Agnes Aubert's Mystical Cat Shelter by Heather Fawcett ~ a Review

by MK French

Widow Agnes Aubert manages a cat rescue charity and must find a new home for it. The only landlord who will rent a space to a cat rescue is a mysterious man called Havelock, who also runs an illegal magic shop out of his basement. There are rumors of Havelock's dark past, so Agnes absolutely refuses to consider him anything else but her landlord. When a magician comes looking for Havelock, the magic shop and the cat shelter are in jeopardy. To save the shelter, Agnes will have to team up with the magician who nearly ended the world and may now be trying to steal her heart.

Amazon affiliate links are used on this site. A free book was provided for an honest review.

February 2026; Del Rey; 978-0593973257
audio, ebook, print (368 pages); paranormal fantasy

Anges has been rehabilitating feral cats in Montreal, and the latest wizard duel decimated the street she had lived and worked on. Most places don't want to rent to her, let alone at a price she can afford, and the only place that takes her in feels off. She soon discovers why; her true landlord Havelock, is the infamous magician who supposedly tried and failed to bring about an apocalypse, and his sister is attacking him for a fabled magical book. Agnes is extraordinarily organized, with lists upon lists to keep her shelter in order. Havelock is the exact opposite, with artefacts haphazardly strewn all across his workspace in the basement of the shelter space.

I loved the worldbuilding here, with magic coming from another dimension and being housed in physical objects that magicians can manipulate for their spells. Ordinary people generally fall victim to the whims of magicians, who are thankfully few and far between. Agnes tends to wear her heart on her sleeve, especially where cats are concerned, but at the same time doesn't think twice about getting into Havelock's face when he puts down cats (he's also allergic, of course) or once she discovers how he has no system of organization. He and his sister were essentially at war over a spell that Havelock insists he doesn't have, but possibly could due to his disorganization. It's a magical Odd Couple situation, which has built-in drama and comedic aspects. Havelock is the grumpy one, and Agnes sees the best in people. The story is engaging, and the conclusion has a bit of timey wimey fun that fits the characters.

Buy Agnes Aubert's Mystical Cat Shelter at Amazon

Born and raised in New York City, M.K. French started writing stories when very young, dreaming of different worlds and places to visit. She always had an interest in folklore, fairy tales, and the macabre, which has definitely influenced her work. She currently lives in the Midwest with her husband, three young children, and a golden retriever.

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