I really enjoyed the story and historical setting of The Rhino Keeper. The part of the book set in modern day I found uninteresting and the characters one dimensional. The relationships, locations, etc of 18th century Europe were fabulous.

This story is told in two times, the first is in 2020, when college student Andrea decides to study abroad in the Netherlands to get away from her ex. The second starts in 1740, when Dowemout van der Meer gets the opportunity to buy a Rhinoceros named Clara and starts to tour Europe with her. When Andrea discovers documents in a hidden compartment in a desk in her dorm room, she begins to uncover the story of Dowemout and Clara.

I relished listening to it, partly due to the narrator's enjoyable voice. I also liked the dive into history through Dower's story, and the two storylines complemented each other great.
But sometimes the story moved too slowly, especially in the middle, and the love story between Andrea and Lucas seemed a bit rushed and forced.
Overall, it was great, and by the end, the story gained momentum, and I loved the "Author's Notes" pointing out which parts of the story were completely fictional and especially the reading suggestions for learning more about Clara.

Thank you, History Through Fiction, for providing me with this audiobook to review via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

Thank you to NetGalley, the Independent Book Publishers Association and author Jillian Forsberg for this audio ARC.

A dual-timeline novel about a rhino traveling from India to Europe in 1740 and the rediscovery of it's journey in modern times.

I personally enjoyed the historical storyline much more as I feel like the characters were more fleshed out and I loved Clara so much. I also found it so interesting, that it's based on actual events that we know so little about.

The modern storyline was interesting, but our MC Andrea wasn't my favourite. I loved that she knew what she wanted (or didn't want) but she had a very naive, at times almost child-like, black and white way of thinking. Also I agree trophy hunting should be banned and is horrible her reaction to any kind of taxidermy or skeleton seemed a little over the top and it's never explained why she has such a visceral/traumatic response to it.

Caroline Hewitt did a wonderful job with the narration and I highly recommend the audiobook!

I loved diving into this fascinating slice of history, following Clara the rhino’s incredible journey across 18th-century Europe. The relationships between Clara, Zubin, and Dowermout were beautifully written, and the inclusion of historical figures like Voltaire and real artwork added a rich, immersive layer to the story.

The dual timeline with Andrea started off a bit slow but gained momentum toward the end. While the book offers an entertaining and romanticized take on Clara’s travels, it does gloss over some harsher historical realities. That said, the final chapters are absolutely heartbreaking for animal lovers.

Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed The Rhino Keeper. Some elements felt a bit forced, but the story kept me engaged, and I’d happily recommend it—4 stars!

Thank you Netgalley and History Through Fiction for a free Advanced Listeners Copy in exchange for my honest review.

Courtesy of History Through Fiction and Netgalley, I received the ARC of The Rhino Keeper by Jillian Forsberg in audible format. So well narrated, this amazing historical novel traces the introduction of Clara the Indian rhino through Europe with her Dutch owner. I was entranced by this story...I learned so much about navigation, customs, and wild animal interest of 18th century Europe. The author crafted a heartwarming, creative, and thoughtful story! I loved this book!

It seems there really as a rhinoceros named Clara who traveled Europe in the 18th century. That’s pretty amazing and Clara and her keeper have strong connection and big adventures. I found this story a little slow in some places but so unique and unexpected. Audiobook well done and beautiful book cover.

Andrea Clarkson discovers in hidden drawers in an antique desk a mystery claiming a rhino named Clara traveled Europe in the late 1700s with a sea captain named Douwemont van deer Meer, but no one really knows what happened to Clara until a grave is discover contain the same carving of a rhino.

The story is well-written, evoking multiple emotions. Sadness when Clara's mother is killed for her horn; anger when van deer Meer encounters poachers in the marketplace selling the horns of rhinos, and anger when Clara is attacked by a jealous clergyman who believes Clara is being worshipped. But the overwhelming emotion is that of splendor and wonder as the reader encounters this beautiful creature just like those in the novel.

I really enjoyed listening to The Rhino Keeper by Jillian Forsberg. I found the story itself to be a wonderful split between past state and current state, with the story of Clara and her keepers holding such importance, both then and now. I thought the author did a wonderful job depicting Clara and her importance in history, while adding the unique historical spin to it by having present day historians studying her and the gravesite of her keeper. I truly enjoyed this book and wasn't aware that it was based on real life events, which made it that more special, in my opinion. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for a copy of this novel in exchange for my honest review.

“The Rhino Keeper” by Jillian Forsberg and narrated by Caroline Hewett is a historical novel about the first rhinoceroses called Clara brought from India to Europe. It’s told in two timelines—the present with art historian Andrea Clarkson in Europe trying to undercover the mysteries of this rhino and in 1740 with ship captain Douwemout van der Meer and his charming assistant. I enjoyed the older timeline quite a bit, but I disliked the character Andrea. Her so-called “sensitivities” were more than a little anoying and ruined the story for me.
Many thanks to Net Galley and the publisher for an ARC of this novel. My opinions are my own.

Beautifully written book, I was a little nervous to give this one a try because I am an animal lover, and I didn’t want to read about animal abuse. Although Clara was taken she was really saved. she was treated well and it’s a really beautiful story that I don’t want to give away. It is a dual timeline, which I also love and the timelines weave together beautifully. They make sense there is a good balance where you really get to understand and relate to the characters in both timelines. There isn’t anything that I would want changed or added to this book and that is rare for me. I highly recommend giving this book a try.

This book was super fun! I loved the journey that Clara took and the love her handlers had for her. The different timelines really got me hooked and I was always wanting to know what happened next in each of them. The plot flowed really well and I cared a lot about the characters. The author did a great job making this book have a lot of information without it seeming textbooky. Overall a really engaging and interesting read.

A lovely and captivating historical fiction based on true events and perfect read for animal lovers. It follows the journey of a sea captain and his companion as they introduce Clara, an Indian Rhino, to Europe. The story is filled with both joy and sorrow, yet it ultimately centers on the blossoming relationship between the animal and human.

While the main narrative is engaging, the side plot involving Andrea felt somewhat unnecessary to the overall story. personally for me her character was more on the ' insufferable ' side as she often had a tendency to make everything about herself and be overdramatic.

Overall, the book offers a heartwarming glimpse into the unique bond between humans and animals, providing an enjoyable experience for readers. This ARC was provided by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

𝘛𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘬𝘴 𝘮𝘶𝘤𝘩 𝘵𝘰 #𝘕𝘦𝘵𝘎𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘦𝘺, 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘢𝘶𝘵𝘩𝘰𝘳, 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘱𝘶𝘣𝘭𝘪𝘴𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘢𝘥𝘷𝘢𝘯𝘤𝘦𝘥 𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘥𝘦𝘳 𝘤𝘰𝘱𝘺 𝘰𝘧 #𝘛𝘩𝘦𝘙𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘰𝘒𝘦𝘦𝘱𝘦𝘳. 𝘛𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘥𝘰𝘦𝘴 𝘯𝘰𝘵 𝘢𝘧𝘧𝘦𝘤𝘵 𝘮𝘺 𝘳𝘦𝘷𝘪𝘦𝘸 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘩𝘰𝘯𝘦𝘴𝘵 𝘰𝘱𝘪𝘯𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘴 𝘢𝘣𝘰𝘶𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘴𝘵𝘰𝘳𝘺 𝘢𝘳𝘦 𝘮𝘺 𝘰𝘸𝘯.

I loved both timelines of this story. 💚

Douwe, Zubin, & Clara the rhino’s journey from India to Europe and subsequent travels to various locales, visits palaces, and Clara being a celebrity was fun and an enlightening peek into that time period (the 1700s).

In the current day timeline, Andrea taking control of her own life and saying no to something she didn’t feel comfortable being a part of… which then led her to this experience that was just what she had been working for career-wise was empowering.


Bonus for me was the surprise that Clara got to have a stop near Meissen, Germany – where my family name of Meissner comes from – to have her image crafted in porcelain.

I just listened to a podcast interview with the author. I'm excited to hear that she has a companion book, "The Porcelain Menagerie," about the porcelain maker (Johann Joachim Kaendler), is coming out in October 2025, and Clara makes a cameo!

🦏🦏🦏🦏🦏🦏
I’m so fascinated by Clara’s story and have been looking up the history to learn more. I came across this page on the author’s website with pictures of many of the pieces of art that were made by Clara.
https://www.jillianforsberg.com/clara-art


Highly, highly recommend this book!

🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟


#𝘕𝘦𝘵𝘎𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘦𝘺 #𝘏𝘪𝘴𝘵𝘰𝘳𝘪𝘤𝘢𝘭𝘍𝘪𝘤𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯 #𝘛𝘳𝘢𝘷𝘦𝘭 #𝘍𝘢𝘮𝘪𝘭𝘺

This story is told in two timelines ranging from the 18th century to the 21st century, from the travels of a ship's captain in 1740 to the discovery of an unexpected mystery in 2022.

In the 18th century, a Dutch sea captain named Douwe is travelling with a rhinoceros named Clara, who is that time the only rhino in Europe. Although most are fascinated by the unfamiliar beast, someone perceives her as a threat, as a result of which both the captain and his companion face unexpected danger.

In 21st century, some part of the lost story of Douwe and Clara finds its way to a young student taking her year abroad in the Netherlands.

The result is a fascinating exploration of a story based in historical reality, told in a touching, fictionalised form. This one will be greatly enjoyed by history buffs, animal lovers, and those who like an unusual story. It gets 3.5 stars.

The Rhino Keeper was a beautiful story about the bonds between animals and those who care for them. As a zookeeper who has worked with many different species, including greater one-horned rhinos, I was so happy with how Clara was portrayed. Zubin might not be a historically accurate character, but his soul was so precious and was by far a stand out character for me. I also loved the way Douwe and Andrea's storylines intertwined to unveil Clara's story.

While reading, there were multiple instances where I got similar vibes from this book as I did with The Greatest Showman movie. Something about the wonder Clara brought with her to each stop on their journey felt so magical. There were definitely times because of this, that I questioned Douwe's true motives, but over time those questions fell away. The author does also include an informative author's note about why Clara was cared for as she was as well as modern rhino conservation.

Historical fiction is not typically my go-to genre when reading, but when I heard about Jillian writing this story, I knew I needed to read it as soon as possible. This story was gripping, heartfelt, and meant a lot to me as I'm sure it does to other keepers who have or will read The Rhino Keeper someday.

The audiobook was very soothing and such a great way to consume this story.

Thank you to Jillian Forsberg for sending me an ARC ahead of the book's release.

3.5 stars rounded up

If you enjoyed West With Giraffes (Lynda Rutledge) or Leaving Time (Jodi Piccoult) you will find joy in this story.

The Rhino Keeper is a dual time line historical fiction novel that tells the story of an 18th century rhinoceros named Clara and his keepers as they traveled throughout Europe. This story runs concurrently with that of Andrea, a modern day college student who discovers Clara's grave while studying abroad in the Netherlands.

The only thing dragging this story down for me was the dual timeline. I found the main character (Andrea) to be extremely annoying. While the plot line attached to her story was exciting and added a nice contrast to the historical story, her personality and the writing just watered down the whole novel. The two portions of the novel felt like they were written by a different author entirely.

The historical journey of Clara and her caregivers was interesting, exciting, and endearing. I'd love to see this story told in a movie, and I think it would make a great family-friendly film. I would still recommend this book to others, but would suggest just skipping or skimming the Andrea chapters if you find that character to be as annoying as I did.

Thank you Netgalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

When was the last time you read a novel about a Dutch sea capitán? Never I bet, let alone throw in the dual time line and the love of an animal. A beautiful book from cover art to back cover

I love a début novel and this one had a gorgeous cover as well! Great first impression. However, when listening to a book, so much is about the narration and Caroline Hewitt did a fantastic job. I enjoyed this story as I love historical fiction and even more when it's based on actual events. 'The Rhino Keeper' reminded me of 'West With Giraffes'. It's important to note that this is a dual-timeline almost 300 years apart so the treatment of animals is obviously very different than what we know today so this might be off-putting for some readers.

I literally cannot imagine traveling with a rhino knowing NOTHING about them...in the 1700s! I appreciated the Author's Note that not much was known about this journey so she did take some creative license to imagine how this played out and she did it well! When I finished this book, I looked up some rhino facts. Of note, they can poop up to 50lbs a day! Goodness. Just dealing with this alone is mind-boggling. Also, rhinos use their teeth NOT their horns for defense.
Often with dual timeline stories, I get more attached to one timeline than the other. The story of Clara, Douwe, and Zubin had my heart. However, without present day Andrea ("Anh-dray-a not Andrea") discovering an 18th century grave with a rhinoceros etching, we wouldn't have this beautiful story.

Wonderful, well-researched début from Jillian Forsberg. Thank you to Jillian, History through Fiction LLC, and NetGalley for the audio ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you NetGalley and IBPA for the ARC of this audiobook for my honest review

It was an interesting book, I felt like I learnt a bit. I just think I got bored at times. It was nice to hear about the reality of this fictional story at the end though. To know what was fact and fiction and that were was some fact to it.

Audio format 🎧

This book covers the story of Clara, an Indian rhino that was transported from India to Europe in the 18th Century. In the current day timeline a student finds some hidden items in a secret compartment that alludes to a Rhino in Europe and she seeks to reveal why.

What I liked
🦏 Dual timeline storyline
🦏 Excellent audio narration
🦏 I found the historical (based on true story) element really fascinating

Overall I really enjoyed this audio book. From a story perspective I would have given this a 3.5 but the audio narration was excellent so I will bump this up to a 4/5.

Thank you to History Through Fiction | Independent Book Publishers Association (IBPA), Members' Audiobooks and Net Galley for a copy of this audiobook.