Rating: 4 stars

I got the ebook for this as an early copy and I really liked it by the end! Before I started, I knew the synopsis but had missed that it was described as “cozy spicy fantasy romance.” I love all those things, so it worked out for me ultimately; however, I think if I had known that ahead of time, I wouldn’t have struggled as much towards the 40/50% mark to keep reading. It’s definitely on me for not paying attention but it felt important to include here because it impacted my personal reading experience and therefore my rating. Now that I know, though, I’m excited to see what the next book does and would definitely read more of this author’s work!

If you’re into cozy fantasy with a sweet romance and overall low stakes, I think this is a great one! I loved the female main character’s relationship with her friends and the adorable animal companions. If you like the vibes of The Spellshop by Sarah Beth Durst and/or Legends and Lattes by Travis Baldree, I think you could really enjoy this book!

A Witch and Her Dragon by Emberly Wyndham 🕯️🖤
✨ 4.5/5 stars – A love story wrapped in thorns and comfort. I would live in this book if I could.

Let me just say: this book is the embodiment of being a little witch curled up by the fire with a storm outside and magic in your blood. It’s cozy fantasy but with teeth — tender, dark, and achingly romantic.

A Witch and Her Dragon is for the ones who want to feel held by a story. It has the softness of moss under bare feet, the warmth of tea brewed over a flame, and the gentle ache of two wounded souls choosing each other again and again.

The coziness doesn’t come from a lack of darkness — it comes from finding safety within it. There’s a hearth-like intimacy in every chapter. Every scene feels like it could be scored by the sound of a crackling fire and rain against the windows.

The witch? Fiercely independent and healing in real time. The dragon? Protective, patient, and feral for her. The magic? Earthy, elemental, and full of feminine power.

If you love:
🌙 Cozy, atmospheric fantasy
🐉 Protective monsters with soft hearts
🕯️ Domestic moments woven into high magic
🍲 Warm meals, shared silences, and gentle care
💔 Slow-burn intimacy that feels earned and soul-deep

Then this is the book you light your candles for. It’s a sanctuary in story form — a tender, witchy escape into a world where love doesn’t ask you to change, only to be seen.

It gave me howling wind outside, fur cloak wrapped tight, dragon curled nearby vibes — and I’ve been craving it ever since I turned the last page.

Alina Ravenscroft is headed to the illustrious Coven Crest Academy to hone her magic. The only catch: her grandfather won’t let her go without a guard. That guard is Raelan Ashvale: dragon shifter and Alina’s secret fated mate.

I had a really great time with this book. I’m not normally one that likes monster romance books but this was done very tastefully. I really felt the tension and chemistry between the two characters and I was really rooting for them. I will say I think that it started a little quickly for my liking and I would have liked to read about Raelan discovering the bond on page rather than starting the book knowing that information. However, as the book went on, I found that didn’t hinder my enjoyment of the rest of the story. I also think it would have been cool to get more scenes of Alina at school learning. Overall, though, I really enjoyed Alina, Raelan, the side characters, the setting, and the story as a whole.

Another amazing cosy read and I could not put this down! It has all the tropes we adore and in such an amazing setting! I cannot wait to read whatever Wyndham does next.

A very engaging read. I read it in one sitting! It was heavier on the romance than the academic setting, but who can resist a dragon shifter?!

Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for sending this book for review consideration. All opinions are my own.

It is a must read, such a cozy read. It will be perfect for a fan of academy settings. The romance in this book was well thought out and engaging.

Absolutely! Here’s a shorter, narration-free version of the review for A Witch and Her Dragon:


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⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ – A Spellbinding Start to a Magical Romance

A Witch and Her Dragon is a captivating mix of magic, slow-burn romance, and fated-mate tension set in a richly imagined world. Alina Ravenscroft just wants to master her magic and prove herself at Coven Crest Academy—but royal blood comes with strings attached, including a brooding bodyguard who’s hiding more than just sharp instincts.

Raelan Ashvale is sworn to protect her, but as a dragon shifter—and Alina’s fated mate—his desire to claim her simmers just beneath the surface. Their chemistry is undeniable, and the push-pull between duty and desire makes for an addictive read.

The worldbuilding is immersive, from royal politics to magical secrets, and the romance delivers just the right amount of tension and tenderness. If you love magical academies, protective love interests, and slow-burning fantasy romance, this one’s worth picking up.

Book Blurb: “His duty is to protect the princess, but his dragon’s desire to claim her is becoming impossible to ignore—and she’s about to uncover all the fiery secrets he’s been hiding.”

*Thank you to NetGalley for the eARC of this book!*

Alina Ravenscroft (FMC) is a frost witch and the Princess that Raelan Ashvale (MMC) is sworn to protect while she attends her first year of witch schooling at Coven Crest Academy.

This was a very quick read for me, as it was very fast paced. I loved that Alina had a spirit companion (Yuki - fox)! Yuki was very sweet, and I wish I could have gotten more of him! I also loved the roommates Alina was paired up with, I’m assuming the next few books will be about them. I hope we get to read more about the schooling at Coven Crest, it seems so interesting! I also discovered my new favorite trope: fated mates when only ONE character knows! 😍 I will say I wish Raelan’s dragon had a name, it kind of took me out having to read “my dragon” all the time. Overall this was a solid 4.5 stars for me! I can’t wait for the next installments.

Tropes:
- Cozy 🔥spicy🌶️ fantasy romance (18+)
- Magical academy 🧙🏻‍♀️
- Forced proximity (touch her and die 💀)
- Enemies to lovers (more like reluctant allies to lovers 😒➡️ 😍)
- Frost witch ❄️ x Dragon shifter 🐉
- He falls first ❤️
- Royalty romance 👑

This book is so much fun, it's a wild ride! It's the perfect cozy blend of magic, academics, forbidden romance, opposites attract, bodyguard romance, cozy mystery, and fated mates - perfection!

It's light hearted with enough tension to keep you invested, I read this in one sitting as it's just so easy to read and wraps you up like a warm hug.

Alina’s excitement about getting accepted to Coven Crest Academy is quickly dimmed by her grandfather’s condition—she must attend with a bodyguard. Enter Raelan Ashvale, a broody, honorable knight with a dangerous secret: he’s a dragon shifter, and his duty to protect the princess is clashing with his dragon’s roaring desire to claim her as his mate.
Stubborn and smart, Alina is determined to prove herself at Coven Crest Academy, despite the burden of her royal bloodline. Raelan on the other side faces an internal battle between loyalty and the pull towards Alina. He fears hurting the princess in his dragon form and rationally knows she cannot be his.
This book blends some my favorite tropes—forced proximity, enemies-to-lovers, royalty, and fated mates—into a cozy but spicy fantasy romance.

A cozy, well-paced spicy romance fantasy that’s perfect for fans of:
✨ Bodyguard x princess
✨ Fated mates
✨ He falls first
✨ Touch her and die
✨ Academy setting
✨ Forced proximity
✨ Dragons and witches

The plot is easy to follow, making it a great pick if you’re looking for something light and comforting after a heavier read.

The romance unfolds at just the right pace—not too rushed, not too slow.
And the dual POV adds so much depth, letting us see both sides: the one who knows about the bond and the one who doesn’t.
Oh, and the chemistry? Absolutely electric—which, of course, leads to some well-earned spicy moments!

While this is the first book in the series, it wraps up nicely while leaving a few mysteries lingering. I’m curious to see if the next book will introduce a new couple or stick with Raelan and Alina—either way, I’m intrigued!

If I had one wish, it’d be to dive deeper into the world-building—the magic system, the dragons, their history. There’s so much potential, and I’m hoping we get more of it as the series continues.
Overall, a fun and enjoyable read that’s easy to get lost in!

⚠️ 𝐓𝐖: Sexual content, kidnapping, brief mention of violence

This book was so much better than I anticipated! I was immediately sucked in! Princess Alina gets accepted at Coven Crest Academy. Raelan, one of the kings knights, is sent to guard her. Unbeknownst to Alina, Raelan is her fated mate. Because of his position in the kings guard he has been keeping this secret from both Alina and the king. Now he is forced to be in close proximity of the princess and must fight his “urges”. Oh and did I mention he is a dragon shifter! This book has forced proximity, fated mates, forbidden love. I thought this would be a cozy YA read but it was not. It had a good amount of spice! But I’m not complaining! The story didn’t end on a cliffhanger and was nicely wrapped up. I believe this is the first in a series so I am interested to see where the story goes. Overall this was an enjoyable read!

Thank you to NetGalley for the eARC of this book!

I love a good romantasy. This book tried to include many fantasy/romance tropes, but it didn’t quite work. There was too much - dragons, witches, boarding school, vampires. It felt cluttered but in a familiar way. Overall, I quite liked this book but could have done with a bit more world building.

This isn't really my sort of book and consequently I'm reviewing it more in the interests of fairness than personal taste. Basically it is Harry Potter, ( the later ones obviously) with sex, so an Academy setting, dragons and spice is your sort of thing then it should appeal, if that sounds your sort of vibe . It's well paced and has some witty lines and is well written.

Academia, witches, dragons, intrigue, and forbidden love?
Sign. Me. Up.

This was such a fun time, and a series I will definitely be keeping up with as more are released!

I'm not usually a fantasy reader, but this drew me just a little more into the genre!

From page one, A Witch and Her Dragon charmed me like a perfectly brewed cup of magical tea. Emberly Wyndham delivers a slow-burn romance that sizzles with longing, laughter, and just the right amount of spell work.
This is the story of two magical beings—a witch and a dragon shifter—who are less about world domination and more about figuring out their feelings and baking sweets. While the fantasy setting has all the mystical ingredients—witches, dragons, and magic galore—what made it truly shine for me was how cozy and real everything felt. These characters have powers, sure, but they also deal with everyday struggles, awkward flirtation, and emotional baggage making them feel as relatable as your favorite neighbor (if your neighbor could breathe fire and talk to squirrels).
Witty, whimsical, and full of heart, this is a perfect read for fans of magical realism, cozy fantasy, and love stories that grow gently and beautifully over time.

The start of a wonderful new series. A witch and a dragon shifter. A princess and a knight. Fated mates and a shot of heat. What more could you ask for? The pace is great and the characters likeable, can't wait for the next one.

Thank you NetGalley for gifting me this book and giving me the opportunity to read this in advance, it was well worth the wait.

This is not my typical kind of book but this hooked me. I love dragons and reading about them, but not normally with witches so I was intrigued but unsure on how id feel about this. However, I was wrong to doubt it and would definitely recommend it on. You'll have to read it to see what I mean as I don't want to give anything away!

I love the forbidden romance trope, the tension between two characters had me kicking my feet. One of my favourite tropes.

Alina, the princess, secretly applies to magic school and gets accepted. Her grandfather, the King, already knows about it before she even asks him and has already picked out her guard. Unknown to all, her guard is her fated mate and has been keeping himself on a lease since she turned 15.

A slow burn, back and forth push-pull suspense happens while she's attending school, and he's forced into close proximity to her. An unexpected surprise sets them on a crash course for their future.

This book felt like that first pumpkin spice latte of the season ✨ warm, comforting, a little magical… and yep, definitely spicy in all the right ways ☕🍂✨

I absolutely loved the cozy academy setting, it gave off major cottagecore vibes, and I was so here for it. The characters were everything. The banter? Adorable. The chemistry? Off the charts. And the dragon lore sprinkled in made it even more fun and whimsical 🐉

It’s a little bit witchy, a little bit steamy, and completely perfect for curling up with on a rainy day. The story flows super easily, and while I would’ve loved a bit more depth in some of the worldbuilding, I honestly didn’t mind because I was having such a good time.

If you’re in the mood for a fantasy romance that feels like a cozy hug but also sneaks in some spice 😏 you’ll love this one. Definitely adding the next book to my TBR!