Spindle's End by Robin McKinley

Cats were often familiars to workers of magic because to anyone used to wrestling with self-willed, wayward, devious magic - which was what all magic was - it was rather soothing to have all the same qualities wrapped up in a small, furry, generally attractive bundle that looked more or less the same from day to day and might, if it was in a good mood, sit on your knee and purr. Magic never sat on anybody's knee and purred.

I fell in love with McKinley's writing years ago, she's on the list where you just buy it because it's her. This was a look at the Sleeping Beauty story and has a lovely, rich world of fairies and magic. Did you know magic precipitates and forms a dust? That you have to descale the kettles or after about a week you might pour yourself a nice cup of thimbles?

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