The Cat's Maw

I received a free copy of The Cat's Maw from the publisher in return for an honest review.

"The mountaintop exploded, sending plumes of stone and fire hurtling into the air. The clouds themselves fell, as if wounded by the burst, striking the horizon. They splashed and rolled and swept down the highway in a black, colossal wave."

Billy is accident prone, he's always getting hurt or into trouble. While out playing he follows a stray cat onto the road and is hit by car. Stuck inside after the accident his summer is ruined, till one day the stray cat turns up at his home. But this is no ordinary cat. Billy starts to have strange dreams now the cat has appeared, he learns through dreams that he's cursed and that in order to lift the curse he has to find a key. Who is this large feline in his dreams, and is the cat really here to help him? Can he find the key and lift the curse before all is lost? 

Cats! Cats everywhere! Big ones, small ones, fat ones, thin ones, old ones, young ones, every kind of cat you can imagine, you'll find them in this story. The Cat's Maw will take you on an adventure. It's entertaining and full of imagination and vivid detail. The characters are well fleshed out, they're not all perfect, they're human, realistic and have flaws. The story is beautifully written, I found myself wanting to highlight so many wonderfully written passages while reading.  

Although it's a childrens book, it's one that all ages will enjoy. It's quite dark in places but it's a lot of fun to read and one that cat lovers will enjoy especially.

Here is a book to read with your child! I like reading with my grandchildren and one of my granddaughters is particularly the one to love this story. We often recommend books to each other (which helps in the bookstore..if I haven't read one but they liked it, I can tell a customer that). This is one you'll want to pick up your next trip for reading material.

Seemingly cursed by bad luck, Billy is recovering from the worst in a long series of accidents and is plagued by strange dreams.  His enigmatical neighbor gifts him with one of her many cats which seems to help pass the time.  But Billy is pursued by voices that want him to follow clues to find the key to release them.  He begins to learn of Watchers, Listeners, and Shadows as he partners up with his vet's daughter.  Meanwhile his parents aren't telling him the whole truth about his casted leg and what his diagnosis is.  Can he solve the mystery in time and earn healing for his leg?

I enjoyed this book and think it will be an interesting series.  Children who like cats and dogs, who've been bullied, who struggle to relate to their parents, or who are maybe just a little different will identify with Billy.  Action propels the story forward and even though it is a series, there is a satisfying conclusion to this book.

When Billy gets run over by a car, his prognosis isn't good. His leg is badly injured and it may not heal. Now Billy has always been plagued with bad luck but this is the worst thing to ever happen him. He is down in the dumps when a cat suddenly appears. The cat makes Billy feel better and he begs his mother to let him keep it. From that moment on, Billys life is changed forever. He is set on a quest to lift the Curse of his bad luck. Along with voices that promise him healing if he can open the gate, and the Vets daughter, can Billy figure out what is happening to his quiet life?

This was not at all what I expected, in a good way. This was such a fast paced and fun book. 

My heart broke for poor Billy. He is cursed with bad luck and has no real friends. Yet he is such a sweetheart!! He is bullied by a neighbours kid and has pranks played on him all the time, yet it doesn't dampen his spirit. I so wanted to grab Billy in a hug!!! He is such a lovable character!!

The plot of The Cat's Maw was so fast paced and entertaining that I flew through the pages. I'm not much of a cat person but I always enjoy a great story!! 

The Cat's Maw is packed with great writing and even better story telling. I enjoyed finding out about Watchers, Shadows, and the Enemy that Awakens, it was all very intriguing. 

While at times this does pull on the heart strings, there is still some laugh out loud moments courtesy of Billy. There is also some pretty tense moments concerning him too!! 

Anyway, this was a tense and thrilling read and one I'm glad I got the chance to read. There is a lot left unanswered so I will definitely pick up the next to see if they are answered because I want to know what was the cursed cargo at the start and who is the Gray Man at the end?? 

In all a wonderfully written and adventurous read!

Little Billy is hit by a car just as summer begins. As he faces spending all of his vacation in a leg cast, he finds comfort in the cats across the street. Soon dreams begin haunting him at night. He decides that these dreams are connected to both the cats and his leg and that he must do what they tell him.

I found this book enjoyable, but several moments were confusing. I didn't like Billy's mother at all. She had a way of making him feel worthless that made me despise her. I wish there had been a bit more involvement with the cat, but it seems that the sequel will fully focus on them. I look forward to reading the sequel.

a great book for teenagers, but for adults too. Billy was following a cat in the streets, at night, when he is hit by a car. Hospital a broken leg, and weeks of staying in bed. But the cat with the golden eyes appears on his side, and Billy is fascinated. He is a very lonely boy, not getting much tenderness from his (adoptive) parents. But now, he has a new friend, the cat who comes and visits him, in his dreams or in reality?
Billy will get two new friends : the vet's daughter and the (crazy?) cat lady. He discovers there are a lot of mysterious things going on the little town of Appleton and learns about the fascinating cats.
The book is the first of a series of five, and for once, it didn't disturb me. It gives you the feeling of floating between everyday's reality and another world.  As always, it is difficult to say too much of a thriller without damaging the story for the next reader....
Worth reading for almost everybody.

Billy lives in the country with his parents.  He is adopted.  Billy is smart but is accident prone and friendless.  He goes to visit his neighbor across the road who lives with several cats.  Billy is attracted to a cat who goes to the middle of the road and sits down.  Alarmed, Billy runs to rescue the cat but gets hit by a car.  His summer is ruined!
When Billy goes home with his leg in a cast, he gets a visit from his neighbor, Mrs. Thompson who convinces his parents that the cat will help him heal.  Will the cat help him?  While healing and under medication, he has nightmares about "the grey man" who talks about a key and curses him.  Who is the  "grey man?"  Is Billy cursed?   After wards, Billy gets stung by wasps.  He knows that he is cursed.  He has adventures such as meeting vet and his daughter, a scary clown at a birthday party, and even at a bookmobile!  While his dreams continues, he is aware of his parents keeping a secret from him.

The novel is action packed, with thrills and chills.  You get to know a ten year old boy who is sensitive and worried. The novel had me forget the rest of the world as I did nothing else but read the story.  Lunch was forgotten and dinner was eaten at a very late time.  I am eagerly waiting for the next book to read.  This book is supposed to be a book for middle graders--I don't agree!  It is for anyone who loves an excellent novel!