Death has a new address—and it’s Kit McCafferty’s.
When Kit offers a room to a powerless ban sith who has lost her magic, she sets off a chain reaction across Coldstream’s supernatural streets. Her neighbors are panicking. Dangerous werewolves are on the prowl. And Kit finds herself trying to solve several desperate problems all at once.
Kit knows the world’s a messy place, especially when magic’s involved. But this reeks of something dark and nasty. She’s paws deep - and there’s every chance that Thane, the copper-haired werewolf who stirs Kit’s heart, will become collateral damage.
Her house is full of cats, and her city is full of monsters ... fortunately, Kit McCafferty is one of them.
A Skirl of Sorcery is the third book in the captivating urban fantasy crime series The Cat Lady Chronicles. Expect mystery, adventure and a posse of cats.
Cute, but there just any chemistry between the two main characters of Kit and Thane- at all! And, the whole cat lady thing with Kit talking to and taking care of her cats was a bit overdone and got annoying. Overall, just kind of Meh.
*Source* Kindle Unlimited *Genre* Urban Fantasy *Rating* 3.5-4
*Thoughts*
A Skirl of Sorcery is the third installment in author Helen Harper's The Cat Lady Chronicles. This novel continues the adventures of Kit McCafferty, a retired cat-sith assassin who's traded her deadly past for a quieter life in the quirky supernatural enclave of Coldstream. Kit somehow always finds a way to get into trouble, and this time around, trouble ends up living in her house thanks to a bargain she made with Mallory, a powerful witch.
Yay - Kit McCafferty cat-sith extraordinaire, ex-assassin in previous life, is BACK. I always enjoy returning to this world - despite it only has two books so far. This one is not different!
At first, Kit is roped into rooming a sick ban-sith (thanks to the "debt" she owes Mallory the squib) but as always it evolved into something more. Something evil is taking the ban-sith power and Keres (the ban-sith) will be dead if she doesn't get the magic back. Kit also realizes that Keres is NOT the only victim.
I enjoyed Kit's adventure - trying to figure out what happened and tried to tie it up to another case of thievery in Danksville. I enjoyed seeing the new side of Dave, her neighbor druid when taking care of Keres. I enjoyed Kit getting more baffled with the mysterious Trilby
And I ENJOYED that her relationship with Thane the lone wolf is moving forward (yay!). OOH, AND AND ...
The series is taking a break until mid 2026. URGH! I really want to know what Tiddles (that's the ginger cat that adopted Thane choose as her own name. What is it? She Who is the Boss? She Who Tames a Wolf? WHAATT???
A fantastic book and great series await if urban fantasy thrillers and terrific characters are your jam.
Rating: 4.75⭐️
Helen Harper’s The Cat Lady Chronicles is an excellent series. A urban fantasy thriller based universe based around a female character, retired paranormal assassin with a secret. She’s a cat shifter, her species known as cat seths. Now she’s just known in her supernatural neighborhood as the retired cat lady, a single woman who gardens and occasionally lets out a room.
With each book , Harper continues to build a strong, intriguing character, whose presence has a profound influence on those around her. Each side character has a equally well written history of their own and complex personalities and ongoing struggles. This series has elements that are complicated, mythologically inclined, and layered with suspense and drama.
And cats and one demonic kitten. Whats not to love?
The mystery here is another involved case, the investigation into the various causes and circumstances puzzling and bizarre, and the outcome wildly satisfying. And will have ramifications for future cases, I expect.
Things I continue to really appreciate. That Harper is furthering Kit McCafferty’s journey as a content single retired complicated woman. She’s happily independent, living by herself, with her cats, and her lifestyle. And while she enjoys the occasional companionship of her lone wolf, neither of them wants more.
That’s perfectly fine. Thank you, Helen Harper. Not everyone needs a fated mate. Kit is a dangerous person. She often is the one to save Thane. And everyone else. And still enjoy her relationship with him. He’s got his own life and its interesting journey.
Nice to see this portrayed here.
It ends on an annoyingly funny note. Not a real cliffhanger but with an unanswered question nonetheless.
Til next year.
A fantastic book and great series await if urban fantasy thrillers and terrific characters are your jam.
Highly recommended.
Another great book and winner of a series. Check it out now.
Cover Design by Covers by Juan
The Cat Lady Chronicles (4 book series): Waifs And Strays #1 The Dark Hiss of Magic #2 A Skirl of Sorcery #3 Night Maze #4 - May 29,2026
The mystery was really intriguing. Kit is called on the blood binding favour she made in the last book to Mallory. She has to allow a Banshee to rent her apartment.
The problem is Banshees have a bad rep amongst most people. People think they bring death. But as Kit repeatedly explains, everyone dies, the Banshees merely wail when someone is about to die. They have nothing to do with the death.
But this particular Banshee has lost her wail and that is where the mystery comes from. Also without it she will die because it is the magical essence of herself. Kit is on the clock as she tries to figure out who stole the magic and how to get it back. Oh, and yeah, Charis, the Banshee is not the only one this has happened to.
In good cozy mystery fashion we go down some false trails, meet new interesting people and Kit has a few side quests. And our favorite ex-assassin cat lady gets to show her claws a bit.
Her bae, Thane is by her side and they finally level up on their relationship. Now, I will be honest, I like Thane, but I am just not feeling him and Kit together. I don't read this for the romance, so it is fine. I actually thought Kit had a lot more chemistry with the MacTire pack alpha in the first book. But the author definitively put the kibosh on that possibility in the preceding book.
Speaking of the MacTire. I noticed that he was conveniently unavailable for Kit to speak to around the same time Mallory was unavailable to speak to.... hmmmm. I detected a little somethin' somethin' maybe when they were introduced in the last book.
But getting back to Thane. This book gives us a lot of background on Thane. We learn why he is a lone wolf and it is infuriating and sad. But he is developing a found family starting with Kit and Tiddles. And I hope their circle grows.
Speaking of Tiddles... I both crack up and despair that the book ended just before she revealed what her chosen name will be. Kit sounded shocked and now I am dying to know!
4.5 stars. Super fun tale within the cat chronicles. This time we get to see more of Kit’s assassin background playing into her new interest of solving peoples’ problems—and a slew of new preternaturals, all very interesting. The romance notches up too. Half a star off as it’s a little awkward in the character interactions (impersonal with the romantic tension, for example, though the wordless tension scene was steamy!) and the mannerisms of all characters seeming similar (impersonal not even sure what smacking lips in satisfaction means as an American haha). But overall a fun urban fantasy with a strong independent and quirky female sleuth. I’ll definitely read more.
The Purrfect Blend of Magic, Mystery, and Cozy Fun
"Noooooo!"- that was my first thought as I turned the final page of A Skirl of Sorcery. Not because I was disappointed, but because I didn’t want it to end.
This third book in The Cat Lady Chronicles is just as amazing as the first two, and I’m already dreaming of more adventures with Kit and her furry friends!
Helen Harper is back with another story full of mystery and intrigue, keeping me hooked from the very beginning. The plot is clever and full of twists, balancing suspense with the warm and funny moments that make this series so special. And the cats? As always, they’re a delight - their antics add charm, comedy, and a surprising amount of personality to the story.
What I love most about this book is the tone. It’s urban fantasy without the heavy drama - funny, cosy, and super easy to read. The pacing is smooth, the atmosphere inviting, and the magic feels both imaginative and effortless. Kit is still shining as a heroine: relatable, witty, and resilient in ways that make her easy to root for.
A Skirl of Sorcery is the perfect mix of cosy fantasy comfort and magical mystery. It’s the kind of book that makes you laugh, smile, and sink happily into its world - and then leaves you wishing the next one was already here. A truly delightful read!
I loved this latest installment in this series from one of my favourite authors. Kit McCafferty is a great heroine and her clowder of kitties was just brilliant in this one.
Kit is asked to repay a favour which involves providing a place to stay for a ban sith. Ban siths don't have a glowing reputation as their mere presence indicates death, but this ban sith, Keres, is not quite right to put it bluntly. She has lost her powers, her voice and can no longer signal the coming deaths. When Keres starts to become incredibly ill, Kit sets off on a mission to find whoever stole Keres' magic and to find a way to return it.
During her investigation alongside Thane Barrow, a lone werewolf, they discover more people have been affected in similar ways and they have to race against the clock to track down the magic thief before it becomes too late for Keres and any of the others who have been attacked. Will they be able to find them in time and will Keres manage to get her magic back? With some new allies on side, they are determined to try that's for sure.
Kit and Thane made a great team this time and I was glad to see their relationship moving forward as well. I also loved how the cats stepped in to help as much as they could when Thane couldn't. Tiddles was a great cat - a lot bossier than I expected considering her age! I loved how Keres dealt with Thane's mother as well and the secret that she managed to get her to reveal. At least now Thane has some closure!
This book was such a fun read with lots of surprising twists and turns. There is one part that really shocked me and made me cry out loud. I thought the worst at that point, but like all great authors, Helen managed to save me from my negative thoughts!
I received an ARC copy of this book from the author, but this review is my own honest one. If you haven't started this series yet, then head back to book 1 - you will not be disappointed.
Kit McCafferty is back! And this time she is investigating... death? Well, how a ban sith (aka a herald of death) has lost her voice and powers. Housing the ban sith was supposed to be an easy repayment of a favour to Mallory but, of course, once Kit sticks her nose in (human or kitten) she just won't stop until the case is solved. To make matters worse, there are a series of thefts happening around Coldstream plus the ever-persistent mystery on who Trilby is (other than excellent). Can Kit figure out why supernaturals are losing their powers or will she end up without her powers too?
***
I love this series so much! Kit is wonderful and all of her accomplices are wonderful and deserve their own books (yes I do just mean the cats). The first book in this series is one of the most unique shifter books I have ever read and I bullied many other people into reading it. I really enjoyed seeing more of Kit's backstory in this book as well as her traumatising everyone she meets. Really, the only thing in this book that isn't ~perfect~ is Thane. He just feels like a puzzle piece that doesn't quite fit. Kit has so much chemistry (no matter the type) with everyone she meets and Thane doesn't seem to be able to get to her level. The story is still top-notch but Thane is just a bit more angsty than he is interesting.
This series is continuing to be one of Helen Harper's best as Kit is just a highly likeable character with a core of steel. I quickly found myself immersed in the Coldstream world as the pages turned. Book three finds Kit solidifying her need to support and help those in her community when she finds herself play host to a ban sith who has lost her magic. Very quickly Kit discovers that this is no unusual occurrence as others in the magical community have also had their magic torn from them living them unwell, with the potential to perhaps die. Her need to solve the situation only heightens when her love interest, Thane, finds himself in a world of trouble as well. There is something very engaging about this character's world and I have become very fond of Kit's neighbour Dave who really steps up in this story as we learn a little more about him. The cats continue to be a highlight and Tiddles definitely shows she is a one man cat coming to Thane's aid. I honestly am excited to read more stories set in the Coldstream universe - I believe they are coming and not just involving Kit. Helen writes great fantasy stories and this one does not disappoint.
Mallory has called in her favour – Kit lets a ban sith, Keres, who has lost her powers to stay in the spare apartment in her building. Of course, Kit has to get involved in finding out what happened as Keres isn’t the only one whose powers have been stolen. There are also some robberies occurring and no one knows whether they are connected. Looking into these problems leads to where the trows have a home, it also leads to the Barrow werewolves who have some members without powers. This book has a little action, a mystery, surprises, suspense, humour and romance. The characters are interesting and the interactions are great. The cats are heavily involved especially Tiddles, who is very much a teenager and very defensive of Thane. I do have a couple of complaints though, the next book isn’t out for a few months and I need to know what name Tiddles finally chose. Helen Harper writes great books. I will definitely recommend these.
The story is as ever highly entertaining and fun, Kit has a boyfriend, they are both stubborn and independent, but until now have not actually managed to get in bed together, with all that happens, Kit was about to share his body when things go down and they get sidetracked. It's a very fun adventure that doesn't go down quite the way you expect, which for me is great. Often I can predict what will happen, but here it doesn't happen quite the way you think it will. Helen Harper is good at writing stories that are delightful and also not as easy to predict. So Kit is making up her mind that Thane should be a boyfriend and to sleep with him, when a favour is called in, cue mayhem and one cat-sith ex-assassin who needs to sort it out. It's a fun story, interesting and really keeps the attention.
This is most certainly a purrfect five-star read. This is number three in the Cat Lady Chronicles and they each add extra depth and just makes you fall so much harder for the characters. I must say I was so happy to see Tiddles finally become a big girl cat, she will be holding her own alongside she who loves sunbeams in the next story, I’m sure. I will say that I loved how this story showed us how we can perceive those we may see as different, and how just walking in their shoes allows us to see their perspective. That was beautifully done, and something I hope will make many read and pause to contemplate. There is just something special about this series, and I think its because of Kit herself, there is just something about her, the way she interacts with her cats will make your heart sing.
Soooo much going on in Cat Lady 3! All our favourite furry friends are back and Tiddles is showing them all how to really whip their owner into shape! We have a couple of different twisty storylines on the go in this book with a sneaky thief preying on Kit's neighbours, a dark sickness stealing away magic indiscriminately across the magical residents. The ongoing attraction between Kit and our lone wolf heats up and we meet some new species that we haven't come across before like Trows and Ban Sith. This was jam packed and very enjoyable however the cliffhanger at the end Helen was cruel and unusual punishment!!
I absolutely love this series. I was so excited that Thane & Kit finally finally got together. Kit is someone I would be so excited to be friends with. Her honest view of the world and her ability to understand right from wrong. This book was full of everything I love in books. Actions, awesome characters, whinny scary bad guys. So, if you have not started this series run don't walk to grab your copy. Definitely start with book 1. I will be rereading this series; because I need to occupy my time while I wait for the big revile of Tiddles chosen name. Not nice Helen Harper ending on that little tidbit.
This book had me on the edge of my seat for the last half like no other has before. I usually love these books because they are funny, light-hearted, good reads. But this one was so much more! At this point these characters are as familiar to me as some of my closest friends. That is the mark of a truly great author. But in this book I was absolutely taken by surprise and then that cliffhanger at the end! What are you doing to me Helen!?!! It's going to drive me crazy now! And I cannot even begin to say how much I am looking forward to Squib! I so did not see that coming but I am so looking forward to it! GENIUS!
I absolutely love morally, let's say, flexible characters. Kit definitely has her own moral compass and has decided to keep it pointing toward good. In this installment, Kit found herself helping an unlikely ally in death. In helping her, Kit finds herself investigating and following leads that she needs some help with, so Thane jumps into the mix. These two really sizzle in their relationship of being independent, yet connected to each other. When Kit found herself in mortal danger, she trusted him to help. When Thane found himself in the same danger, Kit didn't hesitate to save him.
This series is something very different from any I’ve read before. Kit is the kind of woman that we are all are in differing ways - stronger than she seems, with hidden depths. It’s just that her hidden depths are a little more unusual…
The slow burn romance with Thane continues to build. Trilby still intrigues, Dave from next door plays an important role and Kit saves the day, as you would expect. Naturally, the cats are the real stars of the story ;)
Enjoyable with a few twists and surprises. A slightly deeper view of Kit and her relationships with neighbors and other paranormal groups. Also a chance to see her using old skills. While I like Thane, I just haven't decided if he is quite strong enough for her. I'm certain we'll see more in upcoming books. Expanding the series with related books will be interesting but I'm more interested in Kit than the other characters we've met so far. A slight (and amusing) hook for the next book in the end. NOT a cliffhanger.
Kit is back and gets drawn into another paranormal investigation in Coldstream. Her pack of kitties are joined by Thane’s Tiddles, who very much believes she is in charge—she might be right.
Kit has to pay back the favour she owes and this leads to all sorts going on and I love how Kit approaches it. She’s kickass but with heart. Definite recommendation, though there was a hook at the end that really left you dangling like a fish!
Good addition to the series. It’s well written and tells a good story that moves at a perfect pace. I’di like for these to be longer, but that’s because there is so much to explore and you want more. This sticks to the mystery and wraps it up well. The characters are well rounded and act like confident adults. I like that the MC is in her 40s and has lived life and handles people, events and her relationship in a mature manner.
I liked it more than the second one but less than the first. I don't really know what to say without sounding like a broken record. Characters are decent but too perfect for my taste. Plot couldn't be more generic. The cat demon thing is still a wasted mess of an idea. World is decent but pretty run of the mill too. It doesn't feel like the author has much of an idea of what to do with this series either.
Once again Kit is at risk as she is drawn into a mystery of burglary and stolen magic. The cats have her back though, especially Tiddles who has adopted Thane. Loving these stories as Kit tries to fulfil her desires for a quiet life of retirement. Helen truly delivers with all the surrounding characters. Can’t wait to find out Tiddles chosen name though.
Kit is the self appointed defender of the community. She knows something is wrong but she doesn’t know what. She takes in a stray who is ill and finds a wolf pack whom lost their Alpha, she has wondered what in tarn nation is going on.
Then on top of it peoples belongings have gone missing. She decided this can’t go on.
This is another adventure I have been grabbed into and I just can’t get enough of.
I am a fan of felines, they have always been in my household! I have wondered what it would be like to actually experience the world as a cat. Kit provides a glimpse of that! She is my is my hero as she moves through the world with confidence and a positive sense of justice and balancing the scales. I always enjoy mysteries and adventures with shapeshifters and a bit of romance! Looking forward to the next book!
Kit investigates dark magic that has ripped people’s magic from them. Helen Harper is a fantastic writer. Every development is both natural and intriguing. She does a great job of building the mystery and the investigation. Kit is having a harder time pretending to be a harmless cat lady while helping others. She also learns more about Thane’s history. I’m looking forward to the next book
The adventure was not very exciting in this book. Plus I thought there might be some ON PAGE loving with Thane after so much verbal buildup. Unfortunately it wasn't and I felt pretty unsatisfying. I also have a difficult time figuring out what kind of creatures are being talked about since I've only heard of a few. The next book is a ways off, but I'll probably read it.
Best one in this series so far stay up all night to read good
Oh it went yo review before found out Tiddles name she picked. Best in series so far.. Lot new characters in this one ..found some answers to Thane background . several mysteries burglars then others . oh I will never think of cats the same way . the demon and making humans fall in love be there happy slaves it makes from all cats I had over my life lol.
A perfect posse of pussycats. I've come to expect a lot from this authors books, and they never disappoint. The quirky feline names and their very different personalities. The amount of varied characters that continue to be introduced in each book and a storyline that grips you and doesn't let go. Loved it
I am in love with this series!!! Such great realistic writing. So nice to see a heroine who isn’t 20 something out there doing the things and having a love life! And the cast of characters —- wow— each of them are amazing and wonderful and special. It’s a great series and this installment is wonderful.