Book Reviews

Book Blurb

Simon Dale has just been sacked from his exciting if short-lived job at the UNBUA, the United Nations Bureau of Uncommon Affairs. He has returned to his father’s house in rural Oxfordshire, where he has spent the last four weeks sulking. He has also been learning more about the fascinating world of uncommons. From a book. That’s probably the main reason he’s in such a depressed mood—he would have preferred to study these things at his handsome ex-boss’s side.

One day, he has had enough, though, and decides to go for a stroll through the nearby forest. What is supposed to be an innocent, leisurely perambulation takes a surprising turn. First, he stumbles upon a bunch of mischievous, invisible children. Then he discovers a certain hunky vampire has been awaiting him in the neighbouring village.

Said vampire turns out to be—his former boss Rodelio de Montferrat. The man Simon ardently wished to see again. Unsurprisingly, he has barely enough time to enjoy that happy reunion before he’s dragged away from home and safety.

A new adventure begins, which takes them to South America this time. The two men have to face countless new dangers—shootings, unpleasant encounters, perilous rivers and mountains, stubborn plants, flame-spitting red kittens, houseless roofs… They also realise the mysteries they’re trying to unravel are getting deeper and deeper.

So do the feelings that bind them together. If only Simon could stop asking himself too many pointless questions, that is…

 

Book Review

‘Simon Dale and the Fire Kittens’ is another exciting adventure with more surprises and unexpected twists and turns than should be legal. Hilarious! This novel is also a great sequel for ‘Simon Dale and the Pink Hippopotamus’ because it continues the story of some of the most unusual characters I have encountered in all my reading over the years. Simon and Rodelio are trying to figure out what they mean to each other and how they deal with the curveballs that life throws at them made me laugh out loud more than once. I said this before and it bears repeating: Dieter Moitzi has built a most extraordinary world here and the paranormal/supernatural creatures he has come up with are as “uncommon” as they come.

 

Four weeks after Simon was fired from the UNBUA at the end of the last book, he is still recovering from the sudden end to his exciting new life. A group of wood nymphs allows him to find Rodelio, and that is the beginning of a whole new series of revelations about Simon’s own parents, amongst others. When Simon sets off on his next adventure with Rodelio, after being mysteriously re-hired by UNBUA, Simon is a little better informed but still not ready for what happens next. I liked his slightly naïve approach to things because it allowed me to learn and experience things alongside him.

 

Rodelio is as mysterious as ever, but slightly more honest about his feelings for Simon than before. Not that he creates real clarity, but that keeps things exciting. Rodelio is a vampire but as a boss, he keeps Simon on his toes. He definitely needs Simon’s help though because even a centuries-old vampire can’t deal with everything that gets thrown at them on his own.

 

The setting is South America this time, and the author made the scenery and the people that Simon and Rodelio encounter really come alive. The secondary characters, from wood nymphs and telepaths to kidnapped dwarves and fire spitting kittens, were very entertaining. The revelations about Rodelio’s past were as interesting as the unveiling of some of the strange goings-on at UNBUA. I was definitely turning the pages as fast as I could.

 

If you are looking for more of Simon and Rodelio’s activities, if surprising adventures are your thing, and if you like novels that swallow you up whole and refuse to let you go, then you will probably like this story as much as I do. I wholly recommend reading it, but do make sure you read the first volume before this one.

 

 

 

DISCLAIMER: Books reviewed on this site were usually provided at no cost by the publisher or author. This book has been provided by the author for the purpose of a review.

 

Additional Information

Format	ebook and print
Length	Novel, 351 pages
Heat Level
Publication Date	09-December-2024
Price	$5.90 ebook, $15.90 paperback
Buy Link	https://www.amazon.com/Simon-Dale-Kittens-Uncommon-Adventures-ebook/dp/B0DNYSG7M2