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The Griffin Sanctuary #1
The Unicorn Herd
Librarian Note: An older cover for this edition can be found here.
Caring for unicorns isn't all rainbows and sunshine.
Animal lover and keeper-in-the-making Charlotte couldn't be more excited to start her apprenticeship at the Griffin Sanctuary. Working with the unicorns is a dream come true, even if she's just a glorified stablehand at the moment. It's all worth it when she gets to help a rescued unicorn without a horn settle in.
However, she's not the only one willing to put up with the demanding hours of working at a mythical zoo. Rival apprentices from elite schools all want jobs at the Griffin Sanctuary too and Charlotte will have to use all her wits to keep her place as a unicorn keeper.
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The Unicorn Herd is book 1 in the modern fantasy Griffin Sanctuary series. It is packed full of adventure, mythical creatures, and a sapphic romantic sub-plot.
If you enjoy mythical creatures, zoo documentaries, slow burn sapphic romantic sub-plots, and a heroine who loves animals, you're going to love The Unicorn Herd.
Caring for unicorns isn't all rainbows and sunshine.
Animal lover and keeper-in-the-making Charlotte couldn't be more excited to start her apprenticeship at the Griffin Sanctuary. Working with the unicorns is a dream come true, even if she's just a glorified stablehand at the moment. It's all worth it when she gets to help a rescued unicorn without a horn settle in.
However, she's not the only one willing to put up with the demanding hours of working at a mythical zoo. Rival apprentices from elite schools all want jobs at the Griffin Sanctuary too and Charlotte will have to use all her wits to keep her place as a unicorn keeper.
-
The Unicorn Herd is book 1 in the modern fantasy Griffin Sanctuary series. It is packed full of adventure, mythical creatures, and a sapphic romantic sub-plot.
If you enjoy mythical creatures, zoo documentaries, slow burn sapphic romantic sub-plots, and a heroine who loves animals, you're going to love The Unicorn Herd.
236 pages, Kindle Edition
First published September 6, 2021
243 people are currently reading
530 people want to read
About the author
Arizona Tape
237 books785 followersArizona Tape lives her dream life hanging out with her dog and writing stories all day.
Her favourite books to write are urban fantasy and paranormal romances with queer leads, stories that she wished were around when she was younger.
When she’s not writing, she can be found cooking up a storm in the kitchen, watching shows that make her cry, or trying her hand at her new hobby of the week.
She currently lives in the United Kingdom with her girlfriend and her adorable dog who is the star of her newsletter. Sign up here for adorable pictures, free books, and news about her books: www.arizonatape.com/subscribe
Facebook Page: http://facebook.com/arizonatapeauthor
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TikTok: http://tiktok.com/@arizonatape
Her books are available on all retailers and can be requested from most public libraries.
Her favourite books to write are urban fantasy and paranormal romances with queer leads, stories that she wished were around when she was younger.
When she’s not writing, she can be found cooking up a storm in the kitchen, watching shows that make her cry, or trying her hand at her new hobby of the week.
She currently lives in the United Kingdom with her girlfriend and her adorable dog who is the star of her newsletter. Sign up here for adorable pictures, free books, and news about her books: www.arizonatape.com/subscribe
Facebook Page: http://facebook.com/arizonatapeauthor
Reader Group: http://facebook.com/groups/arizonatape
Bookbub: http://www.bookbub.com/authors/arizon...
Twitter: http://twitter.com/arizonatape
Instagram: http://instagram.com/arizonatape
TikTok: http://tiktok.com/@arizonatape
Her books are available on all retailers and can be requested from most public libraries.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 65 reviews
August 9, 2022
Did not finish. It's stereotypical college age angst and behavior within a nicely built fantasy world. I'm surprised it's not listed as young adult. I just couldn't get into it.
October 15, 2021
I just loved the concept for this series, it's all about a sanctuary for magical creatures. So I picked up The Unicorn Herd and I had so much fun reading this one. The Unicorn herd follows main character Charlotte as she starts her internship at the Griffin Sanctuary. She and two other interns are assigned to the unicorns, but only one will get a spot as keeper for the unicorns.
This book was so much fun to read. I liked learning about the unicorns. The author really makes the unicorns come alive and feel like real animals. There are all these behaviors we learn about from what they eat to how they form herds and how they have a hierarchy within the herd. The unicorns have to accept their keepers and it was fun seeing them all work with the unicorns.
Charlotte is a likeable character. She works hard and is dedicated to the animals. It was great to follow her along. And also see her slowly make some friends here. There is a slow burn romance going on and I am excited to see where that goes.
There is an interesting development at the end of this book, which makes me eager for the next book. I did find the ending a bit rushed and would've liked to see more of Charlotte's thoughts as well as other people's reactions to what happened.
To summarize: I had a lot of fun reading this book. The author gave a lot of details about the unicorns, which made them feel real. I liked reading about the sanctuary and the animals there. Charlotte was a great main character and I liked her dedication to the animals. There is an interesting development at the end of the book and I am looking forward to book 2!
This book was so much fun to read. I liked learning about the unicorns. The author really makes the unicorns come alive and feel like real animals. There are all these behaviors we learn about from what they eat to how they form herds and how they have a hierarchy within the herd. The unicorns have to accept their keepers and it was fun seeing them all work with the unicorns.
Charlotte is a likeable character. She works hard and is dedicated to the animals. It was great to follow her along. And also see her slowly make some friends here. There is a slow burn romance going on and I am excited to see where that goes.
There is an interesting development at the end of this book, which makes me eager for the next book. I did find the ending a bit rushed and would've liked to see more of Charlotte's thoughts as well as other people's reactions to what happened.
To summarize: I had a lot of fun reading this book. The author gave a lot of details about the unicorns, which made them feel real. I liked reading about the sanctuary and the animals there. Charlotte was a great main character and I liked her dedication to the animals. There is an interesting development at the end of the book and I am looking forward to book 2!
July 17, 2025
The premise of reading about unicorn zookeepers is a cozy one, and the book delivers well on that front. It just fails at everything else.
The writing style, character depth (or really, I should say shallowness), and relationships we see are all incredibly simplistic. While this is a New Adult novel -- the main character Charlotte is doing a college internship -- it reads like a middle grade book.
The writing can be quite repetitive, telling the reader the same exact thing 3 or 4 times, spread out across as many back-to-back chapters. The main character also has a tendency to immediately repeat what people say to her. It's so unnecessary and feels like the author is beating us over the head.
Tape treats her audience like idiots, not trusting us to make even the most obvious assumption. It's aggravating.
As the unicorn caretaking does not cause any issues for our cast, the conflicts arise from relationship drama.
The main character Charlotte has a bubbly personality and is quick to take a stand against what she believes is wrong. Maturity and perception-wise, she feels way younger than she actually is.
For side characters / fellow interns, we have Felicity the mean, snobby girl. Her whole purpose for the first half of the book is to be rude for no reason, thus making our nice protagonist look better.
And Aaron, a guy who is initially polite but later starts to drop a sexist remark once a day. His purpose upon introduction seems to be that of a supportive friend, but since we are told only one of the 3 interns can get full-time employment, I guess we're not allowed to like him too much. So he quickly gets changed to a character whose job is a way to force Charlotte and Felicity to get along, since they always team-up to shoot Aaron down. Once again, Tape doesn't trust us to realize the immensely obvious, so she states at about the 60% mark, "Our dislike for Aaron was the one thing we agreed on, which gave him some use." - yeah gurl, I have a functioning brain. I could tell you this at like the 15% mark. Why do you think your audience is stupid, Tape?
"Problems" pop and disappear almost immediately. For instance, there is special housing for the interns close to the sanctuary, fully paid for by each interns' university. However, for some reason, Charlotte was unaware of this and paying for her own apartment further away. But don't worry, for as soon as she learns about this, Charlotte is easily able to move into the student housing and have it be free for her as well. Literally, she is told about this housing at the end of a chapter and the very next chapter starts with us being told everything was settled with a single phone call and now Charlotte is moving into the intern housing. No mention of there being any issues while she lived alone. No mention on how she got out of the apartment contract. What's the point of bringing up a "problem" that gets fixed so quickly and off-page, without any work on the main character's side?
This was done so that more conflicts would arise between Charlotte, Aaron, and Felicity while they are living together + But there was no reason for this living situation to not be the status-quo at the beginning of the book. Moreover, having Charlotte give up a place of peace, away from the people she dislikes, without giving us a good reason (ex. showing us that Charlotte is poor and struggling to afford things like food and other necessities because she has to pay for an apartment by herself) is asinine.
About halfway through, the writer makes Charlotte forget that there's only one after-internship job position. Which is wild, considering it was a core reason for why Charlotte did not care that much about getting along with her two fellow interns. This was something stated early on in the book that Charlotte was well aware of. Ms Tape, Why are you trying to stupidly backtrack that at the 50% mark??
The writing style, character depth (or really, I should say shallowness), and relationships we see are all incredibly simplistic. While this is a New Adult novel -- the main character Charlotte is doing a college internship -- it reads like a middle grade book.
The writing can be quite repetitive, telling the reader the same exact thing 3 or 4 times, spread out across as many back-to-back chapters. The main character also has a tendency to immediately repeat what people say to her. It's so unnecessary and feels like the author is beating us over the head.
Tape treats her audience like idiots, not trusting us to make even the most obvious assumption. It's aggravating.
As the unicorn caretaking does not cause any issues for our cast, the conflicts arise from relationship drama.
The main character Charlotte has a bubbly personality and is quick to take a stand against what she believes is wrong. Maturity and perception-wise, she feels way younger than she actually is.
For side characters / fellow interns, we have Felicity the mean, snobby girl. Her whole purpose for the first half of the book is to be rude for no reason, thus making our nice protagonist look better.
And Aaron, a guy who is initially polite but later starts to drop a sexist remark once a day. His purpose upon introduction seems to be that of a supportive friend, but since we are told only one of the 3 interns can get full-time employment, I guess we're not allowed to like him too much. So he quickly gets changed to a character whose job is a way to force Charlotte and Felicity to get along, since they always team-up to shoot Aaron down. Once again, Tape doesn't trust us to realize the immensely obvious, so she states at about the 60% mark, "Our dislike for Aaron was the one thing we agreed on, which gave him some use." - yeah gurl, I have a functioning brain. I could tell you this at like the 15% mark. Why do you think your audience is stupid, Tape?
"Problems" pop and disappear almost immediately. For instance, there is special housing for the interns close to the sanctuary, fully paid for by each interns' university. However, for some reason, Charlotte was unaware of this and paying for her own apartment further away. But don't worry, for as soon as she learns about this, Charlotte is easily able to move into the student housing and have it be free for her as well. Literally, she is told about this housing at the end of a chapter and the very next chapter starts with us being told everything was settled with a single phone call and now Charlotte is moving into the intern housing. No mention of there being any issues while she lived alone. No mention on how she got out of the apartment contract. What's the point of bringing up a "problem" that gets fixed so quickly and off-page, without any work on the main character's side?
This was done so that more conflicts would arise between Charlotte, Aaron, and Felicity while they are living together + But there was no reason for this living situation to not be the status-quo at the beginning of the book. Moreover, having Charlotte give up a place of peace, away from the people she dislikes, without giving us a good reason (ex. showing us that Charlotte is poor and struggling to afford things like food and other necessities because she has to pay for an apartment by herself) is asinine.
About halfway through, the writer makes Charlotte forget that there's only one after-internship job position. Which is wild, considering it was a core reason for why Charlotte did not care that much about getting along with her two fellow interns. This was something stated early on in the book that Charlotte was well aware of. Ms Tape, Why are you trying to stupidly backtrack that at the 50% mark??
July 11, 2022
Mythical creatures? Check. Adorable romance? Check. Fantastic representation? Check. I’m sold—where’s the next one?
I blew through this, and I will likely pick up the rest of the series at some point. There was so much good stuff in here. First of all, unicorns! And I loved how they were just plopped down into the modern world, NBD. Watching their herd structure with commentary from the characters was fascinating. And the entire plotline surrounding the herd was wonderful. I already want a unicorn, but this made me want one even more.
Loved the light F/F romance. It felt very real, and it complemented the rest of the story nicely. Very often, I get books that are described as fantasy that end up having a sprinkle of fantasy around a lot of over-the-top romance. This melded mythical creatures, navigating life, and romance seamlessly.
Really, I can’t say enough good things about this book. If you like light romance with your fantasy (and did I mention unicorns?), give this a try. You seriously won’t regret it. Aside from the fantasy angle, there’s a lot in here about being true to yourself and not judging others on a single encounter/what it “looks like” they are. 4.5 stars!
I read this book as part of the Author Discovery Project. Full reading chronicle here.
I blew through this, and I will likely pick up the rest of the series at some point. There was so much good stuff in here. First of all, unicorns! And I loved how they were just plopped down into the modern world, NBD. Watching their herd structure with commentary from the characters was fascinating. And the entire plotline surrounding the herd was wonderful. I already want a unicorn, but this made me want one even more.
Loved the light F/F romance. It felt very real, and it complemented the rest of the story nicely. Very often, I get books that are described as fantasy that end up having a sprinkle of fantasy around a lot of over-the-top romance. This melded mythical creatures, navigating life, and romance seamlessly.
Really, I can’t say enough good things about this book. If you like light romance with your fantasy (and did I mention unicorns?), give this a try. You seriously won’t regret it. Aside from the fantasy angle, there’s a lot in here about being true to yourself and not judging others on a single encounter/what it “looks like” they are. 4.5 stars!
I read this book as part of the Author Discovery Project. Full reading chronicle here.
October 14, 2021
This is a very mild LGBTQ reading. I feel teens and young adults would love to read it. The way Arizona Tape writes you will love the characters and scenario. No matter who you are and what you believe in this story will take you in. So follow the wishes and see where it leads. Feel the Magic of the Unicorns and what it feels like to be there. Of course we have our mortal enemy's but a story is not a story without a few. Watch how Charlotte learns and try's to make her dreams come true. Can she get the position or will one of the other two get it. There is only one job opening, who will be the best
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
October 9, 2021
Before my review I must inform you......I have one rule about my reviews. I try to never give spoilers on the first & last book in a series.
Now let me tell ya, in my opinion, Arizona Tape has a new HIT SERIES!!!
I'm 51 and want to work at the Griffin Sanctuary! The world Arizona creates is so magical and I'd love to live in a world with Unicorns. Most of the characters are very likable but there is usually at least one you just want to slap on the back of the head. For me, it's Felicity. The story flows so well, you just breeze right through this book & leaves you desperately wanting the next.
Two thumbs up, 10 stars! Kudos to Arizona Tape!
Now let me tell ya, in my opinion, Arizona Tape has a new HIT SERIES!!!
I'm 51 and want to work at the Griffin Sanctuary! The world Arizona creates is so magical and I'd love to live in a world with Unicorns. Most of the characters are very likable but there is usually at least one you just want to slap on the back of the head. For me, it's Felicity. The story flows so well, you just breeze right through this book & leaves you desperately wanting the next.
Two thumbs up, 10 stars! Kudos to Arizona Tape!
November 9, 2025
I was hoping for more unicorns. It was mostly shoveling shit and jealousy.
October 20, 2024
Unicorns at a zoo?!
Unicorn lovers, like myself, rejoice! An interesting take on a sanctuary/ zoo for mythical creatures. Our protagonist is likeable. Good story!
Unicorn lovers, like myself, rejoice! An interesting take on a sanctuary/ zoo for mythical creatures. Our protagonist is likeable. Good story!
May 5, 2023
*review for the first three books in the series, will relocate it to the right book as soon as it's listed on GR*
When I read one of the prequels for this series I was sold already. I loved the heroine of the tale, I loved the atmosphere and the setting and I was very excited to meet all the magical animals the author was willing to introduce us to. Normally I'd read all three books individually, but in this case I was very excited that I could get an arc of Volume 1 including all three first books via BookSprout so I could binge them.
If you're an animal lover these books are certainly for you. Although there is of course more going on the main focus is constantly on the animals. In the first book we meet the unicorns, in the second book the Phoenix and in the third book the Kitsune. Since our heroine is observing them and taking care of them it really feels like we learn a lot about them too. Their preferences, their needs, their diets, their habits. It's all described in loads of detail.
And since the books are focussing on the animals we're automatically also confronted with real life dilemmas. I love how the author doesn't shy away from those. There is a breeding program and the ethics surrounding such programs are discussed on page. Just like the characters discuss in detail why animals are being held captive and when they are being allowed to return to their natural habit in the world. It's interesting, honest and despite the fictional creatures it feels very realistic.
We experience all this through the eyes of Charlotte. And luckily Charlotte is more than an intern. She has emotions and feelings. She has decisions to make. And she has to grow as a person. For some people the romance and the character growth might be a little slow but I really enjoyed how gradually things developed. Charlotte really took her time to learn, to communicate and to admit to herself what was going on.
I'm now really excited to continue the series and to meet more magical creatures!
When I read one of the prequels for this series I was sold already. I loved the heroine of the tale, I loved the atmosphere and the setting and I was very excited to meet all the magical animals the author was willing to introduce us to. Normally I'd read all three books individually, but in this case I was very excited that I could get an arc of Volume 1 including all three first books via BookSprout so I could binge them.
If you're an animal lover these books are certainly for you. Although there is of course more going on the main focus is constantly on the animals. In the first book we meet the unicorns, in the second book the Phoenix and in the third book the Kitsune. Since our heroine is observing them and taking care of them it really feels like we learn a lot about them too. Their preferences, their needs, their diets, their habits. It's all described in loads of detail.
And since the books are focussing on the animals we're automatically also confronted with real life dilemmas. I love how the author doesn't shy away from those. There is a breeding program and the ethics surrounding such programs are discussed on page. Just like the characters discuss in detail why animals are being held captive and when they are being allowed to return to their natural habit in the world. It's interesting, honest and despite the fictional creatures it feels very realistic.
We experience all this through the eyes of Charlotte. And luckily Charlotte is more than an intern. She has emotions and feelings. She has decisions to make. And she has to grow as a person. For some people the romance and the character growth might be a little slow but I really enjoyed how gradually things developed. Charlotte really took her time to learn, to communicate and to admit to herself what was going on.
I'm now really excited to continue the series and to meet more magical creatures!
January 30, 2024
I honestly just read this because I’m going through the alphabet when I’m picking books at the moment (I have no idea why). So, of the “U” books, this one looked like the most fun (and I’ve enjoyed my forays into Tape’s writing before). And wow, am I glad that I picked this story. It was a great read, and the premise of being a keeper at a paranormal zoo – I seriously need more! I honestly couldn’t put this down, not just for the joy of meeting the different characters, but I loved the day to day reality of being an apprentice zookeeper.
As I was reading this, I was really worried that this was going to be a series that follows a different couple each book – I hadn’t really read much about the series overall. And, I’m glad to say that that’s not the case. Rather, at the conclusion of this, Charlotte is poised to continue her awesome work and continuing to make the relationships that I really enjoyed throughout. Plus, there are more animals to discover and fall in love with.
Although I primarily fixated on the animals in this story, because I’m animal obsessed, I also loved the development of the characters. I love that when Charlotte’s love interest reveals that she is interested, she reminds Charlotte to not just make assumptions. We’re all guilty of it, and I loved that gentle way that Charlotte is reminded to stop and think about what she is assuming. And how both the women are able to build themselves up together, even if they have a bit of a rougher start to their relationship.
The Unicorn Herd was a beautiful story and one that left me feeling content and happy after I finished the final page. It was a fairly quick and easy read, but that’s sometimes all that you need. And I’m glad that I had the privilege of diving into this world. Being swept away in the fantastic world building of Tape and just finding yet another enjoyable series to leave on my TBR.
As I was reading this, I was really worried that this was going to be a series that follows a different couple each book – I hadn’t really read much about the series overall. And, I’m glad to say that that’s not the case. Rather, at the conclusion of this, Charlotte is poised to continue her awesome work and continuing to make the relationships that I really enjoyed throughout. Plus, there are more animals to discover and fall in love with.
Although I primarily fixated on the animals in this story, because I’m animal obsessed, I also loved the development of the characters. I love that when Charlotte’s love interest reveals that she is interested, she reminds Charlotte to not just make assumptions. We’re all guilty of it, and I loved that gentle way that Charlotte is reminded to stop and think about what she is assuming. And how both the women are able to build themselves up together, even if they have a bit of a rougher start to their relationship.
The Unicorn Herd was a beautiful story and one that left me feeling content and happy after I finished the final page. It was a fairly quick and easy read, but that’s sometimes all that you need. And I’m glad that I had the privilege of diving into this world. Being swept away in the fantastic world building of Tape and just finding yet another enjoyable series to leave on my TBR.
September 11, 2024
Ok, so who DOESN'T like Unicorns? I certainly do! And I loved this light-hearted book as much as I loved the Unicorns contained within! Because... it's not a story only of Unicorns, it's a story of personal growth, with a beautiful love story told through the lenses of subtleties and innovative storytelling. I do love the uncomplicated penmanship of Arizona, she achieves her goal to entertain every time! I love the realism of her stories, the characters are so easy to relate to and to understand on every level.
Here we have Charlotte whose excitement at being an intern, with the burning hope of it being permanent, at the Griffin Sanctuary even gave me a zing. She's a really lovely person, so eager to learn, so eager to please, just so eager! Of course, there has to be a token nasty, and that comes in the guise of Felicity, always trying to one up Charlotte, snarky and down right rude. As it turns out, these two have a bit more in common than the animosity towards each other... Aaron, geez, he's an arrogant so and so. But when there's one spot and 3 interns, the competition goes all out. I like that Arizona gave a realism to the characters, I could honestly picture each of the individuals, tell them apart with ease, understand what makes them tick, even the very otherwise teen, Reya, who needs an attitude adjustment pronto! I loved "learning" about unicorns together with the interns, their requirements, their herd instincts, and just enjoying their beauty and majesty on page Arizona spins a delightful tale, brimming with awesome creatures of mystery, that's a quick, fuss free, non dramatic read, bringing me delights on each page. A lovely fun read!
Here we have Charlotte whose excitement at being an intern, with the burning hope of it being permanent, at the Griffin Sanctuary even gave me a zing. She's a really lovely person, so eager to learn, so eager to please, just so eager! Of course, there has to be a token nasty, and that comes in the guise of Felicity, always trying to one up Charlotte, snarky and down right rude. As it turns out, these two have a bit more in common than the animosity towards each other... Aaron, geez, he's an arrogant so and so. But when there's one spot and 3 interns, the competition goes all out. I like that Arizona gave a realism to the characters, I could honestly picture each of the individuals, tell them apart with ease, understand what makes them tick, even the very otherwise teen, Reya, who needs an attitude adjustment pronto! I loved "learning" about unicorns together with the interns, their requirements, their herd instincts, and just enjoying their beauty and majesty on page Arizona spins a delightful tale, brimming with awesome creatures of mystery, that's a quick, fuss free, non dramatic read, bringing me delights on each page. A lovely fun read!
May 7, 2023
Poaching is an abhorrent practice and needs to be stopped.
Fortunately, this is a work of fiction and we don’t need to worry about the safety of unicorns and other mythical beasts. But the point is well-taken with regards to real-life animals that suffer at the hands of humans.
It takes a lot of work to take care of animals and it’s a huge responsibility. They need clean environments, proper nutrition, space & time to exercise, medical attention, and plenty of sunshine & fresh air. They also need to feel safe around humans – it’s crucial to earn and maintain trust so that the keepers and vets can more easily provide proper care (and so that they’ll be in the mating mood!).
Some sage advice from the author:
Competitions don’t have to get ugly. Just as we need to treat animals respectfully, we need to do the same for people.
Fave quote:
‘To make a long distance relationship work, you don’t find time. You make time.’
Next for me are ‘The Phoenix Nest’ and ‘The Kitsune Giggle’ (I’ve already read ‘The Fairy Festival’, ‘The Griffin Mission’, and ‘The Dragon Lantern’) then the recently-released ‘The Sphinx Pride’. ‘The Griffin Flock’ is expected in Sep.
Fortunately, this is a work of fiction and we don’t need to worry about the safety of unicorns and other mythical beasts. But the point is well-taken with regards to real-life animals that suffer at the hands of humans.
It takes a lot of work to take care of animals and it’s a huge responsibility. They need clean environments, proper nutrition, space & time to exercise, medical attention, and plenty of sunshine & fresh air. They also need to feel safe around humans – it’s crucial to earn and maintain trust so that the keepers and vets can more easily provide proper care (and so that they’ll be in the mating mood!).
Some sage advice from the author:
Competitions don’t have to get ugly. Just as we need to treat animals respectfully, we need to do the same for people.
Fave quote:
‘To make a long distance relationship work, you don’t find time. You make time.’
Next for me are ‘The Phoenix Nest’ and ‘The Kitsune Giggle’ (I’ve already read ‘The Fairy Festival’, ‘The Griffin Mission’, and ‘The Dragon Lantern’) then the recently-released ‘The Sphinx Pride’. ‘The Griffin Flock’ is expected in Sep.
October 17, 2021
Our heroine has an important job protecting the mythical animals, and that job carries plenty of challenges on its own. Can she protect her heart as well?
This is book one of the series, so all good there.
This is a paranormal romance of the FF variety. That being said, the romance is a bit of a slow burn and secondary to the main plot, which is all good. The story is well written and easy to read with an intriguing setting. The setting is well developed, but of course there is a lot more to it than we have seen and I want to explore it all. The characters are also great and I love both our heroines. They are great working together and I love watching their relationship grow. Overall. a great start to a series and I look forward to seeing where it goes next.
Highly recommended
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout for review purposes.
This is book one of the series, so all good there.
This is a paranormal romance of the FF variety. That being said, the romance is a bit of a slow burn and secondary to the main plot, which is all good. The story is well written and easy to read with an intriguing setting. The setting is well developed, but of course there is a lot more to it than we have seen and I want to explore it all. The characters are also great and I love both our heroines. They are great working together and I love watching their relationship grow. Overall. a great start to a series and I look forward to seeing where it goes next.
Highly recommended
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout for review purposes.
February 2, 2025
Charlotte works as an apprentice at the Griffin Sanctuary a mythical zoo housing unicorns and other mythical creatures that she looks after. When Luna the unicorn without a horn arrives at the sanctuary, Charlotte must keep up with her demanding work while competing with rival apprentices. Luna was born without a horn due to a genetic condition. Other rival apprentices from an elite school are competing for a position at the sanctuary making Charlotte work harder to prove herself as a Unicorn keeper. Charlotte has always loved working with unicorns since she was young and this opportunity to care for unicorns was her chance to prove how much she cares for them. Charlotte has a romantic interest with another keeper named Adele. I really enjoyed this fascinating contemporary fantasy fiction novel.
February 16, 2025
Absolutely Delightful
This book really did have me squealing in delight! It was so much fun, so light, with a fascinating air of mythical beasts.
It starts of with a hint of “enemies to lovers”, but that appears to be a bit of an extended story that isn’t quite resolved yet. There’s lots of “will they, won’t they?” between a few of the interns, but if it was a one-and-done book, perhaps more would have paired off. Yes, there is definitely something there that’s being saved for later.
The book fell off a bit towards the middle end, but the ending itself was wonderfully unexpected, even though it made a lot of sense.
I’m going to squeal a bit as I wait for the sequel to pop up at the top of my list!
Final rating: ★★★★☆ – Really liked
May 26, 2025
Trying very hard to recapture the magic of the Harry Potter series, this book introduces a zoo instead of a school, but the students live in dormitories and get assigned to work with the various magical animals based on their personalities and abilities. This book focuses on a girl serving an internship working with unicorns.
When the author lost credibility completely with me was when she began mentioning haggis creatures. Seriously? Haggis is a dish made with the internal organs of sheep, not an animal. OK, after I finished the book I looked it up in case there really was such an animal, and it turns out there is a legendary animal that haggis is supposedly made from. Technically she is correct, but.... frankly that's pretty obscure and ruined what little respect I had left for the author at that point.
When the author lost credibility completely with me was when she began mentioning haggis creatures. Seriously? Haggis is a dish made with the internal organs of sheep, not an animal. OK, after I finished the book I looked it up in case there really was such an animal, and it turns out there is a legendary animal that haggis is supposedly made from. Technically she is correct, but.... frankly that's pretty obscure and ruined what little respect I had left for the author at that point.
October 9, 2021
Charlotte had worked hard and was excited to get an internship at the Griffin Sanctuary to work with unicorns.
Charlotte was excited about her first day as an internship at the Griffin Sanctuary to work with their hers of unicorns. She and fellow interns Felicity and Aaron are assigned to the silver blush unicorns under the mentor ship of keeper Nissan. Her first sight of the unicorns is magical but soon a rivalry develops between her and Felicity and Aaron. An entertaining story set in a sanctuary full of different kinds of magical creatures.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Charlotte was excited about her first day as an internship at the Griffin Sanctuary to work with their hers of unicorns. She and fellow interns Felicity and Aaron are assigned to the silver blush unicorns under the mentor ship of keeper Nissan. Her first sight of the unicorns is magical but soon a rivalry develops between her and Felicity and Aaron. An entertaining story set in a sanctuary full of different kinds of magical creatures.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
October 10, 2024
This was a very quick and light read. I’ve always loved unicorns which made me pick this up on my kindle. It didn’t really had too much plot. More of a telling of the story. I loved all the unicorn scenes and interaction. The MFL sounded very young, like mid high school young. I was also thrown off a little when she started talking about a girlfriend. Since it wasn’t a big portion of the book, I didn’t mind it. Girl vs girl is fine just not what I was looking for in this read. Not quite sure if I like the series yet, so will be reading book 2. The story itself didn’t really have a plot. More of like a feel good, excited to be around unicorns and day to day operations of the sanctuary.
November 13, 2024
I’d compare this book to candy. It’s sweet, doesn’t last long and isn’t really filling, but it’s enjoyable. This one is the first in a series, and having read it and the next three in a day, they’re pretty formulaic. The type of mythical beasts that are the focus of the story change, but other wise it’s learning about how to be a zoo keeper/veterinarian. The only progression through the series is the relationship between Charlotte and Felicity.
If you like this first one you’ll most likely like them all. I have so far. Quick, light fare that’s enjoyable for as long as it lasts and that’s about it. Nothing that’ll stir much in terms of deep thoughts or emotions.
If you like this first one you’ll most likely like them all. I have so far. Quick, light fare that’s enjoyable for as long as it lasts and that’s about it. Nothing that’ll stir much in terms of deep thoughts or emotions.
May 3, 2025
Complete Story- Almost
The story follows Charlotte through the trials of a hard won internship, a long distance romance, and intense competition. Though the single POV narrative and dialogue, we get an in depth understanding of her character and the world of Griffin Sanctuary. Great story with some expected and some unexpected twists. The story does prepare you for the end so it makes sense. Although the book has closure to the main story, it turns out to just be the first chapter of Charlotte’s life at the sanctuary. Enjoyable read!
The story follows Charlotte through the trials of a hard won internship, a long distance romance, and intense competition. Though the single POV narrative and dialogue, we get an in depth understanding of her character and the world of Griffin Sanctuary. Great story with some expected and some unexpected twists. The story does prepare you for the end so it makes sense. Although the book has closure to the main story, it turns out to just be the first chapter of Charlotte’s life at the sanctuary. Enjoyable read!
May 6, 2025
Charlotte seems like a likeable character, she is a bit people shy. She loves working with animals, though. Her ultimate favorite is the unicorns though. She starts out as an intern for the unicorns at the sanctuary, but she has fierce competition. She also learns a lot of new things that she never knew about herself, her ex, and the new people around her. As well as the animals that she cares for.
But surprises almost push her to quit it all, luckily she doesn't do that.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
But surprises almost push her to quit it all, luckily she doesn't do that.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
June 3, 2025
Book 1 of the Griffin Sanctuary. This is for those of us mythical creatures, zoos and maybe saw ourselves growing up doing animal care. The Sanctuary is owned by Starlise and her wife, Ella. This starts with Charlotte's internship at the Sanctuary with the Unicorns, more specifically the silver blush unicorns, the other two interns assigned to the same Unicorns and Charlotte's navigation of her long distance relationship with her girlfriend Tina.
TW: There is a fair amount of alcohol with some events at the on site campus.
TW: There is a fair amount of alcohol with some events at the on site campus.
July 11, 2025
That was one of the worst books I've read in a while. I almost quit five times. The girl was so incredibly stupid. She basically acted like a 5 year old. It was seriously crazy. Went from being prepared to marry the chick and then all of the sudden it was this horrible relationship and she was lucky to be away from it. It was also very poorly edited. People who are talking about it and saying they like it are obviously lying and must be friends with the author. It had such a promising synopsis. I just wanted unicorns. Take out every human in the entire book and I would have been happy.
July 27, 2025
A fairly strong beginning to the series, we are introduced to Charlotte, a budding intern at the prestigious Griffin Sanctuary. She is a very responsible, kind, knowledgeable person who loves working with animals. We learn about the silver blush unicorns in this book, and it's clear the author has a lot of knowledge about how to care for animals in the way she describes her scenes. The real-world complications of a long-distance relationship are addressed in this book as well. I'm interested and will continue on with the series.
October 14, 2021
Once again Arizona creates a series that is poignant and exciting to read. We join Charolette as she begins a tenure at the Griffin Sanctuary with a Unicorn with no horn ( isn’t that called a horse, ) anyway, you will enjoy this book and find yourself waiting for more. In the meantime look up the prequel story called “ The Griffin Mission” located on Arizona’s page.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
October 15, 2021
Arizona transport us for a fantasy place with mitologic creatures.
The book one we can see Charlotte trying become her dream truth. Work with unicorns in a Sanctuary for mitologic creatures.
She needs be the best to get the job and keep her distant relationship work.
I won't say more... Read and you won't lose your time. Most recommended. :D
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
The book one we can see Charlotte trying become her dream truth. Work with unicorns in a Sanctuary for mitologic creatures.
She needs be the best to get the job and keep her distant relationship work.
I won't say more... Read and you won't lose your time. Most recommended. :D
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
November 12, 2021
A unique Story
I read the Prequel and now book #1 and can not wait for book#2 to come out. A good story about young Adults trying for a permanent position at the Griffin Animal Sanctuary. The competition between the various interns gets fierce as the interns try to out do each other so as to get the position.
We mostly see the 3 interns working as Keepers in the Unicorn pens. A Wonderful story that I wish to continue.
I read the Prequel and now book #1 and can not wait for book#2 to come out. A good story about young Adults trying for a permanent position at the Griffin Animal Sanctuary. The competition between the various interns gets fierce as the interns try to out do each other so as to get the position.
We mostly see the 3 interns working as Keepers in the Unicorn pens. A Wonderful story that I wish to continue.
May 9, 2025
The Good and the Dirty
An interesting story about the habits and behaviors of various unicorns within the protected herd as Charlotte admired their beauty while clearing their stalls of soiled straw. So much to learn and so much to do which conflicted with her long distance relationship with. She worked through the challenges with a promise of rewarding contact with many animals, including the unicorns.
An interesting story about the habits and behaviors of various unicorns within the protected herd as Charlotte admired their beauty while clearing their stalls of soiled straw. So much to learn and so much to do which conflicted with her long distance relationship with. She worked through the challenges with a promise of rewarding contact with many animals, including the unicorns.
May 18, 2025
I like how everyone was working so well with these mythical unicorns. It took a team to work together with a small group on the inside of the sanctuary. Charlotte is good at what she has the potential of becoming a good veterinarian. Being a great leader, good listener, put more emphasis into Criss Cross, Jun-Jun, Leia, Cece and the new unicorn Sticker. I received a copy from the author and voluntarily decided to leave a review.
November 6, 2025
Not the book I was expecting to read. I thought it would actually focus mainly on unicorns.
it follows a woman named Charlotte following her dream to be a unicorn keeper. the unicorns are there, there is a whole arc about a unicorn but most of the book followed Charlotte navigating life but in a poor way? I don't know how to describe it but the book was just written too choppy for my liking and was described weird?
I can see how people will like this series but it's just not for me.
it follows a woman named Charlotte following her dream to be a unicorn keeper. the unicorns are there, there is a whole arc about a unicorn but most of the book followed Charlotte navigating life but in a poor way? I don't know how to describe it but the book was just written too choppy for my liking and was described weird?
I can see how people will like this series but it's just not for me.
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