The Cat Ninja and a Cabal of Shadows by Erik DeLeo. 4 stars

I found this book charming, action packed and a wonderful tribute to the martial arts genre, but with cats, mice and dogs. I loved Miko, the cat ninja and her agent Sukoshi, the mouse. Miko is a kick ass cat with mad skills; able to defeat a gang of dogs and escape. There is big fight at the end of the book that just begs for a animated film. There is an unresolved issue at the end of the book that just begs for a sequel. This was a fast read and I hope to read more adventures of Miko, the ninja.

Thank you Netgalley and Erik DeLeo for this ARC.

Blurb: A missing puppy. An evil gang. And a hidden enemy lurking in the shadows.

She’s a cat. She’s a ninja. She’s a cat ninja. When Miko’s friend Sukoshi the field mouse comes calling with a new job, she agrees to investigate. But when it turns out the job entails helping the family an old enemy, little does Miko know that she’ll need to face her past in order to solve the case before it’s too late.

If you like talking animals, stealthy ninjas, and beating up bad guys, then you’ll love The Cat Ninja. This chapter book deals with many themes including anger, loss, abandonment, and fear. It is perfect for fans of Narnia by C.S. Lewis, Redwall by Brian Jacques and The Green Ember by S.D. Smith, along with other fantasy series including The Chronicles of Prydain by Lloyd Alexander.

Length: 186 pages
Age Level: 8 - 12

My thoughts: Wow. If you were expecting a cutesy animal story, think again! Miko is one kick-ass cat with a kick-ass reputation, complete with a kobachi sword called Amai Fukushu (Sweet Revenge) and a mouse sidekick (because why shouldn’t she?). As a kitten, she witnessed the death of her mother and brother and as a stray living on the streets she was taken in by a Ninja Master – Kobayashi (‘a rare male tortoiseshell’) who taught her all his skills.

Before leaving her safe, Miko’s mum left her with an heirloom – an omamori – which she wears round her neck as a reminder of what she has lost. Since then, Miko has been out for revenge and whilst completing this new job, she comes up against the dog that she believes was responsible for killing her family. With Sukoshi and Kobayashi at her side, she is sure to succeed. But not everything is as it seems…

“Battling yourself is tougher than any fight with a sword”.

Only £2.99 on kindle at the moment.

I would like to thank both Net Galley and Erik DeLeo for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

We loved the cat ninja! My 8 year old gives it a 10 out of 5 stars.

Miko's journey to solving the mystery of the missing pup & discovering the truth about her past has many great messages in it. The story flowed well, and was engaging enough to keep my daughters attention. She read the whole book in one sitting! I found the story to be well written with the younger reader in mind.

Loved the various characters, and how they acknowledged their normal rivalries but also were able to put aside their differences and work together when needed. Miko is a strong lead that shows bravery and forgiveness, her personal arc in this story is inspiring to young readers.

We received this book via NetGalley

There was a lot to like about this middle-grade work. A strong female main character. Subtle and not so subtle lessons about love, forgiveness, bravery, empathy, and so much more. Enough action to keep readers on their toes, and enough redemption to offset the story arc of revenge and atonement. For those who loved the Squirrel Squire, this book will not disappoint. For those who have not had the opportunity to enjoy Squirrel Squire, this book serves perfectly well as a standalone.

Thanks to NetGalley for the opportunity to read a digital ARC in return for an honest review.

I loved this book! It is a wonderful fantasy that will keep you turning the pages. I highly recommend this book to everyone who liked Watership Down. I can't wait to see what this author writes next. Thank you Erik DeLeo via NetGalley for the complimentary copy of this book. All opinions expressed are my own.

I loved this book that made me smile and talked to my inner child.
I think it will be loved by both adults and children.
Highly recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine.

Part of me is eternally the child who loved Watership Down, the Animals of Farthing Wood and more relevantly, the Redwall books and the Deptford Mice. This was absolutely adorable as well as being a well written animal story in its own right. I tore through it in one sitting then went and bought the previous book. I loved the female feline protagonist and her male mouse side kick was a treat. Highly recommend this smart mid grade animal fantasy.