What's the Name of That Book??? discussion

The Spellkey (Spellkey, #1-3)
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SOLVED: Children's/YA > SOLVED. YA Fantasy 2 book series - Girl named Cat sees ocean for the first time. [s]

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message 1: by Emily (new)

Emily (linnet_11) | 33 comments Hi! I've been hunting around for these books for ages - I read them sometime around 2000, but they could have been published a while before that.

What I mainly remember is the main character who is called Cat, maybe short for Catling, or Caitlin. She ends up traveling with some other people. One of them is a young man who I think is called Badger? I believe he starts to grow a blond beard over the course of the story. They reach the ocean which Cat has never seen and she is surprised that it is salty. Around this point she and the young man become romantically involved - she gets pregnant and they are separated, maybe he forgets her?

All of my previous internet searches keep bringing up the author Brian Catling, or Redwall books, neither of which is what I'm looking for! I'd love any leads or suggestions!


message 2: by Kris (new)

Kris | 54981 comments Mod
Perhaps try Google searches that exclude those two terms. For example, you could search Goodreads:

site:goodreads.com [keywords] -Redwall -Catling


message 3: by Emily (new)

Emily (linnet_11) | 33 comments Thanks! That's very helpful, I'll see what I come up with!


message 4: by Emily (new)

Emily (linnet_11) | 33 comments Remembered another detail that may be helpful in finding the book - the main characters are in bed after sleeping together for the first time, and she says or thinks to herself something like "the sea is salty, but this is sweet"

I also recall the book cover being somewhat elaborately illustrated, though I think the books did not have interior illustration - there's some Patricia McKillip cover art that feels kind of similar to what I remember, but none of her books seem to match what I remember.


message 5: by Becca (last edited Apr 26, 2023 05:18AM) (new)

Becca (beccalikesbooks) | 5548 comments Good job remembering that quote! The Spellkey by Ann-Downer Hazell has it, and characters called Caitlin and Badger:
Caitlin let herself be lulled off by his heartbeat, silently reciting her surprise: The sea is salty, and this is sweet.



message 6: by Emily (new)

Emily (linnet_11) | 33 comments This is definitely the book! Thanks so much!!


message 7: by Kris (new)

Kris | 54981 comments Mod
Glad you found your book series, Emily.

Spellkey series by Ann Downer-Hazell - Becca's find.


message 8: by Rainbowheart (new)

Rainbowheart | 28700 comments The Spellkey was also pubbed with all 3 books in one volume, just in case that looks more familiar.


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Books mentioned in this topic

The Spellkey (other topics)
The Spellkey (other topics)

Authors mentioned in this topic

Ann Downer-Hazell (other topics)