The Golden Cat

Tag, the Cat #2

by Gabriel King

In The Golden Cat, Gabriel King continues the enchanting quest that began with The Wild Road--the novel the San Francisco Chronicle crowned "mythical," and Richard Adams, author of Watership Down, deemed "absolutely magical. . ."

The ancient prophecy speaks of a golden cat whose coming will heal the troubled world. But the Queen of Cats has three golden kittens--and when two are stolen away, the distraught parents turn to Tag, the brave young cat who is the protector of the magical Wild Road.

The desperate search moves from the water-lit Oceanarium and sun-dappled Tintagel to the distant Louisiana bayous and the pyramids of Egypt. As Tag and his friends struggle on, so does a terrifying, unearthly force--a preternatural vortex threatening the Wild Road, tearing at the very fabric of existence. But Tag is disastrously unprepared for the powerful darkness that threatens to consume everything in its wake . . .

Genres: Fantasy, Cats, Animals, Fiction, Animal Fiction, Adventure, Young Adult

350 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1998

About the author

A pseudonym used by authors M John Harrison and Jane Johnson

Series:
* Tag, the Cat
* Knot Garden

Reviews

[Michelle Kobus]

The Golden Cat undoes several elements that made The Wild Road so poignant, and needlessly continues the battle with the Alchemist.

The story starts out interestingly enough: healthy animals are entering the wild roads and being spit out dead. The author could have explored endless new ideas, but it all comes back to the alchemist again, and it's nowhere near as exciting as the first time around.

Also, even though this story revolves around Tag and the gang from the first book, the story just doesn't play on my emotions as a cat lover the way the first book did.The writing was just not up to par this time around.

This book is only for people who loved the first book, but even then I would recommend they be wary; this book does not do the first one justice, and overall, I was kinda disappointed.

[Rebecca]

This story hits cat lovers hard. There is despair and hope, sorrow and joy, betrayal and such loyalty, loathing and love, and all tied up in a group of remarkable cats. I picked it up in the morning, and kept reading straight through till I finished it fairly late last night. I could NOT stop until the glorious end.

[Michelle Kobus]

I somehow remembered this being bad, even though I gave it 3* when I first read it. But it still deserves 3* after all. Certainly not bad, but the finale act felt anticlimactic. There was a lot of settup, but the payout wasn't very rewarding. The characters took the long way 'round just to get back where they started because that's where they needed to be all along.

[Taylor Nicke]

Another wild ride from start to finish. The golden kittens are kidnapped, Sealink goes back to her home to find her own kittens, and the Alchemist isn’t gone. Tag and the gang and back at it again and Loves A Dustbin also makes a reappearance along with someone else from ThE Wild Road.

[Meredith]

DNF, 62%. I really tried with this but it is not working for me. The story is not going anywhere and is just being deliberately opaque which isn't impressive. Plus, with the harm and death of cats I just can't keep going.

[Sierra Rollins]

The Golden Cat was a mixed bag for me. Nostalgia really carried the story, which was unfortunately weak. I read the first book, The Wild Road, when I was in middle school and utterly obsessed with animals going on grand adventures - Watership Down, Warriors, Firebringer, etc. The Wild Road was such a unique tale, a secret world of cats battling a dark foe along untamed liminal roadways. The Golden Cat didn’t do much justice to the first novel. It felt like an overly prolonged epilogue. The plot just didn’t come together well, as evidenced by Tag’s long exposition at the end, an effort to explain all the bizarre twists. That said, the prose was gorgeous and charmingly old-fashioned and the cats had personality in spades. Even if it wasn’t what I expected, I had fun diving back into this world and revisiting the cats of the wild roads.

[Megan]

'The Golden Cat' is every bit as charming and enchanting as its predecessor, although in some places it has a darkness that could rival Haruki Murakami's 'Kafka on the Shore'.

As with 'The Wild Road', I especially enjoyed Sealink's story - it's conclusion is truly lovely and I've no shame in admitting I was grinning like an idiot in the middle of a coffee shop as I was reading it.

A beautiful read that I wouldn't hesitate to recommend.

[Paul]

This is the second book in the series. Often like second books in a series, the world and characters are already fairly well-defined so there's less new things to discover.

Overall, I didn't feel there is much super deep or unexpected, but the story itself still has plenty of mystery and action.

[Patricia Meyers]

Enjoyable

Wasn't sure I would like this book at first! It did take a little time to get back into the story of Tag and his friends. However, I am delighted to report that Gabriel King left me wanting more.

[Sarah]

Not as good as the first book, but still really enjoyable.

[Bec]

A colourful world, with well rounded characters, but I found the pacing to be too slow.

[Sky]

Not as good as the first... but still a cool read.

[Megan]

DNS 7/15/2021

[Anjiz]

very interesting and crying at the same time this book is highly recommended

[Cassie Apps]

Great series - a must for anyone who likes cats or adventure, the type of book that keeps you up at night

[Sherrie Gray]

I am rereading this book. Some books are so good that you have to visit them more than once. This is that type of book.

[Pwilliamson]

Enjoyed it

[Featherfire]

I read The Wild Road ages ago (after searching for it for years) and while it was not as enjoyable as I'd hoped or expected, I do remember enjoying it. I wanted to like the sequel too, but I really just... didn't. I couldn't even get through it. My issue wasn't really with the writing... the style has a rather warm, mature feel to it that is nice... and the plot is engaging. My issue is with the portrayal of the animals. They are far too human in their thoughts and actions. What kind of a name for a fox is Francine? How is a cat going to grab anyone "by the short and curlies"? It just didn't sit well with me; if this book was about humans and not cats, I think it'd be great. But as it's supposed to be from the feline perspective, it just really falls flat.

[Humaneeccentric]

I gave it four stars because I was spoiled from the first book. This story didn't have the whole "holy crap, this is awesome!!!" feeling like the first one did. Don't misunderstand me, it's still a really good book. The characters are just so well thought out (just like the 1st book) and the storyline is good, too - albeit a bit harder to follow. I have read this book about 4 times and will always reread it!

[A]

Follow up book to The Wild road. The writing style of the author has changed from the first, and therefore I did not like this one. The three separate adventures of Tag and Leonora Whitsand Merril, Ragnar and Pertelot, Sealink, and a new mysterious character; which converge at the end. Provides another, final conclusion to The Wild road.

[Hannah]

Meh. I don't know. The threads of mythology and legend were so promising, and parts of the book really drew me along, wanting to know how it would all be tied together... yet in the end, it really did not seem to tie together all that was. It was disjointed, and so much less than it could have been, with all that richness.

[Lucille Bellucci]

It was a huge treat, a feast of words woven together magically throughout. In the beginning, only one of the three golden kittens, Odin, Leonora, and Isis, are supposed to be the Golden Cat, savior of the world, but then it is revealed that the three form the whole, a Trinity in more than a subtle reference to Christian beliefs. Simply marvelous writing.

[Debra]

Good blend of Sci Fi, fantasy and reality. Cat lovers especially will enjoy this tale. Not altogether pleasant at times but suitable for older teens. This book deals with animal cruelty as told by the cats.

[kat]

Not as spectacularly wonderful as The Wild Road, but still completely charming.

[Michele Brenton]

Can't remember how I ended up reading this book - I think it might have been in a bargain bucket somewhere. Memorable, exciting and unusual. It isn't often I find a book to surprise me but this one did. I must get hold of the first of the pair and read that too.

[Leon RE]

Pretty wicked storyline, interesting characters, and lots of adventure. Nice atmosphere ranging from seaside town to swamp to aquarium. Enjoyed the prose. However, like The Wild Road, for some reason found a little difficult to get through.

[A.M.]

I read this ages ago, so can't really remember what I thought of it!

[Michael]

Wonderful follow up to The Wild Road.

[Mckinley]

Couldn't get into it. Started with this one instead of the first in the series, maybe that's the issue?

[Misty]

my favorite book ever