Cat Royal
An ongoing mystery series by Julia Golding, set in the late 1700s, follows the adventures of orphan Catherine "Cat" Royal. Cat is a ward of the theater at Drury Lane, and is a talented actress and writer herself. The books are told in the first person. The books in the series so far:
The Diamond of Drury Lane: Cat is introduced as a spunky heroine who works at the Drury Lane theater to earn her board and keep. Her main adversary is Billy "Boil" Shepherd, a gang leader, and her oldest friend is Syd Fletcher, who leads the opposing street gang against Billy. She makes friends with Pedro, an escaped slave now working at the theater as a musician and actor; Johnny or Lord Jonathan Fitzroy, also working at the theater and as the political cartoonist "Captain Sparkler", a runaway lord, and the love interest of Lady Elizabeth of Avon; and Lord Francis and Lady Elizabeth of Avon. The mystery of the series is: What is the Diamond of Drury Lane, and why is Billy Shepherd after it?
Cat Among the Pigeons: Pedro's old slave master, Mr. Hawkins, is after him. Cat manages to get on the wrong side of Mr. Hawkins and has to run away, disguise herself as a boy, and enroll in Francis's school. Cat has to save Pedro and stop him from getting recaptured. Billy "Boil" Shepherd shows a (very slightly) better side of himself - but after saving Cat's life, demands a favor in return from Cat.
Den of Thieves: Drury Lane is being demolished, and Cat has a bad experience with a tricky publisher. Mr. Sheridan, owner of Drury Lane, sends her as a spy to France during the French Revolution. The duke and duchess of Avon are imprisoned, as well as their children Francis and Elizabeth. With Johnny's help, Cat has to find out a way to get her friends free from prison as well as find a piece of the crown jewels for Billy, whom she owes. (Oh, and Cat/ Syd shippers rejoice, because Syd kisses Cat before he leaves with his "manager" on a tour.
Cat o'Nine Tails: Cat is an unlikely recruit for the British navy - and meets up with some Native Americans on her way. Cat/ Syd shippers rejoice and despair at the same time. At this point, there are a lot of possible pairings.
Black Heart of Jamaica: Cat and Pedro decide to earn a living as a duet of acting and music. Syd is particularly upset, but puts up with it. The two travel to Jamaica and learn that slavery is still common - and that Mr. Hawkins has made an appearance. He kidnaps Cat and she falls ill with malaria. Billy rescues her but forces her to be a slave. Cat then gets involved with a slave revolt, but Pedro tells her to leave while he helps his fellow Africans get freedom. She and Billy leave together.
The Middle Passage: A short novella mostly centering around Cat and Billy bonding. The Cat/ Billy ship is gaining a lot of ground. All Girls Want Bad Boys, anyone?
Cat's Cradle: Centers around Cat's search for her family. Cat is trying to distance herself from Syd as she isn't sure she returns his feelings for her.
For tropes specific to individual installments, visit their respective work pages.
- Abuse Is Okay When It Is Female On Male: Subverted but justified with Cat because she's tiny and doesn't do much damage - physically at least.
- Action Mom: The duchess of Avon.
- All Girls Want Bad Boys: Cat/ Billy, although Cat/Syd could also qualify, seeing as Syd is a gang leader, albeit fair and a nice guy generally.
- Deadpan Snarker: Cat, all the way. No matter how many sticky situations she gets herself into, she makes up for her tiny stature by always getting the last word.
- Door Step Baby: Cat, although not a completely traditional example, as she was a toddler who Mr Sheridan found sat outside the theatre upon his return.
- Fiery Redhead: Cat.
- Foe Yay: Between Cat and Billy, constantly.
- Have a Gay Old Time: Justified since it's set in the eighteenth century, but just for confused readers . . . er, "fag" had a different meaning then.
- Rebel Lord: Johnny, who completely renounces all claims to nobility, and to a lesser extent Lord Francis, who spends a good part of the first book running around London with Syd's gang and will likely grow up to be The Wise Prince.
- Screw the Rules, I Have Money: Most upper-class citizens get by this way.
- True Love's Kiss: Subverted - Syd is absolutely in love with Cat, but she's not entirely sure if she returns his feelings. Also averted in Cat o'Nine Tails when Billy forces a kiss with Cat.
- Will They or Won't They?: Lots, because Cat has about four potential love interests (possibly more depending on who you ask.)
- Wouldn't Hit a Girl: Averted with Billy, who threatens to beat Cat up anyway because "you may be a girl, but you're not a lady." Played straight with Syd up until Cat o'Nine Tails when Cat purposely taunts him until he punches her. Afterwards Syd feels absolutely terrible.