Thank you to One More Chapter for the gifted ARC.

I really wanted to enjoy this cozy fantasy, but unfortunately, it just didn’t work for me. I struggled with the writing style, which at times felt confusing and pulled me out of the story—I often found myself re-reading passages to understand what was happening. Because of that, I couldn’t fully settle into the plot or characters, and the overall reading experience wasn’t as enjoyable as I’d hoped.

That being said, I think readers who love cozy fantasy settings, dragons, and light romantic elements may find this book much more appealing.

Dnf. I was very confused while reading. There were a lot of moments when the writing style made it difficult to know what was going on

Thank. you to One More Chapter for the eARC.

Did Not Finish.

Cat-sized dragons should be 100% my thing. But I found myself starting and stopping this book multiple times over multiple days. The words and language were excessively flowery and I just didn't vibe with it. There was a lot of imaginative fake magic-y words, and I got so hung up on them that I felt like it was work to read, and not fun. Alas, not for me.

This book is full of cosy, autumnal, witchy vibes with magical plants and animals! I would happily have read a slice-of-life book set in this world but was pleasantly surprised by the fairly high stakes plot here!

If you love cosy fantasy with some adventuring, I’d definitely recommend giving this a try, especially over autumn! The perfect book to cosy up with and have a cup of tea.

Thank you to Harper Collins and Netgalley for the eARC.

Thank you for sending me a copy of this book, I am so grateful and thoroughly enjoyed it.

This was such a wonderfully whimsical read. I will say it did take me some time to get into and some time to get my head around what was going on and who was who. But approximately 20% in this all clicked into place and I was able to enjoy and devour this book without too much thought to the troubles I encountered at the start.

I liked the characters in this book, and I felt like it was easy to build the connections that were needed to enjoy the book to the best of its ability. Whilst the characters felt so different to each other they were so loveable in their own little ways. I found myself egging Aloysia on and just wanted the best for her throughout. The world building and the descriptions made me want to dive straight into the world and spend some time with the characters. The creatures in this book need a special mention. I would like one of each please Samantha and if I could have my very own cat dragon that would be very much appreciated thank you very much!

I am going to be recommending this book to all of my bookish friends in real life and online because I really do feel like it is a book that everybody needs to read.

What a great find this was! A wonderful story and just lets appreciate that cover for a moment! Beautiful!

Anyone who has read my reviews before, knows I love to be able to visualise what is happening in a book, be able to see the characters and where they are. This one took that one step further, this was like a movie playing within my mind. Whenever I put it down it was like hitting pause on a full colour, full action movie, then restarting it was straight back into the immersive action.

Aloysia is busy, single-handedly running her farm, while dealing with her ancestors as prattling pumpkins and trying to find her feline familiar! However when something goes amiss with the towns Guardian, she and best friend Ivy’s brother, Hollis, must go on a dangerous, magical quest to help save the town!

I did find it took a little time to fully get into the story, but that was getting to know all the characters, where they lived, their magic and the creatures around them. Once in I was fully invested and found it hard to put down, especially the last third.

This book is whimsical, magical and enchanting, it draws you in, awakens your imagination and takes you far away from the world as we know it.

The characters are all wonderful and well developed, Aloysia meets some fantastic people along the way, all of whom become firm favourites.

Overall this is definitely one to get lost in, forget what you know of the world and open your mind up to beautiful Cat Dragons and other mystical creatures. I hope we get to meet these characters again.

I went into this one following a string of heavier fantasy novels as a refreshing break of sorts, expecting a cozy little fantasy to bring out the Autumnal vibes I’m craving lately. This book delivered all of my cozy cottagecore witchy desires, but it also gave so much more.

I think I would be quite distraught if an adorably dangerous Cat Dragon had not yet chosen to spend its life by my side, but this is a tale that shows everything that is supposed to happen WILL happen, just in its own time. This book explores friendships, purpose and self-discovery wrapped in a whimsical adventure. I went into this one pretty burnt out, so I loved being able to just follow along in this whimsical world as they plod along on their magical tasks. It was a fun and fantastically descriptive tale of found-family and cozy magic that left me feeling the same way as that first brisk Autumn day wrapped in a blanket and fluffy socks, sipping away on hot drinks.

The book was slower paced which fit perfectly with what I was looking for and lets you sink into Tangleroot Valley in the most magical way. Crow was absolutely brilliant, and let’s be honest, no one in their right mind is ever going to turn down a Cat Dragon, the most chaotic and curious mix imaginable. The creatures introduced are more than just “pets”, and their distinct personalities really shine through here.

Thank you to Samantha Birch and the publishing/NetGalley team for allowing me the opportunity to give an advance review of this book. Cat Dragon was delightfully charming and gave me all the whimsical, cozy Autumn vibes I was hoping for, earning a comforting 5/5 star rating perfect for anyone wanting a jumpstart into the season of mists and mellow fruitfulness ✨

I have never read a cosy fantasy book before....well maybe i have but never one as lovely and whimsical as the Cat Dragon!

Immediately we meet Aloysia Papplewick and she is a witch, the only problem is she still doesn't have a familiar even after many attempts to find one. The magical people of Tangleroot valley don't have just any familiars they rely on their Cat Dragons!

Aloysia ends up having to go on an adventure along with Hollis, who is Ivy's (her best friend) brother and well with a bit of forced proximity sparks start to fly.

I really loved the world building and the slow burn romance and i especially loved meeting Littlewick, the lovely cat dragon!

Highly recommend

This would be a super cute cosy Autumnal read. If you love cosy, whimsical fantasy then you will enjoy this one. Talking creatures, an enchanted village, a fairly fast paced plot, a witch FMC who’s facing challenges that others are not as she can’t bond with a cat-dragon. I love witchy reads and this was cute.

Cat Dragon is a whimsical and cozy fantasy that captures the charm of cottagecore magic, adorable animal companions, and heartwarming friendships. At the heart of the story is Aloysia, a young witch in Tangleroot Valley who has yet to bond with her magical familiar, a cat dragon, something every other witch seems to master with ease. When disaster strikes the valley, Aloysia is thrown into an unexpected quest alongside Hollis, her best friend’s brother, leading them through magical lands filled with danger, wonder, and maybe even a bit of romance.

There’s so much to love here. The world of Tangleroot is vivid and beautifully imagined, the magical creatures (especially Littlewick the cat dragon) are endlessly charming, and the atmosphere is steeped in autumnal coziness. The cast is diverse and likeable, with even minor characters leaving an impression. The story has a nice mix of mystery, adventure, and emotional depth, all wrapped up in a comforting magical world.

That said, the book isn’t without its issues. The pacing starts slow and some transitions between scenes feel abrupt or unclear. The writing style, while lyrical and unique, occasionally leans too heavily into obscure vocabulary and awkward phrasing, which can pull readers out of the story. The romance subplot also feels underdeveloped and somewhat unnecessary to the main arc, though it does add a touch of sweetness.

Despite a few bumps in execution, Cat Dragon remains a fun and heartfelt read, especially for fans of cozy, low-stakes fantasy with a magical animal twist. Perfect for curling up with during the fall season, this is a charming debut with a lot of potential and one that will especially appeal to lovers of books like The Spellshop or Legends & Lattes.

2.5⭐️

Cat Dragon's premise was so enchanting, and I was ready to dive into this magically whimsical cosy fantasy, but unfortunately, it wasn't for me.
The writing style wasn't what I expected. I got the impression the author was trying to give us an epic high fantasy storyline whilst keeping the cosy vibe, and it just wasn't working for me personally. I felt some parts were too descriptive when it wasn't needed, the pacing felt a little all over the place, resulting in the plot escalating from 'let's relax and enjoy this quest' to 'the world is ending' far too quickly. Plot twists and key moments were happening out of the blue and without much context or explanation, making it feel less authentic. There was so much packed into this book that it was beginning to feel over saturated. I didn't relate or feel a connection to the characters. Nothing about them stood out. The romantic element, while obvious, also felt so out of place. It was as though it was quickly added in before it was too late. If you edited some tiny parts towards the end regarding the MC's relationship, then I don't see why this couldn't have been put forward as a YA fantasy rather than an adult.

Thank you to NetGalley, One More Chapter, and Harper Collins for the e-arc in exchange for an honest review.

Cat Dragon is a cozy fantasy that includes a witch and Cat Dragons and a whole bunch of other magical characters.

I’ve had so much fun joining Aloysia and Hollis on their adventures.

The world they’re from is full of so many different magical creatures and talking pumpkins, which had me laughing away. It was fun trying to imagine everything that was going on.

This author brought us a world that was built up so beautifully, you could clearly see in your mind the world of Tangleroot.

I’ll definitely be giving more of her books a read in the future. The storyline was great as were the characters.

Dnf at 23% I honestly wanted to love this one as cosy fantasy is my cup of tea and I do love certain elements of it! Especially Crow and Aloysia but I found the plot very confusing. It jumps around a lot and the writing is quote pretentious rather than giving me the cosy vibes I expected.

A very cute and wholesome romantasy with an ‘enemies to lovers’ trope which makes you want to root for the protagonists Hollis and Aloysia. I loved the side characters but I was secretly hoping for more from the Lán and Shikha relationship!

There were some moments in the narrative which I felt were missing context, as if an earlier part had been heavily edited. For instance, in Chapter 7 when there is suddenly a “heap of fabric” left for Aloysia, which turns out to be a dress from Ivy. In addition, the entire storyline involving the mercenary and even the final letter (in Chapter 31) from Eckhardt Beaumont seemed unclear to me.

Aside from these tiny issues to be ironed out, it was in general a pleasant story with a cast of likeable and eccentric characters and a magical plot full of intricate detail.

Such a cute story, the perfect antidote for my previous read. I love the scene setting and magical-ness of the whole thing!


Thanks so much to the publishers for my copy!

This was my first cosy fantasy and I wanted to see what the genre was like. I’m not sure it’s for me, but I think that’s more about my taste than the book, as the writing style just didn’t click with me.

The story follows Aloysia Papplewick, the only witch in Tangleroot Valley without a cat dragon. She’s trying to wrangle her chaotic magical farm, put up with a gossiping pumpkin patch and get ready for the Harvest Festival. Then Hollis, her best friend’s irritating brother, turns up bringing trouble. Before long, the two of them are on a quest to a mysterious mountain, dealing with magic, mischief and an unexpected spark between them.

I really enjoyed the magical creatures, the colourful cast and the warm feel of the world. The romance between Aloysia and Hollis was sweet, but what I loved most was how the story focused on self-discovery and personal growth. I’ve realised I’m more of a high-stakes fantasy reader, but for fans of slower, whimsical adventures this will be a treat. I’ve seen plenty of glowing reviews for Cat Dragon and can see why.

Thank you to NetGalley, Samantha Birch and One More Chapter for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Whenever there’s been a question of what two creatures you would combine. Mine has always been a cat and a dragon, two of my favourite things. So how could I possibly resist when someone agreed with me and made it into a book! The ultimate cosy magical witchy fantasy read! Plus there’s a cat dragon or two! Instead of what you think of as a normal familiar. But Aloysia has a few struggles along the way. Definitely one for fans of The Baby Dragon Cafe.

First I want to thank Netgalley and One More Chapter for this e-ARC copy of Cat Dragon.

This is a perfect cosy fantasy read that will be perfect for Autumn/Fall. This book could easily become a comfort read.

I did struggle with the writing style and the plot at first, I wasn’t sure if I was going to enjoy this. But I’m glad I carried on as I ended up really enjoying it. I read this in a couple of days as the more I pushed on the easier it was to read, however that said this book was definitely confusing in parts.

Aloysia has never felt like a REAL witch. She has never found her familiar and with her bestie on the Elders council, she's been left feeling a bit...flat. But with the worlds Guardian returning, along with its Shepherd, who just happens to be Aloysia's nemesis, she gets another chance to bond with a familiar.

Things just go from bad to worse after that. Not only does Aloysia get her long awaited familiar, she and Hollis have to undertake an epic journey to save the world's magic.

Tangleroot Valley is a cosy, friendly, magically aware community and it seems like the perfect place to live. But it has its share of annoying neighbours who make life difficult for Aloysia. The secondary characters of Crow and Littlewick are scene stealers. And that big finale scene brought a tear or two I'll admit.

The romance with Hollis is very gentle and it could have been omitted all together and wouldn't really change the storyline at all. The pacing was a wee bit off on occasion and some of the scenes felt a tad disjointed but I still enjoyed the story and I'd read more adventures set in this world.

I thought Cat Dragon was going to be a super sweet low-stakes, cosy fantasy. While it was sweet and cosy, it was also epic and exciting!

Aloisha is a botanical witch, and the only person who can save her village’s magic from failing. To do this, she has to go on a quest (with her best friend’s older brother – eeek!) to find the rare magical/botanical ingredients for the spell that can save her village.

This was so much more epic than I expected, the quest is dangerous and exciting, the tension between Aloisha and Hollis is perfect, and of course the cat dragons are extremely cute!

I enjoyed this so much, the writing was good and the magic system were really original.

As I was reading it really reminded me of a Studio Ghibi movie – huge botanical guardians, cute fluffy magic creatures, a feisty but vulnerable heroine. If you like Ghibli, I think you’ll like this!