Saturday Review: “Coming of Age and Finding Faith, a Lifelong Journey,” a review by Jon Kesler of Austin Allran’s The Legend of the Isle of Cats (2022) in NCLR Online Spring 2026
“The Legend of the Isle of Cats makes for a good casual read and would be perfectly at home on the bookshelf of any guest house in the Outer Banks.” Kesler’s review of Allran’s first novel, The Legend of the Isle of Cats, provides good insight into a deep narrative about self discovery and reflection with hints of supernatural themes.
The story follows Matthew Goodheart throughout his life after he journeys to the titular Isle of Cats, “a small island off the North Carolina coast that is cloaked in the mysteries of betrayal, hidden treasure, traitorous activity…” He struggles through various points, losing a loved one to a single mistake, and questions his faith in God. The story isn’t entirely about his problems, it’s also about the solution Goodheart finds in his faith, giving him strength to carry on.
Additionally, quite a bit of what Goodheart goes through is similar to Allran’s experiences, allowing you to see past the world of the book and into that of the author’s. Kesler writes, “The twists and turns written into The Legend of the Isle of Cats provide an engaging mystery read that touches on the occult, grapples with spiritual faith and contains a bit of fantasy and world building in the context of the island’s feline inhabitants. This book will appeal to those readers who enjoy that narrative mix in a tale that explores the protagonist’s arc of life and opens the door to self-reflection. “
Read Kesler’s review here! Get your own copy of the book from the publisher or from your local independent bookstore!
