Cat Key

by Mason Gallaway

After the mysterious death of her grandmother, Kitt learns that she is heir to a key talisman with potent healing power, granting her a place in the mystical Order of the Keys. But dark forces also want the power, and they are willing to destroy the balance of form and void to get it. When Kitt tries to obtain her birthright, the key is accidentally lost, carried away by a common house cat in the wrong place at the wrong time.

Along with the other Key Holders, she must evade fierce, ravenous entities in order to find the cat and reclaim her key. Otherwise, the wounds in time and space will grow and darkness will consume all.

264 pages, Paperback

Published June 15, 2023

About the author

Mason Gallaway is a writer of mostly dark, weird, and scary stories. He is the author of GORY and SUBMERGED, and his short stories have appeared in various publications. He lives in Tennessee with his family and has a life that's not too dark, weird, or scary.

Reviews

[Paul O’Neill · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great read to kick off my New Year! If you're looking for a fantastical, creeping tale, this is it.

From the cover:
After the mysterious death of her grandmother, Kitt learns that she is heir to a key talisman with potent healing power, granting her a place in the mystical Order of the Keys. But dark forces also want the power, and they are willing to destroy the balance of form and void to get it. When Kitt tries to obtain her birthright, the key is accidentally lost, carried away by a common house cat in the wrong place at the wrong time.

I loved Kitt. The author let me sink into her experience from the off and never let go. This is from the opening para, third sentence:
'She always figured places and things were supposed to look smaller and less intimidating once you’d grown older and bigger. But now she felt as though she were shrinking in real time.'

Dear authors, can you do more of this? It really connects you to the character and you're instantly ready for story.

The writing in general was just a joy to read. Check this bad boy out:
'The ghost cat woke Kitt sometime in the night. She felt a fuzzy rumbling in her ear and the wet kiss of a cold nose on her cheek. A bristle of whisker grazed her ear. A tail gave her face a velvety slash, almost triggering a sneeze.'

I don't think anyone could draw me closer to the sensations in this sequence. It's typical of the writing throughout.

I still can't quite put my finger on it, but it had a whole Labyrinth vibe to it. Magical, unexpected, creepy, with a lot of heart.

I've read some of Gallaway's stories and after this, he's made it to my must-buy list.

[Country Mama · Rating 5 out of 5]

Kitt is our female MC in this story. Her grandmother has just died in the beginning of the story and she is trying to cope with this new happening. Kitt starts seeing things as she goes into her grandmother’s house. Her grandmother Bella, before she died set up many things for Kitt to go over and find in the house. And Kitt finds that she has some kind of power!
The world is beautifully built by the author and so are the characters in this book. I really felt connected to Kitt as a reader, which is an amazing talent from the author. I was engaged from the beginning of the book as a reader to the end. I love the one scene with the shoes standing in the doorframe. That reminded me of a movie I saw as a young child and I loved reminiscing!

I also loved the creepy points in the book, y’all may want to read this one in the daytime. Spooky scenes steal the show in this one! Loved it! Also, the mystery of something watching Kitt is so intriguing as a reader as well, it makes you want to read more right away. And meeting Dava, Cane, and Pete was a good thing for Kitt overall. I really liked the premise of a keyholder in this book and I look forward to hopefully another book soon, wink wink to the author!😉

[Meigan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Magic , mystery, and mayhem abound in CAT KEY by Mason Gallaway. 19 y/o Kitt is thrown into a strange new world as her grandmother passes away and leaves an odd family legacy to her. Kitt is now a Key Holder and with no one there to guide her, she’s truly on her own as she tries to figure out what being a Key Holder entails. She’s immediately confronted by something…other…that wants what she has, and it’s immediately clear that she must move quickly to figure out not only what the importance is of the key, but also what she must do to protect it.

There are some chills and thrills to be had as Kitt confronts the forces who are after the key, and there were quite a few tense moments as she’s caught up in the danger and the dark magic of the evil entities who are chasing her. The pace moves really fast, making CAT KEY a quick and fun read that delivers plenty of suspense and tense moments. This is one I’d recommend for lovers of dark fantasy who like a bit of horror thrown in. 4 stars.


*digital arc received courtesy of the author and publisher.

[Amelia Vegan · Rating 5 out of 5]

"The pages changed. Gray spots began to appear all over them, like spreading ink or mold blooming at high speed. The spots spread outward, covering the white. In a matter of seconds the book pages were entirely grayed."

Perfectly spooky read for the chilly days! I was already lured in by the cover and the cat being in the title, and then the story delivered all the vibes it promised!
I kind of want the healing energy now, maybe not the same way it's described in the book, but similar.
There's group magic, which sometimes reminded me of the show The Secret Circle, and being in love with that show I could easily imagine the book gang being all mischievous and doing spooky magic stuff.
“Some old weirdo wants to destroy the world with our power.”

We love reading about those weirdos.

“The power can never be lost."

Also I miss my grandma and reading this somehow was comforting in a way.
There's mystery, magic, ghosts and Cats! You have no idea how many cats there are!

[Alana K. Drex · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Darkness and fear always stalked, and we feel it every day as Key Holders."

Kitt's grandma Grambella, has passed away. It's been a long time since she had visited the house of the kindly, mysterious woman. Her mother always was very anxious at that house. And the mysteries keep abounding even after death.

Kitt has inherited Grambella's house and is to find a key. There's a partially written note with instructions surrounding the keys purpose. Then, that same day, the key is lost to her.

But soon, she meets some friends that may be able to help. This is one I can't delve too far into, for fear of giving too much away. It is a dark fantasy worth your time if you are into that genre. I look forward to more by this author!

[Lily · Rating 5 out of 5]

Prepare to get caught up in a dark, magical world when you crack this book open. Gallaway does an amazing job of drawing you in with vivid imagery from the start, you can see, feel, hear, smell, and even taste the story unfolding around you. And there's just a hint of magic and mystery at the outset, a glimpse of what's to come. No spoilers, but the story moves along quite smoothly, and even in the moments that could easily have become dull, there's something drawing you on. Kitt is an amazing MC, and it's easy to like her from the start. I got so wrapped up in the story, that I lost track of time, if I'm honest. Cannot recommend enough!

[Demi · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you @rrbooktours and Mason Gallaway for letting me participate in this book tour. I wanted to branch out of my normal fantasy realm into some horror. And I was not disappointed! This book had me on the edge of my seat the whole time. But not too terrifying that I had to put it down. (That vibe just not for me okay). The cat was adorable and this storyline was great. We love to see some trauma bonding. I was worried the ending would be rushed and disappointing but it was a good wrap up. Overall would recommend for anyone trying to jump into the horror book scene.

[Nicole Etzel · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was ready to kick off spooky season with a good horror book and this definitely fit the bill! This is a dark fantasy with suspense and lots of thrills!
I was hooked in from the start! I enjoy books that are fast paced and keep my attention and this book did!

Kitt grew up in a "normal" world but when her grandma passes away she is thrust into a world she didn't know existed. She learns that she is a key holder and she must find a way to protect the key at all costs. Until a cat gets involved :)

I am so happy that I read this book! Thank you Mason!

[Kristen Myers · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was fast and intriguing read. I also love any book who a cat is one of the main characters, especially a black cat. Kitt is a young woman who has not found her place in life yet or people who understand her. When her grandmother passes and she becomes a member of an old society to bring peace to world, she finally finds her place in life. Kitt finds friends and a family that she never knew existed. If you like a book about the fight between good and evil with magic and of course cats this book is for you!!

[booksy.tx.ana · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was sucked into the story quickly. Just like Kitt wanting to know more about the mysterious grandmother and the magically creepy things happening. I was intrigued to find out how she was going to find that damned cat that ran off. There were quite a few things I wanted to learn more about while reading. A book that makes you want to know its answers is an amazing thing! Things go haywire quite quickly! Going in directions I never thought of. Kitt must learn about not only magic but this powerful key she suddenly inherited. It’s a manic magical mystery.

[Jaimes_Mystical_Library · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book! Cat Key had such a unique storyline that immediately captivated me. I loved following main character, Kitt, in this book as she discovers her grandmother’s secrets and legacy and inherits her key talisman. I’ve never read a book quite like this one and I thoroughly enjoyed it!

Read this if you like:

📖 Magical Inheritance
📖 Cats
📖 Fast Paced Reads
📖 Magic & Suspense

I can’t say much about this book without giving spoilers, but I definitely recommend giving this one a try!

[Marilynn · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a fast paced story about a girl who has inherited mystical gifts and a special key from her mysterious grandmother. They key accidentally disappears with her grandmother’s cat. The girl is forced to face her deepest guilt and fears to not only attempt to obtain the key but to potentially save the world from darkness. The reader experiences every twist and turn through the very descriptive writing of the author.

[Kenzie Benzie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Kitt inherits magic from her recently deceased grandmother and embarks on a fun, fast paced mystical adventure. The magic system is fun and potent imagery makes all of it real for the reader.

All of the characters have fun dialogue and interesting personalities, I was delighted when some of the secondary characters were introduced!

With fun horror elements and a slight dark academic aesthetic, I could see this book having a Netflix adaptation one day!

[Casey Hayes · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cat Key follows Kitt, who’s Grambella has recently passed away, leaving her to inherit the kindly woman’s old home and all its inhabitants, including a mysterious “key” that she is directed to locate by a cryptic letter left behind in Grambella’s handwriting.

We soon find out that there’s more to this “key” than first assumed, and no sooner has Kitt gotten her hands on it, than it eludes her once more. What’s more, there is a dark rot on the horizon that eats away at the world, leaving decay in its wake, and somehow her quest is a part of it.

Along with three others with the same goal in mind— finding the key, completing the circle and keeping the world they know from changing beyond the point of being salvaged— Kitt sets out on a life changing adventure.

This gives very much dark fantasy with some horror/ thriller vibes, and I agree with other reviewers who stated they felt that there was a whole lot more to discover within this story. I look forward to seeing where the author takes this.

[Tori · Rating 5 out of 5]

I couldn’t put this down!

I read this book cover to cover in only a few hours. It had me on the edge of my seat so many times!

I like that it humanized Micah somewhat, while still keeping him as the bad guy. And the bit when Kitt sees her grandma’s spirit in the fall had me tearing up.

I truly hope the author writes more on this world

[zzjennreads19 · Rating 4 out of 5]

While I did enjoy this book I was often left confused as to what was going on and why and how. I loved Key, he so acted like a typical cat…everything on his terms, when and where he wanted. I liked how the keys connected the four keyholders with their fears and other emotions. This story did not end on a cliffhanger but there’s definitely more to tell of this story. I look forward to it.

[Theenrichmentoffiction1 · Rating 5 out of 5]

Book review 📚: Cat Key

Genre: paranormal/horror another top 5⭐ of 2023

I enjoyed this so much! It had just the right pace for me.
The story kept me interested from start to finish. The author did a beautiful job and I can't wait to read more by him!

Kitt is a ordinary girl with a simple life or so she thought.
Until her grandmother dies and leaves her with a quest to save the world from decay and darkness. Along with 3 others that find their way to her needing to complete the circle. They will have to face their fears to concure the darkness and turn life back to it's beautiful form , letting the darkness be ordinary once again.