can make colored eggs A fawn with eczema a special dog named Bengley A unicorn and many more and he can talk to them all. He also meet a woman named Anita she grew up in Carroll County but unlike most of the other residence doesn’t know the secrets the county keeps with its special animals and although he has a crush on DD she’s dating Mark and when Anita invites him to a baseball game he figured why not? The only problem is Anita wants to know what’s going on in her town she knows something strange is a foot but what it is she’s not sure? There’s also a reporter named Connelly Davis who Anita get interested in the story. When she first starts investigating she starts with the fracking that is going on on a local farm but that will not be the stories she eventually wants to write. There is so much to the spot there’s even a very sad part but for the most part it is a fun fabulous read about talking magical animals… Well they’re not magical but they do talk there’s unicorns and lots of crypto zoological animals and animals found only in myths and or fairytales but they’re in this book and it’s a book I found so good there’s a romance mystery and I can’t recommend this book enough I absolutely loved it! I want to thank the author and net galley for my free arc copy please forgive any mistakes as I am blind and dictate my review.
August 8, 2023
When Jonathan St Roche heads to Carrollton in Ohio to take up his new job as the town veterinarian, he is expecting the fairly standard challenges of caring for domestic animals like dogs, cats and livestock. What he finds is beyond his wildest dreams.
Carrollton is home to a collection of mythical creatures who also require Jonathan's care - including a centaur, a faun, and a unicorn, just to name a few!
As the new vet settles into his assignment, taking care of his more unusual clients becomes a journey of discovery for him, bring both challenges and delight.
However, when the town is threatened by a basilisk, Jonathan finds himself questioning what his role should be. There is no question that the beast is dangerous. But does he not also have a duty of care with regard to the basilisk? And if so, then how on earth will he administer that care to such a deadly creature?
This is a delightful story that will appeal to animal lovers as well as those who like adventures involving mythical creatures. The story telling is witty and warm, and draws the reader in, so that the characters and creatures begin to feel far from mythical and made up - and real enough to care about all their fates.
I received a free copy of this book from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review
Carrollton is home to a collection of mythical creatures who also require Jonathan's care - including a centaur, a faun, and a unicorn, just to name a few!
As the new vet settles into his assignment, taking care of his more unusual clients becomes a journey of discovery for him, bring both challenges and delight.
However, when the town is threatened by a basilisk, Jonathan finds himself questioning what his role should be. There is no question that the beast is dangerous. But does he not also have a duty of care with regard to the basilisk? And if so, then how on earth will he administer that care to such a deadly creature?
This is a delightful story that will appeal to animal lovers as well as those who like adventures involving mythical creatures. The story telling is witty and warm, and draws the reader in, so that the characters and creatures begin to feel far from mythical and made up - and real enough to care about all their fates.
I received a free copy of this book from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review
September 26, 2023
Check my review out on my Instagram here.
⭐ 4,25 out of 5 stars
Thank you to Victory Editing and NetGalley for the ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
✒️
Jonathan F. St. Roche is tired of his vet job in the equestrian world, so when a job offer pops up in rural Ohio, he takes the chance for a change of pace and life. It is, however, not an ordinary vet clinic Jonathan ends up at, but instead a safe haven for mythological creatures, whom end up as his clients. Being the medical aid for mythological creatures isn't always easy, and when a basilisk threatens their quiet existence it's hard to decide between the life of a creature and the safety of the community.
📖
I really enjoyed this story of found family and community. I loved the premise of magical creatures living as a guarded secret in the small town community, where they of course need the help of a vet, when they have different health problems. While this is the main premise of the story, it was also nice to have the larger picture of the small town community and what was happening outside the vet practice to help some of the story along and get some understanding for the general atmosphere. There will also always be bonus points for A TALKING DOG!!
While I enjoyed this book, it honestly also felt a little choppy at times with the time skips happening relatively often in the story. While I get some of the happenings weren't the main focus of the story told, it did feel like we were kept at an arms length for Jonathan's dating life for instance, which is briefly mentioned when it starts, and then we're never really seeing any relationship on page, but instead only welcome to mentions and thoughts in it, which felt a little weird. For space reasons I do get why it's not possible to get everything squeezed in to the story though.
If you enjoy small town stories with themes of found family and magical creatures, then this will be a delight to read.
⭐ 4,25 out of 5 stars
Thank you to Victory Editing and NetGalley for the ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
✒️
Jonathan F. St. Roche is tired of his vet job in the equestrian world, so when a job offer pops up in rural Ohio, he takes the chance for a change of pace and life. It is, however, not an ordinary vet clinic Jonathan ends up at, but instead a safe haven for mythological creatures, whom end up as his clients. Being the medical aid for mythological creatures isn't always easy, and when a basilisk threatens their quiet existence it's hard to decide between the life of a creature and the safety of the community.
📖
I really enjoyed this story of found family and community. I loved the premise of magical creatures living as a guarded secret in the small town community, where they of course need the help of a vet, when they have different health problems. While this is the main premise of the story, it was also nice to have the larger picture of the small town community and what was happening outside the vet practice to help some of the story along and get some understanding for the general atmosphere. There will also always be bonus points for A TALKING DOG!!
While I enjoyed this book, it honestly also felt a little choppy at times with the time skips happening relatively often in the story. While I get some of the happenings weren't the main focus of the story told, it did feel like we were kept at an arms length for Jonathan's dating life for instance, which is briefly mentioned when it starts, and then we're never really seeing any relationship on page, but instead only welcome to mentions and thoughts in it, which felt a little weird. For space reasons I do get why it's not possible to get everything squeezed in to the story though.
If you enjoy small town stories with themes of found family and magical creatures, then this will be a delight to read.
September 20, 2023
Thank you to NetGalley for the eARC in exchange for my honest opinion of the book.
This books had all the hallmarks of being a cozy read. Sadly it was a massive disappointment.
Not only does the main character instantly get an connection with someone, but upon discovering said person already is in an relationship. He goes and dates someone else. That's not such a big deal, other than he is a vet who loves animals and his new girlfriend wouldn't even allow dogs on furniture.
Like not only is this a terrible match, he also keeps giving the girl he has a connection with goo-goo eyes. If the attraction is that strong, why date someone else? It is such a scumbag move in my book. And we're not talking one or two dates, we're talking casual dating for over a year because the book does a timeskip.
AND THEN he considers quitting his new lovely job of taking care of magical beings to go back to being a normal vet.
I feel mislead, the cover, the blurb, everything screams cozy fantasy.
The straw that broke it was probably when Jonathan, the main character, gets scolded by the older vet who gave him his job. Why was he scolded? Because Jonathan was worried about a Basilisk and didn't want to kill said Basilisk. Nathan scolds him, saying he's messing with the natural order of things and Jonathan instantly folds and agrees with him.
This books had all the hallmarks of being a cozy read. Sadly it was a massive disappointment.
Not only does the main character instantly get an connection with someone, but upon discovering said person already is in an relationship. He goes and dates someone else. That's not such a big deal, other than he is a vet who loves animals and his new girlfriend wouldn't even allow dogs on furniture.
Like not only is this a terrible match, he also keeps giving the girl he has a connection with goo-goo eyes. If the attraction is that strong, why date someone else? It is such a scumbag move in my book. And we're not talking one or two dates, we're talking casual dating for over a year because the book does a timeskip.
AND THEN he considers quitting his new lovely job of taking care of magical beings to go back to being a normal vet.
I feel mislead, the cover, the blurb, everything screams cozy fantasy.
The straw that broke it was probably when Jonathan, the main character, gets scolded by the older vet who gave him his job. Why was he scolded? Because Jonathan was worried about a Basilisk and didn't want to kill said Basilisk. Nathan scolds him, saying he's messing with the natural order of things and Jonathan instantly folds and agrees with him.
September 1, 2023
Possibly one of the easiest premises to sell: following a vet to mythological creatures. Who wouldn't read that?
But while I appreciate the research that went into this, that alone does not a good story make. The conflict was unfocused (and overall barely an inconvenience, to be honest), and ultimately the moral dilemma was very human-focused. It's the kind of thinking that allows us to get rid of predators without considering the ramifications for the ecosystems.
With that being said, I'm glad we got to see a bit into how vets have to balance different responsibilities. People do not understand how hard or how big of a toll it takes. (I have a vet-in-training sister.) So it's always good to have more portrayals, even if they're in the fantasy genre.
Also, what was the point of that romance? I'd gladly trade it for more animal interactions, or any other sort of interactions, really. Maybe that way that turning point moment would have a bit more weight.
This book is for you if you enjoy:
- (talking) mythological creatures
- slower paced stories
- vets going through moral dilemmas
Thank you to Netgalley, Julie Fudge Smith and Boyle & Dalton for the e-ARC. All thoughts are my own.
But while I appreciate the research that went into this, that alone does not a good story make. The conflict was unfocused (and overall barely an inconvenience, to be honest), and ultimately the moral dilemma was very human-focused. It's the kind of thinking that allows us to get rid of predators without considering the ramifications for the ecosystems.
With that being said, I'm glad we got to see a bit into how vets have to balance different responsibilities. People do not understand how hard or how big of a toll it takes. (I have a vet-in-training sister.) So it's always good to have more portrayals, even if they're in the fantasy genre.
Also, what was the point of that romance? I'd gladly trade it for more animal interactions, or any other sort of interactions, really. Maybe that way that turning point moment would have a bit more weight.
This book is for you if you enjoy:
- (talking) mythological creatures
- slower paced stories
- vets going through moral dilemmas
Thank you to Netgalley, Julie Fudge Smith and Boyle & Dalton for the e-ARC. All thoughts are my own.
October 30, 2023
Thank you Victory Editing NetGalley Co-op and Boyle & Dalton for providing me with this arc in exchange for an honest review.
3.5 stars (rounded up)
I fully see and appreciate all the effort and research that went into this story and I found myself - at times - fully lost in the charm of all the magical creatures. The critters defnitely gave me the-author-who-must-not-be-named vibes and the smalltown vibes were also to die for. I really hope Smith keeps creating that feeling in her future works.
Where this story lacked for me was in creating unique main characters that made me feel something. Unfortunately, due to Smith's choice of words/ prose - which couldn't fit a cute little comfort read less - our main characters felt cold and distant to me. Even though I was provided inner monologues, which by the way also felt out of place or too much at times, I couldn't quite grasp the feelings of Jonathan and some other characters. Even when we got to a heavy point in the story, the characters seemed to be handling it too easily.
I also think the fast forward in the beginning didn't help getting to know all of those many characters.
With that being said, I am looking forward to Smith's writing progressing as I see a LOT of potential.
3.5 stars (rounded up)
I fully see and appreciate all the effort and research that went into this story and I found myself - at times - fully lost in the charm of all the magical creatures. The critters defnitely gave me the-author-who-must-not-be-named vibes and the smalltown vibes were also to die for. I really hope Smith keeps creating that feeling in her future works.
Where this story lacked for me was in creating unique main characters that made me feel something. Unfortunately, due to Smith's choice of words/ prose - which couldn't fit a cute little comfort read less - our main characters felt cold and distant to me. Even though I was provided inner monologues, which by the way also felt out of place or too much at times, I couldn't quite grasp the feelings of Jonathan and some other characters. Even when we got to a heavy point in the story, the characters seemed to be handling it too easily.
I also think the fast forward in the beginning didn't help getting to know all of those many characters.
With that being said, I am looking forward to Smith's writing progressing as I see a LOT of potential.
August 13, 2023
*3,75*
Thank you NetGalley and Victory Publishing for sending me an arc of this.
“The beast keepers” is about Jonathan St. Roche, a vet that decides to move into rural Ohio to run a clinic. However he soon realises that his clients are not as common as they may seem. From unicorns to talking dogs there is an array of lovely and very unique animals in this story. Routine gets disrupted when a basilisk threatens not only to unveil the secret of the town but also all the inhabitants.
I loved reading about the town’s daily life, it was so relaxing but interesting at the same time. The animals were everything in this. Obviously Mr. Bingley was my favorite, he was truly a wonderful companion to Jonathan and gave great advice. All the other animals as well were so cute and charismatic in their own way.
I didn’t love all the choices that Jonathan took during the story, but I still enjoyed following his time at the vet clinic. Also the basilisk was a great way to pick up the pace in the second half of the book without changing the overall vibe of the novel.
If you love cozy magical realism, animals and small town stories this is the perfect book for you.
Thank you NetGalley and Victory Publishing for sending me an arc of this.
“The beast keepers” is about Jonathan St. Roche, a vet that decides to move into rural Ohio to run a clinic. However he soon realises that his clients are not as common as they may seem. From unicorns to talking dogs there is an array of lovely and very unique animals in this story. Routine gets disrupted when a basilisk threatens not only to unveil the secret of the town but also all the inhabitants.
I loved reading about the town’s daily life, it was so relaxing but interesting at the same time. The animals were everything in this. Obviously Mr. Bingley was my favorite, he was truly a wonderful companion to Jonathan and gave great advice. All the other animals as well were so cute and charismatic in their own way.
I didn’t love all the choices that Jonathan took during the story, but I still enjoyed following his time at the vet clinic. Also the basilisk was a great way to pick up the pace in the second half of the book without changing the overall vibe of the novel.
If you love cozy magical realism, animals and small town stories this is the perfect book for you.
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