Are you a fan of Urban Fantasy? Do you like cats and werewolves? I came across Helen Harper’s Waifs and Strays at some point last year and added it to my wish list. A few weeks ago, I finally picked it up, and I’m loving it. So much so that I’m already on the third book. The fourth book isn’t available until the end of May, so I’m a bit disappointed about that.
What makes the series so good? It’s entertaining. There is a nice balance of pacing, conflict, and stakes that keeps a reader hooked. The book didn’t get boring. Each book is a mixture of cozy fantasy and cozy mystery. In the first book, there isn’t a death, but a kidnapping that creates the mystery. The second does have a death, and the third book has supernaturals who’ve lost their power.
A second enjoyable element was the characters. They were likable. Kit, the main character, is a Cat Sith. This means she takes a bit of fur from one of her cats. Once swallowed, she transforms into the cat’s double. The interactions between Kit and her felines were fun. As Kit wove through each story, something happened in each scene. This kept me guessing and interested. I wanted to know how she’d solve the problem or get herself out of the situation she was in. Kit is an engaging character. Each character she interacts with in the story world is engaging and interesting. The relationships didn’t feel contrived. While some characters were a bit much, the exaggeration was part of Harper’s writing’s charm.
The third captivating aspect of Harper’s series is the world-building. There is a lot that’s familiar about the supernatural creatures, people, and elements. Harper created unique inhabitants in the magical city of Coldstream, who have become hers.
At times, some of the details were confusing. At one point, I had totally misjudged a character as much older than she really was. In the first book, I had the impression that the character was probably in her seventies. In the second book, however, I learn she’s much younger. This did create some mild confusion. The characters do swear a bit more than I like in books. For me it is distracting and feels overdone or unnecessary. But this is probably more of a personal preference.
Overall, the books are very enjoyable, and I highly recommend delving into them. I’d easily give them a rating of 4 or 5 on Amazon and Goodreads. so if you’re looking for something to read, head over to Amazon and check the series.
K. M. Wray 