Chai and Cat-tales

Bask in a sunbeam with three cozy fantasy novellas of the Catsprowl, a busy neighborhood brimming with cats and cat-goddesses, book-keepers and bath-houses, piping hot chai, and pouncing kittens' mischief. This volume includes the novellas The Prince of Her Dreams, Priye, and The Potter's Dream under one cover.

The Prince of Her DreamsNajra has three dreams in her life: First, catch the attention of a prince. (Specifically, the God-Emperor's bookish youngest brother.) Next, get him to hire her to assist with his research in the marvelous Archives in Tel-Bastet. And then, at last, read ALL the books.

Marrying the prince has never been in the plan. Najra has never lusted for anything but knowledge.

Unfortunately, the prince has dreams as well. Because he's also a prophet who foresees trouble coming. Between her heretical geometries and her cursed spellbook, Najra has to admit that his dreams of trouble have her pegged.

Now what is she supposed to do with a matchmaking busybody of an Archivist pushing them together, an angry catfolk bodyguard pulling them apart, and a sweet, anxious prophet-prince who won't even tell her what he wants? What does a happy ending look like for a pair of mismatched dreamers who both love learning best of all?

For the asexual folks and the questioning folks who've wanted a story where your own desires are respected and valued, this one is for you. For the Witches vs. Patriarchy crew, this one is for you too.

PriyeFor a small alley-kitten, human words make a tricky tangle of misunderstandings that bite back. Purring and hissing and yowling are much more clear.

A human named her Priye, though, and he taught her that it means someone who is darling, someone who is treasured.

Growing up in the nooks between three cultures is hard, but Priye wants to make her own way. And she wants to repay the kind people who feed small hungry kittens. But it's not always easy to hunt when everyone else is bigger and stronger and faster.

The humans who named her like soap and water entirely too much. But maybe they have a point about sharing things instead of hunting things?

(They absolutely do not have a point about soap, though. Soap is the most horrible thing ever.)

For the neurospicy folks who struggle with the words people expect, this one is for you. For the disabled folks and those who need to hear that your value isn't in your work output, this one is for you too.

The Potter's DreamUsually, the Temple of Bastet teems with cats and catfolk and cat-priestesses and cat-goddesses. It is not supposed to teem with mice. But kind-hearted priest Shai Madhur isn't very good at denying a nourishing meal to anybody... not even the mice.

He needs a better mouse-catcher. But first, he needs to know where the shrine's cauldrons have gone. Because a potter has come to Shai Madhur's temple shrine, and the poor man looks hungry.

What kind of priest can Shai Madhur be if he can't feed someone a nourishing meal? When he's sworn his life to serving others, and suddenly he has nothing at all to give, what does he have left? Sermons of acceptance are all well and good, but they don't fill an empty stomach.

And there's something very strange about the potter.

For the caring folks who feel like the world needs more than you can give, and for the fat folks who've wanted the story where someone delights in your body exactly the way it is, soft and warm and comfortable and treasured because you live in it, this one is for you.