Whimsical, warm, and totally adorable.

Cat Dragon was such a delightful surprise! It’s the kind of story that feels like a cozy blanket on a rainy day—full of charm, heart, and just the right touch of magic. The writing has this gentle, whimsical vibe that makes it impossible not to smile while reading.

The characters are quirky in the best way, and the whole “cat meets dragon” twist is just so sweet and clever. It gave me all the fuzzy feelings while still sneaking in some lovely emotional moments and little life lessons along the way.

It’s comforting, clever, and honestly feels like a little hug in book form.

*thank you to netgalley and the publisher for an early copy of this book in exchange for an honest review*

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 5 stars!

I would give Cat Dragon more than 5 stars if I could, I loved it and it was everything a cozy fantasy should be. It was the perfect read for a chilly Australian autumn weekend.

What I loved in particular:
- Littlewick 😺🐉 absolutely adorable
- Aloysia was such a likeable character, I loved that she thought that her being the hero was a mistake but she’d rather die in a spire than make a fuss about it.
- the side characters, wisecracking Crow and morally grey Lan were both great.
- the story was plotted incredibly well, there was a lot more action than you often find in a cozy fantasy including a fight with a magical mercenary and a genuine quest.
- The ending was perfect. I was so invested in the characters and the HEA was exactly what I wanted for them.
- clever references to lore and other stories, the witch hikers guide was a personal favourite.
- the romance, Hollis was a perfect match for Aloysia, I would have loved to see more of them.

I really hope that this is the start of a series set in Tangleroot.

Thank you to NetGalley and One More Chapter for the opportunity to read this ARC.

Cute and cosy from start to finish, Cat Dragon is the kind of book that is best read on a rainy day with a warm blanket and a mug of hot tea.

I thought everything about this was enjoyable, admittedly I do struggle with cosy fantasy sometimes as I love a book being fast-paced and action-packed, but this was super well balanced and followed a quest whilst maintaining that cosy feeling. I particularly enjoyed the world-building in this book, Tangleroot Valley even SOUNDS whimsical, but I loved being able to fully immerse myself in the pages with beautiful descriptions of the characters and settings.

With a plethora of fun characters, from witches and crows, to cat/dragon hybrids and even talking pumpkins, as well as a teensy little sprinkling of romance, this is a really nice book for those days you just want to read and you don’t want to think! 🐱🐉

Thank you so much to the author, publisher and NetGalley for letting me read an advance copy of this!

This is the cutest story. I love the little creatures. The imaginary and thought process into this is wonderful!

I love the quirky main character. “Wick”, is determined, strong willed, and good at what she does. This is a slow burn romance but I would more describe this as a cozy witchy quest with a side of romance.

Gorgeous world building on how the magic works. It’s super cute and funny.

Cat Dragon by Samantha Birch is such a good story. I couldn't put it down for a second. So so so good! I totally recommend everyone to read this book as fast as they can because it's really good and the characters are fantastic.

I was invited by the publisher to review this book. Aloysia is a witch in a town full of magical things, and runs a pumpkin patch. Everything is working well for her, but she is just missing one thing the others in the witch community have - their familiar, or cat-dragon. The cat-dragons are companions that those in Aloysia's community depend on, and each one is unique to their bonded person. Once Aloysia does bond, after her thirteenth try, the two are then needed to protect her community.

This was such an enjoyable book, and there is more to it than the wonderful world building - there is actual action! I would love to see this become a series, because of the fun plotline and community within these pages. There was also a dash of romance, but this book was really about Aloysia, her cat-dragon, and her unique community. I also really loved the cover of this book, it was cute and cozy, and drew me in immediately.

Thank you to NetGalley and HarperCollins UK/One More Chapter for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This book? It’s all about the ✨vibes✨. No epic drama, no world-ending stakes—just pure cozy comfort. Think: a quiet afternoon, hot chocolate in hand, curled up by the fire. That’s the mood, and it nails it.

If you’re craving something sweet and heartwarming, this one’s a gem. Aloysa is the kind of heroine you instantly root for—clever, confident, and hilariously real. And Crow? Oh, he stole the show. Snarky, sharp-tongued, and secretly soft? Say less. I lived for every scene he was in.

It’s not your typical enemies-to-lovers, but it’s definitely not friends-to-lovers either. Aloysa and Hollis start out as “my best friend’s brother” kind of acquaintances… until a trip and a single room force them into some seriously close quarters. Cue the banter, the tension, and the slow-burn magic.

Add Ivy (Hollis’s sister and my second favorite character!) into the mix, and you’ve got the perfect comfort read. Light, charming, and just the right amount of swoon. Don’t sleep on this one.

An enchanting and whimsical delight—a cozy fantasy brimming with charm, magic, and just the right amount of sass.

An awesome book full of cute, smoke breathing cat dragons and sarcastic sentient pumpkins. An incredible world with fantastic beings. It's a delight to join them on their journey.

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.