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The Merliss Tales #2
Cat Sidhe
A human spirit banished to the body of a cat.
Merliss has seen centuries of change, centuries of trouble.
Something nasty has come through one of the ley gates. It walks upright. It talks. And it looks like an oversized cat, but as Merliss can attest, it doesn't smell like a cat.
It's a cat sidhe on the hunt for slaves, anyone with opposable thumbs. Merliss travels to unknown territories to rescue a friend and encounters more trouble making her way home. The situation on the moors is far more dire than Merliss and her friends could have imagined.
Cat Sidhe is the first in a fantasy trilogy. Join Merliss on her prowls through dangerous lands.
Merliss has seen centuries of change, centuries of trouble.
Something nasty has come through one of the ley gates. It walks upright. It talks. And it looks like an oversized cat, but as Merliss can attest, it doesn't smell like a cat.
It's a cat sidhe on the hunt for slaves, anyone with opposable thumbs. Merliss travels to unknown territories to rescue a friend and encounters more trouble making her way home. The situation on the moors is far more dire than Merliss and her friends could have imagined.
Cat Sidhe is the first in a fantasy trilogy. Join Merliss on her prowls through dangerous lands.
189 pages, Kindle Edition
Published May 15, 2018
10 people are currently reading
33 people want to read
About the author
Jeff Chapman
36 books135 followersThanks for visiting my page. I write software by day and speculative fiction when I should be sleeping. Dark hot chocolate fuels my evenings. My work ranges from fairy tales to fantasy to horror and ghost stories. I've been writing all my life but decided to become super serious about it and pursue publication a few years ago. My work has appeared in various anthologies and magazines. I live with my wife, children, and cats in a house with more books than bookshelf space.
My recent novels include The Great Contagion and Cat Sidhe: Into the Witch Lands I from The Merliss Tales series; The Black Blade: A Huckster Novel from The Huckster Tales series; and The Sniggard's Revenge: A Fantasy Adventure.
Get two FREE short stories, a fairy tale and a weird western. Details at www.jeffchapmanbooks.com.
You can learn more about my stories and find links to my work in various formats at www.jeffchapmanbooks.com.
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Displaying 1 - 29 of 29 reviews
December 4, 2018
I read this story in one sitting (it's not a big book). It sizzled along with magic, from start to finish, hardly giving me time to breathe. Mr Chapman builds his ancient and mystical world with enough detail to bring it alive in my mind, and by the end of the story I felt I knew the characters as well as I know my own family. (Not that any of them are witches)
Cat Sidhe is, obviously, a cat. Not a very nice one either: big, slimy, and full of evil. Merliss is also a cat: normal size, but centuries old and full of wisdom. Another major player is Merliss's charge, Saerwynn. She is the thirteenth daughter of a seventh son, a halfwitted 'cunning' apprentice, who hasn't come into her power yet.
The plot is fairly simple. Merliss and Saerwynn fall foul of a Cat Sidhe. They end up in a strange, distant land, have to outwit the Cat Sidhe and find their way home. Unfortunately, they become separated. I don't think I am guilty of spoilers by saying they do eventually find their ways home, but their hazardous adventures along the way are something you'll have to read yourself. Needless to say, the two cats clash, fur and sparks fly, and if you want to find out what happens, then I recommend you read the book.
The story feels like a cross between Wizard of Oz and Lord of the Rings. I'm not sure which age group it is intended for. The storyline (fairy tale) suggests youngster, while diction and prose are at least young adult. Having said that, I'm a pensioner and enjoyed it.
About the only thing that irritated me was that I'd have to buy books two and three in the series to find out what happens next. Can’t wait!
Cat Sidhe is, obviously, a cat. Not a very nice one either: big, slimy, and full of evil. Merliss is also a cat: normal size, but centuries old and full of wisdom. Another major player is Merliss's charge, Saerwynn. She is the thirteenth daughter of a seventh son, a halfwitted 'cunning' apprentice, who hasn't come into her power yet.
The plot is fairly simple. Merliss and Saerwynn fall foul of a Cat Sidhe. They end up in a strange, distant land, have to outwit the Cat Sidhe and find their way home. Unfortunately, they become separated. I don't think I am guilty of spoilers by saying they do eventually find their ways home, but their hazardous adventures along the way are something you'll have to read yourself. Needless to say, the two cats clash, fur and sparks fly, and if you want to find out what happens, then I recommend you read the book.
The story feels like a cross between Wizard of Oz and Lord of the Rings. I'm not sure which age group it is intended for. The storyline (fairy tale) suggests youngster, while diction and prose are at least young adult. Having said that, I'm a pensioner and enjoyed it.
About the only thing that irritated me was that I'd have to buy books two and three in the series to find out what happens next. Can’t wait!
March 12, 2019
Merliss is immortal, or close enough. Transformed into a cat centuries before this story begins, she hangs stubbornly onto the remnants of her humanity by living with a most humanitarian wizard and mentoring his somewhat obtuse apprentice, Saerwynn. While gathering plants with magical properties near a group of rocks Merliss identifies as a ley gate, they are surprised and overwhelmed by a cat Sidhe (shee), an evil witch who has voluntarily transformed into a cat one too many times. Merliss’ and Saerwynn’s adventures and adversaries intrigue and entertain until the last word.
Very well written and imagined, I especially loved Merliss’ cat reactions and her attempts to communicate with the dense humans surrounding her.The action was great—so hard to do and so well done!
If I have a complaint, it’s that I felt like I was dropped in the center of the story and pulled out long before it was finished. It was all middle—like a double-stuff oreo without the chocolate cookies. As much as I love icing, it just aint an oreo without those dense chocolate cookies.
Still, it was a fun story that I really enjoyed. Four bright stars for Merliss and her friends.
Very well written and imagined, I especially loved Merliss’ cat reactions and her attempts to communicate with the dense humans surrounding her.The action was great—so hard to do and so well done!
If I have a complaint, it’s that I felt like I was dropped in the center of the story and pulled out long before it was finished. It was all middle—like a double-stuff oreo without the chocolate cookies. As much as I love icing, it just aint an oreo without those dense chocolate cookies.
Still, it was a fun story that I really enjoyed. Four bright stars for Merliss and her friends.
May 25, 2018
Jeff Chapman has created an interesting protagonist in the ancient feline, Merliss. A millenia-old soul bound to the body of a cat, Merliss posesses ancient knowledge and the perseverence that can be granted only by long experience; she is, however, hindered by the limitations of her feline form and instincts. When taken as a whole, these traits makes for a compelling and quite enjoyable character.
The author portrays the protagonist's constant battle against her cat-like instincts very well. The sense of danger--being a small feline in a world of much larger threats--was thoroughly maintained throughout the entire novel. Mr. Chapman also does an exquisite job of creating a feel for location, and his prose includes lush descriptions that are a delight to read.
The story itself begins with Merliss assisting Saerwynn (an apprentice sorceress of sorts) perform chores. When a dangerous creature appears from the other side of a magical portal, Saerwynn is threatened and Merliss comes to the rescue. After the initial conflict, however, the pair are separated.
If there is any flaw to this novel, it is that split; from that point, their stories diverge and though each plotline is woven well individually, they have differing themes, goals and timing. This can lead to slightly uneven levels of tension as the two tales are told side by side. It seems likely that the stories will converge in future volumes and I am eagerly looking forward to seeing how the author ties all of these threads together.
All in all, this is a decent introduction to what looks to be an entertaining new fantasy series!
The author portrays the protagonist's constant battle against her cat-like instincts very well. The sense of danger--being a small feline in a world of much larger threats--was thoroughly maintained throughout the entire novel. Mr. Chapman also does an exquisite job of creating a feel for location, and his prose includes lush descriptions that are a delight to read.
The story itself begins with Merliss assisting Saerwynn (an apprentice sorceress of sorts) perform chores. When a dangerous creature appears from the other side of a magical portal, Saerwynn is threatened and Merliss comes to the rescue. After the initial conflict, however, the pair are separated.
If there is any flaw to this novel, it is that split; from that point, their stories diverge and though each plotline is woven well individually, they have differing themes, goals and timing. This can lead to slightly uneven levels of tension as the two tales are told side by side. It seems likely that the stories will converge in future volumes and I am eagerly looking forward to seeing how the author ties all of these threads together.
All in all, this is a decent introduction to what looks to be an entertaining new fantasy series!
June 24, 2018
Sidhes are "people of the mound", and are supposedly good fairies. The cat sidhe is apparently not good at all. Anyway, the story. The story is a simple one wherein a cat sidhe bewitches Saerwynn (a young woman with apparent sorceress potential, but we don't really see it) and takes her through ley gates to somewhere else. The essence of the story is "there and back again, to rescue Saerwynn". The rescuer is Merliss, a soul bound into the form of a cat, and seemingly forced to live like a cat. The descriptions of how Merliss does the rescue are quite amusing. How would you persuade someone to jump through a gap between rocks, seemingly to bang your head on another rock, when all you can do is meow? I found this quite clever. Then, when Saerwynn finally goes through, Merliss jumps, but, oops, comes out elsewhere, so we have a long trek where Merliss must face some highly dangerous situations, at least for a small cat.
My grading here is based on technique, and the ability to see things from a cat's perspective. The story is well put together and although it is the first in a series, it does have a beginning and an end. While Merliss has human instincts, she is still basically cat. I do have a couple of cat quibbles, and I wonder whether the author has spent much time with a cat outside an urban setting. My cats have not backed down from a tree. They may jump to lower branches, or they come down the trunk head first, trotting, and hitting the ground running. Similarly, they do not kill rodents with their fangs, which are largely used to carry prey. They kill through their paws, and the so-called "playing with prey" is nothing of the sort – they are battering it to death. Still, this is a well-told story, easily read, and I liked the way the two strands were managed.
My grading here is based on technique, and the ability to see things from a cat's perspective. The story is well put together and although it is the first in a series, it does have a beginning and an end. While Merliss has human instincts, she is still basically cat. I do have a couple of cat quibbles, and I wonder whether the author has spent much time with a cat outside an urban setting. My cats have not backed down from a tree. They may jump to lower branches, or they come down the trunk head first, trotting, and hitting the ground running. Similarly, they do not kill rodents with their fangs, which are largely used to carry prey. They kill through their paws, and the so-called "playing with prey" is nothing of the sort – they are battering it to death. Still, this is a well-told story, easily read, and I liked the way the two strands were managed.
October 17, 2018
Wonderfully written fantasy novel.
Where can we find human spirits? In this fantasy paranormal adventure, they are in the bodies of animals and birds. The main protagonist is Merliss, a human spirit banished to the body of a cat. She, the cat, is supposed to be centuries old that she alone can’t remember anymore. Already from the beginning, we meet Saerwynn, Farland’s apprentice that she is yet to discover her gifts. The main problem is their encounter with a bad creature, a cat sidhe, a witch that shifted too many times into the shape of a cat. Not at all a regular cat. A mean, killer oversized cat. Merliss decides to go after the sidhe and save Saerwynn but she falls into several traps on the way, bordering with great dangers and we are yet to find if she survived. As the story unfolds we meet other characters too, animals or humans. The story is dark at moments. The descriptions of the places and the characters are wonderfully written. I may not be a big fan of fantasy but the author deserves my respect for his imagination and writing skills.
Type of reader: Fans of fantasy adventures searching for something new.
Quotes from this book:
“Tell me. What do you profit from our bargain?” “Why, a friend,” said the pooka without a moment’s hesitation. “The value of a true friend exceeds their weight in gold or some such wisdom.” “I’ll owe you a favor,” said Saerwynn. “There will be no debts among friends. If you must think of my kindness as a transaction, consider it a favor to Merliss, first among felines of the moor.”
“I believe your gifts will bring wisdom to your work. Time will answer. Patience before uncertainty is a hard lesson to learn. Let your gifts guide you in their own time.”
“There are many kinds of fear. Sometimes it drives you to feats you didn’t think possible. Sometimes you cower behind it. Fear is natural. You cannot suppress it, but you must be the master of your fear. If it does not work for you, it will kill you.”
More book reviews on: https://www.nicojgenes.com/book-reviews.
Where can we find human spirits? In this fantasy paranormal adventure, they are in the bodies of animals and birds. The main protagonist is Merliss, a human spirit banished to the body of a cat. She, the cat, is supposed to be centuries old that she alone can’t remember anymore. Already from the beginning, we meet Saerwynn, Farland’s apprentice that she is yet to discover her gifts. The main problem is their encounter with a bad creature, a cat sidhe, a witch that shifted too many times into the shape of a cat. Not at all a regular cat. A mean, killer oversized cat. Merliss decides to go after the sidhe and save Saerwynn but she falls into several traps on the way, bordering with great dangers and we are yet to find if she survived. As the story unfolds we meet other characters too, animals or humans. The story is dark at moments. The descriptions of the places and the characters are wonderfully written. I may not be a big fan of fantasy but the author deserves my respect for his imagination and writing skills.
Type of reader: Fans of fantasy adventures searching for something new.
Quotes from this book:
“Tell me. What do you profit from our bargain?” “Why, a friend,” said the pooka without a moment’s hesitation. “The value of a true friend exceeds their weight in gold or some such wisdom.” “I’ll owe you a favor,” said Saerwynn. “There will be no debts among friends. If you must think of my kindness as a transaction, consider it a favor to Merliss, first among felines of the moor.”
“I believe your gifts will bring wisdom to your work. Time will answer. Patience before uncertainty is a hard lesson to learn. Let your gifts guide you in their own time.”
“There are many kinds of fear. Sometimes it drives you to feats you didn’t think possible. Sometimes you cower behind it. Fear is natural. You cannot suppress it, but you must be the master of your fear. If it does not work for you, it will kill you.”
More book reviews on: https://www.nicojgenes.com/book-reviews.
July 22, 2018
An unusual but enjoyable read
When I first began reading this book I wasn’t immediately sure what to make of it. The tone and language were closer to a medieval folk story or myth than my normal reads. But as I progressed through the story it clicked into place and each chapter (or set of chapters) became its own tale within the wider story. The writer does a good job of creating a big tale set against a small background, with an epic journey within what I assumed to be a relatively small geographical area, made larger by the diminutive size and fragility of its main protagonist.
When I first began reading this book I wasn’t immediately sure what to make of it. The tone and language were closer to a medieval folk story or myth than my normal reads. But as I progressed through the story it clicked into place and each chapter (or set of chapters) became its own tale within the wider story. The writer does a good job of creating a big tale set against a small background, with an epic journey within what I assumed to be a relatively small geographical area, made larger by the diminutive size and fragility of its main protagonist.
May 16, 2018
If you enjoy escaping into magical fantasy settings, then this story is for you. It's a short novel, the first in a trilogy, and reads at a lightning pace. I devoured it over the course of two days. Chapman does a great job writing action scenes and holding readers in suspense. It's a cliche to say, "I couldn't put it down," but honestly, that's how it felt. The story moves quickly and the action builds from chapter to chapter.
This is not a high fantasy story filled with explanations of people groups and their lands, or an endless list of names you can't pronounce. This is a story with action, danger, and a small cast of relate-able characters (half of whom are magical, talking animals, oddly enough). Recommended for summer fun reading.
Full disclosure: I signed up for the book launch team on the author's website and received an advance copy of the eBook in exchange for an honest review.
This is not a high fantasy story filled with explanations of people groups and their lands, or an endless list of names you can't pronounce. This is a story with action, danger, and a small cast of relate-able characters (half of whom are magical, talking animals, oddly enough). Recommended for summer fun reading.
Full disclosure: I signed up for the book launch team on the author's website and received an advance copy of the eBook in exchange for an honest review.
September 20, 2019
Different kind of fantasy than I was expecting, but interesting all the same. Merliss, banished into the body of a cat, has learned a dangerous secret. There’s danger coming, and she must sound the alarm. On the way home, however, she gets lost and must rely on the help of creatures she meets along the way to survive.
As the first in the series, this was definitely a hard hitter. While the beginning was a bit slow, it hooked me once it started to pick up. Merliss was a very strong character, and I related to her. She didn’t back down easily, and that made me root for her more.
The narration was perfect for the story.
This book was given to me for free at my request and I provided this voluntary review.
As the first in the series, this was definitely a hard hitter. While the beginning was a bit slow, it hooked me once it started to pick up. Merliss was a very strong character, and I related to her. She didn’t back down easily, and that made me root for her more.
The narration was perfect for the story.
This book was given to me for free at my request and I provided this voluntary review.
May 8, 2019
I thoroughly enjoyed this one, it reminded me of the book The Familiars but for an older crowd. The big difference in this one is a main character is a person that was cursed to be a cat and has been stuck that way for thousands of years. She is trying to help her Apprentice to the magician that she lives with as they encounter a cat sidhe. This is a great book for those who like magic and animal-based stories. I would say it is probably Middle School age and up for content. The narrator also did a wonderful job and was a joy to listen to.
I was given this free review copy audiobook at my request and have voluntarily left this review.
I was given this free review copy audiobook at my request and have voluntarily left this review.
January 14, 2019
This is my review of the audio version as posted on Audible:
The first in any series is a tough one for the writer, I think. It has to introduce the characters, it has to set the events for the whole series, it has to literally drag the reader into the world created so that they want to stay and read on... Sometimes that means that the pace of the book is a bit slow, especially at the beginning. And that's the case here, thus one star deducted for the story... But that's the only fault of the book I can pinpoint for you:)
The book is narrated through two different characters (the kind of narration I really like), one of whom is a very wise cat (who is not really a cat:)) and the other a girl (not so wise, as it turns out, well, not in the cat's eyes, at least:)). This parallel narration adds quite a lot of dynamics to the story, but it also adds that almost undescribable magical feel that you can find in fantasy classics, books in which the magical takes precedence over action - think The Witch World series by Andre Norton or Mercedes Lackey's stories... Some of those tales, when you think of that, are books where nothing much happens - they are more about the journey inside and discovering yourself than action-packed adventures - and yet we read them, we are enchanted by them, we don't want to leave their worlds... And this is exactly how I felt listening to 'Cat Sidhe' - there's definitely magic in that book:)
The interpretation by Ms Meisberger is perfect, as usual. She's one of my favourites, very good both in the narrative parts and when it comes to conveying emotions and adding personality to the book's characters. She's an ideal narrator for the kind of tale that Jeff Chapman is weaving here...
DISCLAIMER: I was given this free review copy audiobook at my request and have voluntarily left this review.
The first in any series is a tough one for the writer, I think. It has to introduce the characters, it has to set the events for the whole series, it has to literally drag the reader into the world created so that they want to stay and read on... Sometimes that means that the pace of the book is a bit slow, especially at the beginning. And that's the case here, thus one star deducted for the story... But that's the only fault of the book I can pinpoint for you:)
The book is narrated through two different characters (the kind of narration I really like), one of whom is a very wise cat (who is not really a cat:)) and the other a girl (not so wise, as it turns out, well, not in the cat's eyes, at least:)). This parallel narration adds quite a lot of dynamics to the story, but it also adds that almost undescribable magical feel that you can find in fantasy classics, books in which the magical takes precedence over action - think The Witch World series by Andre Norton or Mercedes Lackey's stories... Some of those tales, when you think of that, are books where nothing much happens - they are more about the journey inside and discovering yourself than action-packed adventures - and yet we read them, we are enchanted by them, we don't want to leave their worlds... And this is exactly how I felt listening to 'Cat Sidhe' - there's definitely magic in that book:)
The interpretation by Ms Meisberger is perfect, as usual. She's one of my favourites, very good both in the narrative parts and when it comes to conveying emotions and adding personality to the book's characters. She's an ideal narrator for the kind of tale that Jeff Chapman is weaving here...
DISCLAIMER: I was given this free review copy audiobook at my request and have voluntarily left this review.
June 28, 2018
Merliss is more than an ordinary cat. She's been around for centuries, but the trouble coming her way isn't something she's prepared for. A cat sidhe has come out of the ley gates hunting for slaves and nabs a girl Merliss must try to save. Traveling through the gates is dangerous business, and one does not always turn up where they expect. Will Merliss be able to rescue her friend and make it back home in time to warn everyone else?
A wonderful first book in this fantasy series where the main character is a cat. Merliss is a fascinating character. So much mystery lurks within her, and while her shape limits what she can do, she's very clever. While she tries to save the girl from the vicious cat sidhe, Merliss travels through the gates, meeting an unusual lycan and a sorceress' crow. The point of view goes from Merliss to the girl and the lycan and others. Each with their own dangers looming over them. I'm curious to see how everything weaves together in this tale. I'll definitely be picking up the next book when it comes out.
A wonderful first book in this fantasy series where the main character is a cat. Merliss is a fascinating character. So much mystery lurks within her, and while her shape limits what she can do, she's very clever. While she tries to save the girl from the vicious cat sidhe, Merliss travels through the gates, meeting an unusual lycan and a sorceress' crow. The point of view goes from Merliss to the girl and the lycan and others. Each with their own dangers looming over them. I'm curious to see how everything weaves together in this tale. I'll definitely be picking up the next book when it comes out.
June 12, 2020
Magically Delicious!
Merliss, a centuries old cat with the heart of a shaman girl trapped inside, must use her wits and unique talents to rescue Saerwynn, the latest apprentice of Fendrel the ‘cunning man’. Merliss is unable to speak to humans to warn them of the Cat Sidhe but she’s adept at using her feline wiles to get the message across. A wonderful combination of magic, suspense, intrigue, Fae legends, complex characters, unusual creatures, and Cat Sidhe (evil witches trapped in cat form) made it an engaging tale. I look forward to Merliss’s next adventures. I received the audio version as a gift and am happy to recommend this book. Enjoy!
Merliss, a centuries old cat with the heart of a shaman girl trapped inside, must use her wits and unique talents to rescue Saerwynn, the latest apprentice of Fendrel the ‘cunning man’. Merliss is unable to speak to humans to warn them of the Cat Sidhe but she’s adept at using her feline wiles to get the message across. A wonderful combination of magic, suspense, intrigue, Fae legends, complex characters, unusual creatures, and Cat Sidhe (evil witches trapped in cat form) made it an engaging tale. I look forward to Merliss’s next adventures. I received the audio version as a gift and am happy to recommend this book. Enjoy!
February 15, 2020
Another intriguing journey into a world of myth and yore by Jeff Chapman with his protagonist Merliss the Cat (who is more than a cat) as your guide. A little slow to start but an imaginative cast of creatures and characters soon enter the story and the adventure and mystery begins to pick up. This is book one in a series and so not quite a stand alone, but the author has promised more tales to come to complete the story arc. I'll be following this magical path for sure. 4 1/2 stars. Definitely recommended if you enjoy all things fae and legendary.
December 25, 2018
This is a first for me, a new genre a new adventure.
Because this genre is new to me it took me a while to understand what’s going on but once I got it and into it there was no stopping me from getting all the way into the story.
Jeff Chapman can surely tell a tale and Jannie Meisberger have done a great job narrating the whole thing beautifully.
I can’t wait for the rest of the series to come out, I feel that it will be full of surprises and twists.
Absolutely recommend this audiobook !!!
In exchange for an honest review I received this audiobook for free.
Because this genre is new to me it took me a while to understand what’s going on but once I got it and into it there was no stopping me from getting all the way into the story.
Jeff Chapman can surely tell a tale and Jannie Meisberger have done a great job narrating the whole thing beautifully.
I can’t wait for the rest of the series to come out, I feel that it will be full of surprises and twists.
Absolutely recommend this audiobook !!!
In exchange for an honest review I received this audiobook for free.
November 28, 2018
Bad cats and good ones. Supper
I live stories with cats. I have 6 of my own and if I was a talented writer I could tell some tails. But I'm not so I'm so grateful to those who can. Anyway this a very exciting and fun fantasy can't wait for the next one to come out.
I live stories with cats. I have 6 of my own and if I was a talented writer I could tell some tails. But I'm not so I'm so grateful to those who can. Anyway this a very exciting and fun fantasy can't wait for the next one to come out.
October 24, 2020
This book had me hooked half way through and now l absolutely have to find how the story progresses. l found l had to concentrate as there are a lot of details that are important to the storyline. Nicely narrated.
May 23, 2018
Merliss is an old soul in a cat's body. She's seen a lot in her many years, but when a cat sidhe--a creature that resembles a cat but wants to enslave others--comes through a ley gate on the moors, Merliss knows she and her human companions are in for a heap of trouble.
Jeff Chapman has created a magical world in his fantasy CAT SIDHE: Into the Witch Lands I. This fast-paced read has just enough details to immerse the reader in this unique fantasy world. But it's the characters that will keep you coming back for more. I'm excited for the next installment!
Jeff Chapman has created a magical world in his fantasy CAT SIDHE: Into the Witch Lands I. This fast-paced read has just enough details to immerse the reader in this unique fantasy world. But it's the characters that will keep you coming back for more. I'm excited for the next installment!
August 23, 2019
Review
Very well written story I was drawn in from the start.Cannot wait to read the next book. Great charts a n description
Very well written story I was drawn in from the start.Cannot wait to read the next book. Great charts a n description
September 25, 2020
What a great book! I was glued to it until the end. Excellent narrator as always!
December 4, 2021
An enchanting Mid-Evil Medieval Tale!
My Full Review →
My Full Review →
October 29, 2020
Cat Sidhe, by Jeff Chapmon, is about a little girl sorcerous cursed to be trapped in cat form for thousands of years. This is book two of the series, The Merliss Tales. I read this book first because the subtitle is 'Into the Witch Lands I,' and I thought it was the first book. My mistake.
The author does an amazing job of describing the world from the cat's point of view. I can only surmise that he has a great love for cats! By the end of the book, I fell in love with Merliss. I am excited to read book one! Seeing the world from Merliss's point of view is refreshing. I love the way the author describes her movements and motivations. I 'felt' what it was like to be a cat.
I was confused during the first half of the book because the storyline changes several times abruptly. Just about the time that you start caring about a human character, that character is no longer part of the storyline. This is partly because we see the story from the cat's perspective. I wonder if part of my confusion was caused by reading the books out of order? (Update: I have since read book one. It didn't help.) I needed more grounding and backstory at the beginning of the book.
I am not sure how to classify this book. It leans heavily toward middle-grade but wants to be young adult. I would not recommend this book to my 14-year-old daughter. She enjoys reading about relationships and more complicated themes. However, I would recommend this book to a middle-grade reader who likes fantasy and especially cats. In fact, cat lovers of all ages would enjoy this book.
I gave this book three stars because I don't typically choose to read middle-grade books. As a young adult fan, I was disappointed with this book. I honestly felt tricked into reading this book. If I were a middle-grade reader, I would have given it four stars.
Jannie Meisberger is the perfect narrator for this book! I absolutely love her. I cannot imagine anyone else voicing Merliss. Hmmm, I wonder if she was a cat in another life? I encourage you to look at her website. It perfectly embodies my vision of a beautiful English cat, er woman.
Source: I received a free copy of this audiobook in exchange for an honest review.
The author does an amazing job of describing the world from the cat's point of view. I can only surmise that he has a great love for cats! By the end of the book, I fell in love with Merliss. I am excited to read book one! Seeing the world from Merliss's point of view is refreshing. I love the way the author describes her movements and motivations. I 'felt' what it was like to be a cat.
I was confused during the first half of the book because the storyline changes several times abruptly. Just about the time that you start caring about a human character, that character is no longer part of the storyline. This is partly because we see the story from the cat's perspective. I wonder if part of my confusion was caused by reading the books out of order? (Update: I have since read book one. It didn't help.) I needed more grounding and backstory at the beginning of the book.
I am not sure how to classify this book. It leans heavily toward middle-grade but wants to be young adult. I would not recommend this book to my 14-year-old daughter. She enjoys reading about relationships and more complicated themes. However, I would recommend this book to a middle-grade reader who likes fantasy and especially cats. In fact, cat lovers of all ages would enjoy this book.
I gave this book three stars because I don't typically choose to read middle-grade books. As a young adult fan, I was disappointed with this book. I honestly felt tricked into reading this book. If I were a middle-grade reader, I would have given it four stars.
Jannie Meisberger is the perfect narrator for this book! I absolutely love her. I cannot imagine anyone else voicing Merliss. Hmmm, I wonder if she was a cat in another life? I encourage you to look at her website. It perfectly embodies my vision of a beautiful English cat, er woman.
Source: I received a free copy of this audiobook in exchange for an honest review.
May 16, 2018
kindle unlimited, normally {on goodreads} would give it a 3 where okay means okay, neither luv nor hate it etc, but since amazon puts that as 'negative' review, 4 it is, because rest of free world and then some says okay means not hated, not bad, not fanastic etc O K A Y, just couldn't get in to it, guess sort of my one of my reading genres but still just wasn't happening with me
A human spirit banished to the body of a cat. Merliss has seen centuries of change, centuries of trouble.
Something nasty has come through one of the ley gates. It walks upright. It talks. And it looks like an oversized cat, but as Merliss can attest, it doesn't smell like a cat.It's a cat sidhe on the hunt for slaves, anyone with opposable thumbs. Merliss travels to unknown territories to rescue a friend and encounters more trouble making her way home. The situation on the moors is far more dire than Merliss and her friends could have imagined.
Cat Sidhe is the first in a fantasy trilogy. Join Merliss on her prowls through dangerous lands.
A human spirit banished to the body of a cat. Merliss has seen centuries of change, centuries of trouble.
Something nasty has come through one of the ley gates. It walks upright. It talks. And it looks like an oversized cat, but as Merliss can attest, it doesn't smell like a cat.It's a cat sidhe on the hunt for slaves, anyone with opposable thumbs. Merliss travels to unknown territories to rescue a friend and encounters more trouble making her way home. The situation on the moors is far more dire than Merliss and her friends could have imagined.
Cat Sidhe is the first in a fantasy trilogy. Join Merliss on her prowls through dangerous lands.
July 23, 2019
I listened to the audiobook version of this book.
The story was hard for me to get into the first time around, I gave it the benefit of the doubt and gave it a second listen. There is a lot of detail, perhaps almost too much; I found the characters hard to get attached to and I'm not sure if it was just that I didnt relate or if it was the narration. I often felt lost or didnt really understand what was going on, and it's because I missed stuff because it wasn't keeping my attention. From what I could keep up with of the story seemed pretty good, but I think this simply ended up being one that wasn't for me, personally. I may give this another listen in the future to see if it makes more sense.
The narrators voice was pleasant and the performance was good, but I think there wasn't enough voice differentiation between characters which made it hard to keep up with, as well. We knew when the characters had internal and external dialogue but whose point of view and who was talking was mostly unclear.
The story was hard for me to get into the first time around, I gave it the benefit of the doubt and gave it a second listen. There is a lot of detail, perhaps almost too much; I found the characters hard to get attached to and I'm not sure if it was just that I didnt relate or if it was the narration. I often felt lost or didnt really understand what was going on, and it's because I missed stuff because it wasn't keeping my attention. From what I could keep up with of the story seemed pretty good, but I think this simply ended up being one that wasn't for me, personally. I may give this another listen in the future to see if it makes more sense.
The narrators voice was pleasant and the performance was good, but I think there wasn't enough voice differentiation between characters which made it hard to keep up with, as well. We knew when the characters had internal and external dialogue but whose point of view and who was talking was mostly unclear.
February 25, 2024
I received an ARC copy and leaving a review voluntarily.
When I came across this book I was intrigued. I never found a book like this one to catch my attention and this one did. I found the concept of reading the story from a cat's perspective or at least someone stuck in a cat's body. I really enjoyed how the author built his world and how the characters.
When I came across this book I was intrigued. I never found a book like this one to catch my attention and this one did. I found the concept of reading the story from a cat's perspective or at least someone stuck in a cat's body. I really enjoyed how the author built his world and how the characters.
February 6, 2019
Audible:This was ,what seemed to be ,a bunch of stories.It took me a while to figure it out.It was okay. It was not what I expected it to be. Narration by Jannie Meisberger was very nice. was given this book by the narrator,author or publisher free for an honest review.
August 26, 2020
This book did not really work for me, I was disappointed in the way the story went and was written. The 1st part with the girl was sadly slow and the girl not very bright. Others might find it a good storyline.
December 29, 2018
What a delightful story... The book follows Merliss, a cat who's not really a cat at all, but a human spirit that was ensorcelled centuries ago... And boy does she have her work cut out for her in this story...
The Cat Sidhe are crossing over into human territory and they're up to no good... Merliss loses herself crossing the ley-lines and needs to get home quick so she can sound the alarm... To find her way Merliss accepts aid from some very unlikely sources, such as wolves and birds. This tale just whet my appetite, leaving me wanting more, and more, and more (please, sir, may I have some more?)!
Jannie Meisberger shot her way up onto my favorites list for her narration of Merliss' tail!
I was given this free review copy audiobook at my request and have voluntarily left this review
The Cat Sidhe are crossing over into human territory and they're up to no good... Merliss loses herself crossing the ley-lines and needs to get home quick so she can sound the alarm... To find her way Merliss accepts aid from some very unlikely sources, such as wolves and birds. This tale just whet my appetite, leaving me wanting more, and more, and more (please, sir, may I have some more?)!
Jannie Meisberger shot her way up onto my favorites list for her narration of Merliss' tail!
I was given this free review copy audiobook at my request and have voluntarily left this review
January 21, 2024
Mr. Chapman takes on us a mystical and magical adventure that keeps you turning the pages and wanting more. This is about an evil cat and a good one and their adventure. The world and characters have depth and dimension and it makes you feel like you are right there with them.
November 12, 2024
Personally, I struggled through this book, not being able to read more than an hour at a time.
This novel is about a girl named Merliss who (at some point before this book) had been cursed to be a cat. She is very old and knows a lot about magic. One day, she’s with her Master’s Apprentice and they run into a creature that attacks and kidnaps the human.
I felt the whole time reading that I was missing something, as if there should have been a prequel or another book that explained what happened in this book. I felt that the author just expected us to know what was going on and who the characters were before going into this book. He left us with little background and not enough explanation. I understand there are more parts to come, but I felt it ended too abruptly.
This novel is about a girl named Merliss who (at some point before this book) had been cursed to be a cat. She is very old and knows a lot about magic. One day, she’s with her Master’s Apprentice and they run into a creature that attacks and kidnaps the human.
I felt the whole time reading that I was missing something, as if there should have been a prequel or another book that explained what happened in this book. I felt that the author just expected us to know what was going on and who the characters were before going into this book. He left us with little background and not enough explanation. I understand there are more parts to come, but I felt it ended too abruptly.
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