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CATS IN THE CITY OF PLAGUE by A. L. Marlow

CATS IN THE CITY OF PLAGUE

by A. L. Marlow

Pub Date: Nov. 3rd, 2021
ISBN: 978-1-66554-195-4
Publisher: AuthorHouse

Marlow presents a historical novel about the adventures of a group of endangered cats in the Middle Ages.

It’s the spring of 1349, and Europe is going through one of its grimmest periods. The Black Death is killing people, but no one knows how or why. Many humans simply believe that the disease is the work of Satan—and some think that mysterious, clever felines are somehow helping to do the devil’s work. Leander, a cat, has always had a symbiotic relationship with people. He takes care of the rodent problems of a local apothecary in a city in northern France, getting food and shelter in exchange. Many other cats in the city have similar arrangements. However, with the plague comes dangerous behavior from humans, who suddenly turn on their companions; some felines are captured or killed. The cats are dumbfounded, and it looks like their comfortable days of table scraps and a place by the fire are through. What will Leander and his cohorts do? They do know that their kind have survived before in a place called the forest; they may have no other choice but to go there again. Readers expecting nothing but charming cat antics may be surprised by the shocking moments of death in this narrative; indeed, the “smell of burning fur and cat flesh” is enough to prevent the atmosphere from ever becoming too cartoonish despite the presence of animals who talk among themselves. But although the cats are quite chatty, their conversations often prove to be far less interesting than the consistent danger that they face wherever they go. Readers will want to follow Leander and his crew to find out if their craftiness will assure their survival. The only thing for sure in this tale is that the humans won’t come to their senses anytime soon.

An ambitious mixture of cute cats and a cruel world.