There may be nine on the cover but this is only the fourth tale of our intrepid redhead adventuress. This time, she’s off exploring the new world. She had been staying with the Avons as her beloved theatre is being rebuilt for the next year but finds it stifling to be a lady. She can’t ride horses or be as mischevius as she wishes when Frank is entertaining polite company. But she’ll soon come to regret her complaints of boredom when she accidentally ends up at the mercy of the British Navy!

But let’s back up a bit. First we experience some of the genteel politics of the upper-class, matchmaking ton where Cat is humilated and Billy is chortling with glee.

Yes, Billy Shepard, the suspected sociopath has found his way to the upper-crust. Of course, he got there through the dubious means of debt and blackmail but he has been using the pockets of half the ton to get his fancy clothes and perfect elocution so he almost fits right in. Except he is still a creep trying to force a kiss in the coatroom. Which is only the biggest disaster ontop of being snubbed at the ball by Frank.

Once more, Golding continues her themes on class differences through Cat who is infruriated and insecure about her status as a lower class girl. She wishes it didn’t define her so much especially in how she fears Frank respects her less because of it as it’s unlikely she’ll ever find a way to move up in the world. Well in the world of England.

Which brings us to the title as her time in England unexpectedly comes to halt when Cat and her friends are kidnapped and press-ganged on the Navy ship as they search for a missing Syd. Luckily, their kidnappers lead them right to him aboard the Courageous. All a part of a dastardly plot to get Frank off shore so others can steal his dukedom which Cat plays an unfortunately large part with her tormenter, MaClean threatening to whip her with a titular nine-tails if the boys don’t stay in line.

But Cat doesn’t hold with anyone using her for leverage and makes her escape to land where she bonds with the Georgian Creeks including Tecumseh (whom you may recognize as a pivotal figure in history though this is a young version of him) and and his siblings Kanawha and Little Turtle. They adot Cat as one of their own which in itself is a relief and also an obstacle as she struggles not to give in to her weakness of wanting to be a part of a family and wanting someone to care for her instead of striking out on her own.

Cat’s development continues as she demonstrates that she is much better in handling things on her own this time compared to her brief stint on the streets of London for she has learned to recognize her own advantage. No family, no home, no riches, she has nothing to lose.

Golding also takes the time to realistically portray Cat’s ideas on Native Americans. While she is more progressive than most British as she feels bad for them as the underdog, but is also unwilling to stay with them, seeing some of their beliefs like spirit guides as primitive superstitions. But Cat does better in that she does self-reflect whether her refusal to stay adopted by the Creeks and marry ne of them makes her just as bad as the other white men in not wanting to marry this noble Native boy just because he is Native. However, she concludes that she just isn’t ready to be married.

However, her time with them and seeing their determination to fight white men from stelaing more of their land inspires Cat to stop letting the actions of others write her story. Golding also plays with the civilized man and the savage by showing Cat growing up. She is able to empathesize or at least put herself in others’ shoes to realize how circumstances change people to savages.

It’s another worthy addition to Cat’s adventures, showing a more weary and more mature Cat with quite a dramatic conclusion and revelation fit for the stage.

Now to the critics!

“We hold these truth to be self-evident: that all men are created equal, but Cat Royal is possessed of a superior wit.” -Thomas Jefferson

“Enough to make you want to retire to contemplate life in the wilderness.” Henry David Thoreu

“Fancies herself a writer on Indian affairs?Well, I hope that’s the last of her and her tribe.”- James Feinmore Cooper

“Libellous scribbles, completely traducing the honorable intentions of decent american farmes.” -Gentlemen of the Loyal Land Company

“Her tales open vast tracts of land in which the reader may roam free.” -Creek Chief McGillivray of the Wind Clan