The Cat

by Jean Johnson

Book Overview

New in the national bestselling Sons of Destiny series, hailed by Jayne Ann Krentz as 'wildly entertaining.'

Amara is wary of mages, they chased her out of her homeland. Yet there is something about the mage Trevan of Nightfall that Amara can't resist. But can he be trusted with her most fiercely guarded secret? Courting such a pretty yet prickly outlander won't be easy, but Trevan is determined to try. She may be fierce, proud, and...

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0425221490
• ISBN13: 9780425221495
• Release Date: June 2008
• Publisher: Penguin Publishing Group
• Length: 368 Pages
• Weight: 0.75 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.0" x 5.5" x 8.2"
• Age Range: 18 years and up
• Grade Range: Postsecondary and higher

Customer Reviews

Sensual and highly entertaining!

The Sons of Destiny series is every bit as much a fascinating fantasy world-building story as it is a romance & erotica series. The family is in the unusual position of trying to jump-start a kingdom with very few resources other than their own magical abilities, their quick minds, and some natural resources, and it's wonderful to observe their struggles. They have to do everything from planning a city to enticing settlers to move in. They have to create their own local customs to give people a sense of social identity, such as marriage ceremonies and clothing styles. They need to find ways to produce enough useful goods to export that they can afford to buy those things they need to import. The characters are quite a bit of fun. Amara is stubborn and proud, as you'd expect from someone who'd been told she was going to be queen since she was a child, but she's also highly competent and intelligent and capable of learning from her mistakes. Trevan is a spell-shifter, a mage who uses spells to change shape, and is 'the cat' referred to in the title. Contrary to expectations built up in so many other romance novels, however, his favorite feline shape is not that of a large hunting cat---no, he prefers to pad about on little housecat feet. It's highly entertaining to watch him use that to his advantage in trying to get close to Amara. One of the things that makes this book stand out above many of its peers is the wonderful sense of humor woven into its pages. Entire passages are laugh-out-loud funny, and in a ruefully 'all-too-true' manner. The most fascinating part of the book, however, is watching Trevan, Amara, and everyone else try to deal with the huge cultural differences that arise. Amara comes from a highly-structured society with very formalized rules, and she isn't accustomed to dealing with many outsiders. Add to that the fact that courting is an activity that typically involves some of the most important customs in a society, and you have a real recipe for trouble. The ensuing difficulties feel very real, and not at all contrived.

much better than previous book

I must say that The Cat is my favorite of the series. Trevan has always been famous for being the sexiest of the brothers (THE lady's man) but in this one he truely proves his worth. Not only is he caring, sweet, and says all the right things, he's also willing to go the extra mile(and a half) to please his fated bride. Never does he assume they belong together, but sets out to prove to Amara that they do. Very delectable. Amara is fearest and strong. She is the strongest shapechanger in her world and was fated and trained to become queen. Protecting her twin sister and racing to save their lives was not part of her future plans, but she's willing to do what it takes protect what she loves. She doesn't expect to find love so far away from home. What I like most about this novel was when Trevan put Kelly in her place. FINALLY! Pointing out to her how much she assumes her way is the only right way. *Here's me, doing a happy dance!* Is Johnson finally getting a clue just how unlikable the Kelly character is? Gosh, I hope so. Perhaps this will weaken this character's hold on all the stories. The next novel is "The Storm"--which is where Amoro (Amara's twin) courts Rydan. I'm sooo looking forward to this one.

The Cat was wonderful - can't wait for the next in the series

I absolutely love this series. I enjoy the magic and the family attitudes with the other-world background with each book building up to an expected fantastic finish. I highly recommend the entire series.

The Cat Delivers A Good Read

Once again, I have waited with great anticipation for the release of a new novel by Jean Johnson, and The Cat has proven to be worth the wait. With great eagerness I cracked the spine of the book that focuses on Trevan, the fifth-born of the Sons of Destiny. I wanted to read the story of the man who shares my nickname! In the forward, Ms. Johnson warns the reader - this book and the one to follow, The Storm, share a parallel time-frame. She points out that two people, having experienced the same thing, will tell two different stories because of perspective. This intrigued me; how would she separate these two stories sufficiently enough to leave surprises for The Storm? Let me reassure any uncertain fans or new readers. Rydan, the sixth-born, is reclusive enough that an entirely separate set of novels about his life could be written to parallel the rest of the Sons of Destiny books and never fail to be fresh. Yes, we know who he's courting (or being courted by?), but we've also known all along whom Morganen is courting! The key there, will be HOW it happens. Enough about the book that isn't published though. We're talking about The Cat. Purrrrrrrr. In The Cat, we find that all is not well with at least two of the unattached brothers. Trevan, being one of them, has gone from Feast to Famine in the terms of a ladies man. And he's feeling the inevitable aches and pains of the exile of the eight brothers. Nothing he and his pyrotechnically-challenged brother, Koranen, can work up provides a satisfactory relief. In the meantime, we are introduced to representatives of another country and race. The Shiftari are natural shapechangers, as opposed to the specialized magic both Trevan and Wolfer enjoy. Amara and Arora, having fled their homeland and forced to abandon their promising futures, have arrived on the island. A great mystery surrounds Arora, and Amara has sworn to protect her twin sister from the multitude of greedy mages that would steal away with Arora for what she is. Much to Amara's horror, they've arrived on an odd island nation that seems populated with nothing more than mages! Worse, she feels abandoned by the gods and, after meeting Trevan and having learned she is his "destined" wife, she cannot accept that! She can't trust him or his brothers, and Kelly - oh, don't get her started on Kelly! A completely powerless, outworlder upstart that DARES call herself a Queen! While musing on this review, I've considered the balances of each of the brothers. Saber, the eldest, is tempered like the steel he favors. Oh, he has a temper, but he's the solid backbone of the family. He's ordered and disciplined. Wolfer, his twin, is wilder, more prone to acting on instinct, based on emotional response. Like a wild creature. Dominor, third-born, is strong-willed and proud. He is, after all, The Master! He is a leader, though he defers to Saber. His twin, Evanor, on the other hand, is more laid-back, domestic, and willing to be equal or subordinate.

Another surprising love story!

Trevan, known as the Cat, is the acknowledged womanizer of the Corvis brothers. With this as his reputation, it seems that love and marriage will probably happen faster than any of the other brothers, right? WRONG!! The woman apparently destined to become Trevan's bride is a shapeshifter Princess named Amara, who has been too long on the run, protecting herself and her twin, Arora, from mages who would use Arora's great power for their own selfish purposes. Amara has more than enough reasons to NOT trust ANYONE, after all of her narrow escapes since being forced to flee her homeland. It will take all of Trevan's experience in romancing the ladies to overcome Amara's honest distrust and strict upbringing, to prove himself worthy as a potential mate. To do that, he must first try to unwind the fiercely guarded secrets she holds dear, and do some honest self examination of himself and his own motives, and win her heart. Can he do it? Well, for the answer to that, pick up this volume and find out!