I must say Cat Royal’s adventures get more interesting as they progress as this tale of identity and revolution may be my favorite so far.

Our story begins with a tremendous change in Cat’s world, the Royal Theatre is being demolished and rebuilt leaving Cat homeless for the next two years as her patron, Mr. Sheridan tells that she has to go out and make her own way in the world. Yes, after everything he’s done for her, she’s left to the street.

But that’s not all that’s changing. Syd is going out of town for the summer to particpate in a boxing tour, Frank is going to be tutored, Liz is going to Paris to witness the Fourth of July and reunite with her dear Johnny, and Pedro is going to tour France and Italy with his employer. So that leaves Cat alone in London with Billy Boil who is calling in for a favor that if she doesn’t deliver, well she’ll have to forfeit herself. It doesn’t help that as her friends go onto other ventures, even her enemy is coming on the up and up, pretending at a gentlemen by pronouncing his “H”s, dressing up his goons as servants,” and piling fenced goods by the galore.

In addition to that, Cat may have lost her home but she’s becoming more aware that she’s a young lady. A gutter lady according to societal standards but that doesn’t change the burgeoning feelings she has for Syd and her confusion after they have their first kiss!

Worse, is that in her first strike out on her own, she falls prey to an oily pair of thieves that leaves her doubting her worth more than before if being abandoned by her beloved theatre wasn’t enough of a kick in the ribs.

But her friends are still there for her despite her pride and attempts to remain cheerfully independent, and not a charity case. Mr. Sheridan sends her to Paris as a special correspondent so he can be in the know before other members in Parliment in regards to the revolutionary leanings of the commoners.

But it wouldn’t be a Cat Royal adventure if there wasn’t a visit to jail, would there? Luckily, Cat’s not in the clink this time. Unfortunately, the Avon family is as suspected associates that helped King Louis flee France. It’s a dangerous and exciting time for Cat and her friends as the common people rise against their king and hope for a brighter future of fraternity, equality and liberty.

While this doesn’t deal with the heavy themes of slavery as the previous volume, it does explore quite a bit of character in regards to Cat as the demolishment of the theatre and her subsequent casting out brings up serious abandonment issues. That coupled with her brief time on the street and an eregious mistake, she also doubts her usefulness as she doesn’t have the riches/class of the Avons to fall back on nor the talent of boxing and music as her other friends do.

Here are several passages that best display the inner battle Cat is dealing with as her insecurities get the best of her as well as the seemingly oblivious attitude of her friends who don’t share much concern for her welfare, relying on her to get back on her feet like a cat.

“Then the truth hit me, bringing me to a standstill as I saaw myself for what I really was. The last few weeks seemed to have strip me down to my essentials, revealing some unpleasant truths. I was afraid, mortally afraid, of being usurped. . . Without my friends, as I had discovered since losing Drury Lane, I really had not a thing in my life that meant anything: no family, no home, no roots,” (276-77)

“It’s all about you telling me I’m worth something when I know you and everyone else don’t really think so. I count for nothing-I have no property, no vote, no blue blood. I have nothing because what little I once had has been stolen and twisted to benefit someone else’s pockets. So don’t you go telling me I’m not rubbish! If I say I am, then I am. . .

“Why are you saying all these terrible things about yourself?

“Because they’re true! If you hear it enough about yourself from everyone else, then you start to believe them. . .

“I think I can’t be worth much because my parents abandoned me. . . I’m nine parts stupidity to one part wit. . . And I suppose I’m loyal, a good friend, and have my moments of bravery,” (280-82).

You know it’s good when you can’t even come up with words but just write down your favorite passages. I love a good internal character conflict.

There’s also the subject of romance as Billy’s obssession continues in its creepiness but also brings vulnerability to Billy (which he hates and tries to take out on Cat of course). Obviously, she’s not going to go for him but her kiss with Syd presents opportunities though she fears what kind of tame future he might want to box her in. She also admits to having a crush on Johnny though she knows nothing will happen as she would never get in the way of his and her friend, Liz’s courtship. Then there’s the charming thief king of Palais Royal, Jean-Francois Thiland who is a kindred spirit as being one of the commoners, and the only other person who encourages Cat to make up dream parents and believe in herself, admiring her firecracker insults. So the girl has opportunities, but she best figure out her mind before acting on any of them.

Cat’s not the only one growing up as Frank has a mini-arc during her time on the run with his family in jail, living among thieves and realizing its not all boxing matches and games but starvation and abuse. It’s a cold splash of reality and leaves her more attentive to Cat’s station in life.

Which is fitting that since they’re in Paris, Cat begins to have some serious thoughts on the point of royalty and that the people should have more power as a republic though the censors quickly splice through such revolutionary ideals and her ducal friends are horrified by her thinking.

She has also has a triumphant end to her time in Paris that brings about the spirit of Drury Lane for her even though the physical place has been demolished. I won’t spoil more but the next volume should be exciting as Cat decides its time for her to find a new home.

Until then, here’s an excerpt of some of The Critics reviews for this continental adventure.

“Not tonight, Josephine: I’m too busy reading Cat Royal.”-Napoleon Bonaparte

“Cat Royal? She provides the oxygen of wit for the brain.”-Antoine Laurent Lavoisier, Scientist

“It is the Right of every man to read her books.”-Tom Paine

“Her wit has cutting edge.”-Dr. Guillotine