As in her much-adored Emily Wilde cozy fantasy series (book three, Emily Wilde’s Compendium of Lost Tales, was published in 2025), bestselling author Heather Fawcett’s talent for combining engaging characters, innovative magic systems and atmospheric world building is on splendid display in Agnes Aubert’s Mystical Cat Shelter.
In Fawcett’s fictional 1920s Montréal, “While most feared magicians, not everyone reviled them. There were plenty who . . . appreciated living in a city with a reputation for magic. Not in a way that implied affection, but in the manner of those who took pride in living in nonchalant proximity to dangerous animals.” Agnes isn’t one of them: She disdains magic, and for several years has enjoyed her shelter’s enchantment-free existence.
But after dueling magicians had an argument that left a 10-foot hole in the shelter’s wall, an angry Agnes needs to secure a new space before cold and snow arrive: “Winter did not envelop Montréal so much as attack it.” She’s relieved to find one for a surprisingly affordable rental rate—until she discovers her landlord is none other than notorious dark magician Havelock Renard, a handsome fellow who is proprietor of an illegal magic operation in the building’s basement.
Determined to make the best of things, Agnes and her sister, Élise, pretend not to notice illicit goings-on as they work to adopt out dozens of cats. Agnes also contends with grief at the loss of her husband, Robin, two years prior; the financial and logistical challenges of running her charity; and her tentative attraction toward both the frustrating Havelock and the charming local detective who’s pursuing him. Rival magicians have begun lurking about as well. Will Agnes be able to assist Havelock in fending them off while protecting her beloved shelter?
Readers will root for Agnes Aubert’s Mystical Cat Shelter’s well-developed, memorable characters to find their own versions of happiness and safety—not least the adorable, often funny felines Fawcett imbues with personalities and story arcs just as interesting as those of the humans. It’s a perfect pick for readers who love Howl’s Moving Castle, cozy fantasy, romantasy, magic-induced pandemonium and—of course—cats.
