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STRANGE FAMILIARS

Library Journal SFF book of the month for February 2026

Starred review from Library Journal

US cover of romantasy book Strange Familiars
UK and Commonwealth cover of fantasy romance novel Strange Familiars

Two scholars of magical veterinary science must put aside their lust and loathing to save the world in the first installment of this whimsical, romantic, dark academia duology.

All Gwendolynne Chan needs is to get through final year at Seamere College, where she is on track to graduate as number one —as long as the pretentious prat Harrisford Briggs doesn’t beat her to it.

Harrisford Briggs’s father, the chief financial officer of Magecorp, a major global distributor of magic, expects him to come top of the class. Harrisford, though, can’t help but notice that his father has been acting odd. And there are strange whisperings, too, of uncontrollable surges of excess magic.

When these magical surges begin to rock London, causing chaos and explosions and animal familiars going feral, Gwen and Harrisford find themselves reluctantly involved, putting both of their veterinary careers at risk.

Along with Gwen’s snarky cat familiar, Gwen and Harrisford must team up to diagnose the problem. But as the two academic rivals fight their burgeoning feelings, they quickly realize that magic is not the only thing surging.

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Coming in the USA, UK, Australia, NZ, Germany, and France.

 

For rights enquiries contact: Lauren Spieller (Folio Literary Agency) at lspieller@foliolit.com 

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Are you a Magical Familiars (companion animal) or Mythical Creatures veterinarian? Take the quiz below to find out!

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INDIE STORES WITH SIGNED COPIES


There are several indie bookstores with signed copies of Strange Familiars around the world. These are:

  • Kaleidoscopic Books

  • Shelf Love Atlanta

  • Enchanted Raven

  • Obsidian Flower Bookshop

  • Realms and Roses Bookstore 

  • Main St Books Monroe

  • Blue Cypress Books

  • Lovestruck Books

  • Fable Tree Bookshop

  • Eagle Eye Book Shop

  • Teddy's Best Reads

  • The Cove Books

  • All the Tropes Romance Bookstore

  • novel memphis

  • Parnassus Books

  • Book Lovers Bookshop

  • Fiction Over Reality

  • Chapter & Coast

  • The Ravished Reader

  • Slow Burn Bookshop

  • Between The Covers Co. 

  • Romancing the Novel

  • The Wandering Page

  • Birdies Bookshop

  • Scribbles Bookshop

  • Main Street Books

  • Wink & Woo, LLC

  • Buffalo Street Books

  • Partners in Crime Bookshop

  • The Well Red Damsel

  • Thirst Books

  • The Book Boudoir

  • The New Romantics

  • Small comforts reads

  • Daffodil Romantasy Books & Gifts 

  • lunarbooks.au

  • Montgomery and Taggert Bookshop

  • The Little Bubblegum Bookshop

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Novel Neighbor may still have some limited quantities of pre-order swag (please contact to confirm).

If you are an indie bookstore and would like signed bookplates, please click below!

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“STRANGE FAMILIARS is my exact brand of catnip, featuring brilliant academic rivals, magical university, and cheeky animal sidekicks stealing every scene. And let’s talk about the romantic tension between Gwen and Harrisford – sizzling, with gorgeous ebbs and flows between wanting and hating, sacrifice and treachery. Chow’s world-building is fabulous and imaginative, with a frighteningly accurate exploration of what magic might look like in our late stage capitalism world. Animal lovers will adore the familiars and the accuracy of the veterinary medicine scenes. Percy stole my heart. An absolute delight!”
Brigitte Knightley, New York Times Bestselling author of The Irresistible Urge to Fall For Your Enemy

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