A book based on a true story of a Dutch sea captain who traveled with an Indian rhinoceros called Clara across 18th century Europe.

It was a beautiful and lovely book to read. I was captivated by the relationship of Douwe and Clara. I thoroughly enjoyed the historical timeline of the book.

Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for the audiobook/DRC.

The Rhino Keeper is a captivating historical fiction, dual timeline tale about the life, travels, and adventures of an 18th century, 5000 pound Rhino named Clara and the Dutch sea captain and the boy who bonded with her for life. It’s always such a delight to stumble upon a historical fiction book that tells a unique and beautiful story, AND teaches you something new. The author skillfully integrated fact with fiction to bring to the reader history, suspense, found family, and mystery. I love the emphasis on the timeless theme of how animals impact humans and humans impact animals. This author did a tremendous amount of research!

Thank you to NetGalley, History Through Fiction, and Jillian Forsberg for the free audio version of this book in exchange for an honest review.

2.5 stars rounded up. This book was incredibly inconsistent. I enjoyed parts and couldn’t stop rolling my eyes at others. I don’t mind dual timelines but I don’t understand the point of the modern day story. It was so unnecessary and I truly disliked the main character. Her “trauma” (which she mentions constantly) made zero sense to me and, while clearly meant to be significant , did nothing to drive the plot. I wish the author had scrapped that storyline (as well as the silly romance) or, better yet, focused solely on Clara’s story.

I really enjoyed this story, it was an interesting look into a lesser known piece of history with touch of mystery a bit of romance. I loved the dual timeline and the way the modern time line unearthed the story of the past of but I felt that the romance didn't add anything to it other than a dramatic prologue. Andrea's ex could be lifted out of the story and all it would change is her reaction to taxidermy and Lucas. I get that that would remove most of her character development but it didn't feel like it added anything to the story. Other than that I have no critiques, the 1700s timeline was fascinating, emotional, adventurous and the historical mystery added by the modern one was fun. I'd happily read more books like this!

Went into this book blindly. Love the cover artworks. Listened to the audiobook thought was a great storyline of the past not as bonded to the current storyline. Didn’t realize was based on a true story till the end. I love the history lesson of Clara’s story path. I couldn’t turn the audiobook off!

Well drawn characters that felt real to me, and an excellent audio book, with a good narrator. Thank you to netgalley for giving me a copy of the audio book, highly recommended.

I found The Rhino Keeper to be a captivating read that truly kept me engaged from start to finish. Forsberg's storytelling drew me right in with its narrative and slight hints at mystery.
The book's strengths made me feel deeply connected to the characters and their mission. I was particularly impressed by the story as it was both informative and emotionally present. The characters felt real, and their dedication to finding the truth did not disappoint.
The author's writing style made it feel like an adventure.
A solid 4-star read that I would definitely recommend to anyone interested in slight mystery with some romance.

Wonderful book. Loved it from beginning to end. Loved the alternating in the past and then current. Kept me guessing until the end. Would definitely recommend and read anything from this author.

I listened to this as an audiobook and thought the narrator (Caroline Hewitt) was excellent and held my attention throughout.

I did find this book slow to get going - but the 2 person narration / moving between the two different time periods probably contributed (and for some reason I always find 2 person narration more difficult to follow with an audio book).

Overall, I really enjoyed the story of Clara the rhino, which I hadn't heard of before. Clara, Douwe and Zubin's travels in Europe were entertaining.

Thank you NetGalley for the opportunity to read this ARC!

The Rhino Keeper tells the enchanting tale of the lovely rhinoceros Clara and her dedicated Keepers.

I experienced a whirlwind of emotions while reading The Rhino Keeper! I adored the dual timelines, and Clara's adventures across Europe were truly captivating! This book pulled me in completely, making me feel as if I were right there alongside them. The storytelling was genuinely beautifully crafted

What an excellent choice of narrator for this joy of a book. I read this last fall, as I was able to get an advanced copy from the author. I love to do immersion reads so as soon as I found out I was able to get the audio for this, I jumped on the opportunity. The audio narration brought the world to life in a whole new and refreshing way.

Review of audiobook.

A mostly enjoyable listen.
As with many dual timelines, there's one I preferred.
It was Clara and her Captain.
Who knew you could become fond of a fictionalised rhino.
I wasn't so keen on Andrea who just seemed a bit much at times.
As the story nears its end, the action ramps up surprisingly. Quite fun.
My main take on this is the effort it took to feed and keep that rhino whilst travelling.
I'm definitely off to google a bit more about her now.

This was one of my fave reads in 2024. And I got 4 friends to buy it, post me reading it. I also own a physical copy now!

With the narration added, it takes this book up another level!

So my review is as per my goodreads page from 2024

I selected this book from NetG, simply on the basis that my favourite animal is the rhinoceros. From a novel perspective, I had zero expectations.

What I got was incredible. This story is enchanting, beautifully crafted, and with the perfect blend of known history, assumed history, and fiction.

When people say they can't put a book down, they do tend to actually put said book down. However, with Rhino Keeper, I put the book down exactly once (to sleep) , I read the entire book in two sittings, and I could have read a 1000 more pages about Clara

One of the most wonderful stories I've had the pleasure of reading

I was so lucky to receive an early copy of The Rhino Keeper. What a special book. The ending and author’s note had me in tears. Wait til the animal lovers and conservationists get ahold of this one. It was so dang sweet! I LOVE learning stories from history through fiction, and this one was so well done! Admittedly, this book is a bit slow (anything with history and a dual timeline usually is) but I love the creative liberties the author made with all of the characters and especially the ones she added in for fun. I immediately went and googled Clara and am now so interested in rhinos.

*The Rhino Keeper* by Jillian Forsberg is a heartfelt and captivating story that immerses readers in the world of wildlife conservation. The novel follows the journey of a dedicated rhino keeper as she forms an unbreakable bond with the endangered creatures under her care. Forsberg’s vivid descriptions and emotional depth make the setting come alive, offering a glimpse into the challenges and rewards of working in wildlife preservation. The protagonist’s personal growth, combined with moments of tension and triumph, provides a compelling narrative that resonates with animal lovers and advocates alike. Overall, *The Rhino Keeper* is an inspiring and thought-provoking read that highlights the importance of protecting our natural world.