Scan barcode
fairytalearista's review against another edition
4.0
There were a lot of good ones, but most underwhelmed me. A common problem was a rushed ending plot twist that left me confused.
If you like cats and fantasy of any sort, you'll probably find something in this collection to love, though!
If you like cats and fantasy of any sort, you'll probably find something in this collection to love, though!
taaya's review against another edition
4.0
Only one story just couldn't keep my interest - and that's a good thing, because if all stories are for me, the anthology doesn't have something for everyone.
There also were a few where I was already thinking about skipping them, but then they managed to get me, surprise me positively, and in the end even become some of my favourites in this anthology.
There also were a few where I was already thinking about skipping them, but then they managed to get me, surprise me positively, and in the end even become some of my favourites in this anthology.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Suicide attempt and Death
briarrose1021's review
5.0
A fun anthology of short stories all featuring cats. Each story is different, some with cats as the protagonists and some with them as side characters, though we all know that a cat is never just a side character. All of the stories are different, but they all feature the wonderful personalities that cats have. If you are a cat lover and enjoy the occasional use of magic, give these stories a shot. I'm betting you'll find them as entertaining and intriguing as I did.
secre's review
5.0
A brilliant collection of short stories from a wide range of authors that caught my heart and kept me desperate for more. I loved how so many of these authors captured the whims and the arrogance of our feline companions so well, and just how much imagination was showcased throughout. Whether or not you are a fan of shorts, I would thoroughly recommend this anthology; there are no duds on display at all here, which is impressive for a collection with this breadth.
The Witching Hour by Savannah Jezowski: 4 stars. A cute little story featuring a princess, a chimney sweep and a snarky cat who knows what it wants and just how to get it. Really well written and a slightly new take on the old tale of the princess who has to marry.
The Tail of Two Kitlings by Sharon Hughson: 4.5 stars. Another excellently written tale about brothers and responsibility and the importance of a tail. There's some amazing world building here considering the length and I loved the depiction of the two brothers growing up and only wished that it could have been longer.
Black Knight by Laura L. Zimmerman: 3 stars. Far shorter and not as much meat to it, but enjoyable enough to read.
Sulphur and Sunshine by Grace Bridges: 3.5 stars. Interesting set up and bonus points for the inclusion of a dragon. I think this might have worked better as a slightly longer novella as there wasn't a chance for the author to really explore what was going on, but it's well written and sweet.
The Magic of Catnip by A.J. Bakke: 4 stars. Cute and hilarious, I really enjoyed this little bite of cat centred urbanesque fantasy. It's quirky and unusual, although the action at the end seemed a little out of place.
The Secret Treasons of the World by J.L. Rowan: 4.5 stars. This short tale moves us straight into high fantasy and really sets up a fascinating world exceptionally well. Apparently the author's other tales are set in the same universe, so I'll be interested to have a look and see what they are like.
The Poor Miller and the Cat by Lelia Rose Foreman: 3.5 stars. A short morality tale with a bitter sweet ending.
Alex the Cat and Alex the Prince by Ace G. Pilkington: 4 stars. I really enjoyed this bite sized fantasy piece which puts a different spin on a faerie tale of old. I loved the characters and felt that the tension and snark put together made for an excellent tale.
Whisker Width by H.L. Burke: 4.5 stars. Another excellent snippet of a tale that has really intrigued me about the author's full length works. I loved the teleporting cat and the hint of romance that could lead somewhere was well done, despite me not being a big fan of romance.
The Honourable Retrieval of Miss Sunbeam Honeydew by Pamela Sharp: 4 stars. I loved this little tale that once again tells a tale of siblings and of rivalry, but also touches on themes of love and loss.
The Witch's Cat by Rachel Ann Michael Harris: 3 stars. A very short little piece that is over almost as soon as it begins. Cute though!
The Cat-Dragon and the Unicorn by Janeen Ippolito: 5/5 stars. A wonderful little story that captures all the arrogance and snark of the feline and the dragon, without losing sight of humanity and love. I adored the world and the imagination showcased here and have bought the first in The Ironfire Legacy series to continue the adventures.
Destined For Greatness by Jenelle Leanne Schmidt: 4/5 stars. A cute little tongue in cheek story about what 'being destined for greatness' really means. I certainly didn't see where it ended up going and had great fun reading it.
Sammy's Secret by Karin De Havin: 4/5. Another beautifully written tale, although with less of the snark from a few of the preceding entries. I enjoyed how reality and fantasy were interwoven and felt the simple narrative lent itself well to the short format.
Death Always Collects by Jeremy Rodden: 5/5 stars. Oh my, this is heart-breaking and heart-warming both and left me with tingles up and down my spine. Stunningly written this is a look at the impact a single life, even that of a 'silly Siamese cat' can have. My favourite piece, hands down.
The Wild Hunt by Naomi Cohen: 4/5 stars. Since falling in love with the Toby Daye series, I'm a sucker for fae stories and particularly Cait Sidhe stories. This is both and is beautifully entertaining to boot.
The Witching Hour by Savannah Jezowski: 4 stars. A cute little story featuring a princess, a chimney sweep and a snarky cat who knows what it wants and just how to get it. Really well written and a slightly new take on the old tale of the princess who has to marry.
The Tail of Two Kitlings by Sharon Hughson: 4.5 stars. Another excellently written tale about brothers and responsibility and the importance of a tail. There's some amazing world building here considering the length and I loved the depiction of the two brothers growing up and only wished that it could have been longer.
Black Knight by Laura L. Zimmerman: 3 stars. Far shorter and not as much meat to it, but enjoyable enough to read.
Sulphur and Sunshine by Grace Bridges: 3.5 stars. Interesting set up and bonus points for the inclusion of a dragon. I think this might have worked better as a slightly longer novella as there wasn't a chance for the author to really explore what was going on, but it's well written and sweet.
The Magic of Catnip by A.J. Bakke: 4 stars. Cute and hilarious, I really enjoyed this little bite of cat centred urbanesque fantasy. It's quirky and unusual, although the action at the end seemed a little out of place.
The Secret Treasons of the World by J.L. Rowan: 4.5 stars. This short tale moves us straight into high fantasy and really sets up a fascinating world exceptionally well. Apparently the author's other tales are set in the same universe, so I'll be interested to have a look and see what they are like.
The Poor Miller and the Cat by Lelia Rose Foreman: 3.5 stars. A short morality tale with a bitter sweet ending.
Alex the Cat and Alex the Prince by Ace G. Pilkington: 4 stars. I really enjoyed this bite sized fantasy piece which puts a different spin on a faerie tale of old. I loved the characters and felt that the tension and snark put together made for an excellent tale.
Whisker Width by H.L. Burke: 4.5 stars. Another excellent snippet of a tale that has really intrigued me about the author's full length works. I loved the teleporting cat and the hint of romance that could lead somewhere was well done, despite me not being a big fan of romance.
The Honourable Retrieval of Miss Sunbeam Honeydew by Pamela Sharp: 4 stars. I loved this little tale that once again tells a tale of siblings and of rivalry, but also touches on themes of love and loss.
The Witch's Cat by Rachel Ann Michael Harris: 3 stars. A very short little piece that is over almost as soon as it begins. Cute though!
The Cat-Dragon and the Unicorn by Janeen Ippolito: 5/5 stars. A wonderful little story that captures all the arrogance and snark of the feline and the dragon, without losing sight of humanity and love. I adored the world and the imagination showcased here and have bought the first in The Ironfire Legacy series to continue the adventures.
Destined For Greatness by Jenelle Leanne Schmidt: 4/5 stars. A cute little tongue in cheek story about what 'being destined for greatness' really means. I certainly didn't see where it ended up going and had great fun reading it.
Sammy's Secret by Karin De Havin: 4/5. Another beautifully written tale, although with less of the snark from a few of the preceding entries. I enjoyed how reality and fantasy were interwoven and felt the simple narrative lent itself well to the short format.
Death Always Collects by Jeremy Rodden: 5/5 stars. Oh my, this is heart-breaking and heart-warming both and left me with tingles up and down my spine. Stunningly written this is a look at the impact a single life, even that of a 'silly Siamese cat' can have. My favourite piece, hands down.
The Wild Hunt by Naomi Cohen: 4/5 stars. Since falling in love with the Toby Daye series, I'm a sucker for fae stories and particularly Cait Sidhe stories. This is both and is beautifully entertaining to boot.
s_mart1_reads's review
3.0
Most of these short stories were very silly. The ones that were the most interesting were the ones from the cat’s POV. There were a few gems in this collection.
amia's review
5.0
This wonderful collection of stories has two things in common: 1. Each involves, to some extent, cats. 2. They are all delightful tales. Some made me laugh and a couple brought tears to my eyes but I greatly enjoyed each one. I highly recommend it and hope you enjoy it as much as I did.
More...