Agnes Aubert's Mystical Cat ShelterReview posted May 2, 2026.
Del Rey, 2026. 353 pages.
Review written April 14, 2026, from my own copy purchased via Amazon.com.
Starred Review
I love Heather Fawcett's Emily Wilde books so much, that when I saw she had a new cozy fantasy novel coming out, I preordered my own copy. Sure, I can read the library's book, but this is going to be a favorite I'll want to come back to.
As with Emily Wilde, Agnes Aubert is an ordinary woman - but also very competent and single-minded - who encounters a man who is not quite human.
Agnes is a widow who runs a cat shelter with her sister in 1920s alternate-reality Montreal - but the shop she was renting to run her shelter was recently completely destroyed by two irresponsible magicians having a duel. She looks all over the city for somewhere to move her cats, but everywhere she looks is either too expensive or won't allow so many cats.
So when a shop in an upscale part of town eagerly signs her up at a reasonable price, she does wonder what's up. But she's too desperate for her cats to have a roof over their heads to hesitate for long. But when it turns out that the most notorious magician in the world - the Witch King himself - is running a magic shop in the basement, she's a bit alarmed.
It turns out the Witch King is socially awkward and allergic to cats. But even he can't keep a determined cat out of his rooms. And his sister - also a powerful magician - wants a powerful artefact she says he has.
Well, Agnes is not surprised he can't find it - his rooms are a disorganized mess! That's something she can fix. And then maybe these magicians will get out of her life.
With all the cats plus many mentions of good food (from the enchanted oven), "cozy fantasy" is the perfect description of this book, solidifying my conviction that it's my new favorite genre. This one will make you smile. I hope it's only the beginning of another series.