Cat's Cradle by Nick Green

Review by The Mole

The third book in The Cat Kin trilogy sees Tiffany on a mission to stop the illegal trade in big cat parts. The trouble is that Ben would rather not risk splitting his family up again but also doesn't want Tiffany putting herself in danger. With such divided loyalties Ben and Tiffany end up  going it alone to tackle the ancient god Set now that Mrs Powell is dead. The problem is that just two of the Cat Kin against the whole army of the Set have no real chance!

I jumped in and read this book by Nick Green having read neither of the first two books and was very surprised that it can be read as a one off. Having said that while everything needed is explained it leaves you wanting to go back and read the rest. Yes, there are one or two spoilers in this one but they don't feel like big ones. The plot rises and falls with action and then pauses but always manages to hold your attention and enthusiasm. When we get to the end... was I expecting it? I was expecting lots of different things but not that!

The story contains wild action and excitement that felt quite mature at times but will still be loved by it's target audience.

You can read the start of Cat's Cradle in a sampler just here

Publisher - Strident
Genre - Children's action adventure

Buy Cat's Cradle (Cat Kin trilogy, book 3) from Amazon

The Cat Kin by Nick Green

Unleash Your Inner Cat.

reviewed by Maryom

Both Ben and Tiffany have seemly insurmountable problems - Ben and his Mum are being harassed because they won't sell their flat to a property developer.

Tiffany's brother has MD and has been in and out of hospital for years with little hope of a cure, until his mum tracks down a new drug, Panthacea, on the web, which seems to work wonders.

They both find themselves accidentally signed up for Mrs Powell's strange martial arts class -Pashki. Here they gain the ability to move with cat-like stealth, to leap from tree to tree, to see and hear more clearly but events take a more sinister turn when they discover a link between the property developers and the drugs company and Tiffany is torn between wanting to stop the drug producers and not wanting her brother to fall ill again.

This is an immensely enjoyable action story but with a serious side. The younger reader would read it for the adventure whereas for the older reader Nick Green explores themes which will give them something to stop and think about - the way in which property developers can ride rough shod over the wishes of residents and all the questions raised by having a possibly terminally ill child, the tensions between Tiffany's parents over his treatment and the ethics behind how and where drugs are produced. Don't be put off though it's not all doom and gloom.

A book which can be funny, scary or moving, or all three at once.

Maryom's review - 5 stars

Publisher - Strident

Genre - Children's (8+)