Absolutely loved this book!! It is a cozy, spicy romantasy. It is dual pov and the MMC is obsessive, possessive and protective!! This is a forced proximity, fated mates, and touch her and die!! He is a knight and the princess is his fated mates. Thus, it takes all his willpower to resist the bond and his inner dragon because he doesn’t think it’s worth it!! His inner turmoil is everything!!

Thoroughly enjoyed this book, it’s a lovely cosy quick read. The story follows a witch princess who is accepted to attend the local academy to study magic, her grandfather the king insists she can attend providing she has a bodyguard/babysitter, neither herself or the bodyguard are impressed by this. There is mounting tension and attraction between them both with some spice in the second half of the book. As her time progresses it becomes apparent that others aren’t always who they think they are! Would have loved a little more character development especially the friends and a bit more emphasis on the magic and what she’s studying.
Would I recommend it? Absolutely!!

This was wonderful. Assigned to guard a princess, he realizes that she's his mate and has to figure out how to keep it a secret. Forbidden romance at its finest.

This is a cosy romantasy. I think a lot of people would enjoy it who like lower stakes fantasy with romance and still read a book about a different world.

A spicy cosy romantasy just the way we like it! 🔥✨

In this first book set at Coven Crest Academy, we follow Alina, a young witch determined to join the royal coven led by her grandfather, the king. But first, there's one condition: she needs a knight to protect her. That’s where Raelan comes in—royal guard… and dragon shifter. 🐉

With tension, forbidden desire, and a romance that takes center stage, this was such an entertaining read. Raelan is constantly battling his overwhelming attraction to Alina, his fated mate, and the push-and-pull dynamic between them had me flipping the pages fast.

The plot is simple and definitely familiar, and while the magical academy vibe is present, I do wish it had been explored a bit more. That said, the author more than makes up for it with the kind of spicy romance I love, a tension-filled couple dynamic with a tortured hero, and a cozy HEA to wrap it all up.

In short, it’s the perfect book to curl up with on an autumn or winter night, under a blanket, with a cup of tea. A real treat for romantasy fans looking for a bit of spice and a lot of heart. 💫

A Cozy, Fiery Fantasy That Scratches the Dragon-Itch

A Witch and Her Dragon offers a familiar but enjoyable blend of magical academia, forbidden romance, and the ever-popular dragon shifter trope. While it doesn’t break new ground, it delivers on exactly what it promises: a protective, brooding dragon knight, a determined young witch, and plenty of slow-burning tension set in a magical boarding school.

Alina Ravenscroft is a princess who wants nothing more than to forge her own path through magic. Raelan Ashvale is the knight assigned to guard her—who also happens to be a dragon shifter hiding a scorching secret. He’s her fated mate, and he's been denying that bond for years. The setup is classic and comforting, especially for readers who love the dynamic of powerful heroines paired with equally powerful but emotionally tortured protectors.

The book’s strength lies in its romantic tension. Raelan is the kind of reluctant hero that readers of Fourth Wing or A Court of Thorns and Roses will recognize and swoon over. His internal conflict—balancing duty, desire, and secrecy—is compelling even when the worldbuilding takes a backseat.

However, the story sometimes leans a bit too heavily on familiar fantasy tropes without offering much new. Coven Crest Academy feels more like a backdrop than a fully realized world, and side characters are present but lightly sketched. The pacing can also drag in places, with moments of intense emotion or drama that don’t always feel fully earned.

That said, this is an easy, escapist read that hits the right notes for those looking for dragon shifters, fated mates, and magical romance. It’s cozy, a little steamy, and leaves the door open for more love stories in the series.

If you’re in between heavy fantasy reads and want something lighter but still dripping with romantic tension, A Witch and Her Dragon might be exactly the warm (and fiery) comfort read you need.

What a fun book! It's filled with all the best tropes. You had me at dragon shifter! I'm not sure why this one isn't talked about more, it's such a good time.

I was really impressed from the start. The world-building and writing were strong right away, and the characters caught my interest early on. The style reminded me a little of Stephanie Garber, emotional, a little poetic, and slightly repetitive in places, but overall readable and engaging.

What stood out the most to me was how unique the plot felt. I honestly haven’t read anything quite like this before, which made it feel fresh and fun. The setup, the bond, and the mix of cozy romance with magic and dragons kept me turning the pages. It was highly intriguing and kept my attention the whole way through.

Raelan was a great character. I loved the idea of him being a dragon in human form (mostly) he had that broody, protective vibe I like (kind of Tairn from Fourth Wing energy). That said, I do wish the dragon side of him felt more like a natural extension of who he is, rather than a separate, unruly presence. More emotional depth between him and that part of himself could’ve made their bond stronger and more meaningful. It may have left a bigger impact.

Alina was curious and determined, and her pull toward Raelan felt believable. At times, she came off a bit young for a character who’s supposed to be in a “college” setting, but the romance itself was very adult. That mix of innocence and spice was a little uncomfortable at times, but I still enjoyed seeing their relationship grow.

The pacing was even. Chapters were the right length to keep me reading without feeling rushed. I liked the dual POV, but I do think Raelan’s chapters could’ve been expanded a bit more. Emotionally, the book could’ve gone deeper in a few spots. I also found myself wondering what happened in some situations. Maybe some small plot holes.

The romance was a nice mix of sweet and spicy. Raelan was devoted and patient, and Alina was strong-willed in her own way. The book had a solid mix of romance-driven fantasy and light magical elements. I would’ve loved more time spent on the magical creatures and world details (there were orcs and minotaurs mentioned but not really explored).

Overall, this was a cozy and well-paced read with a unique plot and a lot of heart. The writing had an emotional, almost poetic feel to it, and the fall vibes were definitely there. I really enjoyed this and would absolutely read more from the author.

This was an adorable cozy fantasy with the added bonus of a bit of spice! A super cute story about a dragon shifter/knight who hides his identity from his fated mate, a princess beginning her studies, as he doesn’t want to ruin her life by being tied to him.
A super cute romance with likeable characters and a great storyline. Would definately recommend to anyone looking for an easy, light hearted read.

A Witch and Her Dragon was a nice easy read and had some overall good romance themes. The pacing felt rushed in places and there wasn’t too much world building. I feel this book is more of a ‘setting the scene’ read for the series but still enjoyable. Some story points could have been expanded on but again that could come in the next book. Thanks to NetGalley and Emberly Wyndham for this ARC.

i am so pleased that i got an arc for this book! it was so cosy and i loved the dynamic of it! the emotions is so real and the bond between Alina and Raelan was so fun to read about! AND YUKI?? U HAVE TALKING ANIMALS? i loved that little bonus of this! i even loved the feeling of the harry potter vibes of this with the academy and the magic! i definitely need more books with dragons and this book did not disappoint!

5/5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
A Witch and Her Dragon
Author: Emberly Wyndham

I am not missing when it comes to cozy fantasy reads this year. Thank you Netgalley and Victory Editing for my copy! Princess Alina finally gets the chance to attend Coven Crest Academy to practice her magic. The king agrees, but only if she brings a knight with her as a bodyguard. Raelan is assigned the task, but he holds a massive secret… he’s a dragon shifter, and Alina is his fated mate. Each day brings a new challenge as he struggles to resist the bond pulling him toward her. This book had everything I love in a fantasy romance. We get bodyguard tension, magic academy vibes, elemental powers, familiars, and more. What really made this one shine as a cozy fantasy was the perfect mix of plot and warm, fuzzy moments. The characters were fantastic, and I cannot wait for book two!

A witch princess gets an invitation to attend the witch school to better control her powers. She is accompanied by a guard who is a dragon shifter who also happened to be her mate unbeknownst to the princess. This is more of a romantasy, definitely not a cozy fantasy. I’d give it spice level of 1.5-2. I wish there was more about her classes at the school but it’s more about her love interest. Overall I’d give it roughly 4 stars and will read the next book.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🌶️.5
This was great !! Cozy and warm vibes !!
I ate up and loved the Princess x Knight, forced proximity (absolutely deliciously written) dynamic and the tension between the two main characters!
The dragon shifter portion was really entertaining, and I wish I knew more details about their kind, the scenting, animalistic nature and the magic of it all!! Incredibly excited for book 2 and to learn what comes next !!

I loooved how inviting the royal family is, and how much they love Alina and Raelan! The deeper plot and stakes has me quite curious!! I also was pretty suspicious in the beginning of some of the other students and roommates of Alina, but absolutely adored the found family portion. I do wish we got to see more of Yuki !!

Thanks so much to NetGalley and the publishers for a chance to read an early copy! This is my honest opinion!

I really did enjoy A Witch and Her Dragon as a nice, light read. It had a fun, magical charm that made it easy to get through, and the concept of a forbidden romance between a witch and a dragon shifter was definitely intriguing. That said, it did take me a little while to get fully into the story, and at times it felt a bit rushed. I know that was likely the intention with the pacing—something quick and enjoyable—but personally, I enjoy a bit more buildup when it comes to forbidden love. A slower burn could have added more emotional depth to their connection. Still, it was an entertaining read and perfect for when you’re in the mood for something short and sweet!

Good world building, in general. There were some story points that I feel could have been better explained such as the relationship beyond being fated mates and the Veiled hand plot but maybe we will see it in the next part. I found myself being stressed out in the inability for Rawlings and Alina’s inability to communicate but it makes the story last. The book itself was a slightly spicy and was moved along quite well.

A Witch and Her Dragon was a book that focused on Alina, a young graduate who was accepted into Coven Crest Academy, however, the hitch is that she has to get permission from the King, who also just happens to be her grandfather. Insert Raelan, a dedicated Knight to the King, who has been assigned to accompany Alina to Coven Crest. What Alina doesn't know is that Raelan is a shifter, transforming into a dragon. But this isn't just any dragon, it's her dragon, her one true fated mate. Raelan has to suppress his urges when he's near her but being assigned as her personal bodyguard is a challenge he begrudgingly accepts. I want to thank NetGalley and the publisher for an advance copy of this book! I'm excited to see what the next in this 4-book series has to offer!

✨ ARC Review – 4⭐️

Blurb:
When Princess Alina is accepted into Coven Crest Academy, she only wants to master her frost magic and prove herself. What she doesn’t expect is to be assigned a personal bodyguard — the brooding, unreadable palace guard Raelan… who is secretly a dragon shifter. And worse? She’s his fated mate. She’s determined to ignore him. He’s desperate to stay away. But fate has other plans.

Review:
Let me tell you — this is not your soft, cozy fantasy romance. It took me a few chapters to get into it, but once I did, I was hooked. The tension is thick, the slow-burn is agonizing (in the best way), and the emotional restraint between Alina and Raelan had me internally screaming.

Raelan is everything a tortured dragon mate should be — intense, protective, haunted by his past, and constantly battling the primal pull toward the one person he shouldn’t want. Alina, meanwhile, is prickly, fierce, and focused on freedom. She wants nothing to do with the silent shadow following her… which only makes things worse for them both.

There’s denial, jealousy, possessiveness, and oh-so-much repressed desire. Add in an unexpected threat, a dark undercurrent of danger, and a plot that simmers beneath all that romantic angst, and you’ve got a story that blends fantasy, spice, and suspense just right.

If you love forbidden bonds, dragon shifters fighting their instincts, and the kind of enemies-to-lovers tension that requires cold showers and deep breathing, A Witch and Her Dragon will absolutely deliver. 🐉🔥❄️

First of all, thanks to NetGalley for the ARC, and overall, it was a fun and cozy read that had a lot of charm—even if it didn’t fully knock me off my feet. The magical academy setting, dragon shifter bodyguard, and fated mates trope hit a lot of the right notes for me. I really liked the idea of Alina trying to forge her path despite being the king’s granddaughter, and her drive to prove herself beyond her lineage made her easy to root for.

Raelan is your classic broody protector with a secret (hello, dragon shifter!) and the dynamic between him and Alina definitely leans into the slow-burn fated-mates tension. Their chemistry builds nicely, though there were moments where the pacing lagged and I found myself wishing for a bit more urgency or plot movement. Still, the tension was sweet and satisfying, especially if you enjoy the “I want her but I can’t have her” kind of inner turmoil.

The story felt more cozy than action-heavy, which was a nice surprise, but I do think the worldbuilding could’ve been a little deeper in places. That said, the writing is accessible and the vibes are warm, magical, and romantic—which is exactly what I was looking for at the time.

If you’re into magical schools, dragon shifters, and soft, slow-burn fantasy romance with a touch of spice, A Witch and Her Dragon is a lovely start to what looks like a promising series. I’m curious to see where the rest of the Coven Crest world goes!

Thank you so much to the Netgalley, publisher and the author for giving me the opportunity to read an ARC of this book and give my honest review!


This is the first book in the Coven Crest Academy series.
I obviously fell in love with this book because how can i not when dragons exist! And also shifters! And a magical academy! Literal dream!
This was such a feel good love story, i loved it. And the fantasy expect just brought it all together honestly.
It was incredibly cozy, i’m really excited about the next book.