Contracts & Cats (Magical Emporium of Wares - Book 1) by Toni Binns - Review #4

 

Title: Contracts & Cats

Series: Meow: Magical Emporium of Wares - Book 1

Author: Toni Binns

Genre: Fantasy

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

One of my favourite books of the year! I couldn't put it down! This was one of those books that just pulled me straight in and I can't wait for more! Mostly written from Sable's perspective as the new shopkeeper of Meow: Magical Emporium of Wares, with snippet from the Cat's POV, this is a magical story with an assortment of lovable characters. 

The variety of people Sable meets in her new role keeps the story fresh and interesting, leaving the reader wondering, much like Sable, what the next day will bring. All sorts of people come through the door, both good and bad and we see the ripple effect the shop has on all those who enter it.

I'm curious to learn more about Sable's family, specifically her brothers, as it seems that there is potential in all of them for magic, but how much do any of them truly know? Sable's family seem very overly involved in her life and I wonder how down the line she'll get around not being able to leave the shop for the duration of her contract.

I adored the addition of Indigo, the adorable Book Dragon, that I wish I could have as a pet. Her origin added more depth to the story and helped Sable build relationships with all sorts of beings from other realms. All of these individuals come together to celebrate Sable's birthday and we see past the Cat's initial coldness, to someone who has a deep respect for Sable. The Cat admires her kindness, her attention to detail, her ability to adapt so quickly to such an unusual situation.

Towards the end we learn more about the ever powerful Fates and how they are intertwined with the Cat and his origin. I love the way the story ended as it added that extra element of mystery that makes me highly anticipate Book #2 in the series, The Keeper and the Kindred.
This ARC was one I just couldn't put down and wanted more of! The world building was great, the characters lovable and the story engrossing. Who wouldn't want to spend their days making coffee and baked goods with a magical cat and a cute Book Dragon for company, going on all sorts of adventures while in the confines of a cottage-core bookshop!

This was a pleasure to read and I can't wait to find out what is in store for the Cat and Sable in the next instalment. Will we learn more about the magic potential within Sable's family? What interesting new characters and creatures will we meet next? I'm so excited to find out!