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The Cat Prophecies #1
Claw Quest
A thirteen-year-old boy holds the fate of his family, his neighborhood, and the world in his hands when he discovers that his cat is from a secret realm of warrior cats facing a dangerous enemy.
The walls between worlds are wearing thin. On one side is the bustling neighborhood of San Antonio—home to thirteen-year-old Tito Rodríguez.On the other is a mythical realm where forces of darkness are looking for a way out. Standing between worlds are the guardians of humankind—a race of fierce warrior cats, who appear in our world as cute and furry companions.
When Tito follows a stray cat through a hidden portal, he finds himself at the center of this cosmic battle between the warrior cats and evil spirits that feed on negative emotions. And according to an ancient prophecy, Tito is the Chosen One who will lead the fight against the forces of darkness . . . probably.
It turns out that there are three possible Chosen Ones—Tito and his new friends and fellow outsiders Luisito and Isa, who have their own furry sidekicks (or wise mentors, if you ask the cats). And with the darkness slipping through the cracks to the human world, all three will have to train for the ultimate fight and prove who is the true hero.
The walls between worlds are wearing thin. On one side is the bustling neighborhood of San Antonio—home to thirteen-year-old Tito Rodríguez.On the other is a mythical realm where forces of darkness are looking for a way out. Standing between worlds are the guardians of humankind—a race of fierce warrior cats, who appear in our world as cute and furry companions.
When Tito follows a stray cat through a hidden portal, he finds himself at the center of this cosmic battle between the warrior cats and evil spirits that feed on negative emotions. And according to an ancient prophecy, Tito is the Chosen One who will lead the fight against the forces of darkness . . . probably.
It turns out that there are three possible Chosen Ones—Tito and his new friends and fellow outsiders Luisito and Isa, who have their own furry sidekicks (or wise mentors, if you ask the cats). And with the darkness slipping through the cracks to the human world, all three will have to train for the ultimate fight and prove who is the true hero.
336 pages, Hardcover
Published June 9, 2026
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
August 2, 2026
I read this because I wanted some kidlit with male energy (I read a lot of many titles about/by women & girls and that seems to be the bulk or our new books). It's action-packed with a lot of positive messages.
The good:
- Winning a rap battle by saying *nice* things is cool
- Snarky cats are always fun
- A nice snapshot of daily life in Columbia (with supernatural add-ons)
The bad:
- Pacing of the beginning was off somehow, this may be because I'm not the target audience or because it could have used some editing.
- The girl in the trio has the power of fashion design? I guess Isa's talent isn't so different from Luisito's and I'm glad she could be a fighting force like her male compatriots, but fashion?
- [SPOILER?] Not sure how I feel about this representation of Tourette's. Is pattern recognition really a Tourette's thing or is Tito just talented? I wish his disability wasn't "cured" in Iguakay. It does come back when he's in Cali, but it doesn't feel truly representative. A person with Tourette's may feel differently.
The good:
- Winning a rap battle by saying *nice* things is cool
- Snarky cats are always fun
- A nice snapshot of daily life in Columbia (with supernatural add-ons)
The bad:
- Pacing of the beginning was off somehow, this may be because I'm not the target audience or because it could have used some editing.
- The girl in the trio has the power of fashion design? I guess Isa's talent isn't so different from Luisito's and I'm glad she could be a fighting force like her male compatriots, but fashion?
- [SPOILER?] Not sure how I feel about this representation of Tourette's. Is pattern recognition really a Tourette's thing or is Tito just talented? I wish his disability wasn't "cured" in Iguakay. It does come back when he's in Cali, but it doesn't feel truly representative. A person with Tourette's may feel differently.
July 3, 2026
Originally posted to my blog Nonstop Reader.
Claw Quest is the first book in a middle grade reader fantasy series by Nik Korpon & Jorge Enrique Paz. Released 9th June 2026 by Penguin Random House on their Labyrinth Road imprint, it's 336 pages and is available in hardcover, audio, and ebook formats. It's worth noting that the ebook format has a handy interactive table of contents as well as interactive links and references throughout.
This is an engaging, exciting, and well written fantasy adventure story with believable kids, their real inner lives, and their guardians/companions who are cat shaped, trying to avoid bullies, deal with homework, and save the world.
The authors do a very good job of making the cats and "their" kids appealing, but not too perfect, believable, but not whiny, and vulnerable, but still brave and capable. They're all dealing with issues in their personal lives, they all have challenges (like everyone does), and still manage to find time to help save our world from the forces of darkness.
The story touches on the breakup of families, parents living far away, bullying, and other real-life stuff lots of kids deal with, without being preachy or depressing.
The story is set in Colombia, and the authors render the settings and characters believably and with heart. The text is peppered with Spanish phrases and Colombian cultural references, which are easy to understand in context.
Four and a half stars. This would be an excellent public or school library acquisition, as well as for home reading.
Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.
Claw Quest is the first book in a middle grade reader fantasy series by Nik Korpon & Jorge Enrique Paz. Released 9th June 2026 by Penguin Random House on their Labyrinth Road imprint, it's 336 pages and is available in hardcover, audio, and ebook formats. It's worth noting that the ebook format has a handy interactive table of contents as well as interactive links and references throughout.
This is an engaging, exciting, and well written fantasy adventure story with believable kids, their real inner lives, and their guardians/companions who are cat shaped, trying to avoid bullies, deal with homework, and save the world.
The authors do a very good job of making the cats and "their" kids appealing, but not too perfect, believable, but not whiny, and vulnerable, but still brave and capable. They're all dealing with issues in their personal lives, they all have challenges (like everyone does), and still manage to find time to help save our world from the forces of darkness.
The story touches on the breakup of families, parents living far away, bullying, and other real-life stuff lots of kids deal with, without being preachy or depressing.
The story is set in Colombia, and the authors render the settings and characters believably and with heart. The text is peppered with Spanish phrases and Colombian cultural references, which are easy to understand in context.
Four and a half stars. This would be an excellent public or school library acquisition, as well as for home reading.
Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.
April 9, 2026
Thank you Random House Kids @randomhousekids #RandomHouseKidsPartner Nik Korpon @nkorpon and Jorge Enrique Paz @lordnegrox for this free book!
“The Cat Prophecies: Claw Quest”(Book 1) by Nik Korpon and Jorge Enrique Paz⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Genre: Middle Grade Fantasy. NOTE: DEI inclusive.
Tito Rodriguez (13) lives in the Barrio San Antonio neighborhood of Cali, Colombia. He loves his family, his comics, and his neighborhood, but it’s not easy being a dorky ñoño with Tourette Syndrome who gets bullied at school. Tito befriends stray cat Cukkito, and discovers Cukkito is a warrior from Iguakay, a secret world where cats protect humans from Ywanch (evil spirits). And, an ancient prophecy says Tito is 1 of 3 potential Chosen Ones to lead the fight against the forces of darkness. When his family is threatened, Tito, with Luisito and Isa (the other 2 potentials), train to fight these spirits, each with their own furry sidekick. The barriers between worlds are wearing thin, and they must train for the ultimate battle to save the worlds.
Authors Korpon and Paz’s book is the 1st in a new series. They blend themes of friendship, resilience, and self-acceptance with fast-paced action, drawing inspiration from superhero comics and Colombian culture. Their novel highlights the resilience of a 13-year-old who may hold the fate of his family, neighborhood, and world in his hands. There are training scenes and fast-paced battles perfect for superhero fans, and emotional depth themes for all readers. Wisecracking Cukkito is a delight. Spanish words and Colombian culture are woven throughout the book. It’s “heart, humor, and heroism”, and it’s 5⭐️s from me 📚👩🏼🦳 #thecatprophecies
“The Cat Prophecies: Claw Quest”(Book 1) by Nik Korpon and Jorge Enrique Paz⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Genre: Middle Grade Fantasy. NOTE: DEI inclusive.
Tito Rodriguez (13) lives in the Barrio San Antonio neighborhood of Cali, Colombia. He loves his family, his comics, and his neighborhood, but it’s not easy being a dorky ñoño with Tourette Syndrome who gets bullied at school. Tito befriends stray cat Cukkito, and discovers Cukkito is a warrior from Iguakay, a secret world where cats protect humans from Ywanch (evil spirits). And, an ancient prophecy says Tito is 1 of 3 potential Chosen Ones to lead the fight against the forces of darkness. When his family is threatened, Tito, with Luisito and Isa (the other 2 potentials), train to fight these spirits, each with their own furry sidekick. The barriers between worlds are wearing thin, and they must train for the ultimate battle to save the worlds.
Authors Korpon and Paz’s book is the 1st in a new series. They blend themes of friendship, resilience, and self-acceptance with fast-paced action, drawing inspiration from superhero comics and Colombian culture. Their novel highlights the resilience of a 13-year-old who may hold the fate of his family, neighborhood, and world in his hands. There are training scenes and fast-paced battles perfect for superhero fans, and emotional depth themes for all readers. Wisecracking Cukkito is a delight. Spanish words and Colombian culture are woven throughout the book. It’s “heart, humor, and heroism”, and it’s 5⭐️s from me 📚👩🏼🦳 #thecatprophecies
June 10, 2026
Very funny
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews