Thistlemarsh
Corrigan
4.5
Agnes Aubert's Mystical Cat Shelter
by Heather Fawcett
Published Feb 17, 2026
Category
About this book
NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • A woman who runs a cat rescue in 1920s Montréal turns to a grouchy but charming magician to help save her shelter in this heartwarming cozy fantasy from the New York Times bestselling author of the Emily Wilde series. “Absolutely magnificent! Full of cats and magic, this is the kind of book you want to instantly reread. I loved every character, every cat, and every moment with all my heart!”—Sarah Beth Durst, New York Times bestselling author of The Spellshop Agnes Aubert leads a meticulously organized life, and she likes it that way. As the proudly type-A manager of a cat rescue charity, she has devoted her life to finding forever homes for stray cats. Now it’s the shelter that needs a new home. And the only landlord who will rent a space to a cat rescue is a mysterious man called Havelock—who also happens to be the world’s most infamous magician, running an illegal magic shop out of his basement. Havelock is cantankerous and eccentric, but not not handsome, and no, Agnes absolutely does not feel anything but disdain for him. After all, rumors swirl about his shadowy past—including whispers that his dark magic once almost brought about the apocalypse. Then one day a glamorous magician comes looking for Havelock, putting the magic shop—and the cat shelter—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. Havelock is everything Agnes thinks she doesn’t need in her life: chaos, mischief, and a little too much adventure. But as she gets to know him, she discovers that he’s more than the dark magician of legend, and that she may be ready for a little intrigue—and romance—in her life. After all, second chances aren’t just for rescue cats. . . .
Available Formats
Kindle: $7.99 Kindle: $13.99
What readers are saying
S. NThe love of a cat is the true magic
"I devoured this book. Completely and totally. I read it in three days, and only paused because I have a job and children to tend to. I have always loved Heather’s books and characters, but there is just something so magical about this one that I cannot stop thinking about. She has the talent to imbue just enough world building detail to keep you interested, while not overwhelming you with so much that you tune out. While I have always loved the characters she creates, what stood out to me this time is how she utterly and completely nailed writing about cats. She was able to capture perfectly their paradoxical nature and individual personalities, flaws and charms, while grounding them in reality and not falling into the trope of the mystical, magical talking cat. I don’t think I have seen cats so well written. Her books are cozy yet real- the dangers feel tangible, but you also get the distant warm blanket comfort of knowing she is a happy ending author, which honestly with the world right now I greatly appreciate. The underlying themes were also beautifully woven into the book without her ever having to hit you over the head with them. Grief, redemption, betrayal- all played out with such tender humanity I found myself fully invested in everyone’s fates. Plus, as a cat lover with a couple rescue kitties myself, I particularly enjoyed her subtle (or not so subtle) hint that being chosen and loved by a cat can help change even the hardest of hearts, no magic required. Or in other words, the love of a cat is, in itself, its own magic. ["
March 4, 2026 Verified Purchase
JNSan unexpected pleasure read
"I read about this book in the book magazine at my local library. I’m not a fan of fantasy novels but I am a cat lover so I gave this book a try. It was a nice diversion from the real world of 03/2026. ["
March 30, 2026 Verified Purchase
