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Swashbuckling Cats: Nine Lives on the Seven Seas
If you think cats and water don’t mix, think again.
Plunge into worlds of piratical cats: on ships, in space, and beyond the veil.
Fourteen "tails" of adventure-loving cats, puns, and fun, featuring: Beth Cato; Krista D. Ball; Rebecca Brae; Grace Bridges; Lizz Donnelly; Megan Fennell; Chadwick Ginther; Joseph Halden; Blake Liddell; Frances Pauli; JB Riley; Rose Strickman; Leslie Van Zwol; and SG Wong.
Plunge into worlds of piratical cats: on ships, in space, and beyond the veil.
Fourteen "tails" of adventure-loving cats, puns, and fun, featuring: Beth Cato; Krista D. Ball; Rebecca Brae; Grace Bridges; Lizz Donnelly; Megan Fennell; Chadwick Ginther; Joseph Halden; Blake Liddell; Frances Pauli; JB Riley; Rose Strickman; Leslie Van Zwol; and SG Wong.
272 pages, Kindle Edition
First published May 26, 2020
15 people are currently reading
155 people want to read
About the author
Rhonda Parrish
106 books243 followersRhonda Parrish has the attention span of a magpie. Not only can she not focus on a single project at a time, but she also fails at sticking to one genre or even one type of writing (she does manage to stay true to one hockey team, though – Let’s go Oilers!). Perhaps best known for her work as an anthology editor – the Ottawa Review of Books called her “Canada’s best-known and most prolific speculative fiction anthologist” – Rhonda also works as a short story writer, novelist, game writer and a poet. She has been honoured to be included in a handful of ‘Best of’ anthologies, earn a coveted starred review from Publisher’s Weekly and be shortlisted for several awards including the Rhysling Award, the Aurora Award, the Dwarf Stars Award and Alberta Book Publishing Awards.
Most of her work falls under the speculative fiction umbrella but she has also penned paranormal non-fiction and non-speculative work.
In an effort to impose some order in her chaos, these days most of her short fiction and poetry is published directly through her Patreon https://www.patreon.com/c/RhondaParrish .
More information about her, updates and calls for submission are posted on her website http://www.rhondaparrish.com/home/.
Most of her work falls under the speculative fiction umbrella but she has also penned paranormal non-fiction and non-speculative work.
In an effort to impose some order in her chaos, these days most of her short fiction and poetry is published directly through her Patreon https://www.patreon.com/c/RhondaParrish .
More information about her, updates and calls for submission are posted on her website http://www.rhondaparrish.com/home/.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 53 reviews
May 24, 2020
Perhaps it’s because I am not much of a cat lover, as I found it difficult to become immersed in this collection of pirate felines. The actual writing of each author was good and a few of the story plotlines stood apart from the rest.
My favorite story? That had to be Rose Strikman’s “Cat at the Helm, a blend of cat-fantasy, magic, and virtual reality. A close second was “The Furgeldt Collector.” Law officer Marshmallow Mittens had already lived eight lives, and the struggle between duty and not putting the ninth and final life in jeopardy is only the first hurdle in Joseph Halden’s story. “Buccaneer’s Revenge” by JB Riley brought a few smiles to my face with the constant puns and clever twists on names and places. Megan Fennell’s “The Pride” is a story of redemption and the battle to return to where you really belong.
Okay, maybe some of the stories did grab my attention. And if I overlook a lifetime dedicated to being a dog lover, this collection deserves at least three-and-a-half stars. When you include the talented writing exhibited by all the authors, it’s easy to round that to four.
My thanks to NetGalley and Tyche Books for a complimentary electronic copy of this book.
My favorite story? That had to be Rose Strikman’s “Cat at the Helm, a blend of cat-fantasy, magic, and virtual reality. A close second was “The Furgeldt Collector.” Law officer Marshmallow Mittens had already lived eight lives, and the struggle between duty and not putting the ninth and final life in jeopardy is only the first hurdle in Joseph Halden’s story. “Buccaneer’s Revenge” by JB Riley brought a few smiles to my face with the constant puns and clever twists on names and places. Megan Fennell’s “The Pride” is a story of redemption and the battle to return to where you really belong.
Okay, maybe some of the stories did grab my attention. And if I overlook a lifetime dedicated to being a dog lover, this collection deserves at least three-and-a-half stars. When you include the talented writing exhibited by all the authors, it’s easy to round that to four.
My thanks to NetGalley and Tyche Books for a complimentary electronic copy of this book.
May 19, 2020
A huge thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing with me an eARC of this book in exchange for an honest review!
Wow, what a book! 4,5/5, the average of my ratings for each story! (Technically 4,36 but shush.)
I really enjoyed this book even though I seem to struggle with short stories, in terms of picking the book back up after finishing one. These stories were just a joy to read and ranged from the ridiculous to the extremely dark. Of many, I'd gladly take a whole novel, a series, or even just a novella!
Would definitely recommend this anthology as a whole!
I wrote a bit for each story so I could keep them separate in my mind, and not blur them all together, but some will have some spoiler(y) things in them, so be sure to be careful when opening the spoiler tags!
The Pride by Megan Fennell:
4.5-5/5
I WANT MOOREEE. I loved Kit and his determination. His guilt. His love. Also Felix! What a wonderfully unexpected way to start this anthology off! Unexpected how? It's from the POV of a jackal shapeshifter, who has a history with a crew of cat shapeshifters!
The Comeback Kitty by S.G. Wong:
3.5/5
I struggled with this one somehow, but I loved the world. Skyships and clockworks? Awesome! I just didn’t really connect as Kit was just not the nicest character. Like, at all. I really felt for the girl. Love that the Queen’s name is Kat though- Dutch for cat!
The Motley Crew by Rebecca Brae:
5/5
None of the stories so far have been what I had expected of this anthology but this one was amazing. I had an idea what the cat was after but it broke my heart all the same because it was worse than I had thought. The ending is 👌
Whiti te Ra (Let the sun shine) by Grace Bridges:
3/5
I loved the Maori mythology and the story started strong. Sadly it didn’t last and the ending was disappointing. Reading this back I think it might even be more of a 2-2,5 rating.
The Growing of the Green by Lizz Donnelly:
5/5
Badass cats in space? Badass female captain? Besting a snotty male cat? HELLYEAH! I absolutely loved her!
The Cat and the Cook by Blake Liddell:
4.5/5
The cat was mean, but really she was just being a cat with magical abilities to do what she wanted. I love her relationship with Tabitha and I really want to read about their adventures! Also, Cat’s love for cheese is the best thing ever. I related.
Pirates Only Love Treasure by Frances Pauli:
5/5
Just wow. It starts off so dark and deep and depressing and you just wonder why and how. But then things don’t go according to Alex’ plan and the story moves in an entirely different direction with a happy ending. Predictable perhaps, but wonderful all the same! I’d love to read more about them!
Buccaneer’s Revenge by JB Riley:
4/5
Not entirely sure why they chose this set up, instead of just focusing on Gus, but I loved the glimpse we got of his story and all the catified names! Now give me that novelization, because this wasn't nearly enough!
The Furgeldt Collector by Joseph Halden:
4.5/5
Long, but brilliant! Due to the length it felt like a more properly fleshed out story and it just sucked me in. The entire world and how things go, and the explanation of the nine lives. Not a full 5 stars due to the constant use of ‘me’ instead of ‘my’, but a serious favorite!
Cat Out of Hell by Leslie van Zwol:
4/5
I’m always here for different worlds and traveling between them; and then turning into a cat! Also the Egyptian mythology was great- I'm a sucker for mythology so this anthology really hit the right spots. Unfortunately there was quite a graphic sacrificial suicide with a hint at a past attempt that really could have used a warning.
The Perfect Kibble by Krista D. Ball:
3/5
This story really needed some more proper editing, the mistakes were just cringeworthy. I liked the format of this one, though, and Tinks is a new favorite cat of mine. The ending was just a disappointment as I felt it added nothing to the story except to try and create intrigue. Which it didn’t do, nor needed. It just caused a massive eye roll. Shame.
All Cats Go to Valhalla by Chadwick Ginther:
5/5
Cats at sea, not humanoid but actual cat-cats, with Norse mythology, a mystery, and Amazing!
Cat at the Helm by Rose Strickman:
5/5
What comes around goes around! The ending literally had me going 'hehehehe'. Though I wonder what on Earth happened to make her want to kill them?? Seems a bit extreme! The idea of these kinds of products sounds great, though, like Virtual Reality 2.0!
A Royal Saber’s Work is Never Done by Beth Cato:
5/5
I simply want more of this! I want to know their past and their future, too. I want to know everything, their entire story! I want to hug them and keep them safe. I love them 😭
Wow, what a book! 4,5/5, the average of my ratings for each story! (Technically 4,36 but shush.)
I really enjoyed this book even though I seem to struggle with short stories, in terms of picking the book back up after finishing one. These stories were just a joy to read and ranged from the ridiculous to the extremely dark. Of many, I'd gladly take a whole novel, a series, or even just a novella!
Would definitely recommend this anthology as a whole!
I wrote a bit for each story so I could keep them separate in my mind, and not blur them all together, but some will have some spoiler(y) things in them, so be sure to be careful when opening the spoiler tags!
The Pride by Megan Fennell:
4.5-5/5
I WANT MOOREEE. I loved Kit and his determination. His guilt. His love. Also Felix! What a wonderfully unexpected way to start this anthology off! Unexpected how? It's from the POV of a jackal shapeshifter, who has a history with a crew of cat shapeshifters!
The Comeback Kitty by S.G. Wong:
3.5/5
I struggled with this one somehow, but I loved the world. Skyships and clockworks? Awesome! I just didn’t really connect as Kit was just not the nicest character. Like, at all. I really felt for the girl. Love that the Queen’s name is Kat though- Dutch for cat!
The Motley Crew by Rebecca Brae:
5/5
None of the stories so far have been what I had expected of this anthology but this one was amazing. I had an idea what the cat was after but it broke my heart all the same because it was worse than I had thought. The ending is 👌
Whiti te Ra (Let the sun shine) by Grace Bridges:
3/5
I loved the Maori mythology and the story started strong. Sadly it didn’t last and the ending was disappointing. Reading this back I think it might even be more of a 2-2,5 rating.
The Growing of the Green by Lizz Donnelly:
5/5
Badass cats in space? Badass female captain? Besting a snotty male cat? HELLYEAH! I absolutely loved her!
The Cat and the Cook by Blake Liddell:
4.5/5
The cat was mean, but really she was just being a cat with magical abilities to do what she wanted. I love her relationship with Tabitha and I really want to read about their adventures! Also, Cat’s love for cheese is the best thing ever. I related.
Pirates Only Love Treasure by Frances Pauli:
5/5
Just wow. It starts off so dark and deep and depressing and you just wonder why and how. But then things don’t go according to Alex’ plan and the story moves in an entirely different direction with a happy ending. Predictable perhaps, but wonderful all the same! I’d love to read more about them!
Buccaneer’s Revenge by JB Riley:
4/5
Not entirely sure why they chose this set up, instead of just focusing on Gus, but I loved the glimpse we got of his story and all the catified names! Now give me that novelization, because this wasn't nearly enough!
The Furgeldt Collector by Joseph Halden:
4.5/5
Long, but brilliant! Due to the length it felt like a more properly fleshed out story and it just sucked me in. The entire world and how things go, and the explanation of the nine lives. Not a full 5 stars due to the constant use of ‘me’ instead of ‘my’, but a serious favorite!
Cat Out of Hell by Leslie van Zwol:
4/5
I’m always here for different worlds and traveling between them; and then turning into a cat! Also the Egyptian mythology was great- I'm a sucker for mythology so this anthology really hit the right spots. Unfortunately there was quite a graphic sacrificial suicide with a hint at a past attempt that really could have used a warning.
The Perfect Kibble by Krista D. Ball:
3/5
This story really needed some more proper editing, the mistakes were just cringeworthy. I liked the format of this one, though, and Tinks is a new favorite cat of mine. The ending was just a disappointment as I felt it added nothing to the story except to try and create intrigue. Which it didn’t do, nor needed. It just caused a massive eye roll. Shame.
All Cats Go to Valhalla by Chadwick Ginther:
5/5
Cats at sea, not humanoid but actual cat-cats, with Norse mythology, a mystery, and Amazing!
Cat at the Helm by Rose Strickman:
5/5
What comes around goes around! The ending literally had me going 'hehehehe'. Though I wonder what on Earth happened to make her want to kill them?? Seems a bit extreme! The idea of these kinds of products sounds great, though, like Virtual Reality 2.0!
A Royal Saber’s Work is Never Done by Beth Cato:
5/5
I simply want more of this! I want to know their past and their future, too. I want to know everything, their entire story! I want to hug them and keep them safe. I love them 😭
Read
May 28, 2020Nice, mostly family-friendly anthology with stories that would lend themselves to homeschool projects. PG10 due to battle scenes.
The Pride by Megan Fennellis about the beached ex-pirate Kit who is a jackal shifter and the ship *Pride* is a longer read for this anthology, taking a little over an hour.
The Comeback Kitty by S.G. Wong is a family-friendly quick read about Kit the ghost cat and 13-year-old orphan Ying the junior coaler.
The Motley Crew by Rebecca Brae is another family-friendly quick read about Captain Nereyda of *Destiny's Scourge* and the contents of a crate.
Whiti te Rae (Let the sun shine) by Grace Bridges is a REALLY quick read about the yellow cat Sunshine on Lake Rotorua.
The Growing of the Green by Lizz Donnelly pitches O'Malley of Planet Emerald I-SLE in the 2-DOR solar system who specializes in growing 'nip against Elizahiss the First.
The Cat and the Cook by Blake Liddell features *The Slippery Haddock* and the big white cat.
Pirates Only Love Treasure by Frances Pauli is another long one, took me around 90 minutes, about the aging Alex the Red who just wants to be beached on a deserted island to die in peace.
Buccaneer's Revenge by JB Riley is satire and a longer read about a *Vanity Fur* article by Kit Chaton regarding Mr. Asparagus, reviving star of *Buccaneers 5: Read Beard's Revenge*.
The Furgeldt Collector by Joseph Halden is a longer tale and starts with Captain Powderpuff on the Great Lake forcing law cat Marshmallow Mittens to walk the plank.
Cat Out of Hell by Leslie Van Zwol: Nikki Selfish can read hieroglyphics and ends up shifting to a cat aboard the ship of Capt Cambrie called *Curiosity*. This is a darker read, PG15.
The Perfect Kibble by Krista D Ball deals with the HMS Dartmouth incident on February 19, 2019.
All Cats Go to Valhalla by Chadwick Ginther is a mystery about Kills-the-Sky and crew after the nightmare kills their human servants.
Cat at the Helm by Rose Stickland will put a smile on your face and only takes about twenty minutes.
A Royal Saber's Work Is Never Done by Beth Cato recounts the exploits of Elin the Royal Saber and takes about forty minutes.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
The Pride by Megan Fennellis about the beached ex-pirate Kit who is a jackal shifter and the ship *Pride* is a longer read for this anthology, taking a little over an hour.
The Comeback Kitty by S.G. Wong is a family-friendly quick read about Kit the ghost cat and 13-year-old orphan Ying the junior coaler.
The Motley Crew by Rebecca Brae is another family-friendly quick read about Captain Nereyda of *Destiny's Scourge* and the contents of a crate.
Whiti te Rae (Let the sun shine) by Grace Bridges is a REALLY quick read about the yellow cat Sunshine on Lake Rotorua.
The Growing of the Green by Lizz Donnelly pitches O'Malley of Planet Emerald I-SLE in the 2-DOR solar system who specializes in growing 'nip against Elizahiss the First.
The Cat and the Cook by Blake Liddell features *The Slippery Haddock* and the big white cat.
Pirates Only Love Treasure by Frances Pauli is another long one, took me around 90 minutes, about the aging Alex the Red who just wants to be beached on a deserted island to die in peace.
Buccaneer's Revenge by JB Riley is satire and a longer read about a *Vanity Fur* article by Kit Chaton regarding Mr. Asparagus, reviving star of *Buccaneers 5: Read Beard's Revenge*.
The Furgeldt Collector by Joseph Halden is a longer tale and starts with Captain Powderpuff on the Great Lake forcing law cat Marshmallow Mittens to walk the plank.
Cat Out of Hell by Leslie Van Zwol: Nikki Selfish can read hieroglyphics and ends up shifting to a cat aboard the ship of Capt Cambrie called *Curiosity*. This is a darker read, PG15.
The Perfect Kibble by Krista D Ball deals with the HMS Dartmouth incident on February 19, 2019.
All Cats Go to Valhalla by Chadwick Ginther is a mystery about Kills-the-Sky and crew after the nightmare kills their human servants.
Cat at the Helm by Rose Stickland will put a smile on your face and only takes about twenty minutes.
A Royal Saber's Work Is Never Done by Beth Cato recounts the exploits of Elin the Royal Saber and takes about forty minutes.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
June 5, 2020
Swashbuckling Cats – Nine Lives on the Seven Seas
Edited by Rhonda Parrish
Twitter as a tool for authors to brainstorm and collaborate…that is what I believe happened with this anthology of tales that star feline characters with rather human abilities…and sometimes magical ones, too. Allusions to multiple lives, friendship, piracy, love, families, ghosts and so much more…this was a fun read and one that kept me guessing. I thoroughly enjoyed the stories I read and plan to read the rest later.
I found The Pride a to be a tale of trust and belonging while some might consider it more about betrayal and friendship across cultures (wild dogs and cats). The next book had a hint of the oriental and was about managing to achieve a third life before disappearing forever occurred. There was one with the question of whether or not cats that die go on to Valhalla that reminded me of The Rainbow Bridge I hope my own cats crossed when they passed on. So many stories and fun ones, too.
I believe that those who enjoy cats and perhaps see them as “more” will enjoy this collection as much as I did.
Thank you to NetGalley and Tcyche Books for the ARC – This is my honest review.
4-5 Stars
Edited by Rhonda Parrish
Twitter as a tool for authors to brainstorm and collaborate…that is what I believe happened with this anthology of tales that star feline characters with rather human abilities…and sometimes magical ones, too. Allusions to multiple lives, friendship, piracy, love, families, ghosts and so much more…this was a fun read and one that kept me guessing. I thoroughly enjoyed the stories I read and plan to read the rest later.
I found The Pride a to be a tale of trust and belonging while some might consider it more about betrayal and friendship across cultures (wild dogs and cats). The next book had a hint of the oriental and was about managing to achieve a third life before disappearing forever occurred. There was one with the question of whether or not cats that die go on to Valhalla that reminded me of The Rainbow Bridge I hope my own cats crossed when they passed on. So many stories and fun ones, too.
I believe that those who enjoy cats and perhaps see them as “more” will enjoy this collection as much as I did.
Thank you to NetGalley and Tcyche Books for the ARC – This is my honest review.
4-5 Stars
May 27, 2020
I received a copy of this book from the Editor in exchange for an honest review.
Let’s just take a second to admire this wonderful cover. It is a piece of art by Sarah Dahlinger and it just the cutest thing ever, myar!!!!
And it is not just the cover that is amazing, but the idea of this anthology. A collection of stories about cats, and this is amazing, but there is more to it! Because we have not only cats but pirates too. How cool is that??? And I think that all of you can guess correctly!
We are presented with a rich collection of short stories, with different worlds, settings, mythologies, and writing, and all of them are unique and wonderful.
Truth be told, I haven’t loved all of them in the same way, some of them I loved, some I enjoyed and a couple of them weren’t really my cup of tea, but we have so many different stories, written by so many different authors, that this was expected. But all these stories have unique ideas and premises, and all of them are quite brilliant!
If you would embark in this adventure you would travel by sea, you would be on spaceships, you would find magic and technology, and you would met with ancient Egyptian Gods, but with some Norse Gods too. And you would encounter some magical creature. But most of all, you would be in the midst of cats, of every temperament and in every form. Cats, cats, and again… cats!
The only downside of this book was that it made me really miss my cat, or the one that currently owns my parents, to be more precise. I really miss that little furball dictator. She is a real tyrant, but we love her anyway!
But back to the anthology, this was a crazy adventure, and I enjoyed every moment I spent reading it. My favourite stories were:
A Royal Saber’s Work is Never Done by Beth Cato. I have this author on my TBR since forever, but I haven’t managed to read any of her books, so this short story was my first with her. And I loved it! The world in this one was captivating, and the story was quite a complete one. It was adventurous and it let you wonder about the past of her characters, but it gives you and ending top, and it was just the best ending!
The Perfect Kibble by Krista D. Ball. I discovered this author in April, with The Demons We See, and I loved that book. As I loved this short story. It was just so much fun. And so much on point. I mean, there is a twist in the end, but it was the most realistic portraits ever of how it is to live with a cat. It was just so real. And so damn fun. I laughed out loud while reading it! And if you have read, and loved, The Unadulterated Cat by Terry Pratchett, you would love this very short story!
Pirates Only Love Treasure by Frances Pauli. This one was the cutest story of all. It reminded me about when I first read Treasure Island as a kid, and it was just sweet and… cute! I loved this one, really!
The Growing of the Green by L. Donnelly. Pirates cats on spaceships. It was just too cool for words! And it left me wanting more. So much more! I loved the characters, the setting, and the story. You can’t really ask for more!!!!
This is a very peculiar anthology, with a ton of different and unique ideas, and it is full of cats! So I have no doubt that everyone can find something to love here, and it is a perfect companion for a couple of pleasant days!
Let’s just take a second to admire this wonderful cover. It is a piece of art by Sarah Dahlinger and it just the cutest thing ever, myar!!!!
And it is not just the cover that is amazing, but the idea of this anthology. A collection of stories about cats, and this is amazing, but there is more to it! Because we have not only cats but pirates too. How cool is that??? And I think that all of you can guess correctly!
We are presented with a rich collection of short stories, with different worlds, settings, mythologies, and writing, and all of them are unique and wonderful.
Truth be told, I haven’t loved all of them in the same way, some of them I loved, some I enjoyed and a couple of them weren’t really my cup of tea, but we have so many different stories, written by so many different authors, that this was expected. But all these stories have unique ideas and premises, and all of them are quite brilliant!
If you would embark in this adventure you would travel by sea, you would be on spaceships, you would find magic and technology, and you would met with ancient Egyptian Gods, but with some Norse Gods too. And you would encounter some magical creature. But most of all, you would be in the midst of cats, of every temperament and in every form. Cats, cats, and again… cats!
The only downside of this book was that it made me really miss my cat, or the one that currently owns my parents, to be more precise. I really miss that little furball dictator. She is a real tyrant, but we love her anyway!
But back to the anthology, this was a crazy adventure, and I enjoyed every moment I spent reading it. My favourite stories were:
A Royal Saber’s Work is Never Done by Beth Cato. I have this author on my TBR since forever, but I haven’t managed to read any of her books, so this short story was my first with her. And I loved it! The world in this one was captivating, and the story was quite a complete one. It was adventurous and it let you wonder about the past of her characters, but it gives you and ending top, and it was just the best ending!
The Perfect Kibble by Krista D. Ball. I discovered this author in April, with The Demons We See, and I loved that book. As I loved this short story. It was just so much fun. And so much on point. I mean, there is a twist in the end, but it was the most realistic portraits ever of how it is to live with a cat. It was just so real. And so damn fun. I laughed out loud while reading it! And if you have read, and loved, The Unadulterated Cat by Terry Pratchett, you would love this very short story!
Pirates Only Love Treasure by Frances Pauli. This one was the cutest story of all. It reminded me about when I first read Treasure Island as a kid, and it was just sweet and… cute! I loved this one, really!
The Growing of the Green by L. Donnelly. Pirates cats on spaceships. It was just too cool for words! And it left me wanting more. So much more! I loved the characters, the setting, and the story. You can’t really ask for more!!!!
This is a very peculiar anthology, with a ton of different and unique ideas, and it is full of cats! So I have no doubt that everyone can find something to love here, and it is a perfect companion for a couple of pleasant days!
Read
July 24, 2020Not a review. Includes my story "A Royal Saber's Work is Never Done."
May 31, 2020
Pirate cats. I’ll say it again Pirate Cats. This is an entire book about Pirate Cats. Imo you’re either sold by that from the start or not, but I’ll try to put into words how great having a book about pirate cats is.
I got an ARC from the publisher, which I only begged for out of impatience cause I had this baby on preorder minutes after I saw Krista D. Ball tweet about pirate cats.
I loved this anthology, all the different kinds of cats, from common house cats to shape shifters to bipedal human-sized cats. The settings also very wildy from ye olde pirate setting, to modern to space faring pirates. I really loved all the settings where cats had more lives, and how feline reincarnation was explored.
Usually with anthologies I only talk about a few stories I liked best, but in this case there was something I liked in each of them, so I’ll mention them all
The Pride by Megan Fennell
I thought this was a great choice for the opening story, even though the main character was not a cat, which was a tad confusing. I really liked how developed this story is, I always love it when a short story managed to give the sense of a complete world and rounded-out real characters. The main character's backstory, revealed only in small bits, but obviously important drew me in, I really felt for him. This story is set in what I'd call a classic pirate setting, with islands and ports controlled by different factions, ship to ship battles, and well, the added shape shifters.
The Comeback Kitty by S.G. Wong
This one features a manipulative ghost cat in a pretty steampunk setting, a quick reminder that cats can be furry little self-centered assholes. I really liked how very small scale and personal this story was.
The Motley Crew by Rebecca Brae
Ah, a pirate adventure on the high sea! Sailing fast to catch the prize. But wait, why is this dangerous cat on board, and why does she have such firm opinions about where the ship should sail? Contained an absolutely heartbreaking scene, but overall I liked it.
Whiti te Ra by Grace Bridges
Another one which is a reminder of cat's nature, this was a fun and quick modern day story, with a cunning and quick thinking kitty.
The Growing of the Green by Lizz Donnelly
Feature sword fighting space pirate cats, colonialism and cheesy puns. Yeah, I loved it.
The Cat and the Cook by Blake Liddell
I liked how this story gave me a strong sense of being there, on the ship. And the white fluffy monster sounded both evil and cute. I could also relate very well to the character's driving lust for adventure.
Pirates Only Love Treasure by Frances Pauli
The one involved a lot of sneaking around on an island and a heartwarming tale of a grumpy old cat who still had some life in him.
Buccaneer's revenge by JB Riley
With the gruesome opening scene I was sure I'd hate this one. But luckily there was a plot twist on page two, and it ended up being pretty fun, and had the most ridiculous puns.
The Furgeld Collector by Joseph Halden
I loved the worldbuilding here, the setting was interesting and a bit creepy. One of the stories where I found myself very invested in the outcome.
Cat Out of Hell by Leslie Van Zwol
This was took the most unexpected turns to me, so I don't want to talk too much about it and give it away. I wasn't that keen on the characters, but I loved the images.
The Perfect Kibble by Krista D. Ball
This is one of my favorites because the typical cat is exactly like our little furry assholes, that I have no doubt would cause the same mayhem, for the same reason.
“Your just a cat, as you say, caused three million dollar’s worth of damage to the patrol ship, the HMS Dartmouth.
Like I said, she’s a very typical cat”
All Cats Go to Valhalla by Chadwick Ginther
Probably the darkest story in the book, between the storm and the death and the creepy monster. In this case my favorite part was a pretty big spoiler, but it was cool.
Cat at the Helm by Rose Strickman
I was not expecting a witchy urban fantasy to sneak into this one, but of course, cats are the traditional witches' familiar! Loved the outcome here.
A Royal Saber’s Work is Never Done by Beth Cato
I thought this was such a good choice to end the anthology. It was a story that had it all, a sea battle, a developed main character with a lot of backstory, a lot of context about the greater world, danger, and a hint of romance.
I got an ARC from the publisher, which I only begged for out of impatience cause I had this baby on preorder minutes after I saw Krista D. Ball tweet about pirate cats.
I loved this anthology, all the different kinds of cats, from common house cats to shape shifters to bipedal human-sized cats. The settings also very wildy from ye olde pirate setting, to modern to space faring pirates. I really loved all the settings where cats had more lives, and how feline reincarnation was explored.
Usually with anthologies I only talk about a few stories I liked best, but in this case there was something I liked in each of them, so I’ll mention them all
The Pride by Megan Fennell
I thought this was a great choice for the opening story, even though the main character was not a cat, which was a tad confusing. I really liked how developed this story is, I always love it when a short story managed to give the sense of a complete world and rounded-out real characters. The main character's backstory, revealed only in small bits, but obviously important drew me in, I really felt for him. This story is set in what I'd call a classic pirate setting, with islands and ports controlled by different factions, ship to ship battles, and well, the added shape shifters.
The Comeback Kitty by S.G. Wong
This one features a manipulative ghost cat in a pretty steampunk setting, a quick reminder that cats can be furry little self-centered assholes. I really liked how very small scale and personal this story was.
The Motley Crew by Rebecca Brae
Ah, a pirate adventure on the high sea! Sailing fast to catch the prize. But wait, why is this dangerous cat on board, and why does she have such firm opinions about where the ship should sail? Contained an absolutely heartbreaking scene, but overall I liked it.
Whiti te Ra by Grace Bridges
Another one which is a reminder of cat's nature, this was a fun and quick modern day story, with a cunning and quick thinking kitty.
The Growing of the Green by Lizz Donnelly
Feature sword fighting space pirate cats, colonialism and cheesy puns. Yeah, I loved it.
The Cat and the Cook by Blake Liddell
I liked how this story gave me a strong sense of being there, on the ship. And the white fluffy monster sounded both evil and cute. I could also relate very well to the character's driving lust for adventure.
Pirates Only Love Treasure by Frances Pauli
The one involved a lot of sneaking around on an island and a heartwarming tale of a grumpy old cat who still had some life in him.
Buccaneer's revenge by JB Riley
With the gruesome opening scene I was sure I'd hate this one. But luckily there was a plot twist on page two, and it ended up being pretty fun, and had the most ridiculous puns.
The Furgeld Collector by Joseph Halden
I loved the worldbuilding here, the setting was interesting and a bit creepy. One of the stories where I found myself very invested in the outcome.
Cat Out of Hell by Leslie Van Zwol
This was took the most unexpected turns to me, so I don't want to talk too much about it and give it away. I wasn't that keen on the characters, but I loved the images.
The Perfect Kibble by Krista D. Ball
This is one of my favorites because the typical cat is exactly like our little furry assholes, that I have no doubt would cause the same mayhem, for the same reason.
“Your just a cat, as you say, caused three million dollar’s worth of damage to the patrol ship, the HMS Dartmouth.
Like I said, she’s a very typical cat”
All Cats Go to Valhalla by Chadwick Ginther
Probably the darkest story in the book, between the storm and the death and the creepy monster. In this case my favorite part was a pretty big spoiler, but it was cool.
Cat at the Helm by Rose Strickman
I was not expecting a witchy urban fantasy to sneak into this one, but of course, cats are the traditional witches' familiar! Loved the outcome here.
A Royal Saber’s Work is Never Done by Beth Cato
I thought this was such a good choice to end the anthology. It was a story that had it all, a sea battle, a developed main character with a lot of backstory, a lot of context about the greater world, danger, and a hint of romance.
April 29, 2020
4/5
If you have recently discovered a hole in your reading heart that only cat pirates can fill then rejoice; your days of waiting are over. Or hey, maybe you just want a quirky coffee table book, I won’t presume. True to its name, Swashbuckling Cats, is a fun romp of feline action and danger on the high seas.
Don’t be fooled by its piratey exterior though, within the pages of Swashbuckling cats you will find many forms of piracy from various eras and worlds. You will be confronted with stories of pirate cats, pirates confronted with cats, shapeshifting pirate cats, viking cats, steampunk ghost pirate cats, spaceship pirate cats, and many more. Emotional impacts of these stories range from comedic to tragic to adventurous.
The quality of the stories is fairly consistent, and I enjoyed seeing the different directions the authors went it despite the rather specific premise. My favorite stories tended to be the ones that uniquely took advantage of the setting, rather than just having cats that were also pirates but no one story stood out as disappointing or underwhelming.
My favorite story here was ‘Cat at the Helm’ by Rose Strickerman which was about a Magician’s cat that finds itself in the middle of a spell. The unique take on the premise and the vibrancy of the setting stood out to me. Although there are also a number of great runners up, so this anthology is at no shortage for imagination.
Thanks to Tyche books who provided me with an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.
If you have recently discovered a hole in your reading heart that only cat pirates can fill then rejoice; your days of waiting are over. Or hey, maybe you just want a quirky coffee table book, I won’t presume. True to its name, Swashbuckling Cats, is a fun romp of feline action and danger on the high seas.
Don’t be fooled by its piratey exterior though, within the pages of Swashbuckling cats you will find many forms of piracy from various eras and worlds. You will be confronted with stories of pirate cats, pirates confronted with cats, shapeshifting pirate cats, viking cats, steampunk ghost pirate cats, spaceship pirate cats, and many more. Emotional impacts of these stories range from comedic to tragic to adventurous.
The quality of the stories is fairly consistent, and I enjoyed seeing the different directions the authors went it despite the rather specific premise. My favorite stories tended to be the ones that uniquely took advantage of the setting, rather than just having cats that were also pirates but no one story stood out as disappointing or underwhelming.
My favorite story here was ‘Cat at the Helm’ by Rose Strickerman which was about a Magician’s cat that finds itself in the middle of a spell. The unique take on the premise and the vibrancy of the setting stood out to me. Although there are also a number of great runners up, so this anthology is at no shortage for imagination.
Thanks to Tyche books who provided me with an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.
April 28, 2020
I'll be honest, I did not have high expectations going into this book. I genuinely thought I would read a couple of stories and would likely DNF, but I wanted to try something different.
Oh my gosh, am I glad I tried it.this book is genuinely brilliant, there are no bad stories, only excellent ones, and good ones. Some of them really stayed with me after the story ended (in an anthology about pirate cats, I hear you ask ?!) Indeed!!
I genuinely recommend this to everyone, cat lovers or animals lovers alike, or even just fantasy lovers, this book is worth your time. I was saddened when I reached the end.
A very well deserved 5 stars.
Thank you to Netgalley for this ARC, in exchange for my honest opinion and review
#Netgalley #SwashbucklingCats
Oh my gosh, am I glad I tried it.this book is genuinely brilliant, there are no bad stories, only excellent ones, and good ones. Some of them really stayed with me after the story ended (in an anthology about pirate cats, I hear you ask ?!) Indeed!!
I genuinely recommend this to everyone, cat lovers or animals lovers alike, or even just fantasy lovers, this book is worth your time. I was saddened when I reached the end.
A very well deserved 5 stars.
Thank you to Netgalley for this ARC, in exchange for my honest opinion and review
#Netgalley #SwashbucklingCats
November 29, 2019
ARC -- so awesome!
May 26, 2020
Cats! How could I resist, lol. I saw the publisher talking about this on Twitter and knew I wanted it. I pre-ordered it and then I got a review copy. Cats on the seas, I was curious about this premise especially as house cats in the real world usually don't like water (there are a few big cats who enjoy the water). A few stories take place in outer space, which doesn't quite fit the premise, and several stories explored the belief that cats have nine lives. I liked most of the stories and there are few where I'd like to read more in that world. There are 14 stories so I'll given a 2 or 3 sentence review of each one.
The Pride by Megan Fennell - 3 stars. I liked this world. We had jackal shapeshifters, cat shapeshifters, cat pirates, jackal pirates, a M/M romance, and a wonderful story of redemption.
The Comeback Kitty by S.G. Wong - 2.5 stars. The writing was decent as was the world building, a mix of steampunk and science fiction, but it just didn't click with me. Kit was manipulative and single-minded, at times to the detriment of her human. This is one of the stories that deals with the nine lives of cats.
The Motley Crew by Rebecca Brae - 3 stars. A little weird and a little spooky, but I liked it. The pirates are humans but there's a domestic cat aboardship and a mysterious, magical jungle cat.
Whiti te Ra (Let the sun shine) by Grace Bridges - 3 stars. Also odd, but not spooky, it was magically mysterious. I didn't recognize the mythology but I'd like to know more. Not quite sure how it fits in a pirate anthology however since it lacked any pirates. But there is a cat.
The Growing of the Green by Lizz Donnelly - 2.5 stars Despite a kidnapping and intergalactic politics, the story lacked tension or any real conflict. I was never worried about the outcome. Decent world building but lacking in development, it was pleasant but not memorable.
The Cat and the Cook by Blake Liddell - 2 stars. I was so confused as to what was happening and why. There was a catnapping, some stalking and terrorizing, a supernatural cat and a human cook who was apparently something extra. In the end, the cat got her freedom back. Yay?
Pirates Only Love Treasure by Frances Pauli - 3.5 stars. This one had a semi-retired piratical cat, orphaned kittens, evil cat pirates, treasure, and enough action to be a true pirate story. It was sweet, a little sad, and dealt with the topic of death in a tender manner while still being an adventuresome story.
Buccaneer's Revenge by JB Riley - 2 stars. An odd mix of fantasy, history, and Hollywood. It just didn't work for me.
The Furgeldt Collector by Joseph Halden - 2 stars. Story-wise, this could be a 3 or 3.5 stars but I knocked it down because one character is deliberately set on fire and dies, and then later, there's another attempt at setting a character on fire, and I just couldn't. I mean, people can be evil and hey, these are pirate stories. Pirates are not nice people, but that was a level of violence I did not expect and did not like. The actual story? I liked it and the concept of furgeldt, which I believe is based on a real-life concept. Interesting world-building but by far the bloodiest and most violent of the stories.
Cat Out of Hell by Leslie Van Zwol - 3 stars. Egyptian mythology! Time travel! Body switching! Blood! Sacrifice! I was confused at first but slowly I caught on. It was different, and interesting.
The Perfect Kibble by Krista D. Ball - 4 stars Ball is one of my fave speculative fiction authors and one of the reasons I wanted this book. The story didn't disappoint. It takes places in space, and I wouldn't call either of the MCs a pirate but it was so funny I didn't care. Ball has cats, she knows cats, and Tinky is all cat. Or is she? Ball put in a twist at the end that completely surprised me.
All Cats Go to Valhalla by Chadwick Ginther - 3 stars. Nice use of Norse mythology. A little confusing at times but an original take on both pirating and the mythology.
Cat at the Helm by Rose Strickman - 3 stars. A good mix of magic and science fiction, the real world and a fantasy world via gaing. The cat portrayal was spot-on. I would like more in this world.
A Royal Saber's Work is Never Done by Beth Cato - 3 stars. Romance, politics, pirates! Enjoyable, exciting, and another world I'd like to see more of. I particularly liked the use of gray morals instead of black and white.
The Pride by Megan Fennell - 3 stars. I liked this world. We had jackal shapeshifters, cat shapeshifters, cat pirates, jackal pirates, a M/M romance, and a wonderful story of redemption.
The Comeback Kitty by S.G. Wong - 2.5 stars. The writing was decent as was the world building, a mix of steampunk and science fiction, but it just didn't click with me. Kit was manipulative and single-minded, at times to the detriment of her human. This is one of the stories that deals with the nine lives of cats.
The Motley Crew by Rebecca Brae - 3 stars. A little weird and a little spooky, but I liked it. The pirates are humans but there's a domestic cat aboardship and a mysterious, magical jungle cat.
Whiti te Ra (Let the sun shine) by Grace Bridges - 3 stars. Also odd, but not spooky, it was magically mysterious. I didn't recognize the mythology but I'd like to know more. Not quite sure how it fits in a pirate anthology however since it lacked any pirates. But there is a cat.
The Growing of the Green by Lizz Donnelly - 2.5 stars Despite a kidnapping and intergalactic politics, the story lacked tension or any real conflict. I was never worried about the outcome. Decent world building but lacking in development, it was pleasant but not memorable.
The Cat and the Cook by Blake Liddell - 2 stars. I was so confused as to what was happening and why. There was a catnapping, some stalking and terrorizing, a supernatural cat and a human cook who was apparently something extra. In the end, the cat got her freedom back. Yay?
Pirates Only Love Treasure by Frances Pauli - 3.5 stars. This one had a semi-retired piratical cat, orphaned kittens, evil cat pirates, treasure, and enough action to be a true pirate story. It was sweet, a little sad, and dealt with the topic of death in a tender manner while still being an adventuresome story.
Buccaneer's Revenge by JB Riley - 2 stars. An odd mix of fantasy, history, and Hollywood. It just didn't work for me.
The Furgeldt Collector by Joseph Halden - 2 stars. Story-wise, this could be a 3 or 3.5 stars but I knocked it down because one character is deliberately set on fire and dies, and then later, there's another attempt at setting a character on fire, and I just couldn't. I mean, people can be evil and hey, these are pirate stories. Pirates are not nice people, but that was a level of violence I did not expect and did not like. The actual story? I liked it and the concept of furgeldt, which I believe is based on a real-life concept. Interesting world-building but by far the bloodiest and most violent of the stories.
Cat Out of Hell by Leslie Van Zwol - 3 stars. Egyptian mythology! Time travel! Body switching! Blood! Sacrifice! I was confused at first but slowly I caught on. It was different, and interesting.
The Perfect Kibble by Krista D. Ball - 4 stars Ball is one of my fave speculative fiction authors and one of the reasons I wanted this book. The story didn't disappoint. It takes places in space, and I wouldn't call either of the MCs a pirate but it was so funny I didn't care. Ball has cats, she knows cats, and Tinky is all cat. Or is she? Ball put in a twist at the end that completely surprised me.
All Cats Go to Valhalla by Chadwick Ginther - 3 stars. Nice use of Norse mythology. A little confusing at times but an original take on both pirating and the mythology.
Cat at the Helm by Rose Strickman - 3 stars. A good mix of magic and science fiction, the real world and a fantasy world via gaing. The cat portrayal was spot-on. I would like more in this world.
A Royal Saber's Work is Never Done by Beth Cato - 3 stars. Romance, politics, pirates! Enjoyable, exciting, and another world I'd like to see more of. I particularly liked the use of gray morals instead of black and white.
May 23, 2020
I got a copy of the upcoming Swashbuckling Cats: Nine Lives on the Seven Seas from Tyche Books in exchange for an honest review. For me, rating short story collections is the worst. Some are the best! Some are super not. Overall, I enjoyed this collection but had one major quip that also really couldn’t be helped. The premise is that all the stories have pirates and cats. Sometimes the cats are the pirates. Sometimes the characters are shapeshifters who are both cat and pirate. Sometimes they are anthropomorphic cats. Sometimes humans are involved. It took some work for each story to figure out how the author was going about the premise, which made it harder to get into each story. By the time I figured out if these were house cats on a spaceship or anthropomorphic cats at sea, the story was almost over. Also! Lots of cat puns.
If you like cats and short stories and pirates in space and the sea, this is a collection for you!
"The Pride”- I love some good shapeshifters, so this tickled my fancies. I wish it was more than just a short story. I need to know what is between Kit and Felix, Kit and Umber. Where did Jess go? I love the world, the writing was great, and fun characters.
"The Comeback Kitty” - ghosts! airships! nine lives! again, i wish this was more substantial but i think that might just be something about short stories. not much room to work with.
“The Motely Crew: - eh, just fine. hard to understand the premise and the world
“Whiti te Ra” - myth based, well contained story. love the premise and the writing was nice
“The Growing of the Green” - another simple but deeply satisfying story. quick, to the point, funny. cats in space!
“The Cat and the Cook” - a favorite so far. doesn’t try to be fantasy, simplistic and satisfying
“Pirates Only Love Treasure” – old pirate wants to retire and die on an island, ends up father to three orphan kittens. That is my shit.
“Buccaneer’s Revenge” – at first I really didn’t like this story. Way too typical, I guess. Then after a page or two you realize it’s the set of a movie. Honestly, super interesting take on “pirates and cats” to have a cat actor who plays pirates.
“The Furgeldt Collector” – probably my favorite in terms of world building. Cats have nine lives, but they don’t always have the same body parts.
“Cat Out of Hell” – Pretty meh for me. Partially because for some reason I was sure I was reading the Valhalla story and so all the Egyptian stuff felt out of place. But without that, it was hard to figure out what was going on.
“The Perfect Kibble” – Super original and funny. Love the take on a cat on a ship, though technically no pirates in this one.
“All Cats Go To Valhalla” – Loved the Norse mythos of this story, though it took me a bit to figure out what was happening.
“Cat at the Helm” – probably my least favorite. Barely any pirates. But I am intrigued about a story told from the POV of a wizard’s familiar. That’s fun.
“A Royal Saber’s Work is Never Done” – Ok this was probably my least favorite. I still don’t understand the world in this. What is a royal saber? Why would her new people judge her for that? Super into the “welcome home” part of it. That’s a trope I love.
If you like cats and short stories and pirates in space and the sea, this is a collection for you!
"The Pride”- I love some good shapeshifters, so this tickled my fancies. I wish it was more than just a short story. I need to know what is between Kit and Felix, Kit and Umber. Where did Jess go? I love the world, the writing was great, and fun characters.
"The Comeback Kitty” - ghosts! airships! nine lives! again, i wish this was more substantial but i think that might just be something about short stories. not much room to work with.
“The Motely Crew: - eh, just fine. hard to understand the premise and the world
“Whiti te Ra” - myth based, well contained story. love the premise and the writing was nice
“The Growing of the Green” - another simple but deeply satisfying story. quick, to the point, funny. cats in space!
“The Cat and the Cook” - a favorite so far. doesn’t try to be fantasy, simplistic and satisfying
“Pirates Only Love Treasure” – old pirate wants to retire and die on an island, ends up father to three orphan kittens. That is my shit.
“Buccaneer’s Revenge” – at first I really didn’t like this story. Way too typical, I guess. Then after a page or two you realize it’s the set of a movie. Honestly, super interesting take on “pirates and cats” to have a cat actor who plays pirates.
“The Furgeldt Collector” – probably my favorite in terms of world building. Cats have nine lives, but they don’t always have the same body parts.
“Cat Out of Hell” – Pretty meh for me. Partially because for some reason I was sure I was reading the Valhalla story and so all the Egyptian stuff felt out of place. But without that, it was hard to figure out what was going on.
“The Perfect Kibble” – Super original and funny. Love the take on a cat on a ship, though technically no pirates in this one.
“All Cats Go To Valhalla” – Loved the Norse mythos of this story, though it took me a bit to figure out what was happening.
“Cat at the Helm” – probably my least favorite. Barely any pirates. But I am intrigued about a story told from the POV of a wizard’s familiar. That’s fun.
“A Royal Saber’s Work is Never Done” – Ok this was probably my least favorite. I still don’t understand the world in this. What is a royal saber? Why would her new people judge her for that? Super into the “welcome home” part of it. That’s a trope I love.
May 10, 2020
When I was a kid, we had a picture book called _The Ship's Cat_, a poem by Richard Adams about a cat who saves the crew of her ship from pirates. Although I don't remember the story particularly, the striking artwork by Alen Aldridge of the bold cat rescuing her ship has remained with me. This collection of short stories hits exactly the same spot, for me, as that picture book from my childhood.
The title is entirely accurate - this is a collection of stories about cats engaging in swashbuckling adventures. There are cats who are cats, and there are cats who act like people, and there are people who are cats, both intentionally and accidentally. There are cats on sailing ships, and cats on space ships, and cats on motor boats. There are cameos by Gus, the theater cat and Tad Williams' Bugeater.
The mix of tone and genre means that there's something in here for everyone. There's fantasy, sci-fi, a little horror, some crime writing, some humor - a little bit of everything. The writing throughout is top-notch. All of the stories left me wanting to see more in the individual settings, without leaving me unsatisfied. A well writtten and well edited collection - I thouroughly enjoyed it, and highly recommend it.
The title is entirely accurate - this is a collection of stories about cats engaging in swashbuckling adventures. There are cats who are cats, and there are cats who act like people, and there are people who are cats, both intentionally and accidentally. There are cats on sailing ships, and cats on space ships, and cats on motor boats. There are cameos by Gus, the theater cat and Tad Williams' Bugeater.
The mix of tone and genre means that there's something in here for everyone. There's fantasy, sci-fi, a little horror, some crime writing, some humor - a little bit of everything. The writing throughout is top-notch. All of the stories left me wanting to see more in the individual settings, without leaving me unsatisfied. A well writtten and well edited collection - I thouroughly enjoyed it, and highly recommend it.
April 25, 2020
I received an ARC of this collection from Tyche Books in exchange for an honest review.
I have to say, when I opened this, I was skeptical. I went in expecting a bunch of cutesy stories that I would roll my eyes at for a while before figuring out how to write a polite review. Instead I found some cute (not cutesy--big difference) stories brimming with a sense of genuine fun, adventure, and affection. There were quite a few clever variations on this incredibly specific theme, and some moments that made me want to go hug my own cats. I know I would have adored this book when I was a child.
On the negative side: the stories are somewhat uneven in quality, as often happens in anthologies. And I admit that I personally preferred the stories about shapeshifters and humans interacting with magical cats rather than the ones about actual anthropomorphic pirate cats, though that's purely a matter of taste. On the whole, though, this was a sweet collection I'm glad to have read.
I have to say, when I opened this, I was skeptical. I went in expecting a bunch of cutesy stories that I would roll my eyes at for a while before figuring out how to write a polite review. Instead I found some cute (not cutesy--big difference) stories brimming with a sense of genuine fun, adventure, and affection. There were quite a few clever variations on this incredibly specific theme, and some moments that made me want to go hug my own cats. I know I would have adored this book when I was a child.
On the negative side: the stories are somewhat uneven in quality, as often happens in anthologies. And I admit that I personally preferred the stories about shapeshifters and humans interacting with magical cats rather than the ones about actual anthropomorphic pirate cats, though that's purely a matter of taste. On the whole, though, this was a sweet collection I'm glad to have read.
July 27, 2020
As someone who loves cats and enjoys pirate stories, I felt like I had to read an anthology that combines these things. I like that the authors took pretty different approaches to the theme: the stories feature things like actual pirate cats, regular cats on pirate ships, cats in space ships and cats in a pirate-themed video game. However, the quality of the stories is a bit varied, which is almost always the case when it comes to short story collections.
April 14, 2020
Love cats and fantastic adventure? This is the book for you. It covers the gambit of emotions, from the lighthearted fun of "The Perfect Kibble" (a problem every cat owner can attest to) to the poignant "Pirates Only Love Treasure" to the dark Norse saga of "All Cats Go To Valhalla." The perfect antidote to being cooped up "in this spring of our discontent". (Sorry Shakespeare). Read it with your cats, read it to your cats. I received this book in exchange for a fair and unbiased review. >^..^<
September 27, 2021
This was, and I realise that's a petty complaint, less furry than I was expecting, with many of the cats accompanying their humans on the waves - although obviously the cats are in charge. I tended to prefer the stories with anthropomorphic cats, but there is watery feline fantasy for all tastes, ranging from Vikings to outer space - wherever piracy takes place and there are cats of some kind.
October 6, 2024
This was a good theme for an anthology and several of the stories in here were great, but I felt like most of the stories in here really needed more backstory or explanations. Especially any that were about anthropomorphic cats and also included humans and/or other anthropomorphic animals, because it took way longer than it should have to figure out who was a cat vs who was human or another animal.
July 8, 2025
Many of the stories in here are a blast to read!
June 23, 2020
I requested this book on Netgalley and I'm so glad I did!
As its name indicates, this book features feline pirates. Like most anthologies, this one was a mixed bag. Some stories stood out because of their world-building, plot, or characters and made me wish they could be turned into a novel. Others felt incomplete to me. Still others failed to make a mark.
For instance, the story, The Comeback Kitty, seemed muddled. Even by the time it ended, I was still confused about the object the cat wanted her human to steal. The Cat and the Cook, on the other hand, seemed like a finished product. The feline starring in it had mysteriousness and doing stuff just because it pleased him in just the right amounts — y’know the way all cats are!
All Cats Go to Valhalla was original and a fun read. The Pride presented an intriguing world that I’d like to see more of. I’ll say the same for A Royal Saber’s Work is Never Done.
I liked how clever The Perfect Kibble. And the puns in Buccaneer’s Revenge were good too, even if the story was okayish.
The Growing of the Green was fun, if forgettable. The same was true for Pirates Only Love Treasure and The Furgeldt Collector. Cat Out of Hell needed some more context. Whiti te Ra (Let the sun shine) didn’t do for me at all and neither did The Motley Crew or Cat at the Helm.
Like I said, a mixed bag!
May 16, 2020
This review was made possible by an ARC of the book that I received from the publisher. Nonetheless, my review is an attempt at portraying my honest opinion.
“PIRATE CATS!” was my mental cry of joy upon seeing the title, but don’t be fooled: this short story anthology has more than just stories about pirate cats. The authors interpreted the theme quite loosely, writing stories that included cats and ships in any way. The subgenres, settings, and tones of the stories vary quite broadly, which keeps them interesting. I was also quite pleased with how consistent the quality of the stories were: I enjoyed almost all them equally, which is unusual for an anthology.
The Pride (4/5) – The first story of the anthology was totally not what I was expecting. It’s a gritty story about shapeshifters and the personal journey of a jackal who was kicked off the ship of cats he served on, longing for redemption. Along the way, he gets tied up with a pack of jackals who do not take kindly to cats.
The Comeback Kitty (4/5) – This story is a sweeter one than the previous one, but still absolutely not cutesy and full of tension. It’s set in historical China and features a cat who has died and needs her human’s help to earn her Queen’s approval and the right to be resurrected.
The Motley Crew (4/5) – In this story, a gang of human pirates finds a strange stowaway who they are worried wants to eat them. Luckily for them, there is more to this cat than meets the eye, and it would just like their help with something. I loved the mystery that slowly unravels in this one.
Whiti te Ra (Let the sun shine) (4/5) – This one has the most homey feeling in the collection. It takes place in modern day New Zealand, on a small boat on a lake. The main character and her adopted stray cat both possess the ability to walk on water. What starts off as a seemingly calm, relaxing day on the lake with friends turns into something much more unexpected for our protagonists.
The Growing of the Green (4/5) – This is the first sci-fi story in the anthology. I loved how this story manages to be both a fun, tongue-in-cheek story about cats in space, while still tackling themes of colonialism and the British-Irish relations.
The Cat and the Cook (4/5) – When their ship’s cat dies, the crew in this story replaces it with an angry, vicious cat. The ship’s cook is the only one who manages to get on its good side. I was charmed by this tale of friendship and adventure.
Pirates Only Love Treasure (5/5) – In a world of cat-people, a pirate decides to retire by heading to an uninhabited island. Of course, the island turns out not to be the peaceful retirement destination that he was hoping for. This was an incredibly heart-warming and touching story, that I was delighted to read.
Buccaneer’s Revenge (4/5) – This is the most creative and original story in the anthology, yet it still managed to have the most of the pirate-feeling I was expecting. I loved how well the cat body language was done. Oh, and don’t get me started on the wonderful puns. I don’t want to go into any more detail, because this one is best going into blind.
The Furgeldt Collector (3/5) – In this story, our protagonist is a law cat who collects “furgeldt,” that is body parts of criminals to pay for their crimes and to help other cats in their resurrection. It’s full of action and has great world-building. This story didn’t grab me quite as much as the others, but was still an enjoyable read.
Cat Out of Hell (5/5) – Here is my personal favorite of the collection. It’s a portal fantasy with a lot of Egyptology worked in. It was exciting, fast-paced, and had a lot of personal drama and anguish. I couldn’t wait to see what happened next and loved how it was resolved.
The Perfect Kibble (5/5) – This one is another tale set in space, and it’s one that will make cat owners laugh in recognition. I loved how creatively the story was structured and unfolded. I’ve read Krista D. Ball’s work before, so I wasn’t surprised that I enjoyed this story so much.
All Cats Go to Valhalla (4/5) – This is another one that totally manages to set itself apart from the rest. It’s a dark, violent tale of Viking cats, murder, and legends.
Cat at the Helm (4/5) – I just loved this cozy, funny story. It’s a tale about a feline familiar, magical rivalries gone too far, and magically-powered VR games. The cat’s perspective is done here particularly well.
A Royal Saber’s Work is Never Done (5/5) – This was a great conclusion to the anthology. I love the mood in this one. It’s full of romance, adventure and political intrigue. The world-building is fantastic. It’s got everything I’d want in a naval cat story.
This anthology provides all the variety and depth I look for in a good anthology. While I am not sure if I’d called any of the individual stories award-worthy (though, I’ll have to keep a few favorites in mind for Hugo nominating season), this was a great anthology that truly shows off the breadth of the speculative fiction genre. I was genuinely surprised by how much I was still enjoying the stories at the end, having expected that even I, despite my love of cats and pirates, would start tiring of a seemingly narrow theme after a while. If anything, I enjoyed the later stories even more. The authors really took up the challenge and showed off how many interesting things you can do in speculative fiction with even such a specific topic.
This is a perfect little read for cat lovers looking for something to pass the time during the pandemic. I spent a number of happy hours reading these stories with a sleeping or purring cat my lap, as I’m sure you will too.
Recommended for: cat lovers who needs more felines in their speculative fiction, those who enjoy creative and unique themes in their short fiction
Not recommend for: people who aren’t charmed by these fuzzy felines or don’t enjoy speculative short fiction
“PIRATE CATS!” was my mental cry of joy upon seeing the title, but don’t be fooled: this short story anthology has more than just stories about pirate cats. The authors interpreted the theme quite loosely, writing stories that included cats and ships in any way. The subgenres, settings, and tones of the stories vary quite broadly, which keeps them interesting. I was also quite pleased with how consistent the quality of the stories were: I enjoyed almost all them equally, which is unusual for an anthology.
The Pride (4/5) – The first story of the anthology was totally not what I was expecting. It’s a gritty story about shapeshifters and the personal journey of a jackal who was kicked off the ship of cats he served on, longing for redemption. Along the way, he gets tied up with a pack of jackals who do not take kindly to cats.
The Comeback Kitty (4/5) – This story is a sweeter one than the previous one, but still absolutely not cutesy and full of tension. It’s set in historical China and features a cat who has died and needs her human’s help to earn her Queen’s approval and the right to be resurrected.
The Motley Crew (4/5) – In this story, a gang of human pirates finds a strange stowaway who they are worried wants to eat them. Luckily for them, there is more to this cat than meets the eye, and it would just like their help with something. I loved the mystery that slowly unravels in this one.
Whiti te Ra (Let the sun shine) (4/5) – This one has the most homey feeling in the collection. It takes place in modern day New Zealand, on a small boat on a lake. The main character and her adopted stray cat both possess the ability to walk on water. What starts off as a seemingly calm, relaxing day on the lake with friends turns into something much more unexpected for our protagonists.
The Growing of the Green (4/5) – This is the first sci-fi story in the anthology. I loved how this story manages to be both a fun, tongue-in-cheek story about cats in space, while still tackling themes of colonialism and the British-Irish relations.
The Cat and the Cook (4/5) – When their ship’s cat dies, the crew in this story replaces it with an angry, vicious cat. The ship’s cook is the only one who manages to get on its good side. I was charmed by this tale of friendship and adventure.
Pirates Only Love Treasure (5/5) – In a world of cat-people, a pirate decides to retire by heading to an uninhabited island. Of course, the island turns out not to be the peaceful retirement destination that he was hoping for. This was an incredibly heart-warming and touching story, that I was delighted to read.
Buccaneer’s Revenge (4/5) – This is the most creative and original story in the anthology, yet it still managed to have the most of the pirate-feeling I was expecting. I loved how well the cat body language was done. Oh, and don’t get me started on the wonderful puns. I don’t want to go into any more detail, because this one is best going into blind.
The Furgeldt Collector (3/5) – In this story, our protagonist is a law cat who collects “furgeldt,” that is body parts of criminals to pay for their crimes and to help other cats in their resurrection. It’s full of action and has great world-building. This story didn’t grab me quite as much as the others, but was still an enjoyable read.
Cat Out of Hell (5/5) – Here is my personal favorite of the collection. It’s a portal fantasy with a lot of Egyptology worked in. It was exciting, fast-paced, and had a lot of personal drama and anguish. I couldn’t wait to see what happened next and loved how it was resolved.
The Perfect Kibble (5/5) – This one is another tale set in space, and it’s one that will make cat owners laugh in recognition. I loved how creatively the story was structured and unfolded. I’ve read Krista D. Ball’s work before, so I wasn’t surprised that I enjoyed this story so much.
All Cats Go to Valhalla (4/5) – This is another one that totally manages to set itself apart from the rest. It’s a dark, violent tale of Viking cats, murder, and legends.
Cat at the Helm (4/5) – I just loved this cozy, funny story. It’s a tale about a feline familiar, magical rivalries gone too far, and magically-powered VR games. The cat’s perspective is done here particularly well.
A Royal Saber’s Work is Never Done (5/5) – This was a great conclusion to the anthology. I love the mood in this one. It’s full of romance, adventure and political intrigue. The world-building is fantastic. It’s got everything I’d want in a naval cat story.
This anthology provides all the variety and depth I look for in a good anthology. While I am not sure if I’d called any of the individual stories award-worthy (though, I’ll have to keep a few favorites in mind for Hugo nominating season), this was a great anthology that truly shows off the breadth of the speculative fiction genre. I was genuinely surprised by how much I was still enjoying the stories at the end, having expected that even I, despite my love of cats and pirates, would start tiring of a seemingly narrow theme after a while. If anything, I enjoyed the later stories even more. The authors really took up the challenge and showed off how many interesting things you can do in speculative fiction with even such a specific topic.
This is a perfect little read for cat lovers looking for something to pass the time during the pandemic. I spent a number of happy hours reading these stories with a sleeping or purring cat my lap, as I’m sure you will too.
Recommended for: cat lovers who needs more felines in their speculative fiction, those who enjoy creative and unique themes in their short fiction
Not recommend for: people who aren’t charmed by these fuzzy felines or don’t enjoy speculative short fiction
May 11, 2020
3 stars
This review is based on an ARC ebook received for free from NetGalley. I am not being paid to review this book and what I write here is my own opinion. My rating scale is below.
review
Upon seeing the cover of this book I was instantly reminded of Old Possum’s Book of Practical Cats, since the cat on the cover (which is stunning) was clearly Growltiger (of “Growltiger’s Last Stand”). With that sort of promising association to begin with, I was eager to sink my teeth into this anthology of short stories set around the theme of cats on the high seas.
The early stories are all very quick reads.There is a nice spread of cultures represented, although there is still a larger focus on Western European piracy. There is a story set in the southern hemisphere (New Zealand, maybe?) and one about Viking cats. Some are better than others, as is always the case in an anthology, though there were more stories that I liked than I didn’t like.
That said, Joseph Halden’s “The Furgeldt Collector” was the low point. In it, cats are set on fire, mutilated, and otherwise tortured. It was actually stomach-churning to read and absolutely not what I was here for. I cannot strongly enough suggest skipping it. The story immediately preceding it was also a disappointment (it’s a Hollywood-era re-imagining of Eliot’s Gus with Growltiger being his dream role with painful puns and cutesy name changes), but at least it wasn’t centered around the idea of cutting cats up as reparations.
Although it seems unlikely that any of these shorts will be nominated for awards, the anthology’s premise is charming enough, and the stories sufficiently well-told that I would have no problem recommending the book to someone who likes cats and fantasy writing, or anthology fans (those exist). And, again, that cover art - wow!
rating scale
1 star - I was barely able to finish it. I didn't like it.
2 stars - It was okay. I didn't dislike it.
3 stars - It was interesting. I liked it.
4 stars - It was excellent. I really liked it.
5 stars - It was extraordinary. I really hope the author wrote more things.
This review is based on an ARC ebook received for free from NetGalley. I am not being paid to review this book and what I write here is my own opinion. My rating scale is below.
review
Upon seeing the cover of this book I was instantly reminded of Old Possum’s Book of Practical Cats, since the cat on the cover (which is stunning) was clearly Growltiger (of “Growltiger’s Last Stand”). With that sort of promising association to begin with, I was eager to sink my teeth into this anthology of short stories set around the theme of cats on the high seas.
The early stories are all very quick reads.There is a nice spread of cultures represented, although there is still a larger focus on Western European piracy. There is a story set in the southern hemisphere (New Zealand, maybe?) and one about Viking cats. Some are better than others, as is always the case in an anthology, though there were more stories that I liked than I didn’t like.
That said, Joseph Halden’s “The Furgeldt Collector” was the low point. In it, cats are set on fire, mutilated, and otherwise tortured. It was actually stomach-churning to read and absolutely not what I was here for. I cannot strongly enough suggest skipping it. The story immediately preceding it was also a disappointment (it’s a Hollywood-era re-imagining of Eliot’s Gus with Growltiger being his dream role with painful puns and cutesy name changes), but at least it wasn’t centered around the idea of cutting cats up as reparations.
Although it seems unlikely that any of these shorts will be nominated for awards, the anthology’s premise is charming enough, and the stories sufficiently well-told that I would have no problem recommending the book to someone who likes cats and fantasy writing, or anthology fans (those exist). And, again, that cover art - wow!
rating scale
1 star - I was barely able to finish it. I didn't like it.
2 stars - It was okay. I didn't dislike it.
3 stars - It was interesting. I liked it.
4 stars - It was excellent. I really liked it.
5 stars - It was extraordinary. I really hope the author wrote more things.
May 19, 2020
As with all anthologies, this is a mixed bag. Some took the piratical theme literally, and these were mostly the best of the bunch, or maybe more what I was expecting.
Some were altogether different, featuring cats and boats or somehow adrift in some sort of way. The mix of scifi, general fantasy and pirate fantasy was a good one; it avoided any sense of tedium, and gave some contrast between stories.
Like Equus, and Chris Porteau's Tails of Dystopia, some of these stories sing long after the book is finished. The first features an animal that is not a cat, trying to make his way back onto the ship he calls home, when all the feline crew think he deserted them. It's a sparkling opener, and made me want to read more from the author, Megan Fennell. Confusingly, though, several authors had named their protagonist Kit. The editor did well to space them out a bit, but it still gave the brain a wrench.
Brilliant ideas abounded. Mixing pirates with time travel and Norse mythology. Getting stuck in some sort of Jumanji-like book. Near the end were two I particularly enjoyed, with a cat seeking to retire to a desert island that just happens to be the legendary store for another pirate's hoard... and a retired court Sabre (some sort of Musketeer, as I interpreted it), drawn into a final sortie to save her village. But the first three were the most scintillating, and deserved their place at the beginning. There's a little padding in the middle (although one I remember as it was so different), but with anthologies, you never know what's going to float your boat, and you never know what's going to come up next.
Provided you aren't allergic to cats, pirates or boats, you'll love this book!
Some were altogether different, featuring cats and boats or somehow adrift in some sort of way. The mix of scifi, general fantasy and pirate fantasy was a good one; it avoided any sense of tedium, and gave some contrast between stories.
Like Equus, and Chris Porteau's Tails of Dystopia, some of these stories sing long after the book is finished. The first features an animal that is not a cat, trying to make his way back onto the ship he calls home, when all the feline crew think he deserted them. It's a sparkling opener, and made me want to read more from the author, Megan Fennell. Confusingly, though, several authors had named their protagonist Kit. The editor did well to space them out a bit, but it still gave the brain a wrench.
Brilliant ideas abounded. Mixing pirates with time travel and Norse mythology. Getting stuck in some sort of Jumanji-like book. Near the end were two I particularly enjoyed, with a cat seeking to retire to a desert island that just happens to be the legendary store for another pirate's hoard... and a retired court Sabre (some sort of Musketeer, as I interpreted it), drawn into a final sortie to save her village. But the first three were the most scintillating, and deserved their place at the beginning. There's a little padding in the middle (although one I remember as it was so different), but with anthologies, you never know what's going to float your boat, and you never know what's going to come up next.
Provided you aren't allergic to cats, pirates or boats, you'll love this book!
June 6, 2020
Wonderful anthology of 14 short stories detailing cats on ships, in many different imaginative forms. As I love animals, cheese and adventure, it was a sure thing that I’d love this book. However, the stories are all such high caliber that they were easy to love.
My favourites were The Growing of the Green by Lizz Donnelly, about a space cat version of Gráinne O’Malley. A Royal Saber’s Work is Never Done by Beth Cato, which is amazing in world building and character development and I’d love Cato to revisit. The Furgeldt Collector by Joseph Halden, which is both deep and fun. The Cat and The Cook by Blake Liddell, which makes me long for adventure. And Pirates Only Love Treasure by Francis Pauli, which is very sweet.
I highly recommend this book to lovers of felines, fantasy and adventure. Plus look at that cover! It’s amazing.
I received a free copy in exchange for an honest review.
My favourites were The Growing of the Green by Lizz Donnelly, about a space cat version of Gráinne O’Malley. A Royal Saber’s Work is Never Done by Beth Cato, which is amazing in world building and character development and I’d love Cato to revisit. The Furgeldt Collector by Joseph Halden, which is both deep and fun. The Cat and The Cook by Blake Liddell, which makes me long for adventure. And Pirates Only Love Treasure by Francis Pauli, which is very sweet.
I highly recommend this book to lovers of felines, fantasy and adventure. Plus look at that cover! It’s amazing.
I received a free copy in exchange for an honest review.
May 6, 2020
I received an ARC of this anthology in exchange for an honest review.
As a self proclaimed "cat person" I went into this book with very high expectations! And I must say, I was more than thrilled by what I found between its covers.
These are wonderfully crafted little tales, each one full of adventure and intrigue and incredible imagination! In particular I quite enjoyed "Pirates Only Love Treasure" as it kept me on the edge of my seat with its many twists and turns. In saying that though, I did thoroughly enjoy each and every story in this collection and found myself grinning in delight repeatedly at just how creative it was.
There is a little something for everyone in "Swashbuckling Cats", even if you aren't a cat person!
As a self proclaimed "cat person" I went into this book with very high expectations! And I must say, I was more than thrilled by what I found between its covers.
These are wonderfully crafted little tales, each one full of adventure and intrigue and incredible imagination! In particular I quite enjoyed "Pirates Only Love Treasure" as it kept me on the edge of my seat with its many twists and turns. In saying that though, I did thoroughly enjoy each and every story in this collection and found myself grinning in delight repeatedly at just how creative it was.
There is a little something for everyone in "Swashbuckling Cats", even if you aren't a cat person!
June 10, 2020
Princess Fuzzypants here: I am and have always been a fan of anthologies. I enjoy dipping into stories that are short but entertaining and come from a variety of authors. This book is no exception.
All the stories involve kitties on the High Seas, many of whom are pirates. The protagonists are at various stages of their lives, including one story of a cat who is seeking a Queen to grant her ninth and final life. All the stories are entertaining although I do confess a couple had me a bit confused. I love the one with the cat in space who manages to create chaos simply by being a cat. I enjoyed the ones with the cats who fight for their own and other’s salvation. The stories are rousing, whimsical and enjoyable.
Five purrs, two paws up and a yo ho ho.
All the stories involve kitties on the High Seas, many of whom are pirates. The protagonists are at various stages of their lives, including one story of a cat who is seeking a Queen to grant her ninth and final life. All the stories are entertaining although I do confess a couple had me a bit confused. I love the one with the cat in space who manages to create chaos simply by being a cat. I enjoyed the ones with the cats who fight for their own and other’s salvation. The stories are rousing, whimsical and enjoyable.
Five purrs, two paws up and a yo ho ho.
May 26, 2020
I don't often go in for short story collections, dunno why but it's just not something I usually read. This time I'm so glad that I did. Cats and pirates, what's not to love about the combination? The stories will run you through the gamut of emotions, and not all of them are just about cats. There's at least one that comes to mind with a jackal, for instance. Probably my favorite, The Comeback Kitty, has plenty of excitement and a very heartwarming ending. Overall, if you like high seas adventure, kitties, or both I would definitely recommend this book.
Note: I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Note: I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
May 28, 2020
Given the cover this looked like it would be a fun, albeit silly read. While some of the stories had some cute aspects that drew you in, there were several that just didn’t seem to go anywhere and fell flat, one in particular “The Furgeldt Collector” went a bit too gory for my liking.
As within anthologies some of the stories are well written others not as strong and as such can bring the whole review down a couple of notches.
There is a little bit of something for everyone, even if you are not a cat lover.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
As within anthologies some of the stories are well written others not as strong and as such can bring the whole review down a couple of notches.
There is a little bit of something for everyone, even if you are not a cat lover.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
June 6, 2020
I had high hopes for "Swashbuckling Cats" when it was announced. Pirates and cats, curated by Rhonda Parish? Win all around, right? Um...not so much. I've read a *lot* of the editor's anthologies, and this was the most average of them all. There were no bad stories (there never are in this line), but on the other hand there were no memorable stories that made me stop and go "whoa." I don't regret buying the book, but I was disappointed. (Knowing me, I'll probably reread it in a few months and add a star to the rating, but this is where it's at right now.)
(Full disclosure: I am one of Rhonda Parrish's patrons on Patreon.)
(Full disclosure: I am one of Rhonda Parrish's patrons on Patreon.)
May 27, 2020
Do you enjoy cat tales? Pirates stories? Well then you are in for a treat with Swashbuckling Cats which have 13 - count them 13 - short stories of pirates who are also cats. You have naval adventures, space ships, Egyptian goddesses, magic, and plenty of mayhem. As with any collection, some stories appeal more than others, but there are plenty to choose from. My only gripe was how short some of the tales were. Now I need to check up on various authors to see if they have earlier or further adventures of these cats!
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