Posted on03/12/2019 16:32:40

My rating: 5 sweet stars for a delightful tale!

Copy received from the author in exchange for an honest review.
Thank you Lou Wilham.

Because...

Holy Cheese and Crackers!! This was so adorable!!!


Prince Alrik of Edan, is the heir to the throne of Edan. As his eighteenth birthday draws near, he is of course expected to choose a wife, as any normal prince would do, to ensure the royal line and do his duty to his people. He is himself remarkably beautiful and kind, so the King and Queen make sure to find him a princess that is worthy.

And yet, duty be damned, Alrik can't help the terror that grips him at the thought of getting a wife. What's worse is that he is convinced his parents would be 'horrified to find that their son was not attracted to women at all, but in fact, found himself very much affected by the nicely fitting trousers of his valet.'
And here comes the punch because Alrik himself 'was - to put it bluntly - disgusted by the mere thought.'
This is all kinds of wrong in Alrik's opinion. So he's determined to find 'a cure' for his condition. In a fit of panic, he seeks out the aid of the witch Gwydion and insists that she 'fixes' him. Unfortunately however, the witch cannot and does not want to fix him, but ends up cursing him instead.

"A cat you are now and a cat you shall stay until you learn to love yourself."
Green-Eyed Black Cat - Forum Avatar Avatar Abyss profile photo

Stuck in the body of a black cat, after centuries spent at the edge of his kingdom, Alrik finally decides to seek some help and try to become human again. And of course he goes in search for witches. Except that things do not go according to his plans. These witches are not at all like the one who had cursed him and their reaction to Alrik's plea is thoroughly confusing.
After a while Alrik gets tired of having all sorts of stuff thrown at his furry head. Being chased with brooms, kicked and screamed at, is no fun either. So he calls it quits and resigns himself to an immortal furry black body. He learns to hold his tongue and not let himself get caught by any human, while surviving in the back alleys of streets by hunting rats and picking through garbage.

Until he reaches New York City. After hundreds of years spent as a cat, Alrik is weary of each and every human. But the cute and friendly young chef from Crystal Tokyo, the Japanese restaurant whose trash bins Alrik regularly picks through, doesn't plan on being chased away by any of Alrik's hisses.
Yuuki is determined to befriend the lonely black cat. And Alrik finally gets the chance to break his curse.
IF he is brave enough to take the risk. IF he is willing to let down those century-old walls he's built around his heart. And ONLY IF he somehow manages to overcome that overwhelming self-loathing he has for himself.

This charming little story is perfect for everyone looking for a short heartwarming read. I read it in one sitting and absolutely adored it.
Full of endearing moments that will make you 'awww' and 'ahhh', this sweet and fluffy tale also has a wonderful message in between the lines.

You are who you are. Do not be ashamed of being different. Being different doesn't mean you are broken or faulty. Accept and love yourself regardless of what other people may think.
A beautiful, uplifting message of love, self-respect and acceptance that not only the LGBT community but humans in general can benefit from.

Written in an easy flowing prose with fully fleshed downright adorable characters, this is one read you're bound to love.
Both Yuuki and Alrik will make you want to give them a hug every once in a while, while the villain is despicable and feels real. You'll probably end up wishing for a fur-ball in his cup of tea too. I know I did!
And the witch is hilarious! I could't help chuckling whenever she made an appearance. If you're ever in need of a magic matchmaker, Gwydion is the perfect choice. Her attempts to bring the boys together were totally awesome!

If you like sweet romances that warm your heart and put a big smile on your face, The Curse of the Black Cat is the perfect choice. This Bookdragon here, highly recommends it!

Happy reading everyone
and always remember
We love who we love and that is the end of that.

Check out this book and more of Lou Wilham over at louinprogress.net/home