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Chai and Charmcraft: A magical Middle Eastern cozy fantasy
What's a prince to do when the man of his dreams doesn’t want a crown and his cat is banned from the palace?
His Imperial Highness Faraj al-Nadhir has never thought himself a charming sort of prince. He’s shy, round, middle-aged, and always dutiful. But he has also secretly spent years dreaming of a man tending jasmine in a sun-lit window — prophetic visions that led him at last to one blissful night with someone who sees his heart, not his crown.
He did not expect to wake up with a cat walking on his face.
Cat-familiars are forbidden in the Imperial fortress. They might be spies. They might be soul-charmers. They might even sharpen their claws on thousand-year-old tapestries. But Faraj cannot regret that sweet little Sahar chose him — just as he cannot regret Asharan bir Chameli, the enchanting owner of the House of Jasmines. Asharan wants nothing to do with Faraj’s title and power, only his kindness. And Faraj hadn’t expected either the delights or the dilemmas of Asharan’s magical, soft-pawed little gift.
The rules have always been different for the God-Emperor's brother. Faraj never before realized how much.
Now he's breakfasting from community cauldrons in back alleys full of children and kittens. His foresight shows him a thousand paths toward disaster, but not the way through. His devoted chamberlain fears that Faraj has been bewitched by a purring agent of chaos, and Faraj can’t exactly say he’s wrong.
When the choice comes down to betraying his lover's name, his cat-familiar’s life, or his own use of forbidden magic, Faraj does the only thing he can: He gets himself put on trial for heresy, trying to change the laws of the Empire itself.
If his visions always lead him into trouble, he might as well make useful trouble.
CHAI AND CHARMCRAFT is the first book in a cozy and queer Middle Eastern M/M fantasy trilogy brimming with charm, intrigue, later-in-life romance, body positivity, and so many kittens. Here, nobody needs a magical makeover to be loved exactly as they are — and their night of joy together isn't where the story ends. That's where it begins...
His Imperial Highness Faraj al-Nadhir has never thought himself a charming sort of prince. He’s shy, round, middle-aged, and always dutiful. But he has also secretly spent years dreaming of a man tending jasmine in a sun-lit window — prophetic visions that led him at last to one blissful night with someone who sees his heart, not his crown.
He did not expect to wake up with a cat walking on his face.
Cat-familiars are forbidden in the Imperial fortress. They might be spies. They might be soul-charmers. They might even sharpen their claws on thousand-year-old tapestries. But Faraj cannot regret that sweet little Sahar chose him — just as he cannot regret Asharan bir Chameli, the enchanting owner of the House of Jasmines. Asharan wants nothing to do with Faraj’s title and power, only his kindness. And Faraj hadn’t expected either the delights or the dilemmas of Asharan’s magical, soft-pawed little gift.
The rules have always been different for the God-Emperor's brother. Faraj never before realized how much.
Now he's breakfasting from community cauldrons in back alleys full of children and kittens. His foresight shows him a thousand paths toward disaster, but not the way through. His devoted chamberlain fears that Faraj has been bewitched by a purring agent of chaos, and Faraj can’t exactly say he’s wrong.
When the choice comes down to betraying his lover's name, his cat-familiar’s life, or his own use of forbidden magic, Faraj does the only thing he can: He gets himself put on trial for heresy, trying to change the laws of the Empire itself.
If his visions always lead him into trouble, he might as well make useful trouble.
CHAI AND CHARMCRAFT is the first book in a cozy and queer Middle Eastern M/M fantasy trilogy brimming with charm, intrigue, later-in-life romance, body positivity, and so many kittens. Here, nobody needs a magical makeover to be loved exactly as they are — and their night of joy together isn't where the story ends. That's where it begins...
517 pages, Kindle Edition
First published May 1, 2026
About the author
Lynn Strong
7 books16 followersLynn Strong (MLIS) is a professional information designer, an amateur but enthusiastic trope flipper, and a questionably recovered wordaholic who used to be paid by the column-inch. It likely still shows.
Lynn is also a queer and disabled person who has lived on three continents, speaks six languages with different levels of fluency, has studied (and taught) medieval Japanese dye techniques, and at one point semi-professionally burned Kool-aid while studying for a degree in theater tech.
Lynn is also a queer and disabled person who has lived on three continents, speaks six languages with different levels of fluency, has studied (and taught) medieval Japanese dye techniques, and at one point semi-professionally burned Kool-aid while studying for a degree in theater tech.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 30 reviews
April 26, 2026
How enjoyable! A lead character who is gentle AND fat. And cats! The author obviously knows cats well. Hers are quite impertinent, vocal, curious, and unimpressed with almost everything. She writes about all with evident love. Such complicated royal, religious, political, and counter-culture issues through all. I want to read more!
April 28, 2026
I adore the premise of this book. A cozy middle eastern fantasy sounded so good, and it was a great story with such a fun setting. I especially enjoyed the different temples/priests of the gods, and how it all affected their society.
My only real issue was the length of the chapters. Each chapter tended to be one scene and that made a few of them rather long and hard to get through. I also didn’t feel the ending really wrapped up the story. Hoping for more in the future, and I would continue the series.
My only real issue was the length of the chapters. Each chapter tended to be one scene and that made a few of them rather long and hard to get through. I also didn’t feel the ending really wrapped up the story. Hoping for more in the future, and I would continue the series.
April 17, 2026
Such a cozy charming fantasy!! it feels different in the best way from more traditional royal romances. The story follows Prince Faraj Al Nadhir , a shy, middle aged royal, who has spent years having visions of a man he doesn’t know until those visions finally lead him to Asharan, a kind and grounded man who runs the house of Jasmine‘s. After one magical night together, his life takes an unexpected turn, not just because of his growing feelings, for Ashran but because of Sahar, a mischievous cat familiar, who bonds with him. The problem is, cat familiars are forbidden in the empire, and suddenly he finds himself caught between duty, love, and breaking laws that were never meant to be questioned. But I loved most about this book was how gentle and character driven it is. He isn’t your typical prince He soft, uncertain, and very aware of his limitations. Which makes him incredibly easy to love as a character. His relationship with Asharan is sweet and refreshing, especially because it’s built on genuine connection rather than status or power. The fact that it’s a later in life romance, also makes it feel more meaningful. The world building was beautiful. Especially with the magical elements like visions and cat familiars, but it never feels overwhelming. Instead it blends seamlessly into the cozy vibes. Overall, I really enjoyed this book and I love that it was a cozy fantasy that was Middle Eastern inspired. It’s a really comforting and engaging read. It balances, romance and personal growth beautifully all while celebrating self acceptance and love without conditions. If you like cozy fantasy, queer romance and not your average cozy fantasy this is the one!!
May 1, 2026
So cute! This was a cozy cup of tea in the middle of a cold, stormy night, and you’re all bundled up in your comfiest blanket ever, and are drinking the most delicious and warming drink of your choice. All of that, in book form. It’s just so cute! And heartwarming and… cozy! This is about connections, connections with other human beings, with animals, with places, with your own body and your own health, with places, experiences, everything you can think of. All the little bits and pieces that make life beautiful, all the little pleasures and good times with friends and family that bring us joy and lend us strength, all the details and moments that create strong bonds and connections and help us become who we want to be. And how changes that seem small can be so powerful and meaningful. I loved it! It was such a good read, and I’m glad to know there are more. It’s beautifully written, and that made it even more pleasurable to read. The story hits you just right, but the writing enhances it even more, and I loved it.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
May 4, 2026
"Chai and Charmcraft: A magical Middle Eastern cozy fantasy" is the first book in The Charmcraft Chronicles trilogy. A bit of a slow starter. For those not familiar with mythological and historical Egypt (that would be me), there's a useful glossary at the front of the book.
Ashar operates a bathhouse in the poor side of town, Faraj is a seer as well as being the god-emperor's third brother. They have an opposites attract, difference in social status story. You can't have a cozy without animals and there's plenty of cats and kittens here. They have very definite attitudes/personalities, and provide the book with a sweet levity which keeps you smiling.
Good worldbuilding and the author sets the stage for the entire series. Besides the cats, there are some interesting human secondaries. A strong family and found family vibe. Ashar and Faraj won't get their full HEA until book three, but the relationship is low angst with little scenery gnawing.
This was an enjoyable read from an author new to me. I'm looking forward to the next story and more…. cats!
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Ashar operates a bathhouse in the poor side of town, Faraj is a seer as well as being the god-emperor's third brother. They have an opposites attract, difference in social status story. You can't have a cozy without animals and there's plenty of cats and kittens here. They have very definite attitudes/personalities, and provide the book with a sweet levity which keeps you smiling.
Good worldbuilding and the author sets the stage for the entire series. Besides the cats, there are some interesting human secondaries. A strong family and found family vibe. Ashar and Faraj won't get their full HEA until book three, but the relationship is low angst with little scenery gnawing.
This was an enjoyable read from an author new to me. I'm looking forward to the next story and more…. cats!
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
May 3, 2026
I love the world of Tel-Bastet. I very much enjoy the mischief, but what I really fell in love with was the gentleness of her characters, even when they come across as quite fierce and sometimes selfish like the catfolk. The sense of community and care for others comes across in every one of Lynn Strong's books, here it is a major point of trouble and the way the problem is solved is again quite gentle.
I was delighted to see what has become of Najra (who has her own novella in Chai and Cat-tales) and continue to be enchanted by Priye, who hopefully now has found her place. I did miss Shai Madhur and would have loved to read about Haroun, but seeing Faraj find love in more way than one and then proceed to throw caution (almost) to the wind was a joy to behold.
I'm looking forward to read more books set in this world. And I'll gladly take short stories and novellas if the novels take too long.
I was delighted to see what has become of Najra (who has her own novella in Chai and Cat-tales) and continue to be enchanted by Priye, who hopefully now has found her place. I did miss Shai Madhur and would have loved to read about Haroun, but seeing Faraj find love in more way than one and then proceed to throw caution (almost) to the wind was a joy to behold.
I'm looking forward to read more books set in this world. And I'll gladly take short stories and novellas if the novels take too long.
May 6, 2026
Review of a free ARC copy received from Book Sirens.
I would love it if it was just a tea drinking with a cat cozy nothing happens probably. But it also had very developed and interesting world based on Bastet city, but not just Bastet city. It has very interesting political and magic system, lots of factions with their own interests characters need to deal with. No annoying cozy fantasy/romantasy tropes like constantly being saved by author. I won't say a lot is happening, because it is still a chill tea drinking story, but the world is just fascinated and it never starts to fall apart outside of character's pov.
I would love it if it was just a tea drinking with a cat cozy nothing happens probably. But it also had very developed and interesting world based on Bastet city, but not just Bastet city. It has very interesting political and magic system, lots of factions with their own interests characters need to deal with. No annoying cozy fantasy/romantasy tropes like constantly being saved by author. I won't say a lot is happening, because it is still a chill tea drinking story, but the world is just fascinated and it never starts to fall apart outside of character's pov.
Review of advance copy received from Author
Highlights
~a magic pouch of rose-sweets
~cats know best
~friends who’ll take on a god-emperor for each other
~when the man of your dreams comes from visions of chaos
~a book that cleans the tarnish from your heart
WHERE HAS THIS BOOK BEEN ALL MY LIFE?!
I do not usually get along with cosy fantasy: it tends to be light and shallow and toothless, with plain prose and minimal worldbuilding. There are some wonderful exceptions – Alexandra Rowland’s Yield Under Great Persuasion springs to mind, and if you want to argue that much of the Singing Hills Cycle is cosy, I will naturally give those books full marks as well. But on the whole, this is a genre that’s let me down.
Chai and Charmcraft is everything I’ve been begging cosy fantasy to be. It’s warm and intimate and renews my faith in humanity; the stakes are low but extremely important to the characters involved, creating plenty of tension; the worldbuilding is genuinely interesting; the prose is lovely. I read a huge chunk of this book overnight while pretty awful family drama was going in, and in between terrible phone calls and anxious text messages, Chai and Charmcraft was a rose-and-gold solace; less an escape from the world than a haven of a rest-stop, giving me sanctuary and comfort while I needed it, so I could go back to Real Life…strengthened by the reminder that most people are good, actually.
Like – sometimes we go through stuff that leaves our hearts tarnished. Chai and Charmcraft is one of those precious books that gently polishes the tarnish away, leaves you shining.
Chai and Charmcraft is set in the same fantasy-city as Chai and Cat-tales (you do not need to have read Cat-tales to enjoy Charmcraft, but it is a happy-tear-inducing, heart-warming collection of novellas following some of the minor characters of Charmcraft and I strongly recommend it): Tel-Bastet, ‘the city of cats’ in a Middle Eastern-inspired empire. Here, humans live alongside catfolk, bipedal felines who can shapeshift into housecats indistinguishable from not-catfolk cats; the priesthood of Upaja keep their cauldrons ever-full to feed anyone who needs feeding; and the God-Emperor’s brother and prophet, Faraj al-Nadhir, heads the Ministry of Finance and prophesises disasters in time for them to be averted or prepared for.
Because he only sees future trouble, is the thing. He’s a specific kind of prophet; it’s not that he never gets to see nice things, but he only sees them in the context of (negative!) chaos leading to them or coming from them.
So the fact that he’s been having visions of a particular man’s hands his entire life? Guarantees that trouble surrounds them. And yet…some things are worth plenty of trouble, aren’t they?
Charmcraft opens with Faraj finally finding his way to the man of his dreams, Ashar, who owns a bath-house, practices magic with his familiar Nehal, and does sex work. And from these opening pages, I knew this was going to be a book that wrecked me, because Ashar (whose POV this part is from) looks at 40yo+, fat Faraj…and genuinely thinks he’s beautiful. Inside and out. The sex is fade to black, but the…loving-worship of it still comes through, and hi, thanks, I’m fine, it’s just raining on my face. No big deal!!!
(I lie, it’s a huge deal.)
Ashar knows who Faraj is, but calls him Rahat – after delicious rose-flavoured sweets – so that neither of them have to acknowledge the Real World outside. They accidentally summon Faraj a familiar – a spirit that takes the form of a cat, to live alongside a mage – and this is where most of the overt plot comes from. Because cats are totally forbidden from the imperial complex, but how can Faraj give up the wonderful Sahar, now that she’s bound to his heart?
Whether or not you get to keep your cat probably sounds very low-stakes indeed to anyone who doesn’t have a pet; those of us who have lived with not-human beasties know exactly how not low-stakes it is. But the issue for Faraj and Sahar is a much bigger deal even than that, because in many ways, for many people around Faraj, Sahar is a giant red flag that Faraj must be under someone’s mind-control magic. Cats are banned from the palace for a few different reasons, some of them even understandable, but familiars are forbidden for religious reasons – and Faraj is the brother of the God-Emperor! He can’t flout his brother’s religion like that! That he even wants to, after a lifetime of being the most wonderful, honourable, proper prince, is proof that he’s being mind-controlled. Right? Why else would he suddenly be flouting all these rules and expectations, pushing back against protocol, making extremely unreasonable demands???
It’s not, really, about a cat. It’s about Faraj’s right to exist as a person, an individual, rather than a polite, polished functionary. So it’s true that the fate of the world isn’t at stake here, but at the same time, I know I’m not the only reader to have an awful knot in my stomach and a lump in my throat, reading about this kind of scenario. The scene where Faraj helplessly asks how he’s supposed to convince anyone that he isn’t mind-controlled, when anything he says or does is being taken as proof that he is…
That scene’s going to be with me for a while.
Where Charmcraft differs from most other cosy fantasy I’ve tried is that the antagonists are not cartoonishly simple villains; Irfan, the chamberlain, is honestly and genuinely worried for Faraj. He’s getting in the way of our happy ending not because he’s a terrible person, but because with the information and context he has, he has every right to be afraid that something terrible has happened, or is happening, to his prince. His entire lived experience is telling him that something is Very Wrong, and he’s desperately trying to save Faraj from whatever it is. He’s not acting from hate, like the kind of evil scum who send their queer kids to conversion camps to ‘save’ them; he’s acting very much from love.
That is the heart of this book: love, and caring, all the different ways we love our fellow people, and all the ways we can take care of each other (and of ourselves, too; Charmcraft is very big on self-love and self-care!) It suffuses every page, is maybe the biggest reason this book made my heart glow; seeing and exploring all these connections between the characters, how all of them care so much, are doing their best, are there for each other any way they can be. What’s between Ashar and Faraj is romantic, but that’s actually a fairly small part of the story because the two of them don’t spend a lot of time on-page together; Faraj spends a lot more time with his catfolk bodyguard and friend Kamil, and with Najra, the head archivist and Faraj’s best human friend; Ashar has Hira, his catfolk business partner and bestie, as well as Kalyani, another sex worker who works at his bath-house. Given that Ashar is not in any way nobleborn, we get to see the web of connections he has in his community, from gossipy aunties to local teachers to street children who love his chai. None of them are perfect people, but the care they have for one another is so genuine it repeatedly brought tears to my eyes. The friendships especially – Faraj and Kamil+Najra, Ashar and Hira – were both incredibly heartwarming and endlessly delightful; these are friends who will go to bat for each other, who are ride-or-die-or-take-on-the-God-Emperor.
Read the rest at Every Book a Doorway!
~a magic pouch of rose-sweets
~cats know best
~friends who’ll take on a god-emperor for each other
~when the man of your dreams comes from visions of chaos
~a book that cleans the tarnish from your heart
WHERE HAS THIS BOOK BEEN ALL MY LIFE?!
I do not usually get along with cosy fantasy: it tends to be light and shallow and toothless, with plain prose and minimal worldbuilding. There are some wonderful exceptions – Alexandra Rowland’s Yield Under Great Persuasion springs to mind, and if you want to argue that much of the Singing Hills Cycle is cosy, I will naturally give those books full marks as well. But on the whole, this is a genre that’s let me down.
Chai and Charmcraft is everything I’ve been begging cosy fantasy to be. It’s warm and intimate and renews my faith in humanity; the stakes are low but extremely important to the characters involved, creating plenty of tension; the worldbuilding is genuinely interesting; the prose is lovely. I read a huge chunk of this book overnight while pretty awful family drama was going in, and in between terrible phone calls and anxious text messages, Chai and Charmcraft was a rose-and-gold solace; less an escape from the world than a haven of a rest-stop, giving me sanctuary and comfort while I needed it, so I could go back to Real Life…strengthened by the reminder that most people are good, actually.
Like – sometimes we go through stuff that leaves our hearts tarnished. Chai and Charmcraft is one of those precious books that gently polishes the tarnish away, leaves you shining.
Chai and Charmcraft is set in the same fantasy-city as Chai and Cat-tales (you do not need to have read Cat-tales to enjoy Charmcraft, but it is a happy-tear-inducing, heart-warming collection of novellas following some of the minor characters of Charmcraft and I strongly recommend it): Tel-Bastet, ‘the city of cats’ in a Middle Eastern-inspired empire. Here, humans live alongside catfolk, bipedal felines who can shapeshift into housecats indistinguishable from not-catfolk cats; the priesthood of Upaja keep their cauldrons ever-full to feed anyone who needs feeding; and the God-Emperor’s brother and prophet, Faraj al-Nadhir, heads the Ministry of Finance and prophesises disasters in time for them to be averted or prepared for.
Because he only sees future trouble, is the thing. He’s a specific kind of prophet; it’s not that he never gets to see nice things, but he only sees them in the context of (negative!) chaos leading to them or coming from them.
So the fact that he’s been having visions of a particular man’s hands his entire life? Guarantees that trouble surrounds them. And yet…some things are worth plenty of trouble, aren’t they?
The rahat al-hulqum that Master Asharan had dreamed into being, that he had given to Rahat for a name he thought fitting – it tasted like bliss. Like sunlight on fragrant petals, rich and redolent, vivid, unmistakable. It tasted of the sweetness in Master Asharan’s smiles, and the delight in his kisses.
Charmcraft opens with Faraj finally finding his way to the man of his dreams, Ashar, who owns a bath-house, practices magic with his familiar Nehal, and does sex work. And from these opening pages, I knew this was going to be a book that wrecked me, because Ashar (whose POV this part is from) looks at 40yo+, fat Faraj…and genuinely thinks he’s beautiful. Inside and out. The sex is fade to black, but the…loving-worship of it still comes through, and hi, thanks, I’m fine, it’s just raining on my face. No big deal!!!
“Never be ashamed to be yourself,” he said. “You are Rahat; you are comfort and rest and the sweetness of ease. A soft warm pillow for a lazy hunting-cat in the sunbeam, a cushion against the world’s sharp edges. Let me savor you exactly as you are.”
(I lie, it’s a huge deal.)
Ashar knows who Faraj is, but calls him Rahat – after delicious rose-flavoured sweets – so that neither of them have to acknowledge the Real World outside. They accidentally summon Faraj a familiar – a spirit that takes the form of a cat, to live alongside a mage – and this is where most of the overt plot comes from. Because cats are totally forbidden from the imperial complex, but how can Faraj give up the wonderful Sahar, now that she’s bound to his heart?
Whether or not you get to keep your cat probably sounds very low-stakes indeed to anyone who doesn’t have a pet; those of us who have lived with not-human beasties know exactly how not low-stakes it is. But the issue for Faraj and Sahar is a much bigger deal even than that, because in many ways, for many people around Faraj, Sahar is a giant red flag that Faraj must be under someone’s mind-control magic. Cats are banned from the palace for a few different reasons, some of them even understandable, but familiars are forbidden for religious reasons – and Faraj is the brother of the God-Emperor! He can’t flout his brother’s religion like that! That he even wants to, after a lifetime of being the most wonderful, honourable, proper prince, is proof that he’s being mind-controlled. Right? Why else would he suddenly be flouting all these rules and expectations, pushing back against protocol, making extremely unreasonable demands???
It’s not, really, about a cat. It’s about Faraj’s right to exist as a person, an individual, rather than a polite, polished functionary. So it’s true that the fate of the world isn’t at stake here, but at the same time, I know I’m not the only reader to have an awful knot in my stomach and a lump in my throat, reading about this kind of scenario. The scene where Faraj helplessly asks how he’s supposed to convince anyone that he isn’t mind-controlled, when anything he says or does is being taken as proof that he is…
“You’re right, of course,” Faraj said, blinking hard at the blurring of his vision, trying not to allow himself tears. “Of course you’re right. Of course you would have to question it. But how can I ever prove that my new thoughts might simply be my own?
That scene’s going to be with me for a while.
Where Charmcraft differs from most other cosy fantasy I’ve tried is that the antagonists are not cartoonishly simple villains; Irfan, the chamberlain, is honestly and genuinely worried for Faraj. He’s getting in the way of our happy ending not because he’s a terrible person, but because with the information and context he has, he has every right to be afraid that something terrible has happened, or is happening, to his prince. His entire lived experience is telling him that something is Very Wrong, and he’s desperately trying to save Faraj from whatever it is. He’s not acting from hate, like the kind of evil scum who send their queer kids to conversion camps to ‘save’ them; he’s acting very much from love.
That is the heart of this book: love, and caring, all the different ways we love our fellow people, and all the ways we can take care of each other (and of ourselves, too; Charmcraft is very big on self-love and self-care!) It suffuses every page, is maybe the biggest reason this book made my heart glow; seeing and exploring all these connections between the characters, how all of them care so much, are doing their best, are there for each other any way they can be. What’s between Ashar and Faraj is romantic, but that’s actually a fairly small part of the story because the two of them don’t spend a lot of time on-page together; Faraj spends a lot more time with his catfolk bodyguard and friend Kamil, and with Najra, the head archivist and Faraj’s best human friend; Ashar has Hira, his catfolk business partner and bestie, as well as Kalyani, another sex worker who works at his bath-house. Given that Ashar is not in any way nobleborn, we get to see the web of connections he has in his community, from gossipy aunties to local teachers to street children who love his chai. None of them are perfect people, but the care they have for one another is so genuine it repeatedly brought tears to my eyes. The friendships especially – Faraj and Kamil+Najra, Ashar and Hira – were both incredibly heartwarming and endlessly delightful; these are friends who will go to bat for each other, who are ride-or-die-or-take-on-the-God-Emperor.
Read the rest at Every Book a Doorway!
Review of advance copy received from Author
Note: This review is based on an advance readers' copy, which I received from Booksirens in exchange for a commitment to review. Details may differ in the formal published version.
The world of Chai and Charmcraft is an intricate, delightful and gentle world based in cultures bordering on medieval spice and silk trade routes from the Mediterranean through Syria, Iraq (then Persia), Afghanistan and Kazakhstan to Pakistan and India), all mingling in one of the more cosmopolitan cities and a holy one for many of this world's religions, Tel-Bubastis. But while this draws from many actually existing cultures, this world takes an immediate left turn into fantasy in that the Egyptian gods and goddesses with animalic traits govern people, nations even, with similarly animalic traits, and not just the somewhat expected cats. But fear not, they are not Fantasy Racism Allegories and there are also many fully human peoples of differing ethnicities, races, beliefs and customs, some of which concern the permissibility of magic for varying purposes (magic and direct deity intervention are also documented phenomenon of this world, interesting, and hotly debated by its inhabitants)
Ordinarily, I would be ECSTATIC at this point, and I enjoyed this book very much, but what took it from a 4.5 to a 4 from me - if you have not read the previous short story collection Chai and Cat-tales you really, really should read it before this one, it provides valuable additional context for how the society works, and its companion volume Haroun and the Study of Mischief: A Magical Middle Eastern Cozy Fantasy should really, REALLY be read after this one to maximize your understanding of its entire premise, which is very difficult to grasp without the frame of this story. I found myself saying "oh. OH," a lot and going back to read Haroun after this, which helped both stories - this one because Haroun's story kind of spoilers part of it if you read it first, and Haroun's because well - just don't read Haroun first. Trust me.
While there are political stakes and very real fears for the people in this story, this is not a sword and armies kind of series, and the maneuvering that happens is social and magical, not violence or physical jeopardy, so it may be slow for readers who prefer a more action-oriented story. The main characters are kind people who generally have to work up to confrontation (a few delightful and a few annoying exceptions notwithstanding) so the story tends to unfurl in elliptical ways. That having been said, in a world where so much fantasy is dark, blood-spattered power fantasy, trying to recapture The Lord of the Rings, or Being a Genre-Savvy Parody, it's a nice change of pace to have a story that is unironically kind and mostly about people who aren't noble, fabulously wealthy or earth-shatteringly significant (except for a prince whose superpower is literally catastrophizing - but to say more about that would be spoilery, so I'll refrain, other than to say that that is EXACTLY as much fun as most of you are probably imagining.)
Some of the societies in this story have a structure we would identify as patriarchy, others do not but have amplified issues around ableism/physical capability as merit. Most of the characters have some way or ways in which they don't fit into their societies because of those things, which is what draws them together and creates sympathy for each other but also creates the friction and questioning that moves the story forward. Some of the societies are open to poly/queer/kink on a spectrum of 'why would anyone care' to 'the gods love love!' to 'BLASPHEMY' much like real life. The main romantic storyline is m/m and while the relationship is sexual it is not explicitly depicted. And if you are looking for a fantasy story that is kind to fat and/or disabled characters and doesn't treat them as comic relief for wanting to find romance and be taken seriously, this is a good one.
And oh my god fantasy in a 10th or so century CITY that isn't a bleak stone-and-mudhole, traipsing through endless forest, Cinderella's Disney castle or Built By Magic We Have Now Lost! Even peasants bathe! Super-delicious fantasy food porn but PERSIAN, and Mughal, and Turkish and North African influences (and recipes in the back!) instead of Yet Another Riff On Western Europe? If you want that like I want that, if you enjoy Casey Blair's Tea Princess Chronicles or Grace Draven's fantasy romances, you should check this out.
The world of Chai and Charmcraft is an intricate, delightful and gentle world based in cultures bordering on medieval spice and silk trade routes from the Mediterranean through Syria, Iraq (then Persia), Afghanistan and Kazakhstan to Pakistan and India), all mingling in one of the more cosmopolitan cities and a holy one for many of this world's religions, Tel-Bubastis. But while this draws from many actually existing cultures, this world takes an immediate left turn into fantasy in that the Egyptian gods and goddesses with animalic traits govern people, nations even, with similarly animalic traits, and not just the somewhat expected cats. But fear not, they are not Fantasy Racism Allegories and there are also many fully human peoples of differing ethnicities, races, beliefs and customs, some of which concern the permissibility of magic for varying purposes (magic and direct deity intervention are also documented phenomenon of this world, interesting, and hotly debated by its inhabitants)
Ordinarily, I would be ECSTATIC at this point, and I enjoyed this book very much, but what took it from a 4.5 to a 4 from me - if you have not read the previous short story collection Chai and Cat-tales you really, really should read it before this one, it provides valuable additional context for how the society works, and its companion volume Haroun and the Study of Mischief: A Magical Middle Eastern Cozy Fantasy should really, REALLY be read after this one to maximize your understanding of its entire premise, which is very difficult to grasp without the frame of this story. I found myself saying "oh. OH," a lot and going back to read Haroun after this, which helped both stories - this one because Haroun's story kind of spoilers part of it if you read it first, and Haroun's because well - just don't read Haroun first. Trust me.
While there are political stakes and very real fears for the people in this story, this is not a sword and armies kind of series, and the maneuvering that happens is social and magical, not violence or physical jeopardy, so it may be slow for readers who prefer a more action-oriented story. The main characters are kind people who generally have to work up to confrontation (a few delightful and a few annoying exceptions notwithstanding) so the story tends to unfurl in elliptical ways. That having been said, in a world where so much fantasy is dark, blood-spattered power fantasy, trying to recapture The Lord of the Rings, or Being a Genre-Savvy Parody, it's a nice change of pace to have a story that is unironically kind and mostly about people who aren't noble, fabulously wealthy or earth-shatteringly significant (except for a prince whose superpower is literally catastrophizing - but to say more about that would be spoilery, so I'll refrain, other than to say that that is EXACTLY as much fun as most of you are probably imagining.)
Some of the societies in this story have a structure we would identify as patriarchy, others do not but have amplified issues around ableism/physical capability as merit. Most of the characters have some way or ways in which they don't fit into their societies because of those things, which is what draws them together and creates sympathy for each other but also creates the friction and questioning that moves the story forward. Some of the societies are open to poly/queer/kink on a spectrum of 'why would anyone care' to 'the gods love love!' to 'BLASPHEMY' much like real life. The main romantic storyline is m/m and while the relationship is sexual it is not explicitly depicted. And if you are looking for a fantasy story that is kind to fat and/or disabled characters and doesn't treat them as comic relief for wanting to find romance and be taken seriously, this is a good one.
And oh my god fantasy in a 10th or so century CITY that isn't a bleak stone-and-mudhole, traipsing through endless forest, Cinderella's Disney castle or Built By Magic We Have Now Lost! Even peasants bathe! Super-delicious fantasy food porn but PERSIAN, and Mughal, and Turkish and North African influences (and recipes in the back!) instead of Yet Another Riff On Western Europe? If you want that like I want that, if you enjoy Casey Blair's Tea Princess Chronicles or Grace Draven's fantasy romances, you should check this out.
Review of advance copy
Pros: interesting world building with a mix of Egyptian deities and catfolk, conversations feel realistic, highly descriptive
Cons: very long chapters, slow pacing, some confusion about the world and untranslated terms
After a lifetime of following the rules and causing no trouble, the God-Emperor's brother and prophet, His Imperial Highness Nur-ul-Shuruq Faraj al-Nadhir, sneaks away from the palace in which he lives to visit the proprietor of a bathhouse from his prophetic visions, in the Catsprowl for a night of unbridled passion. When his lover is forced to resummon his cat familiar, Faraj ends up accidentally summoning his own spirit-summoned familiar, a pregnant cat. But the palace doesn't allow cats, especially not ones tied to the soul that can be used to harm or spy on members of the royal family.
The book's stakes are fairly low, trying to change things so cats - or at least Faraj's familiar - are allowed in the palace, and hiding the identity of Faraj's low class lover, so he can't be used against the prince. As the book progresses, there is a decent amount of talk about political maneuvering, especially around the various priests congregating in the city. There was one fairly tense dinner scene, but for the most part the book maintains a low key, cozy feel to it.
The world building is such that the place feels lived in. There's a real ambiance to it based loosely on medieval Egypt. I absolutely loved the catfolk and the complex mix of gods and goddesses worshipped. The author sprinkles in a lot of untranslated terms that are mostly understandable from context. Though it did take me most of the book to realize that kulhad were cups holding chai, rather than denoting a drink. Some things about the world weren't really clear to me. I was confused by whether the priests of Upaja and Bastet worshipped in the same temple or had their own distinct practices. I also questioned a few aspects, like the priests of Upaja were said to carry no coin and collected alms so they could cook and provide food to the poor. These priests are also said to be rotund and when the High Priest serves Faraj he has access to high end snack foods. While the citizenry apparently joke about their weight, no one accuses them of eating the offerings themselves thereby taking food from starving supplicants. When orders devoted to poverty start having overweight clerics, that's usually a sign of corruption and lax devotion.
There is a vocabulary and condensed character guide at the end of the book, though a lot of terms, like kulhad and haveli aren't included. Though the guide is mentioned in the table of contents, I didn't realize it was there until I finished the book. The guide does go over a bunch of terms and the identities of the priests, so it's a good reference. There are also recipes and some other end notes.
The prologue contains an off page gay sex scene. There are mild flirtations and some foreplay, but there's nothing detailed beyond kissing. Later in the book there's some more flirtation and innuendo, but it's otherwise a tame book.
For some reason the first chapter is called a prologue. Prologues are generally set off from the text by time, distance, or character point of view. So it's really strange that the author put the events that kick off the plot in one. Apparently some younger readers are skipping prologues these days, feeling they're unnecessary, and will find themselves very confused if they do that with this book as chapter 1 picks up the morning after.
The early chapters are very long and while the conversations feel realistic, they often stall the story's momentum. The prologue and first chapter set-up the scene, but then it takes several chapters for Faraj to arrive back at his palace and anything new of interest to happen. Scene changes were nice, and the first few pages of each chapter were interesting, but quickly got bogged down in long-winded chatter. I found on the whole that the second half of the book was much more engaging as it brings in a lot of political intrigue. There may be too much intrigue if you're looking for a relaxing cozy, as it made me think about justice, laws, and fairness in society.
There are some sweet scenes of people preparing food together and seeing the kittens of the Catfolk ask Furaj for treats was fun. Faraj and his lover, Asharin, are both very kind and I was hoping to see more of them together in this book. My favourite character was the heretical Archivist Najra who steals every scene she's in.
Overall, while I thought the book had some good points, like interesting characters and detailed prose, the length of the book became a hindrance for me.
< REVIEW COPY PROVIDED BY BOOKSIRENS >
Cons: very long chapters, slow pacing, some confusion about the world and untranslated terms
After a lifetime of following the rules and causing no trouble, the God-Emperor's brother and prophet, His Imperial Highness Nur-ul-Shuruq Faraj al-Nadhir, sneaks away from the palace in which he lives to visit the proprietor of a bathhouse from his prophetic visions, in the Catsprowl for a night of unbridled passion. When his lover is forced to resummon his cat familiar, Faraj ends up accidentally summoning his own spirit-summoned familiar, a pregnant cat. But the palace doesn't allow cats, especially not ones tied to the soul that can be used to harm or spy on members of the royal family.
The book's stakes are fairly low, trying to change things so cats - or at least Faraj's familiar - are allowed in the palace, and hiding the identity of Faraj's low class lover, so he can't be used against the prince. As the book progresses, there is a decent amount of talk about political maneuvering, especially around the various priests congregating in the city. There was one fairly tense dinner scene, but for the most part the book maintains a low key, cozy feel to it.
The world building is such that the place feels lived in. There's a real ambiance to it based loosely on medieval Egypt. I absolutely loved the catfolk and the complex mix of gods and goddesses worshipped. The author sprinkles in a lot of untranslated terms that are mostly understandable from context. Though it did take me most of the book to realize that kulhad were cups holding chai, rather than denoting a drink. Some things about the world weren't really clear to me. I was confused by whether the priests of Upaja and Bastet worshipped in the same temple or had their own distinct practices. I also questioned a few aspects, like the priests of Upaja were said to carry no coin and collected alms so they could cook and provide food to the poor. These priests are also said to be rotund and when the High Priest serves Faraj he has access to high end snack foods. While the citizenry apparently joke about their weight, no one accuses them of eating the offerings themselves thereby taking food from starving supplicants. When orders devoted to poverty start having overweight clerics, that's usually a sign of corruption and lax devotion.
There is a vocabulary and condensed character guide at the end of the book, though a lot of terms, like kulhad and haveli aren't included. Though the guide is mentioned in the table of contents, I didn't realize it was there until I finished the book. The guide does go over a bunch of terms and the identities of the priests, so it's a good reference. There are also recipes and some other end notes.
The prologue contains an off page gay sex scene. There are mild flirtations and some foreplay, but there's nothing detailed beyond kissing. Later in the book there's some more flirtation and innuendo, but it's otherwise a tame book.
For some reason the first chapter is called a prologue. Prologues are generally set off from the text by time, distance, or character point of view. So it's really strange that the author put the events that kick off the plot in one. Apparently some younger readers are skipping prologues these days, feeling they're unnecessary, and will find themselves very confused if they do that with this book as chapter 1 picks up the morning after.
The early chapters are very long and while the conversations feel realistic, they often stall the story's momentum. The prologue and first chapter set-up the scene, but then it takes several chapters for Faraj to arrive back at his palace and anything new of interest to happen. Scene changes were nice, and the first few pages of each chapter were interesting, but quickly got bogged down in long-winded chatter. I found on the whole that the second half of the book was much more engaging as it brings in a lot of political intrigue. There may be too much intrigue if you're looking for a relaxing cozy, as it made me think about justice, laws, and fairness in society.
There are some sweet scenes of people preparing food together and seeing the kittens of the Catfolk ask Furaj for treats was fun. Faraj and his lover, Asharin, are both very kind and I was hoping to see more of them together in this book. My favourite character was the heretical Archivist Najra who steals every scene she's in.
Overall, while I thought the book had some good points, like interesting characters and detailed prose, the length of the book became a hindrance for me.
< REVIEW COPY PROVIDED BY BOOKSIRENS >
Review of advance copy received from Author
I am quite enamoured with this book. I am not much into romances, gay or otherwise, but I am definitely into whimsical fantasies, & enjoy romances as long as the characters are maturely sensible.
But wait, what I love here is the world-building. & I am not even talking about the fantasy world-building, which is superb… I had a lot of fun imagining “catfolk”… no … the world of the novel is set in a city … which is not the Capital of the “God-Emperor”, on whose divine authority the society of this country functions, but the “city of Bastet – the Godess of the “catfolk””… & the prophet of the “God-Emperor” (& also his brother) lives here, & this city hosts a regular convention of religions … & the official religion appears to be something Islam-adjacent… & the religions in the city appear to be Egyptian ancient religion-adjacent, & there are temples of the order of “Upaja”, who, & whose followers appear to be Hindu-adjacent God & monks… & wait for it … the characters in the story are all followers of different faiths, including a proper “heretic” who has “not yet managed to offend ALL the Gods” … & the inherent & deep-seated trust that these persons have for each other, & the faith in the moral uprightness of a faithful follower of what is often narrated as being a “rival religion”… brought me to tears more than once. THIS is the fantasy I want to live – that of inter-religious harmony & coexistence, much, much more than the fantastic world of flying carpets & talking cats.
As a romance, the book is good. As a fantasy, it’s okay. As a whimsy, a very mild satire & a wish for something which might be, it’s beautiful. The erotica is soft, the suspense is very mild. The foodstuff mentioned is mouth-watering.
The central conflict of the book is not very intense or concerning, but as you read the book, you do understand that in the situation of this kind of politics which has to deal with magic on a daily basis, this sort of conundrum is plausible.
The book seems also to be a mildly-worded lament of the fact that the world is run through the considerations of power dynamics rather than the consideration of kindness.“Mischief”, in the market, particularly of the “catfolk” has been kept subtle & does not flow over to cruel, & all the characters are likeable.
Many words & foods (Lauki-dal… Haveli… kulhad…) were familiar to me because of being from India, I do not know how these will appear to a more Western readership. Chapters 13 & 14 appeared to be a drag, & I would have liked a more in-depth discussion of how homosexuality is politically taken in THIS world. In fact, from the blurb, I had gotten the impression that THAT is the heresy.
Overall I enjoyed reading Chai & Charmcraft. It’s a heartwarming book full of slightly absurd predicaments & witty observations about the nature of the world & worldliness. For example, a “catfolk” comments on how human royalty treats relationships & lineage as not a matter of love & attraction or even sex, but “breeding” for pedigree! It’s a feel-good book with no emotional triggers, & for me was definitely “healing”.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
But wait, what I love here is the world-building. & I am not even talking about the fantasy world-building, which is superb… I had a lot of fun imagining “catfolk”… no … the world of the novel is set in a city … which is not the Capital of the “God-Emperor”, on whose divine authority the society of this country functions, but the “city of Bastet – the Godess of the “catfolk””… & the prophet of the “God-Emperor” (& also his brother) lives here, & this city hosts a regular convention of religions … & the official religion appears to be something Islam-adjacent… & the religions in the city appear to be Egyptian ancient religion-adjacent, & there are temples of the order of “Upaja”, who, & whose followers appear to be Hindu-adjacent God & monks… & wait for it … the characters in the story are all followers of different faiths, including a proper “heretic” who has “not yet managed to offend ALL the Gods” … & the inherent & deep-seated trust that these persons have for each other, & the faith in the moral uprightness of a faithful follower of what is often narrated as being a “rival religion”… brought me to tears more than once. THIS is the fantasy I want to live – that of inter-religious harmony & coexistence, much, much more than the fantastic world of flying carpets & talking cats.
As a romance, the book is good. As a fantasy, it’s okay. As a whimsy, a very mild satire & a wish for something which might be, it’s beautiful. The erotica is soft, the suspense is very mild. The foodstuff mentioned is mouth-watering.
The central conflict of the book is not very intense or concerning, but as you read the book, you do understand that in the situation of this kind of politics which has to deal with magic on a daily basis, this sort of conundrum is plausible.
The book seems also to be a mildly-worded lament of the fact that the world is run through the considerations of power dynamics rather than the consideration of kindness.“Mischief”, in the market, particularly of the “catfolk” has been kept subtle & does not flow over to cruel, & all the characters are likeable.
Many words & foods (Lauki-dal… Haveli… kulhad…) were familiar to me because of being from India, I do not know how these will appear to a more Western readership. Chapters 13 & 14 appeared to be a drag, & I would have liked a more in-depth discussion of how homosexuality is politically taken in THIS world. In fact, from the blurb, I had gotten the impression that THAT is the heresy.
Overall I enjoyed reading Chai & Charmcraft. It’s a heartwarming book full of slightly absurd predicaments & witty observations about the nature of the world & worldliness. For example, a “catfolk” comments on how human royalty treats relationships & lineage as not a matter of love & attraction or even sex, but “breeding” for pedigree! It’s a feel-good book with no emotional triggers, & for me was definitely “healing”.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Review of advance copy received from Author
The book overall is best enjoyed slowly and thoughtfully. A true cozy read with kittens abound, and an overflowing amount of found family and strong community. The world building is very vast and the cats are hilarious. The setting is lovely and the descriptions of the different areas of Bastet are charming. Especially appreciate that the female characters are brilliant, scheming, and lovers of mischief.
The start between Faraj and Ashar in the House of Jasmine was a bit confusing initially with so many Arabic words. The book contains a small glossary which was helpful. I often had to look up terms and titles to understand them fully in the historical Egyptian context.
The writing style reads like poetry at times throughout the book. The scene with the myriad of priests and priestesses is written like a Shakespearean play with each character's beautiful charming words that may possess double meanings.
Shai Vishal is one of my favorite characters in the book. He is very level headed and his dry wit kills me with laughter. He always seems to be exasperated by the actions of others, but pushes through to address the root.
Shai Vishal's willingness to shelter those who have given so much to his temple and to the common people was heartfelt.
Shai Vishal
"We’re going to need a much larger pot of chai for this, aren’t we....Nobody claw each other’s faces off or destroy an entire religion in my absence."
The ending was very sweet and brought home the cozy feeling. The beautiful community both Faraj and Asharam have built made my heart overflow with joy. I enjoyed the political positive changes that the God-Emporers brother sets into motion. The additional recipes, inspiration, and history at the very end are a wonderful cherry on top.
Faraj
"Just because an injustice has become traditional does not make it right."
I'm looking forward to continuing the story in the next book.
Thank you to the author for the ARC!
The start between Faraj and Ashar in the House of Jasmine was a bit confusing initially with so many Arabic words. The book contains a small glossary which was helpful. I often had to look up terms and titles to understand them fully in the historical Egyptian context.
The writing style reads like poetry at times throughout the book. The scene with the myriad of priests and priestesses is written like a Shakespearean play with each character's beautiful charming words that may possess double meanings.
Shai Vishal is one of my favorite characters in the book. He is very level headed and his dry wit kills me with laughter. He always seems to be exasperated by the actions of others, but pushes through to address the root.
Shai Vishal's willingness to shelter those who have given so much to his temple and to the common people was heartfelt.
Shai Vishal
"We’re going to need a much larger pot of chai for this, aren’t we....Nobody claw each other’s faces off or destroy an entire religion in my absence."
The ending was very sweet and brought home the cozy feeling. The beautiful community both Faraj and Asharam have built made my heart overflow with joy. I enjoyed the political positive changes that the God-Emporers brother sets into motion. The additional recipes, inspiration, and history at the very end are a wonderful cherry on top.
Faraj
"Just because an injustice has become traditional does not make it right."
I'm looking forward to continuing the story in the next book.
Thank you to the author for the ARC!
Review of advance copy received from Author
It's nice to read a book from an author who has a strong and unique voice. With so much writing out there the prose tries to get out of your way and be transparent, so that you only notice what is happening. I like to notice how beautifully the thing is said or written as well. This has a slow, mild, Middle-Eastern sounding voice suitable for the story being told, and reading it makes you slow down and appreciate the beauty of the city that surrounds you.
I really enjoyed the world building. Oh, it's lovely - in my opinion it's half of the very purpose of Fantasy as a genre - to arrive in a place that is different from home. It gives you something to compare to and allows you to say 'you know, this is a really good way to do things. Why don't we do it like that?' At any rate, I thoroughly enjoyed not only the Oriental vibe but also the philosophical diversions about the nature of cats and why they should always be allowed to do whatever they wanted to do. The existence of cat-folk in the universe puts a fascinating wrinkle in this.
I did find the diversions into philosophy and theology a bit tedious. I found they went on for longer than I might have wished, and I often found myself thinking, 'When is the actual story going to start?' More fool me, as the question of whether the God-Emperor's Brother could have a cat-shaped familiar or not *was* the story. I kept expecting the romance to be the forbidden thing our heroes had to fight for, but that was a done deal from the start, and it took me a long time to realize that the cat was the story instead.
This twist (not a twist to anyone more open minded than me) was kind of fun and exactly as alien as I have always claimed to like in Fantasy, so I can't complain about it. I should read the book again now that I've finally identified what the plot is. It may take me a while though. It's a confection like its' beloved Turkish delight. Very rich and sweet. Decadent. I have to pace myself. But to have something so well written and well made is a delight indeed. I thoroughly enjoyed my visit to the kindly city and will continue to enjoy the taste of it for a long time to come.
I really enjoyed the world building. Oh, it's lovely - in my opinion it's half of the very purpose of Fantasy as a genre - to arrive in a place that is different from home. It gives you something to compare to and allows you to say 'you know, this is a really good way to do things. Why don't we do it like that?' At any rate, I thoroughly enjoyed not only the Oriental vibe but also the philosophical diversions about the nature of cats and why they should always be allowed to do whatever they wanted to do. The existence of cat-folk in the universe puts a fascinating wrinkle in this.
I did find the diversions into philosophy and theology a bit tedious. I found they went on for longer than I might have wished, and I often found myself thinking, 'When is the actual story going to start?' More fool me, as the question of whether the God-Emperor's Brother could have a cat-shaped familiar or not *was* the story. I kept expecting the romance to be the forbidden thing our heroes had to fight for, but that was a done deal from the start, and it took me a long time to realize that the cat was the story instead.
This twist (not a twist to anyone more open minded than me) was kind of fun and exactly as alien as I have always claimed to like in Fantasy, so I can't complain about it. I should read the book again now that I've finally identified what the plot is. It may take me a while though. It's a confection like its' beloved Turkish delight. Very rich and sweet. Decadent. I have to pace myself. But to have something so well written and well made is a delight indeed. I thoroughly enjoyed my visit to the kindly city and will continue to enjoy the taste of it for a long time to come.
Review of advance copy
I feel like I’ve spent the last few days in a fugue state because I wasn’t reading this book when I so desperately wanted to be. I loved it so much.
As my singular note, it’s an incredibly well-developed world and cast of characters, and I suspect this is because of the novella prequels/other stories written prior to this one. I followed along well enough without having read them first (and I am going to read them most definitely) but this may detract from other reader’s enjoyment. I was fully aware of nuance or entanglement I wasn’t picking up on, but I was simply having too much fun reading this story to mind.
Faraj is just such a delightful MMC to follow along with. A prophet used to denying himself joys in service to the God-Emperor (his brother), until he gets a piece of joy to himself in the shape of a pregnant cat who shares his soul, and a beautiful clever courtesan who loves him equally fiercely. Faraj is just so sweet and caring and the love and concern the other characters feel for him bursts from the story, I was attached instantly. He’s also plus sized and older and this is woven into the story so intricately, additional kudos to the author for the inclusion.
Asharan is an excellent match to Faraj, more worldly in some respects but equally concerned with his community and the people in it. The world they inhabit is solidly written and I adored the rituals included, as well as the assortment of priests, Anuket and Neferkamin especially. Ifran and Kamil are also of a particular delight as characters, I love devotion to a person and dedication to a cause and they’re both several flavours of that devotion.
It’s a gloriously written story, and cat-filled as another positive, and I cannot wait to read more of what this author has written.
Thank you to the author and BookSirens for the ARC!
As my singular note, it’s an incredibly well-developed world and cast of characters, and I suspect this is because of the novella prequels/other stories written prior to this one. I followed along well enough without having read them first (and I am going to read them most definitely) but this may detract from other reader’s enjoyment. I was fully aware of nuance or entanglement I wasn’t picking up on, but I was simply having too much fun reading this story to mind.
Faraj is just such a delightful MMC to follow along with. A prophet used to denying himself joys in service to the God-Emperor (his brother), until he gets a piece of joy to himself in the shape of a pregnant cat who shares his soul, and a beautiful clever courtesan who loves him equally fiercely. Faraj is just so sweet and caring and the love and concern the other characters feel for him bursts from the story, I was attached instantly. He’s also plus sized and older and this is woven into the story so intricately, additional kudos to the author for the inclusion.
Asharan is an excellent match to Faraj, more worldly in some respects but equally concerned with his community and the people in it. The world they inhabit is solidly written and I adored the rituals included, as well as the assortment of priests, Anuket and Neferkamin especially. Ifran and Kamil are also of a particular delight as characters, I love devotion to a person and dedication to a cause and they’re both several flavours of that devotion.
It’s a gloriously written story, and cat-filled as another positive, and I cannot wait to read more of what this author has written.
Thank you to the author and BookSirens for the ARC!
Review of advance copy
A night of forbidden pleasure, hasty cover-ups, a cat familiar who could be a spy or assassin (or maybe just a cat), and a lot of over-thinking and flustered panic, set in a richly described middle-eastern backdrop for this cozy romance. Oh, and a lot of chai.
Amid gossiping Aunties, opinionated cats and cat-folk, and a chamberlain who's a stickler for process and risk to the God-Emperor, the two main characters Faraj and Asharan find themselves dancing around perceived political possibilities and breaches of protocol while trying to also be true to themselves and each other.
The rich detailed prose of this tale is both its blessing and its curse. The story presents lavish descriptions and complex dialogs, that unfortunately descend into musings and discussions and verbosity that don't go anywhere, where keeping the key parts of the plot in memory are subject to a meandering side journey of small details. I struggled at times to stay engaged with the plot, as apart from a lot of consternation on the part of the chamberlain, not much actually happens in the story. Almost half the book is spent on the night of the event and following day or so of the chamberlain's panic about it.
On the flipside, the author has done a marvelous job of world-building in the city of Tel-Bastet, with cat-folk, deities, traditions and celebrations and beautiful descriptions of the settings, be it a morning in the marketplace or the lavish quarters of the haveli. It is almost a shame that so much is put in to it to have it get bogged down in the very same richness.
It is possibly suited to someone seeking a more casual cozy read than me, but I really had high hopes going into this. I'm hoping the other books in the series move along with a little more gusto.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily
Amid gossiping Aunties, opinionated cats and cat-folk, and a chamberlain who's a stickler for process and risk to the God-Emperor, the two main characters Faraj and Asharan find themselves dancing around perceived political possibilities and breaches of protocol while trying to also be true to themselves and each other.
The rich detailed prose of this tale is both its blessing and its curse. The story presents lavish descriptions and complex dialogs, that unfortunately descend into musings and discussions and verbosity that don't go anywhere, where keeping the key parts of the plot in memory are subject to a meandering side journey of small details. I struggled at times to stay engaged with the plot, as apart from a lot of consternation on the part of the chamberlain, not much actually happens in the story. Almost half the book is spent on the night of the event and following day or so of the chamberlain's panic about it.
On the flipside, the author has done a marvelous job of world-building in the city of Tel-Bastet, with cat-folk, deities, traditions and celebrations and beautiful descriptions of the settings, be it a morning in the marketplace or the lavish quarters of the haveli. It is almost a shame that so much is put in to it to have it get bogged down in the very same richness.
It is possibly suited to someone seeking a more casual cozy read than me, but I really had high hopes going into this. I'm hoping the other books in the series move along with a little more gusto.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily
Review of advance copy
I had an unfair advantage in reading Chai and Charmcraft by Lynn Strong by having studied Egyptology in college for several years, as well as ancient Near Eastern art and culture for a few years. I even lived in Turkey for a couple years. Having this background made me appreciate the level and detail of worldbuilding that went into Chai and Charmcraft. The author breathed life into structures I only saw the remnants of in Turkey. And being human, I never saw any evidence of magic or charms, but tea and chai were prevalent everywhere. As a tea drinker, I had no complaints. And as an ailurophile I loved the elevated status of cats in the book. The other main elements I was happy to see were body positivity and subversion of fairytale tropes.
This is the first book in a trilogy and the author makes it clear there will be a HEA for the main characters, Ashar and Faraj, by the end of it all. What makes this a major promise is the vastly different societies the two inhabit, Ashar as the owner and attendant of a bath house in the Catsprowl (poor side of town) and Faraj, third brother to the god-emperor of this AU Earth and a great seer. Between both these worlds there are a number of secondary characters, both human and feline. I hope the cats, big and small, get their HEA too.
A lot of this first book is setting the stage for later events, but there are enough domestic issues (Faraj’s failed attempts to sneak into Catsprowl in disguise) to keep the reader turning pages. There is also humor in the book, most of it gentle with a few LOL moments. This is going to be one of those series where the author will not be able to write subsequent books fast enough for my reading pleasure. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
This is the first book in a trilogy and the author makes it clear there will be a HEA for the main characters, Ashar and Faraj, by the end of it all. What makes this a major promise is the vastly different societies the two inhabit, Ashar as the owner and attendant of a bath house in the Catsprowl (poor side of town) and Faraj, third brother to the god-emperor of this AU Earth and a great seer. Between both these worlds there are a number of secondary characters, both human and feline. I hope the cats, big and small, get their HEA too.
A lot of this first book is setting the stage for later events, but there are enough domestic issues (Faraj’s failed attempts to sneak into Catsprowl in disguise) to keep the reader turning pages. There is also humor in the book, most of it gentle with a few LOL moments. This is going to be one of those series where the author will not be able to write subsequent books fast enough for my reading pleasure. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
May 29, 2026
Reading this book is like a homecoming to a warm family that I’ve never had. That’s the best way I can think of to describe how reading about these characters and this world makes me feel. Lynn Strong populates the city of Tel-Bastet and the greater Empire with such well-painted personas that you can’t help but know them and often love them before you close the book. I’ve now read two of her novels and three of her shorts, and I’m always hungry for more, and that’s to say nothing of the incredible food and drink described in these pages or in the bonus recipes at the end if you’re into those as well!
This delightful beginning of a planned trilogy is deep enough to enjoy at length, and it still leaves plenty to explore in the remaining two books, which I eagerly await. I’ve never seen another author who writes fantasy this cozy or characters quite so relatable and inclusive at the same time. What an amazing voice to help fill my bookshelf with joys I’ll return to time and again! (I’m already rereading this marvelous book in between my other fare, because it is without compare a real treat for my soul.)
Highly recommended to anyone who enjoys cozy fantasy, rich descriptions, deeply-engaging characters, magic that feels utterly natural to the world you visit, and terrific food and drink to boot. The plot keeps evolving along with the characters, and while the pace is relaxed enough to enjoy, the thoughtful developments will keep you turning pages until the end, and then you’ll be looking for more like I am!
This delightful beginning of a planned trilogy is deep enough to enjoy at length, and it still leaves plenty to explore in the remaining two books, which I eagerly await. I’ve never seen another author who writes fantasy this cozy or characters quite so relatable and inclusive at the same time. What an amazing voice to help fill my bookshelf with joys I’ll return to time and again! (I’m already rereading this marvelous book in between my other fare, because it is without compare a real treat for my soul.)
Highly recommended to anyone who enjoys cozy fantasy, rich descriptions, deeply-engaging characters, magic that feels utterly natural to the world you visit, and terrific food and drink to boot. The plot keeps evolving along with the characters, and while the pace is relaxed enough to enjoy, the thoughtful developments will keep you turning pages until the end, and then you’ll be looking for more like I am!
Review of advance copy received from Author
I got to read this as an advanced reader copy and feel really lucky about it. I really enjoyed this - it begins with an expanded version of a short story I adored when it came out in Wyngraf's 2024 Romance Special. The remainder of the narrative follows immediately after those events. It's queer and inclusive and kind, and it made me laugh so much. I love that there's empathy here for everyone, and more than just a token nod at consent during the slow midlife M/M romance - it's book one, there are two more books coming, this is just the start. The world is fascinating - there are consequences to actions and events, at levels from the market to the palace. Even side characters have multiple facets, and it's clear that Strong sees all of them as nuanced people. Everyone has friends or family or coworkers, and rich, involved lives. No one is othered. There are return appearances from characters from Haroun and the Study of Mischief as well as Chai and Cat-tales. (One of those appearances made me laugh so hard I had to explain to a half dozen coworkers why I was chortling the word "book" repeatedly. If you like Book Goblin, you'll probably enjoy this.) For all that this story is expanding on two prior books, the worldbuilding continues to be detailed - the author doesn't assume we've read anything else, but it doesn't repeat prior work either. There are also recipes, and they include low-effort versions! I should probably mention that the book often made me hungry. Pack snacks.)
Review of advance copy received from Author
Faraj is the brother of the God-Emperor and one of the most powerful men in the country. He is also warm, shy, round, gentle, and underestimated by just about everyone, especially himself. His dreams are prophetic, and when he leaves the palace to seek out the man from his visions, he ends up with a spirit cat familiar (who’s very, very pregnant!) and handsome young mage/courtesan Ashar who loves him for all that he is and seeks to bring the community together with a good cup of chai.
This book was just irresistibly charming – very light on action, but with heart to spare. There is no spice. The setting is reminiscent of the Arabian Nights: most memorably the city of Tal-Bastet, populated primarily by cat-people, but the author introduces multiple deities and cultures and it’s very cosmopolitan, with a strong sense of community. There’s so much to enjoy and so much cultural detail, from the language spoken to the foods eaten – my thanks to the author for a helpful Glossary and delicious-sounding recipes in the back!
The leisurely pace and coziness of it all are reminiscent of Victoria Goddard’s “Hands of the Emperor” (which I adored) and I now have a new author to follow.
This book was just irresistibly charming – very light on action, but with heart to spare. There is no spice. The setting is reminiscent of the Arabian Nights: most memorably the city of Tal-Bastet, populated primarily by cat-people, but the author introduces multiple deities and cultures and it’s very cosmopolitan, with a strong sense of community. There’s so much to enjoy and so much cultural detail, from the language spoken to the foods eaten – my thanks to the author for a helpful Glossary and delicious-sounding recipes in the back!
The leisurely pace and coziness of it all are reminiscent of Victoria Goddard’s “Hands of the Emperor” (which I adored) and I now have a new author to follow.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Just finished this book and I’m genuinely glad I picked it up. It’s soft, sweet, and quietly addictive in the way it pulls you into its world.
One of my favorite touches was the inclusion of recipes inspired by the story. I read through all of them, even though I’ll probably never attempt them… unless the mood randomly strikes and I decide to pretend I have my life together.
What really stood out were the relationships. They feel layered, intimate, and full of small moments that stay with you. There’s a certain tenderness in how characters connect, balanced with humor and sharp dialogue that keeps things engaging.
The dynamics shift depending on who’s interacting, which makes everything feel more real and textured rather than repetitive. Some relationships are straightforward and warm, while others are complicated in a way that keeps you curious.
Also, the cats? Absolute agents of chaos, but in the best way. They’re not just background decoration, they actively shape the energy of the story.
Overall, it’s the kind of book that feels comforting but still manages to keep things interesting. If you enjoy stories that are soft with a slightly suggestive edge and strong character dynamics, this one is worth picking up.
One of my favorite touches was the inclusion of recipes inspired by the story. I read through all of them, even though I’ll probably never attempt them… unless the mood randomly strikes and I decide to pretend I have my life together.
What really stood out were the relationships. They feel layered, intimate, and full of small moments that stay with you. There’s a certain tenderness in how characters connect, balanced with humor and sharp dialogue that keeps things engaging.
The dynamics shift depending on who’s interacting, which makes everything feel more real and textured rather than repetitive. Some relationships are straightforward and warm, while others are complicated in a way that keeps you curious.
Also, the cats? Absolute agents of chaos, but in the best way. They’re not just background decoration, they actively shape the energy of the story.
Overall, it’s the kind of book that feels comforting but still manages to keep things interesting. If you enjoy stories that are soft with a slightly suggestive edge and strong character dynamics, this one is worth picking up.
Review of advance copy received from Author
A delightful and charming story! Definitely cosy!
It's about prince Faraj, a kind, middle-aged, plump man and brother to the god-emperor. He has spent half his life dreaming of a certain event and finally takes action. He finds his beloved — Master Asharan, a charismatic bathhouse owner — in the slums of a city straight out of One Thousand and One Nights, filled with cats and cat-persons. More or less by accident, he acquires a spirit cat familiar. This has all sorts of consequences that were hardly foreseeable, and this forms the bulk of the story: trying to steer those consequences in the right direction.
Not a great deal happens; much of the story consists of interactions between people rather than events. These interactions are mostly heart-warming and occasionally baffling, and often funny.
There are many subtle layers in conversations and sometimes I don't get all the implications which can be a bit frustrating.
Despite this (and it doesn’t detract from the story), the story is engaging, relaxed and well written, and it has a great atmosphere. The kittens are irresistible, and to my delight, Priye also features in the story.
I don't think this story is for people who dislike cats.
I don't readily give five stars because that would imply perfection, but this is certainly a four or four-and-a-half.
It's about prince Faraj, a kind, middle-aged, plump man and brother to the god-emperor. He has spent half his life dreaming of a certain event and finally takes action. He finds his beloved — Master Asharan, a charismatic bathhouse owner — in the slums of a city straight out of One Thousand and One Nights, filled with cats and cat-persons. More or less by accident, he acquires a spirit cat familiar. This has all sorts of consequences that were hardly foreseeable, and this forms the bulk of the story: trying to steer those consequences in the right direction.
Not a great deal happens; much of the story consists of interactions between people rather than events. These interactions are mostly heart-warming and occasionally baffling, and often funny.
There are many subtle layers in conversations and sometimes I don't get all the implications which can be a bit frustrating.
Despite this (and it doesn’t detract from the story), the story is engaging, relaxed and well written, and it has a great atmosphere. The kittens are irresistible, and to my delight, Priye also features in the story.
I don't think this story is for people who dislike cats.
I don't readily give five stars because that would imply perfection, but this is certainly a four or four-and-a-half.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Thank you to the author for the ARC from NetGalley.
First and foremost, I devoured this book (which was a mistake), because I absolutely think this deserves to be read slowly and savoured. The first thing that struck me about this novel was the cast of characters. The world and its characters are so richly developed, every single one of them is a pleasure to read about. They're crafted with so much love and such care by the author, and it seeps through the pages.
Originally, I was a little worried that the prose would feel unnecessarily fluffy, purple prose that contributed nothing to the story, but it was wonderful to read. The settings, the food, the clothes - everything was described with a very adequate amount of detail, in my opinion. I've spent at least a couple of hours just ruminating on the prose - there was just something so satisfying about reading it.
The beginning was also very striking, and such a great choice of scene for an introduction to the story. I had to keep putting the book down because I was getting flustered (in a good way!).
I'm so excited to follow along with the future of Ashar and Faraj's story. And the kitty cats!
First and foremost, I devoured this book (which was a mistake), because I absolutely think this deserves to be read slowly and savoured. The first thing that struck me about this novel was the cast of characters. The world and its characters are so richly developed, every single one of them is a pleasure to read about. They're crafted with so much love and such care by the author, and it seeps through the pages.
Originally, I was a little worried that the prose would feel unnecessarily fluffy, purple prose that contributed nothing to the story, but it was wonderful to read. The settings, the food, the clothes - everything was described with a very adequate amount of detail, in my opinion. I've spent at least a couple of hours just ruminating on the prose - there was just something so satisfying about reading it.
The beginning was also very striking, and such a great choice of scene for an introduction to the story. I had to keep putting the book down because I was getting flustered (in a good way!).
I'm so excited to follow along with the future of Ashar and Faraj's story. And the kitty cats!
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
The prologue nearly made me put it down for another day as I found the style of narrative difficult to follow. But I'm glad I persevered because all became clearer as the story developed.
I loved the descriptions of the catfolk and kittens, priests/priestesses, the spices and humans. Lynn Strong weaves a rich world of cultures, religion and social class, doing justice to them all.
Fajar is a prophet who after spending his life in service, is discovering his own joy. But he does so with such care and attention it is easy to see why his catfolk bodyguard Kamil chose him to be his human, and his Chamberlain and Archivist serve him loyally and with genuine affection (and a heavy dose of irritation at times). He's not rebelling in a toddler tantrum way. Instead he realises his privilege and strives to make things better for all, not just his own sake.
I cared about the characters, laughed out loud at the antics of the cats and kittens and shed tears at points.
I am delighted to discover this is the first of a trilogy and look forward to reading what happens next
I loved the descriptions of the catfolk and kittens, priests/priestesses, the spices and humans. Lynn Strong weaves a rich world of cultures, religion and social class, doing justice to them all.
Fajar is a prophet who after spending his life in service, is discovering his own joy. But he does so with such care and attention it is easy to see why his catfolk bodyguard Kamil chose him to be his human, and his Chamberlain and Archivist serve him loyally and with genuine affection (and a heavy dose of irritation at times). He's not rebelling in a toddler tantrum way. Instead he realises his privilege and strives to make things better for all, not just his own sake.
I cared about the characters, laughed out loud at the antics of the cats and kittens and shed tears at points.
I am delighted to discover this is the first of a trilogy and look forward to reading what happens next
Review of advance copy received from Author
What a wonderfully cozy adventure this was.
It meanders through the rose-scented (and, at times, rather pungently scented—but let’s not dwell on that too much now) streets of Tel‑Bastet, following a mild-mannered, sharp-witted, soft-bodied treasure of a protagonist on his search for… well—what, exactly? No spoilers.
And then there are the cats. And the cat people. Honestly: the cats alone would have had me hooked.
This is the purrfect read if you’re craving a steady-rhythmed, poetic, warm-sunlight-kiss of a narration—the sort of story you sink into, where the atmosphere is half the magic. It takes its time (in a good way), the banter is entertaining, and the humor lands with quiet confidence.
I finished it feeling soothed, indeed rather charmed, and a little reluctant to leave Tel‑Bastet behind. I’m very curious to see where Faraj’s and Ashar’s story goes next.
And now I need a kulhad of hot chai.
It meanders through the rose-scented (and, at times, rather pungently scented—but let’s not dwell on that too much now) streets of Tel‑Bastet, following a mild-mannered, sharp-witted, soft-bodied treasure of a protagonist on his search for… well—what, exactly? No spoilers.
And then there are the cats. And the cat people. Honestly: the cats alone would have had me hooked.
This is the purrfect read if you’re craving a steady-rhythmed, poetic, warm-sunlight-kiss of a narration—the sort of story you sink into, where the atmosphere is half the magic. It takes its time (in a good way), the banter is entertaining, and the humor lands with quiet confidence.
I finished it feeling soothed, indeed rather charmed, and a little reluctant to leave Tel‑Bastet behind. I’m very curious to see where Faraj’s and Ashar’s story goes next.
And now I need a kulhad of hot chai.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Cozy, charming, and surprisingly rife with political upset! this was a really, really unique book, between the amazing world in which it was written, such as the cats behaving exactly as cats do even though they take human form, and the surprising in depth struggles between doing what your heart sings for, and what is best for the kingdom, there is a sweet, absolutely adorable love story that's about to set the entire city on fire. i absolutely loved the characters, and found myself really identifying with the indolent Ashar, and the body shamed Faraj. i loved seeing the journey these two go on as they try their best to not upset the entire world... and of course, fail miserably at it, and the wonderful journey to self love that Faraj goes through. a wonderful read for anyone who likes more historical/political fantasies but want a nice and cozy read.
Thank you to the Victory Editing NetGalley Co-op for this ARC!
Thank you to the Victory Editing NetGalley Co-op for this ARC!
Review of advance copy received from Author
I was given this book as an ARC. I enjoyed it very much. His Royal Highness Faraj didn't know much about life outside the palace until one night he ventures out to the bathhouse that Ashar runs. Faraj foresees the future, and threads his way through the possible negative outcomes he sees to try to help his people in times of flood or other disasters.
Faraj uses his powers in the service of his God-Emperor brother, who lives far across the Empire from Tel-Bastet, the city of cats. He also makes sure the tax records are good and accurate. He's assisted by a witch-librarian, Najra, and guarded by the tall desert-cat Kamil.
Ashar has his own friends and allies in the Catsprowl neighborhoods. He uses this and his magic to try to protect Faraj from scary possible futures.
Faraj uses his powers in the service of his God-Emperor brother, who lives far across the Empire from Tel-Bastet, the city of cats. He also makes sure the tax records are good and accurate. He's assisted by a witch-librarian, Najra, and guarded by the tall desert-cat Kamil.
Ashar has his own friends and allies in the Catsprowl neighborhoods. He uses this and his magic to try to protect Faraj from scary possible futures.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
I discovered after reading the book that there was a list of terms at the back - that would have been helpful. The world building was lovely, quite complex and the locations were beautifully described, as was the food. The general vibe was quite sweet and whimsical, although the sheer amount of political intrigue (even for Asharan) was occasionally daunting. The various types of cat beings and magical system were very interesting and quite unique. Faraj managing one night's escape from his duties and enormous pressure was a strong start, and being a somewhat older and plus size character was very appealing. I look forward to reading more about this world.
Thanks for the advance copy via NetGalley, I am happy to leave a voluntary review.
Thanks for the advance copy via NetGalley, I am happy to leave a voluntary review.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
This was, appropriately enough, a charming read. What's not to like about a book that's so focused on cats? As someone with no knowledge of the language or culture being described, I struggled a bit with some (many) of the terms, but not to the point where I couldn't follow the plot. I liked the characters and wanted to keep reading, but the limited interaction between the MCs* and the opaqueness of the story's climax/conclusion kept this from being a five-star book for me.
My thanks to the publisher/NetGalley for an advance copy of this book.
* Granted, the fact that their society makes it next to impossible for them to interact is one of the main premises of the story.
My thanks to the publisher/NetGalley for an advance copy of this book.
* Granted, the fact that their society makes it next to impossible for them to interact is one of the main premises of the story.
Review of advance copy received from Author
This was the first book of a new series, and I have to be honest and say that that I am not sure what the intention of the book was. I suppose it is an introduction into another world, where there is a God-Emperor that rules and his third brother can foresee disasters. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily. It is well written and the characters are unique. If a reader is interested in exploring different cultures and new worlds this is the book for you.
Review of advance copy
4.5 rounded up.
This was a very heart-warming cozy read. I enjoyed the culture and world. I adored the cats :)
thank you book sirens.
This was a very heart-warming cozy read. I enjoyed the culture and world. I adored the cats :)
thank you book sirens.
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