A Fellowship of Curses & Cats: Adenashire, A Cozy Fantasy Book Series

Adenashire #4

by J. Penner

The cat distribution system is about to get magical.

Woodland elf Theo Brylar should be basking in bliss. He and his human partner, Arleta, have a thriving bakery, a baby on the way, and a bright future in Adenashire. But beneath his calm exterior, Theo's anxiety simmers―stirred by old grief, complicated family, and emotions he doesn't always understand.

Hoping to steady his nerves, Theo turns to eccentric wizard Ibus Ironflame, who offers him a supposedly soothing potion. What Theo gets instead is a magical mix-up: stray cats begin appearing on his doorstep…then multiplying until the bakery becomes Adenashire's first cat café.

As the cats take over his life, Theo worries he's juggling more than he can handle, and that was before his mother complicated things with a surprise visit. But with guidance from his forest lynx companion, Faylin, and Arleta's steady love, Theo may come to realize that even the messiest moments can lead to something unexpectedly beautiful―especially when surrounded by cats.

Genres: Fantasy, Cozy Fantasy, Cozy, Romance, Fiction, Cats, Magic

274 pages, Paperback

First published November 4, 2025

About the author

USA Today bestselling author, J. Penner bakes a little magic into every page of her cozy fantasies which are filled with friendship, found family, good food and the sweetest romance. She lives in sunny San Diego with her family, and of course, her cats.

Reviews

[Tyler Hancsak · Rating 5 out of 5]

OH golly I just love love love this world -- I am totally captivated by it. I don't think I will ever rate a book in this series under 5 stars. The characters, Adenashire, the found family, the magic -- it just feels like such a warm hug.

These characters are so precious to me and J. Penner has done such a fantastic job making them feel like home.

[Stacey Beane · Rating 5 out of 5]

You can’t convince me there isn’t a cozier series out there better than this one! I absolutely ADORE every single character in these books & I can’t get enough of them! Excited to read the 5th book but I also can’t recommend these enough especially if you like cozy fantasy! Bears check these books out!

[Lacrima Mundi · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this cosy fantasy book, set around the soon-to-be-parent-anxiety of Theo, very much.

The only reason it's not five stars: as much as I like Arleta and Theo, they are not my favourite characters in this series. The orcs Ervash and Verdreth, gargoyle Sarson, and fennex Jez are the characters close to my heart and, rather unfortunately, they all played a very minor side role in this book of the series.

Nonetheless, the story's been still a very cosy, [mostly] relaxing, and enjoyable one.

But now I am very much looking forward to the next book in the series, because ... those bookshop owning orc dads... 🥰🥰🥰

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[Emily · Rating 4 out of 5]

This instalment was just as cute and cozy as all the others in this series! I love Theo and Arleta’s relationship. It feels so realistic and honest and true to reality—not everything is going to be great all the time, but you need to be each other’s safe space. Just perfect! Loved all the cats and the real look at complex familial relationships. I’m so glad that we’re getting more instalments in this series!

[Lyndsay Juhl · Rating 4 out of 5]

so cozy and makes me hungry

Another warm hug by J. penner. Her books are always so positive. This one was no different. Theo is struggling about becoming a dad, so he takes a potion to help with his nerves and panic attacks. Instead of helping it attracts dozens of cats. This theme in all of these books is to be yourself, problems and insecurities included. That those who love you the most will always be there to help you along the way. That everyone has “issues” that they deal with and it’s ok to ask for help! In this case Theo need to take time to himself and give himself time to calm down and think things through, talk with Arleta about what’s he’s thinking. I love this cozy little world and all the amazing characters in it. They’re all so different but fit together. I always love getting to see what each character is up to in each new book. It feels like visiting old friends.

[Lotey · Rating 4.25 out of 5]

4.2 ⭐️

Які ж щирі та прекрасні персонажі/ки! Ніколи б не подумала, що мені буде настільки сильно емпанувати гг в подібному cozy фентезі сетингу. Але, ось вона я, зі схожими реалістичними переживаннями, але з набагато меншою долею відповідальності irl. Хоча я теж маю котів, але (на щастя) вони не розмовляють, як цей харизматичний пан кітик.

Спіймала себе на думці, що взагалі не хочу ставити аудіо на паузу - настільки сильно захопив сюжет та вся ця дружня атмосфера. Хоча в житті Тео існує його противна мама, до котрої в мене багато питань, це не заважає йому знаходити відраду в друзях та власній сім'ї. Яка ж нього чарівна жинка, ох, матінко. Так, тут є троп fated mates, але це прописано так мило і щиро, що я вірю в їх почуття.

Разом з тим, існує й доля стресу, адже ніхто не очікував, що данне зілля подіє саме таким чином. Чи створило це проблеми? Так, беззаперечно. Чи поговорили гг, та обійнялись, як нормальна сімейна пара? Hell yeah. Чи нова ідея cats cafe? Очевидно, що ні. Але в цю історію я вірю, бо вона про дорослих людей, котрі вирішують свої проблеми словами через рот🤌

Обов'язково піду читати інші історії з цієї серії, бо навіть другорядні персонажі знайшли чим зачепити 🔥

[Laura · Rating 2 out of 5]

the most boring character possible to focus on from the group. It was so very saccharine and repetitive

what a slog to get through. I think I am done with this series now

[RavenReads · Rating 5 out of 5]

Not just a cozy fantasy, but a cozy fantasy about an overly anxious elf opening a cat café with the help of his found family? J. Penner, did you write this specifically for me?

This is, without question, my favorite installment in the Adenashire series so far, and that’s saying something, because every book has been a five star read. Theo has lingered in my mind since his earlier appearances, enigmatic and quietly compelling. I’ve been waiting for his back story, and this novel absolutely delivers.

Theo is vulnerable, flawed, and achingly real. His anxiety isn’t treated as a quirk or a punchline, it’s woven thoughtfully into his character arc. Watching him build something gentle and beautiful for himself, supported by the found family we’ve come to adore, felt both comforting and deeply moving. He’s no longer just a side character; he’s fully realized, complex, and unforgettable.

This book had me cackling one moment and tearing up the next. Penner has such a gift for balancing humor with emotional sincerity. Beneath the soft magic, baked goods, and feline charm lies a powerful message about community, healing, and allowing yourself to take up space in the world.

Thank you, J. Penner, for this tender, heartfelt installment in what has become one of the most comforting and life affirming cozy fantasy series I’ve ever read.

[Andi · Rating 3 out of 5]

⭐⭐⭐.5 | 3.5 rounded down

Perect for quick and cozy palette cleanser

[Melissa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another cute story of found family. Plus it has some starting to heal of estranged blood family relationships.

[Mandii · Rating 5 out of 5]

really cute. im enjoying this series

[ruth · Rating 4 out of 5]

i’m just utterly obsessed with this series!!!

[Hailey · Rating 5 out of 5]

I truly just love this series so much. Penner does cozy fantasy so well, and every one of these books feels like a warm hug

[Kathy Schock · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved every page! Cat lovers, you must read this book! Filled me with such joy!

[Kimberly · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good to catch up with the characters. I'll read the next book

[Heather · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fun and quick afternoon read. Theo is a little whiny, though.

[MB · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another great read by this author. I truly enjoy all the characters that are laced throughout all these books.

[Dotti · Rating 3 out of 5]

A very cute addition to the Adenashire series. Theo is an elf whose wife, Arleta, is expecting a child imminently. Between the baby and the opening of a new cafe, Theo starts to feel some anxiety. To help, he takes a potion from the local potion shop, and as a result, cats start following him around. Chaos ensues—very snuggly chaos.

The previous books in this series have all been romances, and this one is moving into straight cozy fantasy. We’re still keeping things single POV, and the story isn’t about our characters falling in love so much as them journeying through the world. The world is still very cozy, and the stakes remain very low, but the sweet love story that I’ve expected from the story is missing. The addition of the cats was very whimsical and cozy, and the setting of the teashop is a nice change to the story.

Theo experiences some character development, but all of the other characters feel rather one note, having experienced their own character development in their individual stories and plateaued.

The conflict between Theo and his estranged mother often came across as preachy in the second half of the book. Theo isn’t reflective about why he responds to his mother so aggressively and assumes the worst of her, and his aggression is justified at the end of the story.

Overall, another cute story, but with some missteps along the way.

[Marlene · Rating 4 out of 5]

Elf Theo Brylar should literally be having the time of his life. Instead, he’s having cats. Lots and lots of cats. Oodles of cats. Whole entire clowders of cats seemingly materializing from the ether and following him around Adenashire, proclaiming, in every feline register from tiny squeaks to full-throated caterwauls, that Theo is absolutely NOT fine no matter how much he claims he is.

Theo first rode into the Adenashire series in A Fellowship of Bakers and Magic, intent on delivering an invitation to compete in that year’s Langheim Baking Battle to a contestant registered only as A. Starstone. What he discovers when he meets the would-be competitor is the surprise of his life.

Also his mother’s life, but we’ll get to that.

Because A. Starstone had no idea she’d been entered in the competition. Because only magic-users are allowed to enter the Baking Battle and Arleta is human, and therefore nonmagical. Most important of all, Arleta is the woman that Theo has been dreaming of – night after night – for his entire adult life. She’s his FATED. The love of his life. A life that has just been made just that bit more complicated because he KNOWS his mother is going to try to ruin everything.

And he’s right.

But in spite of her best efforts, Shalina Brylar does not succeed in getting Arleta removed from either the Baking Battle or her son’s life. (That entire story is in A Fellowship of Bakers and Magic and it’s magically delicious!)

Which leads, by a bit of a roundabout route by way of A Fellowship of Librarians and Dragons and A Fellowship of Games and Fables, to this story. The story of what happens after the “and they lived happily ever after” with Theo and Arleta.

As this story begins, Arleta is glowingly pregnant, they’re about to open a new business – a cafe – and Theo is busy hiding his extreme anxiety about pretty much everything pretty much terribly. Adenashire is a small town, he doesn’t want anyone to know how badly he’s falling apart, so he picks up a potion at the apothecary that’s supposed to help him calm down.

Instead, it brings cats. And his mother. The cats might possibly help calm him down – if there weren’t quite so many of them. But with the added anxiety that his mother’s unexpected visit brings, dozens and dozens of cats (seriously, AT least a couple of dozen), following him around Adenashire as if he’s the Pied Piper – or the cats’ meow – doesn’t allay his worries one little bit. His vain attempts to hide the furry onslaught from both his wife and his mother only amplifies his anxieties.

It’s only when he FINALLY manages to let out a bit of his internal pressure that he’s able to figure out what the cats are trying to tell him. That they’re not HIS curse, but a blessing for the whole, entire town.

All everyone has to do is let their new feline overlords into their hearts, and everyone’s days will get just a little bit brighter. Including Theo’s. After all, he has a lot of good things coming his way. And his mother is finally leaving town!

Escape Rating B: Adenashire is one of the quintessential cozy fantasy series, along with Legends and Lattes and Tomes and Tea. Adenashire is probably the coziest of the three, as Tomes and Tea has to deal with an evil tyrant queen and Viv in Legends and Lattes has a fair number of enemies who try to tempt (or force) her back into the mercenary life.

Adenashire is more domestically cozy. The problems are real – Theo’s mother is a real piece of work – and those problems cause very real difficulties, the way that Theo’s anxieties about impeding fatherhood AND his lingering grief over his brother’s death and his own father’s disappearance keep weighing him down and causing yet more worry, but those problems are resolved not just nonviolently but with a lot of hope and healing.

So, this story, like many in the series, is working on two levels. On top, there’s the sheer, chaotic hilarity of the Cat Distribution System™ working on overdrive and seeming to funnel all the homeless cats in their world towards Theo, who already has his own snarky feline overlord and doesn’t need TWO DOZEN or more additional ones.

AND there’s the cute chaos of Theo and their family of choice opening the first cat cafe – and observing the cats take over the heart of the entire town even as the new business runs them all ragged.

But there’s also the potentially heartbreaking side. Theo’s mother still hasn’t accepted Arleta into their family, because she’s a non-magical human. Because she broke the rules of the Baking Battle that Shalina has controlled with an iron fist. Because Shalina never got over the different losses of her other son and her husband and has driven Theo away by trying to control her grief instead of working through it.

While Theo has to decide, once and for all, whether to stand up for his wife and child or whether to continue to alternate between placating his mother and running away from her. Both will have consequences, he just has to choose which he can live with.

So the cat cafe part of the story is a lot of fun. The changes coming to Theo and Arleta’s life are potentially joyous. Or Theo could really screw up and make a mess of his life – and Arleta’s – and destroy their found family as well. He’s going to have to “elf-up” and make the right choice.

And all of that is real and easy to empathize with, fantasy setting or no. Which we do. Of course, the cats do make it all better, because that’s what they do.

As always, I had a terrific time in Adenashire, seeing how everyone is doing and cheering for them as they worked their way through this latest mess. I’m glad to say that there are more coming, because Adenashire is one of those places/series I return to when I need a bit of cozy reading to smooth out some of my anxieties. I already have the cat part of the equation covered!

So I’m looking forward to the next book in the series, A Fellowship of Academics and Arts, coming out just in time for the holidays!

Originally published at Reading Reality

[Insert Name Here · Rating 4 out of 5]

**Sometimes the best kind of magic is finding somewhere you belong.**

## ✶ PRE-READING ✶

It's been about a year since I read the first three books in the Adenashire series, so I was very happy to have an excuse to immerse myself in this world again. Inevitably, some of the details had faded over that time, but thankfully *A Fellowship of Curses and Cats* handles that very neatly.

Rather than stopping the story for a lengthy recap, Theo walks through Adenashire reflecting on everything that has happened over the past year, giving us the information we need while allowing the story itself to carry on.

I was particularly intrigued to see Theo take centre stage this time, especially because I remembered him rather differently than the anxious young man we meet here.

## ✶ POST-READING ✶

**As I thought...** this is exactly the sort of warm, comforting fantasy I've come to expect from Adenashire. There is magic and there are problems to solve, but the real pleasure comes from watching people build lives together.

**It surprised me by...** how anxious Theo is. Perhaps I'd simply forgotten that aspect of him over the year, but seeing the world from his perspective makes it impossible to miss. His worries about his family, his brother's death, his father's return and the changes happening around him all feel very immediate.

That makes the found-family element particularly lovely. Adenashire is full of people with different backgrounds, skills and experiences who nonetheless keep showing up for each other. The cat café becomes another little place where those connections can grow, and the result is a story that feels less like a group of people who happen to live in the same town and more like a genuine community.

And, obviously, there are cats.

Lots of cats.

I am not sure that the Adenashire economy can survive the number of cats involved, but I am entirely willing to find out.

## ✦ RECOMMENDATIONS ✦

**Book Recommendation:** *The Spellshop* by Sarah Beth Durst. Both have that lovely combination of cosy fantasy, community-building and the idea that making a home can be an act of healing.

**TV or Movie Recommendation:** *Kiki's Delivery Service*. It has that same gentle feeling of watching someone find their place through work, friendship and the small connections that make a community feel like home.

## ✧ VIBE CHECK ✧

**A colour palette:** warm cream, raspberry red and leafy green.

**A soundtrack:** soft acoustic guitar, gentle piano and the occasional cheerful folk tune.

**A season:** late summer, when the fruit is ripe and the kitchen is always busy.

**A mood:** cosy, affectionate, slightly anxious and deeply reassuring.

**A scent:** fresh bread, ripe fruit and warm spices, with the occasional hint of cat fur.

## ★ TAROT CARD PULLED ★

**Three of Cups.**

There are considerably more than three people in Adenashire, but the number isn't really the point. The Three of Cups is about friendship, community and the joy of people coming together to support one another.

That's what makes this instalment so warm. Theo isn't navigating his problems alone. The people around him bring different skills, experiences and perspectives, and together they create something none of them could have built by themselves.

The cat café becomes almost a physical manifestation of that idea: a place where people can gather, work, worry, celebrate and simply be together.

## ✦ THE TRUE QUESTION ✦

**Can the people we choose become our family?**

*A Fellowship of Curses and Cats* is interested in the ways family can be complicated, painful and sometimes impossible to return to—but also in the families we create through friendship, trust and everyday acts of care.

Theo doesn't have to solve everything on his own. Sometimes healing means allowing other people to stand beside you.

## Final Thoughts

*A Fellowship of Curses and Cats* publishes on the **18th of August**. I received a free copy and am giving an honest review.

[Runa Merone · Rating 4 out of 5]

7.1/10

I'm kinda torn when it comes to the rating of this one because each of the key elements of this I didn't really enjoy, but the series continues to have a cozy feeling about it that I really need on these cooling autumn days as I prep my Canadian Thanksgiving feast.

This one is about Theo, Arleta's fated mate wood elf, dealing with the reckoning that he's gonna be a father while also dealing with the stress of having his mother, who was not kind to him in the past, impose upon him. In an effort to alleviate these twin stresses he gets a 'curse' that makes his home and new shop get overrun with cats. This forces him to come to terms with a lot of things and refocus his love for Arleta.

To be clear, I still loved this book. I love Theo and Arleta, I love the side characters, and I'm truly falling in love with Adenashire at this rate. It's just such a lovely, wonderful, warm, comforting experience every time I return to that world. So unless something particularly egregious happens or all that coziness goes away, I can't imagine giving this less than a 7/10. That said, the three main parts of this story are things that don't really appeal to me all that much.

First of all, pregnancy as a trope isn't something I look for in romance. I think it was done very tastefully and beautifully here, and I absolutely get the value of it since oftentimes romance does eventually end with forming a family, so I GET it, but I'm childfree myself so I observe it from a distance while not being invested in it. Again, I thought it was handled very well in this book and despite disliking this trope, it still made me smile; there was just a very clear ceiling to this plot.

Doubly so since the next major cause of 'conflict' was that he had to deal with his overbearing mother. I dunno, those plots also annoy me usually. This one didn't annoy me but it didn't really do anything for me. The entire time I just wanted him to say 'go away' and then not talk to her or something when she was being judgy and mean. Can't really relate. Again, was handled well here and I actually thought the way Theo dealt with her was about as good as the trope will allow, but there was another ceiling here.

Third. Cats. I am fine with cats IRL and I can even like them in stories, but I am not a cat person. Again, not anti-cat or anything, but the context of the real world, growing up in a rural community where cats in barns were present, and as an environmentalist well aware that cats are devastating to local ecologies...well, I sadly struggle to separate the cozy fantasy from the ruthless reality. That isn't making me dislike the book, because again I know it's cozy and fun, but it wasn't helping.

All three elements here kinda ensured that the chances of me loving this book were pretty low. That's not the book's fault. None of the elements are bad, just that they're all elements I don't care much for. I prefer the cozy stories where there's some sort of end goal, like a baking competition or the seasonal games in the first and third books, respectively. I liked the one about the baby dragon and overbearing parents less than those two, and I liked the one about cats and babies and parents less. Still really liked it, because the world this book exists within still makes me all warm and cozy, and I really do love this cast of characters, but this is about as low as I expect one of these books to get.

And again, not the author's fault. If you like cats or sticking up for yourself against overbearing parents, or pregnancy tropes and building families in your romance, you will likely LOVE this book and rightfully so. I just liked it. I liked it a lot because of the over-arching story and characters, but the individual key plot points in this book were my least favourite.

7.1/10

[bookdragon891 · Rating 4 out of 5]

Plot
Theo has everything he dreamed of: he's found his fated mate, Arleta, and they run a thriving bakery after her success in the Langheim Baking Battle; they have a baby on the way; and they live a peaceful life in Adenashire, surrounded by friends and family. But underneath, Theo is overcome with anxiety stemming from his complicated family relationships. Determined not to cause worry to Artleta, he turns to Ibus Ironflame for a potion to help calm his nerves. But the potion has unintended consequences: cats begin appearing out of nowhere, following Theo everywhere, and on top of that, his mother unexpectedly arrives for a surprise visit. Fearing he's juggling more than he can handle, Theo learns to lean on those closest to him, because that is what true family is for.

This book once again moves away from the games/competitions tropes, focusing on the series' original characters, Theo and Arleta. It was nice to return to these characters and see how their lives have changed since we first met them. I know we saw them in Librarians and Dragons, and Games and Fables, but they were more side characters in those books. The plot is very much a 'slice-of-life' story, so beyond the magical cat distribution system at work, it's minimal, letting the focus stay on the characters, their relationships, and their emotions.

Worldbuilding
By this point in the series, the village of Adenashire is well established, and the worldbuilding and magic system remain simple but effective. It is such a charming, whimsical world! Unlike some of the other books, there aren't any gaps that need further explanation, as the added elements don't require it, and the 'slice-of-life' nature of the story requires only minimal additional worldbuilding not covered in the other books.

Writing Style
Like all of J Penner's books I have read, the writing is warm, cosy, and accessible. Her books are so easy to escape into, and you can easily binge them all quickly for the ultimate cosy reading marathon; they really do feel like a big, warm hug! I thought the pace of this one was spot on.

Characters
Theo was the main character in this instalment, with the story focusing on his character development and how he deals with his anxiety and past trauma. He starts the story looking for a quick fix but quickly realises healing isn't quick and will take time. I love the journey that he goes on and the strength he finds, with the interactions with his mother being the perfect example. When she first arrives, she insults Arleta and Theo doesn't really do anything, but by the end he can finally confront her, have an honest conversation, and set clear boundaries. I just love his character growth!

All the characters you would expect appeared: Arleta, Verdreth, Ervash, Doli, Sarson, Jez, and Taenya, who are there to show their love and support for Theo. They shared many sweet, adorable moments with him throughout the story!

Themes
This story deals with mental health, anxiety, grief and past trauma, and how quick fixes are not the answer for real and sustained healing and growth. It is only by dealing with the root cause of the emotional issues that allows Theo to move forward. The story also focuses on family, including the complicated relationships that can exist between family members, and the easy, steady, unconditional love and support of those you choose to be family.

Overall
Everything you want from an Adenashire story: an enjoyable, slice-of-life story set in a cosy, warm and whimsical world, full of well-loved characters!

[Hayley · Rating 4 out of 5]

“Now breathe in slowly, hold it, and then let it out,” Arleta whispered. “I’ll do it with you if you need me to.”

J. Penner is easily one of my favourite cosy fantasy authors and at this point I will read absolutely anything she writes. I love Adenashire, I love returning to this world and I was obviously completely on board with a book involving an excessive number of cats.

Unfortunately, this one didn't quite hit the same for me. It feels a bit ridiculous to say, but I think it might have been... too cosy?

I spent most of the book waiting for the plot to really start, and then eventually realised that this WAS the plot. In the first book we had the baking competition, the second had a baby dragon destroying things, the third had another competition. There has always been some sort of central storyline moving everything forward alongside all the cosy Adenashire goodness. This time we had a lot of cats. 

And listen, I LOVE cats. This might actually be part of the problem because I simply couldn't see an overabundance of cats as the crisis I was apparently supposed to see it as. Especially when the solution seemed incredibly obvious to me. Start a cat cafe? You have a cafe. You have cats. People like cats. I have solved this problem. Okay, we established cats were not previously seen as pets, but as readers we know they absolutely are so... not enough of a driving plot point.

There are other things happening, and his stress over everything going on in his life with the baby on the way is completely understandable, but I never felt like the story really built towards anything. Even the cats themselves didn't get the kind of resolution I was expecting. I'm trying very hard not to spoil anything, but I finished the book with essentially the same question I had for most of it: why are there so many cats and is this story ever going to start?

I also really wanted more from the storyline with his mum. Again, avoiding spoilers, but that was one of the parts of the story I was most interested in and I wish it had been explored and resolved more fully. I kind of get why it wasn't, it was more realistic this way. But this book is a cosy book, not a realistic fiction. I want warm cosy hugs.

That said, this is still J. Penner. Adenashire is still somewhere I absolutely love spending time, the characters are lovely and the book is incredibly cosy. There are also SO MANY CATS. None of those things are complaints.

I think what was missing for me was simply a stronger central plot. Cosy fantasy doesn't need huge stakes, and I definitely don't need danger or drama to enjoy it, but I do need to feel like the story is moving towards something. 

Four stars, which is still a book I really enjoyed. It just wasn't quite up there with the other Adenashire books for me.

But I am still very much looking forward to the next instalment!

[Heather Warner · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely loved this fourth book in the “A Fellowship…” series!!! Truly, this series just makes me smile and fills my heart with hope & joy. This book, like the others in the series, can be read as a standalone but is just more fun if you have read the previous books. Full of humor, heart, & acceptance. Fantastic world building and wonderful characters make this a greatly entertaining novel. I cannot recommend this series enough-you will smile, laugh, and will totally relate to these characters! TOP book and a favorite fantasy of the year!!!!! Glad I have the next book on order! I just hope J. Penner plans to continue this series…..I would read about this world for as long as she is willing to write about it!

“When life gives you cats, open a café.
When a spell gone wrong brings more than just magic to Theo Brylar’s life, things in Adenashire get a little… purrplexing. Suddenly, cats of all shapes and sizes are drawn to him, much to the amusement of Faylin the forest lynx (and Theo’s “house cat”). But when Faylin suggests opening a cat café next to Arleta’s bakery, Theo finds himself juggling more than feline antics.
Between his long-lost father reappearing, his mother’s distaste for that fact, and the lingering grief of his brother’s death, Theo’s family drama surfaces at the most inconvenient time. With Arleta pregnant and facing her own fears, Theo must untangle his emotions and reconcile with his past...all while keeping his cat café (and family) from spiraling out of control.” (From the book blurb)

[Jen · Rating 5 out of 5]

We return to the village of Adenashire, where our cozy found family is preparing for some big things! They are opening a cafe attached to the bookshop, and Theo and Arleta are expecting! Things seem to be going great, but poor Theo's anxiety gets the best of him! He visits the potion shop, and the wizard offers himself something experimental, that should help. Next thing he knows, he is overrun with cats! At home, at the shop, all over town, what's an elf to do? And then his judgy mother Shalina shows up, oh no! Well, off to seek advice and assistance from the rest of the crew!

This might be my favorite installment. Everyone is settled into their relationships, meaning no romance drama, and we see little tidbits of day to day life for them. Faylin the lynx continues to be adorable, and acerbic, only offering his assistance when Theo is at his wits end. Theo is definitely a wife guy, and I am here for it. I love that Doli is still making clothes, and magicing tea for everyone. The cats are all distinctive and the featured ones are given unique personalities. I am very tickled by the fantasy cat cafe. The recipes in this one are not as attention grabbing as previous books, but that's ok, simple things are amazing too!
The only thing I truly dislike is the mother's behaviour, and the quokka guy who is a jerk in every book.

[florence · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is such a lovely lighthearted series that delves just deep enough into difficult dynamics to make you think and feel relieved when they are solved, but not too deep for it to be stressful.

Seeing Theo stress over impending fatherhood was both sweet and stressful for me, because as much as I enjoyed him wanting to be the best father possible, it did lead to him not communicating with Arleta which just felt odd considering how much he confided in her before. Once he did speak to her he was able to calm himself down, so I suppose that if they had communicated from the start this book wouldn’t have happened.

As a cat lover, I do think that cats can resolve most issues. I think more and more of them appearing until I have a revelation might be more stressful than beneficial, but overall seeing Theo learn that he was enough and that he could handle it did work.

[Caitlin · Rating 3 out of 5]

I spent a good bit of the first half of this book really disliking Theo. Like, yeah I know he has anxiety but he came across as just a coward. Once the cat cafe opened and he wasn’t trying to hide everything from everyone anymore, he became more bearable. I couldn’t quite bring myself to care too much about his relationship with his mother, which is too bad since that’s about half of the plot. The “cats are magically amazing” thing was aaaalmost too twee and whimsical for me, and that’s saying something. I will admit to being interested in the next book because it’s about Verdreth and Ervash, after this book teased that they were a bit enemies-to-lovers. In conclusion, Faylin is the best character in this book.

[trawlings · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rating: 4 stars ⭐️

🐈 cats
🐈‍⬛ more cats
☕️ coffee shop turned cat cafe
🍪 baked goods (of course!)
😖 anxiety representation

Review:

I really enjoyed this book and seeing all of these characters again. I’ve never had a cat but this book makes it sound so cosy and comforting!

This book follows Theo as he prepares for the birth of his child with his fated, Arleta. Theo’s struggles really spoke to me and I loved the gentle support his family provided to help him. On a lighter note, I loved the cat cafe and the baked goods as always! I think it would have been cool to see the cats having personalities or talking more to Theo. In saying that, I enjoyed all of the cat lore (biscuit making, CDS, etc).

Looking forward to the next installment in this series of interconnected standalones!

[Wild · Rating 5 out of 5]

Puuuurfectly enjoyable

A Fellowship of Curses and Cats just became my new favorite in the Adenashire series, and the only one,besides A Fellowship of Bakers and Magic, to get 5 ⭐ from me. An abundance of cats, a new cafe, Theo finally coming to terms with his fears from the past, the love and support of Found Family plus those cozy Adenashire vibes made this an enjoyable read. The one caveat is the tiresome overuse of referring to Arleta as Fated. Yes, we get it. She and Theo are Fated Mates. But must she be referred to as "my Fated" over and over in every book when "she" "her" or Arleta would suffice?

[Jenn · Rating 4 out of 5]

In the newest Adenashire book, Theo is very anxious. His partner Arleta is pregnant with twins and while he's ecstatic, he also extremely afraid that he's going to be a terrible father. A trip to the local apothecary gets him an experimental potion that should help. But Theo feels no different. He has, however, acquired a feline problem. They follow him around town and the more anxious he gets, the more cats arrive. But he's loathe to admit his feelings to anyone, even Arleta. But soon he'll have no choice. More low-stakes cozy fantasy with your favorite group of misfits abounds in A Fellowship of Cursed & Cats!