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Cats in the City of Plague
Fans of Tad Williams's Tailchaser's Song and Richard Adams's Watership Dow n, add Cats in the City of Plague to your list of favorite books. Set amidst the chaos of the worst pandemic in history, the Black Death of the 14 th century, Cats in the City of Plague tells the tale of a group of cats who are unfairly blamed for the plague. The main character, Leander, and his fellow cats cannot understand why people they have trusted have turned against them. But they realize that their only hope of survival is to escape from the French city that has long been their home and return to the forests where, cat legend has it, their kind originally lived. While evading the humans who seek to destroy them, the cats embark on what Booklife calls "a tense and dramatic journey through the city, powered by the danger and sacrifice inherent in tales of epic quests." Racing over rooftops, hiding in the cathedral's crypt, can they make it out of the city before dawn reveals them? And if they do make it, can these city cats learn to live in the wild? The setting of a great pandemic will resonate with modern readers, but it's the flight of these intrepid cats that makes Cats in the City of Plague an unforgettable story.
138 pages, Hardcover
First published November 3, 2021
114 people are currently reading
343 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 32 reviews
March 23, 2022
Great Story
As a cat lover I found this story to be very touching. I felt as though I was one of the cats and living with them and suffering through life's trials to survive with them. If you are a cat lover, like myself, you will like this story very much !!
As a cat lover I found this story to be very touching. I felt as though I was one of the cats and living with them and suffering through life's trials to survive with them. If you are a cat lover, like myself, you will like this story very much !!
March 26, 2022
One of my favorite books of all time. I read it a few years ago. Its dark, gritty, and frightening. Tragic Betrayal and heartbreak are sure to keep you invested in one of the greatest books about cats of all time.
December 10, 2022
This was an interesting novel, a novella actually, that deals with the slaughter of cats during the bubonic plague outbreak in medieval France. It is, however told from the cats' point of view. If you are a cat lover like me, the story was gripping but devastating. I think the book is well done, but it really tears at your heart.
November 29, 2022
If one can call a book about the plague sweet, this is it. Not to misguide one: the story includes cats being gathered and burned because they were suspected of being the cause of the plague and in league with Satan. However, the cats who come together in the face of a mayhem they don’t understand; who join to escape their city, caring for one another; and who at times will lick one another gently around the ears to offer comfort lend a sweetness to the story. Marlow balances well the cats’ perspective and the dynamics among them with the human perspective and the brutality of the plague. A slim, imaginative book in which the reader comes to care about the fate of a group of cats.
November 19, 2022
I love stories from the perspective of animals, and this one is so good. Set during the time when the Black Plague ravished the known world in the 14th century, cats were sadly seen as the harbingers of the disease, and were slaughtered in huge numbers. The cats in this tale realize something odd and horrible is happening in the small city were they live, and they decide they need to leave the city before they are killed. The journey through the city to the wall is filled with danger, as well as the fear of the unknown. What will await them beyond the wall?
December 18, 2022
A great premise dragged down by amateurish prose and one-note characters. The latter half was better as the pace picked up. And there was some quite good suspense, although part of that is I'm very sensitive to animal abuse and didn't want to read any more cats being burned alive - even if I found them badly written.
So much telling and little showing. The main POV, Leander, is the worst offender because his internal narration will state something outright, then he'll say it aloud, and then another cat will repeat it back to him. I got it the first time! Please learn to use subtext! The only character I cared about doesn't talk much or get a POV.
The cat behavior is also very iffy, and the ending a hell of a let down. I give it two stars for the cool premise and my fondness for one character, but comparing this to Watership Down is frankly insulting.
So much telling and little showing. The main POV, Leander, is the worst offender because his internal narration will state something outright, then he'll say it aloud, and then another cat will repeat it back to him. I got it the first time! Please learn to use subtext! The only character I cared about doesn't talk much or get a POV.
The cat behavior is also very iffy, and the ending a hell of a let down. I give it two stars for the cool premise and my fondness for one character, but comparing this to Watership Down is frankly insulting.
June 6, 2023
This book had a very interesting premise but was not executed well. The writing was very clunky. The characters were not well developed. There also should have been breaks between the human and cats perspective. It was a chunk of the way through the book before I realized the cats did not understand human speech. Why even have it then? I think this book could have been really intriguing without the human dialogue. The pacing is also not good. The escape is a very small portion of the plot and over very quickly. Robbed the book of a lot of impact.
September 10, 2023
Fantastic!
What a brilliant book! I loved reading from the cats point of view as well as being able to understand the humans as well. I'd never really paid much mind to the plague, aside from what I learned in school and from the games Plague Tale.
I don't know if this information is accurate or not, but that's beside the point. It is still very easy to imagine this happening to the poor cats during the plague.
What a fantastic book, I couldn't recommend it enough for a quick little read!
What a brilliant book! I loved reading from the cats point of view as well as being able to understand the humans as well. I'd never really paid much mind to the plague, aside from what I learned in school and from the games Plague Tale.
I don't know if this information is accurate or not, but that's beside the point. It is still very easy to imagine this happening to the poor cats during the plague.
What a fantastic book, I couldn't recommend it enough for a quick little read!
February 23, 2024
A Bittersweet Novella of the Plague Times ...
... told from the cats' point of view. Why are humans behaving so strangely all of a sudden -- openly beating themselves in the public square? Why are their own formerly loving masters suddenly so fearful, even cruel, throwing them out of their own homes, even seeming to "disappear"? Even still, why did hateful men come for the kind apothecary Leander lived with and drag him away never to be seen again? (Leander is one of the "lead" cats in this tale.)
There are no answers. The only solution seems to be somehow to find a way out of the city and back into the forest from which the original cat, "Le Chat", emerged. Even if they leave under cover of darkness, will they manage to do so despite obstacles of guards at certain points, restless humans waking from nightmares, their usual prey but with a suspicious smell of disease, a sudden rain which makes their rooftops slippery, etc.? Furthermore, when--and if--they do manage to get across the wall, what about the river that separates them from the forest that the legendary Le Chat emerged from?
... told from the cats' point of view. Why are humans behaving so strangely all of a sudden -- openly beating themselves in the public square? Why are their own formerly loving masters suddenly so fearful, even cruel, throwing them out of their own homes, even seeming to "disappear"? Even still, why did hateful men come for the kind apothecary Leander lived with and drag him away never to be seen again? (Leander is one of the "lead" cats in this tale.)
There are no answers. The only solution seems to be somehow to find a way out of the city and back into the forest from which the original cat, "Le Chat", emerged. Even if they leave under cover of darkness, will they manage to do so despite obstacles of guards at certain points, restless humans waking from nightmares, their usual prey but with a suspicious smell of disease, a sudden rain which makes their rooftops slippery, etc.? Furthermore, when--and if--they do manage to get across the wall, what about the river that separates them from the forest that the legendary Le Chat emerged from?
December 18, 2022
This was an entertaining cat's-eye view.
September 8, 2022
An enjoyable, clever, and original tale
The novel kicks off with a cogent historical background that sets the atmosphere of the tale. I can appreciate the considerable research the author must have done to come up with this novel. He captures so much in such a short book.
This is unabashed realism. No one can fault the author for that. The author uses intense sensory detail to reconstruct the scene of a claustrophobic medieval village, particularly the sense of smell. Most of the action occurs at night, enhancing the dark, oppressive environment the cats live in. The fine details are all there: the crevices between the tiles, the shadows, the dirty narrow alleyways, the bonfires, the malodors, and much more. I've got to give it to the author, he has a sharp eye for relevant details. The cats split into two groups based on the shade of their fur for the gripping escape from the dangerous city. Characters’ names, chosen from ancient Greco-Roman mythology/literature, are appropriate as they reflect the personalities of the individual cats. The prose conjures the imposing presence of the cat, Innocent through the other cats' eyes. I think I could make out his dog-like silhouette on the book cover.
The story is narrated in omniscient POV, and the events are largely viewed through the eyes of the talking cats. It’s fascinating to document human behavior through anthropomorphic means. That’s metaphorical narration at its best since it allows satire to seep in. The double meaning of “Le chat” (depending on the human and feline perspective) brought a smile to my face each time I came across it. The author switches to human POV or dialogue at times to fill in the plotholes.
The sense of mystery is palpable. Leander can’t understand why cats who were previously so well treated by humans are suddenly spurned by them. They cannot make sense of the panic, hysteria, violence, aggression, and mistrust of humans. Nor can they understand the strange behavior, like the self-flagellation, the bonfires, and the pile-up of dead bodies, both human and animal. In a way, the behavior of humans is mirrored by that of the cats, dogs, and pigs.
The story, even the harsh aspects, are not at all far–fetched. Cats were worshipped as deities in ancient Egyptian civilization, particularly black cats. Since they were carnivores, Egyptians were grateful for their ability to protect crops from herbivores the cats preyed upon. In medieval times, the black cat was associated with paganism, and various pagan or satanic rites centered around black cats, so in popular culture, they became associated with witchcraft. The author reveals the ignorance, confusion, and cluelessness of humans when trying to understand the origins, causes, and ways of dealing with the killer disease. It was attributed to the work of the devil, so they looked for scapegoats, both human and animal. People with physical deformities or skin diseases or even heathens were turned upon. Cats and dogs were burnt. That may shock the modern mind. But to be fair, in their ignorance and simple-mindedness, they weren’t very far from the truth even though it was for the wrong reasons. Fire is a form of disinfection as is the cremation of organic remains. The main host of the flea vector causing the plague were the rodents. But cats preyed on the rats, and they were hosts of the flea, as were dogs. These animals were not immune to the plague and they could spread it to humans through bites and scratches.
This is a very clever book. It is concise, which is a plus. But, part of me wished the book was longer. The premise was so good, that I felt the author could have included more plot points to propel the story along. For instance, in the epilogue, the author switches to "telling rather than showing" and this brings us to the story's satisfying end too soon. I felt that the end of the successful escapade could have been a prelude to a journey of self-discovery along the lines of “Watership Down” or “The Animals of Farthing Wood”. This exposition, even though it was a joy to read, condensed what could have been narrated in at least another 100 pages, into a few pages.
The cross-genre nature of the book is also a bonus: fantasy, historical fiction, anthropomorphic, young adult fiction, myth & legend, action & adventure rolled in one book—making it appealing to both young and old adult readers.
It’s good that books like this are written. Besides being entertaining, they are also educational. They are an intimation for readers to read further. The seminal book on the bubonic plague is Zeigler’s “The Black Death” which is still in print. You will find that human behavior is no different in response to pandemics throughout the ages, whether it’s Spanish flu, AIDS, or COVID. After all human nature is the same and does not change through the ages.
The novel kicks off with a cogent historical background that sets the atmosphere of the tale. I can appreciate the considerable research the author must have done to come up with this novel. He captures so much in such a short book.
This is unabashed realism. No one can fault the author for that. The author uses intense sensory detail to reconstruct the scene of a claustrophobic medieval village, particularly the sense of smell. Most of the action occurs at night, enhancing the dark, oppressive environment the cats live in. The fine details are all there: the crevices between the tiles, the shadows, the dirty narrow alleyways, the bonfires, the malodors, and much more. I've got to give it to the author, he has a sharp eye for relevant details. The cats split into two groups based on the shade of their fur for the gripping escape from the dangerous city. Characters’ names, chosen from ancient Greco-Roman mythology/literature, are appropriate as they reflect the personalities of the individual cats. The prose conjures the imposing presence of the cat, Innocent through the other cats' eyes. I think I could make out his dog-like silhouette on the book cover.
The story is narrated in omniscient POV, and the events are largely viewed through the eyes of the talking cats. It’s fascinating to document human behavior through anthropomorphic means. That’s metaphorical narration at its best since it allows satire to seep in. The double meaning of “Le chat” (depending on the human and feline perspective) brought a smile to my face each time I came across it. The author switches to human POV or dialogue at times to fill in the plotholes.
The sense of mystery is palpable. Leander can’t understand why cats who were previously so well treated by humans are suddenly spurned by them. They cannot make sense of the panic, hysteria, violence, aggression, and mistrust of humans. Nor can they understand the strange behavior, like the self-flagellation, the bonfires, and the pile-up of dead bodies, both human and animal. In a way, the behavior of humans is mirrored by that of the cats, dogs, and pigs.
The story, even the harsh aspects, are not at all far–fetched. Cats were worshipped as deities in ancient Egyptian civilization, particularly black cats. Since they were carnivores, Egyptians were grateful for their ability to protect crops from herbivores the cats preyed upon. In medieval times, the black cat was associated with paganism, and various pagan or satanic rites centered around black cats, so in popular culture, they became associated with witchcraft. The author reveals the ignorance, confusion, and cluelessness of humans when trying to understand the origins, causes, and ways of dealing with the killer disease. It was attributed to the work of the devil, so they looked for scapegoats, both human and animal. People with physical deformities or skin diseases or even heathens were turned upon. Cats and dogs were burnt. That may shock the modern mind. But to be fair, in their ignorance and simple-mindedness, they weren’t very far from the truth even though it was for the wrong reasons. Fire is a form of disinfection as is the cremation of organic remains. The main host of the flea vector causing the plague were the rodents. But cats preyed on the rats, and they were hosts of the flea, as were dogs. These animals were not immune to the plague and they could spread it to humans through bites and scratches.
This is a very clever book. It is concise, which is a plus. But, part of me wished the book was longer. The premise was so good, that I felt the author could have included more plot points to propel the story along. For instance, in the epilogue, the author switches to "telling rather than showing" and this brings us to the story's satisfying end too soon. I felt that the end of the successful escapade could have been a prelude to a journey of self-discovery along the lines of “Watership Down” or “The Animals of Farthing Wood”. This exposition, even though it was a joy to read, condensed what could have been narrated in at least another 100 pages, into a few pages.
The cross-genre nature of the book is also a bonus: fantasy, historical fiction, anthropomorphic, young adult fiction, myth & legend, action & adventure rolled in one book—making it appealing to both young and old adult readers.
It’s good that books like this are written. Besides being entertaining, they are also educational. They are an intimation for readers to read further. The seminal book on the bubonic plague is Zeigler’s “The Black Death” which is still in print. You will find that human behavior is no different in response to pandemics throughout the ages, whether it’s Spanish flu, AIDS, or COVID. After all human nature is the same and does not change through the ages.
February 15, 2023
This book was so good. I felt like I was one of the cats and living everything with them. It was wonderful. There was a small part that was hard to get through, very sad. However, this was necessary. So easy and quick to get immersed in. Wish it was much longer. Really, really enjoyed.
January 27, 2023
Some parts sad
It was a good read with a good plot and ending. Some parts were a little sad.I could read again.
It was a good read with a good plot and ending. Some parts were a little sad.I could read again.
February 10, 2023
As an animal lover, parts of the book were a bit difficult to read. But what an interesting concept to tell the story of the plague through the neighborhood cats’ eyes.
December 19, 2024
"And the human, also, acts the way he should. He shows his gratitude by giving the cat a name and a home."
Am I crying? Of course I am.
Am I crying? Of course I am.
August 19, 2023
Cat lovers and Cat Warriors lover
This was a very good short read. If your someone who loves cats and have read the Warrior cat books then this is a good read for you. If his book is about the black plague as the titles tells, from a cats point of view. Not understanding what is going on and why the humans turn in them you cat to fallow a group of cats who are trying to make since of everything and survive the terrier of the situation. I did cry a little not going to lie. It still a great book to read.
This was a very good short read. If your someone who loves cats and have read the Warrior cat books then this is a good read for you. If his book is about the black plague as the titles tells, from a cats point of view. Not understanding what is going on and why the humans turn in them you cat to fallow a group of cats who are trying to make since of everything and survive the terrier of the situation. I did cry a little not going to lie. It still a great book to read.
February 28, 2024
I thought this was an interesting book told through the cats point of view. I won copies of this book for my book club. We all enjoyed that the book was written from the perspective of the cats. One member could not get past the fire. What struck me is how easily people are persuaded by the mob mentality and they still are. I enjoyed this book
July 6, 2022
Short novel (129 pages) told through the point of view of the cats. While not stated, this book is not specifically geared to kids; I felt anyone who loves cats and can handle some cruelty against the cats will be able to read it.
It's the 14th century, France, during the Black Death plague that killed half the population of Western Europe. The house cats all meet at night to chat and visit. Sounds childish, but it's not. It's interesting to imagine what cats would have to say when they are away from our prying eyes and ears.
Sadly, the villagers think that it is the cats who have brought the plague and so the house cats are being thrown out of their homes or their owners face beatings and worse. Stray cats are grabbed up and tossed into the many fired kept burning in the town square.
The cats decide it's time to get back to the forest and away from man's brutality. Their adventure takes place over two nights and its exciting, scary and even a bit funny.
A quick read, sad, but clever.
It's the 14th century, France, during the Black Death plague that killed half the population of Western Europe. The house cats all meet at night to chat and visit. Sounds childish, but it's not. It's interesting to imagine what cats would have to say when they are away from our prying eyes and ears.
Sadly, the villagers think that it is the cats who have brought the plague and so the house cats are being thrown out of their homes or their owners face beatings and worse. Stray cats are grabbed up and tossed into the many fired kept burning in the town square.
The cats decide it's time to get back to the forest and away from man's brutality. Their adventure takes place over two nights and its exciting, scary and even a bit funny.
A quick read, sad, but clever.
June 6, 2022
It was an interesting concept being told by the cats but it was a little hard to get through. As a cat lover, there were some pretty difficult scenes. That said, I would still recommend the book as it's a quick read set in an interesting time.
April 3, 2024
Wow
This was a book I didn't know I needed.
Besides the names, it was an easy read. If you've ever wondered what cats may have thought during the Black Plague, then this is the book for you.
This was a book I didn't know I needed.
Besides the names, it was an easy read. If you've ever wondered what cats may have thought during the Black Plague, then this is the book for you.
April 5, 2022
I really enjoyed this book being a cat lover but it was sad in alot of paris.iIt was like the cats telling their story of survival.
September 16, 2023
I used to read Warrior Cats religiously as a kid and I’m rediscovering my love for cat-focused xenofiction. Reading other reviews, I’ve become aware that some may find this book and the graphic depictions of violence upsetting, but if you’re no stranger to the animal POV it’s fairly tame. I mean, what else would you expect from a book based on a horrible time in human and feline history? Stuff wasn’t the greatest for anyone.
I greatly enjoyed “Cats in the City of Plague”. It was an easy read and a nice first step in my quest to reengagd with the xenofiction genre. The only excuse for my not having finished it sooner was laziness. I haven’t finished a book in several months so it’s safe to say I need to get back in the habit.
Onto my more serious criticisms of the writing. Spoilers ahead:
The handling of the cats and their character arcs is a quite clumsy. Leander apparently has quite the reputation as a strict lawful neutral type, but easily abandons this as soon as things get worse and unfortunately this trait of his is never mentioned again past the first few chapters. Eusebius, the clear foil to Leander, remains very aggressive throughout the novel which is realistic for anyone set in his ways, but there really was no opportunity for growth when there could have been. I thought his character was moving towards a lesson of selflessness and dismantling personal bias. Juno and Mars are classic examples of the inseparable twins, and they could have stood to gain confidence in themselves as separate entities from their experiences.
Innocent is the weirdest out of the bunch. The setup of his character as a bizarre mysterious figure-turned pivotal smart guy leader is very heavy-handed. I could spot it from a mile away. He didn’t really bring anything to the table once his intelligence was revealed, although his injury reducing him to the state the others originally thought of him was amusing.
Chaton was easily the most disappointing character though. He didn’t change pretty much throughout the entire story and is basically just Eusebius’ personal punching bag for when anything goes wrong. I feel they could have learned a lot from each other and maybe even become friends.
Jean was just fine. I think he was handled well.
I do wish there was more focus on a certain human character, Pierre. This novel does contain some dialogue from humans for the sake of exposition, although the main characters cannot understand them for obvious reasons (others have complained about this, but it’s really nbd in my opinion). Pierre played a very important role in the journey of the cats and was a very likeable character but I feel like there could have been more to his story. It’s not a detriment to the story, but it would have been nice.
The layout of the setting is similarly confusing. It’s hard to imagine that the cats are actually getting anywhere what with the lack of any change in architecture or spacing of the buildings and all. You don’t really get a sense that the party actually split up. Variation in the terrain would have been much appreciated and would have remained historically accurate if handled correctly. I feel like this story could have taken an approach similar to the “Hunchback of Notre Dame”, in which the author placed greater emphasis on the historical setting and used the plot as a framework. That might sound weird coming from a connoisseur of xenofiction who understands the core concept of the genre is the sheer un-relatability of animal experiences and thoughts to our own. When it comes to stories with a historical backdrop though, and with as important as the Black Death was to the history of the Western world, I think my statement is justified.
I was all for the showcasing of the religious nuttery, especially as a Christian. Shit was wild back then. As crazy and people are now thanks to the internet, those medieval dudes definitely could have used Google.
All this being said, the fumbled elements didn’t diminish my enjoyment of the novel at all. The suggestions I’ve made would have required either a great extension to the length of the novel or a reduction in the number of characters, and probably both to be honest.
I greatly enjoyed “Cats in the City of Plague”. It was an easy read and a nice first step in my quest to reengagd with the xenofiction genre. The only excuse for my not having finished it sooner was laziness. I haven’t finished a book in several months so it’s safe to say I need to get back in the habit.
Onto my more serious criticisms of the writing. Spoilers ahead:
The handling of the cats and their character arcs is a quite clumsy. Leander apparently has quite the reputation as a strict lawful neutral type, but easily abandons this as soon as things get worse and unfortunately this trait of his is never mentioned again past the first few chapters. Eusebius, the clear foil to Leander, remains very aggressive throughout the novel which is realistic for anyone set in his ways, but there really was no opportunity for growth when there could have been. I thought his character was moving towards a lesson of selflessness and dismantling personal bias. Juno and Mars are classic examples of the inseparable twins, and they could have stood to gain confidence in themselves as separate entities from their experiences.
Innocent is the weirdest out of the bunch. The setup of his character as a bizarre mysterious figure-turned pivotal smart guy leader is very heavy-handed. I could spot it from a mile away. He didn’t really bring anything to the table once his intelligence was revealed, although his injury reducing him to the state the others originally thought of him was amusing.
Chaton was easily the most disappointing character though. He didn’t change pretty much throughout the entire story and is basically just Eusebius’ personal punching bag for when anything goes wrong. I feel they could have learned a lot from each other and maybe even become friends.
Jean was just fine. I think he was handled well.
I do wish there was more focus on a certain human character, Pierre. This novel does contain some dialogue from humans for the sake of exposition, although the main characters cannot understand them for obvious reasons (others have complained about this, but it’s really nbd in my opinion). Pierre played a very important role in the journey of the cats and was a very likeable character but I feel like there could have been more to his story. It’s not a detriment to the story, but it would have been nice.
The layout of the setting is similarly confusing. It’s hard to imagine that the cats are actually getting anywhere what with the lack of any change in architecture or spacing of the buildings and all. You don’t really get a sense that the party actually split up. Variation in the terrain would have been much appreciated and would have remained historically accurate if handled correctly. I feel like this story could have taken an approach similar to the “Hunchback of Notre Dame”, in which the author placed greater emphasis on the historical setting and used the plot as a framework. That might sound weird coming from a connoisseur of xenofiction who understands the core concept of the genre is the sheer un-relatability of animal experiences and thoughts to our own. When it comes to stories with a historical backdrop though, and with as important as the Black Death was to the history of the Western world, I think my statement is justified.
I was all for the showcasing of the religious nuttery, especially as a Christian. Shit was wild back then. As crazy and people are now thanks to the internet, those medieval dudes definitely could have used Google.
All this being said, the fumbled elements didn’t diminish my enjoyment of the novel at all. The suggestions I’ve made would have required either a great extension to the length of the novel or a reduction in the number of characters, and probably both to be honest.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 4, 2025
Cats in the City of Plague by A.L. Marlow transforms the darkest chapter of human history into a profoundly moving, beautifully imagined tale of survival, loyalty, and courage.
Set against the backdrop of the 14th-century Black Death, Marlow crafts an unforgettable allegory through the eyes of Leander and his fellow cats once beloved companions, now unjustly hunted and blamed for the world’s suffering. As they flee the burning streets and collapsing faith of humankind, their journey becomes one of redemption, identity, and resilience in the face of fear and ignorance.
Marlow’s prose is elegant yet urgent, evoking the tension of a medieval city in chaos with the intimacy of a fable. The result is a rich tapestry of history and imagination, where each chase across a rooftop or whisper in a cathedral crypt pulses with life and meaning.
More than a historical fantasy, Cats in the City of Plague is a mirror to our own times exploring themes of scapegoating, compassion, and what it means to endure when the world turns hostile.
Perfect for readers of Watership Down, The Book Thief, and The Underneath, this is a timeless and cinematic journey of survival that lingers long after the final page.
Set against the backdrop of the 14th-century Black Death, Marlow crafts an unforgettable allegory through the eyes of Leander and his fellow cats once beloved companions, now unjustly hunted and blamed for the world’s suffering. As they flee the burning streets and collapsing faith of humankind, their journey becomes one of redemption, identity, and resilience in the face of fear and ignorance.
Marlow’s prose is elegant yet urgent, evoking the tension of a medieval city in chaos with the intimacy of a fable. The result is a rich tapestry of history and imagination, where each chase across a rooftop or whisper in a cathedral crypt pulses with life and meaning.
More than a historical fantasy, Cats in the City of Plague is a mirror to our own times exploring themes of scapegoating, compassion, and what it means to endure when the world turns hostile.
Perfect for readers of Watership Down, The Book Thief, and The Underneath, this is a timeless and cinematic journey of survival that lingers long after the final page.
May 21, 2025
I love history, especially medieval and renaissance history so, the premise of this book intrigued me. The Black Death seen through the eyes of cats? Yes please. ☺️
While I am glad I read this book, I wish the story and characters had been fleshed out more. It’s like the author had a great idea for a story but, no patience to write it. A lot in this book felt rushed. I think it could have used about a hundred more pages. The main cat, Leander, is, for the most part, fleshed out well but, the others weren’t. I would liked to have learned more about the other cats that set out on this journey. There’s some things that are set up that don’t have a payoff, like Leander having a heightened sense of smell. I thought for sure that would come into play in the main plot of the story but, it never does.
With all that said, the sense of danger that these cats find themselves in is well done and the sense of their confusion at the humans suddenly turning on them and blaming them for plague is also well done. I liked that the cats don’t exactly understand human speech so, they don’t know what’s going on but, they just know something is wrong. I like that Marlow anthropomorphizes the cats just enough but, still keeps them as animals, much like the rabbits in Watership Down.
While I am glad I read this book, I wish the story and characters had been fleshed out more. It’s like the author had a great idea for a story but, no patience to write it. A lot in this book felt rushed. I think it could have used about a hundred more pages. The main cat, Leander, is, for the most part, fleshed out well but, the others weren’t. I would liked to have learned more about the other cats that set out on this journey. There’s some things that are set up that don’t have a payoff, like Leander having a heightened sense of smell. I thought for sure that would come into play in the main plot of the story but, it never does.
With all that said, the sense of danger that these cats find themselves in is well done and the sense of their confusion at the humans suddenly turning on them and blaming them for plague is also well done. I liked that the cats don’t exactly understand human speech so, they don’t know what’s going on but, they just know something is wrong. I like that Marlow anthropomorphizes the cats just enough but, still keeps them as animals, much like the rabbits in Watership Down.
July 31, 2024
05/2023 review:
Losr interest but would like to try again in the future.
07/2024 review:
Highly recommend this book!!
I wanted to read Cats in the City of Plague for the longest time and when I finally started last year, I got bored very quickly and gave up. In all honesty, I only picked it back up because I was looking for something short to read while traveling. I’m so glad I finally picked this one back up because wow what a great story.
This was a heartbreaking look at how humans treat each other and other animals in times of crisis. I loved that we got to see both what the humans were doing and the way that the cats reacted despite not understanding the humans’ intentions. Definitely a thought provoking story that came full circle.
Fair warning, some of the descriptions are graphic and hard to read but most of the scenes in the book are relatively lighthearted. Yes the cats are trying to escape, and many times are fighting their way out, but we also get to see cats just being cats. My favorite was the cheese scene :’)
Losr interest but would like to try again in the future.
07/2024 review:
Highly recommend this book!!
I wanted to read Cats in the City of Plague for the longest time and when I finally started last year, I got bored very quickly and gave up. In all honesty, I only picked it back up because I was looking for something short to read while traveling. I’m so glad I finally picked this one back up because wow what a great story.
This was a heartbreaking look at how humans treat each other and other animals in times of crisis. I loved that we got to see both what the humans were doing and the way that the cats reacted despite not understanding the humans’ intentions. Definitely a thought provoking story that came full circle.
Fair warning, some of the descriptions are graphic and hard to read but most of the scenes in the book are relatively lighthearted. Yes the cats are trying to escape, and many times are fighting their way out, but we also get to see cats just being cats. My favorite was the cheese scene :’)
June 30, 2023
While I was waiting on the previous book to arrive, I picked up Cats in the City of Plague, hoping for a fun, light hearted read. After all, this book is from the perspective of cats! However, it ended up being much more depressing and sad then I thought it would be. It was full of cats dying, being tortured, and humans just being real dicks. This is partially a case of the wrong book at the wrong time; if I had known it was the opposite of a light and fluffy read, I wouldn't have picked it up when I did.
September 2, 2023
Disappointing book. First I did not realize it's short length, it was not described as a Novella. The cats were not individualized very well. I expected more of their life in the forest. It was unrealistic for them to get to the forest and then go their separate ways. It was compared to Watership Down and Tailchasers Song but doesn't compare. Nor to The Wild Road and it's sequel The Golden Cat (not positive of that title).
If you are a lover of books about cats, try any of these.
If you are a lover of books about cats, try any of these.
August 12, 2022
At first, I was upset about the cats being burned. Then when Innocent died I was like okay fuck this. Though I returned to it and found out Innocent lived, the story turned out well. I enjoyed the cat perspective.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 25, 2023
The prose and dialogue basically ruined this brilliant concept. If you're not a prose snob, then this'll be enjoyable, but if you're like me and just have such a hard time looking beyond bad writing, I don't think you'll enjoy this.
April 30, 2022
This was an ad on my kindle …I was curious…it was very odd…
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