Tail & Trouble

When Gabriel’s witch girlfriend doesn’t return from her latest trip, he gets on the road and heads out to find her. Sheila's coven is secretive and distrustful of Gabriel, so the only help he has is Sheila's familiar, a bulldog named Orson, who is psychically linked to both of them.

In Florida, they walk right into an elaborate plan to steal Orson. A mysterious wizard named Yareth is behind the plot, and he may also know where Sheila is.

Gabriel and Orson will have to fight for their lives as they navigate around all the magical roadblocks to force Yareth’s hand. They won’t give up until Sheila is safe.

*May Contain Spoilers*

One of the funnest books I've read all summer! (Don't kill me for using 'funnest'.) Tail & Trouble by Victor Catano is an energetic story of adventure and magic. Sheila is missing and no one's telling her boyfriend, Gabriel, anything. He decides to take matters into his own hands with the help of Orson, the loving bulldog who has his own magical powers.

Gabriel is a great leading character. Catano wrote his past as a military operative to help garner trust and respect from readers right off the bat. Gabriel is a man who shows courage, bravery, and intelligence in his search for Sheila. Especially as a normal man up against black magic. Readers will relate to Gabriel's loyalty and willingness to do anything for the one he loves. They'll also enjoy his sarcasm and banter with Orson. (Yes, they can talk to each other.) His skill set will also be more than impressive as he comes up with some crazy solutions to magical problems. Though he is a bit weighed down with anger, a trait that makes him more down-to-earth and less perfect hero, Gabriel is working on controlling his temper. Though is temper is aimed at the villains, so ... it can't be a completely negative motivator. 

Orson is a fantastic companion to Gabriel in this novel. He's your typical dog who just happens to be able to do magic and talk (telepathically). Nothing beats a good belly rub and a stack of salami, or taquitos, for this sweetheart, who just wants to find his mom. Orson provides ample amounts of comic relief as the serious search for Sheila is in operation. Readers will enjoy his sparky personality and his go-get-em attitude when it comes to taking down the bad guy. 

The plot of the story is a little complicated, but Cantano makes it easy to follow. After being sent to retrieve an object from Florida, Sheila disappears. Two weeks with no word worries Gabriel and Orson, who set off on an adventure to find her. What they find first is Yareth -- a dark magician with a band of followers who have a power amplification stone and a desire to own Orson. While avoiding kidnappings and car chases, Gabriel must keep Orson safe while they search for Sheila. This thrilling adventure is a fun read with magical action and enough fighting to destroy a theme-park. I think anyone who enjoys not-too-serious supernatural novels will love Tail & Trouble. 

Rating: 3.5/5 Cups