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The Merliss Tales #1
The Great Contagion
Plagues kill in more ways than one.
Merliss is no ordinary cat. She's far more. She's a young girl's spirit trapped in a cat's body. While the magic that banished her has snatched away her human speech, it has given her a life spanning millennia. For centuries she has lived with the cunning folk, assisting their efforts to heal the sick and ward off malevolent creatures. Now a bleeding sickness has thrown the community into chaos.
The cunning man and his apprentice are in danger from the disease. The life Merliss has worked so long to build is in jeopardy. Before she entered the cat, she had trained to be a shaman. Do her centuries of experience hold a secret to a cure? But disease isn't her only nemesis.
A pair of malevolent creatures move into the neighborhood threatening more havoc. Merliss and her cunning partners face more challenges than they can handle. But the greatest threat to Merliss's survival may be the ignorance of terrified people looking for a scapegoat.
The Great Contagion is epic fantasy from a cat's eye view. A prequel to Cat Sidhe, The Great Contagion is a standalone installment in The Merliss Tales series.
Prowl with Merliss now.
Merliss is no ordinary cat. She's far more. She's a young girl's spirit trapped in a cat's body. While the magic that banished her has snatched away her human speech, it has given her a life spanning millennia. For centuries she has lived with the cunning folk, assisting their efforts to heal the sick and ward off malevolent creatures. Now a bleeding sickness has thrown the community into chaos.
The cunning man and his apprentice are in danger from the disease. The life Merliss has worked so long to build is in jeopardy. Before she entered the cat, she had trained to be a shaman. Do her centuries of experience hold a secret to a cure? But disease isn't her only nemesis.
A pair of malevolent creatures move into the neighborhood threatening more havoc. Merliss and her cunning partners face more challenges than they can handle. But the greatest threat to Merliss's survival may be the ignorance of terrified people looking for a scapegoat.
The Great Contagion is epic fantasy from a cat's eye view. A prequel to Cat Sidhe, The Great Contagion is a standalone installment in The Merliss Tales series.
Prowl with Merliss now.
347 pages, Kindle Edition
Published December 12, 2019
2 people are currently reading
56 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 - 30 of 38 reviews
April 20, 2022
My rating 4.5
The book "The Great Contagion (The Merliss Tales # 1)" by Jeff Chapman is an exciting fantasy story seen through the eyes of a Merliss cat. The characters in the book are solidly crafted, and the story is interesting. The world seen through the eyes of a cat is exciting and hides a handful of fantastic events, so I am confident that readers will enjoy reading this book.
Merliss is a cat, but not an ordinary one. She is, in fact, an enchanted girl in a cat's body. Her life is full of magic, and she has been living in that form of a cat for a very, very long time. Magic is forgotten, but magical beings like her still live in her world, hidden from humans. Merliss lives with an old herbalist and his assistant in a small dilapidated hut helping them with the discovery of medicinal herbs. But contagion is soon coming to her peaceful world, and Merliss will quickly be involved in a series of strange events. The world of magic has swirled, and Merliss will find herself in situations where she will have to save her life and the world in which she lives. So far, she has not found herself in such a whirlwind of magic because the Gods have started a battle, and her life and the inhabitants' lives are at stake. The path that opens before Merliss is full of dangers. Her life is at a turning point in which she will play the central role.
I would recommend the book to fantasy lovers.
The book "The Great Contagion (The Merliss Tales # 1)" by Jeff Chapman is an exciting fantasy story seen through the eyes of a Merliss cat. The characters in the book are solidly crafted, and the story is interesting. The world seen through the eyes of a cat is exciting and hides a handful of fantastic events, so I am confident that readers will enjoy reading this book.
Merliss is a cat, but not an ordinary one. She is, in fact, an enchanted girl in a cat's body. Her life is full of magic, and she has been living in that form of a cat for a very, very long time. Magic is forgotten, but magical beings like her still live in her world, hidden from humans. Merliss lives with an old herbalist and his assistant in a small dilapidated hut helping them with the discovery of medicinal herbs. But contagion is soon coming to her peaceful world, and Merliss will quickly be involved in a series of strange events. The world of magic has swirled, and Merliss will find herself in situations where she will have to save her life and the world in which she lives. So far, she has not found herself in such a whirlwind of magic because the Gods have started a battle, and her life and the inhabitants' lives are at stake. The path that opens before Merliss is full of dangers. Her life is at a turning point in which she will play the central role.
I would recommend the book to fantasy lovers.
February 5, 2023
Fantasy is not my forte, but I find this book enjoyable. It follows a story through a cat, well, not exactly a cat. It carries us through her daily life, going around the town when a great sickness kills like a wind sweeping through a sand castle.
The vibrant and imaginative language is the strongest element of this book; readers can visualize the scene vividly, just like a snake releases itself from the tree coil by coil. On the other paw, some scenes also felt longer than they should have, based on the following reasons.
The title misleads me for a bit; I was not prepared to read a book heavy on fantasy and magic when I saw The Great Contagion as the title. I relate it to more modern and more scientific settings. Imho, some more archaic term would be more fitting to the story. I also expected the story to lean more about the disease or, at the very least, have more proportion and direct connections to the overall plot. Instead, I frequently needed to remember about it during the story while it wanders among other things.
The other things are great. I just wish that the relevance would be more prominent, or they should be the primary focus instead because if the story omits them, there wasn’t much left about the great contagion. I was left with questions about how fast it came and went, wondering about the beginning of it all (which should be one of the most intriguing elements in a story about contagion), and how the folks got their conclusion for the finale scene.
There could be more than what I caught on; maybe I missed them.
Having said that, the book is very well written, and I feel like a cat. I can imagine every scene and every move. The characters are great, and I like all the fantasy elements. I should be very suspicious from now on. I think my neighbor’s cat is always looking at me funny.
4 Sly Grins out of 5 Pookas
The vibrant and imaginative language is the strongest element of this book; readers can visualize the scene vividly, just like a snake releases itself from the tree coil by coil. On the other paw, some scenes also felt longer than they should have, based on the following reasons.
The title misleads me for a bit; I was not prepared to read a book heavy on fantasy and magic when I saw The Great Contagion as the title. I relate it to more modern and more scientific settings. Imho, some more archaic term would be more fitting to the story. I also expected the story to lean more about the disease or, at the very least, have more proportion and direct connections to the overall plot. Instead, I frequently needed to remember about it during the story while it wanders among other things.
The other things are great. I just wish that the relevance would be more prominent, or they should be the primary focus instead because if the story omits them, there wasn’t much left about the great contagion. I was left with questions about how fast it came and went, wondering about the beginning of it all (which should be one of the most intriguing elements in a story about contagion), and how the folks got their conclusion for the finale scene.
There could be more than what I caught on; maybe I missed them.
Having said that, the book is very well written, and I feel like a cat. I can imagine every scene and every move. The characters are great, and I like all the fantasy elements. I should be very suspicious from now on. I think my neighbor’s cat is always looking at me funny.
4 Sly Grins out of 5 Pookas
June 16, 2020
A story told from the point of view of a cat? Really? But author Jeff Chapman makes it work. He has created a dark fantasy sure to keep you up reading way past your bedtime.
Actually, Merliss is more than a cat. Trapped within the feline’s body is the spirit of a young woman, who, centuries before, had been training to become a shaman. We’re aren’t told how she came to inhabit the cat. I’m guessing that’s a story reserved for a later volume. We know she has been granted extraordinary longevity, that she retains some ability to cast spells, and that she can speak with other animals. Much to her chagrin, she can no longer converse with human beings.
When the story opens, we learn that Merliss attends the “cunning man” Hailaird and his young apprentice, Fendrel. They are healers, steeped in herb-lore, now given the unwelcome task of saving their neighbors and the occupying army of the Anglii from a new plague that has begun to decimate the populace. When Hailaird himself falls ill, Fendrel must assume his vocation long before his training is complete.
The Great Contagion is not a “cozy” fantasy by any stretch. It is darker and grittier than I imagined it would be, with some scenes of fairly graphic violence that may make you wince (the scene of a goblin’s attack on a young woman immediately comes to mind, but there are several others as well). It is a thrilling story told by an accomplished writer who knows his craft. I give this page-turner an enthusiastic five stars.
Actually, Merliss is more than a cat. Trapped within the feline’s body is the spirit of a young woman, who, centuries before, had been training to become a shaman. We’re aren’t told how she came to inhabit the cat. I’m guessing that’s a story reserved for a later volume. We know she has been granted extraordinary longevity, that she retains some ability to cast spells, and that she can speak with other animals. Much to her chagrin, she can no longer converse with human beings.
When the story opens, we learn that Merliss attends the “cunning man” Hailaird and his young apprentice, Fendrel. They are healers, steeped in herb-lore, now given the unwelcome task of saving their neighbors and the occupying army of the Anglii from a new plague that has begun to decimate the populace. When Hailaird himself falls ill, Fendrel must assume his vocation long before his training is complete.
The Great Contagion is not a “cozy” fantasy by any stretch. It is darker and grittier than I imagined it would be, with some scenes of fairly graphic violence that may make you wince (the scene of a goblin’s attack on a young woman immediately comes to mind, but there are several others as well). It is a thrilling story told by an accomplished writer who knows his craft. I give this page-turner an enthusiastic five stars.
April 23, 2022
Enthralling Dark Fantasy Worth Reading!
Merliss is not a common cat. It carries the spirit of a young woman with vast magical knowledge. She can cast spells and speak with other animals, but she can no longer talk to human beings. Readers don’t get to know how she came to inhabit the cat. Looks like it’s a story reserved for another volume.
I truly enjoyed The Great Contagion. The story was terrific, and I grew very fond of the character of Merliss. The other characters were also well-rounded. The end of the story was perfect. The descriptions helped give a masterful glimpse into what it must be like to inhabit the body of an animal with enhanced senses.
Highly recommended to fantasy fans.
Merliss is not a common cat. It carries the spirit of a young woman with vast magical knowledge. She can cast spells and speak with other animals, but she can no longer talk to human beings. Readers don’t get to know how she came to inhabit the cat. Looks like it’s a story reserved for another volume.
I truly enjoyed The Great Contagion. The story was terrific, and I grew very fond of the character of Merliss. The other characters were also well-rounded. The end of the story was perfect. The descriptions helped give a masterful glimpse into what it must be like to inhabit the body of an animal with enhanced senses.
Highly recommended to fantasy fans.
June 30, 2020
In the fantasy novel The Great Contagion, Merliss is a gray house cat who lives in a cottage with Hailaird, an old herbalist healer. Or rather, Hailaird lives with Merliss, for she has been in the cottage for many generations of healers. Merliss is no ordinary cat. She is a young female sorcerer whose spirit was cast into the body of a cat thousands of years ago. For the most part, she lives the life of a normal feline, except that she has a vast magical knowledge and is committed to helping Hailaird treat the people.
Life around the cottage is pretty uneventful. Merliss can’t speak, but she combines her knowledge of magic with a cat’s instincts to help the herbalist find medicinal plants in the forest. She only occasionally has to give Fendrel—Hailaird’s teasing apprentice—a claw-filled whack to teach him a lesson.
Evil creatures appear in the land, and a deadly plague infects the people. Merliss seeks aid from other magical creatures and taps into her store of knowledge to aid a hard-pressed Hailaird. Then, the herbalist himself falls ill, and all Merliss has to work with to combat the evils in the land is her wits and a very unpromising apprentice.
I loved The Great Contagion. The story was thrilling, and I found the character of Merliss very engaging. The characters were all very well developed and convincing. The end of the story was very satisfying. The author could have reined in the length of smell descriptions a bit better as the book progressed, but this did give a wonderful glimpse into what it must be like to experience the world with the heightened senses of an animal.
Highly recommended to fantasy fans.
Life around the cottage is pretty uneventful. Merliss can’t speak, but she combines her knowledge of magic with a cat’s instincts to help the herbalist find medicinal plants in the forest. She only occasionally has to give Fendrel—Hailaird’s teasing apprentice—a claw-filled whack to teach him a lesson.
Evil creatures appear in the land, and a deadly plague infects the people. Merliss seeks aid from other magical creatures and taps into her store of knowledge to aid a hard-pressed Hailaird. Then, the herbalist himself falls ill, and all Merliss has to work with to combat the evils in the land is her wits and a very unpromising apprentice.
I loved The Great Contagion. The story was thrilling, and I found the character of Merliss very engaging. The characters were all very well developed and convincing. The end of the story was very satisfying. The author could have reined in the length of smell descriptions a bit better as the book progressed, but this did give a wonderful glimpse into what it must be like to experience the world with the heightened senses of an animal.
Highly recommended to fantasy fans.
May 19, 2020
I was skeptical of a book with a cat as the protagonist. But the author hooked me in the first pages.
Merliss is a cat - now. She wasn't always so, thought we don't fully understand what happened. Whatever it was, it happened long ago.
She lives with a 'cunning' man and his apprentice, cunning meaning a sort of wizard. Hailaird and Fendrel mostly heal the locals. And healing takes on a significant role, as a terrible disease spreads through the land. Hailaird's early attempts fail, and then he's called to the Lord Sheriff's house, to treat his wife and daughter.
Merliss herself knows of a root that should help - but her communications skills are limited.
The story kept me both guessing and turning pages. I really enjoyed the writing, and found a new fantasy series to devour. If you love fantasy, here's something a little different and very imaginative.
Merliss is a cat - now. She wasn't always so, thought we don't fully understand what happened. Whatever it was, it happened long ago.
She lives with a 'cunning' man and his apprentice, cunning meaning a sort of wizard. Hailaird and Fendrel mostly heal the locals. And healing takes on a significant role, as a terrible disease spreads through the land. Hailaird's early attempts fail, and then he's called to the Lord Sheriff's house, to treat his wife and daughter.
Merliss herself knows of a root that should help - but her communications skills are limited.
The story kept me both guessing and turning pages. I really enjoyed the writing, and found a new fantasy series to devour. If you love fantasy, here's something a little different and very imaginative.
July 24, 2023
Fantastic Read
The Great Contagion follows Merliss, a girl with magical powers trapped in a cat’s body, as she works with healers (the cunning man and his apprentice) as they tackle a plague.
The world-building is fantastic with beautiful descriptions, and great fantasy beings (water goblins, pookas, giant snakes, ancient gods, etc.) The mystery of the sickness is there from the start, and there is plenty of action as the stakes slowly increase as the novel progresses. I was worried that a book about a bleeding sickness would be too gory, but although it was very dark in places, there wasn’t too much gore re the actual sickness. I really rooted for Merliss, and the supporting characters (both good and bad folks) were memorable.
Overall, a very entertaining read which I would highly recommend to fans of fantasy.
The Great Contagion follows Merliss, a girl with magical powers trapped in a cat’s body, as she works with healers (the cunning man and his apprentice) as they tackle a plague.
The world-building is fantastic with beautiful descriptions, and great fantasy beings (water goblins, pookas, giant snakes, ancient gods, etc.) The mystery of the sickness is there from the start, and there is plenty of action as the stakes slowly increase as the novel progresses. I was worried that a book about a bleeding sickness would be too gory, but although it was very dark in places, there wasn’t too much gore re the actual sickness. I really rooted for Merliss, and the supporting characters (both good and bad folks) were memorable.
Overall, a very entertaining read which I would highly recommend to fans of fantasy.
February 17, 2022
The Great Contagion is a story told through the POV of a cat, Merliss. Once, long ago, Merliss was a girl, but she’s become accustomed to her life as a cat and is content to assist a healer and his apprentice in finding medicinal plants in the woods. She can’t speak, and though she’s an odd cat, no one knows the truth of her magical transformation.
The quality of the writing is superb with wonderful imagery and descriptions. I can’t say that enough. The author conveys the habits, moves, and personalities of cats perfectly. The action is easy to follow, and the world-building is magical with river goblins and a friendly creature called a Pooka, among others. Descriptions are lush and consume much of the text.
Despite the title, the contagion spreading through the land is primarily in the background. Much of the book chronicles Merliss’s wanderings through the forest, encountering creatures, other cats, and humans, both friendly and dangerous. It’s not until the 75% mark, that the stakes rise and the plot becomes apparent, as well as her role in it as the protagonist.
I struggled significantly with the pacing until that point. Though exquisite, the descriptions were full of details that slowed the action, and since the plot was hard to pin down for a significant part of the story, I struggled to maintain interest in Merliss’s wanderings. She is, no doubt, an interesting POV character, but her “when I feel like it” cat personality robbed the narrative of urgency until the read’s last quarter. Things come together in the end, but it took a long time to get there.
I would give the quality of the writing a resounding 5 stars, but the slow ramp-up of the stakes and plot a shy 3, especially since this is a long book at almost 350 pages. In the end, I rounded the review to 4 stars.
The quality of the writing is superb with wonderful imagery and descriptions. I can’t say that enough. The author conveys the habits, moves, and personalities of cats perfectly. The action is easy to follow, and the world-building is magical with river goblins and a friendly creature called a Pooka, among others. Descriptions are lush and consume much of the text.
Despite the title, the contagion spreading through the land is primarily in the background. Much of the book chronicles Merliss’s wanderings through the forest, encountering creatures, other cats, and humans, both friendly and dangerous. It’s not until the 75% mark, that the stakes rise and the plot becomes apparent, as well as her role in it as the protagonist.
I struggled significantly with the pacing until that point. Though exquisite, the descriptions were full of details that slowed the action, and since the plot was hard to pin down for a significant part of the story, I struggled to maintain interest in Merliss’s wanderings. She is, no doubt, an interesting POV character, but her “when I feel like it” cat personality robbed the narrative of urgency until the read’s last quarter. Things come together in the end, but it took a long time to get there.
I would give the quality of the writing a resounding 5 stars, but the slow ramp-up of the stakes and plot a shy 3, especially since this is a long book at almost 350 pages. In the end, I rounded the review to 4 stars.
June 20, 2020
The Great Contagion. Hell of a time to be reading such a book lol.
This one was a really fun read. I wasn’t sure about a cat protagonist at first, but it worked really well. It was interesting and engaging to watch Merliss have to solve problems and get out of a jam when she couldn’t even talk to people. I also liked how her cat instincts at times overrides her reason and makes dangerous situations even worse.
The characters were all really well done, each with a distinctive voice. Some loose ends weren’t wrapped up, which was a let down, but I assume these folks will appear in the following books so that’s okay.
The action was great, very exciting. Several scenes left me unable to flip the virtual pages of my Kindle fast enough. And the nefarious presence of a water goblin lurking in the background kept me on my toes throughout, always expecting an attack on the very next page.
One thing I didn’t like so much, the “pookas” in the story are consistently described as fickle, not so trustworthy beings, and Merliss several times mentions how risky it is to make deals with them. And yet her dealings with them always go exactly as planned and she gets exactly what she wanted. Felt to me like dealing with them actually turned out to be pretty easy, at least for Merliss.
I almost gave this 5-stars, but it didnt have that extra...oomph, that x-factor, to make it a 5 star read. Very enjoyable overall however, and one I highly recommend both to fans of the genre and those who don’t usually read this kind of thing.
This one was a really fun read. I wasn’t sure about a cat protagonist at first, but it worked really well. It was interesting and engaging to watch Merliss have to solve problems and get out of a jam when she couldn’t even talk to people. I also liked how her cat instincts at times overrides her reason and makes dangerous situations even worse.
The characters were all really well done, each with a distinctive voice. Some loose ends weren’t wrapped up, which was a let down, but I assume these folks will appear in the following books so that’s okay.
The action was great, very exciting. Several scenes left me unable to flip the virtual pages of my Kindle fast enough. And the nefarious presence of a water goblin lurking in the background kept me on my toes throughout, always expecting an attack on the very next page.
One thing I didn’t like so much, the “pookas” in the story are consistently described as fickle, not so trustworthy beings, and Merliss several times mentions how risky it is to make deals with them. And yet her dealings with them always go exactly as planned and she gets exactly what she wanted. Felt to me like dealing with them actually turned out to be pretty easy, at least for Merliss.
I almost gave this 5-stars, but it didnt have that extra...oomph, that x-factor, to make it a 5 star read. Very enjoyable overall however, and one I highly recommend both to fans of the genre and those who don’t usually read this kind of thing.
June 2, 2020
Pros: Gripping plot. Professional prose, production and editing.
Possible Cons: Loner, emotionally isolated main character. Many unpleasant supporting characters.
Jeff Chapman’s medieval fantasy, The Great Contagion, lies somewhat outside my usual reading preferences. But I do live with a skinny grey cat, so right of the bat, I was intrigued.
The novel's main character is Merliss, the soul of a shaman-in-training possessing the body of a cat. She’s lived in the cat for centuries, assisting healers and training their apprentices, so she wears her possession comfortably, like an old shoe. And she’s seen plenty of drama in her long life, but nothing like The Great Contagion.
A plague descends upon the humans; they die in droves and/or behave rather badly. Concurrently, Merliss’s second home, the magical forest, faces unprecedented challenges. Attempting to help her animal, magical and human friends divides Merliss’s loyalties.
Liking Merliss was difficult at first. She read as a grumpy old lady. The initial chapter, a walk through the woods with an annoying young man almost lost me.
But the lovely prose kept me reading, then Merliss’s loyalty and bravery shone through her grousing, and the story grabbed me. In fact, I finished the book in two sittings, one lasting until one in the morning, an easy read given the book’s flawless editing and production, and high-grade prose.
My only quibbles are with the first chapter, as mentioned above, and the humans, who are by in large an uninspiring bunch. And she felt loosely bonded to her coworkers, the healer and his apprentice. The author lays out Merliss’s loyalties to the humans. But I still wondered why she bothered with them. In addition, most of her forest friends are ambivalent characters, mostly frenemies, but I suppose that’s a cat’s life.
The book’s Wind in the Willows' vibe should appeal to readers of animal based fantasy, such as the Redwall series and possibly Hollow Kingdom.
Possible Cons: Loner, emotionally isolated main character. Many unpleasant supporting characters.
Jeff Chapman’s medieval fantasy, The Great Contagion, lies somewhat outside my usual reading preferences. But I do live with a skinny grey cat, so right of the bat, I was intrigued.
The novel's main character is Merliss, the soul of a shaman-in-training possessing the body of a cat. She’s lived in the cat for centuries, assisting healers and training their apprentices, so she wears her possession comfortably, like an old shoe. And she’s seen plenty of drama in her long life, but nothing like The Great Contagion.
A plague descends upon the humans; they die in droves and/or behave rather badly. Concurrently, Merliss’s second home, the magical forest, faces unprecedented challenges. Attempting to help her animal, magical and human friends divides Merliss’s loyalties.
Liking Merliss was difficult at first. She read as a grumpy old lady. The initial chapter, a walk through the woods with an annoying young man almost lost me.
But the lovely prose kept me reading, then Merliss’s loyalty and bravery shone through her grousing, and the story grabbed me. In fact, I finished the book in two sittings, one lasting until one in the morning, an easy read given the book’s flawless editing and production, and high-grade prose.
My only quibbles are with the first chapter, as mentioned above, and the humans, who are by in large an uninspiring bunch. And she felt loosely bonded to her coworkers, the healer and his apprentice. The author lays out Merliss’s loyalties to the humans. But I still wondered why she bothered with them. In addition, most of her forest friends are ambivalent characters, mostly frenemies, but I suppose that’s a cat’s life.
The book’s Wind in the Willows' vibe should appeal to readers of animal based fantasy, such as the Redwall series and possibly Hollow Kingdom.
Read
July 24, 2021The Great Contagion takes place in the POV of Merliss, a druidic-woman who infused her soul in the body of a cat years ago, and now guides the clever men (folk healers and sages) of the land.
It's an interesting idea. I love that Chapman plays up both the limitations and strengths of being a cat. Not being able to talk directly to the clever men means a lot of meowing, tapping things with paws, etc. Also, using bursts of speed to escape, climbing, and stealth to avoid or escape enemies ... even things as minor as trying to avoid blood and mud if possible, to avoid having to clean paws of such things. I thought that was all very well done and reading about Merliss's antics was fun. The surface world of men and kingdoms is only sketched but considering the story takes place in a very small area, it's fine. The sub-surface world, of magic and critters and magical critters, is better-detailed and far more pertinent to the story.
If I had to offer critiques, I would say that at times the story felt like a disconnected series of short tales under the umbrella of the plague. Merliss has to overcome a number of obstacles (with and without help) and though there is logical connection between them, there is no overarching single conflict. Also, I think there were some unanswered questions at the end of the story, such as what happened to a variety of characters.
But these are minor issues. I think this is a neat concept, which is set in an interesting world. I haven't read anything exactly like it.
It's an interesting idea. I love that Chapman plays up both the limitations and strengths of being a cat. Not being able to talk directly to the clever men means a lot of meowing, tapping things with paws, etc. Also, using bursts of speed to escape, climbing, and stealth to avoid or escape enemies ... even things as minor as trying to avoid blood and mud if possible, to avoid having to clean paws of such things. I thought that was all very well done and reading about Merliss's antics was fun. The surface world of men and kingdoms is only sketched but considering the story takes place in a very small area, it's fine. The sub-surface world, of magic and critters and magical critters, is better-detailed and far more pertinent to the story.
If I had to offer critiques, I would say that at times the story felt like a disconnected series of short tales under the umbrella of the plague. Merliss has to overcome a number of obstacles (with and without help) and though there is logical connection between them, there is no overarching single conflict. Also, I think there were some unanswered questions at the end of the story, such as what happened to a variety of characters.
But these are minor issues. I think this is a neat concept, which is set in an interesting world. I haven't read anything exactly like it.
January 3, 2022
The Great Contagion is book 1 of The Merliss Tales by Jeff Chapman.
Merliss is an old, gray cat that has lived many centuries in service to the cunning men. She is a magical cat hosting the soul of a young woman who had trained to be a shaman when she was human. There is a bleeding contagion spreading, and Merliss helps the cunning man and his apprentice to find the herbs and roots required to help stop the spread. She also works with her magical friends to keep the moor and forest safe. Unfortunately, she can't help humans with their ignorance and malice.
At first I wasn't sure if I would like this story, thinking it was for a much younger audience than even YA. As the story progressed, I changed my mind and was eager to listen to the book as much as I could. Many parts were interesting, making me want to look up herbs in an herb book. Many parts were magical, making me want to read up more about pucas and standing stones. Still other parts were depressing, making me embarrassed for being human.
The narrator was wonderful, and I especially liked her tone when providing the perfect meow. The world-building was very good and at times, though I feel as old as Merliss, I was on pins and needles wondering what would happen next - this was especially true for the second half of the book. I highly recommend this book and will be listening to Cat Sidhe to see what happens next with Merliss and her friends.
December 24, 2021
What do you get when you combine magic, a plague, superstition, uneducated townsfolk, and a cat who was once a girl? I’ll tell you; you get a very enjoyable story that is many instances will have you chuckling, and in others it might break your heart. Jannie Meisberger does an excellent job telling Jeff Chapman’s story – to the point that she had me refusing to stop listening until the final words were spoken. I received a review copy of the audiobook through StoryOrigin and chose to provide this review.
June 15, 2020
the story kept my attention at every turn and bears another hearing. and the narration - I have never enjoyed another narrator as much. not sure if I fell in love with the characters or tha narrator! either way, this is a wonderful audiobook and I give my highest recommendation!
June 23, 2020
A cat’s eye view into a fantastical world—Enchanting and filled with grit and humor!
My Full Review
My Full Review
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March 5, 2021Wow, it's been over a year since publishing The Great Contagion. I had no idea when I was writing this book or when I pressed the publish button that soon after we would be suffering through our own great contagion.
Thanks to everyone who has read or listened to the story. I have more Merliss stories and novels in the works.
Check out the Books2Read page for The Great Contagion.
Thanks to everyone who has read or listened to the story. I have more Merliss stories and novels in the works.
Check out the Books2Read page for The Great Contagion.
August 10, 2022
I’ve read a lot of books where the main character is accompanied by an animal of some sort, be it cat, dog, horse or dragon. But it’s been a good long while since I’ve read a story where the main character was wan animal and in the case of Jeff Chapman’s The Great Contagion, I am all for it.
1. Thoughts on the plot
This book follows Merliss, a human who has been cast into the body of a cat. Over the centuries, she’s attached herself to the cunning men (healers and mild sorcerers) of the region. This particular set of cunning men might be in more trouble than they can handle when an unknown plague begins to spread. Merliss must get involved, using all her feline wits and her connections with the magical world to help where she can. But the consequences are more than she could possibly anticipate.
I really liked this book, both as a fantasy novel in its own right, and as a story where the main character was not what you would expect. The plot itself was well crafted, with enough danger and escalating stakes to keep you reading. And the fact that a cat, possessed of a human spirit or otherwise, was the instigator of change made for fun reading.
2. Thoughts on the characters
As a cat, Merliss is a fun one. She’s got enough human characteristics to make her relatable and entertaining, but enough feline aspects to add that element of unknown and mystery which all cats love to cultivate. And I think the wide variety of characters in this book does quiet well in the story craft as well. Slynid is exceptionally fun, Fendrel just this side of a silly fool with the potential for greatness, and the others equally entertaining. I am curious to see how the characters will interact in book two.
3. Favourite part
Probably the gradual chance in Fendrel’s perspective of Merliss. That was just fun to read.
4. Critique
My only real critique for this book has to do with a bit at the end, where the cats are making their way off into the yonder (all I can say without spoilers). I think this bit was good, and it fit well with the rest of the story, but it felt a little rushed and sudden compared to some of the other parts of the book. Not the events leading up to this journey, but the journey itself. Still, I liked the concept.
Overall, I would say that The Great Contagion is an excellent fantasy adventure and I’m off to read the next book!
1. Thoughts on the plot
This book follows Merliss, a human who has been cast into the body of a cat. Over the centuries, she’s attached herself to the cunning men (healers and mild sorcerers) of the region. This particular set of cunning men might be in more trouble than they can handle when an unknown plague begins to spread. Merliss must get involved, using all her feline wits and her connections with the magical world to help where she can. But the consequences are more than she could possibly anticipate.
I really liked this book, both as a fantasy novel in its own right, and as a story where the main character was not what you would expect. The plot itself was well crafted, with enough danger and escalating stakes to keep you reading. And the fact that a cat, possessed of a human spirit or otherwise, was the instigator of change made for fun reading.
2. Thoughts on the characters
As a cat, Merliss is a fun one. She’s got enough human characteristics to make her relatable and entertaining, but enough feline aspects to add that element of unknown and mystery which all cats love to cultivate. And I think the wide variety of characters in this book does quiet well in the story craft as well. Slynid is exceptionally fun, Fendrel just this side of a silly fool with the potential for greatness, and the others equally entertaining. I am curious to see how the characters will interact in book two.
3. Favourite part
Probably the gradual chance in Fendrel’s perspective of Merliss. That was just fun to read.
4. Critique
My only real critique for this book has to do with a bit at the end, where the cats are making their way off into the yonder (all I can say without spoilers). I think this bit was good, and it fit well with the rest of the story, but it felt a little rushed and sudden compared to some of the other parts of the book. Not the events leading up to this journey, but the journey itself. Still, I liked the concept.
Overall, I would say that The Great Contagion is an excellent fantasy adventure and I’m off to read the next book!
June 14, 2020
This is my review od the audio version as posted on Audible:
I first met Merliss as a character in 'Cat Sidhe' and now she returns in her own tale. And while I generally liked the book, I think the pace of it is a bit uneven...
I don't often read books that have an animal as the main character and are told from that animal's point of view. As Merliss is a cat, and cats are curious creatures, with a short focus span, easily spooked and seemingly not interested in anything but themselves (at least my cat is like that:)), it was interesting to see how all these features play in the book. But as Merliss is not a typical cat but a magical creature, she's all that and more... Merliss as a character is one of the strong points of the book.
Another strong point is all the other magical creatures of the Celtic folklore, like the pucas, present and playing quite an important part in the whole plot.
Surprisingly, the strong points of the book are also its weak points; Merliss gets distracted a lot, and finally we don't really know what the main plotline of the story is: is it Merliss's search for the water goblin? Or is it her search for the mysterious root that may be the cure for the great contagion? Or maybe it's her quest to save the cats the mad crowd blames for the plague...? Or maybe none of the three but something completely different - because when gods play people (and cats) pay...?
This uncertainty kind of bothered me; I felt some of the subplots were excess material we could definitely do without (like the whole water goblin plotline). It also made the whole first half of the book too slow, with too many detailed descriptions, especially when compared to the second half of the book and especially the last last few chapters, in which the action speeds up really fast.
So I'd say the first half of the book is a 3-star, while the second half is a 5-star story - that's why I've decided on 4 stars for the story altogether :)
Narration by Ms Meisberger is very good, as always. I like the way she reads individual characters and the balance between the neutral narrative parts and the emotional dialogues in her interpretations.
DISCLAIMER: I was given this free review copy audiobook at my request and have voluntarily left this review.
I first met Merliss as a character in 'Cat Sidhe' and now she returns in her own tale. And while I generally liked the book, I think the pace of it is a bit uneven...
I don't often read books that have an animal as the main character and are told from that animal's point of view. As Merliss is a cat, and cats are curious creatures, with a short focus span, easily spooked and seemingly not interested in anything but themselves (at least my cat is like that:)), it was interesting to see how all these features play in the book. But as Merliss is not a typical cat but a magical creature, she's all that and more... Merliss as a character is one of the strong points of the book.
Another strong point is all the other magical creatures of the Celtic folklore, like the pucas, present and playing quite an important part in the whole plot.
Surprisingly, the strong points of the book are also its weak points; Merliss gets distracted a lot, and finally we don't really know what the main plotline of the story is: is it Merliss's search for the water goblin? Or is it her search for the mysterious root that may be the cure for the great contagion? Or maybe it's her quest to save the cats the mad crowd blames for the plague...? Or maybe none of the three but something completely different - because when gods play people (and cats) pay...?
This uncertainty kind of bothered me; I felt some of the subplots were excess material we could definitely do without (like the whole water goblin plotline). It also made the whole first half of the book too slow, with too many detailed descriptions, especially when compared to the second half of the book and especially the last last few chapters, in which the action speeds up really fast.
So I'd say the first half of the book is a 3-star, while the second half is a 5-star story - that's why I've decided on 4 stars for the story altogether :)
Narration by Ms Meisberger is very good, as always. I like the way she reads individual characters and the balance between the neutral narrative parts and the emotional dialogues in her interpretations.
DISCLAIMER: I was given this free review copy audiobook at my request and have voluntarily left this review.
November 9, 2021
The Great Contagion
(The Merliss Tales #1) by Jeff Chapman
Narrated by Jannie Meisberger
I received a complimentary copy and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Merliss is a cat. But far from being an ordinary cat. She lives in the body of a cat and has lived a life that has covered many lifetimes. She lives in a time when, unbeknownst to people, magical creatures roamed the land in various forms and guises. Her spirit is bound to a cat, gifted with soul-sight, the ability to read another’s soul through their eyes, albeit cursed with not being able to communicate verbally with humans. After living with many ‘cunning people’, she currently lives with her herb-master, Hailaird, and his apprentice, Fendrel.
Unfortunately, a lethal illness is roaming the area, claiming all in its path. Hailaird and Fendrel are duty-bound to do their utmost to discover a cure before the populace is wiped out. Hailaird succumbs to the contagion while Fendrel is still an apprentice. Merliss must apply all her wiles, utilising her instincts to assist him and fulfil her oath in helping and healing.
The Great Contagion by Jeff Chapman is a prequel to Cat Sidhe. When I initially read that the protagonist was a cat, I couldn’t wait to discover how this was going to be portrayed. Merliss is described with such detail. She knows the secrets and the area she dwells in better than any other human or creature could remember. The author has created a novel of creative fantasy, of water goblins and enchanted forests patrolled by the Old Gods. With magical elements that include several scenes of a darker nature lending a sinister touch, Jeff Chapman has created an intriguing and enjoyable introduction to what will be a wonderful series.
The cover is striking and depicts Merliss perfectly. It gave me the urge to crack open pencils and colour it in!
In the audio version, Jannie Meisberger brings Merliss and her companions to life brilliantly! Her tone is beautifully descriptive, evoking sights and smells; her narrative indicative of intelligent cat behaviour.
Worthy of 5 stars and can’t wait to discover more!
(The Merliss Tales #1) by Jeff Chapman
Narrated by Jannie Meisberger
I received a complimentary copy and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Merliss is a cat. But far from being an ordinary cat. She lives in the body of a cat and has lived a life that has covered many lifetimes. She lives in a time when, unbeknownst to people, magical creatures roamed the land in various forms and guises. Her spirit is bound to a cat, gifted with soul-sight, the ability to read another’s soul through their eyes, albeit cursed with not being able to communicate verbally with humans. After living with many ‘cunning people’, she currently lives with her herb-master, Hailaird, and his apprentice, Fendrel.
Unfortunately, a lethal illness is roaming the area, claiming all in its path. Hailaird and Fendrel are duty-bound to do their utmost to discover a cure before the populace is wiped out. Hailaird succumbs to the contagion while Fendrel is still an apprentice. Merliss must apply all her wiles, utilising her instincts to assist him and fulfil her oath in helping and healing.
The Great Contagion by Jeff Chapman is a prequel to Cat Sidhe. When I initially read that the protagonist was a cat, I couldn’t wait to discover how this was going to be portrayed. Merliss is described with such detail. She knows the secrets and the area she dwells in better than any other human or creature could remember. The author has created a novel of creative fantasy, of water goblins and enchanted forests patrolled by the Old Gods. With magical elements that include several scenes of a darker nature lending a sinister touch, Jeff Chapman has created an intriguing and enjoyable introduction to what will be a wonderful series.
The cover is striking and depicts Merliss perfectly. It gave me the urge to crack open pencils and colour it in!
In the audio version, Jannie Meisberger brings Merliss and her companions to life brilliantly! Her tone is beautifully descriptive, evoking sights and smells; her narrative indicative of intelligent cat behaviour.
Worthy of 5 stars and can’t wait to discover more!
August 8, 2020
“The Great Contagion” by Jeff Chapman is a riveting fantasy tale, sure to appeal to almost anyone with a taste for the genre. Here are some thoughts on the topic.
- I had no idea Mr. Chapman was such a remarkably prolific author. He has crafted dozens of fantasy and sci-fi works, and every single one seems to be very well crafted and well reviewed.
- There aren’t too many readers who can resist the lure of this story line. Magic, cats, seemingly eternal life, plagues, fearsome predators such as wolves and snakes…this tale is a tasty buffet for fantasy lovers.
- I’m not a big fan of this title, since there are a zillion books with some variation of contagion in the title, and it instantly leads me to the erroneous conclusion that I’m going to be reading about a zombie apocalypse, but that’s just one reader’s opinion.
- Mr. Chapman has really hit a sweet spot with his writing; it’s engaging and fast-paced, appealing to all age groups, and boasts just the right touch of dark edginess. “The time between wakefulness and sleep possessed its own peculiar magic. The cares of the moment became mist in the sun. The worries of her body drifted into a lake of goose down. Such moments were fleeting for people, but cats could extend them for hours.”
- Whether you’re a lover of fantasy, a lover of cats, or just a lover of terrific story-telling, chances are you’ll feel right at home in Jeff Chapman’s magical world of conflict and sorcery. Four stars, and I stand in awe of Mr. Chapman’s remarkable catalog of works.
- I had no idea Mr. Chapman was such a remarkably prolific author. He has crafted dozens of fantasy and sci-fi works, and every single one seems to be very well crafted and well reviewed.
- There aren’t too many readers who can resist the lure of this story line. Magic, cats, seemingly eternal life, plagues, fearsome predators such as wolves and snakes…this tale is a tasty buffet for fantasy lovers.
- I’m not a big fan of this title, since there are a zillion books with some variation of contagion in the title, and it instantly leads me to the erroneous conclusion that I’m going to be reading about a zombie apocalypse, but that’s just one reader’s opinion.
- Mr. Chapman has really hit a sweet spot with his writing; it’s engaging and fast-paced, appealing to all age groups, and boasts just the right touch of dark edginess. “The time between wakefulness and sleep possessed its own peculiar magic. The cares of the moment became mist in the sun. The worries of her body drifted into a lake of goose down. Such moments were fleeting for people, but cats could extend them for hours.”
- Whether you’re a lover of fantasy, a lover of cats, or just a lover of terrific story-telling, chances are you’ll feel right at home in Jeff Chapman’s magical world of conflict and sorcery. Four stars, and I stand in awe of Mr. Chapman’s remarkable catalog of works.
April 16, 2023
The Great Contagion follows Merliss, a scrappy gray cat. She is acts as a kind of guardian to two cunning men who treat the sick with their healing knowledge. Her comfortable life in the cunning men’s cottage is threatened by trouble in the nearby woods, a bleeding disease among the people, and strange omens. Merliss often does not know which of the woods’ magical creatures she can trust, and she is not able to communicate with the cunning men beyond the means of a normal cat. But Merliss is no normal cat.
Merliss’ story is one full of danger, uncertainty, and change. Few places are safe for a little gray cat. Sloats, pookas, and a water goblin make it impossible for Merliss to pass through the woods without incident. The people in need of the cunning men’s healing treat Merliss as a pest at best. Yet Merliss uses her wits, innate cat abilities, and hints of magic to save those she is loyal to.
The Great Contagion is an exciting story whether or not you’re a cat lover. There is danger and action aplenty in this well-paced tale. The characters all feel real and grabbed my interest from the very beginning.
Merliss’ story is one full of danger, uncertainty, and change. Few places are safe for a little gray cat. Sloats, pookas, and a water goblin make it impossible for Merliss to pass through the woods without incident. The people in need of the cunning men’s healing treat Merliss as a pest at best. Yet Merliss uses her wits, innate cat abilities, and hints of magic to save those she is loyal to.
The Great Contagion is an exciting story whether or not you’re a cat lover. There is danger and action aplenty in this well-paced tale. The characters all feel real and grabbed my interest from the very beginning.
January 3, 2020
Step back into the imaginative Witch Lands fantasy world in THE GREAT CONTAGION, a prequel to Jeff Chapman's CAT SIDHE. Merliss has the body of a cat but the spirit of a girl, and no human language to communicate with her human companions, a healer called the cunning man and his apprentice. When a terrible disease begins to spread across the land, Merliss pushes both the cat side and the human one to the limits in order to find a cure. Full of dynamic magical and non-magical characters, this is a tale not to be missed!
June 11, 2020
Delightful Fantasy Adventure!
Merliss, our heroine, is a centuries old cat with the heart of a shaman girl trapped inside. Her unique talents aid the ‘cunning man’ and his apprentice as they try finding a cure for the plague that’s killing people. Mr Chapman has built a unique world blending magic, suspense, Fae legends, herbal medicine, heartwarming characters, unusual creatures, an evil sheriff and a twist ending into a totally captivating tale. I look forward to reading more of Merliss’s adventures. I received an audio book as a gift and am happy to recommend this book. Enjoy!
Merliss, our heroine, is a centuries old cat with the heart of a shaman girl trapped inside. Her unique talents aid the ‘cunning man’ and his apprentice as they try finding a cure for the plague that’s killing people. Mr Chapman has built a unique world blending magic, suspense, Fae legends, herbal medicine, heartwarming characters, unusual creatures, an evil sheriff and a twist ending into a totally captivating tale. I look forward to reading more of Merliss’s adventures. I received an audio book as a gift and am happy to recommend this book. Enjoy!
February 11, 2020
Chapman is an exceptional story teller - a wordsmith who specializes in characterization and world building all the while weaving together an immersive tale that captures the imagination and transports the reader to a land where magic and fae and legend abound. If you love fairy tales and the creatures of yore and myth, this magical fantasy featuring Merliss the Cat comes highly recommended. I've read a number of Chapman's stories, which are always good, and this had me completely engrossed.
September 22, 2020
I love cats! This book was amazing. Very sad was the part where they were killing and trying to down the cats...
October 29, 2020
If you are a cat lover, you will love The Great Contagion no matter your age. The author, Jeff Chapman, does a magnificent job describing things from a cat’s perspective. His writing truly shines when he is describing her motivations and cat-like behavior. If he wasn’t a cat in another life, he must be a great lover of cats. I imagine him a man who daydreams what his cats are thinking about as they lounge by a warm fire and purr at his scratches.
If I review this book as a middle-grade book, I think it is fantastic. It pushes the boundaries and brings in some interesting themes. If you like the Magic Tree House series, you will love this book. 5 stars
I struggled with the review for this book more than I have any other book. This book is touted to be a YA fantasy. But alas, it is not. I will admit that it rides the line between middle grade and YA, but it tips more to the middle-grade side of the fence. You could easily replace the two main characters in any Magic Tree House book with this cat, and she would fit right in. I really think that says it all right there.
What is missing from the book? What would make it more YA? Relationships for one. While the cat is a fascinating character, she doesn’t spend very much time in one place. Therefore, you don’t see her building or deepening relationships. The strongest relationship that she has is with the house that she lives in.
If I review this book as a YA fantasy, it is missing the elements that make me love YA. While the cat is fascinating, she is constantly driven by the action around her. Her best moments come at the end of the book when she finally takes charge to save her fellow cats. 3 stars
Jannie Meisberger narrates this book to perfection! She adds so much to the book. I cannot imagine anyone else narrating this book.
Source: I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
If I review this book as a middle-grade book, I think it is fantastic. It pushes the boundaries and brings in some interesting themes. If you like the Magic Tree House series, you will love this book. 5 stars
I struggled with the review for this book more than I have any other book. This book is touted to be a YA fantasy. But alas, it is not. I will admit that it rides the line between middle grade and YA, but it tips more to the middle-grade side of the fence. You could easily replace the two main characters in any Magic Tree House book with this cat, and she would fit right in. I really think that says it all right there.
What is missing from the book? What would make it more YA? Relationships for one. While the cat is a fascinating character, she doesn’t spend very much time in one place. Therefore, you don’t see her building or deepening relationships. The strongest relationship that she has is with the house that she lives in.
If I review this book as a YA fantasy, it is missing the elements that make me love YA. While the cat is fascinating, she is constantly driven by the action around her. Her best moments come at the end of the book when she finally takes charge to save her fellow cats. 3 stars
Jannie Meisberger narrates this book to perfection! She adds so much to the book. I cannot imagine anyone else narrating this book.
Source: I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
July 30, 2023
This is a mesmerizing book about the adventures of a cat/human/shaman in the midst of a contagion. Merliss weaves through the fantasy world created by Chapman, using her vast knowledge of the universe and extrasensory perception to accomplish what mere humans can’t.
Everything is brought to life in Chapman’s narration - “plants whispered among themselves in dry, husky voices” – and Merliss sees them all: the rivers, trees, leaves, the air. In a stunning sensory journey of sights, sounds, smells, and touch, we follow her through the joys and perils of her mission to take care of and protect all life.
There is a plethora of fascinating creatures: shapeshifting pookas, water goblins – giant salamanders with "backward slanting teeth and claws", tree spirits, ogres. And Merliss does whatever it takes to fulfill her role, including biting off a water goblin’s eyeballs – yech. Yes, there is lots of gory detail when appropriate for those who seek it.
I was continually amazed and charmed by Chapman’s creative and unique use of figurative language - “the decades weighed on him like stones crushing a condemned man.” Wow. The action as Merliss zipped in and out of trouble and different settings was also vividly and skillfully described.
I would give this book 5 stars just for the writing. However, I think the “contagion”, which was the title of the book and gives the impression that will be the main storyline, gets lost in Merliss’ exploits. I would have liked to have seen that more developed. By the middle of the book, the detailed descriptions almost became a little tiresome and I found myself getting impatient for news of the contagion.
Otherwise, a very enjoyable read.
Everything is brought to life in Chapman’s narration - “plants whispered among themselves in dry, husky voices” – and Merliss sees them all: the rivers, trees, leaves, the air. In a stunning sensory journey of sights, sounds, smells, and touch, we follow her through the joys and perils of her mission to take care of and protect all life.
There is a plethora of fascinating creatures: shapeshifting pookas, water goblins – giant salamanders with "backward slanting teeth and claws", tree spirits, ogres. And Merliss does whatever it takes to fulfill her role, including biting off a water goblin’s eyeballs – yech. Yes, there is lots of gory detail when appropriate for those who seek it.
I was continually amazed and charmed by Chapman’s creative and unique use of figurative language - “the decades weighed on him like stones crushing a condemned man.” Wow. The action as Merliss zipped in and out of trouble and different settings was also vividly and skillfully described.
I would give this book 5 stars just for the writing. However, I think the “contagion”, which was the title of the book and gives the impression that will be the main storyline, gets lost in Merliss’ exploits. I would have liked to have seen that more developed. By the middle of the book, the detailed descriptions almost became a little tiresome and I found myself getting impatient for news of the contagion.
Otherwise, a very enjoyable read.
March 20, 2022
Merliss is a witch trapped in a cat’s body, has been for generations, living in the house occupied by healer after healer in a version of Cornwall where humans have lost the knack of magic but other creatures still know the secrets. Human politics concern the peasants versus the imperious Anglii overlords, while the magical realm’s politics concern forces which are only hinted at. Great, I’m hooked, bring it on.
And the first half of the book does a great job of doing just that. Merliss’s dual cat/witch nature is handled excellently, as is her fundamental frustration of knowing far more than the healers she attempts to lead to solutions. Frustration intensified by the arrival of the plague. As bodies pile up, and the magical realm’s politics become more fraught, she tries to find solutions.
I love the descriptions of the place and the magical creatures. The language is evocative and inventive, and the magic is dealt with carefully and well. It’s a lovely world to visit.
However, I felt that after the halfway point the story comes a little easy. The plague never threatens the healers, the human characters have little nuance, and suddenly we’re in a situation where all the surviving peasants are simply portrayed as hateful idiots. The rest of the book is still exciting because we’re hoping for a turnaround but everything stays two-dimensional until the end. Which is a pity because Merliss has a lot of dramatic life left in her but needs a more complex story to do her justice.
And the first half of the book does a great job of doing just that. Merliss’s dual cat/witch nature is handled excellently, as is her fundamental frustration of knowing far more than the healers she attempts to lead to solutions. Frustration intensified by the arrival of the plague. As bodies pile up, and the magical realm’s politics become more fraught, she tries to find solutions.
I love the descriptions of the place and the magical creatures. The language is evocative and inventive, and the magic is dealt with carefully and well. It’s a lovely world to visit.
However, I felt that after the halfway point the story comes a little easy. The plague never threatens the healers, the human characters have little nuance, and suddenly we’re in a situation where all the surviving peasants are simply portrayed as hateful idiots. The rest of the book is still exciting because we’re hoping for a turnaround but everything stays two-dimensional until the end. Which is a pity because Merliss has a lot of dramatic life left in her but needs a more complex story to do her justice.
April 7, 2023
The narrator is in the head of a woman (the spirit of a centuries-old shaman), who is in the head of a cat. That makes for an interesting reading experience. Most of the time, the woman is in control; sometimes the cat is in control, especially when mice are involved in the story. There are also flashes from a past when the woman was a young girl, training to become a shaman. This is a story of magic, old gods, evil spreading around. It’s tense. There is a good touch of humor, too. It’s not dark humor, and it balances well that bad tension. There is also a little too much detail in some tense situations.
Merliss, the cat-woman, lives in the house of Hailaird, a cunning man (the new name of the old shamans) and her friend. Trapped inside the cat, Merliss can’t speak; that doesn’t impair her ability to think.. Passing her knowledge to the old man and his apprentice becomes frustrating at times. There are several magic creatures in the novel (Slynid, the pooka walking in a stoat form, is an interesting character), but magic is there only to grease the wheels of the story; it’s the story which counts.
Led by a malevolent god, the plague and evil creatures come and take lives away. As Hailaird is aging, it becomes Merliss’s task to save the world. It makes for a wonderful adventure.
Merliss, the cat-woman, lives in the house of Hailaird, a cunning man (the new name of the old shamans) and her friend. Trapped inside the cat, Merliss can’t speak; that doesn’t impair her ability to think.. Passing her knowledge to the old man and his apprentice becomes frustrating at times. There are several magic creatures in the novel (Slynid, the pooka walking in a stoat form, is an interesting character), but magic is there only to grease the wheels of the story; it’s the story which counts.
Led by a malevolent god, the plague and evil creatures come and take lives away. As Hailaird is aging, it becomes Merliss’s task to save the world. It makes for a wonderful adventure.
August 29, 2023
In reading The Great Contagion, I couldn’t help but be reminded of E.T.A. Hoffmann’s “The Life and Opinions of the Tomcat Murr.” The story is told through the eyes of a cat, although not just any ordinary cat. The main character- Merliss - is an ancient sorceress who has been trapped inside a cat’s body. When monsters and a plague come to trouble the world, Merliss must use her knowledge of magic to help the humans defeat the evil. I normally don’t read fantasy novels, so it is difficult to comment on how this compares with others in the genre. Chapman’s skill at world-building is quite good. He seems to avoid familiar tropes and creates original creatures that draw you into the story. There are also some comedic elements as well. Overall, I found some of the story a bit weak as we come to learn about both the human and magical worlds, with Merliss and his friends serving as heroes that have to save the helpless peasants of the land. I felt that other characters could have been fleshed out more to add some depth. However, not being a reader of fantasy, I can say that this book was entertaining and kept me reading.
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