Fated Familiar

Nine Lives Magic #13

by Danielle Garrett

It only takes two weeks for me to regret my decision to accompany my aunt on her quest for the lost city of Atlantis.

I’m clearly in the minority, though, as my familiar is having the time of her life—well, in between complaining about the size of our room and the subpar buffet options.

But no one is happy when the quest takes a deadly turn, and we uncover a secret society determined to keep their patron goddesses’s secrets, even if it means sending us to a watery grave.

Selene and Cora’s adventures in Winterspell come to a close in this high-seas adventure.

Genres: Audiobook, Mystery, Fantasy, Witches, Cozy Mystery, Magic, Cozy

244 pages, Kindle Edition

Published October 31, 2024

Reviews

[Emily · Rating 5 out of 5]

The epilogue and the note from Selene at the end had me crying 😭.

[Samichtime · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked it and the author gave us a great series full of fun memories. That said, Talisman Tails is the true ending in my opinion and it’s hard to top. When they introduced Checkers the plot had real stakes and our favorite character Selene could’ve feasibly passed the torch. The best comparison from another story would be when Yoda says “there is another” as a way of showing the audience that Luke could be replaced, which was obviously not the case in this finale. I also thought the whole removing the spellbinding for Selene’s last life was already done in Talisman Tails, so the reveal at the end kinda rang hollow, and we’re entering comic book territory where stakes are meaningless and main characters carry the franchise. All in all, props to the author for a quality body of work with no duds!

[Sarah Woodhouse · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love love love loovvveeedddd this book. This series has become one of my most favorites. I'm sad that it's the final book in the series, but I'm already planning a re-read soon. LOVE Cora and Selene!!!!

[Zimmy W · Rating 4 out of 5]

rate: 3.75/5 stars

this book was definitely suffering from series fatigue so it’s for the best it’s the last lol - but the epilogue/conclusion note did make me a little emotional, rude

[Jelena · Rating 5 out of 5]

I liked how we got a bunch of new characters and a great mystery for the ending (if it really is the last one). It was such a fun ride, I'm glad I stuck with it 'till the end. It's not objectively 5 stars, but I grew close with this story, so I want to show my appreciation. Predictable feel good ending, but it was expected. The narrator did a great job throughout the whole series.

[Christina's Library · Rating 5 out of 5]

This ending to this series is everything I wanted. Closure with some great surprises! I am sad to see this series and I hope she does a spin off at some point.

[Susan Seebold · Rating 5 out of 5]

Awesome conclusion to the series! I am so sad to see it end! Hopefully, we will see Selene in the future!

[Rebecca · Rating 5 out of 5]

All things must end

I think the final book in the nine Lives series was a hit. Of course there’s snarky Seline, but we also get Checkers, Lavender,Lilac, and Cora.
In this one, the gang has decided to go along with lavender to look for Atlantis. They get stuck when, in the middle of the ocean, when Lavender decides to throw her pendant overboard, and it whisks them away to an island. They were in the middle of Greece so… They find themselves on an island where a group of witches called the sisterhood are having a get together.
Between bickering, and rules, and everything else they are asked to help find a murderer of one of the sisters.
Does this have anything to do with Atlantis well or just have to wait and find out!
Absolute must read

[Pam · Rating 3 out of 5]

The book was definitely way out there in terms of mysterious circumstances. As usual, Selene's extreme snarkiness adds a lot of humor but it gets a bit tiring too.

See note.


Amazon synopsis:
When Aunt Lavender claims she’s found the location of the lost city of Atlantis, I agree to join her quest—a decision I quickly come to regret when we end up magically shipwrecked on a mysterious island.

Even worse, it’s inhabited by a secret sisterhood of witches who make us feel about as welcome as a swarm of mosquitoes at a garden party.

It turns out the lack of hospitality is the least of our problems when one member is found poisoned.

Between dodging a grumpy sea serpent and dealing with Selene’s running commentary, we need to uncover the truth about Atlantis and catch a would-be killer—assuming we want to make it back to Winterspell alive.

[Chantal · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.25 out of 5 stars: It is a little bittersweet to see this series end, but happy for it to end on magic number 13. Selene and Checkers always steal the show for me. The always keep me giggling when I need it. The search for Atlantis continues on this book, and the setting was gorgeous. Selene also brings the best banter and bickering having Tritan add to it was my favorite. This was also another who dun it mystery into the mix of the main setting. I am so happy about Selene's decision to have Cora being her last guardian. Although I am happy for Cora and Clint's pregnancy, I am sad to lose characters I thought were gonna choose child free life because up until this point they were my goals. I still standby the fact that I would die for this to be a TV show.

[Dot Morrow · Rating 5 out of 5]

Well, this is a story to end this series. But what will happen before the end? The trip to find Atlantis is going to be a fun trip or at least that is what they want to happen. Once they get to the trip things don't go, the way the crew expects it to go. Of course there is a mystery to solve in a foreign place. The witches are not making it easy for the crew on their journey. Hopefully the crew will make it out alive and back home.
I just hope there will be another book for this series in seeing that Clint has his powers, he could help Cora and hopefully see if they could have a baby in the future. I just love Cora and Clint and of course Selene.
Love the author and narrator.

[Beth Shares · Rating 4 out of 5]

A Nine Lives Magic Mystery series

A Fated Familiar was the last one in this series and one of the better ones. Garrett’s writing is humorous at times as were her characters. Cora, Selene, Aunt Lavender, Clint and young Checkers were all likable individuals.
This light hearted clean series is well worth reading, especially if you like reading about one snarky know it all feline. Yeah, Selene, you deserve an Oscar, Emmy, and Golden Globe!

Thank you , Danielle Garrett, for your wit and writing. So refreshing not to have to put up with foul language in a series.

[Karen · Rating 5 out of 5]

I LOVED the exotic location!

I have to say I REALLY enjoyed this latest story!.it was very different, the exotic location made it so fun! the magic, history and underwater creatures made this mystery one of my favorites! I ADMIT IT. I cried at the end. It is bittersweet. I have grown to love Selene and she was in RARE FORM in this story!! as my eyes are still stinging from emotion, I am chosing to be hopeful that Selena and Cora will be off and running again someday! Hugs to the author for this beloved series. The characters will forever be friends of mine!

[Christy · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book on its own was a solid four-star cozy mystery. But this book as the finale to the series with Selene’s final decision and end note pushes it up to five-star range for me. I’m sorry to see Selene and the crew go, and I wouldn’t be sad if Danielle decided to write more at some point.

Also, in case Amanda Ronconi reads this: Selene’s voice can only be Selene’s voice. Please don’t use it in other audiobooks! It’s sooooo distracting when that happens. 😂

[Trina Santiago · Rating 5 out of 5]

Always an adventure

Cora and Selene simply cannot get away from mysteries. It’s always a puzzle to find the pieces and then put them together to find the total picture in the end. This time it includes a mysterious island, a sea monster and an equally spicy cat to give Selene a run for her money.

Take a time out and enjoy this last book of the series. It’s well worth the time.

[Cheri Schaefer · Rating 5 out of 5]

So we bid farewell to Salene & Cora! Great ending!!

I'll definitely miss this series! Even with all Salene's snarkiness I will miss her. She truly did have a softer side to her that she rarely showed. This was a very good ending to the series! I've enjoyed it immensely and as I said before I'll definitely miss it!😥😥

[Misha · Rating 5 out of 5]

Awesome read!!

As Cora and Selene along with Lilac, Lavender, and Checkers set off on their trip to find Atlantis, they are in for an interesting surprise. The ship turns topsy turvy and they are on an island with a mystery to be solved. This was an excellent read and there are surprises at every turn.

[Renee Marski · Rating 4 out of 5]

Atlantis and poisoning

Selene is back for one last adventure. Aunt Lavender thinks she has found Atlantis so Cora and Lilac agree to go with her. Except once they get where she thinks it is, things take a turn and they get pulled into a mystery without fully knowing what is going on. And its up to Cora and Selene to figure it out.

A great conclusion to the series!

[Ashley · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was an amazing end to the series. One last family trip to do the unthinkable..find Atlantis. The ending made me just want to restart the whole series again so I wouldn't have to say goodbye.This was an amazing end to the series. One last family trip to do the unthinkable..find Atlantis. The ending made me just want to restart the whole series again so I wouldn't have to say goodbye.

[Deborah · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely loved this book as well as the series! I was bummed that the stories ended since they are so fun to read! I love Selene, Checkers, and Flapjack(from the ghost series). These sidekicks make the books so fun to read!! I hope these characters make some appearances whenever my reading takes me to the Winterspell area!!

[Stacey · Rating 5 out of 5]

I put off listening to this as I didn’t want the series to end. I enjoyed this one a lot and the ending was perfect. The check in from Selene at the end had me shedding a few tears. It’s been a fun few weeks in Winterspell and I’ve grown to love Selene so it’s hard to say goodbye. I hope everyone will make an appearance again sometime.

[Natalie Wheatley · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a finale!

Fantastic final book in the series.
Would highly recommend to anyone that loves a paranormal cozy with a hint of a snarky cat (well, a bit more than a hint).

I would highly recommend the Nine Lives Magic Series.

[Barbara · Rating 5 out of 5]

A good ending, a little short though. I laughed out loud at the present Selene made for Cora. I love Selene and Checkers going to miss hearing about them. Hope that there might be some short stories or something.

[Penny Perse · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fated Familiar: A Nine Lives Magic Mystery

Great story but when the island of Arlantis first happened I could not figure out how they would ever get off of it. Now that I think about it I still don’t know how it happened.

[Gillian Paulus · Rating 5 out of 5]

Bummed that it's the last book in the series, but the ending is quite satisfying and I very much enjoyed the book. Selene is laugh-out-loud funny. Also, the adventure that the Hearth family goes on is really neat.

[k.eleanor.s]

I will miss new stories from Selene, despite her sometimes being over-the-top. I truly think she is the reason these stories were successful and the series got to be so long.
Any other personality paired with Cora would have been a flop for me.

[Debbie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I can't believe it

I can't believe this is the last book, with Selen and Cora, and Checkers. I highly recommend this series for a fun read, amusing cats and oh some witches. The cats are the stars. I'll miss you Checkers oh and you too Selen.

[Laura Phelps · Rating 5 out of 5]

Pet loving people will love it!

The series is about the antics of an annoying cat. Everyone with pets will agree it's a love hate relationship that you can't live without. It's a great book when it can make you laugh and cry at the same time!

[Denise Reedy jasinski · Rating 5 out of 5]

What an ending!

Sorry for the series to end but couldn't have been any better. A wonderful adventure, sleuthing and a surprise. Don't miss this one.

[Angie Titus · Rating 5 out of 5]

I guessed the bad guy pretty early on, but that didn't stop the fun I had with this one. It was great to be among old friends, and I loved the extra cozy vibes.