I received a free copy of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review.  All opinions are my own. 

Author Linas Deimantavicius shares a powerful collection of short stories united by cats in the book “Humans and Cats.”

The Synopsis

A collection of nine magical stories, all connected by the presence of… cats. The cats sometimes appear for only a brief moment, while on other occasions they take a more prominent role, but their presence is always fatal. Blending suspense, psychological horror, dark fantasy, and humor, with touches of love and melancholy, these stories pull you into worlds where the boundaries between dream and reality disappear. And nothing ends the way you expect.

Nine Lives of a Cat, and nine stories, mysterious and unpredictable.

It feels as if you are not reading a book but watching a movie, with an ending that is unexpected – even shocking. Renata Šerelytė, magazine “Literatūra ir menas”

Reading Humans and Cats it was as if I was almost physically submerged into a surreal existence; and it was a feeling I enjoyed tremendously. E.M.A. Rotvel, writer

Linas Deimantavičius is a Lithuanian writer. The book Humans and Cats was nominated for the 2024 Book of the Year award in Lithuania (longlist) and selected as one of the top ten prose books.

The book is illustrated with original artwork by painter Jolita Česonytė.

THE REVIEW

This was a compelling and gripping collection of short stories. The wide range of genres the author manages to infuse into this collection of stories, ranging from dark fantasy and psychological suspense to horror and humor, allows the reader to find a story that resonates with them and explore the broader themes that these stories encompass. These stories offer a deep study of the human condition, whether it is how we relate to animals in general or how the line between reality and imagination can blur in certain situations.

The depth of character development and world-building became a solid foundation across all nine stories. The powerful imagery in the authors’ writing style, especially their use of cat imagery across all nine stories, allowed readers not only to feel immersed in these mind-bending narratives, but also to recognize the symbolism and power the cat holds in each story. While some stories utilize cats as powerful characters or emotional tethers, it is hard to ignore the almost grandiose mythos surrounding cats, from their natural behaviors in the Animal Kingdom to the way they were revered even thousands of years ago in cultures such as ancient Egypt, and the author has found a way to bring that kind of imagery into stories that are both entertaining and compelling.

THE VERDICT

A dark, enthralling, and memorable collection of short stories, Author Linas Deimantavicius’s “Humans and Cats” is a must-read collection of horror, dark fantasy, humor, and psychological thriller short stories. This collection delves into the depths of humanity and imagination, creating thrilling, mind-bending worlds that invite immersion, embodying the symbolism cats hold throughout human culture, and delivering entertaining narratives that bring that symbolism to the forefront. If you haven’t yet, please be sure to grab your copy today!

Rating: 10/10

About the Author

Linas Deimantavičius is a Lithuanian writer, critic, and blogger. Debuted as an author at age 17 with the short story Accomplice of Murder (1991). He became popular on social networks for his witty blog, Cat Notes, about cinema, books, and music.

LD is the author of four books. Three novels: The Blink of an Eye (2006); Heart (2010); I See You (2012), and one collection of short stories, Humans and Cats (2024), which was nominated for the 2024 Book of the Year award in Lithuania (longlist) and selected as one of the top ten prose books. His works have been described as fantasy, horror, allegory, mystical detective, and suspense, and are considered highly cinematic.

The writer lives in Kaunas city with his wife Ingrida, son Simonas, and cat Melisa.

Humans and Cats on Amazon USA: https://www.amazon.com/dp/6094549767

Website: https://bio.site/Linas.Deimantavicius 

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CatNotesLD