Angel Bones: A Feline Fantasy Adventure

by Linda Deane

The second book in the Angel Cats series continues to explore the mystical connection between humans and animals. In the murky depths of our past, the embryonic bond between woman and cat began to develop.What the reviewers are "This beautifully descriptive fantasy adventure will transport you back to a time before recorded history; before the time of the great Egyptian civilisations. Based on recent archaeological findings on the island of Cyprus, this fictitious explanation of the discovery of a mutual human/cat grave will leave you wondering about just how long we have shared our lives with animals in general and cats in particular. Well researched and thought provoking, yet thoroughly entertaining, this series shows great promise and is a must read for the intelligent animal lover, young and old alike."

78 pages, Kindle Edition

First published October 1, 2013

Reviews

[Wanda Hartzenberg · Rating 4 out of 5]

Everything about this book surprised me. What impressed me was the amount of research I found within. A cat lovers dream book age appropriate for all ages.

[Brenda Perlin · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Angel Bones" was a very sweet compelling read. I was interested all the way through. I so badly wondered what was going to happen next. Cat enthusiasts will especially adore this story. Creatively written both children and adults will enjoy this fantasy. It seems there was a lot of research that went into creating this beautiful tale. I admire the authors ability to make this story her own even with the historical facts and with characters that were life-like and realistic. There are true-life lessons in this book that can’t be ignored. This was a quick read that pulled me in emotionally. I throughly enjoyed “Angel Bones” and would highly recommend.

[Barbara Ann · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the second book in a series exploring the somewhat mystical and supernatural powers of cats. But make no mistake, this book is not a fantasy novel. It is set in the neolithic age on the island of Cyprus on which recent archaeological excavation has revealed, cats were present in the neolithic period, about six thousand years before their domestication in Egypt.

It is a short novella, yet the plot explores characters in depth and there are many twists and turns in the adventurous life of Melita, Yannis and their three children. They have been driven from their home on the mainland to flee in a makeshift boat in the dark of night due to the jealousy and superstition of their peers. A trader named Andros attempted to woo Melita and when she refused him, he spread rumors implicating her as a sorceress because of her gift in communicating with animals, especially the strange creatures later known as cats. He was also jealous of Melita’s husband, who was a gifted tool maker and pottery artisan. Their terror escalated until the family feared for their lives.

Eventually they land on an island only to find a strange people who had never seen cats. Over a period of time, the family earns the trust and respect of the village. However, as they settle into a peaceful existence, trouble looms on the horizon once more as a hunting party from the mainland arrives to stir up trouble in the tranquil settlement. Melita and her daughter called Eleni will have to summon all their strength and powerful connections with Tammy, their cat, in a desperate effort to survive and save the community.

The author develops the characters well; the reader quickly identifies with the personalities of each and the conflicts each must face, whether they be good or evil in intent. There are many twists and turns in this short read. One senses the overwhelming hardships and difficulties early humans faced in their daily existence in the face of the powerful forces of nature and the brute force of a “might makes right” philosophy. Tweens, teens and adults will all enjoy this carefully researched historical fiction story with just a tinge of the supernatural. I am looking forward to more in the series.

[K.r. Morrison · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Cat Family–Yannis and Melita, their sons Nico and Mica, and daughter Eleni, must run for their lives. Their reputation as a cat-friendly family, in an age where cats are ignored at best and feared at worst, has turned the village against them. It doesn’t help that a wandering tradesman with connections to the powerful has come to live among the clan. Jealous that Yannis’ work far exceeds his own, and spurned in his advances toward Melita, he spins a story to raise animosity against Yannis and his family. And what does he use as the center of his accusations?

Tammy, the cat that has befriended the family. She is especially affectionate with Melita and Eleni. The tradesman claims that the cat and the females are magic, and must be destroyed.

So Yannis and his little group flee in the night, with Tammy as their guide. They land on the shores of an unknown island, and hope that they will be left alone to live out their lives in peace.

Such dreams are short-lived, which is a good and a bad thing all at the same time. They find themselves safe and prosperous within a new community, but then dark days come with the arrival of other boats from their old village.

Kidnapped after a huge fight, the family is left to die in an unreachable cave.

Or so the kidnappers think. What follows is a tale of fidelity, love, and the perseverance brought only by the strong bonds of a relationship that transcends life and death.



Another winner by Linda Deane! The series itself, which includes “Ice Angel”, is an imaginary voyage into just where and when the nine lives of a cat might be played out. This time it is in pre-history, on the island of Cyprus, in the Mediterranean.

Tammy is an African Wildcat, and…wait, I’ll let you read about that yourself. Ms. Deane has done some research, and has blessed us with her findings at the end of this book.

Again, as with her previous book, the characters are very real, and the story is a real page-turner. This is not some fluffy-kitty story–it’s about the trials and travails that are caused by jealousy and prejudice. It is also about the salvific power of love, faith in each other, and the rewards bestowed on those who show kindness to even the smallest of creatures.

Keep writing, Linda! I want to read about every life this angel kitty experiences.

[Christopher Antony · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of the best ways of developing the growing mind of a child is to present them with a good book, one that will open for them the vista of new worlds and engage their sympathies with some very interesting and attractive characters. If the book is packed full of adventure and has a great story, even better. Kids of all ages love a well told tale. "Angel Bones" by Linda Deane is just such a book and this kid, (a long in the tooth one mind you), considered it to be a most enjoyable read.
I'm not going to be one of those reviewers who spoil things for potential readers by giving important parts of the story away. The pleasure in reading a great book, largely consists in being allowed to follow the twists and turns of the exciting story and discover them for the first time yourself. That's what I'm going to let you do here. All I'm going to tell you is that it's set in the Stone Age, it's got a brilliant cat, (better and cleverer than the average pussycat) and a family, whose trials and very scary adventures, will keep the reader on the edge of his or her seat.
This definitely is a book I recommend. I have already said that it is perfect for entertaining and widening the imagination of children. I think adults, who enjoy a really well told good story, will love it as well.

[Armen Pogharian · Rating 4 out of 5]

In the interest of full disclosure, I’m a YA fantasy author whose first series is rooted in ancient history and features a multi-dimensional cat. So I greeted Linda Deane’s Angel Bones, which revolves around the struggles of a Neolithic family and their super-natural connection to cats, with great anticipation and high expectations. I’m happy to say the story didn’t disappoint. While there’s plenty of action packed into their story, this is more than a straight-up action adventure. Deane skillfully interweaves themes of friendship, family, loss and growing up into her story. While it contains some violence and a few profoundly sad moments, all are handled with just enough edge to strike the proper chord with the reader, but never too much to detract from the tale. Even after the story is over, Deane delivers more to her readers with a brief account of the recent archeological finds that helped inspire her writing. Appropriate for all ages, Angel Bones is a great book for parents to read along with their child. My only regret is that it’s a bit on the short side. There are plenty of sections that could be expanded with more dialogue and action to make this an even more enthralling experience.

[S.A. Molteni · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Angel Bones" by Linda Deane is wonderfully imaginative story set in a time before the ancient Egyptians on the island of Cyprus.

The story begins where a family on the main island steals away on a boat in the dark of night to escape the persecution of their home village. There is jealousy and hatred that the family could no longer endure, so they set out to a neighboring in hopes of starting a new life. Along with their meager positions and a prized pig, they also bring a pregnant cat to their new island home.

The villagers on the new island welcome them and their cat. They quickly become part of the tribe and are held in high regard along with their new brood of kittens. Their new home is everything their old home was not and they flourish amongst the friendly people.

Until one day, a group of warriors from their old island home come and savagely beat, then banish them to a cave near the shore. The cave is, for the most part, inescapable. But, they are rescued in a very unique and different way.

You will have to read the book to discover the final outcome of this truly well-written and engrossing story.

Well done, Ms. Deane!

[Sibel Hodge · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved the first book in this series, Ice Angel, and this was just a lovely. It's a tale of an ancient family struggling together to leave behind persecution and find a new life on the island of Cyprus. The mother, Melita, can communicate with cats and develops a spiritual and mystical bond with a cat, Tammy, who eventually saves their lives. I love the themes running through this series that we have a unique connection with animals we should nurture and learn from. The plot is tight and entertaining, the characters well-thought out and we come to care about them quickly. The historic side of the story was interesting and obviously well-researched. This is an amazing read with great lessons for adults and children.

[Becky Corwin-Adams · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Angel Bones" is just as delightful as "Angel Ice", the author's first book in this enchanting series. The story line kept my attention and I couldn't wait to turn the page to see what was going to happen next. This is a fascinating book for cat lovers like me. The author has a unique artistic talent in the way she paints a picture with words. The book is an enjoyable read for children and adults alike. After reading this charming novel, I wish I could move to an island and live with cats! I can't wait to read the next book in this captivating, well written series. Five stars to Ms. Deane for another lovely cat book.

[Tom Elder · Rating 5 out of 5]

Linda Deane. 2nd in series
Angel Bones
This book follows on from ice angel and again it is a well written novel. This book is a great story and is packed with adventure from the very first page.
Kids as well as adults will love this book, as it will open their minds to a different way of thinking and make believe. I am sure like me you will enjoy this book.
5 stars. 22 September 2013.

[R.E. Weber · Rating 5 out of 5]

A simple, charming and wonderfully written short novel, with impeccable prose, perfect pacing and vividly described characters. If you don't feel like shedding a tear or two afterwards, I'd be very surprised, especially if you are a cat lover. Perfect for all ages. A lovely book and well worth a few hours of your time.

Note that I didn't have to pay for it as I downloaded it during a free Amazon promotion, but it is well worth paying for. Excellent.