Book Review: Felix Unbound by Cathy Gunn*

[Ad-gifted] Did you ever wonder what might happen if your cat turned human? As a cat lover, this blurb for Cathy Gunn’s book, Felix Unbound, caught my eye.

I’m owned by a handsome black and white feline, who rules my family’s home with an iron paw. Imagine what would happen if he swapped his four legs for two?

Cathy’s book – published by New Generation Publishing – centres on Tiffany, who loses her temper with boyfriend Anthony and accidentally topples a set of inherited Egyptian figurines. When she carelessly wishes men were more like her tabby cat, Felix, ancient forces take their mischievous revenge and grant her wish.

Tiffany and Felix gleefully launch him into her social circle, but it soon becomes clear the charismatic former feline spells trouble.

As he wins lightning-fast success as a talented artist, Tiffany and her friends’ relationships begin to flex and recalibrate – not always for the better.

There’s something more afoot here, and Tiffany realises whatever’s got into her cat and his art, has appeared before in her curious family.

Suspicious elders, Ozzy and Iris, circle as Felix and his artworks peak and spiral into trouble. Tiffany meets a promising new love and develops a conscience about some – but not all – of her one-time pet’s effects on her friends’ lives.

Torn between helping fast-deteriorating Felix avoid Ozzy and Iris’s sinister grasp, or just washing her hands of him, she finally chooses.

But none see coming the bizarre opportunity seized by fading but predatory and cunning Felix.

What I thought of the book

Felix Unbound has a promising start, thanks to the magical element when Felix transforms. I was therefore hopeful of much hilarity as the character adjusted to life in human form.

But the book goes in a different direction, and Felix seems to adapt to his new guise surprisingly easily.

I enjoyed Cathy’s references to Felix’s feline behaviour, like his selfishness and fondness for being the centre of attention (which, we can all agree, are universal cat traits). However, I feel an opportunity was missed to include more about the comedy of body swapping or, in this case, species swapping.

A large chunk of the book explores the romantic relationships of the characters, and while this is interesting, there could have been less focus on this.

It was fascinating, though, to follow the ‘cat and mouse’ among the characters as they try to outwit each other in the hope of getting their own way.

Most of the characters don’t come across as particularly likeable, a bit like the players in an Agatha Christie tale. But perhaps that makes them more believable?

I would have enjoyed the book more if it had been shorter and if there had been more of the magical realism and fantasy elements. Also, it was hard to follow how all the family members and friends are connected or related, which became confusing.

I enjoyed Cathy’s take on what might happen if your cat took on human form, and the Ancient Egyptian references were intriguing, too. Felix Unbound is certainly different to other novels I’ve read.

How much is the book and where can you buy it?

The hardback book is £15.99. To buy, click here, but please check Amazon for updated prices because they may change.

About the book
Title: Felix Unbound
Author: Cathy Gunn
Publisher: New Generation Publishing
ISBN: 978-1800317765
Pages: 352

About the author

Cathy Gunn was a financial journalist and editor before turning to fiction. Scottish by descent, she was born in Tanzania and grew up in Nigeria, Scotland and parts of England before settling in London.

Felix Unbound is Cathy’s first novel, completed during the pandemic. She’s also the author of non-fiction books, written during a long career at a variety of UK national newspapers and magazines.

Review by Colette Warbrook

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*We were given a copy of the book in return for a feature. All opinions are our own.