Title: Strange FamiliarsAuthor: Keshe Chow
Series: The Seamere College Duology #1
Pages: 432
Publication Date: May 15, 2026
Publisher: Ace
Genres: Fiction / Fantasy / Contemporary
Synopsis:
All's fair in love and magic.
Gwendolynne Chan just needs to get through her final year. At Seamere College of Magical Veterinary Sciences, she spends her days using her powers to heal companion animals while her nights are spent studying for exams. As the top student in the magical familiars stream, she is on track to be awarded Dux of the entire school - as long as the pretentious twat Harrisford Briggs doesn't beat her to it.
Harrisford Briggs was born into privilege. His father, the Chief Financial Officer of Magecorp, a major global distributor of magic, expects him to come top of the year. Harrisford, though, can't help but notice that his father has been acting odd. Really odd. And there are strange whisperings, too. Rumours of uncontrollable surges of excess magic, which Magecorp has been trying to cover up, as well as rampant corruption within the Magical Ministry itself.
When these magical surges begin to rock their way through London, causing chaos and explosions and familiars going feral, Gwen and Harrisford find themselves without a reliable source of magic, putting both of their academic careers at risk. To fix this, they must put aside their duelling feelings of lust and loathing, and - along with Gwen's snarky cat familiar - team up to diagnose the problem. If they fail, not only is their education at stake, but also the fate of the magical world.
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I went into Strange Familiars knowing next to nothing about it, other than I loved the cover and the blurb sounded intriguing, and I ended up really enjoying it. The magical veterinary academy setting immediately caught my attention because it felt so unique, and the mix of academic rivalry, fascinating familiars, and the darker elements woven throughout the story worked together so well.
The story is told from dual POVs, alternating between Gwen and Harissford’s perspectives. Both are at the top of the class, and they are competing for the top spot and the coveted government position that comes with it. I found both of their stories compelling and layered. They come from very different worlds, and both have very valid reasons for achieving their goals. They’re opposites in so many ways, yet in other ways, they are very similar, which makes their perspectives really interesting.
It’s clear from the start that Gwen and Harrisford come from different social classes, and the stark contrast sheds light on the iniquities of this society. But living in a world with a magical veterinary academy sounds so cool. I don’t think I’ve ever read a book that takes place in a magical vet school, and I think I was missing out! I was fascinated by the different departments, the ways of caring for different creatures, and the magical bonds the characters have with familiars. It’s such a unique and vividly depicted setting, and there’s this fascinating contrast between the engaged and positive learning experience and the darker forces working behind the scenes. The whole book is layered with dualities and contrasts that I found really interesting.
The romance was academic rivals-to-lovers swoon-tasticness. Gwen and Harrisford have amazing chemistry, and their banter is top-notch. I love how they challenge each other and how their relationship changes over the course of the story. I also loved the found-family vibes and the familiars, and the thought-provoking messages about privilege, power, family, and friendship. The plot is interesting, and though I guessed a couple of things early on, there were two twists I didn’t see coming. And the ending was great! I’m so eager to see what happens next and love the direction it’s headed.
Special thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with a copy of the book. All thoughts are my own.
- rivals to lovers
- dark academia
- found family
- opposites attract
- animal familiars!
Keshe was born in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia and migrated to Australia when she was two. She currently lives in Naarm (Melbourne) with her partner, two kids, and two cats.
She has won multiple awards for short fiction, as well as the 2022 Victorian Premier’s Literary Awards Prize for an Unpublished Manuscript.
