Sequels often disappoint me and this was certainly the case with The Outlaw Varjak Paw. Earlier in this blog you can read my glowing comments for Varjak Paw. I guess I hoped for more of the futuristic plot where evil powers are using real cats to make robot toys. In Varjak Paw street cats had begun to vanish and while Varjak and his friends did seem to defeat the evil gentleman at the end of the first book, I really thought there would be more of this powerful empire in the second book.
Once again this is not a book for the faint-hearted and perhaps not even a book for cat lovers. The early scenes where Varjak and his friends are attacked by Sally Bones’ henchmen Razor and Luger are full of slashing and violence. Cat claws can inflict terrible injuries and pain.
Essentially in this second book Varjak must defeat the evil Sally Bones, a cat whose powers match or perhaps exceed his own. Of course he is successful but where to next. Will the cats be able to live freely without fear of gang control and what of the humans, the city and the dogs? The illustrations are again very powerful but I cannot rave about this second book even though the New York Times called it dazzling. The web site for these books is well worth visiting.
Once again this is not a book for the faint-hearted and perhaps not even a book for cat lovers. The early scenes where Varjak and his friends are attacked by Sally Bones’ henchmen Razor and Luger are full of slashing and violence. Cat claws can inflict terrible injuries and pain.
Essentially in this second book Varjak must defeat the evil Sally Bones, a cat whose powers match or perhaps exceed his own. Of course he is successful but where to next. Will the cats be able to live freely without fear of gang control and what of the humans, the city and the dogs? The illustrations are again very powerful but I cannot rave about this second book even though the New York Times called it dazzling. The web site for these books is well worth visiting.
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