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Hornsboggle & Dodge #1
Dragons, Heists, and Other Retirement Plans
Not yet published
Expected 1 Sep 26A spellbinding cozy fantasy adventure that will make you believe in second chances. Complete with dragons. And cats. And dragon-cats.
Katherine and Imogene are done with their criminal past—honestly.
They’ve traded in their outlaw lifestyle for seaside views, knitting projects (strictly non-magical), and only the occasional pub brawl (entirely accidental). But when an old friend begs them for help, they're back in the game.
Their last heist—the one they botched all those years ago—needs finishing. And fast.
Saint Percival’s is in danger. The convent is sinking into the ground, and the dragons and nuns have been swindled out of their land by a ruthless real estate mogul. It's up to Katherine and Imogene to set things right, armed with enchanted needles and the power to knit a magical map straight to the villain’s lair.
The mission? To go back to where it all ended, outwit their enemy and save Saint Percival’s.
Except this time, they have the help of their beloved otherworldly cats and dragons. And the same charming rival who blew up their plans the first time round with just a wink…
What could possibly go wrong?
This delightful cozy, heist-y fantasy about friendships new and old is perfect for fans of TJ Klune and Travis Baldree.
Katherine and Imogene are done with their criminal past—honestly.
They’ve traded in their outlaw lifestyle for seaside views, knitting projects (strictly non-magical), and only the occasional pub brawl (entirely accidental). But when an old friend begs them for help, they're back in the game.
Their last heist—the one they botched all those years ago—needs finishing. And fast.
Saint Percival’s is in danger. The convent is sinking into the ground, and the dragons and nuns have been swindled out of their land by a ruthless real estate mogul. It's up to Katherine and Imogene to set things right, armed with enchanted needles and the power to knit a magical map straight to the villain’s lair.
The mission? To go back to where it all ended, outwit their enemy and save Saint Percival’s.
Except this time, they have the help of their beloved otherworldly cats and dragons. And the same charming rival who blew up their plans the first time round with just a wink…
What could possibly go wrong?
This delightful cozy, heist-y fantasy about friendships new and old is perfect for fans of TJ Klune and Travis Baldree.
352 pages, Paperback
Expected publication September 1, 2026
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 243 reviews
June 6, 2026
Recommend-O-Meter: Kickass grannies be kickass, if that’s your jam
Adventure stories are great, but few authors dare to ask: What happens when the curtains are drawn? And for that matter, how does one even “retire” from a life of magical thievery?
As it turns out, the answer is that one doesn’t. Katherine and Imogene are solidly deep into senior citizenship, but that doesn’t stop them from taking matters into their own hands when they need to. Personally, I found it very refreshing to see after books upon books of youthful fantasy protagonists. And one thing I particularly loved was the way Imogene would talk about her husband and how she’d been willing to give up the adventurous life for stability with him; honestly, I’d totally be down for a spin-off about their relationship!
In terms of plot, though, it all felt very straightforward. Which feels a bit weird to say considering the crazy sorts of hijinks that happen in here, but I dunno. I guess the cozy vibe was in full force, because I’d say the whole thing gave me more of a middle grade fantasy feel instead of an adult one, save for the age of the characters. I wasn’t too sucked into the story, but it wasn’t bad at all — just perhaps less to my taste than I thought it’d be based on the premise. Still, a decent read for an otherwise boring afternoon. I might just check out the next installment of the series when it drops.
Audio Assessment: Any narrator who can do granny voices without grating on my ears is good enough in my book.
[I received an ARC and an ALC of this book from the publisher on NetGalley. This does not in any way affect the contents of my review.]
Adventure stories are great, but few authors dare to ask: What happens when the curtains are drawn? And for that matter, how does one even “retire” from a life of magical thievery?
As it turns out, the answer is that one doesn’t. Katherine and Imogene are solidly deep into senior citizenship, but that doesn’t stop them from taking matters into their own hands when they need to. Personally, I found it very refreshing to see after books upon books of youthful fantasy protagonists. And one thing I particularly loved was the way Imogene would talk about her husband and how she’d been willing to give up the adventurous life for stability with him; honestly, I’d totally be down for a spin-off about their relationship!
In terms of plot, though, it all felt very straightforward. Which feels a bit weird to say considering the crazy sorts of hijinks that happen in here, but I dunno. I guess the cozy vibe was in full force, because I’d say the whole thing gave me more of a middle grade fantasy feel instead of an adult one, save for the age of the characters. I wasn’t too sucked into the story, but it wasn’t bad at all — just perhaps less to my taste than I thought it’d be based on the premise. Still, a decent read for an otherwise boring afternoon. I might just check out the next installment of the series when it drops.
Audio Assessment: Any narrator who can do granny voices without grating on my ears is good enough in my book.
[I received an ARC and an ALC of this book from the publisher on NetGalley. This does not in any way affect the contents of my review.]
March 11, 2026
Cute, cozy, and clean. This book is perfect for those over 40 wanting a relatable and heartwarming mild fantasy. The main characters are 2 women coming out of retirement to return to the “good old days”. The side characters are so lovable and really enhance the story. If you are interested at all, give it a try!
April 27, 2026
Two honest thieves retired 40-years ago after bungling their final job and disappointing a bunch of nuns. It’s been a quiet four decades in the country for Katty and Imogene, where the action has been limited to local pub kerfuffles and collecting interdimensional cats that tend to shapeshift at inopportune times. Long gone are the days of breaking barriers, heads, and hearts, or so they thought, until a friendly tree nymph sends a cry for help and they acquire the allegiance of some doofus in a poncho. Hornsboggle and Dodge are thrust back into the thick of it, traveling by knitted maps and excavating dragon dung to save a convent and take down the evil overlord of a senior living community. There’s professional forgery, a sinking bog, and a band of trolls coming to take what’s theirs. Looking to add some whimsy to your daily routine? The world is your clam! Try giving the Starbucks barista a fun name like Ernestina Jinglebottom or brainstorming new rhymes such as jerkin’ and gherkin. Personally, I will be referring to unagreeable gentlemen whose company I’m forced to endure as "puckered sphincters" and knitting myself a battle poncho while I await the next installment in this series.
April 12, 2026
Dragon Heists and Other Retirement Plans is honestly the cutest, cosiest fantasy adventure.
It follows later-life characters in a retirement home, with dragons, cats, knitting needles, trolls… and just a whole lot of fun. I loved the idea of these two retired thieves coming out of retirement to solve an old case, it felt really fresh and different from typical fantasy.
The whole book just made me smile. It’s very much cosy vibes, with lots of banter and conversation, and you really feel that long-standing friendship between the characters. The found family element is lovely too.
It’s quite low stakes, so not super intense, and has more of a meandering pace, but in a really nice, easy-to-read way. The cats and dragons were adorable, and honestly just added to the charm.
Overall, such a warm, fun read. Perfect if you want something light, comforting, and a bit different
It follows later-life characters in a retirement home, with dragons, cats, knitting needles, trolls… and just a whole lot of fun. I loved the idea of these two retired thieves coming out of retirement to solve an old case, it felt really fresh and different from typical fantasy.
The whole book just made me smile. It’s very much cosy vibes, with lots of banter and conversation, and you really feel that long-standing friendship between the characters. The found family element is lovely too.
It’s quite low stakes, so not super intense, and has more of a meandering pace, but in a really nice, easy-to-read way. The cats and dragons were adorable, and honestly just added to the charm.
Overall, such a warm, fun read. Perfect if you want something light, comforting, and a bit different
April 2, 2026
Following a group of elderly characters who have finally settled into their knitting and leisure plans for a retired life, the story takes a turn when a friend calls for help. They are pushed to bend back into their old schemes, some of which involve magical transitions, dragons, cats, and a bit of mischievous sneaking.
The book carries a cozy vibe throughout, and we get to see the world from a retired perspective. The author does have a vivid imagination, and I especially loved how the cats are treated with so much importance here.
This was an audiobook, and the pacing worked well with the narrator’s tone. The heist element in the plot had its energy carried beautifully in the audio, translating anticipation, scepticism, and the overall emotions effectively.
The book carries a cozy vibe throughout, and we get to see the world from a retired perspective. The author does have a vivid imagination, and I especially loved how the cats are treated with so much importance here.
This was an audiobook, and the pacing worked well with the narrator’s tone. The heist element in the plot had its energy carried beautifully in the audio, translating anticipation, scepticism, and the overall emotions effectively.
August 15, 2026
Thank you to Forever publishing for the e-book 🫶
3.5⭐️
This was a cozy read filled with two old ladies who were former thieves, talking cats, dragons, and the guy who messed up their last heist years ago. There is also a nun and some trolls thrown in the mix.
I enjoyed the idea of the book. I just wasn’t as captivated by the story as I thought I’d be despite loving the sound of the synopsis. The pacing started off slow for me but then picked up a bit at the 30% mark. There were some funny lines that made me laugh though, which I appreciated.
3.5⭐️
This was a cozy read filled with two old ladies who were former thieves, talking cats, dragons, and the guy who messed up their last heist years ago. There is also a nun and some trolls thrown in the mix.
I enjoyed the idea of the book. I just wasn’t as captivated by the story as I thought I’d be despite loving the sound of the synopsis. The pacing started off slow for me but then picked up a bit at the 30% mark. There were some funny lines that made me laugh though, which I appreciated.
May 5, 2026
Nearly 400 pages later I still have no clue what happened. I wanted to like this book but it was confusing and jumped around making little to no sense :(. Full review to come.
March 27, 2026
I'm a big fan of cozy fantasies, and this book looked like something I could potentially enjoy. It has dragons, cats, a hint of magic, low stakes!!! What's not to like? Also we have a group of elderly that return to their heisting years after 40 years of retirement. How fun is it to read a book about that age group?!
What I liked about the (audio)book:
- the characters! they were fun and endearing and fun to read about.
- the cat and dragon companions. I really liked how they also interacted/talked to each other on page, though it could be a bit annoying from time to time as it didn't add super much to the story, except for cute and whimsy.
- the low stakes elements and the happy ending
- the audiobook narrator!
What I didn't love about the (audio)book:
- it was a bit too long in my opinion. I enjoyed myself for the most part, but I did think that the book was just a bit too long, and could have been maybe 50-70 pages shorter. I felt like it started to drag a bit towards the middle and there were some elements of repetition.
- the magical system was not fully clear and could have been fleshed out a little bit more, in my opinon! I did really like the magical knitting element.
Overall, I enjoyed myself. It wasn't the best book I listened to, it wasn't the worst book I listened to, I had a good time and I would likely continue with the series to see what happens with our main characters!
Thank you to the publisher, author and Netgalley for an advanced listening copy of this audiobook!
What I liked about the (audio)book:
- the characters! they were fun and endearing and fun to read about.
- the cat and dragon companions. I really liked how they also interacted/talked to each other on page, though it could be a bit annoying from time to time as it didn't add super much to the story, except for cute and whimsy.
- the low stakes elements and the happy ending
- the audiobook narrator!
What I didn't love about the (audio)book:
- it was a bit too long in my opinion. I enjoyed myself for the most part, but I did think that the book was just a bit too long, and could have been maybe 50-70 pages shorter. I felt like it started to drag a bit towards the middle and there were some elements of repetition.
- the magical system was not fully clear and could have been fleshed out a little bit more, in my opinon! I did really like the magical knitting element.
Overall, I enjoyed myself. It wasn't the best book I listened to, it wasn't the worst book I listened to, I had a good time and I would likely continue with the series to see what happens with our main characters!
Thank you to the publisher, author and Netgalley for an advanced listening copy of this audiobook!
March 4, 2026
This was such a cute cozy fantasy. I really enjoyed the premise and the refreshing choice to center the story on older heroines instead of the usual twenty-something protagonists discovering their powers. Katherine and Imogene diving back into adventure in their seventies was genuinely fun, and I loved the slightly chaotic retired criminal energy.
Katherine especially gave off strong “crazy cat lady” vibes, which I fully support. The cats absolutely stole the show for me. Their personalities and little moments throughout the story added so much charm and humor.
The cozy fantasy elements were delightful with magical knitting, dragon-cats, and a heist to save a convent is exactly the kind of whimsical nonsense I enjoy in this genre.
For me, the pacing was a little slow at times, especially in the beginning, and I can’t quite pinpoint why it didn’t completely click as a five-star read. But overall it was still a very enjoyable story with a lot of heart and a unique cast of characters.
If you enjoy cozy fantasy with humor, magical cats, and a story about second chances later in life, this one is definitely worth checking out
Katherine especially gave off strong “crazy cat lady” vibes, which I fully support. The cats absolutely stole the show for me. Their personalities and little moments throughout the story added so much charm and humor.
The cozy fantasy elements were delightful with magical knitting, dragon-cats, and a heist to save a convent is exactly the kind of whimsical nonsense I enjoy in this genre.
For me, the pacing was a little slow at times, especially in the beginning, and I can’t quite pinpoint why it didn’t completely click as a five-star read. But overall it was still a very enjoyable story with a lot of heart and a unique cast of characters.
If you enjoy cozy fantasy with humor, magical cats, and a story about second chances later in life, this one is definitely worth checking out
April 9, 2026
A cosy fantasy that was really easy to fly through; definitely a quintessential and fun addition to the genre!
The cats were 100% the highlight for me; they were each so distinct and I connected to them so easily - their little bouts of dialogue were such a fun and unique touch!
The writing style was very witty and added such a whimsical feel to the novel.
However, I found there was a LOT of repetition with the word “said” - once I noticed it, I couldn’t stop and it really took me out of the story. (This was in my uncorrected proof copy, so I can’t guarantee that the final copy will have the same problem!!!)
I also didn’t really connect to either of the main characters. I don’t know if it was an age thing or simply personal preference, but I just didn’t really care about them, which I feel translated a bit into the plot for me.
Overall, I do think this was a great cosy fantasy and would definitely recommend it for something new and different (and for when you want something full of cats, dragons, and cat dragons!)
Thank you so much to Second Sky and Meg Pennerson for a physical proof <3
The cats were 100% the highlight for me; they were each so distinct and I connected to them so easily - their little bouts of dialogue were such a fun and unique touch!
The writing style was very witty and added such a whimsical feel to the novel.
However, I found there was a LOT of repetition with the word “said” - once I noticed it, I couldn’t stop and it really took me out of the story. (This was in my uncorrected proof copy, so I can’t guarantee that the final copy will have the same problem!!!)
I also didn’t really connect to either of the main characters. I don’t know if it was an age thing or simply personal preference, but I just didn’t really care about them, which I feel translated a bit into the plot for me.
Overall, I do think this was a great cosy fantasy and would definitely recommend it for something new and different (and for when you want something full of cats, dragons, and cat dragons!)
Thank you so much to Second Sky and Meg Pennerson for a physical proof <3
March 15, 2026
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I initially picked this up because I had just finished listening to the house in the cerulean sea and this reminded me of that. This was ultimately a mix between that and Thursday murder club. I wasn’t expecting to enjoy this as much as I did!! It was such a fun and cosy read. The characters were absolutely endearing and the story premise was refreshing and fun!
I loved the cosy fantasy elements with the humour and banter between the characters.
For a change, it was really nice to listen to a fantasy that wasn’t as jam packed and didn’t have as many highstakes and pressure.
It was ultimately a clean and cosy book that I enjoyed and had me engaged on my drive to and from work!
Highly recommend this if you’re looking for a cosy read with fantasy elements and a good pace to the story!
I’m looking forward to more adventures with Hornsboggle and Dodge!
I initially picked this up because I had just finished listening to the house in the cerulean sea and this reminded me of that. This was ultimately a mix between that and Thursday murder club. I wasn’t expecting to enjoy this as much as I did!! It was such a fun and cosy read. The characters were absolutely endearing and the story premise was refreshing and fun!
I loved the cosy fantasy elements with the humour and banter between the characters.
For a change, it was really nice to listen to a fantasy that wasn’t as jam packed and didn’t have as many highstakes and pressure.
It was ultimately a clean and cosy book that I enjoyed and had me engaged on my drive to and from work!
Highly recommend this if you’re looking for a cosy read with fantasy elements and a good pace to the story!
I’m looking forward to more adventures with Hornsboggle and Dodge!
August 19, 2026
A cozy fantasy with dragons, heists, cats, dragon-cats, friendship, and second chances? Yes, please. 🐉🐈✨
Dragons, Heists and Other Retirement Plans was such a refreshing and genuinely fun read. It delivers on everything it promises: a cozy atmosphere, plenty of laugh-out-loud moments, exciting adventures, and a heartfelt story about friendships old and new.
I especially loved the balance between the cozy moments and the heist/adventure elements. It made this such an easy and enjoyable read, and honestly, the perfect book to kick off the fall reading season. 🍂📚
I had such a good time with Katty and Imogen, and I can’t wait to see what their next adventure brings! If you’re looking for a charming, feel-good fantasy with dragons, friendship, humor, and dragon-cats, definitely add this one to your TBR!
Dragons, Heists and Other Retirement Plans was such a refreshing and genuinely fun read. It delivers on everything it promises: a cozy atmosphere, plenty of laugh-out-loud moments, exciting adventures, and a heartfelt story about friendships old and new.
I especially loved the balance between the cozy moments and the heist/adventure elements. It made this such an easy and enjoyable read, and honestly, the perfect book to kick off the fall reading season. 🍂📚
I had such a good time with Katty and Imogen, and I can’t wait to see what their next adventure brings! If you’re looking for a charming, feel-good fantasy with dragons, friendship, humor, and dragon-cats, definitely add this one to your TBR!
March 28, 2026
3.5 rounded up. This a cute, cozy, super low stakes fantasy about two old women that walked away from their criminal life to settle down with a bunch of cats in a seaside town. It’s very low fantasy and very character driven. The women go on a big (mis)adventure to save Saint Percival’s, meeting new and old friends along the way. Their magical cats join them and are hilarious. I’m not sure what genre I want to throw it in, but fantasy is not it. Cozy mystery? Either way, it was a fun and easy listen.
The narrator does a great job- maybe too great? She sounds like the older women, but so much so that I found myself spacing out during much of the book. It’s probably the story, as (I’ve already stated), it’s very character driven and there’s a lot of the women chattering about the issues at hand. I love how she voiced the Rueben.
Thank you Bookouture Audio and Second Sky books for the ALC!
The narrator does a great job- maybe too great? She sounds like the older women, but so much so that I found myself spacing out during much of the book. It’s probably the story, as (I’ve already stated), it’s very character driven and there’s a lot of the women chattering about the issues at hand. I love how she voiced the Rueben.
Thank you Bookouture Audio and Second Sky books for the ALC!
April 26, 2026
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for this ALC!
Perfect for fans of Thursday Murder Club and Legends & Lattes.
I've been really vibing with the cozy fantasies, and I've always been a fan of cozy mysteries. So this was perfect. We follow our 2 FMC as they try to relive the glory days (think of Mr Incredible and Frozone). Flanked by their knitting needles and some inter-dimensional cats, these 2 honest thieves try to rectify the job that made them retire 40 years ago.
I love the coziness of our MCs being a bit older and having "old lady hobbies" like knitting (I love crochet myself) and why not throw in dragons and cats? I'm usually not a fan of heists but this was wonderfully written. The audio narration had good pacing and voicing for different characters.
Perfect for fans of Thursday Murder Club and Legends & Lattes.
I've been really vibing with the cozy fantasies, and I've always been a fan of cozy mysteries. So this was perfect. We follow our 2 FMC as they try to relive the glory days (think of Mr Incredible and Frozone). Flanked by their knitting needles and some inter-dimensional cats, these 2 honest thieves try to rectify the job that made them retire 40 years ago.
I love the coziness of our MCs being a bit older and having "old lady hobbies" like knitting (I love crochet myself) and why not throw in dragons and cats? I'm usually not a fan of heists but this was wonderfully written. The audio narration had good pacing and voicing for different characters.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Dragons, Heists and Other Retirement Plans (Hornsboggle & Dodge #1)
by Meg Pennerson
***ARC/ALC Review***
Two mischievous old thieves come out of retirement to help the nuns save Saint Percival’s Convent from swindling real estate moguls—finally finishing the job they botched years ago. Armed with enchanted knitting needles that create magical portal maps and a few magical kitty companions, they set out on an adventure full of shenanigans.
I was charmed by this book. It was a fun and quirky time with heartwarming moments and whimsical chaos.
4 ⭐
Thank you so much to Netgalley, Meg Pennerson, and Bookouture Audio/Second Sky Books for the ALC/ARC.
by Meg Pennerson
***ARC/ALC Review***
Two mischievous old thieves come out of retirement to help the nuns save Saint Percival’s Convent from swindling real estate moguls—finally finishing the job they botched years ago. Armed with enchanted knitting needles that create magical portal maps and a few magical kitty companions, they set out on an adventure full of shenanigans.
I was charmed by this book. It was a fun and quirky time with heartwarming moments and whimsical chaos.
4 ⭐
Thank you so much to Netgalley, Meg Pennerson, and Bookouture Audio/Second Sky Books for the ALC/ARC.
August 6, 2026
I had such a good time with this book.
Retired criminals? One last heist? Dragons, dragon-cats, magical knitting, and a convent full of nuns? I honestly don’t know how you don’t pick this one up.
What I loved most was that this is really a story about second chances. Katherine and Imogene may have retired from their life of crime, but they’re definitely not done having adventures. I loved seeing older protagonists take center stage—it was refreshing, funny, and honestly made me love them even more. Their friendship was one of my favorite parts of the book.
The cozy fantasy vibes were absolutely perfect. This book felt like wrapping up in your favorite blanket with a cup of tea, but with enough adventure and heist shenanigans to keep the story moving. The magic was creative (seriously… enchanted knitting? Obsessed.), and every time the dragon-cats showed up, I couldn’t help but smile.
This book had humor, heart, found family, adorable magical creatures, and just enough danger to keep me invested without ever losing that cozy feeling. It reminded me why I’ve fallen so hard for cozy fantasy lately.
If you’re a fan of dragons, lovable characters, magical chaos, and stories that prove it’s never too late for one last adventure, definitely add this one to your TBR.
Now if you’ll excuse me, I’m going to spend the foreseeable future wishing dragon-cats were real.
Retired criminals? One last heist? Dragons, dragon-cats, magical knitting, and a convent full of nuns? I honestly don’t know how you don’t pick this one up.
What I loved most was that this is really a story about second chances. Katherine and Imogene may have retired from their life of crime, but they’re definitely not done having adventures. I loved seeing older protagonists take center stage—it was refreshing, funny, and honestly made me love them even more. Their friendship was one of my favorite parts of the book.
The cozy fantasy vibes were absolutely perfect. This book felt like wrapping up in your favorite blanket with a cup of tea, but with enough adventure and heist shenanigans to keep the story moving. The magic was creative (seriously… enchanted knitting? Obsessed.), and every time the dragon-cats showed up, I couldn’t help but smile.
This book had humor, heart, found family, adorable magical creatures, and just enough danger to keep me invested without ever losing that cozy feeling. It reminded me why I’ve fallen so hard for cozy fantasy lately.
If you’re a fan of dragons, lovable characters, magical chaos, and stories that prove it’s never too late for one last adventure, definitely add this one to your TBR.
Now if you’ll excuse me, I’m going to spend the foreseeable future wishing dragon-cats were real.
March 26, 2026
A wonderfully cute and cosy fantasy, if hot chocolate under a blanket were a book this would be it. I loved Katherine and Imogene they were wonderful and snarky. The cats (and dragon) were so funny and I loved getting their points of view. A wonderful adventure story of two people coming out of retirement for that one last hurrah and reminder that age is just a number.
Terry Pratchet esque vibes with the humour and mad cap adventure, I could definitely see Nanny Ogg having an adventure with these two.
Thank you second sky for the arc
Terry Pratchet esque vibes with the humour and mad cap adventure, I could definitely see Nanny Ogg having an adventure with these two.
Thank you second sky for the arc
March 11, 2026
If you love cozy fantasy with a mischievous sense of humor, Dragons, Heists, and Other Retirement Plans by Meg Pennerson is a fun ride. I listened to this charming book which was narrated by Nicole Poole, and throughly enjoyed her characterizations and pacing.
The story follows two retired criminals who are doing their best to live a quiet life—until they’re pulled back in for one last heist to save a convent that houses dragons. Yes, dragons and nuns, which honestly sets the tone perfectly for the kind of delightful chaos this book delivers.
I loved the whimsical world with magical knitting needles and cat dragons!
If you enjoy cozy fantasy with quirky magic, lovable troublemakers, and a dash of dragon mayhem, this one is definitely worth picking.
Thank you NetGalley for allowing me to listen to this ARC audiobook in exchange for an honest review.
The story follows two retired criminals who are doing their best to live a quiet life—until they’re pulled back in for one last heist to save a convent that houses dragons. Yes, dragons and nuns, which honestly sets the tone perfectly for the kind of delightful chaos this book delivers.
I loved the whimsical world with magical knitting needles and cat dragons!
If you enjoy cozy fantasy with quirky magic, lovable troublemakers, and a dash of dragon mayhem, this one is definitely worth picking.
Thank you NetGalley for allowing me to listen to this ARC audiobook in exchange for an honest review.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 16, 2026
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Review of advanced copy received through Netgalley.
Cosy, cute, heart warming fantasy.
I have really enjoyed reading this, not your generic fantasy book. A unique and light hearted tale of 2 women thieves coming out of retirement in their 70s, to relive the good old days.
There are feline and dragon companions with them as they set off on an adventure to set right their last job, 40 years down the line.
The characters are loveable and relatable, the plot has a few surprises and great pacing. It’s a well written book, which is clean and engaging, without being too complicated.
Definitely one to pick up if you are looking for a clean and cosy fantasy!
Thank you to Meg Pennerson and Second Sky books, for the ARC to review through Netgalley.
Review of advanced copy received through Netgalley.
Cosy, cute, heart warming fantasy.
I have really enjoyed reading this, not your generic fantasy book. A unique and light hearted tale of 2 women thieves coming out of retirement in their 70s, to relive the good old days.
There are feline and dragon companions with them as they set off on an adventure to set right their last job, 40 years down the line.
The characters are loveable and relatable, the plot has a few surprises and great pacing. It’s a well written book, which is clean and engaging, without being too complicated.
Definitely one to pick up if you are looking for a clean and cosy fantasy!
Thank you to Meg Pennerson and Second Sky books, for the ARC to review through Netgalley.
April 2, 2026
Thank you to Second Sky books and Meg for entrusting me with an early copy!
Dragons, Heists, and Other Retirement Plans by Meg Pennerson
Hornsboggle and Dodge book 1
Cozy humorous fantasy
Sassy older heroines, best friends and partners in chaos, dragon and cat companions, banter, retired heist team, mystery, magical items, liberating residents of a retirement home, magical creatures
This was a cute read! Friends Katherine and Imogene have long hung up their magical items they used for heists, but when someone asks for help they decide to come out of retirement for one last hurrah. Part hilarious antics, part adorable animal companions, part mystery solving and sleuthing! The characters were endearing and I was often chuckling throughout the story.
Dragons, Heists, and Other Retirement Plans by Meg Pennerson
Hornsboggle and Dodge book 1
Cozy humorous fantasy
Sassy older heroines, best friends and partners in chaos, dragon and cat companions, banter, retired heist team, mystery, magical items, liberating residents of a retirement home, magical creatures
This was a cute read! Friends Katherine and Imogene have long hung up their magical items they used for heists, but when someone asks for help they decide to come out of retirement for one last hurrah. Part hilarious antics, part adorable animal companions, part mystery solving and sleuthing! The characters were endearing and I was often chuckling throughout the story.
April 8, 2026
thankyou #netgallery for the audiobook arc.
as much as i loved the book cover, the story was not it for me, i wish i loved the buildup and everything, but it didnt keep me hooked. i lost interest as this was also written in 3rd pov. it felt cozy at times but mostly, i was so to lost what i was listening.
as much as i loved the book cover, the story was not it for me, i wish i loved the buildup and everything, but it didnt keep me hooked. i lost interest as this was also written in 3rd pov. it felt cozy at times but mostly, i was so to lost what i was listening.
May 26, 2026
Great, quirky fantasy adventure
The worldbuilding is fun, the characters are enjoyable, and the story is engaging with some unexpected plot twists. As an older reader, I appreciated the unusual main characters. The cats are hilariously weird.
The worldbuilding is fun, the characters are enjoyable, and the story is engaging with some unexpected plot twists. As an older reader, I appreciated the unusual main characters. The cats are hilariously weird.
April 17, 2026
Den her var SÅ CUTE!!!! 🥰
July 18, 2026
Silly, delightful, and highly entertaining cozy fantasy - especially for those of us who view "cat lady" as a label they're happy to adorn themselves with. Thoroughly enjoyed this madcap ride.
April 13, 2026
Thank you to Netgalley and Second Sky for the review copy in exchange for an honest review. This does not change my opinion in anyway.
When I first saw Dragons, Heists and Other Retirement Plans I got very excited. Dragons AND elderly mc's? Count me in. Unfortunately this cozy fantasy couldn't deliver on its promise.
The well known heist pair Hornsboggle and Dodge have settled down in their old age. Imogen is now a widow with a son who has freshly moved out where as Katty is a reclused cat/dragon mom. Imogen is however insistent to return to some heisting now that she is suffering from an empty nest syndrome. When an old friend sends a message to ask for help, they return to the scene of their last heist...
The first thing I really struggled with was the writing style. It seems to be an omniscient third person point of view. It made it a little harder for me to connect to the characters and I think when you have a cozy fantasy, it isn't the best choice. We could see the thoughts from the cats and dragons (who could communicate with each other but not with the humans) but they didn't add much more than some random commentary. I didn't always feel their bond with Katty either.
More so, Imogen is constantly referred to as mrs Chryssler (not by the characters but in the writing) which removes us even more so from her. I guess to constantly put out that she is a widow or something. But it was just annoying when everyone else was referred to by their first name.
There is also a few things here and there that stood out to be in the plot that I think didn't need to be emphasized like that and a hole here and there. As a result I didn't really enjoy this book unfortunately.
When I first saw Dragons, Heists and Other Retirement Plans I got very excited. Dragons AND elderly mc's? Count me in. Unfortunately this cozy fantasy couldn't deliver on its promise.
The well known heist pair Hornsboggle and Dodge have settled down in their old age. Imogen is now a widow with a son who has freshly moved out where as Katty is a reclused cat/dragon mom. Imogen is however insistent to return to some heisting now that she is suffering from an empty nest syndrome. When an old friend sends a message to ask for help, they return to the scene of their last heist...
The first thing I really struggled with was the writing style. It seems to be an omniscient third person point of view. It made it a little harder for me to connect to the characters and I think when you have a cozy fantasy, it isn't the best choice. We could see the thoughts from the cats and dragons (who could communicate with each other but not with the humans) but they didn't add much more than some random commentary. I didn't always feel their bond with Katty either.
More so, Imogen is constantly referred to as mrs Chryssler (not by the characters but in the writing) which removes us even more so from her. I guess to constantly put out that she is a widow or something. But it was just annoying when everyone else was referred to by their first name.
There is also a few things here and there that stood out to be in the plot that I think didn't need to be emphasized like that and a hole here and there. As a result I didn't really enjoy this book unfortunately.
March 26, 2026
BLOG TOUR REVIEW
Review for 'Dragons, Heists And Other Retirement Plans' by Meg Pennerson
This is Meg's DEBUT novel, not that you would ever think that!!! I WAS GOBSMACKED WHEN I WENT TO ADD HER OTHER BOOKS AND DISCOVERED THIS!! WHAT AN ABSOLUTELY EPIC DEBUT PAGE TURNER!!! I mean this extremely talented lady genuinely writes as if she has been doing it her whole life!! An absolutely EXTRAORDINARY, EPIC, MAGICAL and UNIQUE debut book fair play!!
I SERIOUSLY LOVE, LOVE, LOVED THIS ABSOLUTELY PURRFECTLY HOT DEBUT NOVEL!! IT TRULY IS AN ABSOLUTELY AMAZING, ADDICTIVE AND PAGE TURNING MUST READ!! AN ABSOLUTELY AMAZING READ FROM AN AMAZING DEBUT AUTHOR!! I AM LANDED THAT THIS IS JUST THE FIRST BOOK IN AN EXTREMELY PROMISING SERIES!!
IF YOU LOVE CATS, DRAGONS, MAGIC OR JUST LOVE A GOOD READ THEN GRAB THIS ABSOLUTELY AMAZING FUN, FANTASTIC AND FABULOUS PAGE TURNER NOW!!!!
THIS FLAMING HOT PAGE TURNER HAS JUST SHOT TO MY TOP SPOT OF 2026 AND I CANNOT WAIT FOR MORE!!!
The first thing I have got to say is an absolutely HUGE CONGRATULATIONS to the amazing author Meg! I was absolutely gobsmacked when I had finished this epic page turner, went to add the rest of her amazing books to my basket and realised that THIS AMAZING BOOK is actually her first and only book at the moment! What an absolutely AMAZING debut novel!! If THIS is what you can create for your very first book then I just cannot wait to see what on Earth you will come out with next!! Speaking of which as it is just the first book in Meg's 'Hornsboggle And Dodge' series' I am LANDED to say that you can PRE-ORDER the next book NOW!! The second book in this extremely promising series is called 'Wizards, Heists and Other Ways to Steal a Spellbook' and will be published on the 27th August!! It cannot come soon enough!! Seriously, you may as well order BOTH books while you are buying this one as it will save you time later when you WILL go back and pre-order book two if you don't do it now!! This is definitely one of the best debut novels I have ever read and it is also one of my favourite books of all times!!! You SERIOUSLY have to grab your copy of this brilliant page turner today!! This book NEEDS to be turned into a movie!!! If you are not normally a fantasy reader then I highly recommend that you expand your literature reading choices and grab a copy of this beauty and I can guarantee you will not regret it! You can thank me later! You seriously have to grab your copy of this absolutely gorgeous page turner today!! The descriptions, the characters and the absolutely brilliant and stunning storyline!!! I mean seriously I cannot describe just how fun, magical, pawsome and purrfect this book is!!! There are just no words. I mean I'll try but my advice is stop reading this review and GET YOUR COPY NOW!!! If you magic, cats, fun, fantasy, dragons… Do you know what...whatever you like to read just give this a go and you will NOT regret it!!! As you can tell I thoroughly enjoyed this addictive and stunning page turner!!! I mean I have read loads of books this year but THIS book has just shot to my favourite book of 2026 and I will be very surprised if anyone manages to knock it off that spot!!I This is one of the few books that I have listened 100% on Audiobook. If I listen to a book on audiobook I usually also read the physical book between but I listened to the whole book and I was impressed! I must say a HUGE congratulations to the narrator Nicole Poole who did an absolutely incredible job of bringing this story and it's larger than life characters to life. I would listen to it in the car and while walking at any opportunity and Nicole did a fantastic job on both male and female characters voices as well as accents, cats, dragons and portraying the characters emotions through her voice!!! I'm not only looking forward to reading more books by Meg but also to listening to more books narrated by Nicole! I am not going to go into details about the storyline as the publishers have done an amazing job of telling you what you need to know in the fantastic synopsis so if you want to more then you will just have to grab your copy of this absolutely fabulous page turner today and I can absolutely GUARANTEE you will not regret it! With a storyline ram packed with magic, fantasy, fun, drama, adventure, heists, cats, dragons, humour, epic unforgettable characters, sarcasm, thefts, magical maps, banter and so, so, so much more what on Earth are you waiting for??? It absolutely captivated my attention from the very first page and kept me glued to the pages until the very last word and definitely left me wanting more!! Meg's amazing evocative writing skills and vivid descriptions along with Nicole's absolutely brilliant narration will transport the reader into the story where you will see the dragon cats, fun and magic come to life at every turn of the page!! You will see everything that is going on around you and fall in love with the amazing and larger than life characters! I know I did! I was genuinely absolutely mind blown when I realised that this is actually Meg's DEBUT novel as it is written as if it is her 1000th!! If this is what she came up with for her debut then I cannot wait to read the next book in this brilliant series, especially if this EPIC introduction is anything to go by!! This is one of those fantastic books that is perfect to read anywhere and everywhere from curled up next to a roaring fire to sunning yourself on a beach as regardless of where you are Meg will whisk you in to the story where everything and everyone will come to life at the turn of each page!! I absolutely devoured this book in one sitting as there was no way I could put it down!! Each and every time I even thought about it to get some actual house work done the characters called me back to demand their attention!! One of the things I really enjoyed about this storyline is that it is unique to me as I had never read a storyline like it which always makes a lovely change after reading so many books as it is getting harder and harder to find something new. An absolutely brilliant read that will make your day brighter!
Clear your schedules as you get lost in this laugh out loud, magical, unique addictive page turner!!
I absolutely loved the larger than life, unique and just fantastic characters that Meg has created for this book and I am missing them already as they truly started feeling like friends thanks to Megs descriptions and Nicole's narrative!! Thanks to her epic descriptions it truly feels like you are right next to Katherine, Imogene, the dragon/cats and the rest of the amazing characters throughout. I absolutely loved meeting them and was rooting for them throughout. Of course my favourites just had to be all the amazing cats, dragons and dragon cats!!! All of the characters are unique with their own personalities, weaknesses, flaws and strengths and I loved meeting and getting to know them all! The only downfall with the characters is that they are entirely fictional even though Meg and Nicole bring them to life unfortunately, no matter how much I would love to, I am unable to meet up with them in the real world!! Mind you, I am not sure that everybody would want to meet some of the dragons in real life!! I was completely invested in them all throughout and I was gutted when the time came to say Goodbye! The fact that Meg genuinely care for her characters shines through the pages in the fantastic way she brought them to life and ensures their readers feels, sees and hears everything that they are. She truly does an absolutely amazing job of bringing the story to life and the characters leap out of the pages as your turning them thanks to her evocative writing skills and I enjoyed getting to meet them all!! It really goes to show how talented she is creating such a wonderful storyline and all these brilliant characters in her debut book and cannot wait for her next book.
Clear your schedules as this is one magical, unforgettable, fun, unique and unputdownable stunner ❤️ Meg Pennerson welcome to my favourite author list as well as for writing my FAVOURITE READ OF 2026!!! I CANNOT WAIT FOR YOUR NEXT GUARANTEED SUCCESS!!!
Overall an absolutely magical, fun, hilarious, UNIQUE, UNFORGETTABLE MUST READ!! ABSOLUTELY PURRFECTLY PAWSOME!!
#DragonsHeistsAndOtherRetirementPlans #HornsboggleAndDodge #MegPennerson #SecondSky #Bookouture
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Review for 'Dragons, Heists And Other Retirement Plans' by Meg Pennerson
This is Meg's DEBUT novel, not that you would ever think that!!! I WAS GOBSMACKED WHEN I WENT TO ADD HER OTHER BOOKS AND DISCOVERED THIS!! WHAT AN ABSOLUTELY EPIC DEBUT PAGE TURNER!!! I mean this extremely talented lady genuinely writes as if she has been doing it her whole life!! An absolutely EXTRAORDINARY, EPIC, MAGICAL and UNIQUE debut book fair play!!
I SERIOUSLY LOVE, LOVE, LOVED THIS ABSOLUTELY PURRFECTLY HOT DEBUT NOVEL!! IT TRULY IS AN ABSOLUTELY AMAZING, ADDICTIVE AND PAGE TURNING MUST READ!! AN ABSOLUTELY AMAZING READ FROM AN AMAZING DEBUT AUTHOR!! I AM LANDED THAT THIS IS JUST THE FIRST BOOK IN AN EXTREMELY PROMISING SERIES!!
IF YOU LOVE CATS, DRAGONS, MAGIC OR JUST LOVE A GOOD READ THEN GRAB THIS ABSOLUTELY AMAZING FUN, FANTASTIC AND FABULOUS PAGE TURNER NOW!!!!
THIS FLAMING HOT PAGE TURNER HAS JUST SHOT TO MY TOP SPOT OF 2026 AND I CANNOT WAIT FOR MORE!!!
The first thing I have got to say is an absolutely HUGE CONGRATULATIONS to the amazing author Meg! I was absolutely gobsmacked when I had finished this epic page turner, went to add the rest of her amazing books to my basket and realised that THIS AMAZING BOOK is actually her first and only book at the moment! What an absolutely AMAZING debut novel!! If THIS is what you can create for your very first book then I just cannot wait to see what on Earth you will come out with next!! Speaking of which as it is just the first book in Meg's 'Hornsboggle And Dodge' series' I am LANDED to say that you can PRE-ORDER the next book NOW!! The second book in this extremely promising series is called 'Wizards, Heists and Other Ways to Steal a Spellbook' and will be published on the 27th August!! It cannot come soon enough!! Seriously, you may as well order BOTH books while you are buying this one as it will save you time later when you WILL go back and pre-order book two if you don't do it now!! This is definitely one of the best debut novels I have ever read and it is also one of my favourite books of all times!!! You SERIOUSLY have to grab your copy of this brilliant page turner today!! This book NEEDS to be turned into a movie!!! If you are not normally a fantasy reader then I highly recommend that you expand your literature reading choices and grab a copy of this beauty and I can guarantee you will not regret it! You can thank me later! You seriously have to grab your copy of this absolutely gorgeous page turner today!! The descriptions, the characters and the absolutely brilliant and stunning storyline!!! I mean seriously I cannot describe just how fun, magical, pawsome and purrfect this book is!!! There are just no words. I mean I'll try but my advice is stop reading this review and GET YOUR COPY NOW!!! If you magic, cats, fun, fantasy, dragons… Do you know what...whatever you like to read just give this a go and you will NOT regret it!!! As you can tell I thoroughly enjoyed this addictive and stunning page turner!!! I mean I have read loads of books this year but THIS book has just shot to my favourite book of 2026 and I will be very surprised if anyone manages to knock it off that spot!!I This is one of the few books that I have listened 100% on Audiobook. If I listen to a book on audiobook I usually also read the physical book between but I listened to the whole book and I was impressed! I must say a HUGE congratulations to the narrator Nicole Poole who did an absolutely incredible job of bringing this story and it's larger than life characters to life. I would listen to it in the car and while walking at any opportunity and Nicole did a fantastic job on both male and female characters voices as well as accents, cats, dragons and portraying the characters emotions through her voice!!! I'm not only looking forward to reading more books by Meg but also to listening to more books narrated by Nicole! I am not going to go into details about the storyline as the publishers have done an amazing job of telling you what you need to know in the fantastic synopsis so if you want to more then you will just have to grab your copy of this absolutely fabulous page turner today and I can absolutely GUARANTEE you will not regret it! With a storyline ram packed with magic, fantasy, fun, drama, adventure, heists, cats, dragons, humour, epic unforgettable characters, sarcasm, thefts, magical maps, banter and so, so, so much more what on Earth are you waiting for??? It absolutely captivated my attention from the very first page and kept me glued to the pages until the very last word and definitely left me wanting more!! Meg's amazing evocative writing skills and vivid descriptions along with Nicole's absolutely brilliant narration will transport the reader into the story where you will see the dragon cats, fun and magic come to life at every turn of the page!! You will see everything that is going on around you and fall in love with the amazing and larger than life characters! I know I did! I was genuinely absolutely mind blown when I realised that this is actually Meg's DEBUT novel as it is written as if it is her 1000th!! If this is what she came up with for her debut then I cannot wait to read the next book in this brilliant series, especially if this EPIC introduction is anything to go by!! This is one of those fantastic books that is perfect to read anywhere and everywhere from curled up next to a roaring fire to sunning yourself on a beach as regardless of where you are Meg will whisk you in to the story where everything and everyone will come to life at the turn of each page!! I absolutely devoured this book in one sitting as there was no way I could put it down!! Each and every time I even thought about it to get some actual house work done the characters called me back to demand their attention!! One of the things I really enjoyed about this storyline is that it is unique to me as I had never read a storyline like it which always makes a lovely change after reading so many books as it is getting harder and harder to find something new. An absolutely brilliant read that will make your day brighter!
Clear your schedules as you get lost in this laugh out loud, magical, unique addictive page turner!!
I absolutely loved the larger than life, unique and just fantastic characters that Meg has created for this book and I am missing them already as they truly started feeling like friends thanks to Megs descriptions and Nicole's narrative!! Thanks to her epic descriptions it truly feels like you are right next to Katherine, Imogene, the dragon/cats and the rest of the amazing characters throughout. I absolutely loved meeting them and was rooting for them throughout. Of course my favourites just had to be all the amazing cats, dragons and dragon cats!!! All of the characters are unique with their own personalities, weaknesses, flaws and strengths and I loved meeting and getting to know them all! The only downfall with the characters is that they are entirely fictional even though Meg and Nicole bring them to life unfortunately, no matter how much I would love to, I am unable to meet up with them in the real world!! Mind you, I am not sure that everybody would want to meet some of the dragons in real life!! I was completely invested in them all throughout and I was gutted when the time came to say Goodbye! The fact that Meg genuinely care for her characters shines through the pages in the fantastic way she brought them to life and ensures their readers feels, sees and hears everything that they are. She truly does an absolutely amazing job of bringing the story to life and the characters leap out of the pages as your turning them thanks to her evocative writing skills and I enjoyed getting to meet them all!! It really goes to show how talented she is creating such a wonderful storyline and all these brilliant characters in her debut book and cannot wait for her next book.
Clear your schedules as this is one magical, unforgettable, fun, unique and unputdownable stunner ❤️ Meg Pennerson welcome to my favourite author list as well as for writing my FAVOURITE READ OF 2026!!! I CANNOT WAIT FOR YOUR NEXT GUARANTEED SUCCESS!!!
Overall an absolutely magical, fun, hilarious, UNIQUE, UNFORGETTABLE MUST READ!! ABSOLUTELY PURRFECTLY PAWSOME!!
#DragonsHeistsAndOtherRetirementPlans #HornsboggleAndDodge #MegPennerson #SecondSky #Bookouture
@MegPennerson @SecondSky@Bookouture
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May 2, 2026
If cozy-no-matter-what is your bookish love language, then this hits all the marks. There’s friendship, family, cats, dragons, a little mischief, and super low stakes.
The main characters are smack dab in the middle of retirement age, so the story adopts a bit of their easy going meandering ways. I hate to say it got boring because it had some funny and adorable moments, but there were big unnecessary chunks that leant very little to the narrative.
The ending did pick up, but it resolved everything so quickly it made me wonder why that wasn’t fleshed out more in place of cat conversations that needlessly droned on and were sort of repetitive.
Overall this light adventure was full of whimsy with its crafty magic and very cute creatures, but it fell somewhat flat for me. I’m sure there’s plenty who will find it purrrfectly cozy though.
My thanks to author Meg Pennerson, NetGalley, and Second Sky for allowing me this advance copy.
The main characters are smack dab in the middle of retirement age, so the story adopts a bit of their easy going meandering ways. I hate to say it got boring because it had some funny and adorable moments, but there were big unnecessary chunks that leant very little to the narrative.
The ending did pick up, but it resolved everything so quickly it made me wonder why that wasn’t fleshed out more in place of cat conversations that needlessly droned on and were sort of repetitive.
Overall this light adventure was full of whimsy with its crafty magic and very cute creatures, but it fell somewhat flat for me. I’m sure there’s plenty who will find it purrrfectly cozy though.
My thanks to author Meg Pennerson, NetGalley, and Second Sky for allowing me this advance copy.
April 13, 2026
I really enjoyed this one it’s such a cozy fantasy but still has a fun slightly chaotic plot. It follows Katherine and Imogene two former criminals who’ve tried to settle into a quiet seaside life but get pulled back in to finish a heist they failed years ago. This time, it’s to save a sinking convent full of dragons (and dragon cats, which were one of my favorite parts).The story leans heavily into themes of second chances, friendship, and dealing with your past, which I thought was done really well. The characters feel like they actually have history together and I loved the dynamic between theme specially the mix of loyalty and humor. The cozy elements (knitting, seaside setting, found family vibes) balance nicely with the higher stakes of the mission.If I had one small critique, it’s that the pacing can feel a little uneven at times, especially when switching between quieter moments and the more action focused parts. But overall, it didn’t take away from how charming and comforting the story is.I’d definitely recommend this if you like cozy fantasy with a bit more plot, especially if you’re a fan of Travis Baldree.
May 27, 2026
Dreadful
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
I went into this with high expectations - I love heists, generally enjoy dragons, and am reaching a stage of life where retirement plans are also of interest - but I was prepared to be disappointed, and unfortunately I was, somewhat. It isn't bad, but I felt it was lacking in a couple of ways.
A common complaint made against cozy fantasy is that it's boring. Now, I usually don't find it so - stakes don't have to be high and things don't have to be happening every second for me to enjoy a book. Actually, plenty happens (in a plot sense) in this one, but I never felt much of a sense of urgency or tension or suspense or even importance of the stakes until near the end. It meandered from one thing to the next, without the protagonists ever seeming to be in much danger or even to be strongly motivated. I'm not sure why this was; all of the elements were there. There was even a ticking clock after a while, something that had to be done within four days, but it still didn't feel as urgent as it should have. Perhaps it's something in the way the author conveys, or doesn't convey, the inner lives of the characters. The characters themselves, even though they had backstories and interests that should have made them more than just their archetype plus their plot role, still didn't feel to me like they had much depth, and it was probably for the same reason. I seldom got a sense of them feeling anything strongly, even when that's what was being described in narrative; it felt like I was being told it but not shown it.
Even when another, shorter ticking clock was introduced, I didn't find it plausible - it was one of those cinematic cliches where there's a very specific deadline after an exact amount of time for a phenomenon that will harm multiple people, even though if you think about it even for a second, the phenomenon concerned is something that will affect different people differently, and will affect all of them gradually. It's not a binary state of "after this exact second, everything will be irretrievably bad, but before that exact second, if we stop the phenomenon everyone will be perfectly fine almost immediately," but that's how it's represented.
But the book did have some original aspects, and wasn't just a rehearsal of standard tropes (despite occasionally making use of one). The protagonists are close female friends who, forty years before, at which time they were in their 30s, were a famous duo of criminals. That's where the heist comes in, though part of my disappointment was that we didn't really get to see the heist. We saw the heist fail, in a flashback right at the beginning, and we were told later on about how intricate it had been to set up, but that was it.
Largely because the heist failed - through the cheeky and crude intervention of another thief - the pair retired, one to keep magical cats and the other to get married to a solid, decent man and raise a son. She's now widowed. The story is about them coming out of retirement to clean up the continuing mess that their failure 40 years before led to, in the course of which they re-encounter their old rival and discover that he was a dupe of an unscrupulous businessman, and is now a rather pathetic old man.
I did appreciate the avoidance of one common trope. Other people probably won't like it for much the same reasons that I do.
I also enjoyed the fact that the cats (and dragons) can talk to each other, but their humans don't understand them, even though they understand the humans. It provides a second set of viewpoints in the scenes, and most of the humour.
There's a subplot, which comes up near the beginning and at the end but not in between, about someone who is raising property taxes and driving older people out of their homes when they can't pay. (The word "foreclosure" is used, which isn't quite right; that's when you can't pay a mortgage. When you can't pay taxes, that's seizure.) I assume that's setup for the next book, since it isn't fully resolved or even given much attention in this one.
I wasn't engaged enough, though, to definitely want to continue with the series. It has potential and originality, but something in the style didn't quite connect for me. I increasingly make the distinction these days between sound craft and human appeal. The best books have both; a lot of books I read have human appeal, or, put another way, an engaging story, but fail to back it up with sound craft. This one has decent craft and some good ideas, but as a story it didn't reach me.
I received a copy via Netgalley for review, which may not be exactly the final version.
A common complaint made against cozy fantasy is that it's boring. Now, I usually don't find it so - stakes don't have to be high and things don't have to be happening every second for me to enjoy a book. Actually, plenty happens (in a plot sense) in this one, but I never felt much of a sense of urgency or tension or suspense or even importance of the stakes until near the end. It meandered from one thing to the next, without the protagonists ever seeming to be in much danger or even to be strongly motivated. I'm not sure why this was; all of the elements were there. There was even a ticking clock after a while, something that had to be done within four days, but it still didn't feel as urgent as it should have. Perhaps it's something in the way the author conveys, or doesn't convey, the inner lives of the characters. The characters themselves, even though they had backstories and interests that should have made them more than just their archetype plus their plot role, still didn't feel to me like they had much depth, and it was probably for the same reason. I seldom got a sense of them feeling anything strongly, even when that's what was being described in narrative; it felt like I was being told it but not shown it.
Even when another, shorter ticking clock was introduced, I didn't find it plausible - it was one of those cinematic cliches where there's a very specific deadline after an exact amount of time for a phenomenon that will harm multiple people, even though if you think about it even for a second, the phenomenon concerned is something that will affect different people differently, and will affect all of them gradually. It's not a binary state of "after this exact second, everything will be irretrievably bad, but before that exact second, if we stop the phenomenon everyone will be perfectly fine almost immediately," but that's how it's represented.
But the book did have some original aspects, and wasn't just a rehearsal of standard tropes (despite occasionally making use of one). The protagonists are close female friends who, forty years before, at which time they were in their 30s, were a famous duo of criminals. That's where the heist comes in, though part of my disappointment was that we didn't really get to see the heist. We saw the heist fail, in a flashback right at the beginning, and we were told later on about how intricate it had been to set up, but that was it.
Largely because the heist failed - through the cheeky and crude intervention of another thief - the pair retired, one to keep magical cats and the other to get married to a solid, decent man and raise a son. She's now widowed. The story is about them coming out of retirement to clean up the continuing mess that their failure 40 years before led to, in the course of which they re-encounter their old rival and discover that he was a dupe of an unscrupulous businessman, and is now a rather pathetic old man.
I did appreciate the avoidance of one common trope. Other people probably won't like it for much the same reasons that I do.
I also enjoyed the fact that the cats (and dragons) can talk to each other, but their humans don't understand them, even though they understand the humans. It provides a second set of viewpoints in the scenes, and most of the humour.
There's a subplot, which comes up near the beginning and at the end but not in between, about someone who is raising property taxes and driving older people out of their homes when they can't pay. (The word "foreclosure" is used, which isn't quite right; that's when you can't pay a mortgage. When you can't pay taxes, that's seizure.) I assume that's setup for the next book, since it isn't fully resolved or even given much attention in this one.
I wasn't engaged enough, though, to definitely want to continue with the series. It has potential and originality, but something in the style didn't quite connect for me. I increasingly make the distinction these days between sound craft and human appeal. The best books have both; a lot of books I read have human appeal, or, put another way, an engaging story, but fail to back it up with sound craft. This one has decent craft and some good ideas, but as a story it didn't reach me.
I received a copy via Netgalley for review, which may not be exactly the final version.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 243 reviews