Cattie by Megan King is a bleak story about a young woman who yearns for more than her traditional rural life has to offer. Her parents work hard to care for the family and expect Cattie to shoulder the burden by marrying. Marry she does, though tragedy soon befalls the groom. Cattie, however, is no stranger to death. She witnessed her older sister perish by fire when she was just six years old. Death in not the only dark thing in Cattie’s orbit.
The author, Megan King, is Scots-Irish. Her heritage blossoms onto each page in this historical novel. The colloquial phrases are charming and bring the reader right into Catties difficult farming life. The maturation of the protagonist is relatable as Cattie tries to find her own unique path. She has difficulty measuring up to the expected standards of her family and her society. While the ending isn’t happy, it fits with the overall arc of the story. There were several grammatical errors, but not enough to remove readers from the story.
Megan King does her homeland proud with her rich storytelling. Cattie is a twisted tale that will ensure that you sleep with the lights on.
