#Review - A Skirl of Sorcery by Helen Harper #Contemporary #Fantasy

Series: The Cat Lady Chronicles # 3
Format: 274 pages, Kindle Edition
Release Date: October 13, 2025
Publisher: Helen Harper
Source: Kindle Unlimited
Genre: Urban Fantasy

Death has a new address—and it’s Kit McCafferty’s.

When Kit offers a room to a powerless ban sith who has lost her magic, she sets off a chain reaction across Coldstream’s supernatural streets. Her neighbors are panicking. Dangerous werewolves are on the prowl. And Kit finds herself trying to solve several desperate problems all at once.

Kit knows the world’s a messy place, especially when magic’s involved. But this reeks of something dark and nasty. She’s paws deep - and there’s every chance that Thane, the copper-haired werewolf who stirs Kit’s heart, will become collateral damage.

Her house is full of cats, and her city is full of monsters ... fortunately, Kit McCafferty is one of them.

A Skirl of Sorcery is the third installment in author Helen Harper's The Cat Lady Chronicles. This novel continues the adventures of Kit McCafferty, a retired cat-sith assassin who's traded her deadly past for a quieter life in the quirky supernatural enclave of Coldstream. Kit somehow always finds a way to get into trouble, and this time around, trouble ends up living in her house thanks to a bargain she made with Mallory, a powerful witch. 

Kit's retirement dreams are once again upended tarts as an act of compassion by taking in a ban sith (death spirit) spirals into a web of interconnected crises: valuable artifacts vanishing from homes, a werewolf pack reeling from the loss of their alpha, and whispers of a shadowy force draining magic from the supernatural community. As Coldstream's self-appointed guardian, Kit rallies her unlikely allies—including a boisterous wolf shifter named Thane Barrow, and, of course, her cadre of opinionated cats—to unravel the chaos. 

Harper keeps the pace taut, layering clues and red herrings with the finesse of a cozy mystery, all while grounding the fantastical elements in relatable, everyday stakes like nosy neighbors and lost pets. Kit's cats aren't mere props; they're fully fleshed-out characters with distinct personalities—Tiddles the enigmatic tabby, for instance, steals scenes with his sly interventions and budding bromance with Thane. 

The mystery element is a standout, blending procedural detective work with magical forensics. However, the most intriguing bit of information is about Thane, and what really happened 27 years ago that forced him into being abandoned by his pack, and why he has no memories of the night it went all wrong for him. Lastly, there is a bit of romantic tension in this story between Kit and Thane that has not truly found an ending. Kit has claimed she is too independent to be bothered with a relationship, or marriage, and Thane just learned a heartbreaking truth about his own family. 

The author stated that this is not the final book in the series, that Kit will return in 2026. I shall be waiting for the next installment.

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#Review - The Dark Hiss of Magic by Helen Harper #Paranormal #Fantasy

Series: The Cat Lady Chronicles # 2
Format: Kindle, 286 pages
Release Date: June 16, 2025
Publisher: Helen Harper
Source: Kindle Unlimited
Genre: Contemporary Fantasy

There will be no pussy-footing around. Not when Kit McCafferty is involved.

When Kit rescues a wealthy witch from the treacherous, monster-filled waters of the River Tweed, she reckons she's completed her fair share of good deeds for the day. But when a second anonymous body is pulled from the same river, Kit is dragged into a mystery as murky as the water itself. The corpse has no identification, no personal possessions and no one who cares. Kit is determined to change that.

At least Thane Barrow, the copper-haired werewolf who sees the world in a similar way to Kit, is happy to also get involved. Together, they navigate Coldstream’s magical streets and mysterious secrets, determined to uncover the truth about John Doe. Alas, it soon becomes clear that his death was no accident. Kit finds herself investigating a complex crime with more than one victim. She will have her claws full if she's going to get to the bottom of what's happened.

One thing is for certain - when death threatens, Kit McCafferty doesn’t back down. She pounces.

The Dark Hiss of Magic is the Second installment in author Helen Harper's The Cat Lady Chronicles series. The story is a blend of urban fantasy, cozy mystery, and sharp-witted humor that will captivate fans of the genre. Set in the magical border town of Coldstream, the story follows Kit McCafferty, a fiercely independent protagonist who was once an assassin, with a knack for trouble and a soft spot for cats who are allegedly demon cats. 

When a very well-known and wealthy witch (Quentin Hightower) falls into the treacherous River Tweed filled with monsters, Kit helps to save him, but unbeknownst to her at the time, another person had fallen in the river and was not so lucky. Kit feels guilty that she couldn't have saved him, too, so she decides to find out more about this John Doe, so his family can be informed and he can rest in peace. Unfortunately, Kit ends up opening a huge can of worms, and when more bodies turn up, she is determined to find out how these deaths are connected, who murdered them all, and why. 

Kit, a relatable and magically talented heroine, tackles the investigation with smarts, grit, and a touch of luck, avoiding the trope of implausible deductions. Her partnership with Thane Barrow, a copper-haired werewolf with a similar worldview, adds depth and a subtle spark of chemistry that enriches the narrative without overpowering it. The return of familiar characters, such as Trilby, MacTire, and Mallory, alongside new faces like Captain Montgomery and Quentin Hightower, enhances the vibrant ensemble. 

Harper’s knack for balancing humor—often delivered through clever feline perspectives—with darker themes of murder and betrayal creates a compelling tone. The intelligent cat characters, a hallmark of the series, add charm and wit, appealing especially to feline enthusiasts.

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#Review - Waifs and Strays by Helen Harper #Fantasy

Series: The Cat Lady Chronicles # 1
Format: Kindle, 300 pages
Release Date: February 10, 2025
Publisher: Helen Harper
Source: Kindle Unlimited
Genre: Urban Fantasy

Nobody is just a cat lady.

Kit McCafferty's life is quiet, unremarkable, and filled with cat hair. In the magical city of Coldstream, located on the border between Scotland and England, Kit is viewed as little more than mildly eccentric and mostly harmless. She passes her days caring for her family of five cats, feeding the local feral moggies, and maintaining relatively good relations with her neighbors.

All that changes, however, when a teenage werewolf shows up at her door in the desperate hope of renting out a nearby vacant flat. Kit knows that the smart move is to tell him to leave. The last thing she needs is to become embroiled in complicated shapeshifter politics. But something about the secretive young werewolf tugs at her heartstrings.

It's not long before Kit ends up caught in a maelstrom of mysterious crime and magical wrongdoing. Fortunately, there's far more to Kit McCafferty than meets the eye, and she has a few dark secrets of her own.

Of course, anyone with an ounce of intelligence knows that you underestimate a cat lady at your own peril.

Helen Harper's Waifs and Strays is the first book in the author's The Cat Lady Chronicles. Set in the enchanting border town of Coldstream, straddling Scotland and England, this novel introduces Kit McCafferty—a cat lady with a quiet life and a past that’s anything but. Coldstream is filled with magical beings, including vampires, werewolves, witches, Druids, and a woman with purple hair who is a Cat Sith, a person who can shapeshift into a cat as well as something even more dangerous. 

Thanks to being forcibly retired by her former employer, Kit’s days are filled with cat hair, feral moggies, and the gentle eccentricity of a woman who’s content to be underestimated. Living in Coldstream—a magical nexus where the mundane meets the mystical—she tends to her five feline companions and keeps her neighbors at a polite distance. That cozy routine unravels when a teenage werewolf named Nick knocks on her door, desperate to rent a nearby flat. Against her better judgment, Kit’s soft spot for strays—human or otherwise—draws her in. 

What starts as a simple act of kindness spirals into a whirlwind of shapeshifter politics, mysterious crimes, and magical mayhem after Nick is kidnapped and she must face the wrath of the werewolf pack, led by Alexander McTire, Nick's uncle. As Kit digs deeper, she uncovers a web of danger involving vampires, druids, witches, and fae, all while juggling her own hidden talents and a past she’d rather keep buried. The stakes climb higher with kidnappings, threats, and something dangerous happening on the Winter Solstice demands her attention. 

Kit also encounters a rogue werewolf named Thane who claims he was also attacked and lost memories of what happened to him. Thane and Kit work well together, but there is no romance to overwhelm the story. Through it all, Kit’s cats—far more than mere pets—prove to be her secret weapon, hinting at a power that’s as surprising as it is delightful. In her 40s, Kit is a refreshing departure from the twentysomething heroines dominating urban fantasy. She’s confident, capable, and comfortable in her own skin—neither haunted by her past nor bored with her present. 

Her interactions with her cats are endearing, as are the curious names she gives them, and these cleverly woven into the plot reveal layers of her character that make her instantly lovable. The ending is surprisingly shocking and unexpected, but it actually makes sense if you're a person who loves cats. Enough said. 

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#Review - The Salted Scepter by Helen Harper #Contemporary #Fantasy

Series: Thrill of the Hunt # 4
Format: Kindle, 293 pages
Release Date: September 30, 2024
Publisher: Helen Harper
Source: Kindle Unlimited
Genre: Contemporary Fantasy

All my dreams are coming true. But some nightmares continue to lurk in the shadows.

I should be celebrating. Hell, I should be the happiest elf in the world. Unfortunately, I can’t revel in my successes when there’s a foul fiend who is relentlessly trying to lure me to his side. He won’t leave me in peace and he seems determined to plunge the country into chaos to get what he wants, using bloodshed, fear and malevolent magic. Still, I’m no stranger to stubbornness. If I can turn the tables and become the hunter instead of the hunted, I might have a chance. The odds are stacked against me but I’m not alone in this fight - and I refuse to be anyone’s puppet. 

The Salted Scepter is the fourth and final installment in author Helen Harper's Thrill of the Hunt series. This series takes place entirely within Scotland. The series protagonist is Daisy Carter. Daisy, who recently learned that she comes from an interesting mix of Elf and Fiend and has learned how to actually control her magic without drugs, has gone from a spider silk addict to pushing the buttons of Hugh Pemberville to see who is the best treasure hunter in the country. Right out of the gate, there is trouble waiting for Daisy in the form of a powerful fiend named Athair. 

Athair, who writes her name in blood on the Royal Elvish Institute, only wants one thing from Daisy. To have her admit that she is his kin and that needs to join him or those she loves will die. So, when Athair gives her a demand, what does Daisy do? Joins with Hugo, brownies Hester, and Otis for an old-fashioned treasure hunt to see if they can find an artifact that is powerful enough to rid the world of Athair and any other fiends in existence. But they're not alone. The Primes (Becky, Slim, Rizwan, Miriam, and Mark) are eager to help any way they can.

Now this part is kind of interesting so I'll keep it short. By chance, Daisy and the group learn of a map that contains 32 treasure hunts. It appears that someone, Athair, is looking for something powerful enough to defeat him. Could it be from the 13th century when a certain obnoxious and hated King ordered the making of powerful artifacts containing magic that would give him unimaginable power. Unfortunately for this King, it got lost in a flood and hasn't been since in 800 years. *This is true by the way. Look up King John.* 

Daisy and friends encounter some new characters along the way including Amy Aurum who has some curious abilities that you will learn about later in the story. We also are introduced to brownies Eloise and Horace, brother and sister, who have been bound to a fiend, and the only hope for them is Daisy if she can find a way to defeat Athair. I have to praise the author for doing a summary of what happened in the previous three books. That way, you can remember what has happened, and why Daisy has become something of a superstar now that her identity has been revealed. 

One of the best parts of this book was the ending. No joke. Every character from Daisy's past exploits, including one to the past, makes an appearance in a desperate move to help Daisy save the day. The book wraps up things quite nicely so that there's no question as to what is going to happen next. 

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#Review - Skullduggery by Helen Harper #Fantasy #Paranormal

Series: Thrill of the Hunt # 3
Format: Kindle, 296 pages
Release Date: June 17, 2024
Publisher: Helen Harper
Source: Kindle Unlimited
Genre: Urban Fantasy

Okay. I’ll admit I’ve got problems. But surrender is word wholly absent from my vocabulary.

My grasp on magic is shaky at best and my dependence on spider’s silk is a battle I’m still fighting. But while my heritage and my health might be problematic, I’m certainly not going to roll over and give up.

Not me. Not ever.

With Hugo Pemberville and his skilled band of Prime treasure hunters by my side, I'm drawn into a quest for a mythical golden skull. This artefact might just be the breakthrough needed to shed light on the enduring mystery of Lady Rose's disappearance - but the search for it will force me down a twisty path filled with unexpected revelations.

The echoes of the past have never felt quite so close to home.

Skullduggery by Helen Harper is the third installment in the authors Thrill of the Hunt series. Key Characters: Daisy Carter, and Hugo Pemberville. Daisy Carter is a low-elf living in Edinburgh, Scotland. She is addicted to spider silk because it helps control her magic. She has two brownies (Hester & Otis) who she rescued from a curse. She has recently come under the guidance of Hugo Pemberville who is a treasure hunter. 

Hugo is trying hard to teach Daisy the ropes, including how to use her new sword called Glory, while also hoping that she can finally control the usage of a drug that she shouldn't be taking. Daisy's other issue is that she recently met a dangerous fiend, think Demon, named Athair who seems intent on finding out who her mother was. But this story focuses on a mystery 30 years in the making. The mystery of what really happened to Lady Rose Assigney. 

Thanks to some encouragement from sorcerer Gordon Mackenzie, Daisy, Hugo, Otis, Hugo, and some of Hugo's prime treasure hunters search for a missing golden skull. What they don't count on is Daisy being thrown back in time 30 years where she meets Hugo's parents, and the Lady Rose. She also discovers that powerful fiends are after Rose because she is fertile. She's one of the few humans who is capable of carrying the spawn of a fiend, and each of the demons want the baby. 

One of those demons is Athair who has made some interesting claims about Daisy. Daisy, with a little help from Hugo, and Hugo's parents, must do whatever they can to save Rose or she will die. The one thing that is certain. Daisy's life will never be the same again, and two, Daisy's relationship with Hugo is now moving into an entirely different direction thanks to Hugo's new found patience with Daisy, and finally understanding the truth his parents have been carrying around with them for 30 years. Daisy also learns a little secret about her magic, and all I have to say is it's about time! 

The author states that there will be one more book in this series which she is calling the finale. It's due to release in September of this year. 

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#Review - Fiendish Delights by Helen Harper #Fantasy #Paranormal

Series: Thrill of the Hunt # 2
Format: Kindle, 296 pages
Release Date: March 22, 2024
Publisher: Helen Harper
Source: Kindle Unlimited
Genre: Urban Fantasy

Yeah, I’m a treasure hunter. No, I’m not rich. Or busy. Or successful.

Not yet.

I’m doing my very best at making a living in my newfound career. I’ve got magic, a pair of brownie sidekicks and enough ambition to fill every chilly corner of Edinburgh castle.

What I don’t have is any actual treasure to hunt.

However, when a young girl asks me for help, I end up embroiled in a deeply dangerous search for an ancient magical artefact. Unfortunately, I’m not the only one who wants to find it. Between fire-breathing dragons, vicious vampires and lethally powerful fiends, I’ve got my work cut out for me if I’m going to locate the treasure first.

At least this time I’ve got help. Hugo Pemberville might be as provocative as ever but he has also attached himself to my side. Sure, I’ve got a few teeny tiny problems of my own to deal with - but I’ve got everything under control.

Sort of.

Fiendish Delights is the second installment in author Helen Harper's Thrill of the Hunt series. Daisy Carter, our protagonist, is an elf living in Edinburgh, Scotland. Daisy is doing her best to make a living in her newfound career as a treasure hunter. She’s got a pair of brownie sidekicks (Hester & Otis) and bucket-loads of ambition. What she doesn’t have is any actual treasure to hunt. She recently started carrying a sentient sword called Gladys. 

On the downside, Daisy is addicted to a drug known as spider's silk which gives her a ring of silver in her eyes. She claims she needs it to mute her magic. After being approached by what appears to be a 9-year-old girl looking for her doll, Daisy once again finds herself in a race with Hugh Pemberville, Elf Treasure Hunter, in searching for the legendary Thirteen mythical treasures of Britain. While Daisy and Hugo work together to find the 13 legendary treasures, they also have to deal with the arrival of powerful Fiends.

If that weren't interesting enough, Daisy's mysterious sentient sword begins doing things that will surprise you and make things interesting. Unfortunately, she’s not the only one who wants to find it. Between fire-breathing dragons, vicious vampires, and lethally powerful fiends, Daisy has her work cut out for her if she’s going to locate the treasure first. Daisy learns some intriguing things in this book, especially about Hugo, even as her wild magic starts to become less predictable and her addiction places her in more danger. 

Plus, it was inevitable that the author was going to leave readers with not only an important clue and a new villain, but a cliffhanger ending that we now need to wait until the sequel is released. I would ask you to pay attention to the clues that the author provides, especially when you consider that both of the important clues key you into what is likely to happen in the next installment. 

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