I love all cats. They are cute and furry but mostly independent (even the really big ones). They don't have time for shenanigans, unless they are the ones causing the ruckus themselves.
Cats are known in folklore across the world for their ability to cross the veil. To move freely between realms. They have been worshipped by many cultures. And they have been known to work with witches as their familiars.
Black cats have a bad rap, though. Superstition surrounding them causes some people to get nervous when one crosses their path. I am of the opinion that the cat does not bring the bad luck but, instead, have come to warn you of something that is to come.
This anthology is jam packed full of stories and poems depicting black cats in all different roles and settings. They are time travellers who travel by way of their name, sentinels who patrol the portals between the land of the living and the land of the dead, they are shipwrecked companions, protectors of the home, agents of the underworld, vessels for spirits, healers, teachers, and familiars. And... aliens??
I liked the way that the editors formatted the anthology, placing the poems and stories in a way that flows nicely from one to the next. Some of the poems left a surprising residual effect on me!
My favourite poems were:
Rest by T.L.K.
Count Dracula's Cat by Deborah H. Doolittle
Bait by Nico Martinez Nocito.
The stories that made the most impact on me were:
Dust and Shadow by Daniel Roop -- Time traveling kitties with nefarious intentions?
Cats Just Don't Care by A.H. Plotts -- What lengths will the family pet go to exact vengeance?
Lucky the 13th by Mark S. Causey -- What is to be the fate of the 13th familiar?
Lavender by Donna Marie West -- Nothing is stronger than the bond between a man and his kitten.
A few of the stories in here were named for the cat whose story they tell, and I found those to be some of the most enjoyable. I liked to get to know the cat, who they were, how they came to be, and what their motives were.
Honourable mentions:
Marrow by Ash Fanglore -- Is this Frankenkitty?
Judge (poem) by Jordan King-LaCroix -- Judge, jury, and executioner.
Schrodinger's Dinner by Cailin Franklin -- Don't forget to feed the cat.
Garbo by Scott Urban -- The bringer of gifts...
Each story and poem has something to offer the reader and I highly recommend this anthology of black cat tales! 4.5/5 stars from me.
Where you can find Black Cat Tales: it releases June 13th, 2025 and you can pre-order it now on Amazon: https://a.co/d/gI1oPPv
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