What do you think?
Rate this book
Agnes Aubert's Mystical Cat Shelter
Not yet published
Expected 17 Feb 26A woman who runs a cat rescue in 1920s Montréal turns to a grouchy but charming magician to help save her shelter in this heartwarming cozy fantasy from the New York Times bestselling author of the Emily Wilde series.
“Absolutely magnificent! Full of cats and magic, this is the kind of book you want to instantly reread. I loved every character, every cat, and every moment with all my heart!”—Sarah Beth Durst, New York Times bestselling author of The Spellshop
Agnes Aubert leads a meticulously organized life, and she likes it that way. As the proudly type-A manager of a cat rescue charity, she has devoted her life to finding forever homes for stray cats.
Now it’s the shelter that needs a new home. And the only landlord who will rent a space to a cat rescue is a mysterious man called Havelock—who also happens to be the world’s most infamous magician, running an illegal magic shop out of his basement. Havelock is cantankerous and eccentric, but not not handsome, and no, Agnes absolutely does not feel anything but disdain for him. After all, rumors swirl about his shadowy past—including whispers that his dark magic once almost brought about the apocalypse.
Then one day a glamorous magician comes looking for Havelock, putting the magic shop—and the cat shelter—in jeopardy. To save the shelter, Agnes will have to team up with the magician who nearly ended the world . . . and may now be trying to steal her heart.
Havelock is everything Agnes thinks she doesn’t need in her chaos, mischief, and a little too much adventure. But as she gets to know him, she discovers that he’s more than the dark magician of legend, and that she may be ready for a little intrigue—and romance—in her life. After all, second chances aren’t just for rescue cats. . . .
“Absolutely magnificent! Full of cats and magic, this is the kind of book you want to instantly reread. I loved every character, every cat, and every moment with all my heart!”—Sarah Beth Durst, New York Times bestselling author of The Spellshop
Agnes Aubert leads a meticulously organized life, and she likes it that way. As the proudly type-A manager of a cat rescue charity, she has devoted her life to finding forever homes for stray cats.
Now it’s the shelter that needs a new home. And the only landlord who will rent a space to a cat rescue is a mysterious man called Havelock—who also happens to be the world’s most infamous magician, running an illegal magic shop out of his basement. Havelock is cantankerous and eccentric, but not not handsome, and no, Agnes absolutely does not feel anything but disdain for him. After all, rumors swirl about his shadowy past—including whispers that his dark magic once almost brought about the apocalypse.
Then one day a glamorous magician comes looking for Havelock, putting the magic shop—and the cat shelter—in jeopardy. To save the shelter, Agnes will have to team up with the magician who nearly ended the world . . . and may now be trying to steal her heart.
Havelock is everything Agnes thinks she doesn’t need in her chaos, mischief, and a little too much adventure. But as she gets to know him, she discovers that he’s more than the dark magician of legend, and that she may be ready for a little intrigue—and romance—in her life. After all, second chances aren’t just for rescue cats. . . .
368 pages, Kindle Edition
Expected publication February 17, 2026
43095 people want to read
About the author
Heather Fawcett
23 books10.1k followersHello! Welcome to my page.
I'm the author of books for adults and children, including Emily Wilde's Encyclopaedia of Faeries, Even the Darkest Stars, Ember and the Ice Dragons, The School Between Winter and Fairyland, and more.
I'm only occasionally on Goodreads, so if you want a more reliable way to get in contact with me, I'd recommend using social media (I'm on Instagram and Facebook) or the contact form on my website.
Review policy: I only review books that I love, which is why you'll only see 4 and 5 star reviews here. Because readers often ask me about my favourite books and authors, I'm aiming to use this page as a place to collect all of my recommendations.
Also, I am NOT the author of More Than a Mom: Living a Full And Balanced Life When Your Child Has Special Needs. I've asked Goodreads to remove it from my page several times but it keeps getting re-added. If you have questions about this title, please direct them to the other Heather Fawcett!
I'm the author of books for adults and children, including Emily Wilde's Encyclopaedia of Faeries, Even the Darkest Stars, Ember and the Ice Dragons, The School Between Winter and Fairyland, and more.
I'm only occasionally on Goodreads, so if you want a more reliable way to get in contact with me, I'd recommend using social media (I'm on Instagram and Facebook) or the contact form on my website.
Review policy: I only review books that I love, which is why you'll only see 4 and 5 star reviews here. Because readers often ask me about my favourite books and authors, I'm aiming to use this page as a place to collect all of my recommendations.
Also, I am NOT the author of More Than a Mom: Living a Full And Balanced Life When Your Child Has Special Needs. I've asked Goodreads to remove it from my page several times but it keeps getting re-added. If you have questions about this title, please direct them to the other Heather Fawcett!
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 404 reviews
October 3, 2025
I may be a dog owner, but I'm also a certified cat lover and I pet them at every given opportunity, so of course a book with this cover and that title can't just exist in the world without me reading it. And then it basically turned out to be Howl's Moving Castle with a lot of cats, and it might as well have been written just for me.
The title is not promising too much, because the book really is about 34-year-old Agnes, desperately trying to uphold her cat shelter in a fantastical 1920s Montreal. She is currently looking for a new place to stay, because the previous shelter was badly damaged in a ruthless magician fight. As a charity, the shelter barely has any funding and not every landlord is keen on housing dozens of cats, but Agnes luckily stumbles upon an ominously perfect location with suspiciously low rent. Beggars can't be choosers and so Agnes is willing to ignore that the previous renters all fled the place and that there is definitely some magic going on in the basement. She eventually crosses paths with the infamous Witch King Havelock Renard and gets dragged into some potentially dangerous magician business, but Agnes is fine with everything if it saves the cats. I loved her as the main character. She is down-to-earth and well organized and never really learned to do anything nice for herself. She's very caring and determined and so she is very fierce in her own way when facing problems. The perfect counterpart for such a character is someone who is seemingly reckless and a bit detached from human ways, and Havelock of course delivers all of that. It's the Sophie/Howl dynamic that I love from the movie and I will never not ship a nice, hardworking woman with a powerful, messy magician. I almost can't believe that I write this, but I would have liked it even more if there had been more romance. The book is very reserved in that regard and mostly shows affection through little and bigger gestures. It did match the perfect soft and cozy vibes of this book; the same vibes that were kinda missing in Emily Wilde for me. I'm now very willing to give that series another chance, though. But the book wasn't entirely low stakes either. There's trouble with the police and there's more than one intense magician fight and sometimes there are even missing cats, the horror!
I think that there was overall a good balance between maintaining the cat shelter and a more adventurous part about finding a magical artefact. The whole magician part even had plot similarities to Howl's Moving Castle, so if you really love the book or the movie you can do no wrong with this novel. But my absolute favorite part were all the cats of course. And there were plenty. They were described with different personalities and the love for cats was ever present. Please, "A cat is the soul of a house"? How can you not be in love with that? Overall, I have only very minor things to criticize about this book. For one, I never thought that Agnes read her age. She could have been in her early 20s and I would have believed it all the same. She was widowed and thus made a little older, but it was just a bit unbelievable to me. Maybe it was because the book felt kinda ageless, as in everyone from teen to adult reader could easily enjoy it. I also think that the setting / time period could have been utilized more, because it barely mattered if I'm honest. It was a nice urban setting without any modern technology but with common magic and that could have been shown more. But I'm not looking for the most intricate world building in a cozy fantasy anyway. There was enough information given to create a perfect standalone novel and I can't complain about that. All in all, I had a lovely read from beginning to end and I would recommend it to every cat and magic lover who is looking for a cozy fall/winter fantasy novel.
Huge thanks to NetGalley and Orbit / Little, Brown Book Group UK for providing a digital arc in exchange for an honest review.
--------------
Pre-read: I would have been upset if there had been fewer cats on the cover. Right onto the most anticipated list of next year.
The title is not promising too much, because the book really is about 34-year-old Agnes, desperately trying to uphold her cat shelter in a fantastical 1920s Montreal. She is currently looking for a new place to stay, because the previous shelter was badly damaged in a ruthless magician fight. As a charity, the shelter barely has any funding and not every landlord is keen on housing dozens of cats, but Agnes luckily stumbles upon an ominously perfect location with suspiciously low rent. Beggars can't be choosers and so Agnes is willing to ignore that the previous renters all fled the place and that there is definitely some magic going on in the basement. She eventually crosses paths with the infamous Witch King Havelock Renard and gets dragged into some potentially dangerous magician business, but Agnes is fine with everything if it saves the cats. I loved her as the main character. She is down-to-earth and well organized and never really learned to do anything nice for herself. She's very caring and determined and so she is very fierce in her own way when facing problems. The perfect counterpart for such a character is someone who is seemingly reckless and a bit detached from human ways, and Havelock of course delivers all of that. It's the Sophie/Howl dynamic that I love from the movie and I will never not ship a nice, hardworking woman with a powerful, messy magician. I almost can't believe that I write this, but I would have liked it even more if there had been more romance. The book is very reserved in that regard and mostly shows affection through little and bigger gestures. It did match the perfect soft and cozy vibes of this book; the same vibes that were kinda missing in Emily Wilde for me. I'm now very willing to give that series another chance, though. But the book wasn't entirely low stakes either. There's trouble with the police and there's more than one intense magician fight and sometimes there are even missing cats, the horror!
I think that there was overall a good balance between maintaining the cat shelter and a more adventurous part about finding a magical artefact. The whole magician part even had plot similarities to Howl's Moving Castle, so if you really love the book or the movie you can do no wrong with this novel. But my absolute favorite part were all the cats of course. And there were plenty. They were described with different personalities and the love for cats was ever present. Please, "A cat is the soul of a house"? How can you not be in love with that? Overall, I have only very minor things to criticize about this book. For one, I never thought that Agnes read her age. She could have been in her early 20s and I would have believed it all the same. She was widowed and thus made a little older, but it was just a bit unbelievable to me. Maybe it was because the book felt kinda ageless, as in everyone from teen to adult reader could easily enjoy it. I also think that the setting / time period could have been utilized more, because it barely mattered if I'm honest. It was a nice urban setting without any modern technology but with common magic and that could have been shown more. But I'm not looking for the most intricate world building in a cozy fantasy anyway. There was enough information given to create a perfect standalone novel and I can't complain about that. All in all, I had a lovely read from beginning to end and I would recommend it to every cat and magic lover who is looking for a cozy fall/winter fantasy novel.
Huge thanks to NetGalley and Orbit / Little, Brown Book Group UK for providing a digital arc in exchange for an honest review.
--------------
Pre-read: I would have been upset if there had been fewer cats on the cover. Right onto the most anticipated list of next year.
anticipated-releases
June 21, 2024you had me at cat
December 30, 2025
I knew from the moment I saw that utterly charming cover—and Heather Fawcett’s name, an author who excels at creating enchanted, immersive worlds—that I was going to fall in love with this book from the very first chapter. And I was absolutely right. This story even made someone like me, who has never been a devoted cat person, seriously consider adopting one. (Not necessarily His Highness, of course—something more along the lines of a dramatic, slightly feral Banshee-type cat would be my preference.)
Agnes Aubert is the kind of character you adore instantly. She is gentle, selfless, endlessly kind, and determined to see the good in everyone. Her devotion to rescuing stray cats—making sure they don’t freeze alone on the streets and caring for them in her shelter—is deeply moving. When a magical attack devastates her neighborhood and leaves her shelter barely standing, Agnes realizes she must urgently find a new location before winter sets in. Unfortunately, every realtor in Montreal seems determined to slam the door in her face the moment she mentions that the space will be used as a cat shelter.
Just as hope begins to fade, Agnes stumbles upon the eccentric and narrow Rue des Hirondelles, where she meets Yannick, a curious young man who shows her an available rental. The place smells like freshly baked pastries and was recently abandoned by its previous tenant under suspicious, possibly magical circumstances. Still, beggars can’t be choosers, and the unbelievably affordable rent makes it impossible for Agnes to walk away. She decides to take a chance.
It doesn’t take long for her to realize there is a very big catch.
Strange individuals appear and vanish through secret parts of the building. A terrifying encounter with a wildly unstable woman alters the very structure of the house itself. And then, the landlord finally reveals himself: the Wicked King—Havelock Renard, a powerful and infamous magician rumored to have nearly ended the world. Agnes can hardly believe her luck… or lack thereof.
Yet, what initially seems like the worst possible situation soon becomes an unexpected opportunity. With magic relocating her original shelter, Agnes begins to imagine expanding her work and opening a new branch. At the same time, police officer Laurent Rouzet begins sniffing around the building, investigating illegal magical activities. Determined and resourceful, Agnes believes her organizational skills may be the key to finding a secret book Havelock’s sister desperately needs—one that could prevent another magical disaster and stop a looming war between magicians.
As Agnes reluctantly teams up with Havelock—an artifact-obsessed, grumpy, cantankerous loner who is allergic to cats yet surprisingly compassionate, she quickly realizes how little she truly understands about magic, its rules, and the very real dangers lurking beneath the land and within the surrounding dark woods. With the help of her fiery, bold, and fiercely protective sister Elise, Agnes must navigate threats that stretch across realms, all while protecting her beloved shelter… and resisting the undeniable pull of falling in love with a man who once stood on the brink of destroying everything.
Overall: The vivid world-building of 1920s Montreal, the rich atmosphere, the charming character portraits, the lovable cats, and the heartwarming yet magical storytelling come together in a perfect recipe for joy. This book feels like a cozy Christmas melody I want to hum forever—comforting, enchanting, and full of wonder. It earned a glowing five cat-shelter stars from me.
Many thanks to NetGalley and Del Rey / Random House Worlds / Inklore for providing me with this delightful enemies-to-lovers historical fantasy romance in exchange for my honest thoughts. 🐾
Many thanks to NetGalley and Avon & Harper Voyager for providing me with a digital review copy in exchange for my honest thoughts.
Follow me on medium.com to read my articles about books, movies, streaming series, astrology:
medium blog
instagram
facebook
twitter
Agnes Aubert is the kind of character you adore instantly. She is gentle, selfless, endlessly kind, and determined to see the good in everyone. Her devotion to rescuing stray cats—making sure they don’t freeze alone on the streets and caring for them in her shelter—is deeply moving. When a magical attack devastates her neighborhood and leaves her shelter barely standing, Agnes realizes she must urgently find a new location before winter sets in. Unfortunately, every realtor in Montreal seems determined to slam the door in her face the moment she mentions that the space will be used as a cat shelter.
Just as hope begins to fade, Agnes stumbles upon the eccentric and narrow Rue des Hirondelles, where she meets Yannick, a curious young man who shows her an available rental. The place smells like freshly baked pastries and was recently abandoned by its previous tenant under suspicious, possibly magical circumstances. Still, beggars can’t be choosers, and the unbelievably affordable rent makes it impossible for Agnes to walk away. She decides to take a chance.
It doesn’t take long for her to realize there is a very big catch.
Strange individuals appear and vanish through secret parts of the building. A terrifying encounter with a wildly unstable woman alters the very structure of the house itself. And then, the landlord finally reveals himself: the Wicked King—Havelock Renard, a powerful and infamous magician rumored to have nearly ended the world. Agnes can hardly believe her luck… or lack thereof.
Yet, what initially seems like the worst possible situation soon becomes an unexpected opportunity. With magic relocating her original shelter, Agnes begins to imagine expanding her work and opening a new branch. At the same time, police officer Laurent Rouzet begins sniffing around the building, investigating illegal magical activities. Determined and resourceful, Agnes believes her organizational skills may be the key to finding a secret book Havelock’s sister desperately needs—one that could prevent another magical disaster and stop a looming war between magicians.
As Agnes reluctantly teams up with Havelock—an artifact-obsessed, grumpy, cantankerous loner who is allergic to cats yet surprisingly compassionate, she quickly realizes how little she truly understands about magic, its rules, and the very real dangers lurking beneath the land and within the surrounding dark woods. With the help of her fiery, bold, and fiercely protective sister Elise, Agnes must navigate threats that stretch across realms, all while protecting her beloved shelter… and resisting the undeniable pull of falling in love with a man who once stood on the brink of destroying everything.
Overall: The vivid world-building of 1920s Montreal, the rich atmosphere, the charming character portraits, the lovable cats, and the heartwarming yet magical storytelling come together in a perfect recipe for joy. This book feels like a cozy Christmas melody I want to hum forever—comforting, enchanting, and full of wonder. It earned a glowing five cat-shelter stars from me.
Many thanks to NetGalley and Del Rey / Random House Worlds / Inklore for providing me with this delightful enemies-to-lovers historical fantasy romance in exchange for my honest thoughts. 🐾
Many thanks to NetGalley and Avon & Harper Voyager for providing me with a digital review copy in exchange for my honest thoughts.
Follow me on medium.com to read my articles about books, movies, streaming series, astrology:
medium blog
November 5, 2025
A beautiful exploration of grief & love after loss disguised as a cozy fantasy about magical cat shelter, complete with a broody dark lord and the most perfect cat side characters.
*best read in the company of a cat
A perfect cozy fantasy where the vibes are so utterly cozy but the stakes are high enough to keep you interested! I absolutely LOVED this book.
The setting, the found family, the magic, the romance, the plot, were all so well executed but what really stole the show were the cats and the portrayal of grief. These are not just simple animal companions these cats have personality and are a vital part of the plot (I LOVE THEM SO MUCH). The grief portrayal is so well interspersed, it always feels natural, well placed, and hopeful!
Whats to love…
- 1920s Montreal setting
- a disreputable magic shop + a broody dark lord
- interesting magic + world
- Strong 35+ widowed FMC with a type-A personality
- nerdy MMC who is also a shadow daddy
- jewelry wearing MMC (I heard we’re into men who wear rings now?!)
- She’s the one that does the saving!
- the sweetest romantic subplot
- CATS CATS CATS
- cozy in setting, compelling in plot
I read this in less than 24 hours, I couldn’t put it down!
Shout out to Toads & Tomes on IG for bringing this book to my attention!
| IG | TikTok |
Thank you Del Rey for the gifted book. All opinions are my own.
*best read in the company of a cat
A perfect cozy fantasy where the vibes are so utterly cozy but the stakes are high enough to keep you interested! I absolutely LOVED this book.
The setting, the found family, the magic, the romance, the plot, were all so well executed but what really stole the show were the cats and the portrayal of grief. These are not just simple animal companions these cats have personality and are a vital part of the plot (I LOVE THEM SO MUCH). The grief portrayal is so well interspersed, it always feels natural, well placed, and hopeful!
Whats to love…
- 1920s Montreal setting
- a disreputable magic shop + a broody dark lord
- interesting magic + world
- Strong 35+ widowed FMC with a type-A personality
- nerdy MMC who is also a shadow daddy
- jewelry wearing MMC (I heard we’re into men who wear rings now?!)
- She’s the one that does the saving!
- the sweetest romantic subplot
- CATS CATS CATS
- cozy in setting, compelling in plot
I read this in less than 24 hours, I couldn’t put it down!
Shout out to Toads & Tomes on IG for bringing this book to my attention!
| IG | TikTok |
Thank you Del Rey for the gifted book. All opinions are my own.
November 13, 2025
Thanks to NetGalley and Little, Brown Book Group UK for the arc!
🌟🌟🌟🌟/5
"A cat is the soul of a house."
Heather Fawcett brings her signature wit and charm to an enchanting tale that's perfect to curl up with on a cold winter's night! Despite of my very few quibbles, 'Agnes Aubert's Mystical Cat Shelter' won me over by the end.
The Good:
● I can't not start with the cats! I was initially worried that the story would be a romantic fantasy with the cat shelter as only a backdrop, but HF did a fantastic job at making the cats the soul of the story. I loved how they had such diverse personalities. His Majesty and Banshee the cat were a highlight for me. A significant portion of the book is indeed about running the cat shelter, so cat people rest assured, this won't disappoint you!
● Heather Fawcett's protagonists are always very endearing. I adored Agnes for her wholehearted dedication to running her shelter and the way she always prioritised the cats' well-being above all else. I loved how she unknowingly viewed Havelock as one of her cats in the way she looked after him.
" I knew in that moment that I would never abandon them — not for anything. I'd always known this, of course, but I suppose I'd never truly known how far my resolve would go, that it might even stretch wide enough to accommodate villainous monsters. The realization was both distressing and comforting."
● Havelock was a great love interest. The way the reader gets to know his true personality through Agnes' eyes was very rewarding.
● Although the book was humorous throughout, the stakes were pretty high.
● The side characters (including the cats) were well written. Agnes' sister Eloise was one of my favourites and her relationship with Agnes and her unwavering support were heartwarming.
● HF made some phenomenal decisions (including one that made me tear up) in the final quarter of the book which is why it finally ended up being a solid 4 star.
What could've been better:
● The pacing DRAGGED in the middle to the point that I was worried I'd end up giving it a 3 or 2.75.
● I wish there was more romance in the book. Agnes and Havelock's relationship was sweet and believable enough for me to root for them, but with the cat shelter and the artefact storylines the romance faded into the background. I'm not a huge fan of the Emily Wilde trilogy but Emily and Wendell is one of my favorite bookish romantic pairings. Yes, that developed over
the course of 3 books but I'd have loved to see more romantic moments between Agnes and Havelock.
Overall, I had a lovely time with 'Agnes Aubert's Mystical Cat Shelter' and would love to read more books featuring this characters (yes, I know that this is a standalone but one can always hope). I'd highly recommend this to fans of cozy fantasy!
🌟🌟🌟🌟/5
"A cat is the soul of a house."
Heather Fawcett brings her signature wit and charm to an enchanting tale that's perfect to curl up with on a cold winter's night! Despite of my very few quibbles, 'Agnes Aubert's Mystical Cat Shelter' won me over by the end.
The Good:
● I can't not start with the cats! I was initially worried that the story would be a romantic fantasy with the cat shelter as only a backdrop, but HF did a fantastic job at making the cats the soul of the story. I loved how they had such diverse personalities. His Majesty and Banshee the cat were a highlight for me. A significant portion of the book is indeed about running the cat shelter, so cat people rest assured, this won't disappoint you!
● Heather Fawcett's protagonists are always very endearing. I adored Agnes for her wholehearted dedication to running her shelter and the way she always prioritised the cats' well-being above all else. I loved how she unknowingly viewed Havelock as one of her cats in the way she looked after him.
" I knew in that moment that I would never abandon them — not for anything. I'd always known this, of course, but I suppose I'd never truly known how far my resolve would go, that it might even stretch wide enough to accommodate villainous monsters. The realization was both distressing and comforting."
● Havelock was a great love interest. The way the reader gets to know his true personality through Agnes' eyes was very rewarding.
● Although the book was humorous throughout, the stakes were pretty high.
● The side characters (including the cats) were well written. Agnes' sister Eloise was one of my favourites and her relationship with Agnes and her unwavering support were heartwarming.
● HF made some phenomenal decisions (including one that made me tear up) in the final quarter of the book which is why it finally ended up being a solid 4 star.
What could've been better:
● The pacing DRAGGED in the middle to the point that I was worried I'd end up giving it a 3 or 2.75.
● I wish there was more romance in the book. Agnes and Havelock's relationship was sweet and believable enough for me to root for them, but with the cat shelter and the artefact storylines the romance faded into the background. I'm not a huge fan of the Emily Wilde trilogy but Emily and Wendell is one of my favorite bookish romantic pairings. Yes, that developed over
the course of 3 books but I'd have loved to see more romantic moments between Agnes and Havelock.
Overall, I had a lovely time with 'Agnes Aubert's Mystical Cat Shelter' and would love to read more books featuring this characters (yes, I know that this is a standalone but one can always hope). I'd highly recommend this to fans of cozy fantasy!
September 9, 2025
4.0 ★— Consider this a cozy treat for all the Howl/Sophie lovers out there!
I’ve been following this book since Heather Fawcett announced it, and I’m happy to say that reading it was such a delight! It’s warm, whimsical, filled with charming and eccentric characters, and infused with just the right amount of supernatural elements to draw you in as a reader.
The story���s heroine, Agnes, is a 35-year-old widow, dedicated and fiercely determined to keep her shelter open in order to care for the city’s ownerless cats. She’s emotional yet steady, balancing heart and resolve in her own way. From the blurb, I expected someone more in line with Emily Wilde from her previous trilogy, but Agnes stands entirely on her own, and I really appreciated that.
Havelock Renard definitely carries shades of Howl Pendragon! He wears outlandish yet stylish outfits, piles on layers of magical jewelry, and plays the chaotic foil to Agnes’ meticulous orderliness. Their relationship will definitely appeal to the Howl/Sophie crowd, though I was a little disappointed in how their romance ultimately unfolded. For me, it lacked some of the yearning and tension I look for in fiction. Instead, their connection sometimes felt a little flat, and the buildup underwhelming.
Agnes and Havelock do weather trials together throughout the story that endeared me to them, but I found myself a tiny bit let down, because compared to the romance in Fawcett’s Emily Wilde series, this part of the book came across as weaker. I think the story would have benefited from more scenes of them together. Or really, more scenes of Havelock in general, because I just wanted more of him.
As a character he still felt a bit indistinct to me, lacking the intrigue and charismatic pull I was expecting after his introduction. Of course, that’s entirely my expectation here, but it’s worth noting because it slightly tempered my enjoyment of their dynamic.
That said, I still adored the setting and the inviting, cozy atmosphere that runs through the book, especially with its winter backdrop. The side characters added depth and warmth, rounding out the story beautifully. And naturally, as a cat lover, I adored how Fawcett captured the mysterious and mystical(!) nature of cats with this story.
____________________
Thank you to NetGalley and Del Rey for the ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.
I’ve been following this book since Heather Fawcett announced it, and I’m happy to say that reading it was such a delight! It’s warm, whimsical, filled with charming and eccentric characters, and infused with just the right amount of supernatural elements to draw you in as a reader.
The story���s heroine, Agnes, is a 35-year-old widow, dedicated and fiercely determined to keep her shelter open in order to care for the city’s ownerless cats. She’s emotional yet steady, balancing heart and resolve in her own way. From the blurb, I expected someone more in line with Emily Wilde from her previous trilogy, but Agnes stands entirely on her own, and I really appreciated that.
Havelock Renard definitely carries shades of Howl Pendragon! He wears outlandish yet stylish outfits, piles on layers of magical jewelry, and plays the chaotic foil to Agnes’ meticulous orderliness. Their relationship will definitely appeal to the Howl/Sophie crowd, though I was a little disappointed in how their romance ultimately unfolded. For me, it lacked some of the yearning and tension I look for in fiction. Instead, their connection sometimes felt a little flat, and the buildup underwhelming.
Agnes and Havelock do weather trials together throughout the story that endeared me to them, but I found myself a tiny bit let down, because compared to the romance in Fawcett’s Emily Wilde series, this part of the book came across as weaker. I think the story would have benefited from more scenes of them together. Or really, more scenes of Havelock in general, because I just wanted more of him.
As a character he still felt a bit indistinct to me, lacking the intrigue and charismatic pull I was expecting after his introduction. Of course, that’s entirely my expectation here, but it’s worth noting because it slightly tempered my enjoyment of their dynamic.
That said, I still adored the setting and the inviting, cozy atmosphere that runs through the book, especially with its winter backdrop. The side characters added depth and warmth, rounding out the story beautifully. And naturally, as a cat lover, I adored how Fawcett captured the mysterious and mystical(!) nature of cats with this story.
____________________
Thank you to NetGalley and Del Rey for the ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.
Want to read
December 10, 2025I've wished for it on Netgalley since I was too late to grab an ARC. Sooo... fingers crossed?
August 26, 2025
Cosy, cat-filled, cute, curiously magical.
Agnes runs a cat shelter charity in a place where most people see cats as pests. She is highly organised, type-A, lives by her checklists and order. (Is she me?)
When her shop is destroyed by duelling magicians, she rents a new, weirdly cheap, place where she finds out a magician is living in the basement. Not any old magician (which would be bad enough), but Havelock: the Witch King, failed world-ender. Who is allergic to cats and being hunted by his evil sister.
I have two cats who seem to think they’re human, so this story touched me, made me laugh, and cuddle with my own furballs: Pancake (born on Pancake day) and Cinder, (named after the Lunar Chronicles).
”You are a hurricane, aren’t you?” he said. “I’m half convinced that if I get in your way, I’ll find myself stuffed into a crate with a number glued to my forehead.”
“Oh, no,” I said. “You’d get your own shelf.”
Havelock is chaotic, disorganised, and a mess.
Agnes is stressed, persistent, and tidy.
The side characters are equally as charming, complementing and contrasting with our main characters wonderfully. Even the cats have more personality than other main book characters I have read.
This is an urban historical fantasy set in 1920s Montreal, perfect for the Fall/Autumnal season.
If this doesn’t convince you to go to a cat shelter, you have a stone heart.
Arc gifted by Del Rey.
Bookstagram
Tiktok
Agnes runs a cat shelter charity in a place where most people see cats as pests. She is highly organised, type-A, lives by her checklists and order. (Is she me?)
When her shop is destroyed by duelling magicians, she rents a new, weirdly cheap, place where she finds out a magician is living in the basement. Not any old magician (which would be bad enough), but Havelock: the Witch King, failed world-ender. Who is allergic to cats and being hunted by his evil sister.
I have two cats who seem to think they’re human, so this story touched me, made me laugh, and cuddle with my own furballs: Pancake (born on Pancake day) and Cinder, (named after the Lunar Chronicles).
”You are a hurricane, aren’t you?” he said. “I’m half convinced that if I get in your way, I’ll find myself stuffed into a crate with a number glued to my forehead.”
“Oh, no,” I said. “You’d get your own shelf.”
Havelock is chaotic, disorganised, and a mess.
Agnes is stressed, persistent, and tidy.
The side characters are equally as charming, complementing and contrasting with our main characters wonderfully. Even the cats have more personality than other main book characters I have read.
This is an urban historical fantasy set in 1920s Montreal, perfect for the Fall/Autumnal season.
If this doesn’t convince you to go to a cat shelter, you have a stone heart.
Arc gifted by Del Rey.
Bookstagram
Tiktok
November 10, 2025
I’m not much of cozy fantasy reader, but throw a few cats into the mix and I’m hooked. This book delivered all the cozy vibes! The setting instantly draws you in, making it easy to picture our cat shelter and the quaint streets of 1920’s Montreal. I quickly connected with our characters; they made me laugh, and they even made me cry (once). Of course, the highlight of this book was the cats; I loved that they each had their own distinct personalities. It’s obvious that Heather Fawcett is a cat lover with how she perfectly captured the eccentricities of cat ownership.
Thank you NetGalley and DelRey for the e-arc in exchange for my honest review.
Thank you NetGalley and DelRey for the e-arc in exchange for my honest review.
October 12, 2025
Such a lovely, cozy read. I would have liked a little bit more from the plot but the characters and cats were endearing enough to keep me entertained.
Full review to come closer to release.
Full review to come closer to release.
August 29, 2025
This was the magical, cozy read that I didn’t know I needed. With charming characters, lovable cats, magical spells and artefacts, and an oven that produces pastries at midnight, what’s not to love?
This gave me Howl’s moving castle vibes which I adored. I also really liked the Montreal snowy atmosphere.
Once again, Heather Fawcett delivers a wonderfully unique story with the kind of writing that simply immersed me from the start. I always appreciate how her characters feel real in that they have quirks and traits that are not shied away from but explored in ways make them all the more endearing.
I found the romance to be heart-warming and I especially loved the final chapter with the attic scene (yes it made me smile because i will never not love the kind of ending that lets you imagine all the magical possibilities awaiting the characters in their future).
Thank you to Del Rey and Netgalley for this ARC.
This gave me Howl’s moving castle vibes which I adored. I also really liked the Montreal snowy atmosphere.
Once again, Heather Fawcett delivers a wonderfully unique story with the kind of writing that simply immersed me from the start. I always appreciate how her characters feel real in that they have quirks and traits that are not shied away from but explored in ways make them all the more endearing.
I found the romance to be heart-warming and I especially loved the final chapter with the attic scene (yes it made me smile because i will never not love the kind of ending that lets you imagine all the magical possibilities awaiting the characters in their future).
Thank you to Del Rey and Netgalley for this ARC.
October 17, 2025
Cozy goes hardcore
Heather Fawcett wrote a series of fantasy novels, the Emily Wilde series, which I really enjoyed. I liked them because Fawcett pulled off an impressive bit of magic of her own: she wrote three novels about a powerful, child-torturing, royalty-poisoning enchantress and convinced the world that they are cozy fantasies. In my reviews, I described Emily as formidable, terrifying, and capable of anything -- the last is a direct quote of something her romantic interest Wendell Bambleby said about her. And he was right!
The trick is all in the packaging. Emily is an introverted professor who drinks HAC Beverages in large amounts. ("HAC" = "Hot Alkaloid-Containing" is a shorthand that includes tea, coffee and cocoa. HAC Beverages are of course the defining feature of cozy literature. Check out any novel that has been designated "cozy" and you will find that the characters spend much of their time offering each other and consuming HAC bevs. In fact, I posit that HAC bevs in large quantities are not just a necessary, but a sufficient condition for coziness.)
Fawcett, in Agnes Aubert's Mystical Cat Shelter has shone light into all of Emily's dark places while turning the cozy to the max. We have not only HAC beverages, but also a variety of pastries, and -- get this -- our heroine runs a shelter for distressed stray cats. She literally lives with dozens of them and finds them homes. This is Beatrix Potter levels of cozy, but for adults!
The heroine, of course, is Agnes Aubert. She and her shelter are located in 1920s Montréal. It is not our version of the 1920s, however. There is magic in this world. Agnes, like all right-thinking folk, despises magic. Magicians are lawless and powerful and cause endless trouble. A few years ago one of them almost effected the End of the World. More recently, dueling magicians blasted a hole in the wall of the building that housed Agnes's shelter. Thus, as the story begins Agnes is looking for a new home. She finds one at a suspiciously low rent. Well, you can guess why the rent is so low. (And the publisher's blurb, which is full of major spoilers, will tell you why even if you can't guess.)
I didn't enjoy this as much as the Emily Wilde series. Agnes was too sweet for me. I'd have preferred a protagonist with more spice or sour notes. That's just me, though. If hard-core cozy is your thing, you'll enjoy Agnes.
Thanks to NetGalley and Del Rey for an advance reader's copy of Agnes Aubert's Mystical Cat Shelter. Release date 17-Feb-2026.
Blog review.
Heather Fawcett wrote a series of fantasy novels, the Emily Wilde series, which I really enjoyed. I liked them because Fawcett pulled off an impressive bit of magic of her own: she wrote three novels about a powerful, child-torturing, royalty-poisoning enchantress and convinced the world that they are cozy fantasies. In my reviews, I described Emily as formidable, terrifying, and capable of anything -- the last is a direct quote of something her romantic interest Wendell Bambleby said about her. And he was right!
The trick is all in the packaging. Emily is an introverted professor who drinks HAC Beverages in large amounts. ("HAC" = "Hot Alkaloid-Containing" is a shorthand that includes tea, coffee and cocoa. HAC Beverages are of course the defining feature of cozy literature. Check out any novel that has been designated "cozy" and you will find that the characters spend much of their time offering each other and consuming HAC bevs. In fact, I posit that HAC bevs in large quantities are not just a necessary, but a sufficient condition for coziness.)
Fawcett, in Agnes Aubert's Mystical Cat Shelter has shone light into all of Emily's dark places while turning the cozy to the max. We have not only HAC beverages, but also a variety of pastries, and -- get this -- our heroine runs a shelter for distressed stray cats. She literally lives with dozens of them and finds them homes. This is Beatrix Potter levels of cozy, but for adults!
The heroine, of course, is Agnes Aubert. She and her shelter are located in 1920s Montréal. It is not our version of the 1920s, however. There is magic in this world. Agnes, like all right-thinking folk, despises magic. Magicians are lawless and powerful and cause endless trouble. A few years ago one of them almost effected the End of the World. More recently, dueling magicians blasted a hole in the wall of the building that housed Agnes's shelter. Thus, as the story begins Agnes is looking for a new home. She finds one at a suspiciously low rent. Well, you can guess why the rent is so low. (And the publisher's blurb, which is full of major spoilers, will tell you why even if you can't guess.)
I didn't enjoy this as much as the Emily Wilde series. Agnes was too sweet for me. I'd have preferred a protagonist with more spice or sour notes. That's just me, though. If hard-core cozy is your thing, you'll enjoy Agnes.
Thanks to NetGalley and Del Rey for an advance reader's copy of Agnes Aubert's Mystical Cat Shelter. Release date 17-Feb-2026.
Blog review.
October 19, 2025
Cozy fantasy is not really a genre that works for me because no matter how much I love the vibes, I like my stakes a little bit higher. This of course is the reason why Heather Fawcett's books work for me. The aesthetic is there, cats and pastries and snow but the plot is also about illegal artefacts and the apocalypse and, most importantly, about love and grief.
I did not expect this book to make me cry but here we are none the less. Agnes is juggling her goal of saving every stray cat in Montreal, her feelings about magic and the loss of her husband while also finding love after that. Havelock is also grieving in his own way but he also wants to be left alone. The way these two found each other, a woman who sees the good in everyone and a man who can't even see the good in himself was beautiful and made me feel all the feels.
The best thing though is that the cats are characters in this book AND I got my cat to cuddle with me will reading it. Truly the best way to enjoy this book.
I did not expect this book to make me cry but here we are none the less. Agnes is juggling her goal of saving every stray cat in Montreal, her feelings about magic and the loss of her husband while also finding love after that. Havelock is also grieving in his own way but he also wants to be left alone. The way these two found each other, a woman who sees the good in everyone and a man who can't even see the good in himself was beautiful and made me feel all the feels.
The best thing though is that the cats are characters in this book AND I got my cat to cuddle with me will reading it. Truly the best way to enjoy this book.
November 20, 2025
I hope this fantasy novel leads to more people loving cats. I'm already a life-long cat lover and this made me love them even more! Agnes needs to find a new location for her cat shelter but has no idea her new place is a front for the dreaded Witch King aka Havelock, who is not that dreadful at all.
I adored everything about this! Havelock opining on magic theory, just wants to be left alone with his books and Artefacts. Agnes organizing his Artefacts because she can't handle what a mess his rooms are and how on earth can he ever find anything?! All the cats' personalities and the people who come to adopt them. The way this explored Agnes's grief after the death of her husband Robin. The slow burgeoning romance between Agnes and Havelock. Agnes's stalwart sister Elise! I would read so many more stories about Agnes, Havelock, and crew.
Note: There is some danger and peril in the form of Havelock's sister Valérie but no cats are harmed.
Characters: Agnes is a 35 year old white cat rescue charity owner. She owns two cats: His Majesty and Banshee. Her sister is Elise. Havelock (aka Witch King) is a 32 year old white magician and landlord who wears glasses. Yannick is his apprentice. This is set in Montréal.
Content notes: toxic sister, past child neglect, cat abduction, murder, attempted murder, police abuse of power, jail, lacerations, allergy to cats, fainting, vomit, animal endangerment, past and present animal injuries, abandoned cats, past death of pet cat, recent death of rescue cat's owner, cat diet, cat vomit, spiders, fleas, forgetting to eat, brief fatshaming joke, past death of FMC's husband (heart defect), past death of FMC's parents at 16, past death of MMC's mother, past parental rejection for being a magician (secondary character was passed to other relatives who kicked him out once he turned 18), past homelessness (secondary character), past foster care (secondary character), alcohol, ableist language
Disclosure: I received a free advance copy from Del Rey.
I adored everything about this! Havelock opining on magic theory, just wants to be left alone with his books and Artefacts. Agnes organizing his Artefacts because she can't handle what a mess his rooms are and how on earth can he ever find anything?! All the cats' personalities and the people who come to adopt them. The way this explored Agnes's grief after the death of her husband Robin. The slow burgeoning romance between Agnes and Havelock. Agnes's stalwart sister Elise! I would read so many more stories about Agnes, Havelock, and crew.
Note: There is some danger and peril in the form of Havelock's sister Valérie but no cats are harmed.
Characters: Agnes is a 35 year old white cat rescue charity owner. She owns two cats: His Majesty and Banshee. Her sister is Elise. Havelock (aka Witch King) is a 32 year old white magician and landlord who wears glasses. Yannick is his apprentice. This is set in Montréal.
Content notes: toxic sister, past child neglect, cat abduction, murder, attempted murder, police abuse of power, jail, lacerations, allergy to cats, fainting, vomit, animal endangerment, past and present animal injuries, abandoned cats, past death of pet cat, recent death of rescue cat's owner, cat diet, cat vomit, spiders, fleas, forgetting to eat, brief fatshaming joke, past death of FMC's husband (heart defect), past death of FMC's parents at 16, past death of MMC's mother, past parental rejection for being a magician (secondary character was passed to other relatives who kicked him out once he turned 18), past homelessness (secondary character), past foster care (secondary character), alcohol, ableist language
Disclosure: I received a free advance copy from Del Rey.
December 15, 2025
What a cozy, enchanting, and deeply heartfelt read this turned out to be. Agnes Aubert’s Mystical Cat Shelter completely captured my heart from start to finish, and I truly did not want it to end.
This story felt like a warm hug. The magic was gentle yet enchanting, and I found myself wishing I could step into the pages and volunteer at Agnes’s cat shelter just to be around her and her wonderfully mystical cats. Each cat had its own personality, and I absolutely loved how Agnes matched them with adopters so thoughtfully, like she could see straight into their souls.
What made this book especially meaningful to me was how it addressed real and important themes such as the street cat population and the need for neutering. As someone who advocates for reducing stray animal populations in Asia, this aspect of the story tugged hard at my heartstrings. Agnes’s compassion for animals felt incredibly genuine, and when she hurt for her cats, I felt that pain right alongside her.
The emotional depth of this book surprised me in the best way. Agnes’s grief after losing her husband was handled with such tenderness, and seeing how she found comfort and healing through caring for her cats was both heartbreaking and beautiful. I laughed, I cried, and more than once I wanted to reach through the pages and hug her.
I also adored the magical elements woven throughout the story — from enchanted artifacts to Havelock’s experiments with magic — and yes, I want to be adored the way Banshee adored Havelock. 🥹
This book is full of warmth, kindness, and hope, and it’s a love letter to lost souls finding their way back home — whether they walk on two legs or four. If you love cozy fantasy, cats, gentle magic, and stories that lead with heart, I cannot recommend this enough.
Thank you Del Rey and NetGalley for the eARC in exchange of my honest review!
This story felt like a warm hug. The magic was gentle yet enchanting, and I found myself wishing I could step into the pages and volunteer at Agnes’s cat shelter just to be around her and her wonderfully mystical cats. Each cat had its own personality, and I absolutely loved how Agnes matched them with adopters so thoughtfully, like she could see straight into their souls.
What made this book especially meaningful to me was how it addressed real and important themes such as the street cat population and the need for neutering. As someone who advocates for reducing stray animal populations in Asia, this aspect of the story tugged hard at my heartstrings. Agnes’s compassion for animals felt incredibly genuine, and when she hurt for her cats, I felt that pain right alongside her.
The emotional depth of this book surprised me in the best way. Agnes’s grief after losing her husband was handled with such tenderness, and seeing how she found comfort and healing through caring for her cats was both heartbreaking and beautiful. I laughed, I cried, and more than once I wanted to reach through the pages and hug her.
I also adored the magical elements woven throughout the story — from enchanted artifacts to Havelock’s experiments with magic — and yes, I want to be adored the way Banshee adored Havelock. 🥹
This book is full of warmth, kindness, and hope, and it’s a love letter to lost souls finding their way back home — whether they walk on two legs or four. If you love cozy fantasy, cats, gentle magic, and stories that lead with heart, I cannot recommend this enough.
Thank you Del Rey and NetGalley for the eARC in exchange of my honest review!
November 11, 2025
This was such a great story especially if you love cats! There were so many wonderful little touches that will draw you in. From the magical oven that bakes pastries at midnight, intelligent characters willing to do whatever it takes to save others, and cats who steal the show; this is a fantastic, wonderful book filled with magic, action, and a little romance.
Agnes is a woman in her 30s who is grieving the loss of her partner and has now dedicated her life to saving cats. She runs a cat shelter and is desperate to find a new home. When a shop she can actually affords comes up she jumps at the chance to rent it. However she finds out that a magician named Havelock is using her shelter as a front so that he stays hidden from the police. Havelock is a world famous magician who almost ended the world. Agnes would be ok with this until one day another magician shows up and almost destroys her shelter and the cats in her quest to find a magical book. Agnes is determined to do whatever it takes to find this book and destroy it so that everyone she loves will be safe.
This book was a unique blend of heart warming characters, magic, and action. I really hope that there are more books to come as I truly loved all of these characters and the cats.
Thank you to Del Rey Publishing and NetGalley for this ARC.
Agnes is a woman in her 30s who is grieving the loss of her partner and has now dedicated her life to saving cats. She runs a cat shelter and is desperate to find a new home. When a shop she can actually affords comes up she jumps at the chance to rent it. However she finds out that a magician named Havelock is using her shelter as a front so that he stays hidden from the police. Havelock is a world famous magician who almost ended the world. Agnes would be ok with this until one day another magician shows up and almost destroys her shelter and the cats in her quest to find a magical book. Agnes is determined to do whatever it takes to find this book and destroy it so that everyone she loves will be safe.
This book was a unique blend of heart warming characters, magic, and action. I really hope that there are more books to come as I truly loved all of these characters and the cats.
Thank you to Del Rey Publishing and NetGalley for this ARC.
Want to read
January 22, 2025I need this in my life
September 30, 2025
“I just told you that I stopped an apocalypse, and all you can think about is your cats.”
This was another CAT-astic book by Heather Fawcett. At this point, I have accepted that Heather’s definition of cozy fantasies involve the world ending and the apocalypse – or, the aPAWcalypse – and that is exactly why I read Heather’s books. The perfect blend of the world ending, a whimsical magician and cats.
I have no doubt that cat lovers will love this one. Heather’s latest novel is a love letter to all the cat lovers out there and I loved that all of the cats in the novel – and there are several – have distinct personalities. They all had memorable names that fit into their different personalities too. I don’t want to spoil too much, but Banshee was my favorite cat for sure!
Apart from Heather paying homage to the cat lovers out there, this novel was also a love letter and homage to Howl’s Moving Castle. You cannot tell me otherwise that Heather took inspiration from the book and its respective Ghibli film!! This genuinely felt like a loose retelling of Howl’s Moving Castle in the best way possible. There are so many similarities to Howl yet Heather reimagines it where it feels new and original and stands out on its own. Again, not spoiling, but there are so many scenes that had me GRINNING when I recognized the overlap.
And of course leave it to Heather to write memorable cats AND characters, and one heck of a memorable entrance for Havelock Renard. I have no doubt fans of Heather’s previous series, Emily Wilde will enjoy this one just as much – the book has the same sharp, witty banter found in Emily Wilde. There were a lot of times where I could not stop laughing. Agnes in general is a likable character. While rational and logical, Agnes has a huge heart, openly cares for everyone in general and tries to see the best in people. But she also has the biggest loyalty to the cats! Havelock is an enigma and a puzzle piece to be solved, someone so invested in magic he gets caught up in his craft and forgets how to be human at times. But I love unravelling the mystery that is Havelock Renard. It’s also a bonus that he’s so funny without trying. There’s never a dull moment whenever Agnes and Havelock interact.
But my favorite part of the novel was learning about the magic and the lore around it. I found it surprisingly fleshed out and developed and it genuinely felt like Heather could write a high fantasy novel. It left me wanting more from the world – especially learning about the Rivenwood, which was so ominous, spooky yet fascinating. I’d love to see Heather try her hand at a gothic novel.
If there was one thing that I wanted a bit more from, it was the villain of the novel that fell a bit on the generic side for me. The novel felt like it attempted to give some context, backstory and motive, but it felt like it wasn’t expanded on as much as I thought it would, so the villain did feel a bit one dimensional to me. The novel also lost a bit of momentum towards the half way mark, but pulled me back in afterwards. There were also some plot conveniences, especially towards the end and I found the ending a bit abrupt too. Heather definitely has me craving more from this world and to explore more of the magic we were introduced to. Please turn this into a series one day!
Thank you to NetGalley and Little Brown Book for the e-ARC in exchange for my honest review.
This was another CAT-astic book by Heather Fawcett. At this point, I have accepted that Heather’s definition of cozy fantasies involve the world ending and the apocalypse – or, the aPAWcalypse – and that is exactly why I read Heather’s books. The perfect blend of the world ending, a whimsical magician and cats.
I have no doubt that cat lovers will love this one. Heather’s latest novel is a love letter to all the cat lovers out there and I loved that all of the cats in the novel – and there are several – have distinct personalities. They all had memorable names that fit into their different personalities too. I don’t want to spoil too much, but Banshee was my favorite cat for sure!
Apart from Heather paying homage to the cat lovers out there, this novel was also a love letter and homage to Howl’s Moving Castle. You cannot tell me otherwise that Heather took inspiration from the book and its respective Ghibli film!! This genuinely felt like a loose retelling of Howl’s Moving Castle in the best way possible. There are so many similarities to Howl yet Heather reimagines it where it feels new and original and stands out on its own. Again, not spoiling, but there are so many scenes that had me GRINNING when I recognized the overlap.
And of course leave it to Heather to write memorable cats AND characters, and one heck of a memorable entrance for Havelock Renard. I have no doubt fans of Heather’s previous series, Emily Wilde will enjoy this one just as much – the book has the same sharp, witty banter found in Emily Wilde. There were a lot of times where I could not stop laughing. Agnes in general is a likable character. While rational and logical, Agnes has a huge heart, openly cares for everyone in general and tries to see the best in people. But she also has the biggest loyalty to the cats! Havelock is an enigma and a puzzle piece to be solved, someone so invested in magic he gets caught up in his craft and forgets how to be human at times. But I love unravelling the mystery that is Havelock Renard. It’s also a bonus that he’s so funny without trying. There’s never a dull moment whenever Agnes and Havelock interact.
But my favorite part of the novel was learning about the magic and the lore around it. I found it surprisingly fleshed out and developed and it genuinely felt like Heather could write a high fantasy novel. It left me wanting more from the world – especially learning about the Rivenwood, which was so ominous, spooky yet fascinating. I’d love to see Heather try her hand at a gothic novel.
If there was one thing that I wanted a bit more from, it was the villain of the novel that fell a bit on the generic side for me. The novel felt like it attempted to give some context, backstory and motive, but it felt like it wasn’t expanded on as much as I thought it would, so the villain did feel a bit one dimensional to me. The novel also lost a bit of momentum towards the half way mark, but pulled me back in afterwards. There were also some plot conveniences, especially towards the end and I found the ending a bit abrupt too. Heather definitely has me craving more from this world and to explore more of the magic we were introduced to. Please turn this into a series one day!
Thank you to NetGalley and Little Brown Book for the e-ARC in exchange for my honest review.
December 23, 2025
Agnes Aubert’s Mystical Cat Shelter by Heather Fawcett invites you in for a read full of warmth, magic, hope and love.
Agnes Aubert runs a cat shelter to rescue and rehome strays but after two warring mages burn down her shop, she desperately seeks for a new one. The problem is no one will lease her a shop that’s affordable or be willing to accommodate her cats. Yet she is drawn to one shop in particular and when she goes inside to inquire she finds that it’s the perfect place for her charity to continue, in fact it’s a little too good to be true. Agnes begins to question much and when there are strange happenings in the basement, she finds the notorious wizard, Havelock, hiding there.
This is a story that features plenty of cat shenanigans (you’re all going to love Banshee and His Majesty!), it includes magic that is outlawed and explosive to see in use, and there is also a gentle slow burn romance. Agnes’ personality immediately shone through, she’s organised, punctual and the type of person to get things done. I adored that about her, all these nuances made Agnes feel real, feel relatable and made me care for her almost instantly. Havelock was first described as being quite the dark lord and yes he was a touch of a shady, grouchy mage, one who was quite self-centred to begin with but well… he made me laugh! And we all know I love a humorous character. I found Havelock possessed a certain charm—I loved his bantery dialogue with Agnes, the way they both playfully poked fun at each other’s quirks—he was just so much fun.
The novel falls into a wonderful cosy read where our characters, Agnes and Havelock go on a journey of facing their grief and loneliness and eventually healing as they discover that they deserve happiness. From start to finish I was enveloped with delights, with whimsy and I did not want to leave these characters behind. A perfectly enchanting read!
ARC provided by Nazia at Orbit Books in exchange for an honest review—thank you for the copy!
Agnes Aubert runs a cat shelter to rescue and rehome strays but after two warring mages burn down her shop, she desperately seeks for a new one. The problem is no one will lease her a shop that’s affordable or be willing to accommodate her cats. Yet she is drawn to one shop in particular and when she goes inside to inquire she finds that it’s the perfect place for her charity to continue, in fact it’s a little too good to be true. Agnes begins to question much and when there are strange happenings in the basement, she finds the notorious wizard, Havelock, hiding there.
This is a story that features plenty of cat shenanigans (you’re all going to love Banshee and His Majesty!), it includes magic that is outlawed and explosive to see in use, and there is also a gentle slow burn romance. Agnes’ personality immediately shone through, she’s organised, punctual and the type of person to get things done. I adored that about her, all these nuances made Agnes feel real, feel relatable and made me care for her almost instantly. Havelock was first described as being quite the dark lord and yes he was a touch of a shady, grouchy mage, one who was quite self-centred to begin with but well… he made me laugh! And we all know I love a humorous character. I found Havelock possessed a certain charm—I loved his bantery dialogue with Agnes, the way they both playfully poked fun at each other’s quirks—he was just so much fun.
The novel falls into a wonderful cosy read where our characters, Agnes and Havelock go on a journey of facing their grief and loneliness and eventually healing as they discover that they deserve happiness. From start to finish I was enveloped with delights, with whimsy and I did not want to leave these characters behind. A perfectly enchanting read!
ARC provided by Nazia at Orbit Books in exchange for an honest review—thank you for the copy!
November 21, 2025
“Agnes Aubert's Mystical Cat Shelter” tells the story of Agnes and the cat shelter she runs in 20th-century Montreal. It’s getting cold and the place she’s currently renting is damaged so Agnes is forced to relocate. She’s able to find a perfect new location for her shelter very unexpectedly but having no other options she has to take the offer. She doesn’t yet know what the future will bring…
After the Emily Wilde series I’ve been very excited to read the newest Heather Fawcett’s story. However for me it felt like an average book and it lacked the magic I’ve seen in the author's previous books. Don’t get me wrong the magic was there, it just wasn’t so enchanting.
The main characters in my opinion felt very similar to those from the Emily Wilde series. It was a bit weird for me that Agnes’s past was being mentioned when it was comfortable to mention it.
The magical world that enchanted me the most was barely touched, we didn’t get a chance to fully explore it. The same goes for the magic system. It was just there and the magic just happened.
On the bright side the idea for the cat shelter was amazing and I wish the cats would get more airtime and be more crucial to the main plot. I really liked that every cat had its own personality and I could distinguish them easily.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.
After the Emily Wilde series I’ve been very excited to read the newest Heather Fawcett’s story. However for me it felt like an average book and it lacked the magic I’ve seen in the author's previous books. Don’t get me wrong the magic was there, it just wasn’t so enchanting.
The main characters in my opinion felt very similar to those from the Emily Wilde series. It was a bit weird for me that Agnes’s past was being mentioned when it was comfortable to mention it.
The magical world that enchanted me the most was barely touched, we didn’t get a chance to fully explore it. The same goes for the magic system. It was just there and the magic just happened.
On the bright side the idea for the cat shelter was amazing and I wish the cats would get more airtime and be more crucial to the main plot. I really liked that every cat had its own personality and I could distinguish them easily.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.
Want to read
August 14, 2025All hail the queen of cozy fantasy!!
December 29, 2025
heather fawcett is such a master at creating interesting, unique fantasy worlds for her books. i first became familiar with her work in the emily wilde series, and i was so glad to see that same talent shine in agnes aubert’s mystical cat shelter! i loved experiencing the fantastical version of 1920s montreal, with mysterious magicians abound causing chaos as agnes tries to keep her cat shelter afloat.
one thing i wished we got to see more of was her relationship with havelock. i loved the fact that it took a while for her to come around on him, and it wasn’t all insta-lovey (especially considering the fact that she’s a widow who lost her husband young). without getting too into spoilers here, there was a moment that reminded me of howl’s moving castle in the best way! there was such a depth of emotion shown in a short time between both agnes & havelock and agnes & robin, which isn’t easy to do, so i admire her for that. i also loved all of the side characters, especially élise, yannick, and all of the cats!
thank you to netgalley & the publisher for an eARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
one thing i wished we got to see more of was her relationship with havelock. i loved the fact that it took a while for her to come around on him, and it wasn’t all insta-lovey (especially considering the fact that she’s a widow who lost her husband young). without getting too into spoilers here, there was a moment that reminded me of howl’s moving castle in the best way! there was such a depth of emotion shown in a short time between both agnes & havelock and agnes & robin, which isn’t easy to do, so i admire her for that. i also loved all of the side characters, especially élise, yannick, and all of the cats!
thank you to netgalley & the publisher for an eARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
December 2, 2025
What a wonderfully charming book! Love cats? Love magic? Love morally superior heroines and perhaps misunderstood villains? Then Agnes Aubert’s Mystical Cat Shelter is for you! I can only hope this is the start of a series - author Heather Fawcett did so much world building of this Montreal to visit only once. (And Havelock Renard is no Wendell Bambleby, but he’s pretty darn close).
Want to read
January 24, 2025Heather Fawcett and a new fantasy romance...and a cat shelter? Just take my money already 💳💳
October 28, 2025
4.5/5 stars. Heather Fawcett is the Queen of cozy fantasy 😭
Personally, cozy fantasy doesn’t always hit for me because I sometimes feel like not enough is happening to keep me invested, but something about Heather Fawcett’s cozy fantasy is just different. I think it’s the way she writes her settings (very atmospheric), the way she writes characters (you fall in love with them almost instantly), and how there’s always enough plot to keep the story moving.
What I appreciated most was how different this book felt from Emily Wilde (another absolute favorite of mine). Agnes and Emily are completely different, and while both Wendell and Havelock might remind readers a bit of Howl from Howl’s Moving Castle, they’re still very distinct characters. I also love how Fawcett writes slow-burn romances. I’m not a fan of instalove or rushed relationships, so I really appreciate when a romance takes its time, and it definitely does here.
I liked the pacing overall, though I found myself more drawn to the magical aspects of the story than the cat shelter part, which I think will appeal more to readers who prefer a quieter cozy vibe. The second half has a lot more going on, and I appreciated that shift. I also thought the way magicians are portrayed was really interesting: they’re often seen as destructive or selfish, but the story shows that things aren’t so black and white. Some magicians, like Havelock, just want to be left alone. I loved Agnes’s character growth as she moves from suspicion and hostility toward magicians to understanding and trust through her relationships with them.
What I wasn’t expecting, and what I ended up enjoying the most, were the themes this book explores. It’s not the kind of cozy fantasy where everyone’s just having a pleasant time and there's never any real stakes. There are definitely warm, comforting moments, but there are also reflections on dealing with grief, forgiveness, and learning from your mistakes. Fawcett also manages to capture how complicated sibling relationships can be, and how important it is to acknowledge how your actions can affect others. Agnes has a moment in the book where she says that she’d rather risk being taken advantage of occasionally than go through life assuming the worst in everyone, and that sentiment (among others) really stuck with me.
My favorite characters were definitely Havelock and Banshee. Havelock may be feared as the dark magician who nearly ended the world, but he’s really just an awkward bibliophile who loves magic and just wants to be left alone. Obviously, I related to him a lot. Banshee is a shelter cat that takes an immediate liking to Havelock (much to his chagrin, since he is allergic, and Agnes' amusement), and really is just the best girl! All of the characters were incredibly likable, though. Agnes, Yannick, Elise — I wanted the best for all of them and was very happy with how their stories ended.
Overall, I really liked this book and found it to be a very heartwarming, thoughtful, and quietly magical story about second chances, trust, and the bonds we have with one another (human or feline). Heather Fawcett’s cozy fantasy is everything I want from the genre: gentle yet emotionally rich, with characters I’ll be thinking about for a long time.
Thank you to Del Rey & NetGalley for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Personally, cozy fantasy doesn’t always hit for me because I sometimes feel like not enough is happening to keep me invested, but something about Heather Fawcett’s cozy fantasy is just different. I think it’s the way she writes her settings (very atmospheric), the way she writes characters (you fall in love with them almost instantly), and how there’s always enough plot to keep the story moving.
What I appreciated most was how different this book felt from Emily Wilde (another absolute favorite of mine). Agnes and Emily are completely different, and while both Wendell and Havelock might remind readers a bit of Howl from Howl’s Moving Castle, they’re still very distinct characters. I also love how Fawcett writes slow-burn romances. I’m not a fan of instalove or rushed relationships, so I really appreciate when a romance takes its time, and it definitely does here.
I liked the pacing overall, though I found myself more drawn to the magical aspects of the story than the cat shelter part, which I think will appeal more to readers who prefer a quieter cozy vibe. The second half has a lot more going on, and I appreciated that shift. I also thought the way magicians are portrayed was really interesting: they’re often seen as destructive or selfish, but the story shows that things aren’t so black and white. Some magicians, like Havelock, just want to be left alone. I loved Agnes’s character growth as she moves from suspicion and hostility toward magicians to understanding and trust through her relationships with them.
What I wasn’t expecting, and what I ended up enjoying the most, were the themes this book explores. It’s not the kind of cozy fantasy where everyone’s just having a pleasant time and there's never any real stakes. There are definitely warm, comforting moments, but there are also reflections on dealing with grief, forgiveness, and learning from your mistakes. Fawcett also manages to capture how complicated sibling relationships can be, and how important it is to acknowledge how your actions can affect others. Agnes has a moment in the book where she says that she’d rather risk being taken advantage of occasionally than go through life assuming the worst in everyone, and that sentiment (among others) really stuck with me.
My favorite characters were definitely Havelock and Banshee. Havelock may be feared as the dark magician who nearly ended the world, but he’s really just an awkward bibliophile who loves magic and just wants to be left alone. Obviously, I related to him a lot. Banshee is a shelter cat that takes an immediate liking to Havelock (much to his chagrin, since he is allergic, and Agnes' amusement), and really is just the best girl! All of the characters were incredibly likable, though. Agnes, Yannick, Elise — I wanted the best for all of them and was very happy with how their stories ended.
Overall, I really liked this book and found it to be a very heartwarming, thoughtful, and quietly magical story about second chances, trust, and the bonds we have with one another (human or feline). Heather Fawcett’s cozy fantasy is everything I want from the genre: gentle yet emotionally rich, with characters I’ll be thinking about for a long time.
Thank you to Del Rey & NetGalley for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
RTC but I loved it!
NO cats were harmed in the writing of this story!
Absolutely adorable! I wasn't sure what to expect going into this book - a cozy, slice of life?
What I got was a study in subtle eloquence and lyrical writing combined with a charming storyline of love, grief, and acceptance. Set in Montreal (Hello Canada!) in the 20's, the descriptive fall/winter atmosphere is incredibly well done.
Agnes didn't like magic....after all, it destroyed her home and cat shelter. However, when she's confronted with a magician who is more than he appears, she's entranced but denying it to the bitter end. The cats are definitely main characters in this adventure - with whole backstories and personalities. As cats do, they picked their new owners and helped to save the day.
Artifacts and magical beings are numerous and interesting. Eloise, Yannick, Havelock and even Valerie are all stellar characters, bringing the needed yin to Agnes/Havelock's yang.
What a warm, inviting book!
A sincere thanks to NetGalley and Orbit / Little, Brown Book Group UK for providing a digital arc in exchange for an honest review.
NO cats were harmed in the writing of this story!
Absolutely adorable! I wasn't sure what to expect going into this book - a cozy, slice of life?
What I got was a study in subtle eloquence and lyrical writing combined with a charming storyline of love, grief, and acceptance. Set in Montreal (Hello Canada!) in the 20's, the descriptive fall/winter atmosphere is incredibly well done.
Agnes didn't like magic....after all, it destroyed her home and cat shelter. However, when she's confronted with a magician who is more than he appears, she's entranced but denying it to the bitter end. The cats are definitely main characters in this adventure - with whole backstories and personalities. As cats do, they picked their new owners and helped to save the day.
Artifacts and magical beings are numerous and interesting. Eloise, Yannick, Havelock and even Valerie are all stellar characters, bringing the needed yin to Agnes/Havelock's yang.
What a warm, inviting book!
A sincere thanks to NetGalley and Orbit / Little, Brown Book Group UK for providing a digital arc in exchange for an honest review.
October 6, 2025
Another adorable read by Heather Fawcett. The characters are lovable, and there is the right amount of whimsical and cozy.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
This was a bit of a disappointment unfortunately. Though, to be fair, I did perhaps go into it with my expectations too high. The author’s previous series, the Emily Wilde trilogy, are some of my favourite books of all time, so when I saw that there was going to be a new book from her AND it’s about cats? Sign tf up! And this really isn’t a bad book, 3 stars still means I mostly enjoyed reading it, but it just didn’t ‘click’ for me. The story is sweet and heartfelt and whimsical, the cats are plenty and obviously fantastic and the characters are perfectly loveable as well. But I guess I never quite felt sucked into the story the way I was with the Emily Wilde books, and the fact I did not get the relationship between Agnes and her love interest at all certainly didn’t help. I never expected them to live up to the unbeatable duo that is Emily Wilde and Wendell Bambleby, but even so I just felt nothing. Like I said at the beginning, the book isn’t bad, it just didn’t live up to my (admittedly maybe slightly too high) expectations.
----
Many thanks to Orbit Books for the ARC!
----
Many thanks to Orbit Books for the ARC!
October 17, 2025
Beware - this may make you want to run out and adopt a cat.
This is an ideal cozy winter read for fans of Fawcett's typical style of whimsical fantasy. Agnes and Havelock undeniably give Howl and Sophie vibes, but I will warn you not to expect a ton of romance. This feels more like a light dusting.
The cast of characters are all exceedingly charming, but the cats really steal the spotlight. They all have their own unique personalities and quirks. I think cat owners in particular will have a lot of fun with the very realistic way they always seem to be disrupting the story line.
"What will you do with yourself, if you run out of cats to rescue?"
"I might try my hand at taming dark magicians."
Eternally grateful to have received an ARC of this from NetGalley!
This is an ideal cozy winter read for fans of Fawcett's typical style of whimsical fantasy. Agnes and Havelock undeniably give Howl and Sophie vibes, but I will warn you not to expect a ton of romance. This feels more like a light dusting.
The cast of characters are all exceedingly charming, but the cats really steal the spotlight. They all have their own unique personalities and quirks. I think cat owners in particular will have a lot of fun with the very realistic way they always seem to be disrupting the story line.
"What will you do with yourself, if you run out of cats to rescue?"
"I might try my hand at taming dark magicians."
Eternally grateful to have received an ARC of this from NetGalley!
October 7, 2025
... because we all need to know how Sophie would have coped if Howl's Moving Castle was actually commercial premises with potential to house a cat rescue charity.
This is set in 1920s Montréal, though in a world where a tiny few people can do magic, using power from a dangerous otherworld called the Rivenwood. Agnes's previous cat care & adoption centre was ruined during a magician's battle, and with winter coming on, out of desperation she moves cages, cats and all to a suspiciously low-rent property. The only stipulation is that she stays out of the basement -- which proves to be impossible when she finds the disorganised, arrogant and too powerful for his own good magician Havelock Renard living in it.
This was such a lovely story! In particular the personalities of the cats are as distinct as any human character. Another aspect I really liked was how involved the side characters are; they don't pop up for the plot's convenience, but are very active throughout the story.
All in all, the perfect read to take you from winter into spring!
This review is based upon a complimentary advance reading copy provided by the publisher.
This is set in 1920s Montréal, though in a world where a tiny few people can do magic, using power from a dangerous otherworld called the Rivenwood. Agnes's previous cat care & adoption centre was ruined during a magician's battle, and with winter coming on, out of desperation she moves cages, cats and all to a suspiciously low-rent property. The only stipulation is that she stays out of the basement -- which proves to be impossible when she finds the disorganised, arrogant and too powerful for his own good magician Havelock Renard living in it.
This was such a lovely story! In particular the personalities of the cats are as distinct as any human character. Another aspect I really liked was how involved the side characters are; they don't pop up for the plot's convenience, but are very active throughout the story.
All in all, the perfect read to take you from winter into spring!
This review is based upon a complimentary advance reading copy provided by the publisher.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 404 reviews