Clan Ground is animal fantasy at its best. The characterizations of the animals are convincingly feline. The Named swat each other with their paws, growl and purr, engage in hunting and stalking, and forget their dignity during the mating season. Yet the culture Bell creates for her cats has much in common with human society.

The power struggles, the need for religion, the reliance on innovation and technology within the Clan are all reminders to the reader of the problems and complexities of human society.

Bell's love for both the animal and the human world is apparent.

The writer's descriptions of both place and character are beautifully detailed and help to create a fictional universe that remains believable even at its most bizarre. The cats Ratha, Fessran, Bira, and Shongshar are drawn in depth and complexity. Especially worthy of note is the subtle characterization of Thakur...