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The Catswold Portal
There is a door in an artist's garden: an elaborate carved passageway into a realm ruled by a dark sorceress queen. There entities strange and wondrous roam the Netherworld––yet none as astonishing as the shape–shifting Catswold...
Raised by the oldwitch Mag, Melissa discovers a perilous secret. She has more than one form––human girl and magical cat––and once inhabited two worlds. And it is her destiny to return to a mystic realm of wonder and terror, to do battle for her people's liberation and the crown that is rightfully hers.
A man beset by tragedy, painter Braden West is intrigued by the calico cat who has charmed her way into his studio. But his "guest" is more than she seems, and Braden's very existence will be radically altered as he follows Melissa from the Hell Pit into the dread perils of an evil ruling court, thrust into the heart of a magical conflict with more at stake than he could possibly have imagined.
Raised by the oldwitch Mag, Melissa discovers a perilous secret. She has more than one form––human girl and magical cat––and once inhabited two worlds. And it is her destiny to return to a mystic realm of wonder and terror, to do battle for her people's liberation and the crown that is rightfully hers.
A man beset by tragedy, painter Braden West is intrigued by the calico cat who has charmed her way into his studio. But his "guest" is more than she seems, and Braden's very existence will be radically altered as he follows Melissa from the Hell Pit into the dread perils of an evil ruling court, thrust into the heart of a magical conflict with more at stake than he could possibly have imagined.
418 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published April 1, 1992
76 people are currently reading
1259 people want to read
About the author
Shirley Rousseau Murphy
62 books515 followersShirley Rousseau Murphy is the author of over 40 books, including 24 novels for adults, the Dragonbards Trilogy and more for young adults, and many books for children. She is best known for her Joe Grey cat mystery series, consisting of 21 novels, the last of which was published when she was over 90. Now retired, she enjoys hearing from readers who write to her at her website www.srmurphy.com, where the reading order of the books in that series can be found.
Murphy grew up in southern California, riding and showing the horses her father trained. After attending the San Francisco Art institute she worked as an interior designer, and later exhibited paintings and welded metal sculpture in the West Coast juried shows. "When my husband Pat and I moved to Panama for a four-year tour in his position with the U. S . Courts, I put away the paints and welding torches, and began to write," she says. Later they lived in Oregon, then Georgia, before moving to California, where she now enjoys the sea and views of the Carmel hills.
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Murphy grew up in southern California, riding and showing the horses her father trained. After attending the San Francisco Art institute she worked as an interior designer, and later exhibited paintings and welded metal sculpture in the West Coast juried shows. "When my husband Pat and I moved to Panama for a four-year tour in his position with the U. S . Courts, I put away the paints and welding torches, and began to write," she says. Later they lived in Oregon, then Georgia, before moving to California, where she now enjoys the sea and views of the Carmel hills.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 97 reviews
October 23, 2013
It had some fun ideas, but Melissa and Siddonie just didn't make sense. Melissa just sort of floated along, doing exactly as the plot required without much thought. More was done to her than by her, as it were. Siddonie was consistently described as pure evil, even as a child. Uh, why? I mean, her actions are evil in adulthood, but how come every good guy who sees her immediately knows that the kid is bad news?
The world-building was meh. There were kingdoms with kings. There were different races of supernatural being that never really got described beyond physical appearance. The Harpy was the only character of note from that area. The sloppy mythology of the Irish fair folk combined with the Egyptian cat gods was sigh-inducing. It was supposedly set in the 1950s, though you could have fooled me. Nothing in the technology, the descriptions of San Francisco, the social mores (everyone is cool with Braden and uh-isn't-she-only-seventeen!Melissa), made me think this took place at anytime before the 1980s. I thought maybe the author was trying to align events with an actual earthquake that affects the plot, but Google gives me no good match.
Bonus negative points for losing track of a secondary character and rape that is passed off waaaaay too lightly.
The world-building was meh. There were kingdoms with kings. There were different races of supernatural being that never really got described beyond physical appearance. The Harpy was the only character of note from that area. The sloppy mythology of the Irish fair folk combined with the Egyptian cat gods was sigh-inducing. It was supposedly set in the 1950s, though you could have fooled me. Nothing in the technology, the descriptions of San Francisco, the social mores (everyone is cool with Braden and uh-isn't-she-only-seventeen!Melissa), made me think this took place at anytime before the 1980s. I thought maybe the author was trying to align events with an actual earthquake that affects the plot, but Google gives me no good match.
Bonus negative points for losing track of a secondary character and rape that is passed off waaaaay too lightly.
October 28, 2016
I wanted to love this, but it fell a little flat for me. It should have been everything I ever wanted out of a fantasy novel, magic, cats, battles and a million other things besides. Instead I got a random sexual mess that I'm having trouble understanding, and that wasn't even the worst of it.
So when 17 year old Melissa(Or Sarah, as her undercover name is) is thrust into the big bad normal world in cat form (after spending the first few chapters in Netherworld, learning her heritage) she falls in insta cat love with Braden. But he can't know that she's a cat/woman and living in his garden. She must conceal everything until the big reveal where he's all like 'K. No seriously, when he finds out the beautiful 17 year old he's been making love to is a cat in her spare time he barely blinks an eyelid and goes with the flow. I suppose he hasn't realized yet that Siddonie the big baddie of this book had the love of his life Alice killed simply because of her relationship to the gorgeous Melissa.
So, weirdness aside, there is the small issue of Melissa being one of the worst Mary Sue type characters I have ever seen in fiction. She is so utterly perfect she can get changed under a deck without having a shower and everyone wants to make love to her (I hate the saying 'make love' but it is the one most used in this book, so let's roll with it) She is so good looking, more than one character in the space of a few pages thinks she's a model. Even as she scoffs down lobsters she is utter perfection. Gag.
For all that I did give it three stars. I mean CATS. The idea is there but I felt like the concept was flawed. I felt like we needed more from many of the characters, like more on why Siddonie was a randomly evil child from the get go, and how she could learn all she did. I wanted more than Melissa is perfection. I just generally wanted more. Three stars.
So when 17 year old Melissa(Or Sarah, as her undercover name is) is thrust into the big bad normal world in cat form (after spending the first few chapters in Netherworld, learning her heritage) she falls in insta cat love with Braden. But he can't know that she's a cat/woman and living in his garden. She must conceal everything until the big reveal where he's all like 'K. No seriously, when he finds out the beautiful 17 year old he's been making love to is a cat in her spare time he barely blinks an eyelid and goes with the flow. I suppose he hasn't realized yet that Siddonie the big baddie of this book had the love of his life Alice killed simply because of her relationship to the gorgeous Melissa.
So, weirdness aside, there is the small issue of Melissa being one of the worst Mary Sue type characters I have ever seen in fiction. She is so utterly perfect she can get changed under a deck without having a shower and everyone wants to make love to her (I hate the saying 'make love' but it is the one most used in this book, so let's roll with it) She is so good looking, more than one character in the space of a few pages thinks she's a model. Even as she scoffs down lobsters she is utter perfection. Gag.
For all that I did give it three stars. I mean CATS. The idea is there but I felt like the concept was flawed. I felt like we needed more from many of the characters, like more on why Siddonie was a randomly evil child from the get go, and how she could learn all she did. I wanted more than Melissa is perfection. I just generally wanted more. Three stars.
did-not-finish
August 26, 2024This reminds me of the fantasy I was reading in the late 90s, and not in a good way. I like the setting in the Bay Area where I live, I think the depiction of grief is fair, but I'm not up for the slender-but-curvy-and-plucky-17-year-old heroine and the inevitable romance with the grieving-but-fit-artist-hero. Meh. I mostly picked it up because this author's retelling of Cinderella Silver Woven in My Hair was one of my childhood favorites, and I still love it, plus cats. I still love cats, too, but I don't need to get them in my fiction when I currently have so many in my life (2.5 is my lifetime record, so I haven't hit crazy cat person status yet).
Abandoned at 10% with no regret.
Abandoned at 10% with no regret.
September 9, 2008
It's funny how different a book feels when you reread it years after you first devoured it. I read Catswold Portal around '93 or '94 (when I was transitioning from Jr. High to High School) and I was enchanted with it. Just loved it. I recently reread it and now I can only think...
...how did this book make sense when I was a kid? There were plot holes (nothing sizeable, but noticeable), and while I think the key to great writing is to imply and not spell things out for people, this book could've used some spelling out. Also, the main character vacillated between iconic strong female role model and helpless horny youth. And no, this was not something one could chalk up to character development. It truly seemed as though Shirley Rousseau couldn't decide what she wanted Melissa to be. One minute she's weak in the knees for any male that winks at her and the next she's playing mind games with Braden, the guy who's supposed to be her love interest. Do I need to mention I get irritated by chicks who play those kinds of games in real life? She is basically a character that you identify with only briefly before she turns into something else. I hate to say it, but you can tell Braden was a male character written by a woman. He was rather generic, in my opinion.
I think the only thing Shirley R. does right in this book is her characterization of cats.
This is not an awful book, but it comes across as having been writing by a novice. It is fun, the imagery is great, but the structural integrity of the thing is weak.
...how did this book make sense when I was a kid? There were plot holes (nothing sizeable, but noticeable), and while I think the key to great writing is to imply and not spell things out for people, this book could've used some spelling out. Also, the main character vacillated between iconic strong female role model and helpless horny youth. And no, this was not something one could chalk up to character development. It truly seemed as though Shirley Rousseau couldn't decide what she wanted Melissa to be. One minute she's weak in the knees for any male that winks at her and the next she's playing mind games with Braden, the guy who's supposed to be her love interest. Do I need to mention I get irritated by chicks who play those kinds of games in real life? She is basically a character that you identify with only briefly before she turns into something else. I hate to say it, but you can tell Braden was a male character written by a woman. He was rather generic, in my opinion.
I think the only thing Shirley R. does right in this book is her characterization of cats.
This is not an awful book, but it comes across as having been writing by a novice. It is fun, the imagery is great, but the structural integrity of the thing is weak.
February 1, 2019
I first read this novel ca 21 years ago, and I found it enthralling then. Having just finished re-reading it, I am very disappointed indeed. It is deeply flawed on many counts. Both Braden, the male love interest, and Melissa, the female love interest, are all too familiar stereotypes. He is tanned, muscular, strong, but kind. She is lovely, slender of waist, has green eyes and thick, black lashes, and is very feminine. Really, quite often this story reads more like a somewhat unusual version of a Mills and Boon romance than fantasy fiction for adults. The mythology is sloppy and muddled. What is a Harpy from Greek mythology and Bast, the Egyptian cat goddess, doing in the same narrative? There is also a lamia and a griffin, both from Greek mythology, and Lilith, who is a female demon in Jewish mythology. I get the impression that the authoress has little real knowledge about any of these mythological creatures but has decided to use them all for heightened dramatic interest. There are many gaping holes in the narrative, and no clear thread that holds it together. The Netherworld, where Melissa, Catswold shape-shifter, comes from, is beneath this one, and their sky is granite. Hmmm ... Sadly, this story reads like a very amateurish attempt at a fantasy narrative.
April 6, 2017
This is an utterly charming book, part romance, part faerie tale, part allegory, all fun. For those who love cats, this book is a winner.
October 12, 2024
It reads as a kids book but then she puts in too much sex to overcompensate and it ends up as creepy uncle energy. Stereotypes (possibly meant to be Jungian archetypes given the date). Black character as unselfish mammy with no thoughts or dreams of her own. Child abuse (various kinds) a very sleazy romance - teenage girl and her former foster parent's widower. She constantly feels insecure and judged. He is bossy.
Also every male character wants to shag her and you can tell she's the true queen because she's better looking than the false one (eye roll)
Apart from all that and the random cultural mix of mythology it could've been a good story. The horrible romance was centred too much and getting teenage girls pregnant was a theme
Also every male character wants to shag her and you can tell she's the true queen because she's better looking than the false one (eye roll)
Apart from all that and the random cultural mix of mythology it could've been a good story. The horrible romance was centred too much and getting teenage girls pregnant was a theme
January 17, 2012
Loving books about cats but wanting a break from Warriors, I decided to give this one a go. I also love fantasy, so all things were looking good. Then I read the large amount of mixed reviews. I wasn't in the mood for a slow book, so I hesitated reading this at first. Luckily, once I'd started, I found it hard to stop. This took up the majority of my free time over the four days it took to read. Even in these cold winter months, I found myself getting up an extra ten minutes early just to fit in a chapter before work. Needless to say it was gripping, and gripping me hard. The Catswold Portal involves a fantasy place called the Netherworld, here a married couple fight over control of the kingdom, but the queen wishes to take over the whole Netherworld. The world is filled with wonderful creatures such as griffons, harpies, and the odd dragon (though they are nearly extinct). The first thing that struck me about this book was how easy it was to envision the magical world, without the use of excessive descriptions. Perhaps playing Skyrim so much has aided my fantasy world creation part of the brain. In this world there is also a young girl named Sarah that wishes to discover about her past and is soon in the middle of the king and queen's mind games. Meanwhile, in the upperworld (our world) a young artist mourns the death of his wife. The two worlds are brought together and the adventure begins to stop a war from erupting in the netherworld. The book is very dense and certainly has a lot going on. At first the upperworld sections seemed to drag a little, but only because the netherworld chapters were pretty intense. Once the worlds met, it became more centered on the real world. Some may find this disappointing, but by then I was so invested in the characters I couldn't really complain. The heroine is a very strong young girl, but also has a very vulnerable side. She is exactly like a cat, being both independent and able to hunt, but also needs the care of humans too. Siddonie is a great evil character. Having been so hateful since a young age, her actions are always carefully thought out. The best thing behind the whole story is the battle between king and queen. Neither is particularly likeable, and both are schemers to the extreme, but there is charm in there little games too. Especially as they don't always revert to violence. My biggest complaint was that it wasn't long enough. I wish this had been a series of books. The final war is handled rather quickly, and big plot points are summed up by other characters. This also makes the pacing a bit too frantic towards the end. Being disappointed about a book not being long enough is a big compliment in my books, at least when the book is sizeable in length. The book is romantic, exciting, and at times scary, as a young boy filled with hate starts to terrorize his small community. A fascinating place that I would love to visit again.
February 17, 2020
I'm glad I got this from the library that came with a piece of paper hiding the cover because I don't think I could have walked around with this otherwise. Cats with boobs, oddly enough, sums up the book pretty well. It wanted to be epic fantasy but got distracted by sexy cats for a solid 100 pages in the middle.
Yes, sexy cats. I mean I like cats but when your house cat bats her eyes and stretches coquettishly, and you want to rub her sleek fur and nubile feline body (seriously I am not making this up), you should probably talk to someone about that.
The characterization made no sense. Characters were all over the place depending on what they needed to do to move the story along. One character is described as evil, but I never got a good sense of why she got that way.
There was a whole fantasy world that I never got a good sense of, and the other half of the story that took place in 1950s San Francisco also made no sense. It did not feel like the 50s at all. I’m not sure why the 50s even mattered since it had no bearing on the story and it did not feel like the 50s.
Nevertheless, Shirley Rousseau Murphy is a great writer. Her sentences flow, the scenes all seem believable in the moment, the story could have gone somewhere interesting, but it lacked good characters and a good plot.
Also, underage cat sex is a major detractor.
(Note: There is never any actual sex with literal cats: they shapeshift into humans first)
Yes, sexy cats. I mean I like cats but when your house cat bats her eyes and stretches coquettishly, and you want to rub her sleek fur and nubile feline body (seriously I am not making this up), you should probably talk to someone about that.
The characterization made no sense. Characters were all over the place depending on what they needed to do to move the story along. One character is described as evil, but I never got a good sense of why she got that way.
There was a whole fantasy world that I never got a good sense of, and the other half of the story that took place in 1950s San Francisco also made no sense. It did not feel like the 50s at all. I’m not sure why the 50s even mattered since it had no bearing on the story and it did not feel like the 50s.
Nevertheless, Shirley Rousseau Murphy is a great writer. Her sentences flow, the scenes all seem believable in the moment, the story could have gone somewhere interesting, but it lacked good characters and a good plot.
Also, underage cat sex is a major detractor.
(Note: There is never any actual sex with literal cats: they shapeshift into humans first)
July 9, 2017
This story is by the author of the Joe Gray series. Both contain talking cats but the Catswold Portal cats can change from cat to human by use of magic.
Sarah knows something is up when she finds hidden papers in Mag's cottage. She finally finds out that she is Melissa and can change from cat to human. The only problem is she has fallen for Braden, a painter, who was married to Melissa's friend Alice. He finds Melissa captivating to paint but can't figure at first when a little tortoise shell cat shows up when Melissa is gone and the cat disappears when Melissa is around.
Add the evil queen, Sidonnie, to the mix, and an underground world just like our world except for dragons, harpies, and selkies. Both worlds are similar with the portal--a wooden door carved in cats.
Murphy creates a wonderful world full of cats that lead to the Joe Gray mysteries. She is so descriptive of the lands, the people and all the cats. It's a must read for all cat lovers.
Sarah knows something is up when she finds hidden papers in Mag's cottage. She finally finds out that she is Melissa and can change from cat to human. The only problem is she has fallen for Braden, a painter, who was married to Melissa's friend Alice. He finds Melissa captivating to paint but can't figure at first when a little tortoise shell cat shows up when Melissa is gone and the cat disappears when Melissa is around.
Add the evil queen, Sidonnie, to the mix, and an underground world just like our world except for dragons, harpies, and selkies. Both worlds are similar with the portal--a wooden door carved in cats.
Murphy creates a wonderful world full of cats that lead to the Joe Gray mysteries. She is so descriptive of the lands, the people and all the cats. It's a must read for all cat lovers.
March 6, 2011
Read this 3 times. What a great great book. Whether you like Cats or not this has the mystery and suspense to keep you reading and then wanting more. I stole the next comment right from the Authors tag. Because Shirley Rousseau Murphy knows cats and she couldn't have said it better.
There is a door in an artist's garden: an elaborate carved passageway into a realm ruled by a dark sorceress queen. There entities strange and wondrous roam the Netherworld––yet none as astonishing as the shape–shifting Catswold...
Raised by the old witch Mag, Melissa discovers a perilous secret. She has more than one form––human girl and magical cat––and once inhabited two worlds. And it is her destiny to return to a mystic realm of wonder and terror, to do battle for her people's liberation and the crown that is rightfully hers.
There is a door in an artist's garden: an elaborate carved passageway into a realm ruled by a dark sorceress queen. There entities strange and wondrous roam the Netherworld––yet none as astonishing as the shape–shifting Catswold...
Raised by the old witch Mag, Melissa discovers a perilous secret. She has more than one form––human girl and magical cat––and once inhabited two worlds. And it is her destiny to return to a mystic realm of wonder and terror, to do battle for her people's liberation and the crown that is rightfully hers.
April 7, 2019
This has long been one of my favorite books. How can you go wrong with a cat themed fantasy? Well written, likable characters, and a creative plot. I re-read this every so often and it never gets old.
October 9, 2022
Where the hell is my review GR? It was a long detailed one! Why is this coming up as unread???
August 11, 2012
Details about the book:
Title: The Catswold Portal
Author: Shirley Rosseau Murphy
Page Count: 404
First Sentence: He ran pounding through the forest, his tennis shoes snapping dry branches as he stretched out in a long lope.
My Review:
The Catswold Portal is a fantasy book.
The reason I read this book is for a reading competition/buddy read with someone on another forum. I wasn't too keen on the cover, but once I got into it, it was just fabulous. It takes place in two dimensions, the Netherworld and the upperworld, the upperworld being where the humans live, and the Netherworld being the place where strange beasts roam and magic is present.
The main plot is to overthrow Queen Siddonie, who is trying to take control of the Netherworld for power. The upperworld have no clue there is a Netherworld, but the Netherworld do know there is an upperworld.
The main character, a 17-year-old girl called Melissa, is stubborn, and I like that because it means she's not afraid to stand up for what she believes in.
The thing I didn't like about this book was the format size. Seeing it was published in 1992, it was a very small pocket-size book, and the font was quite small. Also another thing I came across was the chapters were in the middle of the page. So when a new chapter started, it wouldn't start a new page.
Overall, for a book published in 1992, it was exceptional! I loved it so much, and it is definitely recommended. Don't let the cover put you off!
Title: The Catswold Portal
Author: Shirley Rosseau Murphy
Page Count: 404
First Sentence: He ran pounding through the forest, his tennis shoes snapping dry branches as he stretched out in a long lope.
My Review:
The Catswold Portal is a fantasy book.
The reason I read this book is for a reading competition/buddy read with someone on another forum. I wasn't too keen on the cover, but once I got into it, it was just fabulous. It takes place in two dimensions, the Netherworld and the upperworld, the upperworld being where the humans live, and the Netherworld being the place where strange beasts roam and magic is present.
The main plot is to overthrow Queen Siddonie, who is trying to take control of the Netherworld for power. The upperworld have no clue there is a Netherworld, but the Netherworld do know there is an upperworld.
The main character, a 17-year-old girl called Melissa, is stubborn, and I like that because it means she's not afraid to stand up for what she believes in.
The thing I didn't like about this book was the format size. Seeing it was published in 1992, it was a very small pocket-size book, and the font was quite small. Also another thing I came across was the chapters were in the middle of the page. So when a new chapter started, it wouldn't start a new page.
Overall, for a book published in 1992, it was exceptional! I loved it so much, and it is definitely recommended. Don't let the cover put you off!
August 16, 2011
This was a fun read and I enjoyed it, but this is not a fantastic book. There were whole plot threads and characters (Prince Efil didn't need to be fleshed out) that I realized later were completely unnecessary and, had they been taken out, could have left more room for the main story. Some important things got shorted or "convenienced" away, like Melissa suddenly "remembering" the changing spell when it became convenient to the story for her to be able to change. And I was 50 pages from the end when I realized that the final battle hadn't really started for the main characters - it was a very condensed "exciting ending," but that ended up being ok because we all knew what was going to happen anyway.
That said, there were lots of good ideas here. The cats were so well characterized they truly became characters of their own. And I really became drawn in when Melissa's background and the way that it connected the two worlds began to be revealed. The parts that worked worked really well, but not all of it worked.
That said, there were lots of good ideas here. The cats were so well characterized they truly became characters of their own. And I really became drawn in when Melissa's background and the way that it connected the two worlds began to be revealed. The parts that worked worked really well, but not all of it worked.
June 5, 2012
This is one book I have never tired of. I love cats, and this was my first taste of fantasy - though it did not make me love the genre with all of my heart, it still paved the way for a special spot in my interests. I love the imagery of the Netherworld, and the concept of shape-shifting. Murphy has a unique ability to pull you into the world of the characters, whether in the fantastical Netherworld or the mundane Real World. Not to mention, I grew up walking the streets of Carmel as a child, and to hear mention of that amazing place and Monterey (my birth place) is always a treat in literature.
May 12, 2016
The story started slow, but everything was important to the scene building. Although there were instances that seemed to be just filler, the story soon sucked me in and I didn't want to put it down (hence the 4-star rating). I loved the cat interactions, the world below ours, the emotions that were generated. With some imaginative stretching, I can see Siddonie being pure evil from such a young age. Melissa vacillated between being strong and kind of wimpy, but I could see that as well, considering the forget spells put on her, the shock of who she truly was, knowing what was expected of her and what she actually wanted. A good story well worth the read.
September 24, 2008
This book may sound strange, but for some reason it works. It's about cats who live in an underground world and are able to transform into humans, and how they happen to meet and interact with the upper human world. It's a fantasy, war, and love story.
I found this book by having read the Joe Grey mysteries by the same author--about 2 cats, Joe Grey and Dulcie, who are able to talk and help solve mysteries in their town, but only their owners know they can talk.
It all sounds crazy, but it's endearing!
I found this book by having read the Joe Grey mysteries by the same author--about 2 cats, Joe Grey and Dulcie, who are able to talk and help solve mysteries in their town, but only their owners know they can talk.
It all sounds crazy, but it's endearing!
March 29, 2013
Not sure if this was a 2 star or 3 star book. I gave it three because the author has a great grasp of how cats behave. Melissa as a cat was pretty cute. Melissa as a person was not so engaging. There were also issues with pacing in the book. Lots of time spent describing Melissa's concerns over being discovered, however surprisingly little repercussions when she finally was. In fact, most of the conflicts in this book ended up resolving a bit to quickly and neatly.
June 19, 2014
Shirley Rousseau Murphy managed to capture my attention from the very first paragraph of this book. She pulled me into a another world, one "peopled" by cats in such a way that I was comfortable and excited by the adventure. I'm not someone who normally likes stories told by animals but this is one author who can pull it off with aplomb. I highly recommend this book for an enchanting escape into fiction.
August 22, 2017
Fun, wish-fulfilling stuff with not half-bad internal characterization. The cheesy romance was okay in doses but got more and more groan-worthy as it went on, making me sadly want to finish the book in a rush. Also, that age gap! And the time setting! Who knew! After developing so long and building attachment to so many characters, it sure did seem Murphy was ready to throw in the towel, too.
I enjoyed it! Just don't tell (too many) people.
I enjoyed it! Just don't tell (too many) people.
October 28, 2010
I read this a while ago and just found it in the garage. I remember liking it a lot, but this time around I just did not have the patience for it, so I skimmed it quickly, but it might be because I have a lot on my mind lately. Still, it is a good story, and the whole shapeshifting thing coulda ended up being cheesy but didn't. I could totally see this as a movie.
April 13, 2011
Great read, especially for cat-lovers and fantasy fans. The intertwining stories and characters from the Netherworld and the Upperworld ("real world" California) was very entertaining - hard to put down! Excellent incorporation of mythology into a unique view. I wish there were more books about the Catswold Portal!
February 4, 2013
Okay, I really enjoyed this cat fantasy book while I was reading it. There is lots to love about the dual worlds, the cat/human mystery, and the art! But there are plenty of plot holes and weak points to the story that don't hold up well under critical analysis. So I say, skip the critique and just enjoy it.
September 23, 2017
I first read this book about 25 years ago, shortly after I was married. I loved it then, and revisiting it, I began to realize why, and I still love it.
Perhaps the underlying cat concept and emphasis has a lot to do with it. I love cats. But more than that, the way she intermingles the two worlds. Good, fun book
Perhaps the underlying cat concept and emphasis has a lot to do with it. I love cats. But more than that, the way she intermingles the two worlds. Good, fun book
November 26, 2007
this was by far my favorite book as a child. It is heavily fantasy oriented with characters that morph between human and adorable yet noble kitty cats. I think I had my first fantasy due to a certain love scene that in retrospect was probably mostly bestiality. Good stuff.
September 30, 2008
My mom gave me this book after she read it and I thought it sounded silly, to be honest. But I read it because I didn't have anything else to read at the time.
It was great! It was a nice mix of fantasy, adventure, mystery, and romance. It was also clean. I would highly recommend this book.
It was great! It was a nice mix of fantasy, adventure, mystery, and romance. It was also clean. I would highly recommend this book.
August 19, 2009
Loved loved loved this book when I was younger. And I still love this book. I loved the idea of the story and how she wove everything together, I just can't say in words how much I enjoyed this book!
June 8, 2012
If you have already read the Joe Grey series this makes sense. I don't know if I would read it first though because it is more sci-fi than the others and if you are not a big sci-fi fan you might not read Joe Grey, which you most definitely should. :-)
September 7, 2012
Absolutely fascinating! A grieving artist, an elaborately carved door that leads to the Netherworld and shape-shifters. I am a big fan of Shirley Rousseau Murphy and her Joel Grey series of talking cats. I was a little apprehensive about this book but but was hooked immediately. Give it a try.
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