Agnes Aubert's Mystical Cat Shelter

Y’ALL! If you’re mourning the end of the Emily Wilde series, take heart! Heather Fawcett is back with AGNES AUBERT'S MYSTICAL CAT SHELTER, and it’s every bit as delightful and charming as the Emily Wilde books. It’s brimming with the wit, warmth, and sly humor we’ve come to adore in Fawcett’s storytelling.

I was completely captivated by the magic use in this tale; from its intricate, layered structure to the way the characters wield it and how it manifests within a “real world” setting. As Agnes notes, the magic is both terrible and beautiful, and Fawcett’s lush descriptions make it all the more mesmerizing. Naturally, there’s a thread of romance woven throughout, and Agnes finds her heart tugged in some unexpected show more ways.

And the cats! The book is delightfully full of them, each with their own quirky personality, and they honestly steal the spotlight more than once.

I’m so pleased to see Heather Fawcett’s storytelling shine just as brightly in this new adventure. She continues to deliver worlds and characters that feel alive, magical, and impossible to step away from. I’m genuinely excited for the book’s release and can’t wait for more readers to fall in love with Agnes, her enchanting world, and—of course—the cats.

AGNES AUBERT'S MYSTICAL CAT SHELTER by Heather Fawcett releases February 17, 2026, from Del Rey.

A huge thank you to Del Rey and NetGalley for providing a free eARC in exchange for a free and honest review.

#AgnesAubertsMysticalCatShelter #NetGalley #HeatherFawcett #DelRey show less

Agnes Aubert is desperately looking for a new location for her cat shelter, since the last one was damaged in a magician's duel, but no one will rent to her. Until, oddly, someone does - and other visitors keep appearing and going to the basement where they were told not to go. Her mysterious landlord turns out to be not just a magician, but the notorious Havelock Renard (he who almost unleashed the apocalypse). But when another magician shows up looking for him, Agnes realizes that Havelock may not be the monster public opinion makes him out to be.

Having enjoyed the author's Emily Wilde series, I was highly anticipating this title and was not disappointed. It's a departure from Emily Wilde, cozier and lower stakes in a way, but still show more highly enjoyable with nods to Howl's Moving Castle (I couldn't help but think the spider reference and the way Agnes has to clean/organize was rather intentional). The cats and all their varying personalities are entertaining as well. It reads perfectly well as a standalone, but should Fawcett explore this magical Montreal further, I'll look forward to the ride. show less

Agnes Aubert has a problem: the cat shelter that she operates was damaged in a magicians' duel, and the landlord can't afford repairs. Agnes needs to locate new premises, but landlords in Montreal are not leaping at the chance to install a cat shelter in their buildings. That is, until she speaks to an oddly jumpy agent who is responsible for renting out a nice, spacious building for a suspiciously low price. There's clearly something wrong, but Agnes and her 47 homeless cats are in no position to be picky. Maybe she should have asked a few more questions, though, because as it turns out, her landlord is the most feared and reviled dark magician in the world -- and he's operating a magic shop out of her basement.

I sank into this book show more like a hot bubble bath. It was just the relaxing, comforting read that I needed, and I'm not even a cat person. I loved the setting and the characters, and the whole thing had a little bit of a Howl's Moving Castle vibe. If you like your fantasy on the cozy side, highly recommended. show less

Agnes will do just about anything to keep her cat rescue charity housed and in the black—sometimes it seems like Agnes will stop of nothing short of rehoming Montreal's entire stray cat population. Her goals are made more difficult by the fact that the charity's building was half destroyed by the indiscriminate battle of some good-for-nothing magicians, and no one seems willing to open their doors and rent to a bunch of cats—except for one horribly, suspiciously perfect location she seems (ugh!) magically drawn to. But Agnes is a woman with a mission, and a lot of cold, hungry cats.

This is advertised to fans of Fawcett's previous Emily Wilde series. Both have female heroines in a fantasy setting, but the heroines and the stories are show more ultimately very different—which is to be commended; I personally like variety in my life! I loved each and every one of the cats, and the hilarious fact that, in this story, the magical world of wizardry normal people can only hope to glimpse is, to those normal people, mainly a vexing source of annoyance and frustration, ranging from something like a power outage or breakdown of public transportation to something like a power plant explosion or natural disaster. The romance was kind of lackluster, and because of that seemed like it might have been better left out. show less

A cat shelter must find a new home quickly. Agnes reluctantly signs on to a large space with an unusually low rent. She soon learns that her landlord is a magician and strange things begin to happen. Sounds are heard from below, an old oven bakes sweet treats at midnight each day, the magician in question is considered the King of Magicians and the magician's sister is trying to take over the world. A funny, sad, and romantic story.

NY Weekly Times: 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 show more 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. show less

I absolutely adore Fawcett's Emily Wilde series and enjoy cozy fantasy when it's well-written -- and this definitely is. The descriptions are evocative, the characterizations are rich and amusing, the pace of the story is steady and spot-on for the genre.

Even so, I did not find this one nearly as engaging as EW. Now, this could be because I'm more of a dog person or it could be because the romance between our delightful main character and a certain unintentional dark wizard does not ring quite as genuine; generally though, this one simply felt a little more settled and, as a result, less emotionally vibrant for me.

Ultimately though, it's still a charming example if its trend. And is chock-full of adorable cats!

I absolutely loved this book. It had cats, magic, cat welfare awareness, and it was set in 1920s Montreal. It was fantastic. In this world, average everyday people who are magicless don’t really care for those who are magical, believing them to be reckless. Agnes definitely is not a fan of magical wizards, so when she finds out that the Dark Lord himself is her landlord she is not thrilled. But she needs the space for her cats so she makes it work.

I loved Agnes’ character. She was a take charge, Type A personality, yet still quirky. Agnes likes things organized, loves a list (much like me lol), and loves her cats, all forty some of them, and worries about the ones still on the streets. Does she enter into a working relationship with show more the dreaded Dark Lord to help her cats? You will have to read to find out!

I was very involved in animal rescue for years. I helped start an organization, fostered, served on the board, volunteered at the shelter multiple nights a week, and I would like to add that from the perspective an animal rescuer, this book was spot on. The TNR efforts, all the little details involved, were perfect. Fawcett either has to be in animal rescue herself or did some thorough research!

I loved this book, and it is a definite five star for me! show less