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Dragoncat #1
A Cat's Guide to Bonding with Dragons
The unlikely duo who might just save the world
Ben must be the hungriest cat ever…
One moment, he was enjoying a breakfast of salmon trimmings in his home in South Wales. The next, he was teleported across time and space onto the cold stone floor of an evil warlock.
Locked in the warlock’s tower through day and night, Ben may have to serve him for a while. He'll hate this, especially having to hunt those infernal demon rats when the warlock doesn’t feed him well at all.
Meanwhile, in a distant academy, a dragon is bored out of her mind. Unable to wear a saddle, no human dares mount her. Is there anyone in this land who can ride her into battle against the forces of the evil warlocks? Somehow, she doubts she’ll ever find a suitable bond.
Unless there is another creature with enough dexterity to fulfil that role. One, perhaps, who is currently sprinting right out of a warlock’s front door…
Ben must be the hungriest cat ever…
One moment, he was enjoying a breakfast of salmon trimmings in his home in South Wales. The next, he was teleported across time and space onto the cold stone floor of an evil warlock.
Locked in the warlock’s tower through day and night, Ben may have to serve him for a while. He'll hate this, especially having to hunt those infernal demon rats when the warlock doesn’t feed him well at all.
Meanwhile, in a distant academy, a dragon is bored out of her mind. Unable to wear a saddle, no human dares mount her. Is there anyone in this land who can ride her into battle against the forces of the evil warlocks? Somehow, she doubts she’ll ever find a suitable bond.
Unless there is another creature with enough dexterity to fulfil that role. One, perhaps, who is currently sprinting right out of a warlock’s front door…
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First published December 3, 2020
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About the author
Chris Behrsin
33 books57 followersWhen Chris Behrsin isn’t out exploring the world, he’s behind a keyboard writing tales of dragons and magical lands. He was born into the genre through a steady diet of Terry Pratchett. His fiction fuses a love for fantasy and whimsical plots with philosophy and voyages into the worlds of dreams.
Visit www.chrisbehrsin.com to learn more about him and to download a free novel.
Visit www.chrisbehrsin.com to learn more about him and to download a free novel.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 169 reviews
August 4, 2025
I found this to be a very adorable story. I enjoyed reading it. Unfortunately, there wasn't enough to make me want to continue the series. I doubt I'll go back to it but who knows.
December 1, 2021
I don't know why the author calls this a "Humorous Fantasy Adventure". There's nothing humorous about it. Nor was it that great an adventure, either. The characters were mostly unlikable. The good guys were almost as mean to the main character (a cat pulled through a dimensional portal) as the bad guy. The cat wasn't likable, either. I'm glad I got this book through Kindle Unlimited and didn't spend any money it beyond my subscription.
January 16, 2021
Greetings Humans! I'm back with a another great read, featuring one awesome cat. Meet Benji. (Sorry Ben, I also think Benji sounds a bit better.) Ben(ji) is a Bengal. A descendant of the Great Asian Leopard Cat. He is a housecat in Wales and just like me, he loves his salmon snacks and being fed 3x a day. He was quite content with being spoiled and spoiled his owners every now and then with a treat of their very own that he caught especially for them and lovingly presented it at their feet. Okay, I made the last bit up. Or did I? Maybe it is perfectly true, it just didn't make it to the final cut of this book.
Anyhow, Benji had good cat life. That was until he got whisked away by an evil warlock to a faraway country where dragons still roamed freely and where you need a dictionary or a talking dragon to explain all the weird lingo to you. Like warlocks, demon rats, portholes, driars, vortexes and a whole bunch of words me and Ben needed explaining of. And that's where the adventure begins!
Mommy says I'm not allowed to give any spoilers and shouldn't tell too much about the story. So I'll just say that it really was a great adventure to travel in that unknown land with Ben and Salanraja, his Bluetooth dragon. No, she didn't have blue teeth in that strange and ominous world. It was just like in our world where two devices are connected through an unseen bond. Like Bluetooth. Ben and Salanraja had to defeat the evil warlock and his cronies and defend the Dragon Academy where they had to convince the council that Ben is worthy of being a dragon rider and truly bonded with Salanraja. All the elements of a great fantasy novel.
I absolutely loved this book and couldn't wait for Mommy to start reading it at night. I felt as if I were also on Salanraja's back and I do believe that me and Ta'ra can be great friends. I will teach her how to be a real cat princess in no time. Mommy, however, made a few catlike sounds when we were done. "Mehw", or something like that. Unexplainable to me in any case. But I know what the problem is. Fantasy isn't really her strong suit and I think she just doesn't get it. And that's okay, because I do and I know there will be thousands of readers out there who will love this series.
She did say that I should mention the author's superb writing style. It was the writing that made this book highly enjoyable, even to a non-getting-it fantasy reader. The humor wat witty and in some places, laugh out loud funny.
"She also had wrinkles at the corners of her eyes so deep, they looked like fruit flies could use them for flight training."
The story is told through Ben's first-cat narrative and Mr. Behrsin must be a cat owner, because he captured Ben's point of view, his typical catlike aloofness, his thoughts and actions, perfectly. He also very sublimely, tried to show humans that cats are just so much better at handling life and humans can most definitely learn from us.
"That was the beauty of being a cat. You didn't need to have any worries. You could just put everything behind you and focus on being in the moment."
I'm not all that sure if my Mommy will read the rest of the series, but I might still be able to persuade her otherwise. I'm not all that worried, because I know that this series will find it's target market and it will fly as high as Ben and Salanraja. The next two in the series are also available soon!
Full review is available at Elza Reads
Anyhow, Benji had good cat life. That was until he got whisked away by an evil warlock to a faraway country where dragons still roamed freely and where you need a dictionary or a talking dragon to explain all the weird lingo to you. Like warlocks, demon rats, portholes, driars, vortexes and a whole bunch of words me and Ben needed explaining of. And that's where the adventure begins!
Mommy says I'm not allowed to give any spoilers and shouldn't tell too much about the story. So I'll just say that it really was a great adventure to travel in that unknown land with Ben and Salanraja, his Bluetooth dragon. No, she didn't have blue teeth in that strange and ominous world. It was just like in our world where two devices are connected through an unseen bond. Like Bluetooth. Ben and Salanraja had to defeat the evil warlock and his cronies and defend the Dragon Academy where they had to convince the council that Ben is worthy of being a dragon rider and truly bonded with Salanraja. All the elements of a great fantasy novel.
I absolutely loved this book and couldn't wait for Mommy to start reading it at night. I felt as if I were also on Salanraja's back and I do believe that me and Ta'ra can be great friends. I will teach her how to be a real cat princess in no time. Mommy, however, made a few catlike sounds when we were done. "Mehw", or something like that. Unexplainable to me in any case. But I know what the problem is. Fantasy isn't really her strong suit and I think she just doesn't get it. And that's okay, because I do and I know there will be thousands of readers out there who will love this series.
She did say that I should mention the author's superb writing style. It was the writing that made this book highly enjoyable, even to a non-getting-it fantasy reader. The humor wat witty and in some places, laugh out loud funny.
"She also had wrinkles at the corners of her eyes so deep, they looked like fruit flies could use them for flight training."
The story is told through Ben's first-cat narrative and Mr. Behrsin must be a cat owner, because he captured Ben's point of view, his typical catlike aloofness, his thoughts and actions, perfectly. He also very sublimely, tried to show humans that cats are just so much better at handling life and humans can most definitely learn from us.
"That was the beauty of being a cat. You didn't need to have any worries. You could just put everything behind you and focus on being in the moment."
I'm not all that sure if my Mommy will read the rest of the series, but I might still be able to persuade her otherwise. I'm not all that worried, because I know that this series will find it's target market and it will fly as high as Ben and Salanraja. The next two in the series are also available soon!
Full review is available at Elza Reads
February 29, 2024
It’s boring and this premise has no right to be this boring.
March 3, 2022
I don't think the author really knows much about cats, and the cat who is the main character here is both boring and annoying.
March 28, 2023
Not Terrible
I almost stopped reading this book several times. It started out very slow, and each chapter Ben managed to solve a problem in just a couple of pages. It seemed very juvenile.
The book started to get better about halfway through.
Most of the human and dragon characters were annoying and aggravating. No one seemed to care that Ben was from a different dimension and kept expecting him to understand their dimension and to be something other than he was, which is a cat! Most of the side characters were also very one-dimensional.
Ben's character was well written and seemed to capture the somewhat self-centered creature that cats are. Also, the cute and sweet and domesticated animals they have become.
I almost stopped reading this book several times. It started out very slow, and each chapter Ben managed to solve a problem in just a couple of pages. It seemed very juvenile.
The book started to get better about halfway through.
Most of the human and dragon characters were annoying and aggravating. No one seemed to care that Ben was from a different dimension and kept expecting him to understand their dimension and to be something other than he was, which is a cat! Most of the side characters were also very one-dimensional.
Ben's character was well written and seemed to capture the somewhat self-centered creature that cats are. Also, the cute and sweet and domesticated animals they have become.
December 31, 2020
This is a somewhat satirical story of Ben, a house cat becoming a dragon rider. All Ben the great Bengal cat wants is a nice home with plenty of food. Instead he is stolen by a wicked warlock to another dimension of dragons and dragonriders. The tale is unique and funny, but there are underlying tones of seriousness including overcoming prejudice when one is a bit different. An enjoyable, often hilarious read.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
March 21, 2021
Thank you to Chris Behrsin and Lola's Blog Tours for the complimentary access to A Cat's Guide to Bonding with Dragons. My thoughts are my own, my review is honest, and I loved this book so much I have asked to join the ARC team for future installments of this series!
Tour blog post: https://www.westveilpublishing.com/?p...
A Cat's Guide to Bonding with Dragons is the story of Ben, a Bengal cat who was rudely ripped from his quiet UK home and pulled through an inter-dimensional to serve the warlock Astravar... but Ben quickly escaped and found himself at a school of dragon riders where he bonds with a particularly stubborn dragon named Salanraja who doesn't want a human rider because the humans want to trim her spikes in order to fit her with a saddle. The two bond, earning Salanraja a free ticket out of saddles forever and promising Ben the prospect of shared meals. Unfortunately for Ben what awaits this unlikely pair is a whole lot of difficult misadventures dealing with all the other things Astravar wants to pull into this dimension, appeasing the council in charge of the school, and not a whole lot of eating.
I absolutely adore Ben! If dragons were real and one chose to bond with a cat, this is exactly what would happen, and Ben tells her exactly what I would expect a cat to say at every twist and turn. He's regal, proud, selfish, extremely food-motivated, and absolutely must have the last word. He'd like everyone to know that he's not just any cat, either. He's a Bengal! He's descended from the great Asian Leopard Cat, don't you know. Yes, be in awe! Isn't he magnificent, graceful, and clever!
There were so many catitude moments in this book that made me chuckle and/or consult with my own feline overlords, such as when Ben insists he must go outside to relieve himself rather than go under the desk because he has to do it on something soft. That sounds about right! My only critique in terms of cat accuracy is a line where Ben lands wrong and complains to himself that he hurt his knee. Technically yes, there is a "knee" joint in the hind legs on both canine and feline skeletons, but it's barely separate from the trunk of the body and it's usually called a stifle. The main mid-leg joint on all four limbs on cats and dogs can be considered hocks, and on the hind leg, it's the heel/ankle equivalent joint. I don't think a cat would injure their actual knee joint before something else they would be more likely to complain about from a bad landing, so I suspect the anatomy referenced was not actually a knee. (Crazy animal science lady will shut up now and move on with the review.)
The entire premise of this book is cute and compelling, and the characters made it very enjoyable. The book has its dark moments for sure, and I can definitely see how some readers might go into this expecting a light romp and be taken aback by some of the darker chapters, but if you go into this looking for a fantasy adventure with a lot of comic relief, you'll find exactly what you're looking for.
I both very much appreciate the fact that there isn't a whole lot of world-building info dumps interrupting the flow of the story or anything, but I was also left with some questions. It seems like we're on Earth or an equivalent habitable planet, but just in another dimension. Another existence where some things that are only myth in the world as we know it are actually real and some things that are real to us don't exist. Cool, fine, but some of the mundane things that do and don't cross-exist in exactly the same state are odd choices. It would appear that this other dimension has exactly the same selection of poultry as our world, with exactly the same names for them, but the selection of fish is different. I suspect the one and only reason is so that Ben can be eternally disappointed in the lack of salmon, and I can sympathize. I can't imagine a world without salmon.
Overall this was a very fun, interesting read that was surprisingly deeper and more nuanced than I expected it to be. Bring on the rest of the series!
Tour blog post: https://www.westveilpublishing.com/?p...
A Cat's Guide to Bonding with Dragons is the story of Ben, a Bengal cat who was rudely ripped from his quiet UK home and pulled through an inter-dimensional to serve the warlock Astravar... but Ben quickly escaped and found himself at a school of dragon riders where he bonds with a particularly stubborn dragon named Salanraja who doesn't want a human rider because the humans want to trim her spikes in order to fit her with a saddle. The two bond, earning Salanraja a free ticket out of saddles forever and promising Ben the prospect of shared meals. Unfortunately for Ben what awaits this unlikely pair is a whole lot of difficult misadventures dealing with all the other things Astravar wants to pull into this dimension, appeasing the council in charge of the school, and not a whole lot of eating.
I absolutely adore Ben! If dragons were real and one chose to bond with a cat, this is exactly what would happen, and Ben tells her exactly what I would expect a cat to say at every twist and turn. He's regal, proud, selfish, extremely food-motivated, and absolutely must have the last word. He'd like everyone to know that he's not just any cat, either. He's a Bengal! He's descended from the great Asian Leopard Cat, don't you know. Yes, be in awe! Isn't he magnificent, graceful, and clever!
There were so many catitude moments in this book that made me chuckle and/or consult with my own feline overlords, such as when Ben insists he must go outside to relieve himself rather than go under the desk because he has to do it on something soft. That sounds about right! My only critique in terms of cat accuracy is a line where Ben lands wrong and complains to himself that he hurt his knee. Technically yes, there is a "knee" joint in the hind legs on both canine and feline skeletons, but it's barely separate from the trunk of the body and it's usually called a stifle. The main mid-leg joint on all four limbs on cats and dogs can be considered hocks, and on the hind leg, it's the heel/ankle equivalent joint. I don't think a cat would injure their actual knee joint before something else they would be more likely to complain about from a bad landing, so I suspect the anatomy referenced was not actually a knee. (Crazy animal science lady will shut up now and move on with the review.)
The entire premise of this book is cute and compelling, and the characters made it very enjoyable. The book has its dark moments for sure, and I can definitely see how some readers might go into this expecting a light romp and be taken aback by some of the darker chapters, but if you go into this looking for a fantasy adventure with a lot of comic relief, you'll find exactly what you're looking for.
I both very much appreciate the fact that there isn't a whole lot of world-building info dumps interrupting the flow of the story or anything, but I was also left with some questions. It seems like we're on Earth or an equivalent habitable planet, but just in another dimension. Another existence where some things that are only myth in the world as we know it are actually real and some things that are real to us don't exist. Cool, fine, but some of the mundane things that do and don't cross-exist in exactly the same state are odd choices. It would appear that this other dimension has exactly the same selection of poultry as our world, with exactly the same names for them, but the selection of fish is different. I suspect the one and only reason is so that Ben can be eternally disappointed in the lack of salmon, and I can sympathize. I can't imagine a world without salmon.
Overall this was a very fun, interesting read that was surprisingly deeper and more nuanced than I expected it to be. Bring on the rest of the series!
March 20, 2024
Remember, it's Ben, not Benji.
December 31, 2020
**** SPOILER ALERT ****
"A Cat's Guide To Bonding With Dragons: Dragoncat, Book One" is the first in an exciting new series by Behrsin.
I'm extremely familiar with this book because I edited it. However, I have been a voracious reader for the past forty five years, as well as a passionate reviewer for a bit. I couldn't NOT review this book..
The author has done a top shelf job of world building and character development. Particularly, Bengy as he acclimates to not just a new world, but a new dimension.
We learn as the story progresses that Bengy may not be the hero the dimension expects, but he is the hero that they have.
Behrsin deftly weaves a humorous parody with some serious undertones. I highly recommend this book and I am looking forward to reading Dragoncat Book Two.
In the interest of transparency, I was given a review copy of this book, I am voluntarily sharing this review.
It is my own honest opinion.
"A Cat's Guide To Bonding With Dragons: Dragoncat, Book One" is the first in an exciting new series by Behrsin.
I'm extremely familiar with this book because I edited it. However, I have been a voracious reader for the past forty five years, as well as a passionate reviewer for a bit. I couldn't NOT review this book..
The author has done a top shelf job of world building and character development. Particularly, Bengy as he acclimates to not just a new world, but a new dimension.
We learn as the story progresses that Bengy may not be the hero the dimension expects, but he is the hero that they have.
Behrsin deftly weaves a humorous parody with some serious undertones. I highly recommend this book and I am looking forward to reading Dragoncat Book Two.
In the interest of transparency, I was given a review copy of this book, I am voluntarily sharing this review.
It is my own honest opinion.
February 19, 2021
I was enchanted by the voice of Ben the cat, and I have to say this author really knows his cat behavior. If you've ever lived with a cat, you'll recognize your feline in Ben's pride, preoccupation with food, and self-centered behavior. Both Ben and his dragon come alive in this dimension-tripping, coming-of-age fantasy. Ben has a destiny, and he has to grow to accept it, for his own good as well as for the good of others. I give it 3.5 stars after a promising beginning. That's because while the author gives his two main characters dimension and individuality, his human characters are mostly flat. And at least one's change of heart doesn't seem properly motivated.
May 6, 2025
It wasn't fun, and all the characters are ... kind of not great. I was expecting fun and nonsense, a cat becoming buddies with a dragon and zooming around doing shenanigans, but it was mostly just people being mean to the cat, and the cat being an uninteresting character to follow. This book didn't land for me, which makes me sad, because I was super excited for it.
July 8, 2025
This had some fun elements. Some things that I liked but it wasn't quite the magical tale I hoped it would be. It has some potential. I may decide to try another.
September 16, 2023
I really wanted to like this more - cats, dragons, Wales, fantasy... But the cat was whiny and narcissistic, and no one was at all kind to him. I could have used a little more world-building... the concepts were good with the "good" and the "bad" crystals, the magical bond between dragon and rider, the evil wizard, etc. but nothing was ever explained very well. Too much of the story was repetitive, and sometimes Ben seemed like a cat, and sometimes he could have been human. Any "catness" just seemed a bit forced (and repetitive...). I didn't warm up to any of the characters - I just wanted Ben to get back to his comfortable life in South Wales, and instead we have 7 more books. Maybe Ben will eventually become less self-absorbed, but I don't have any interest in finding out.
Description: Ben must be the hungriest cat ever. One moment, he was enjoying a breakfast of salmon trimmings in his home in South Wales. The next, he was teleported across time and space onto the cold stone floor of an evil warlock. Locked in through day and night, Ben may have to serve him for a while. Locked in the warlock’s tower through day and night, Ben will hate this, especially having to hunt those infernal demon rats when the warlock doesn’t feed him well at all. Meanwhile, in a distant academy, a dragon is bored out of her mind. Unable to wear a saddle, no human dares mount her. Is there anyone in this land who can ride her into battle against the forces of the evil warlocks? Somehow, she doubts she’ll ever find a suitable bond. Unless there is another creature with enough dexterity to fulfil that role. One, perhaps, who is currently sprinting right out of a warlock’s front door…
Description: Ben must be the hungriest cat ever. One moment, he was enjoying a breakfast of salmon trimmings in his home in South Wales. The next, he was teleported across time and space onto the cold stone floor of an evil warlock. Locked in through day and night, Ben may have to serve him for a while. Locked in the warlock’s tower through day and night, Ben will hate this, especially having to hunt those infernal demon rats when the warlock doesn’t feed him well at all. Meanwhile, in a distant academy, a dragon is bored out of her mind. Unable to wear a saddle, no human dares mount her. Is there anyone in this land who can ride her into battle against the forces of the evil warlocks? Somehow, she doubts she’ll ever find a suitable bond. Unless there is another creature with enough dexterity to fulfil that role. One, perhaps, who is currently sprinting right out of a warlock’s front door…
May 19, 2021
Its a no from me
I think this must be the authors first book, it was quite juvenile. I got about 36% through and called it quits. Its about a cat who gets super!Jones t a magical world by an evil warlock, escapes and in doing so finds himself n the company of a dragon who wants to bond w him as her rider to help save their world. The book likes to put emphasis on types of cats. The main character is Bengal and totally full of himself. The dragon and he both complain a lot. There just is no character that end ears you to them and that could be because there jut isn't any depth.
I think this must be the authors first book, it was quite juvenile. I got about 36% through and called it quits. Its about a cat who gets super!Jones t a magical world by an evil warlock, escapes and in doing so finds himself n the company of a dragon who wants to bond w him as her rider to help save their world. The book likes to put emphasis on types of cats. The main character is Bengal and totally full of himself. The dragon and he both complain a lot. There just is no character that end ears you to them and that could be because there jut isn't any depth.
January 14, 2021
Not as lighthearted as I was hoping
An interesting story, but not the romp I expected from the reviews. I don’t think I’ll read the 2nd book.
An interesting story, but not the romp I expected from the reviews. I don’t think I’ll read the 2nd book.
November 12, 2022
This book begins by introducing us to Ben, a domesticated Bengal cat who is a descendant of a Great Asian Leopard Cat. Ben lives in Wales with his humans, who feed him regularly and also provide him with yummy salmon snacks. They spoil him, as any good humans should do for their cat owners, and Ben has no plans to give up this life.
Unfortunately for Ben, life has very different plans for him. Those plans start when Ben is suddenly - and without warning - whisked away to a different land by a warlock. Unfortunately for Ben, his new home has no windows that he can lounge in front of and look out of. Nor does the warlock give him yummy salmon snacks. Clearly, he is an evil warlock. Instead, Ben feeds himself by catching the many mice that get into the tower in which he is trapped. But, being a cat, being trapped does not suit Ben well, and he takes it upon himself to plan his escape.
Unknown to Ben - at least at the time he is trying to escape from the evil warlock's tower - there is a dragon in an academy. But this dragon is incredibly bored. She is unable to wear a saddle, and no human dares to try riding her. Until she can find a rider to bond with, she won't be able to participate in the battle against the evil warlocks.
Can anyone guess what's going to happen next?
I don't think it would be much of a spoiler to tell you that our resident awesome cat Ben will end up bonding with the dragon and becoming her rider. The title of the book kind of gives that away, after all. What comes after that is a fun story with wonderful writing. I am quite convinced that the author Chris Behrsin has at least one cat at home. He manages to capture the character of Ben so well that I can't imagine him not having experience belonging to a cat.
The book is told using the first-person point of view, with Ben as the narrative voice. That narrative style, along with the main character being a cat, offers plenty of opportunities for fun and snark. Ben's commentary about what was happening had me smiling frequently.
But, don't be fooled by the levity and humor that is present. There are several scenes that are actually pretty dark - no, I'm not going to tell you what they are. That would be spoiler-y, and I'm trying to be good.
I will also say that I think part of my enjoyment of this book was in listening to the audiobook. Matthew Lloyd Davies did such a wonderful job with the voices and narration that he added to my enjoyment. While I would have liked the book if I had read it myself, I don't think I would have enjoyed it as much. After listening to this book, I will absolutely be continuing this series, and if I get the chance to listen to the audiobook versions of those sequels, I will definitely do so.
Unfortunately for Ben, life has very different plans for him. Those plans start when Ben is suddenly - and without warning - whisked away to a different land by a warlock. Unfortunately for Ben, his new home has no windows that he can lounge in front of and look out of. Nor does the warlock give him yummy salmon snacks. Clearly, he is an evil warlock. Instead, Ben feeds himself by catching the many mice that get into the tower in which he is trapped. But, being a cat, being trapped does not suit Ben well, and he takes it upon himself to plan his escape.
Unknown to Ben - at least at the time he is trying to escape from the evil warlock's tower - there is a dragon in an academy. But this dragon is incredibly bored. She is unable to wear a saddle, and no human dares to try riding her. Until she can find a rider to bond with, she won't be able to participate in the battle against the evil warlocks.
Can anyone guess what's going to happen next?
I don't think it would be much of a spoiler to tell you that our resident awesome cat Ben will end up bonding with the dragon and becoming her rider. The title of the book kind of gives that away, after all. What comes after that is a fun story with wonderful writing. I am quite convinced that the author Chris Behrsin has at least one cat at home. He manages to capture the character of Ben so well that I can't imagine him not having experience belonging to a cat.
The book is told using the first-person point of view, with Ben as the narrative voice. That narrative style, along with the main character being a cat, offers plenty of opportunities for fun and snark. Ben's commentary about what was happening had me smiling frequently.
But, don't be fooled by the levity and humor that is present. There are several scenes that are actually pretty dark - no, I'm not going to tell you what they are. That would be spoiler-y, and I'm trying to be good.
I will also say that I think part of my enjoyment of this book was in listening to the audiobook. Matthew Lloyd Davies did such a wonderful job with the voices and narration that he added to my enjoyment. While I would have liked the book if I had read it myself, I don't think I would have enjoyed it as much. After listening to this book, I will absolutely be continuing this series, and if I get the chance to listen to the audiobook versions of those sequels, I will definitely do so.
January 6, 2023
This is a hilarious fantasy story which can be enjoyed by readers of all ages, but is a definite must read for all cat lovers as well as those who love dragons as the duo in this book are so funny. Bengie is a Bengal cat who had been used to living in the lap of luxury being served by his human owners, until one fine day he was catnapped by an evil warlock and taken across time and space to find himself a prisoner in a locked up tower in Illumine Kingdom. A kingdom of magic, dragons and their riders as well as sorcerers of light and dark magic. Astravar was one of the seven warlocks who had turned to dark magic and Bengie was meant to serve him, now we all know how good cats are at serving eh! Bengie did kill a number of demon rats but soon made his escape and landed at the Dragonsbond Academy and in the cave of a ruby dragon. She was Salanraja, and she was bored out of her wits, as she had spines on her back thus could find no human rider able to ride on her. Then she met Bengie and they formed a bond and she decided he would be her perfect rider. However being a cat and a dragon they were not ideal for one another. All Bengie wanted was food, he reminisced about his salmon from back home, and was not into thinking and planning for his future, whilst dragons are far thinking and wise. He lived in the moment and every moment meant food. Astravar was planning on taking over the Kingdom and then the rest of the worlds across the dimensions and Bengie was expected to feel a sense of responsibility to save the world, but being a cat he rarely felt this. However even though many a time everyone called him an idiot, which I really hated, Bengie proved to be a real hero. Don't miss this great adventure story with demon creatures right out of the seventh dimension attacking the Kingdom and one little Bengal cat trying to save it!
March 3, 2024
I would describe this as a "fun read," in the sense that it's not asking a lot of the reader while still delivering on a fairly engaging plot with action and characters that you can mostly rally behind.
The premise is pretty simple: a cat gets teleported to another dimension where dragons are warlocks are real, then has to find his place in this world while dealing with his domestic cat attitude and discovering that his actions might be the key to saving his new world and his old one.
This would likely make a great read for those middle readers (maybe 10-16 years old) who would find Ben's (the cat) attitude and actions relatable and the drama and danger not too overwhelming. For older readers, this is like reading a cartoon movie with characters that are mostly two-dimensional but with flashes of a little more depth. At the same time, there is a lot of room left (in the rest of the series) to explore the characters more in depth and get to know them better. In this book, the only one you really get a sense of is the cat, Ben, who barely seems to grow up at all until the very end, which at times is frustrating. Still, because of the easy nature of this book, it's easy to get through and Ben's antics and attitudes aren't entirely frustrating.
For those middle readers looking for something like Eragon but with a cat instead of a young boy, this really works and I wouldn't hesitate to recommend it, even in a classroom. For older readers, it's likely below their level but does make for an easy read while waiting at the mechanic's, doctor's office, or other place where you just want to lose yourself for a bit in a book that's not asking too much from you.
The premise is pretty simple: a cat gets teleported to another dimension where dragons are warlocks are real, then has to find his place in this world while dealing with his domestic cat attitude and discovering that his actions might be the key to saving his new world and his old one.
This would likely make a great read for those middle readers (maybe 10-16 years old) who would find Ben's (the cat) attitude and actions relatable and the drama and danger not too overwhelming. For older readers, this is like reading a cartoon movie with characters that are mostly two-dimensional but with flashes of a little more depth. At the same time, there is a lot of room left (in the rest of the series) to explore the characters more in depth and get to know them better. In this book, the only one you really get a sense of is the cat, Ben, who barely seems to grow up at all until the very end, which at times is frustrating. Still, because of the easy nature of this book, it's easy to get through and Ben's antics and attitudes aren't entirely frustrating.
For those middle readers looking for something like Eragon but with a cat instead of a young boy, this really works and I wouldn't hesitate to recommend it, even in a classroom. For older readers, it's likely below their level but does make for an easy read while waiting at the mechanic's, doctor's office, or other place where you just want to lose yourself for a bit in a book that's not asking too much from you.
May 28, 2024
Cats? Dragons? Just dive into my wallet and take my money NOW! Luckily, it turned out not to be just a great premise, but also a truly fun story full of friendship, adventure, wit... and cats and dragons.
The basic premise is that Ben (or Benji, as he does not wish to be called) is a Bengal cat living a cat's life in Wales, where his only worries are what the neighbor cats are getting up to. Then an evil wizard pulls him into another dimension. Ben soon escapes the evil wizard, only to find himself befriending a dragon, joining a dragon-riding academy, and trying to save the world from that pesky evil wizard.
All in all, this was a wonderful bit of escapism. It's a simple story, but with a clever spin on the hero's journey. Ben's wry humor and cat-based observations (and never-ending cravings for food) make him a terrific character to cheer on, even when he doesn't always act in anyone's interest but his own. The highs and lows play out nicely, and there's really never a dull moment.
The only complaint was that some of the action scenes do a a little "messy" and I felt lost a few times trying to sort out how they got there and what exactly was going on. However, that could be because I was listening to the audiobook (highly recommended to get a true sense of Ben's "voice") and might not have been paying as close attention as I should have been at times.
Still, a highly recommended read if you like cats, dragons, wry humor, and the forging of fantastical friendships.
The basic premise is that Ben (or Benji, as he does not wish to be called) is a Bengal cat living a cat's life in Wales, where his only worries are what the neighbor cats are getting up to. Then an evil wizard pulls him into another dimension. Ben soon escapes the evil wizard, only to find himself befriending a dragon, joining a dragon-riding academy, and trying to save the world from that pesky evil wizard.
All in all, this was a wonderful bit of escapism. It's a simple story, but with a clever spin on the hero's journey. Ben's wry humor and cat-based observations (and never-ending cravings for food) make him a terrific character to cheer on, even when he doesn't always act in anyone's interest but his own. The highs and lows play out nicely, and there's really never a dull moment.
The only complaint was that some of the action scenes do a a little "messy" and I felt lost a few times trying to sort out how they got there and what exactly was going on. However, that could be because I was listening to the audiobook (highly recommended to get a true sense of Ben's "voice") and might not have been paying as close attention as I should have been at times.
Still, a highly recommended read if you like cats, dragons, wry humor, and the forging of fantastical friendships.
July 6, 2021
This is the adventures of a cat from South Wales who is transported by a evil warlock into another dimension. He’s a very conceited, proud cat who only thinks of himself but after escaping from the evil warlock finds himself at Dragonsbond Academy and paired up with a dragon to see if he can bond with her.
After being pampered on earth it will take a while for our feline hero to see he needs to change his ways especially when he finds out he can talk with the dragon and the humans in this new dimension.
There are adventures aplenty for him in this book and succeeding books in this new series to see if Ben can change his selfish behavior and get along with humans, dragons and a cat who has been changed from a faerie to a cat. It’s a tall order for our hero who will need to confront the evil warlock who brought him into this dimension in the first place and he has his first run in with that said warlock in this book. I’m sure their paths will cross again in the succeeding books in this series to see who will finally come out on top!
This s a fun fantasy for those who especially like cats and it’s fun to hear the thoughts of dragons and our two cats when they interact. There is wisdom to be learned from the mouth of Ben’s dragon not only for him but us as well.
I recommend this book as one to read and to take to heart the wisdom imparted therein as it will make us better people and a certain cat if he’ll heed that advice as well!
After being pampered on earth it will take a while for our feline hero to see he needs to change his ways especially when he finds out he can talk with the dragon and the humans in this new dimension.
There are adventures aplenty for him in this book and succeeding books in this new series to see if Ben can change his selfish behavior and get along with humans, dragons and a cat who has been changed from a faerie to a cat. It’s a tall order for our hero who will need to confront the evil warlock who brought him into this dimension in the first place and he has his first run in with that said warlock in this book. I’m sure their paths will cross again in the succeeding books in this series to see who will finally come out on top!
This s a fun fantasy for those who especially like cats and it’s fun to hear the thoughts of dragons and our two cats when they interact. There is wisdom to be learned from the mouth of Ben’s dragon not only for him but us as well.
I recommend this book as one to read and to take to heart the wisdom imparted therein as it will make us better people and a certain cat if he’ll heed that advice as well!
March 6, 2024
This book was so promising, but it fell short in a lot of ways.
I'll start by saying the premise is great. I love the idea of a cat dragonrider, and I was super excited to read about it. However, I was ready to throw my phone after about the fourth or fifth mention of South Wales. I don't know why Ben never called it home. I was always South Wales. I get that Ben has a very repetitive mind, but he veered way too far to the side of unlikable.
In fact, except for Rine (after his initial jerkishness), none of the characters were particularly likable. The Council left and especially bad taste in my mouth as well as all the people who seemed to think Ben needed to save the world before he was allowed to have food. Like, I get working for your meals, but they literally made a talking cat go without food because....he's a cat? There are a lot of really terrible attitudes all around in this book.
This book was HIGHLY repetitive, but much of that was due to the nature of the main character. It worked, and it also didn't. I hated it, but I also assume the author was using the repetitiveness to remind the reader that this is just a cat that got sucked into a strange world. The one bit of repetition I really loved was Ben proclaiming to be a Bangle descended from leopards.
Overall, I didn't especially like the book, but it had a lot of potential. I'm not sure yet if I'll read the sequel(s), but I definitely need a buffer book before I venture into this series again.
I'll start by saying the premise is great. I love the idea of a cat dragonrider, and I was super excited to read about it. However, I was ready to throw my phone after about the fourth or fifth mention of South Wales. I don't know why Ben never called it home. I was always South Wales. I get that Ben has a very repetitive mind, but he veered way too far to the side of unlikable.
In fact, except for Rine (after his initial jerkishness), none of the characters were particularly likable. The Council left and especially bad taste in my mouth as well as all the people who seemed to think Ben needed to save the world before he was allowed to have food. Like, I get working for your meals, but they literally made a talking cat go without food because....he's a cat? There are a lot of really terrible attitudes all around in this book.
This book was HIGHLY repetitive, but much of that was due to the nature of the main character. It worked, and it also didn't. I hated it, but I also assume the author was using the repetitiveness to remind the reader that this is just a cat that got sucked into a strange world. The one bit of repetition I really loved was Ben proclaiming to be a Bangle descended from leopards.
Overall, I didn't especially like the book, but it had a lot of potential. I'm not sure yet if I'll read the sequel(s), but I definitely need a buffer book before I venture into this series again.
August 27, 2024
- This was pretty good fun!! The concept is really unique (a cat is transported into another world and ends up bonding with a dragon and becoming a dragon rider) and the writing was fast paced and easy to read.
- I liked the plot as a whole, and I did appreciate that the main character was actually very flawed and a has a pretty unique voice! I’ve seen others call him annoying but I think the author did really well not to fall into the trap of creating a perfect protagonist. Though, I do wish he grew a bit more throughout the story as it felt like he lacked agency a little as he ended up getting rescued a lot.
- my main gripe is probably due to the small page count, but I felt like the worldbuilding was a bit underdeveloped to the extent that it was a little generic. It was fine, but I wanted more throughout the book in terms of really feeling transported to another world rather than “generic Medieval England with some magic thrown in”. The magic itself also wasn’t particularly original or explored very much which is fine, but I guess I was in the mood for something a bit ‘more’. Similarly, a lot of the side characters felt a bit underdeveloped- I never got a true sense for the personalities of Rine or Aleam.
- overall, this was a fun and quick read though perhaps the premise was a little better than the execution. Though, i found it fun and novel enough that I’m still going to try out the next books in the series.
January 26, 2021
I finished the first book and felt some holes where areas needed fleshed out some more. I did not immediately rush to Ammazon to get the 2nd book, not did I get it the 2nd day or week after.
Was the book enjoyable? Yes. Did I want to finish the 1st book? Yes.
I felt a bit of disconnect between the main character and much off anything. Most felt underwhelming. Yes, would be hard for a cat to stay on the back of a dragon. The several times this was brought up felt like a tried it once, it worked lets put this on repeat. Same with singed fur, and the cat being a Bengal.
I did enjoy the limited perspectives of the feline. What he thought about Main Coons before and after meeting. Same with his perspectives on hippos.
I understand that many cats are totally gut focused, but the repetition of food desires and them effecting his choices got old and felt like filler.
I did enjoy my time in the book, though my attention could have easily been swayed by a shiny new fantasy cover swiped across my vision. I don't really have a need to go further in the series. For some people, this light read may be just the ticket.
I did read after the fact that the author was heavily influenced by Terry Pratchet. Please keep understudying sir. You aren't in his league yet. This feels like a very freshman attempt. Sorry, cruel review.
Was the book enjoyable? Yes. Did I want to finish the 1st book? Yes.
I felt a bit of disconnect between the main character and much off anything. Most felt underwhelming. Yes, would be hard for a cat to stay on the back of a dragon. The several times this was brought up felt like a tried it once, it worked lets put this on repeat. Same with singed fur, and the cat being a Bengal.
I did enjoy the limited perspectives of the feline. What he thought about Main Coons before and after meeting. Same with his perspectives on hippos.
I understand that many cats are totally gut focused, but the repetition of food desires and them effecting his choices got old and felt like filler.
I did enjoy my time in the book, though my attention could have easily been swayed by a shiny new fantasy cover swiped across my vision. I don't really have a need to go further in the series. For some people, this light read may be just the ticket.
I did read after the fact that the author was heavily influenced by Terry Pratchet. Please keep understudying sir. You aren't in his league yet. This feels like a very freshman attempt. Sorry, cruel review.
October 14, 2024
*
*
*
Audiobook
Story: C, Narration: C
Not a review, just some thoughts for personal reference.
Cats, dragons, mages...so much potential in this setup, so little delivery. At least at the outset, Ben the Bengal is not a very likeable main character, nor are most of the others. The backstory isn't sufficiently developed for me to care much about it (except for the fact that the fate of our world is apparently at stake, too--but given that we're already going to hell in a handbasket all on our own, it's hard to care about the evil mage threat).
The narration left a lot to be desired, too. I'm normally pretty generous in my narrator ratings, but I really can't find many positives here. Well, that's not entirely true. I can say that the pacing, delivery, pronunciation were good and he had no annoying tics (weird pauses, smacking noises, etc). But his selection of character voices was really just off for most of the main characters. The evil mage was particularly bad--he sounded like a peevish, pedantic college professor whose course you'd want to drop rather than a supervillain.
I had already downloaded the next 2 books for free so I'll probably give the next one a try to see if there's any improvement, but I don't feel much commitment at this point.
*
*
Audiobook
Story: C, Narration: C
Not a review, just some thoughts for personal reference.
Cats, dragons, mages...so much potential in this setup, so little delivery. At least at the outset, Ben the Bengal is not a very likeable main character, nor are most of the others. The backstory isn't sufficiently developed for me to care much about it (except for the fact that the fate of our world is apparently at stake, too--but given that we're already going to hell in a handbasket all on our own, it's hard to care about the evil mage threat).
The narration left a lot to be desired, too. I'm normally pretty generous in my narrator ratings, but I really can't find many positives here. Well, that's not entirely true. I can say that the pacing, delivery, pronunciation were good and he had no annoying tics (weird pauses, smacking noises, etc). But his selection of character voices was really just off for most of the main characters. The evil mage was particularly bad--he sounded like a peevish, pedantic college professor whose course you'd want to drop rather than a supervillain.
I had already downloaded the next 2 books for free so I'll probably give the next one a try to see if there's any improvement, but I don't feel much commitment at this point.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 6, 2021
I'm a cat-lover, and I've appreciated dragons since my first encounter with The Dragonriders of Pern, years ago.
So is this review just a rubber-stamp approval? No. The author's style, and well-developed story and characters, combined to make this story unforgettable, for me. I'd rather not provide any spoilers, but as with all good adventure stories (my categorization) there were ups and downs for the principal characters (Ben the cat and Salanraja the dragon); we met creatures on the same side as Ben and Salanraja who were, at times, more of an obstacle than a help; and, of course, there were villains to be dealt with.
The author writes well -- there weren't any painful-to-read errors (grammar, spelling), no inexplicable jumps in the story-line which made no sense. I'm looking forward to the continuing story of this cat and his bonded-for-life dragon.
Please note, I received a free advance readers copy of "A Cat's Guide to Bonding with Dragons" and I'm voluntarily leaving a review.
So is this review just a rubber-stamp approval? No. The author's style, and well-developed story and characters, combined to make this story unforgettable, for me. I'd rather not provide any spoilers, but as with all good adventure stories (my categorization) there were ups and downs for the principal characters (Ben the cat and Salanraja the dragon); we met creatures on the same side as Ben and Salanraja who were, at times, more of an obstacle than a help; and, of course, there were villains to be dealt with.
The author writes well -- there weren't any painful-to-read errors (grammar, spelling), no inexplicable jumps in the story-line which made no sense. I'm looking forward to the continuing story of this cat and his bonded-for-life dragon.
Please note, I received a free advance readers copy of "A Cat's Guide to Bonding with Dragons" and I'm voluntarily leaving a review.
March 6, 2021
This is a thoroughly delightful fantasy book & series [that could also go into fable category] that is an all-around enjoyable read. It's easy to share, even reading it to small children. The tale is told through the main character, a cat, but not just any kind of cat, a bengal. If you have been around cats, much their nature, especially the males, especially the purebreds, they are very self-absorbed in their own creature comforts & selves. Thus starts the awakening of Ben aka Bengie aka Dragoncat aka Mr. Full Of Himself spoiled brat. The B boy is forced to broaden his horizons & become more of a whole creature. [this is not done without much bitching & pain] while narrowly holding onto his fur in wild new unheard of dilemmas. Will he come out of himself & his own creature needs before he finds he has lost what he should care about? Or will his self absorbed thoughts about his food, comfort & own desires only cause him untold grief in the short run as danger is looming fast & he could lose those he will regret bitterly when they are gone? Great little twists & turns
January 25, 2024
A Fun Tale with Dragons and a Cat
So what can I say? This was a fun, somewhat lighthearted story of a cat - A Bengal no less - becoming a dragon rider. And Ben definitely acts like a typical cat. Food is first on his mind before anything else. And he really wants a nice place to curl up onto a ball to sleep but the Dragonsbond Academy is a bad place to do that not to mention most people look down on him just because he's a cat... Apparently a dragon has never bonded to a cat before.
And Ben has the whole Academy up and rather unhappy as he creates big messes. Plus he thinks spraying walls is a good thing. And he wants Salmon. His favorite food.
This story is just fun and entertaining. Ben has to go fight some pretty nasty creatures and he makes countless mistakes too. He is after all just a cat. And these things are way beyond him. But he does the best he can. There are lots of creatures in here, battles and action. And poor Ben has to hope he will survive. But he really wants to go back home.
It is not laugh out loud funny but it is very entertaining.
So what can I say? This was a fun, somewhat lighthearted story of a cat - A Bengal no less - becoming a dragon rider. And Ben definitely acts like a typical cat. Food is first on his mind before anything else. And he really wants a nice place to curl up onto a ball to sleep but the Dragonsbond Academy is a bad place to do that not to mention most people look down on him just because he's a cat... Apparently a dragon has never bonded to a cat before.
And Ben has the whole Academy up and rather unhappy as he creates big messes. Plus he thinks spraying walls is a good thing. And he wants Salmon. His favorite food.
This story is just fun and entertaining. Ben has to go fight some pretty nasty creatures and he makes countless mistakes too. He is after all just a cat. And these things are way beyond him. But he does the best he can. There are lots of creatures in here, battles and action. And poor Ben has to hope he will survive. But he really wants to go back home.
It is not laugh out loud funny but it is very entertaining.
January 3, 2021
This story is about a cat that is kidnapped by a bad wizard and taken back in time to be a mouser in the wizard's windowless tower.. He manages to escape one day and strikes out to search for food and fresh water. He eventually ends up at a castle full of humans and dragons. Ben, the Bengal cat, remembers his home in the current age when he is fed chicken, fish and has fresh flowing water and can watch tv and sleep all day. In this new world, he has to work to find food as it is not offered since he is expected to eat mice. The world-building in this story is quite fantastical, but somehow feels realistic at the same time as if the places and creatures had really existed. I enjoyed the characters, especially the ruby dragon who introduces Ben to the world that he has ended up in. Very nice flow to the story with no slow spots. I look forward to reading more stories by Chris Behrsin.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
February 8, 2021
The hero of this book is a cat. How original is that? I can't remember having read of a similar hero - a regular domestic house cat, not a single boot to his name. As an owner and lover of cats, I confess to being charmed by Ben the Bengal cat, and often laughing out loud at his antics. Ben is the quintessential cat: self-centered, selfish, and egotistical, know-it-all, proud, interested in food, sleep, chasing butterflies and gossiping with the other cats in the Welsh village where his family lives. But then his world rocks when he's kidnapped by an evil warlock and forced to hunt demon-rats in a dank castle set in different dimension. He manages to escape, and meets and bonds with the dragon Salaraja. Together they set out to save the world, much to Ben's annoyance and unwillingness. Imagine his horror and disgust when he discovers that this world has no salmon! I loved the book and I'm sure to read the rest of the series.
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