The Cat Who Saved The Library

Tabby the cat is back and how! But let me just scream this into the universe that it’s not the cat that saves the books (like in Part 1) or the library (as in this one). It enables it. The real heroes are Rintaro in Part 1 and Nanami in Part 2. Tabby simply knows how to find the right humans for the job. Good Job, Tabby!

That being said, I loved this part more than the first one. Unlike the chapter-wise quests of Part 1, this book felt like a full, cohesive story. The adventure continues with a new heroine Nanami, an asthmatic yet fiercely brave teen who adores books. Like Rintaro, she’s stunned by the talking cat but doesn’t hesitate to get into the adventure when her beloved library is threatened.

The story is engaging and retains that beautiful theme of championing the power of books. I was secretly hoping there’d be some callbacks to Part 1, and I wasn’t disappointed. Though many say this book can be read as a standalone, reading Part 1 adds a subtle layer of depth and continuity.

However, I do have a small complaint. Chapter 3, which houses the main adventure, includes several bookish references and character cameos that could be confusing for readers unfamiliar with those specific titles. A bit more context would’ve helped.

Aside from that, this was a delightful, meaningful read.