Book Review: Agnes Aubert’s Mystical Cat Shelter by Heather Fawcett

I received a review copy from the publisher. This does not affect the contents of my review and all opinions are my own.

Agnes Aubert’s Mystical Cat Shelter by Heather Fawcett

Mogsy’s Rating: 4 of 5 stars

Genre: Fantasy

Series: Stand Alone

Publisher: Del Rey (February 17, 2026)

Length: 368 pages

Author Information: Website

With a title like that, it’s almost as if Heather Fawcett’s Agnes Aubert’s Mystical Cat Shelter was written to be the ultimate crowd pleaser. It’s honestly difficult to imagine anyone not being charmed by this one, at least a little. It’s got all the ingredients of a successful cozy fantasy, including a magical 1920s Montreal setting, a soft and slow-burning romance between a tenderhearted widow and a misunderstood wizard, and of course, at the center of it all, a house full of judgy cats.

The novel follows Agnes Aubert, a woman struggling to keep her small cat rescue afloat. The past few years have not been kind to her. After her husband’s sudden death, she was left to manage the shelter on her own, aided only by her sister and the occasional volunteer. They are constantly stretched thin, with too many cats in need of homes and never enough funds to cover the basic necessities plus veterinary care. And as if that wasn’t enough, Agnes is now faced with the near-impossible task of finding a new location after their previous building was destroyed by a couple of careless wizards having an impromptu duel in the streets. With winter closing in, if she cannot secure a new space, her animals will freeze. Yet what landlord in their right mind would agree to rent to a woman with dozens of stray cats which many still dismiss as little better than vermin?

Out of options, Agnes decides to take a chance on a suspiciously affordable property with a dubious reputation. While she has her misgivings, desperation leaves little room for pride. However, it doesn’t take long to discover why the rent is so cheap. Hidden in the basement is a secret magicians’ den run by the notorious wizard Havelock Renard, a man rumored to have once nearly brought about the end of the world. Agnes, however, has little interest in him or his legend. As long as she has a safe haven for her cats, she’s willing to put up with nearly anything. But when a rival from Havelock’s past resurfaces looking to settle an old score, the resulting conflict spills into Agnes’s carefully managed world. No longer able to ignore the magical chaos, she finds herself reluctantly drawn into a battle she never wanted to fight.

What follows next strikes a careful balance between the everyday realities of running a shelter and the steadily escalating trouble brewing downstairs, both literally and figuratively. Fawcett never loses sight of the practical details that shape Agnes’s life, like the routine of taking in strays, juggling adoption inquiries, as well as scraping together enough money for food, medicine, and bills. I was happy to see that the cats weren’t just thrown in to be cutesy. They’re essential to the story, each possessing their own quirks and, um, very strong opinions. Their presence keeps both our characters and the plot grounded, so that even when everything else blows up, they are a constant reminder of what’s important in Agnes’s life.

Speaking of which, characters are where this book really shines. Agnes’s world revolves around the cats, and she’s completely unapologetic about it. At the same time, there is a thread of grief running beneath her practicality and stubbornness. She’s also sensitive and deeply empathetic, with most of her quirks being coping mechanisms that prevent her emotions, which are always hovering near the surface, from breaking through. This is in stark contrast to Havelock, who despite his ominous reputation is socially awkward and comes across a little scatter brained. One gets the sense he’s not a fan of his bad rap but tolerates it by convincing himself he’d rather be feared and left alone. Watching them struggle to co-exist in this shared space is half the fun, especially when it turns out Havelock is allergic to cats! It’s a relationship that develops slowly, through small acts of kindness. In a way, these feel more meaningful and swoony than grand gestures ever will.

All that adds up to a cozy, relaxing read. The magic itself is handled with a light touch but definitely present and applied in some fun and creative ways, especially with the cats! I liked how Fawcett wrote these elements into the very fabric of the story without overwhelming it, but at the same time it’s more substantial than window dressing. The setting also plays its part, even though it’s clear that historical detail is not a priority. Still,  the environment lends the book an old-world kind of charm through its descriptions and the culture of its close-knit French-Canadian neighborhoods.

In the end, Agnes Aubert’s Mystical Cat Shelter works because it knows exactly what kind of story it wants to be: a simple yet effective cozy fantasy, wistful and quirky in places to draw you in, but ultimately warm and comforting where it counts. It’s the kind of easy, low-stakes novel you want to curl up with after a long day, and even if you aren’t a cat person, it will warm your heart.