Book Review – Agnes Aubert’s Mystical Cat Shelter by Heather Fawcett
Agnes Aubert’s Mystical Cat Shelter by Heather Fawcett
Fantasy | Adult | 368 pages
Published on 17 February 2026 by Orbit Books
Synopsis
All strays are welcome here.
From Sunday Times and New York Times bestselling author Heather Fawcett comes a healing and heart-warming fantasy with magic shops, rescue cats and a second chance at love.
Agnes Aubert is very fond of making lists. These lists kept her afloat when she lost her husband two years ago. And now, as the founder of a cat rescue charity, her meticulous organization skills feel like the only thing standing between her beloved cats – His Majesty, Banshee and sweet elderly Thoreau, to name a few – and utter disaster.
But when Agnes is forced to move the charity, she soon discovers that her new shop is being used as a front; right under her feet is the lair of the decidedly disorganised – not to mention self-absorbed and infuriatingly handsome – Havelock Renard.
Havelock is everything Agnes doesn’t want in her chaos, mischief, and a little too much adventure. But as she gets to know him, she discovers he’s more than the dark magician of legend, and that she may be ready for a little intrigue, perhaps even romance. After all, second chances aren’t just for rescue cats…
My rating:
Review
I received this book from the publisher via Net Galley in exchange for an honest review.
This is a book I was hyped for and yet was still somehow everything I didn’t know I needed. Set in 1920s Montreal, I loved that it didn’t feel too historical (more just a little old fashioned and fantastical, which is a good mix) and that we got little insights into Montreal, a place I don’t think I’ve seen as a book setting before.
Agnes is a great main character, and I loved her undying love for all cats mixed with her basically weaponised competence. Plus she just takes everything in stride, so she’s basically someone I’d love to be! I also love that while this book is sold a little as romantic, it’s small and coloured by the fact that Agnes is still grieving the loss of her husband. The whole situation is so well dealt with and feels incredibly realistic.
I also love Agnes and Élise as sisters. Any book which has a great sibling relationship is immediately highly prized, especially one where they’re adults with their own lives but they still make time for each other.
The way magic is woven in here is also really interesting. I’m not sure I can think of many fantasy books where the mc isn’t magical. In fact most of the people in this universe don’t appear to be. It’s definitely something I think works here because it’s cosy fantasy, but I really enjoyed it. Magic is a key part of the book but still something that happens around (or to) them.
Then we have the cats. My darling babies. I love all of them. His Majesty had me giggling from the off, and I’m dying to know more about beloved Banshee. Even the lesser mentioned ones felt like little characters in their own rights. This is truly a book which understands the capricious nature of cat’s and leans into it. 😂
Honestly just so much fun and a perfect balm to the current state of the world. 4.5 stars.
Buy Agnes Aubert’s Mystical Cat Shelter by Heather Fawcett from Waterstones or Blackwells.
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