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Loka Legends #1
The Cat in the Cradle
To set out into the world, to be surrounded by the unknown and become a stranger. Only then would he be free to reinvent himself. Or fall in love.
Dylan wanted one last adventure before the burden of adulthood was thrust upon him. And to confront the man he hadn't spoken to since their intimate night together. Stealing a boat with his faithful companion Kio, their journey is cut short when they witness a brutal murder. A killer is loose in the Five Lands and attacking the most powerful families. Dylan--a potential target--seeks sanctuary from an unpredictable bodyguard named Tyjinn. Together they decide to turn the tables by hunting the killer down. Along the way, everything Dylan thought he knew about himself will be challenged, but if he survives, he stands to win the love he never dreamed possible.
The Cat in the Cradle is the first book in the Loka Legends series and features twenty-five original illustrations created by Andreas Bell, the author's husband.
Dylan wanted one last adventure before the burden of adulthood was thrust upon him. And to confront the man he hadn't spoken to since their intimate night together. Stealing a boat with his faithful companion Kio, their journey is cut short when they witness a brutal murder. A killer is loose in the Five Lands and attacking the most powerful families. Dylan--a potential target--seeks sanctuary from an unpredictable bodyguard named Tyjinn. Together they decide to turn the tables by hunting the killer down. Along the way, everything Dylan thought he knew about himself will be challenged, but if he survives, he stands to win the love he never dreamed possible.
The Cat in the Cradle is the first book in the Loka Legends series and features twenty-five original illustrations created by Andreas Bell, the author's husband.
316 pages, Kindle Edition
First published March 23, 2010
63 people are currently reading
1718 people want to read
About the author
Jay Bell
46 books2,212 followersJay Bell is a proud gay man and the award-winning author behind dozens of emotional and yet hopelessly optimistic stories. His best-selling book, Something Like Summer, spawned a series of heart-wrenching novels, a musically driven movie, and a lovingly drawn comic. When not crafting imaginary worlds, he occupies his free time with animals, art, action figures, and—most ardently—his husband Andreas. Jay is always dreaming up new stories about boys in love. If that sounds like your cup of tea, you can get the kettle boiling by visiting www.jaybellbooks.com.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 82 reviews
July 6, 2020
Man, I really wanted to love this book more, and honestly? I could see a lot of potential in the idea of this story. The idea was really cool, but the execution wasn't all that great. I think a lot more development of the characters and of the world would have done wonders. As it is, the world has a skeleton structure, but not a whole lot of meat. There is some history but not much. There is some explanation of the magic, but not enough. The relationship between Dylan and the love interest is so instalovey, and not something I really enjoyed. Maybe if the two had more meaningful connections spread out, then I would be routing for them, but it's an almost immediate love.
I think my main qualm comes with the characters. Dylan could have been so much more than what happens with him. He doesn't actually grow or change as a person at all besides accepting that he likes other guys. Only one person even gives him flak about it, and they're the villain, so it wasn't a big hurdle to overcome in the story. He starts off the book running away from his water people, but we don't understand why besides him being horny? His father is a great dad, and they have a great relationship. So it's hard to understand the beginning of this journey in the first place. Why he doesn't care about where the heck his first crush/kiss went, the world will never know (or maybe it's in the sequel, but I won't know).
Most of the other characters are equally stagnant. They pop in and out and don't grow or learn much. There's even an instance of a physical disability being magicked away (at a cost at least). I still think if this story was given another few drafts, with a lot of edits, it would have been incredible. But it fell a bit flat for me, unfortunately.
I think my main qualm comes with the characters. Dylan could have been so much more than what happens with him. He doesn't actually grow or change as a person at all besides accepting that he likes other guys. Only one person even gives him flak about it, and they're the villain, so it wasn't a big hurdle to overcome in the story. He starts off the book running away from his water people, but we don't understand why besides him being horny? His father is a great dad, and they have a great relationship. So it's hard to understand the beginning of this journey in the first place. Why he doesn't care about where the heck his first crush/kiss went, the world will never know (or maybe it's in the sequel, but I won't know).
Most of the other characters are equally stagnant. They pop in and out and don't grow or learn much. There's even an instance of a physical disability being magicked away (at a cost at least). I still think if this story was given another few drafts, with a lot of edits, it would have been incredible. But it fell a bit flat for me, unfortunately.
April 14, 2010
5 very, very solid stars. I predict that by the end of 2010 this book will have many YA Literary, GLBT YA Literary and GLBT Literary Awards mentioned on the cover of it’s future editions and on it’s website.
The Cat in the Cradle is a thrilling adventure filled with suspense, likable characters, a consistent imaginative world and plenty of twists and turns. Wrapped in all of this is a coming out story written with such heart that people from all walks of life will appreciate it.
The three main characters, Dylan, Kio and Tyjin, are unlikely heroes who are learning things as they go and doing the best they can with what is being thrown at them. They are insecure, playful, mischievous, witty, sincere and coming to terms with their inner strengths as well as their shortcomings.
I lost count of how many times I smiled at the clever dialogue between Dylan and his talking cat, Kio. The language flows with the ease of a young adult book but has a much older sense of humor. The world Jay Bell creates is comfortable place, easily relatable to both readers who enjoy fantasy fictions and those who are new to the genre.
If I tried to label this book as a coming out story set in a fantasy world I wouldn’t be doing this book justice. This book is a fantasy adventure. Dylan and Tyjin’s sexuality is not incidental, far from it...their growing attraction and Dylan’s self discovery are important, just not over powering to the rest of what is going on.
I wish this book had been around when I was a young adult. Dylan’s struggle with coming to terms with his sexuality will ring true for so many readers. I know it did for me. With this one story Jay Bell speaks to so many situations that gay teens face...internalized fear, possibility of rejection by family and friends, awkward first encounters, missed opportunities and self acceptance.
When Dylan ponders:
Most gay youth will relate. Yes, it can feel that big.
He’s set the bar high for himself, but I hope this is not all I’ll read from Jay Bell.
The Cat in the Cradle is a thrilling adventure filled with suspense, likable characters, a consistent imaginative world and plenty of twists and turns. Wrapped in all of this is a coming out story written with such heart that people from all walks of life will appreciate it.
The three main characters, Dylan, Kio and Tyjin, are unlikely heroes who are learning things as they go and doing the best they can with what is being thrown at them. They are insecure, playful, mischievous, witty, sincere and coming to terms with their inner strengths as well as their shortcomings.
I lost count of how many times I smiled at the clever dialogue between Dylan and his talking cat, Kio. The language flows with the ease of a young adult book but has a much older sense of humor. The world Jay Bell creates is comfortable place, easily relatable to both readers who enjoy fantasy fictions and those who are new to the genre.
If I tried to label this book as a coming out story set in a fantasy world I wouldn’t be doing this book justice. This book is a fantasy adventure. Dylan and Tyjin’s sexuality is not incidental, far from it...their growing attraction and Dylan’s self discovery are important, just not over powering to the rest of what is going on.
I wish this book had been around when I was a young adult. Dylan’s struggle with coming to terms with his sexuality will ring true for so many readers. I know it did for me. With this one story Jay Bell speaks to so many situations that gay teens face...internalized fear, possibility of rejection by family and friends, awkward first encounters, missed opportunities and self acceptance.
When Dylan ponders:
The world had been so simple yesterday. Funny how much difference a single day could make. A murderous Oligarch? An eel-man and other killer creatures? No Problem. Loving someone that you weren’t suppose to. That was hard.
Most gay youth will relate. Yes, it can feel that big.
He’s set the bar high for himself, but I hope this is not all I’ll read from Jay Bell.
September 18, 2010
^^ SIMPLY MAGICAL!^^
4.5
The Cat in the Cradle is a wonderful tale about friendship, beautiful magic, and the momentous feeling that is love. This is a wonderful magical read, filled with imaginative creatures and a deeply woven plot. The world created is just spellbinding, and the illustrations provide an eye-catching look worthy of its chapter. I was just blown away and all types of impressed with this book, it is a story not to be missed.
We meet Dylan the main narrator, he is bored with his over pampered life and he is wanting a bit of adventure. He shares these thoughts with his best friend Kio a talking cat. What you should know about Dylan is that he is the son of the Blue Oligarch, a magician with a power over the element water. The Oligarchs are powerful men and women, with their own unique power, and they are divided by color and each color represents its own unique magic. Dylan is next in line to rule with the blue loka, but he feels he is unworthy because he can barely muster enough magic to fill a cup with water. Yearning for adventure Dylan and Kio come up with a plan to visit a friend and throw caution to the wind, their little adventure leads to tragedy, and future that will become too much for a 17-year-old boy and his oversize cat.
The book then becomes as I would say “pure action movie to the face” when Dylan witnesses the murder of the Yellow Oligarch. Yet to realize he just witnessed his doom, and is then thrust into a war of a power hungry magic user. The story becomes one spine tingling event after another, the excitement builds then explodes and it just blew my mind. The world created was interesting, filled with magical beasts,and the makeup of the Oligarch’s and their color magic. Dylan takes us through this wonderful world with the enthusiasm of a young person caught in an adventure. His observations are innocent and delightful, and will cause the reader to feel that excitement through the pages. Yet with all the new world to discover a sinister plan is brewing and Dylan is caught right in the middle, and what he faces will be a threat to him and a danger to those he loves.
We are then introduced to secondary narrators Ty and Lali, and they become a big part of the story. These very young characters become shining heroes, yet they were prone to small mistakes, which is just the prime example of growing up. Dylan faces issues with his own sexuality, while battling living creatures. This is the undertone of the entire plot; a young man feeling lost, and is worried about how his friends, family, and society will view him, because of his sexual orientation. The characters are delightful and you will likely be with them or against them. Kio the cat is charm, he is sarcastic and just a great big fur ball of fun. These very relatable characters will impress you.
Overall, an engaging wonderful read, the book is far from perfect but I find that makes sense to me, it makes it real. This book has enough action and gore for the adult reader, yet I would recommend it for a 15 and over age group. It is a magical joy filled ride, and the setting is so imaginative and totally creative. I also recommend the illustrated version of this book; the drawings match each chapter effortlessly. You will not be disappointed by the world of the Oligarch and their color ruling powers, each color represents an affinity of life in the form of a wondrous tale. The Cat in the Cradle is a book not to be missed, a book about love, discovering of self and the acceptance of who you are.
4.5
The Cat in the Cradle is a wonderful tale about friendship, beautiful magic, and the momentous feeling that is love. This is a wonderful magical read, filled with imaginative creatures and a deeply woven plot. The world created is just spellbinding, and the illustrations provide an eye-catching look worthy of its chapter. I was just blown away and all types of impressed with this book, it is a story not to be missed.
We meet Dylan the main narrator, he is bored with his over pampered life and he is wanting a bit of adventure. He shares these thoughts with his best friend Kio a talking cat. What you should know about Dylan is that he is the son of the Blue Oligarch, a magician with a power over the element water. The Oligarchs are powerful men and women, with their own unique power, and they are divided by color and each color represents its own unique magic. Dylan is next in line to rule with the blue loka, but he feels he is unworthy because he can barely muster enough magic to fill a cup with water. Yearning for adventure Dylan and Kio come up with a plan to visit a friend and throw caution to the wind, their little adventure leads to tragedy, and future that will become too much for a 17-year-old boy and his oversize cat.
The book then becomes as I would say “pure action movie to the face” when Dylan witnesses the murder of the Yellow Oligarch. Yet to realize he just witnessed his doom, and is then thrust into a war of a power hungry magic user. The story becomes one spine tingling event after another, the excitement builds then explodes and it just blew my mind. The world created was interesting, filled with magical beasts,and the makeup of the Oligarch’s and their color magic. Dylan takes us through this wonderful world with the enthusiasm of a young person caught in an adventure. His observations are innocent and delightful, and will cause the reader to feel that excitement through the pages. Yet with all the new world to discover a sinister plan is brewing and Dylan is caught right in the middle, and what he faces will be a threat to him and a danger to those he loves.
We are then introduced to secondary narrators Ty and Lali, and they become a big part of the story. These very young characters become shining heroes, yet they were prone to small mistakes, which is just the prime example of growing up. Dylan faces issues with his own sexuality, while battling living creatures. This is the undertone of the entire plot; a young man feeling lost, and is worried about how his friends, family, and society will view him, because of his sexual orientation. The characters are delightful and you will likely be with them or against them. Kio the cat is charm, he is sarcastic and just a great big fur ball of fun. These very relatable characters will impress you.
Overall, an engaging wonderful read, the book is far from perfect but I find that makes sense to me, it makes it real. This book has enough action and gore for the adult reader, yet I would recommend it for a 15 and over age group. It is a magical joy filled ride, and the setting is so imaginative and totally creative. I also recommend the illustrated version of this book; the drawings match each chapter effortlessly. You will not be disappointed by the world of the Oligarch and their color ruling powers, each color represents an affinity of life in the form of a wondrous tale. The Cat in the Cradle is a book not to be missed, a book about love, discovering of self and the acceptance of who you are.
April 19, 2010
4.5 stars
Maybe it’s just me but I had the Harry Chaplin song “Cat’s in the Cradle” in my head EVERY single time I picked up this book. While the title is fitting to the book, it also evoked a catchy song that drove me insane when it wouldn’t leave my head. Despite the whole “little boy blue and the man on the moon” mental repetition, The Cat in the Cradle is an utterly delightful, whimsical fantasy filled with a creative imaginative plot, great characters, solid writing, and eye catching art work. While not perfect, the first foray into the publishing world for author Jay Bell is a great step and one not to be missed.
The story immediately introduces us to the main narrator Dylan, the son of the Blue Oligarch. The Oligarchs are a group of ten magic wielding men and women who rule their lands with powers denoted by the color of their magic. Dylan’s father controls most things water as denoted by the Blue loka – or gem that concentrates and focuses magical power – yet poor Dylan can barely conjure enough liquid to drink. His weak blue magic skills are offset by a spoiled and indulgent childhood with a father that loves him deeply and compensates for a missing mother. Dylan longs for adventure and settles upon a crackpot scheme to run away to a friend’s house with only his long time companion Kio, a talking cat. Together the two embark on a journey with no plans, no food, no map, and only the vague hope of the other boy. Unwittingly the two step into the middle of a complicated and sinister battle for power among the Oligarchs. Dylan may only be 17 but he throws himself into the mix with all the hubris and excitement being young and on your own can bring.
The plot itself is strongly action driven but well written and compelling. The story follows Dylan on his adventure that soon turns into a complex plot for power among the head magic users. The twists and turns feel natural and organic, without any forcing or obvious manipulations. There are some mistakes and stupid actions by the characters but they are young, insecure, scared, confident, and fully realized characters so the mistakes and missteps they make are understandable and work well within the story’s context. The plot uses a mixture of action and character development so the pace is not always even. There is somewhat of a hurry up and wait aspect as there tends to be spurts of exciting, almost frantic action and then longer periods of introspection during traveling times. This doesn’t hurt any reading enjoyment and in fact keeps things lively and interesting, but it won’t always work for those readers that prefer an even pace and tone throughout.
Part of this unevenness is due to the complicated and truly intriguing world building. The fantasy world crafted is intricate, complex, and fascinating. The author does a really great job in incorporating the new world with all its wonders without overwhelming the story and allowing the fantasy aspect to be the main focus. Here the characters and solid plot are equally, if not more, important than the world building. The light touch with interesting details allows readers who may not be huge fantasy fans to be drawn into the story while those who enjoy fantasy stories will revel in the creative imagery. But the combination of action, world building, and character development makes for some slower movements offset by quick action. I was totally absorbed in the story and couldn’t wait to find out what happens next so I wasn’t bothered by the up and down nature but some might be.
The characters themselves are very charming and endearing. Dylan is the main third person narrator and his youthful inexperience sets the tone for the eventual rag tag group of characters. The majority of them are also young, such as Leli and Tyjin, so the characters tend to make a lot of mistakes. This helps show young adults, even fantasy magic users, as likable and even relatable. These characters go through the same problems as any others with worrying about popularity, their future, sexual identity, not living up to family pressures, and so on. The incorporation of these timeless themes makes the characters instantly understandable and sympathetic. Dylan especially shines as an insecure, confused young man struggling to come to terms with his sexuality and his place since he lacks the real magical power to take over from his father. His sexual acceptance is important and perhaps even more so because he faces the same fears and concerns as many young adults coming out.
The writing and dialogue often is humorous and quirky. The talking cat Kio is a total delight with his observations and steadfast loyalty to Dylan. In fact he almost outshines many of the other characters and together with Tyjin, forms a compelling trio to watch. One that I can only hope will have future adventures and stories even as this offering stands on its own with no hanging threads. However the wealth of potential and creativity in the story, characters, and the world itself begs for a sequel. Or perhaps that’s just me begging.
One final note of mention is the illustrations. The story comes in both illustrated and non versions and I highly recommend getting the illustrated version. Each chapter offers a drawing fitting to the chapter and the artwork is skillful and interesting. It doesn’t have an incredibly polished feel but more so, they feel like sketches and glimpses. I found myself looking forward to each new chapter to see what the artist would come up with and how it would fit with the imagery the writing creates. For example, living in a flying windmill created by magic. I loved it.
The Cat in the Cradle is an incredibly fun and delightful read. The characters and fantasy world come alive with an energy easily translated across the page. The solid plot helps smooth over any questionable aspects even as the numerous twists and turns sometimes overshadow the book; yet the well crafted characters and their journey will draw you into their world. For those fans that like young adult fantasy books, this definitely delivers well. For those readers that are looking for something interesting, creative, and different – this is a great choice. The light touch and entertaining dialogue will keep you interested even if fantasy isn’t your first choice.
Maybe it’s just me but I had the Harry Chaplin song “Cat’s in the Cradle” in my head EVERY single time I picked up this book. While the title is fitting to the book, it also evoked a catchy song that drove me insane when it wouldn’t leave my head. Despite the whole “little boy blue and the man on the moon” mental repetition, The Cat in the Cradle is an utterly delightful, whimsical fantasy filled with a creative imaginative plot, great characters, solid writing, and eye catching art work. While not perfect, the first foray into the publishing world for author Jay Bell is a great step and one not to be missed.
The story immediately introduces us to the main narrator Dylan, the son of the Blue Oligarch. The Oligarchs are a group of ten magic wielding men and women who rule their lands with powers denoted by the color of their magic. Dylan’s father controls most things water as denoted by the Blue loka – or gem that concentrates and focuses magical power – yet poor Dylan can barely conjure enough liquid to drink. His weak blue magic skills are offset by a spoiled and indulgent childhood with a father that loves him deeply and compensates for a missing mother. Dylan longs for adventure and settles upon a crackpot scheme to run away to a friend’s house with only his long time companion Kio, a talking cat. Together the two embark on a journey with no plans, no food, no map, and only the vague hope of the other boy. Unwittingly the two step into the middle of a complicated and sinister battle for power among the Oligarchs. Dylan may only be 17 but he throws himself into the mix with all the hubris and excitement being young and on your own can bring.
The plot itself is strongly action driven but well written and compelling. The story follows Dylan on his adventure that soon turns into a complex plot for power among the head magic users. The twists and turns feel natural and organic, without any forcing or obvious manipulations. There are some mistakes and stupid actions by the characters but they are young, insecure, scared, confident, and fully realized characters so the mistakes and missteps they make are understandable and work well within the story’s context. The plot uses a mixture of action and character development so the pace is not always even. There is somewhat of a hurry up and wait aspect as there tends to be spurts of exciting, almost frantic action and then longer periods of introspection during traveling times. This doesn’t hurt any reading enjoyment and in fact keeps things lively and interesting, but it won’t always work for those readers that prefer an even pace and tone throughout.
Part of this unevenness is due to the complicated and truly intriguing world building. The fantasy world crafted is intricate, complex, and fascinating. The author does a really great job in incorporating the new world with all its wonders without overwhelming the story and allowing the fantasy aspect to be the main focus. Here the characters and solid plot are equally, if not more, important than the world building. The light touch with interesting details allows readers who may not be huge fantasy fans to be drawn into the story while those who enjoy fantasy stories will revel in the creative imagery. But the combination of action, world building, and character development makes for some slower movements offset by quick action. I was totally absorbed in the story and couldn’t wait to find out what happens next so I wasn’t bothered by the up and down nature but some might be.
The characters themselves are very charming and endearing. Dylan is the main third person narrator and his youthful inexperience sets the tone for the eventual rag tag group of characters. The majority of them are also young, such as Leli and Tyjin, so the characters tend to make a lot of mistakes. This helps show young adults, even fantasy magic users, as likable and even relatable. These characters go through the same problems as any others with worrying about popularity, their future, sexual identity, not living up to family pressures, and so on. The incorporation of these timeless themes makes the characters instantly understandable and sympathetic. Dylan especially shines as an insecure, confused young man struggling to come to terms with his sexuality and his place since he lacks the real magical power to take over from his father. His sexual acceptance is important and perhaps even more so because he faces the same fears and concerns as many young adults coming out.
The writing and dialogue often is humorous and quirky. The talking cat Kio is a total delight with his observations and steadfast loyalty to Dylan. In fact he almost outshines many of the other characters and together with Tyjin, forms a compelling trio to watch. One that I can only hope will have future adventures and stories even as this offering stands on its own with no hanging threads. However the wealth of potential and creativity in the story, characters, and the world itself begs for a sequel. Or perhaps that’s just me begging.
One final note of mention is the illustrations. The story comes in both illustrated and non versions and I highly recommend getting the illustrated version. Each chapter offers a drawing fitting to the chapter and the artwork is skillful and interesting. It doesn’t have an incredibly polished feel but more so, they feel like sketches and glimpses. I found myself looking forward to each new chapter to see what the artist would come up with and how it would fit with the imagery the writing creates. For example, living in a flying windmill created by magic. I loved it.
The Cat in the Cradle is an incredibly fun and delightful read. The characters and fantasy world come alive with an energy easily translated across the page. The solid plot helps smooth over any questionable aspects even as the numerous twists and turns sometimes overshadow the book; yet the well crafted characters and their journey will draw you into their world. For those fans that like young adult fantasy books, this definitely delivers well. For those readers that are looking for something interesting, creative, and different – this is a great choice. The light touch and entertaining dialogue will keep you interested even if fantasy isn’t your first choice.
February 16, 2011
I'd had high hopes, given the numerous 4- and 5-star reviews it seems to get everywhere, but, man, those hopes were dashed.
Characters can make or break a story, I think, and the characters here definitely don't make this one. They're stereotypical, one-dimensional, and never seem to exhibit any sort of growth. I can't think of one in whom I was invested. They appear and disappear randomly, showing up as a handy plot device before vanishing again. I tended to lose track of who was who because none of them were really around long enough to leave a strong impression; in the end, when Dylan returns to his home for the climactic battle, there was a mention of someone being there with Jack. It took me two more pages before I got the context to remember that Jack was Dylan's father. The lack of character growth was disappointing, too, and Dylan's 'gimme!' at the end with the grey loka made me go from not particularly caring about him to actively disliking him; he never seems to grow past being a selfish little boy.
I could forgive the characters if the plot was engaging, but, well, it wasn't. The pacing was clumsy, clumsy, clumsy, rushing through battles and lingering on things that ultimately seem to have no bearing on the plot. What was the purpose of Dylan disobeying what's-his-face the White Oligarch-who-isn't and being dragged along by the Drake to a fate unknown? It struck me as needless padding, especially as Dylan really faces no consequences of his actions. Why should I care about corpse sludge, or Lali's near-rape (please, don't even get me started on Lali's near-rape)? They're things that didn't need to be in there and only served to emphasize how weak the plot is.
I picked the book up because I have a weakness for gay themes in fantasy, but the themes here are barely explored. Dylan angsts about his relationships and the impression is given that same-sex relationships are frowned upon, but it seems as though everyone who finds out about Dylan and Tyjinn either couldn't care less or is delighted. The relationship isn't explicit, which is actually a nice change as most gay fiction lately involves a graphic sex scene within the first thirty pages, which a pattern which is repeated throughout the books. It would have been nice to see some development, though, as it went from love at first sight to twoo wuv ridiculously quickly.
In truth, the only reason I'm giving this book 2 stars rather than 1 is the illustrations. Each chapter is headed by an illustration of a scene or setting from within the chapter, and the art is absolutely charming. They were all that kept me reading at times, so that I could finish just one more chapter and see the lovely image.
Maybe I'm too harsh, I don't know. What I do know is that I had to struggle to finish this; a 257-page book should not take multiple sessions to read, but this took me plenty. Maybe it's great for YA, but it's not for me.
Characters can make or break a story, I think, and the characters here definitely don't make this one. They're stereotypical, one-dimensional, and never seem to exhibit any sort of growth. I can't think of one in whom I was invested. They appear and disappear randomly, showing up as a handy plot device before vanishing again. I tended to lose track of who was who because none of them were really around long enough to leave a strong impression; in the end, when Dylan returns to his home for the climactic battle, there was a mention of someone being there with Jack. It took me two more pages before I got the context to remember that Jack was Dylan's father. The lack of character growth was disappointing, too, and Dylan's 'gimme!' at the end with the grey loka made me go from not particularly caring about him to actively disliking him; he never seems to grow past being a selfish little boy.
I could forgive the characters if the plot was engaging, but, well, it wasn't. The pacing was clumsy, clumsy, clumsy, rushing through battles and lingering on things that ultimately seem to have no bearing on the plot. What was the purpose of Dylan disobeying what's-his-face the White Oligarch-who-isn't and being dragged along by the Drake to a fate unknown? It struck me as needless padding, especially as Dylan really faces no consequences of his actions. Why should I care about corpse sludge, or Lali's near-rape (please, don't even get me started on Lali's near-rape)? They're things that didn't need to be in there and only served to emphasize how weak the plot is.
I picked the book up because I have a weakness for gay themes in fantasy, but the themes here are barely explored. Dylan angsts about his relationships and the impression is given that same-sex relationships are frowned upon, but it seems as though everyone who finds out about Dylan and Tyjinn either couldn't care less or is delighted. The relationship isn't explicit, which is actually a nice change as most gay fiction lately involves a graphic sex scene within the first thirty pages, which a pattern which is repeated throughout the books. It would have been nice to see some development, though, as it went from love at first sight to twoo wuv ridiculously quickly.
In truth, the only reason I'm giving this book 2 stars rather than 1 is the illustrations. Each chapter is headed by an illustration of a scene or setting from within the chapter, and the art is absolutely charming. They were all that kept me reading at times, so that I could finish just one more chapter and see the lovely image.
Maybe I'm too harsh, I don't know. What I do know is that I had to struggle to finish this; a 257-page book should not take multiple sessions to read, but this took me plenty. Maybe it's great for YA, but it's not for me.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 12, 2011
Just Finished the Cat in the Cradle.
Having read Something Like Summer only a few days ago, I decided to read this book and now this author has rocketed to my number 1 slot for fiction writers.
The breadth of Bells capabilities as a writer is astonishing, The Cat in the Cradle proves beyond a doubt that he is as accomplished a Fantasy novelist as he is a Romance writer. The world you are thrown into from the first few pages was at times bizarre and at others preposterous, but in an ingenious way at no point did you ever feel that in the world Bell has created, any of it was out of place.
As Usual, Bell has created characters that leap out from the page, with likeable qualities. There is always an underlying suspense that drives you forward, wanting to know more. The relationships are sometimes complex, but it adds depth to the characters.
There were a couple of times, especially near 3/4 of the way through the story that I felt parts of the story where not really adding anything to the overall picture and it did start to drag, and I openly admit to flicking through a few pages, skimming until I got to something that seemed more relevant. I think the whole Black Oligarch plot device could have been dropped without any real effect on the overall story. Thankfully though, this didn't last long and we were back up-to speed at a blistering pace, for the final showdown.
Another thoroughly enjoyable read.
Right off to read Bells 2 Short Stories...
Having read Something Like Summer only a few days ago, I decided to read this book and now this author has rocketed to my number 1 slot for fiction writers.
The breadth of Bells capabilities as a writer is astonishing, The Cat in the Cradle proves beyond a doubt that he is as accomplished a Fantasy novelist as he is a Romance writer. The world you are thrown into from the first few pages was at times bizarre and at others preposterous, but in an ingenious way at no point did you ever feel that in the world Bell has created, any of it was out of place.
As Usual, Bell has created characters that leap out from the page, with likeable qualities. There is always an underlying suspense that drives you forward, wanting to know more. The relationships are sometimes complex, but it adds depth to the characters.
There were a couple of times, especially near 3/4 of the way through the story that I felt parts of the story where not really adding anything to the overall picture and it did start to drag, and I openly admit to flicking through a few pages, skimming until I got to something that seemed more relevant. I think the whole Black Oligarch plot device could have been dropped without any real effect on the overall story. Thankfully though, this didn't last long and we were back up-to speed at a blistering pace, for the final showdown.
Another thoroughly enjoyable read.
Right off to read Bells 2 Short Stories...
April 18, 2012
Really enjoyable YA fantasy. Bell is a great writer--I wouldn't qualify his style as "simple," but uncluttered and unburdened, easy to read and imagine, nice flow. He's very adept at creating believable, balanced characters, and writes both younger and older voices well. (You know sometimes when an adult writer writes from a child or teen perspective and it totally doesn't sound real? Bell doesn't have that problem.)
There are some nice romantic elements included as well. I think for teens, especially LGBT teens, they'll enjoy that angle a lot (since it's not like the YA LGBT fantasy section is over-flowing with options, unfortunately). For parents, the developing romance between the two teen protagonists is the fun, lovey stuff—nothing too saucy and adult, so no need for that worried, awkward face. (You'll probably enjoy the book as well, so maybe have a family book group.)
(Parents might also dig that the parents of the MCs are solid, stand-up characters that love their kids. This isn't an angst-fest about sexuality and being rejected by your family. It's an adventure story abut personal growth, building confidence, and love. Very positive.)
Good world-building, wonderful dialogue, and both the main characters and background characters felt real and fleshed out. There are also some nice, darker conflicts of the heart—about regrets for past actions, etc. That angle reminded me a little of Miyuki Miyabe's fantasy opus Brave Story, which also included some heavier themes of dealing with anger and abandonment, and the repercussions of our choices. Both this book and Miyabe's are solid YA fantasy reads that include the fun adventure that people are looking for, but slip in those heavier, human elements that are always good to ruminate on and add a lot of depth.
If there's a sequel coming, I'm definitely up for reading it. Until then, I recommend this book for anyone looking for a YA fantasy read, and it should definitely be included on LGBT teen library lists. It's too positive of a book to not share it.
(Also, the e-book version was less than $4. Seriously, for such a good book, that's a steal.)
There are some nice romantic elements included as well. I think for teens, especially LGBT teens, they'll enjoy that angle a lot (since it's not like the YA LGBT fantasy section is over-flowing with options, unfortunately). For parents, the developing romance between the two teen protagonists is the fun, lovey stuff—nothing too saucy and adult, so no need for that worried, awkward face. (You'll probably enjoy the book as well, so maybe have a family book group.)
(Parents might also dig that the parents of the MCs are solid, stand-up characters that love their kids. This isn't an angst-fest about sexuality and being rejected by your family. It's an adventure story abut personal growth, building confidence, and love. Very positive.)
Good world-building, wonderful dialogue, and both the main characters and background characters felt real and fleshed out. There are also some nice, darker conflicts of the heart—about regrets for past actions, etc. That angle reminded me a little of Miyuki Miyabe's fantasy opus Brave Story, which also included some heavier themes of dealing with anger and abandonment, and the repercussions of our choices. Both this book and Miyabe's are solid YA fantasy reads that include the fun adventure that people are looking for, but slip in those heavier, human elements that are always good to ruminate on and add a lot of depth.
If there's a sequel coming, I'm definitely up for reading it. Until then, I recommend this book for anyone looking for a YA fantasy read, and it should definitely be included on LGBT teen library lists. It's too positive of a book to not share it.
(Also, the e-book version was less than $4. Seriously, for such a good book, that's a steal.)
January 17, 2011
I loved this book. The world building, to me, was incredibly complex while still easy to follow and instead of making this a really long review, I suggest you read Kassa's review. She did a great job on trying to explain what the world was like.
Besides the fact that I loved the fantasy aspect of the book, I really liked the plot and the characters. While the world was complex, the plot was easy to follow which made it all the more enjoyable. I liked the fact that the world was built around colors and has a certain magical power attached to each color. It was funny and interesting to see the adventures play out for Dylan, Tyjinn and Kio while they explored, and tried to warn, each person attached to the colors.
The characters are likable from the start. Dylan, a bored, seventeen year old and Kio, a talking cat, make a hilarious pair. Being best friends all their lives makes the responses and bickering between the two extremely funny. I think Tyjinn was my favorite. He knows from the start that he loves Dylan but he still has issues from his past that he can't get over which is why I liked him so much. I did love Dylan and Kio but Tyjinn is still my favorite.
I'm curious to whether there will be a sequel or not. While the ending isn't a cliff-hanger, it was still a bit open-ended which made it feel like a set-up for another story. I hope there will be one because I'd like to read more about the adventures Dylan, Kio, and Tyjinn get into as well as more into Tyjinn and Dylan's new relationship.
Overall, an awesome book. I loved the world and I loved the characters and I highly recommend this to anyone looking for a great fantasy. [image error]
Besides the fact that I loved the fantasy aspect of the book, I really liked the plot and the characters. While the world was complex, the plot was easy to follow which made it all the more enjoyable. I liked the fact that the world was built around colors and has a certain magical power attached to each color. It was funny and interesting to see the adventures play out for Dylan, Tyjinn and Kio while they explored, and tried to warn, each person attached to the colors.
The characters are likable from the start. Dylan, a bored, seventeen year old and Kio, a talking cat, make a hilarious pair. Being best friends all their lives makes the responses and bickering between the two extremely funny. I think Tyjinn was my favorite. He knows from the start that he loves Dylan but he still has issues from his past that he can't get over which is why I liked him so much. I did love Dylan and Kio but Tyjinn is still my favorite.
I'm curious to whether there will be a sequel or not. While the ending isn't a cliff-hanger, it was still a bit open-ended which made it feel like a set-up for another story. I hope there will be one because I'd like to read more about the adventures Dylan, Kio, and Tyjinn get into as well as more into Tyjinn and Dylan's new relationship.
Overall, an awesome book. I loved the world and I loved the characters and I highly recommend this to anyone looking for a great fantasy. [image error]
December 18, 2013
3.75 stars.
This novel features well-written, engaging characters, includes a (mostly) compelling hero's quest, and offers a dash of sweet romance on the side. It was a lot of fun!
The Five Lands, which are the setting here, are ruled by powerful magicians -- the Oligarchs -- and all of them possess a uniquely-colored stone called a loka, which serves as the repository for a vast set of powers. Possessing multiple stones would allow the owner to rule over the entire nation. The action in the story begins when it becomes clear that a very powerful magician is in the process of murdering oligarchs in order to capture their lokas as well as all of their attendant powers. Dylan, the son of one of the oligarchs, is thrown into the middle of this whirlwind, along with his best friend and talking cat, Kio, and a bodyguard/love interest, the young Red Oligarch, Tyjinn. Together, they set off on a quest to try to stop the murderer before this person takes over the world.
Jay Bell has done a nice job here of writing a coming-of-age story which primarily features Dylan's efforts to stand on his own and face the world with courage, but also shows us Tyjinn's struggle to come to grips with certain mistakes that he made in the past. These two young men are on the threshold of becoming adults, with all of the responsibilities that this entails, and as a result, they are forced to make hard choices about honesty, honor, and forgiveness, among other things, that will characterize the individuals they are destined to become. It is a pleasure watching them go through this process. Even though there are some rough spots in the story -- it began to drag in the last third of the book -- this was definitely an enjoyable read.
This novel features well-written, engaging characters, includes a (mostly) compelling hero's quest, and offers a dash of sweet romance on the side. It was a lot of fun!
The Five Lands, which are the setting here, are ruled by powerful magicians -- the Oligarchs -- and all of them possess a uniquely-colored stone called a loka, which serves as the repository for a vast set of powers. Possessing multiple stones would allow the owner to rule over the entire nation. The action in the story begins when it becomes clear that a very powerful magician is in the process of murdering oligarchs in order to capture their lokas as well as all of their attendant powers. Dylan, the son of one of the oligarchs, is thrown into the middle of this whirlwind, along with his best friend and talking cat, Kio, and a bodyguard/love interest, the young Red Oligarch, Tyjinn. Together, they set off on a quest to try to stop the murderer before this person takes over the world.
Jay Bell has done a nice job here of writing a coming-of-age story which primarily features Dylan's efforts to stand on his own and face the world with courage, but also shows us Tyjinn's struggle to come to grips with certain mistakes that he made in the past. These two young men are on the threshold of becoming adults, with all of the responsibilities that this entails, and as a result, they are forced to make hard choices about honesty, honor, and forgiveness, among other things, that will characterize the individuals they are destined to become. It is a pleasure watching them go through this process. Even though there are some rough spots in the story -- it began to drag in the last third of the book -- this was definitely an enjoyable read.
September 2, 2012
4.5 stars. Very good young adult gay fantasy (with romantic elements) about a young man and his talking cat who head out to experience more of life than what they've seen during their sheltered existence. They achieve that in spades.
October 26, 2020
Enjoyed
This is a YA fantasy filled with magic. It’s about 17 year old Dylan who decides on the spur of the moment that he and Kio, his huge talking cat and best friend, should set off on an adventure. And oh what an adventure it is. Along the way he meets Tyjinn who becomes the object of Dylan’s day dreams. While the romance part of this book is a very small part of the story, it has a strong presence and it is felt throughout the storyline.
This is nothing like Jay Bell’s Something Like... series so I was surprised it was so different and proves this author is no one trick pony when it comes to topics. There is great world building and diverse characters. I really enjoyed this book.
This is a YA fantasy filled with magic. It’s about 17 year old Dylan who decides on the spur of the moment that he and Kio, his huge talking cat and best friend, should set off on an adventure. And oh what an adventure it is. Along the way he meets Tyjinn who becomes the object of Dylan’s day dreams. While the romance part of this book is a very small part of the story, it has a strong presence and it is felt throughout the storyline.
This is nothing like Jay Bell’s Something Like... series so I was surprised it was so different and proves this author is no one trick pony when it comes to topics. There is great world building and diverse characters. I really enjoyed this book.
June 18, 2023
I do and I don't like this book. The story plot has a lot of potential and hooked me inside the world but I feel there could be more. I think the MCs relationship with his Dad is throwing me off. Because its almost that suffocating kind of coddling. But I am in love with how the MM Romance isn't the main focal point of the story its instead about the friendship between him and his cat and getting to the point where he sees what is right in front of him that being the potential love of his life. Still isn't a bad story just a lot of up and downs for me.
February 7, 2018
I was fooled by it‘s title first. But I am glad I gave it a go. It’s a really good fantasy book with a gay main character and a sweet lovestory. But it is more than that it is a great story about magic, friendship, love, decisions and sacrifice...
I really like the plot and the characters. The world the auther created is great and the magic and it‘s use is innovative. I really want to explore more of it!
I really like the plot and the characters. The world the auther created is great and the magic and it‘s use is innovative. I really want to explore more of it!
March 31, 2011
Stars: 4.5/5
Overall
I've had this book on my to-read list for a long time, and I kept promising myself that it would be next. But I kept putting it off because I'd heard such good things and I hate when my fantasies (no pun intended) are dashed. At one point I started it, but was distracted by a sexier, faster moving book. I didn't know what to expect from this book going in, but I was pleasantly surprised by what I found there. Although the writing isn't amazing, it isn't distracting from the story telling either, which is vital, especially to this story.
Strengths
World building. While everything in the world was relatively simple, it was also in an odd way beautifully constructed. I loved the oligarchies with their primary and secondary abilities. I wish we could have found out more about the world (like how many people have powers? We see Green's workers, but very little else), but I'm also glad the story didn't get bogged down with trying to get too much information across, even though I'd love to see more in this world!
Characters/plot. There was nice variety in the types of people that our heroes meet, and there was nice mix among the heroes. In the same vein, we had the main plot (stop the big bad) and then we had some other smaller plots that tied up in the end without overwhelming the rest of the story or distracting from the main purpose.
Resolution. I won't say much, but I like how everything turned out. It felt good.
Weaknesses
The writing is probably the weakest part of this novel, and it's by no stretch of the imagination bad. It's simple and direct, which once and a while came across clunky, but for the majority was fine. I think it worked to give the book a more "young adult" feel, and whether that was intended or not, I don't know. (Note, I'm not implying young adults can only read books with simple language, I'm just saying that it gives this book that feel.)
Points of view. While it didn't bother me like it normally does, we are once again treated to somewhat random head hopping. While I can understand the reasoning behind it, and I by all means enjoyed seeing what was happening, it was inconsistent, which pokes my button. I'm torn on the matter because it was used for some good reasons, but I also wonder if it could have been worked around. And then I think about not meeting the god of cats and I'm torn again, which is why this 'weakness' didn't diminish the score.
Be sure to check out my other reviews on my blog.
Overall
I've had this book on my to-read list for a long time, and I kept promising myself that it would be next. But I kept putting it off because I'd heard such good things and I hate when my fantasies (no pun intended) are dashed. At one point I started it, but was distracted by a sexier, faster moving book. I didn't know what to expect from this book going in, but I was pleasantly surprised by what I found there. Although the writing isn't amazing, it isn't distracting from the story telling either, which is vital, especially to this story.
Strengths
World building. While everything in the world was relatively simple, it was also in an odd way beautifully constructed. I loved the oligarchies with their primary and secondary abilities. I wish we could have found out more about the world (like how many people have powers? We see Green's workers, but very little else), but I'm also glad the story didn't get bogged down with trying to get too much information across, even though I'd love to see more in this world!
Characters/plot. There was nice variety in the types of people that our heroes meet, and there was nice mix among the heroes. In the same vein, we had the main plot (stop the big bad) and then we had some other smaller plots that tied up in the end without overwhelming the rest of the story or distracting from the main purpose.
Resolution. I won't say much, but I like how everything turned out. It felt good.
Weaknesses
The writing is probably the weakest part of this novel, and it's by no stretch of the imagination bad. It's simple and direct, which once and a while came across clunky, but for the majority was fine. I think it worked to give the book a more "young adult" feel, and whether that was intended or not, I don't know. (Note, I'm not implying young adults can only read books with simple language, I'm just saying that it gives this book that feel.)
Points of view. While it didn't bother me like it normally does, we are once again treated to somewhat random head hopping. While I can understand the reasoning behind it, and I by all means enjoyed seeing what was happening, it was inconsistent, which pokes my button. I'm torn on the matter because it was used for some good reasons, but I also wonder if it could have been worked around. And then I think about not meeting the god of cats and I'm torn again, which is why this 'weakness' didn't diminish the score.
Be sure to check out my other reviews on my blog.
October 24, 2011
4,5 stars!
It was a young adult book and it had the feel of it or maybe I've just grown up to much to fully appreciate it.
Which is not to say that the book is not for mature reader! Also I have to admit I liked the pictures inside the book, which you never find in the ones for grown up.
The style of the book did remind me of Pierce Anthony, so reading it was a bit like a trip back in my childhood, reading again of fantasy and adventure with caracters who still believe everything is possible and that the good will always triumph.
Since I did grown up the story and fantasy did feel a bit more simple. The journey to one Oligarch (magical user of an power stone and ruler of his particular part of the Five Lands)just doesn't take much effort and the characters are less complicated than some of the grown up versions.
Dylan, the son of the Blue Oligarch is making his way to visit a friend and this set some events in motion with far reaching consequences. Of course the friend, the son of the yellow Oligarch is not there and while he waits there is an attac.
Some of the ten Oligarchs are being killed and Dylan and his father set out to prevent this and warn the others. On his travel Dylan meets other Oligarchs(most of whom are rather ethentric) and makes new friends, allies and finds love.
So you see it is a sweet read, with no sex but a journey about growing up, finding friends and accepting oneself as one are.
It was a young adult book and it had the feel of it or maybe I've just grown up to much to fully appreciate it.
Which is not to say that the book is not for mature reader! Also I have to admit I liked the pictures inside the book, which you never find in the ones for grown up.
The style of the book did remind me of Pierce Anthony, so reading it was a bit like a trip back in my childhood, reading again of fantasy and adventure with caracters who still believe everything is possible and that the good will always triumph.
Since I did grown up the story and fantasy did feel a bit more simple. The journey to one Oligarch (magical user of an power stone and ruler of his particular part of the Five Lands)just doesn't take much effort and the characters are less complicated than some of the grown up versions.
Dylan, the son of the Blue Oligarch is making his way to visit a friend and this set some events in motion with far reaching consequences. Of course the friend, the son of the yellow Oligarch is not there and while he waits there is an attac.
Some of the ten Oligarchs are being killed and Dylan and his father set out to prevent this and warn the others. On his travel Dylan meets other Oligarchs(most of whom are rather ethentric) and makes new friends, allies and finds love.
So you see it is a sweet read, with no sex but a journey about growing up, finding friends and accepting oneself as one are.
May 27, 2012
2.5 stars
I don't have much to say about this book other than that I was extremely disappointed by it. It made for a quick and simple read, which is not always bad, but in this case it was because it could have been so much more!
The concept of lokas was fascinating to me and kept me reading, but the story itself seemed simplified. I had a hard time making myself continue at some points and I really only finished the book because I wanted to see how the author would end it. I was disappointed with the lack of depth in all aspects of this story because there could have been so much more going on. Even the characters lacked depth and they didn't hold my attention for more than a few pages after their introduction. Again, another aspect of the story that was not fully developed.
Overall, this book had the potential to be something thrilling and hard to put down, but it fell short of that.
I don't have much to say about this book other than that I was extremely disappointed by it. It made for a quick and simple read, which is not always bad, but in this case it was because it could have been so much more!
The concept of lokas was fascinating to me and kept me reading, but the story itself seemed simplified. I had a hard time making myself continue at some points and I really only finished the book because I wanted to see how the author would end it. I was disappointed with the lack of depth in all aspects of this story because there could have been so much more going on. Even the characters lacked depth and they didn't hold my attention for more than a few pages after their introduction. Again, another aspect of the story that was not fully developed.
Overall, this book had the potential to be something thrilling and hard to put down, but it fell short of that.
July 3, 2023
Magic exits!
Everyone has it and some people even want it more and more !
The hunger to be the best mage though all the land of wizards one can become crazy and lunatic and rather aggressive. The story follows a young boy who is the son to a single father who only happens to be the water wizard. The world was already pre-set for him. All he had to do was to follow his father's footprints and become the new Water wizard someday. But he and his talking cat thought it would be great to take a detour where they realised that there has been chaos looming in the shadows just under their nose. So they embark on a journey to find and recruit the rest of the mages for the Ultimate showdown.
JAY BELL you are my inspiration <3
Everyone has it and some people even want it more and more !
The hunger to be the best mage though all the land of wizards one can become crazy and lunatic and rather aggressive. The story follows a young boy who is the son to a single father who only happens to be the water wizard. The world was already pre-set for him. All he had to do was to follow his father's footprints and become the new Water wizard someday. But he and his talking cat thought it would be great to take a detour where they realised that there has been chaos looming in the shadows just under their nose. So they embark on a journey to find and recruit the rest of the mages for the Ultimate showdown.
JAY BELL you are my inspiration <3
August 24, 2010
Won this in a First Reads giveaway.
I finally got a chance to sit down and read this when I left my other book at work over the weekend. :)
I really enjoyed this wonderful, magical story. Like another reviewer, the world that Bell created reminded my of Xanth at first glance, but there's enough difference to make it unique to this story.
I wouldn't mind seeing more books to follow this one. This was a great coming of age story, but the world is rich enough, there could easily be follow-ups.
I finally got a chance to sit down and read this when I left my other book at work over the weekend. :)
I really enjoyed this wonderful, magical story. Like another reviewer, the world that Bell created reminded my of Xanth at first glance, but there's enough difference to make it unique to this story.
I wouldn't mind seeing more books to follow this one. This was a great coming of age story, but the world is rich enough, there could easily be follow-ups.
May 30, 2011
This is a well written and vibrant young adult adventure. Though at times it was at time a little wordy which caused it to drag here and there but that didn't take away from my involvement in the story. I loved Ty who at times was more mature than Dylan even though he wasn't much older. Dylan was a typical teenager with a mouth to match. Overall, the world was unique and enjoyable. I had totally guessed the wrong person for the villain, who was really well done. I look forward to reading more by this author. BTW - loved the cover. It's one of my favorites.
August 26, 2014
3.5
This was weird. Good weird, but yeah . . . I loved the ideas and imagination in this, I just wish there'd been more tension. It all happened in such a whirlwind without giving me time to process and feel the emotions.
Still, the writing was fluid and I enjoyed the read.
This was weird. Good weird, but yeah . . . I loved the ideas and imagination in this, I just wish there'd been more tension. It all happened in such a whirlwind without giving me time to process and feel the emotions.
Still, the writing was fluid and I enjoyed the read.
June 16, 2012
The Cat in the Cradle was a very pleasant surprise for me and I enjoyed reading it. It's a charming and easily likeable fantasy book, which handles difficult subjects in a sensitive and engaging way.
The Cat in the Cradle is a story about a young man called Dylan. He's the son of the Blue Oligarch and lives in the Lakelands. Dylan decides to travel away for a few days, because he's a bit bored with his life (he decides to visit his friend, Rano, who's the son of the Yellow Oligarch). When Dylan witnesses the brutal murder of the Yellow Oligarch, his father sends him away with a powerful loka stone. Dylan finds shelter at the house of Tyjinn and begins to fall in love with him. Together they decide to investigate things and try to stop the killer. Soon Dylan and Tyjinn notice that things aren't as simple as they thought they'd be...
The main characters are Dylan, Tyjinn, Lali and Kio (Dylan's talking cat). Both Dylan and Tyjinn are young men and children of the Oligarchs. Tyjinn's friend, Lali, is a young woman who lives in the desert. Dylan is a bit shy, confused and insecure, but Tyjinn is a much more determined and braver. Dylan's cat, Kio, is an interesting character, because he makes funny and sarcastic comments about things.
All the main characters are charming and almost instantly likeable. They're sympathetic characters, because they aren't perfect. One of the best things about this book is that the characters have their own problems and they make mistakes. This makes them realistic, because making mistakes is part of growing up and although we try not to make them, mistakes happen. Reading about the characters' mistakes was truly interesting and it added lots of depth to the story.
The worldbuilding works fine, because Jay Bell writes fascinatingly about exotic places, people, animals and beings, which inhabit the Five Lands. He gradually adds interesting bits and pieces to the story and makes the fantasy world come alive. The magical and strange animals and beasts were intriguing (for example, the woodworm were well created creatures). All the locations are different - for example, the Lakelands is a totally different kind of an area than the desert where the Green Oligarch lives. The Oligarchs are also different and each one has his/her own kind of personality.
The magic system in this book is interesting, because Oligarchs use loka stones/crystals to do powerful magic. Each Oligarch has different powers and they're able to do different things. There's also other kind of magic, which is done by magicians. It was interesting to read how Dylan's feelings affected his ability to use magic, because you don't normally see this kind of thing in modern fantasy books.
The plot moves fast forward, but every once in a while it slows down and the author develops the characters by revealing more about them and their lives. The combination of character development and action works well, because it keeps things interesting.
I liked the Jay Bell's writing style, because the story was delightfully humourous and exciting. The best way to describe the author's writing style is to say that it's direct and easily likeable.
By the way, Kio almost steals the show, because he's a big cat and he can talk. His comments are wonderfully sarcastic and observative - they add charming lightness to the story and make the reader wait for what he says next. The author shows a lot of potential in this book, because this kind of creativeness is a bit rare nowadays. He also seems to have an ability to write easily about small details, which add lots of depth to the fantasy world.
What separates The Cat in the Cradle from most fantasy books is that the main character, Dylan, is gay. The author wrote fluently about Dylan's feelings and insecurities. I enjoyed reading about how he gradually began to accept his feelings and realized that it's okay to love another guy. Dylan goes through the same kind of emotions that each teenage guy has to go through when he falls in love with somebody, because feelings are the same for everybody regardless of their sexual orientation (in Dylan's case his feelings cause him a bit more problems, because he has to think about what it means to love another guy and how people are going to react to it).
I think it's great that the author has written a fantasy book about a young gay man, because it's difficult to find good gay fantasy. There aren't many fantasy series in which the main characters are gay (at this moment only Lynn Flewelling's Nightrunner series and Richard Morgan's A Land Fit for Heroes series come to my mind as examples of fantasy series in which the main characters are gay), so it was interesting to read about Dylan, his life and his sexual identity.
This book is also a story about love, friendship, duty and sacrifice, because the main characters have to go through several things and face lots of problems. The choices that the characters have to make aren't always easy, so they have to deal with them and their consequences.
The Cat in the Cradle is almost like a fairytale for adults, because some events create a fairytale-like atmosphere. This book can also be called a young adult book for adults, because I think it's possible that several readers may want to categorize it as a young adult book. In my opinion this book is adult fantasy, because it contains violence, but readers may have different opinions about this thing.
This book contains several drawings by Andreas Bell (all the artwork is done by him). I'm sure that readers will like these drawings, because they look beautiful. Click here to visit Andreas Bell's website. (If I'm not mistaken, this book was first published without illustrations and the illustrations were added to the new edition.)
I liked The Cat in the Cradle very much and I intend to read the second book, when it's published, because it's difficult to find this kind of fascinating and creative gay fantasy. The Cat in the Cradle is a charming fantasy book, which can be recommended to fantasy readers, who enjoy reading entertaining stories. I think that this book can also be recommended to readers who don't normally read fantasy, because it's an amazingly delightful and funny fantasy book.
If you're looking for something creative, different and entertaining to read, The Cat in the Cradle is a good choice, because it's an enjoyable read.
The Cat in the Cradle is a story about a young man called Dylan. He's the son of the Blue Oligarch and lives in the Lakelands. Dylan decides to travel away for a few days, because he's a bit bored with his life (he decides to visit his friend, Rano, who's the son of the Yellow Oligarch). When Dylan witnesses the brutal murder of the Yellow Oligarch, his father sends him away with a powerful loka stone. Dylan finds shelter at the house of Tyjinn and begins to fall in love with him. Together they decide to investigate things and try to stop the killer. Soon Dylan and Tyjinn notice that things aren't as simple as they thought they'd be...
The main characters are Dylan, Tyjinn, Lali and Kio (Dylan's talking cat). Both Dylan and Tyjinn are young men and children of the Oligarchs. Tyjinn's friend, Lali, is a young woman who lives in the desert. Dylan is a bit shy, confused and insecure, but Tyjinn is a much more determined and braver. Dylan's cat, Kio, is an interesting character, because he makes funny and sarcastic comments about things.
All the main characters are charming and almost instantly likeable. They're sympathetic characters, because they aren't perfect. One of the best things about this book is that the characters have their own problems and they make mistakes. This makes them realistic, because making mistakes is part of growing up and although we try not to make them, mistakes happen. Reading about the characters' mistakes was truly interesting and it added lots of depth to the story.
The worldbuilding works fine, because Jay Bell writes fascinatingly about exotic places, people, animals and beings, which inhabit the Five Lands. He gradually adds interesting bits and pieces to the story and makes the fantasy world come alive. The magical and strange animals and beasts were intriguing (for example, the woodworm were well created creatures). All the locations are different - for example, the Lakelands is a totally different kind of an area than the desert where the Green Oligarch lives. The Oligarchs are also different and each one has his/her own kind of personality.
The magic system in this book is interesting, because Oligarchs use loka stones/crystals to do powerful magic. Each Oligarch has different powers and they're able to do different things. There's also other kind of magic, which is done by magicians. It was interesting to read how Dylan's feelings affected his ability to use magic, because you don't normally see this kind of thing in modern fantasy books.
The plot moves fast forward, but every once in a while it slows down and the author develops the characters by revealing more about them and their lives. The combination of character development and action works well, because it keeps things interesting.
I liked the Jay Bell's writing style, because the story was delightfully humourous and exciting. The best way to describe the author's writing style is to say that it's direct and easily likeable.
By the way, Kio almost steals the show, because he's a big cat and he can talk. His comments are wonderfully sarcastic and observative - they add charming lightness to the story and make the reader wait for what he says next. The author shows a lot of potential in this book, because this kind of creativeness is a bit rare nowadays. He also seems to have an ability to write easily about small details, which add lots of depth to the fantasy world.
What separates The Cat in the Cradle from most fantasy books is that the main character, Dylan, is gay. The author wrote fluently about Dylan's feelings and insecurities. I enjoyed reading about how he gradually began to accept his feelings and realized that it's okay to love another guy. Dylan goes through the same kind of emotions that each teenage guy has to go through when he falls in love with somebody, because feelings are the same for everybody regardless of their sexual orientation (in Dylan's case his feelings cause him a bit more problems, because he has to think about what it means to love another guy and how people are going to react to it).
I think it's great that the author has written a fantasy book about a young gay man, because it's difficult to find good gay fantasy. There aren't many fantasy series in which the main characters are gay (at this moment only Lynn Flewelling's Nightrunner series and Richard Morgan's A Land Fit for Heroes series come to my mind as examples of fantasy series in which the main characters are gay), so it was interesting to read about Dylan, his life and his sexual identity.
This book is also a story about love, friendship, duty and sacrifice, because the main characters have to go through several things and face lots of problems. The choices that the characters have to make aren't always easy, so they have to deal with them and their consequences.
The Cat in the Cradle is almost like a fairytale for adults, because some events create a fairytale-like atmosphere. This book can also be called a young adult book for adults, because I think it's possible that several readers may want to categorize it as a young adult book. In my opinion this book is adult fantasy, because it contains violence, but readers may have different opinions about this thing.
This book contains several drawings by Andreas Bell (all the artwork is done by him). I'm sure that readers will like these drawings, because they look beautiful. Click here to visit Andreas Bell's website. (If I'm not mistaken, this book was first published without illustrations and the illustrations were added to the new edition.)
I liked The Cat in the Cradle very much and I intend to read the second book, when it's published, because it's difficult to find this kind of fascinating and creative gay fantasy. The Cat in the Cradle is a charming fantasy book, which can be recommended to fantasy readers, who enjoy reading entertaining stories. I think that this book can also be recommended to readers who don't normally read fantasy, because it's an amazingly delightful and funny fantasy book.
If you're looking for something creative, different and entertaining to read, The Cat in the Cradle is a good choice, because it's an enjoyable read.
April 26, 2023
As much fun as I had with this book, it definitely read like a first novel. A passion project that the author put EVERY idea into, regardless of how little detail or how much sense it made to the plot, just because they wanted to see it.
Quick, add a scene about getting jumped by some dangerous people in the desert. Quick, add a side plot about this random ghost that has nothing to do with the story and has no consequences. Ahh shoot, better add in this part about a dragon.
There's no build up, or lasting effects, but you can tell that the author REALLY wanted to involve these things, even at the sacrifice of the actual climax against the "villain".
It was fun, I had a good time, it was way less romance and much more Magick internal turmoil than expected, but hey. I'm not gonna complain too much :)
Quick, add a scene about getting jumped by some dangerous people in the desert. Quick, add a side plot about this random ghost that has nothing to do with the story and has no consequences. Ahh shoot, better add in this part about a dragon.
There's no build up, or lasting effects, but you can tell that the author REALLY wanted to involve these things, even at the sacrifice of the actual climax against the "villain".
It was fun, I had a good time, it was way less romance and much more Magick internal turmoil than expected, but hey. I'm not gonna complain too much :)
March 25, 2019
First 50% I was thinking of dropping it. Finished, liked, but not so sure.
Magic system is too weird and unfair, remembers Eragorn (did someone say dragons' heart? Yeah, that is so bad, here with stones, or lokas). Main character is so naive and lacking of ideas that frustrates me. The love story is acceptable, but could have been better (I love you, you love me, wow, few sights pew pew live together we are perfectly matched by heavens).
Not so bad after all, enjoyable without too much as expectations.
Magic system is too weird and unfair, remembers Eragorn (did someone say dragons' heart? Yeah, that is so bad, here with stones, or lokas). Main character is so naive and lacking of ideas that frustrates me. The love story is acceptable, but could have been better (I love you, you love me, wow, few sights pew pew live together we are perfectly matched by heavens).
Not so bad after all, enjoyable without too much as expectations.
April 29, 2022
I love Jay Bell deeply after reading Something Like Summer.
I think this book had an incredible protentional.
Things I loved about Cat in the Cradle:
*Original.
*Beautiful settings.
*The first half of the book.
*Pictures were beautiful.
Things I didn't love about Cat in the Cradle:
*Oligarch were all.... useless?
*Unpopular opinion: Kio was annoying! Everything was his fault.
*The second half of the book, especially because Tyjinn was hardly there.
*Dylan was a bit too perfect.
*I missed action, drama.
I think this book had an incredible protentional.
Things I loved about Cat in the Cradle:
*Original.
*Beautiful settings.
*The first half of the book.
*Pictures were beautiful.
Things I didn't love about Cat in the Cradle:
*Oligarch were all.... useless?
*Unpopular opinion: Kio was annoying! Everything was his fault.
*The second half of the book, especially because Tyjinn was hardly there.
*Dylan was a bit too perfect.
*I missed action, drama.
September 4, 2017
I would have loved to have this book as a kid. It's exactly the sort of quirky fantasy romp I always enjoyed, but also representing queerness. I think reading it as an adult I didn't get quite as much enjoyment out if it as I would have as a kid, because it does suffer from a little bit of the flatness and lack of coherence that those sorts of stories I enjoyed always suffered from, but it was quite enjoyable nonetheless.
November 25, 2017
An early work from Jay Bell, The Cat in the Cradle augurs his success as an author. Like his subsequent works, it is character driven, is about G-rated, male-male relationships, and has an engaging story. I do notice Jay's growth as a novelist, even compared to the 2nd book in this series. The Cat in the Cradle does not have the smooth flow of prose that his later novels are known for. Still it is an easy read and is recommended for Gay Fantasy lovers.
7 of 10 stars
7 of 10 stars
April 19, 2019
Brilliant
I absolutely love his writing style. This was one exciting adventure keeping the reader on the edge of my seat the whole time. It was like being plunged into icey water, coming up barely breathing. He does a great job of making the character's believable, loving some while hating other's. Thank you for this new adventure
I absolutely love his writing style. This was one exciting adventure keeping the reader on the edge of my seat the whole time. It was like being plunged into icey water, coming up barely breathing. He does a great job of making the character's believable, loving some while hating other's. Thank you for this new adventure
January 5, 2018
I liked the story a lot though it moved like molasses more often than not. The descriptions were beautiful, and the world and magic, exciting!
May 2, 2018
4.5 STARS
April 5, 2019
I've read most of the Something books and this is so very different. It was a fun story and I look forward to reading the next one.
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