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booksarebetter's review
5.0
This is a cozy mystery book that’s seemingly told from the cats point of view. Need I say more? Well, apparently I must for this to be a full length review that’s more than a hundred words, so here goes.I loved the cats. I loved how accurate they were described in their behavior, I loved the humor and feel-goodness of it all. It was a perfect read, and I hope to be able to continue the series soon. I really liked the whole mystery set up too, and I can honestly say that there are very few books that I’ve read where the cats are the ones to go on the case to solve a mystery. I think this will be one of my favorites. Especially with the magical elements, the witches, and the dark atmosphere throughout the book itself.
If you like cozy mysteries featuring cats, then this book will definitely be to your liking. It’s fun, it’s clever, and it’s thoroughly magical. 5/5 stars for a an excellent first read from a new author, and I definitely look forward to getting to the rest of the series!
If you like cozy mysteries featuring cats, then this book will definitely be to your liking. It’s fun, it’s clever, and it’s thoroughly magical. 5/5 stars for a an excellent first read from a new author, and I definitely look forward to getting to the rest of the series!
dapplezee's review against another edition
3.0
I like the premise, but the writing style was a bit sugary for my taste. Also, not sure why the main (human) character often sounds like a fairly dim bulb even though she’s a researcher by profession.
rachel101's review
3.0
I loved the cats characters in this book and look forward to reading more of their adventures in the future. I didn’t really engage with the human characters and the story didn’t grip me, hence 3 stars but maybe the next 2 books will be better for me.
The cats were fabulous and the author definitely knows felines!
The cats were fabulous and the author definitely knows felines!
praetor's review against another edition
mysterious
relaxing
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
danicaskro's review against another edition
5.0
Cats + Magic + Cozy Mystery = GOLD!!! This was so cute. A group of witch wannabes surrounded by real witch cats. I loved that the cats actually acted like cats and I could even see my cats doing some of those same things. Good story with a ton of room to grow into something "magical" for future books.
spookshow's review
3.0
I received a copy of this book from Polis books via netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
This one was hard, I'm giving it an actual rating of 2.5 - 3 stars.
This book is definitely different. It follows Becca, an unemployed 'witch', as her everyday life is thrown into turmoil when she finds a member of her coven murdered. What makes this book different, is that it's not narrated by Becca, the obvious choice in a story like this, it is in fact, narrated by one of her three cats, Clara. Clara, Laurel and Harriett are Becca's three cats, unlike their human counterpart, they are witches. When Harriett summons a cushion for her own comfort, Becca thinks that she can actually wield powers and becomes somewhat of a "star" in her own coven, being the only person to successfully summon anything (or so she thinks). Clara often follows her 'person' when she leaves the apartment giving an unbroken narrative of Becca's actions and activities outside of home, the other two cats are written as being not as caring as Clara, so are not as involved.
I really loved the premise of this story. I mean come on, a book where it's narrated by cats!!! How exciting! Unfortunately, I found that that wasn't the case, I felt like I was floundering around in a pool of story while trying to clutch at bits and pieces, fumbling to make a connection to ANYTHING, while trying not to drown in the slow pacing. I felt connected to the narrator, which is great, but the problem was, the story was being told from another's view, which I think felt a bit disjointed for me. Harriett and Laurel were incredibly unlikable which made me sad, and Becca was fairly flat for me. Most of the other characters didn't have much depth to them, and there wasn't really anything outstanding about them that I found.
I think that the idea the author had was fantastic, but I also feel that something was lost in translation so to speak. I feel like Simon's could have done SO much more with her idea than what she did. I want to know more about the cat sisters, about their powers, their lineage. Maybe if they had have been the focal point of the story with bits about their 'person' thrown in just to illustrate the fact that they were housecats as well as all powerful witches, it would have resonated better with me. I'm not sure if the author is planning on making this a series or not, if she does I will still read the next one in the hope that there's something...more happening, yet I also fail to see how this could be made into a series. I imagine that Becca would have to eventually find out about her cats and their powers, however forbidden it is for the cats to reveal this, but I fail to see how the story could be expanded upon.
The mystery aspect was fairly meh for me, as I said earlier, I felt like the clues and leads were very 'grasping at straws', so to speak. It felt a little bit clumsily done and executed. I had no idea who the culprit was, which I normally enjoy, but by the time it was revealed, I didn't really care anymore. The pacing kinda killed it a little bit for me.
All that said, I still implore people to give this a go, you never know, you might thoroughly enjoy it! I'd put it down as a cozy mystery myself. I'm so sad, I really wanted to love this.
This one was hard, I'm giving it an actual rating of 2.5 - 3 stars.
This book is definitely different. It follows Becca, an unemployed 'witch', as her everyday life is thrown into turmoil when she finds a member of her coven murdered. What makes this book different, is that it's not narrated by Becca, the obvious choice in a story like this, it is in fact, narrated by one of her three cats, Clara. Clara, Laurel and Harriett are Becca's three cats, unlike their human counterpart, they are witches. When Harriett summons a cushion for her own comfort, Becca thinks that she can actually wield powers and becomes somewhat of a "star" in her own coven, being the only person to successfully summon anything (or so she thinks). Clara often follows her 'person' when she leaves the apartment giving an unbroken narrative of Becca's actions and activities outside of home, the other two cats are written as being not as caring as Clara, so are not as involved.
I really loved the premise of this story. I mean come on, a book where it's narrated by cats!!! How exciting! Unfortunately, I found that that wasn't the case, I felt like I was floundering around in a pool of story while trying to clutch at bits and pieces, fumbling to make a connection to ANYTHING, while trying not to drown in the slow pacing. I felt connected to the narrator, which is great, but the problem was, the story was being told from another's view, which I think felt a bit disjointed for me. Harriett and Laurel were incredibly unlikable which made me sad, and Becca was fairly flat for me. Most of the other characters didn't have much depth to them, and there wasn't really anything outstanding about them that I found.
I think that the idea the author had was fantastic, but I also feel that something was lost in translation so to speak. I feel like Simon's could have done SO much more with her idea than what she did. I want to know more about the cat sisters, about their powers, their lineage. Maybe if they had have been the focal point of the story with bits about their 'person' thrown in just to illustrate the fact that they were housecats as well as all powerful witches, it would have resonated better with me. I'm not sure if the author is planning on making this a series or not, if she does I will still read the next one in the hope that there's something...more happening, yet I also fail to see how this could be made into a series. I imagine that Becca would have to eventually find out about her cats and their powers, however forbidden it is for the cats to reveal this, but I fail to see how the story could be expanded upon.
The mystery aspect was fairly meh for me, as I said earlier, I felt like the clues and leads were very 'grasping at straws', so to speak. It felt a little bit clumsily done and executed. I had no idea who the culprit was, which I normally enjoy, but by the time it was revealed, I didn't really care anymore. The pacing kinda killed it a little bit for me.
All that said, I still implore people to give this a go, you never know, you might thoroughly enjoy it! I'd put it down as a cozy mystery myself. I'm so sad, I really wanted to love this.
kkaste's review
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
annarella's review
5.0
I love Clea Simon's books and I love the way she writes her cat characters.
The cat were the main characters in this book and they all were likeable and realistic, my favourite one is Clare.
This a books were the cats are the main characters and things that happen are seen through their eyes.
Their human, Becca, her dysfunctional wiccan coven and the other characters are interesting, Becca is also very quite and likeable, but they pale and if you can like them but you end up loving the three cats.
The mystery was interesting and kept me guessing till the end. I read this book as fast as I could because I wanted to know what was next.
It's also one of those book that makes you feel sad when they ends.
I look forward to reading the next instalment.
Highly recommended!
Many thanks to Polis Books and Netgalley for this ARC
The cat were the main characters in this book and they all were likeable and realistic, my favourite one is Clare.
This a books were the cats are the main characters and things that happen are seen through their eyes.
Their human, Becca, her dysfunctional wiccan coven and the other characters are interesting, Becca is also very quite and likeable, but they pale and if you can like them but you end up loving the three cats.
The mystery was interesting and kept me guessing till the end. I read this book as fast as I could because I wanted to know what was next.
It's also one of those book that makes you feel sad when they ends.
I look forward to reading the next instalment.
Highly recommended!
Many thanks to Polis Books and Netgalley for this ARC
krisrid's review
2.0
I thought I would enjoy this, but it didn't work for me at all.
First off, Becca is a wishy-washy wimp. I couldn't connect with her even a little. I like strong female characters but Becca isn't that at all.
As for the cats, Clara was okay, but the other two were just awful! I get that they are cats, but most cats care about their humans A LITTLE at least! Harriet and Laurel?! Completely selfish and couldn't care the least bit about Becca other than her being their feeder. I did not like either of them the least little bit.
This was just all wrong for me with tone and characters and I did not finish it. Fortunately, I got it from the library and that is where it is going back to, so nothing lost here but a bit of time.
First off, Becca is a wishy-washy wimp. I couldn't connect with her even a little. I like strong female characters but Becca isn't that at all.
As for the cats, Clara was okay, but the other two were just awful! I get that they are cats, but most cats care about their humans A LITTLE at least! Harriet and Laurel?! Completely selfish and couldn't care the least bit about Becca other than her being their feeder. I did not like either of them the least little bit.
This was just all wrong for me with tone and characters and I did not finish it. Fortunately, I got it from the library and that is where it is going back to, so nothing lost here but a bit of time.
jmbz38's review against another edition
lighthearted
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
1.5