Book Review: Agnes Aubert’s Mystical Cat Shelter by Heather Fawcett

A woman who runs a cat rescue in 1920s Montreal turns to a grouchy but charming wizard to help save the shelter in this heartwarming cozy fantasy from the New York Times bestselling author of the Emily Wilde series.
Agnes Aubert leads a meticulously organized life—and she likes it that way. As the proudly type-A manager of a much-needed cat rescue charity, she has devoted her life to finding forever homes for lost cats.
But after she is forced to move the cat shelter, Agnes learns that her new landlord is using her charity as a front—for an internationally renowned and thoroughly disreputable magic shop. Owned by the disorganized—not to mention self-absorbed, irritating, but also decidedly handsome—Havelock Renard, magician and failed Dark Lord, the shop draws magical clientele from around the world, partly due to the quality of Havelock’s illicit goods as well as their curiosity about his shadowy past and rumors of his incredible powers. Agnes's charity offers the perfect cover for illegal magics.
Agnes couldn’t care less about the shop—magical intrigue or not, there are cats to be rescued. But when an enemy from Havelock’s past surfaces, the magic shop—and more importantly, the cat shelter—are suddenly in jeopardy. To save the shelter, will Agnes have to set aside her social conscience and protect the man who once tried to bring about the apocalypse—and is now trying to steal her heart?

I only read this book because I was having a very stressful time at work due to a trip to Montreal. I can never read much during work trips because I end up very overstimulated, and I always have a hard time focusing. I also need to read in bed to be able to fall asleep, so you can imagine how my work trips go. Add that to March in Montreal and jet lag. I chose a couple of cozy reads that didn’t require too much brainpower, and this one was set in Montreal, which would make the story more appealing. I was wrong.

This book was not only boring and uninteresting but also perpetuated harmful stereotypes, such as the untidy, distracted male main character and the controlling, obsessively tidy female main character. Agnes didn’t have enough with organizing her daily routine of caring for the shelter’s cats, but also had to organize and tidy up the wizard’s rooms. I was so frickly annoyed, and I only kept reading because I didn’t want to spoil a stressful time with a good book.

It’s true that fantasy is not my favorite genre unless the story is especially well done, and cozy books don’t attract me unless there’s something else. I also despise romance. Well, yes, that I didn’t like this book is absolutely on me. I guess I need better alternatives for work trips.

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lomeraniel

My name is Elena. Since I was a little child I loved science fiction and fantasy, and I can’t resist a good novel. In 2015, while wait I started to listen to audiobooks and I discovered the pleasure in being able to read while doing my daily tasks, so there’s always an audiobook playing on my phone. If you see me with my Bluetooth headphones on, please be gentle, I get easily startled.

I live with my boyfriend, which I met during my six-year stay in Belgium, four cockatiels, eight lovebirds, and a hamster in Madrid, Spain; and I like to spend my free time knitting and sewing while listening to audiobooks.