Synopses & Reviews
Once in every age, there comes a special cat. His mission is not to rule, but to guide the rulers to their destiny, to uphold the balance of the natural world, and to discover the leonine heart and spirit that is the legacy of all cats everywhere. Now, in the grand storytelling style of Watership Down and Tailchaser's Song, comes an epic tale of adventure and danger, of heroism against insurmountable odds, and of love and comradeship among extraordinary animals who must brave The Wild Road.
Secure in a world of privilege and comfort, the kitten Tag is happy as a pampered house pet--until the dreams come. Dreams that pour into his safe, snug world from the wise old cat Majicou: hazy images of travel along the magical highways of the animals, of a mission, and of a terrible responsibility that will fall on young Tag. Armed with the cryptic message that he must bring the King and Queen of cats to Tintagel before the spring equinox, Tag ventures outside.
But had ancient Majicou somehow misjudged? Tag barely knows his own backyard and is scarely equipped for a quest out into the wide world! But ready or not, Tag is catapulted into the unknown to face danger and win allies in the wily urban fox Loves a Dustbin, and the far-seeing magpie One for Sorrow. Along the way, others will join their quest: Cy, the strange little tabby; Sealink, the globe-trotting cat with an eye for a handsome tom; and Mousebreath, wise in the ways of the world. Together, this band of frightened yet courageous animals will brave the wild road to seek the King and Queen.
But finding the royal pair is only half the challenge, as an evil human known only as the Alchemist doggedly pursues the Queen for his own ghastly ends. For the Queen, a descendant of the legendary line of Golden Cats, holds the key to an ancient prophecy that foretells enormous power for those who control this rare and extraordinary breed.
And if the Alchemist achieves his goal, the world can never be safe again.
A stunning literary achievement, The Wild Road is a sweeping feat of the imagination, an amazing mystical highway to an unseen place known only to cats and their chosen, trusted companions.
Synopsis
An epic tale of adventure, danger, and heroism, THE WILD ROAD is the story of Tag, a pampered young house cat lured from his snug world by the summons of the wise old cat Majicou -- and entrusted with a vital mission. Scarcely familiar with his own backyard, Tag must somehow make his way along the magical highways of the animals, find the King and Queen of cats, and lead them to a place called Tintagel before the spring equinox.
It's a quest that will win Tag a number of unusual allies -- including the wily urban fox Loves a Dustbin, the far-seeing magpie One for Sorrows, the globe-trotting female cat Sealink, and the worldly wise Mousebreath. Together, this courageous band of animals race against time...and a sinister human called the Alchemist, who has dark designs on the Queen of cats and the extraordinary power she possesses.
For everyone who has ever fantasized about the secret life of cats, this wonderfully imaginative debut novel will be a welcome addition to the long and treasured tradition of lore surrounding the inscrutable, irresistible feline.
About the Author
A lifelong cat lover, Gabriel King has shared a home with every variety of feline, from stray to pedigree. He lives in London.