Rating was 3.5 stars.

This was a cute, cozy, and easy fantasy read. While I did enjoy it, I would’ve liked to see a little more world building. You know off the bat that there are witches and dragon shifters in this world, but you learn randomly that there are also minotaurs and orcs and likely other creatures that we never find out about. We see these spirit companions, but they’re never really explained, and they can communicate with their witch somehow. I didn’t know until late in the story that the companion wasn’t actually talking out loud, but perhaps on some sort of spirit or mental level.

I liked the progression of Alina and Raelen’s relationship. Raelen is doing everything he can to avoid his pull to Alina, while Alina feels drawn to Raelen without knowing why. It’s so satisfying when they start to give into that pull.

I still have a big unanswered question from the major conflict in the story, so I would’ve liked to have seen some resolution there. It seemed like it was set up to be answered, but then was just forgotten about. Perhaps in the next book, we’ll see the answer.

"A Witch and Her Dragon" is a dual point of view, first person, romantasy following Princess Alina as she attends her college years at magic school. Her grandfather's only stipulation is that she bring a guard with her, Raelan, a dragon shifter who has kept a dangerous secret for years...that princess Alina is actually his dragon mate.

I can see this book being popular on kindle unlimited or in a romantasy box subscription. It follows very generic tropes, such as fated mates, forbidden lovers, etc. While it was a fast paced read, ultimately it was pretty unoriginal and predictable. The dragon shifter can't be with his one true mate due to her being a princess, chaos ensues, you can guess the ending. The world building was very surface level and again, generic. How can you tell the witches from the normal humans? They have fun colored hair (sky blue, lavender, dark purple) and a magical animal companion. Unfortunately although animal companions are such a cool trope, they were thrown in here just because, barely got an explanation, and didn't play a part in the plot at all. There was also the stereotypical bad guy you could see coming from a mile away, and no real explanation to why they had it out for our 2 main characters (what a plothole!). Another thing that was a little strange was that these characters acted like teenagers (the princess was 18 but acted much younger) and the book read like YA but had quite a few spicy scenes (I'd categorize this at New Adult (NA)). But it was really off-putting to read a book that has the fast pacing and younger acting characters like a YA novel but with many spicy scenes(if you're looking for spiciness rating, it's about the same as fourth wing). Also the amount of times this author uses the phrase "home in on"... I thought I was going to put the book down just for that! She uses this phrase no less than 20 times.

So ultimately this book was not a favorite of mine, but it wasn't bad, just super similar to a million other romantasies. I was able to read it in 2 days and would be good if you're looking for something light and fluffy.

Thank you so much to NetGalley and Victory Editing for providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

A witch and her dragon is about a young princess who starts her journey learning how to control her magic at a school but has to bring a knight with her as a guard and he happens to be a dragon shifter. I really wanted to like this book however I felt like there was so much focus on Raelan having to keep his inner dragon in check and how much it was making him suffer that it was hard to enjoy the rest. I usually like dual pov romance novels but i feel like this one didn’t really need his pov. While I didn’t like these things about the book I did enjoy the world-building, it was easy to follow and visualize, and I did like the side characters. I really appreciate the chance to be able to read this before it’s published, I just feel like maybe this book just wasn’t for me like I had hoped. Thank you.

My first read by Emberly Wyndham, and I’m sure it won’t be my last, I’m already looking forward to the next book in the quartet. Coven Crest Academy has a whole host of interesting characters to get acquainted with, we start off with magical princess Alina Ravensceoft and her dragon shifter bodyguard, Raelan Ashvale, not that anyone knows he’s a dragon shifter (not even the princess). A super slow burn, forbidden (maybe), supernatural romance, with a body guard who would rather be anywhere but at the princess’s side, but who would most definitely lay down his life for her. Turns out he might be the very reason she’s in danger. Entertaining, sweet and sexy all at the same time. I really enjoyed my time at Coven Crest Academy. I received an advanced copy of this book via NetGalley. This is my honest review.

A Witch and Her Dragon is a fantasy romance story, and as its name suggests, it's about Alina, a princess and witch, and Raelan, a knight but above all a shapeshifter, a dragon. Through the twists of fate, they end up united beyond a working relationship. Honestly, I didn't know what to expect from this novel. At first, the synopsis caught my attention and I thought, "Why not give it a chance?" Then I discovered it was spicy and I was afraid of what I would find. But it was a pleasant surprise. When I started reading the story from the beginning, it captivated me, to the point that it took me 24 hours to finish it! A light but fun novel, ideal for when you find yourself with a reading block (yes, my last reading left me so upset that I needed something that wouldn't make me cry).

I must emphasize that I loved that the characters did communicate at all, that Alina literally learned Raelan's secret halfway through the book, because here we love it when the characters communicate and tell each other they love each other (even though they can't be together).

But if there was one thing I missed, it was the explanation of who and why they loved Raelan. Then I saw that this is the first book, so I suppose that will be revealed in the sequel. I'm eagerly awaiting the continuation of the book. 100% recommended.

Thanks to Emberly Wyndham, the publisher, and NetGalley for the ARC.

A fast-paced cozy spicy romantasy that got me hooked from page 1. Set in a magical academy and it has fated mates, he falls first and harder, forced proximity, dragon shifter x witch, princess x knight, and the perfect amount of spice *chef’s kiss*. It has everything I, and anyone, want in a book.
The longing, the yearning, the tension, the banter and the chemistry between Alina and Raelan are to die for. I also loved the magical academy setting, the found family with her 3 girl friends and their unique fun personality, and ofc their spirit companions were a cute addition🥹.

The story is about Alina, a princess, who dreams to set her own path and enrolls at Coven Crest Academy for witches to master her magic, but she’s only allowed to attend if she had a knight by her side. Raelan, a knight, is a secret dragon shifter who’s been keeping another secret for 3 years and that is Alina is his fated mate, and now he’s forced to accompany Alina to her dream academy. So as both Alina and Raelan are forced to spend time together, things changes and it gets harder for Raelan to hide his feelings, the tension gets stronger each day and the powerful connection between them is harder to ignore.


All in all, I truly loved the book and I’m thankful for Netgalley for providing me the ARC🙏💕.

ARC review. A Witch and her Dragon, due for release on 3rd June. I was disappointed with this book, it was 254 pages long and already grammatical errors by page 8, the lady in waiting was referred as Mr instead of Ms as an example, I noted quite a few errors that I would have thought seeing as this was being put out in to the public domain it would have been edited to a good standard. I really don’t enjoy to have to correct the words on the page as I read. Secondly, not a great deal happened apart from the fated mates story, there was a kidnapping but the captured kidnapper wasn’t referred to again nor who paid for the kidnap/exchange. There wasn’t much detail about the magic learnt by the young witches at the Coven Crest Academy. It just lacked detail for me unfortunately#magic#dragonshifter #witches

We've all thought about it: What if the princess doesn't fall in love with the prince, but with the dragon? When I saw this book, the title and the synopsis I just had to read it. I requested a review copy through Netgalley and luckily the author granted me a request copy and last week it was finally time to dive in!

This was exactly what I had hoped and expected. From the very first chapter I was sucked in and I kept enjoying the book until the end. That's firstly because the author has a very pleasant and easy to read writing style. It never feels simple, but it's not complicated or flowery either. The chapters are also relatively short, which makes it easy to read just one more chapter.

I personally love that, despite the mate bond being present, the author takes the time for the characters to build a connection. There is certainly some insta-love involved, when it comes to the dragon, but it takes quite some time before they act upon their feelings. I especially liked all those small moments where they were jealous or longing for something, but not entirely sure if they were even allowed to be jealous or longing for it.

I also enjoyed the setting. I can imagine that we'll get a lot more stories set in this universe! And I really hope so! I quite liked the school, I liked the descriptions of the classes and the way the teachers talked about magic. I also liked the friendship between the girls. They are all clearly very different personalities and yet it makes so much sense that they become instant friends! I can't wait to get to know the other girls better. I hope they will each get their own novel!

A sweet and spicy story of a princess witch and her dragon guard finding their way into one another's arms.

Yuki??!!!!!! Does the author know im obsessed with Sakura Cardcaptor??!!!!
This is a cozy, fast read about a witch that just wants to find her path away from being the princess and a guard with a secret.
The guard is a dragon but nobody but his mother and the king know but the secret…
The secret is that he has to guard his mate(which no one but his mom know about) and his dragon keeps fighting him to come out and see his mate!

Spicy, cozy, dripping with delicious fantasy magic. A Witch And Her Dragon provides everything you could want: forced proximity; fated mates; magical academy; he-falls-first; close-knit friendships; and an MMC who could not give more “touch-her-and-die” vibes if he even tried to.

Alina is a young witch training up her frost magic at a magic academy, determined to prove her worth on her own merit and make lifelong friendships. Raelan is her ravishing knight/secret dragon-shifter sworn to protect her, from everything and everyone one - including himself. The chemistry, the tension, the YEARNING: get ready for some fiery action in this mystery filled novel.

The overall cast of characters was very well developed, and you come to have a deeper understanding of even those who only pop up for a scene or two. Sure, this might be a spicy little Romantasy book, but there is a ton of world building, lore and open endings established in this first instalment and I’d love to continue reading on with future additions to the series. Yes, on the surface this is a tale about two magical beings lusting after one another, but dig a bit deeper and you’ll see that it’s the themes of friendships, family and devotion that bind this book together. The writing is well paced and the scenes well balanced, making for a smooth and well-seasoned read. The magic system was intriguing and I’d love to see some more focus on her studies at the academy as she comes further in tune with her powers.

Thank you to Emberly Wyndham and the publishing/NetGalley team for allowing me the opportunity to give an advance review of this book. If a relatable witch and an irresistibly devoted dragon-shifter sound like your cup of tea, then I’d definitely recommend taking this 4/5 star rating for a twirl ✨

A witch and her dragon by Emberly Wyndham.
🐉🧙‍♀️

It's my first ARC and thank you netgalley!

If you like :

cozy fantasy
Forced proximity
Forbidden romance
Magic academy
Witch, shifter and animals familiars

This book is for you !

It was a really good reading, I enjoyed the story between Alina and her love interest The romance was very cute and FMC passionnate. The Coven Academy looks like the perfect place to be and I love when "He falls first" and I defenetly read the next book ♥️

Thank you, NetGalley, for the chance to read this ARC!

This was a cute, entertaining story! A witchy royal New Adult romance 🙌🏻

Princess Alina wants to attend the nearby academy to learn how to harness her magic and branch out from under her grandfather's, the king's, loving but limiting gaze. He agrees, but only if one of his knights Raelin accompanies her as a guard.

Raelin is a dragon shifter, keeping his dragon at bay in order to provide for his mother and sister's. He's grateful for his arrangement with the king, but still feels unsure how long this will go on since the princess is his fated mate. When the king orders him to accompany the princess to the academy, he's apprehensive.

This is a great fit for anyone who is looking for a quick, cute, magical read!

I absolutely loved this story and characters, and am looking forward to reading the next in the series!

Thank you to the publishers for an ARC of this book in return for an honest review!

This was such a pleasant and smooth read; “Cozy spice” was definitely an accurate description. It had me hooked from the beginning, and I loved the dual POV of the two main characters, it made a refreshing change! Definitely more of a Romance in a Fantasy setting, than vise versa. I’d have loved a bit more world building, especially around the magic system and school classes. I also really wanted to know the reasoning behind the stories’ climax!. Also, Alina being the age of 15 when Raelan first realised he was mated to her felt off, especially as it’s not overly obvious of his own age, which I felt could’ve been avoided by a slightly later age-setting of the characters.

However, overall an enjoyable cozy read that I demolished in a day! I loved the spirit familiars; and the other female characters that added some much needed depth. Looking forward to the next one!

⭐️⭐️⭐️ (3/5)

A Witch and Her Dragon is a cozy fantasy that blends magic, friendship, and shifter dragons in a magical academy setting. It’s the kind of book that pulls you in quickly and makes for a delightful, low-stress escape which is perfect for readers who love whimsical worlds with romance.

One of my favorite aspects was the found family. Alina's roommates-turned-best-friends brought so much warmth and banter to the story. I also really enjoyed the overall magic and academic vibes with dragons, spells, school politics, and spirit animals.

That said, I wish we had seen a little more slow burn and romantic tension between Alina and Raelan, as they went from hardly speaking to one another in the beginning to being intimate in a dark hallway at around the 40% mark which felt a bit rushed for me. I also really wanted to read more about Alina and her spirit companion, Yuki, as I absolutely loved him.

Overall, this was a fun and cozy read with a lot of charm. If you enjoy magic academies, light romantic fantasy, and witches and shifter dragon tropes, you’ll definitely enjoy this!

Tropes you’ll find:

🏰 Magic academy
🧙‍♀️ Found family
🐉 Witches & dragons
👯‍♀️ Roommates to besties
🐾 Spirit companion bond
💖 He falls first

A Witch and Her Dragon introduces readers to the magical world of Coven Crest Academy. Raelan's duty to the king and his family is tested when he forms a powerful connection with Princess Alina. The story is a blend of cozy fantasy, tortured heroes, and a dash of spice.

Wyndham crafts a narrative that is both enchanting and emotionally resonant, making it a standout in the fantasy romance genre.

Highlights:

Magical Setting: Coven Crest Academy is vividly depicted.

Emotional Depth: Characters face complex personal dilemmas.

Romantic Tension: The connection between Raelan and Alina is palpable.

Conclusion:

A spellbinding start to a promising series. A Witch and Her Dragon is a must-read for fans of fantasy romance.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for granting me free access to the advanced digital copy of this book. A gorgeous 4 star read book from me. What an exciting plot, vivid storytelling and relatable, rich characters. I couldn't put this book down – absolutely loved it.

Delightfully Cozy! Had me invested from the first couple pages. The story of a princess and a knight never gets old. Especially when you add in a dragon shifter. There is angst and tension and spice that I was quite surprised by. The story reads more YA but the spice that you get is definitely not and I was not mad about it. I found the characters to be relatable and they had good growth. The tempo of the book moved quickly so I didn't find there to be any slow points. All in all I thought this was a great cozy little read that I would recommend to people as a palate cleanser. Cute, cozy and the reason we love fairytales.
story: 3.75/5
Spice: 1.5/5

This is so good! I really like the concept, and it was executed really well. It is a really enjoyed little romance read, it didn't take me long to read through it.