Secrets of the Malkin — Virginia Ripple

The humans want to kill all cats, be they ordinary or magical. The cats want to escape somewhere far from humans. Nadine is a feline social welfare agent whose sole wish is to re-unite the two races in this post-plague world.

After a narrow escape from orphaned teenagers determined to use her for target practice, Nadine is left terrified and wondering if there's a way humans and felines can live together in peace.

She finds the answer to her worries in a story about a magical cat, a true Malkin called the Baruhk Sh'Toole. Unfortunately, the Baruhk Sh'Toole disappeared years ago, taking her secrets with her. Despite warnings from her friend, Nadine is determined to find this legendary cat and return life to normal.

With only a map of the queen's last known location and a vague story to go on, the she-cat leaves her comfortable life for an adventure to the Outer Reaches, a place where the trappers will skin a cat alive and then consider killing it. There she must befriend a priest and hope he knows where to find the cat who can heal the world, but doesn't want to be found.

Can a naive young social worker uncover the secrets of the Baruhk Sh'Toole and heal the widening rift between humans and cats or is Nadine doomed to be one more victim in the war?

Interview with the Author

Q - So, what makes the Master Cat series special?


A â€" As one reviewer said, it's Harry Potter with Cats. I've brought three of my favorite things into this series: fantastic magic, head-strong felines and a Christian worldview.


In the world of the Malkins (an archaic word meaning cat) cats and humans partner up to do magic. The magic, in and of itself, is nothing more than a tool, but like any tool, it can be used for good or evil. The heroes in these tales fight to bring the bad guys to justice while not losing themselves in a world where the ends justify the means.


Q - What order should I read the books in?


A - While you can read them in any order without getting completely lost, I suggest the following order for the best story-telling experience:


- Apprentice Cat
- Secrets of the Malkin
- Journeyman Cat
- Huntress of the Malkin
- Master Cat
- Clash of the Malkin (coming soon)


Q - So, why should readers give these books a try?


A â€" If you enjoy books with talking animals, especially cats, like in Erin Hunter's Warrior series or Shirley Murphy-Rousseau's Joe Grey Mysteries, you'll feel right at home in the Malkin world. If you enjoyed the magic and mystery in Harry Potter, you'll find a similar experience with this series.


These books are also a good, clean stories. You can allow your young reader to explore the Malkin world without fear of foul language or suggestible situations and, while the themes and messages are Christian, I've chosen to allow readers to find their own meaning within the stories.


Q - Can readers get the whole series in one go?


A â€" Not yet, but I have plans to put together boxed sets within the next few months.


Enjoy and thanks for reading!

Master Cat Series eBook Categories:

- Children's ebooks, Science Fiction, Fantasy & Scary Stories
- Children's ebooks, Fantasy & Magic, Sword & Sorcery, Ages 9-12
- Children's ebooks, Action & Adventure, Animals, Cats
- Children's ebooks, Literature & Fiction, Religious Fiction, Christian
- Teen & YA, Science Fiction & Fantasy, Sword & Sorcery