I accessed a digital review copy of this book from the publisher.
Suri continues her journey through the Monster's Cradle with her companions Caglio and Byron. While trying to source provisions for the journey she meets Kolya. In a series of misadventures, the group ends up in the Mole King's lair.
This book is the second in a series. While it helps with background knowledge, it is not necessary to read the first book to enjoy the second. The reading level is suitable for a juvenile level.
This book was easy and fun. I did not read the first before this and didn't feel like I was missing too much. I do plan on reading it though because I enjoyed this one s much.
I would suggest this book to anyone who enjoys fantasy.

ARC was given by NetGalley & First Second Books in exchange for an honest review.

This review is being published before the release date (June 20th, 2023)

✨ Cat's Cradle: The Golden Twine ★★★★

Content/Trigger Warnings: Abandonment

The absolute blessings that I was able to obtain an arc of the second book in the Cat's Cradle series. I wasn't sure when arcs would be available and by a miracle, the power of the arc gods, an arc landed in my grabby little hands. I was so eager to find out what was going to happen next to Suri and this book didn't disappoint. I had such a fun time reading this and everything that happens just filled my soul up with love.

We are once again following Suri, a traveling monster tamer, who's searching for her family, but this time she has the help of some friends. Caglio, an imp, was the original person to trap Bryon, also various mischievous like many imps, and then we have sweet Bryon, a large monster dog, who thinks he's a lap dog and is very fond of Suri. This group of friends are traveling to the land of monsters, in search of Suri's family. However, their journey will take them on a side quest of gold, mole kings, and making a new friend along the way.

I absolutely adored the new characters we're introduced to! When this book introduced Kolya, the screech that left my body was enough to scare my neighbors. I was really invested in the role Koyla would play and at the end, the way Koyla decides to join Suri on her travels just made my heart melt. Even more so because you know Koyla is doing everything in his power to just survive and have a place where he belongs. Seeing the way Suri and him just click, it was every thing and just made me think of found family. Also, we're introduced to a character named Glassa, who I loved! She was such firecracker and I love how she was referred to as The Mole Queen. However, her love for her sister is what really made me love her character. That kind of love was so powerful that it made my heart mushy and I just knew I was going to love her character with my whole chest.


"But don't give up! The world's full of opportunities! The littlest thing could come along and change your luck completely."


Since the first book, one of the things that has really stuck out to me and I had to mention it. This is one of my favorite themes in any book and it's the found family theme. I love a good story that laces found family into the story. The found family in this book, the way Suri keeps attracting these supernatural beings to her, is so beautiful. It happens in the most natural way and even when she interacts with Koyla, despite not knowing much about him or being super close to him, she refuses to let him be on his own or leave him behind. Whether Suri knows it or not, the little group of friends she's been gathering has been turning into a found family. And I can't wait to see how the author continues to escalate this theme in the rest of the series.

Overall, I don't want to spoil too much of this book because it is the second book in this series! However, there's traveling, found family themes, shenanigans, and it just reminds me of a good time dungeon crawling. It was such a fun read and truly, I can't wait to see what the third book has for us. Also, if you love maps and extra little details, there is a map and we get to see the inside of Suri's monster book, which I thought were both lovely details to add!

This is a fun-filled graphic novel about a girl's rollicking adventure to earn food and break a curse or two here and there with her friends.

Set in an imagined land, Suri sets off for Monster's Cradle with her companion, Caglio and a gigantic dog, Byron. On her way there, she bumps into the gigantic monster, Mole King and meets a new friend who claims to have stolen treasure from the Mole King's lair. Together they set off for the Mole King's lair in search of treasure. Unbeknownst to them, another group of princely bounty hunters are also on their way there.

The story is a bit confusing in the beginning with a lot of characters being introduced at the same time. The connection between the characters becomes clear as we get closer to the climax of the story.

The illustration is adorable and reminds me of both Hilda and works by Studio Ghibli. The storyline interestingly reminds me of Tolkien tales.

So much fun! I loved being back with these characters and on another fun adventure.

This volume in particular reminded me of a lot of things that I love about Avatar: The Last Airbender, and anyone who loved that series should definitely pick this up! We're following a group of friends: monster hunter Suri, imp Caglio, and the sweet and lovable big dog Byron (kind of like our Appa character). There's a (medieval-historical? steampunk?) fantasy world filled with monsters - some truly evil and some just misunderstood - and Suri is learning to use magical abilities. There's a problem-of-the-week situation, in this case that Suri and her friends need food and money to begin their journey to the monsters cradle, and end up seeking out the mole king's treasure. Then we also have a longer running plot in the background about our protagonists being chased down by a prince and a group of sibling catsiths who want Suri's golden twine. I also loved the budding friendship/relationship between Suri and Kolya, who is secretly a catsith and originally joins her group to try to take her golden twine.

I do think I could have used a recap of the previous volume at the beginning or a reminder of who our characters are, since it took a while to remember who was who and what everyone's goals were. But once I was into the swing of things, this book flew by and was a pleasure to read!

I know the blurb says this is supposed to be a trilogy, but I could read endless volumes about these characters and this world! I can see this becoming very popular with middle grade readers looking for a new good graphic novel to pick up. I just love this series and concept and can't wait for the next one!!

I read the first one of this series. I enjoyed reading it. I was so glad that the publisher approved my request for pre-read the second book of this series. The quality of this book is still good, the story and the illustrations.
I can imagine this one can be popular among my upper elementary students.

Having introduced the main cast of characters in the series' opener, the sequel is able to jump right into the monstrous hijinks that made the first so much fun. Rioux does a fantastic job of telling a complete story while also advancing the series' overarching narrative. Can't wait for the next installment!

I read the first book and was very excited to read this one. Overall, it was a great addition and continuation to the first book and a fun read. Would totally recommend you to read this series as the illustrations are nice, beautiful and the story as well as setting is interesting and entertaining.

I’d like to thank netgalley and the publisher for an advance copy in exchange for an honest review. I enjoyed part one so I was looking forward to part two, another action packed adventure following Suri and her job of monster hunting. Can’t wait for the third one.

Suri, Caglio, and Byron continue on their journey to the monster lands. They cross paths with Kolya who is secretly a caitsith. Caglio finds out and uses to the knowledge to blackmail Kolya. Kolya tells the group about his run in with the mole king and his horde of treasure. The group decides to plunder the treasure for travel money, but runs into something else entirely. Will Suri be able to break the curse?