Cat Dragon

by Samantha Birch

‘On the whole, Aloysia Papplewick was proud of this year’s crop of Prattling Pumpkins; but that didn’t mean that they were proud of her.’

Welcome to the whimsical world of Tangleroot Valley, where magic thrives in every corner, and witch Aloysia Papplewick tends to her Prattling Pumpkin patch. But there’s one thing Aloysia doesn’t have – her familiar. The magical folk of the valley take flight astride and depend upon their majestic yet adorable companions – cat-dragons. Fluffy yet fierce, playful but protective, each cat-dragon is a unique blend – which is rumoured to say something about the witch or wizard it bonds with, and perhaps even predict their future. Aloysia has failed thirteen times already to bond with her own – until now – and no sooner has she done so than the two of them are whisked away on a quest to protect the valley…

Embrace the magic as this delightful tale weaves a cozy spell of adventure, self-discovery, friendship and romance. For fans of Studio Ghibli, Harry Potter, The Spellshop and cottagecore.

Genres: Fantasy, Cozy Fantasy, Cozy, Romance, Dragons, Adult, Fiction

432 pages, Paperback

First published August 14, 2025

About the author

Samantha Birch is an author and writer of cosy video games, beginning with prehistoric shopkeeping and life sim Amber Isle. She was a copywriter and a journalist for titles including GLAMOUR and Brides before moving into fiction. Cat Dragon is her first fantasy novel, and the realisation of a childhood dream.

Reviews

[TheConnieFox · Rating 4 out of 5]

✦ My Overall Thoughts ✦

This was such a beautiful and whimsical story! I really had fun reading this cozy novel. It made me feel lighthearted, adventurous and emotional. It had mysterious vibes as well. This also gave me some laughs! It is a medium paced read that includes a witch and a cat dragon. The main characters in this book were strongly devoloped in the story. This has a diverse cast of characters, all lovable! Even the minor characters stood out to me. This also comes with a romantacy and magic! The world building of Tangleroot Valley was cozy and charming. This story came with vivid imagery, a clear thesis and was stylistically unique. This novel is plot driven, as the story follows a witch that struggles to bond with her cat dragon. This book came with everything that I love in a fantasy! The pacing was a little slow at the beginning, but it picked up and I couldn’t put this book down!

✦ Quick Synopsis & Rating ✦

“Cat Dragon” is a novel that revolves around a witch in training, named Aloysia. In this cozy story, bonding with your own cat dragon is very important in becoming a witch. Aloysia struggles to bond with her cat dragon. This story starts taking us on a journey with Aloysia and her best friends’ brother named Hollis! They start heading for the mountains and come across dangers, adorable creatures and unexpected feelings for one another. I give this cozy novel a 4 out of 5 stars!

✦ Who I think would enjoy this book ✦

I think fans of Harry Potter and anyone that loves magical worlds would really enjoy reading this book! There are not any content warnings, as this is a very clean book.

✦ Thank You ✦

Thank you to NetGalley, author Samantha Birch and Harper 360 | One More Chapter for this digital ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review. All thoughts and opinions expressed are my own.

✦ Release Date ✦

This book is expected to be published on September 2, 2025! The publication date may change.

✦ Book Tropes ✦

🪄 Magical Bonding
✔️ Grumpy & Sunshine
🪄 Cozy Vibes
✔️ Quirky Magical Creatures
🪄 Forced Proximity
✔️ Found Family
🪄 Magic Gone Wrong
✔️ Slow Burn Romance

》* 。 • ˚ ˚ ˛ * 。° 。 • ˚《

❥ ୨⎯ Connie ⎯୧ ❥

ツ౨ৎ

[Sheila · Rating 3 out of 5]

I received a free copy of, Cat Dragon, by Samantha Birch, from the publisher and Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. Aloysia lives in Tangleroot Valley, as a witch,, but she is having problems other witches are not, she cant bond with a cat-dragon, and she has tried over a dozen times. This is a nice witchy read.

[Sarah (bookofsari) · Rating 2 out of 5]

Cat Dragon is a cozy fantasy filled with magical charm—talking pumpkins, quirky creatures, and the enchanting village of Tangleroot Valley. On paper, it has all the elements I usually love in a lighthearted fantasy. Unfortunately, the execution made it hard to enjoy.

The biggest challenge for me was the writing style. The author uses a lot of uncommon and overly complex language, which made the story difficult to follow. I often found myself rereading sections, especially during action scenes, just to understand what was going on. The plot moves quickly but without much clarity or connection between events, leaving me feeling lost more than once.

While the whimsical worldbuilding was fun in theory, I struggled to stay invested. There’s definitely a cozy, magical tone throughout, but I needed more structure and clearer storytelling to fully engage.

This book just wasn’t for me. Readers who enjoy dense prose and eccentric fantasy worlds may find something to love here, but I had a hard time connecting with the story.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

[Cozy Puppy Reads · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Magical and Cozy Escape
Sometimes, you just need a book that feels like a warm hug. Cat Dragon by Samantha Birch is that book. It’s a wonderfully whimsical and sweet escape, perfect for when you want to get lost in a world that feels both magical and comforting. If you've been waiting for a new cozy fantasy book to explore, this is it.

Reading this story is like the book equivalent of a warm blanket and a cup of chamomile tea—soothing, calming, and comforting. It’s the kind of book you’ll want to curl up with by the fireplace (or maybe just a YouTube video of one) with your hot tea and beloved animal companion sleeping by your side. The story is a mashup of everything we love about Studio Ghibli and the coziest scenes from Harry Potter, making it feel instantly familiar and beloved.

Birch has created a vibrant world with detailed lore that feels alive and lived-in. Her descriptions of the cat dragons are an absolute treat, and you’ll find yourself wishing you had one of your own. They have the charm of a beloved feline friend and the fantastical wonder of a creature like Buckbeak.

The story is a delightful blend of adventure and whimsy, with magic in every sense of the word. It's definitely a wonderfully nerdy and delightfully geeky read that celebrates the natural world, from its magnificent creatures to its fantastical plants and botany. The story takes its time to build its world, introducing a variety of characters and different cultures, allowing you to truly immerse yourself in the magic.

The story is so deeply rooted in its own world that you’re simply invited to jump in and go along for the ride. It’s truly a charming fantasy story that you'll want to get lost in. I can see this being one installment of many more in the future, bringing readers back to the whimsical magic of Tangleroot Valley.

Perfect for Fans of:
📚😻 Cozy fantasy
💕 Studio Ghibli films
✨️ The magical feel of the Harry Potter universe, specifically classes like Care of Magical Creatures and Herbology
💛 Classic fantasy books like the Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit
❤️ The adventures of Eragon, His Dark Materials by Philip Pullman, and Tamora Pierce books

A special thanks to Harper Collins, Harper 360, One More Chapter, NetGalley, and the author, Samantha Birch, for providing an advanced reader copy of this book. Cat Dragon will be published on September 23, 2025 for US readers.

[Aakanksha · Rating 4 out of 5]

It was really beautiful, cosy and heartwarming book. Loved every character, magical creatures and the pacing of the book was really good. Reminded me of the fantasy movies and books I've watched and read in childhood and i loved that nostalgia while reading it. The magical world building was top notch and I really enjoyed it
Loved the tropes of
Grumpy & Sunshine
Forced Proximity
Found Family
Magic Gone Wrong
Slow Burn Romance
These were well executed and given that I'm such a sucker for found family and slow burn romance books, this book is one of my favourites already! .

Thank you so much avonbooks and the author for the copy!

[Ashley Dunaway · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars

Cat Dragon is a cute YA cozy fantasy read about Aloysia who is a witch that lives in Tangleroot Valley. Witches bond with their cat dragon starting from the time they turn 8, but Aloysia still has not been able to find her match. Some things happen with their Guardian and she is thrown into a quest with her best friend’s brother.

This is a cozy adventure read that includes animal companions with a sprinkle of romance. The romance and plot are fun and cute and I did enjoy those. Loved that plot twist at the end as well. I thought I had it figured out but nope.

Parts of this story include more difficult vocabulary and other languages thrown in that disrupt the flow a little. I prefer a more easy read with my cozy fantasies but that is just my preference.

Overall I recommend this for those who love
🍂 Cozy fantasies
🍂 Adventure plots with twists
🍂 Best friend’s brother cute romance
🍂 No spice
🍂 Sentient plants
🍂 Animal companions
🍂 More adventure and plot with a sprinkle of romance.

Thank you to Harper 360 for this ARC. All opinions are my own.

[Deanna · Rating 2 out of 5]

I was invited directly by the publisher to review this book, so thank you to One More Chapter and HarperCollins UK.

Cat Dragon had such an interesting premise that had me looking forward to diving into this cozy tale… but unfortunately I feel a bit let down. To me, the story was often hard to follow. The transitions between scenes were abrupt and clunky, and it felt like the author threw a lot of information at us with no explanation for it.

I often found the wording choices odd, and it was hard to tell who exactly was speaking at times. The human/witch characters were unengaging for me, and I especially disliked the main character. Aloysia has a terribly annoying habit of being all “woe is me”, and it got to be a bit much. When Hollis is trying to describe to her how he feels that he hasn’t found his purpose yet and she’s just laughing? Oh boy did I want to strangle her.

Overall, I’m of the opinion that this story could use a lot more editing to make it easier to follow, and to deliver its promised vibes.

[Mela · Rating 4 out of 5]

In this story we follow Aloysia as a botanical witch who still hasn’t bonded with a cat dragon. However when tragedy strucks, she will have to team up with Hollis a guardian on a quest to save magic.

Personally I wasn’t a big fan of the pacing in some parts, but the story overall was quite cute. I wasn’t a big fan of the love story line simply because I thought it was unnecessary to the rest of plot. Loved all the animal companions both Crow and LittleWick!! Also I was a fan of the quest and how the story ended.

Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for an e-arc in exchange for an honest review.

[Madison]

unfortunately a dnf for me :/

[McKenzie · Rating 4 out of 5]

4/5 ⭐️

Cute, cozy read. I feel like it took a little long to get to the actual point and that the author brought up the Prattling Pumpkins way more than needed seeing as how they had no purpose to the story. Overall I would recommend if you want something comfy to read especially in the fall.

[dessie*₊⊹ · Rating 4 out of 5]

This author created a setting that’s like, my dream to live in. The characters (especially the animals) and the dialogue were wonderful.
My real qualm is in the rest of the writing. If I hadn’t loved what I mentioned earlier, I would’ve dnfed. I kept feeling disrupted and having to reread because I genuinely struggled to follow what was happening on the page at times. It’s like the writing needed to be simplified to align with the vibe of the cover and blurb.
I found myself pretty endeared by the end of it,though. Confused or not, I’d probably pick up the next one. I could see ‘cat dragon’ turning into a series that improves itself as it develops. 3.5 stars.

[Mauireadsbooks · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5 ⭐️

Cat Dragon is a cosy fantasy story. I enjoyed reading about all the magical creatures, and the characters were interesting (AND the romance between Aloysia and Hollis was good!). The story itself had its charm as well.

But despite all this, unfortunately this book was not it for me. The writing style was overly complicated which made reading it not as enjoyable as it should be. Such a bummer for me personally since this book does have the ingredients for a great story.

[Shannon H · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cat Dragon was such an absolute delight to read! Aloysia Papplewick is a heroine you can’t help but root for, and her journey to gather ingredients for a spell turned into such a charming adventure. I loved tagging along as she traveled with her best friend's brother Hollis (a favorite trope of mine!!!) and the descriptions of all the magical lands and creatures was so whimsical and fun. Every stop along the way felt fresh and imaginative, and I never wanted the journey to end.

This book gave me cozy adventure DnD vibes, and is the perfect fun fall read!

Thank you to NetGalley and Harper360 for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

[Stefy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Actual Rating: 3.5 ⭐️

I was lucky enough to win a proof copy from Harper Collins for Cat Dragon by Samantha Birch. So thank you for that.

If you’re after a cosy, witchy, cottagecore vibe with some fantastical adventures, oh and a cute baby cat dragon, then this is the book for you.

It really is perfect for autumn, especially with the botanical side of things. This is very much Earth witch magic (amongst others).

The pacing is very good and progresses really well. The characters are all very loveable and the settings read beautifully. It definitely gave off Japan vibes at one point and Norwegian (or Icelandic I’m not quite sure which - could be both).

One thing I did struggle with at times was the writing style and following what was going on. There were parts where I read something and thought “wait was this mentioned before” or “what does that mean”. But it didn’t take too much away for me to carry on reading.

Overall a perfect read for witchy season.

[Rahdika K · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is the author’s debut entry into the fantasy world. I absolutely love the charming cover and the fall vibes it gives.

I think the story started out alright and the pacing was okay. However, I found the writing style a bit challenging at times. It often required rereading to fully grasp certain passages, which slowed down the overall experience and became somewhat frustrating.

The characters were cute and I loved the animal companions in this novel. However, I feel there weren’t much depth or development in the main characters.

The romance subplot didn’t quite land for me. It felt abrupt and somewhat out of place, and I think the story would have been just as strong, if not stronger, without it.

Apart from that, I felt the editing could have improved further, as I started skimming mostly after about halfway through the book. Some scenes could have been edited out.

Overall, if you are into cozy fantasy, with some whimsical world building and going on magical quest, this book might work for you.

Review copy courtesy of Times Reads.

[Emily · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was sweet! If you like cozy fantasy and found family, this might be for you. Witch Papplewick’s town is having a magical crisis, and she’s the one best poised to help. So she sets out on a journey and collects a found family along the way.

I loved the concept of catdragons - so cute!! The world created was so enchanting. There was also a decent cast of supporting characters that I liked (and wish we got a bit more of).

However, I felt like this book couldn’t decide what to be. It tried to be cozy fantasy, romantasy, and an adventure/quest novel. Unfortunately, it didn’t quite hit the mark on any of the above. The writing was excellent but I think if it had leaned into the cozy or leaned into the adventure it would have worked a bit better. The romance also was underdeveloped.

Would definitely read from this author again! I think this was a very promising concept. Thanks to Samantha Birch, Harper 360, and NetGalley for the ARC!

[Chrys · Rating 4 out of 5]

Totally unexpected, this was a surprisingly good story. I wasn’t expecting much more than a cosy palette cleanser but this had such an interesting plot.
I really enjoyed the magic systems, it all made a lot of sense. I loved the familiars being cat dragons, especially as there were so many different characteristics from elements to colours. I loved the characters, there was so much personality, and the perfect amount of romance. And the quest was so exciting and fun, with the right levels of whimsy and humour.
I really be hope that this title gets the recognition and attention that it deserves. I’ll definitely be recommending and keeping an eye out for this author.

[Rita · Rating 3 out of 5]

I picked this one up purely for the title (Edit: I meant THE COVER 😂). I mean, look.at.it! Gorgeous! And the two-in-one goodness of cats and dragons rolled into cat-dragons was every bit as cute as I hoped.

Cozy-ish books have been a bit hit-and-miss for me this year, and while I didn’t fully love this one, I definitely enjoyed parts of it. There are witches, talking pumpkins, a whole range of magical creatures, and an adventure. I especially liked the side characters and the road-trip feel of the story. The main characters had their moments too, but for me the book just dragged a little - it felt too long.

Still, it’s a lovely candidate for a cozy autumn read if you’re in the mood for higher-stakes, low-fantasy with a sprinkle of cat-dragon charm.

3.5/5 ⭐

[Meghan · Rating 4 out of 5]

A cozy cottagecore fantasy with magical animal friends and found family is what we all need right now.

Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for an advanced review copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

[Rachael]

DNF - might come back to it at about 80%

[Annette · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really wanted to like this book. I love the cover and the idea of a cat dragon. However that was all I loved about the book. It was confusing and I had the hardest time getting into the book. I’m sure there are others who will enjoy this book unfortunately it was me.

[Sorina Boeriu · Rating 4 out of 5]

ARC review
Publication date 14 August 2025.

"Cat Dragon" by Samantha Birch is a cute and cozy fantasy.

I received an e-ARC from HarperCollins UK, One More Chapter (via Netgalley).
Opinions from this review are completely my own.

The cover of this book (especially the cute cat dragon) initially got my attention.
This is a cozy story about a witch (Aloysia) that struggles to bond with her cat dragon.

What you can expect:
- adorable magical creatures
- magic
- grumpy/sunshine characters
- forced proximity
- slow burn romance
- found family

It took me a while to get into this story because of the writing style.
The world and magic is interesting, but the vocabulary is a bit difficult.

The story and the romance was cute overall, there is no spice and there is a plot twist at the end.

[Cait · Rating 2 out of 5]

DNF 47%.

As much as I wanted to love Cat Dragon, the writing style just is not for me and unfortunately, I cannot finish it. I think that younger readers of adult fiction, those looking to transition from YA to adult fantasy, or just those who aren't as horrendously picky as I am will enjoy the cozy atmosphere and twee details of Birch's book. Unfortunately, while the premise should be an absolute win for me, several things held it back. Most prominently were the characters: the main character is so immature that I did not enjoy being in her head, and the rest of the cast of characters is oddly flat and two-dimensional, with little of the personalities or charms that make cozy fantasy stick out. Additionally, the action scenes are so confusingly written, I found myself skipping whole paragraphs because I literally could not grasp what the author was trying to convey. Lastly, (and this is a stylistic detail others may not mind, BUT) Birch's quirk of constantly italicizing words throughout the book for emphasis--rather than just writing compelling, emphatic descriptions or using evocative language--took its toll much sooner than my other frustrations.
Thank you to NetGalley and Harper 360 | One More Chapter for the opportunity to read and review this ebook ARC. All opinions are mine alone.

[shelvedbyjasi · Rating 1 out of 5]

Unfortunately, after reading over half of this book, I’ve decided not to finish Cat Dragon. The concept had so much potential, and I really wanted to love it—but the execution just didn’t work for me. That said, I can definitely see it being a good fit for readers who enjoy cozy fantasy with a more whimsical, YA-adjacent feel.

What made it hard to stay engaged, personally, was the main character’s voice—it felt a bit too young and impulsive for me, which made it tough to connect with her. The side characters also didn’t feel fully developed, and I kept hoping for more personality or depth from them to help carry the story.

The writing style itself was another hurdle. It leaned really heavily into flowery, descriptive language—even in places where a more straightforward approach might’ve worked better. The pacing dragged for me because of it, and instead of being drawn in, I found myself drifting.

It’s always a bummer when a book doesn’t land, especially one that should’ve been right up my alley. But I know this will absolutely work for the right reader—it just wasn’t the one for me.

[Cyd’s Books · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for approving me to read this book, I’m rating it 3.25 stars.

This isn’t my usual read, but it was cute cottage core vibes with magic, fantasy and adventure, but it was very YA in comparison to some other YA books I’ve read. I really enjoyed the characters and the little bit of conflict they had with the hurdles and personality differences.

The adventure of this like forage finding was lowkey my favourite part, it was unique and fun. Plus the twist near the end had been so unexpected.

Really lovely vibes and a perfect read for fans of The spellshop.

[Fern · Rating 1 out of 5]

⭐️⭐️ 2/5

I really wanted to love this. The concept? Adorable. A grumpy cat-dragon companion, cozy magic, talking pumpkins, and a magical quest? It sounded like the whimsical fantasy hug I was craving. But honestly? It just didn’t click for me.

I struggled with the writing from the start—it’s incredibly flowery and dense. I kept having to reread entire paragraphs just to figure out what was happening, which made it hard to get immersed. The pacing was all over the place, with abrupt transitions that yanked me out of the story right when I was starting to settle in. And for all the charm in the premise, the emotional connection felt surface-level. Even Littlewick, the cat-dragon himself, didn’t quite shine the way I hoped he would.

I can see this being a cozy read for someone who loves gentle, low-stakes fantasy with quirky characters and rich (sometimes overly rich) descriptions. But for me, the style and structure just didn’t work. It was cute in theory, but felt more like a sleepy wander through fog than a magical adventure.

Still, it’s a unique idea—and readers who are big fans of cottagecore fantasy might have a better time with it than I did. I just wish the execution had lived up to the promise.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC in exchange for an honest review. 🐾📚

[Brittany · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Cat Dragon" follows the story of a witch named Aloysia, who along with her arch enemy, a talking crow, and her cat dragon companions, embarks on a journey to find 3 magical items that are needed for a cure to save her valley's guardian.

Let's start with the positives! Who doesn't love a quest and magical animal companions? As Aloyshia and her best friends brother, Hollis, traverse the lands, they come across some delightful friends along the way who join their quest. Each friend had a solid backstory and all characters were very well developed. I enjoyed seeing how their relationships with each other blossomed. We've also got the enemies to lovers trope for those who love that. I was also very intrigued by the magic! I loved seeing the prattling pumpkins and wished they could have had more of a role in the story. And of course, the star of the show, Littlewick, a cute, magical cat dragon! If you're a sucker for adorable baby animal companions, this book is for you!

However, I feel like this book needs another round of editing. The pacing was very off - especially near the end I felt like too much time was spent in the last 20% of the book. The "final battle" part was way too long, and very verbose(lots of description) and I was struggling to get past it. Another issue I had was with some of the verbiage. For the first 1/3 of the book, there were a LOT of very uncommonly used words that I've never heard of before. It felt like the author took a thesaurus and tried to find the most complex word to insert that no one's ever heard of before. I constantly was looking up the meanings on my kindle, and feel like this would have been even more detrimental to my enjoyment if I had been reading the physical book, as I wouldn't have looked up the words. I see other review mention this exact thing, so I'm glad it's not just me. That did (fortunately?) go away as the book progressed. Another issue with this book is that a lot of parts seemed to go from one thought/scene to the next with no transition which left me very confused quite often. For instance, Hollis and Aloysia have a conversation about how they're hungry and need a snack from the kitchen and the very next line she's asleep in his lap. I'm like "What happened? Did they get the snack? What did I miss?". This odd transition happens constantly throughout the book and could have used more editing for sure! I wanted more of the prattling pumpkins, (as they seem to have no purpose in the plot, and could have been completely omitted), because they were such a fun idea! I also felt the ending was super abrupt! There are a few loose ends I think that needed to be tied up.

All that being said, I actually enjoyed the magic, the world, the friends, the animal companions, etc. I think with a bit more editing it could have been a solid 4 stars, but I'd give it a 3.5/5 at this current state. I'd definitely recommend if you're a cozy fantasy reader that loves cute, slightly romantic reads with no spice. This would be great if you loved "The Teller of Small Fortunes" and "The Spellshop".

Thank you so much to NetGalley and Harper 360 for providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review

[Dara's Book Nook · Rating 5 out of 5]

Okay, as a total Hufflepuff, wannabe gardener, and foodie, Cat Dragon by Samantha Birch was SO my vibe! It’s my first cozy fantasy, and I really enoyed being reading about Tangleroot Valley. I’m so grateful I got to hang out in this world—it’s cute, it’s witchy, and it’s got sooo many delicious snacks!
For me, Tangleroot Valley ( and around) is like a fairy tale with a Scandinavian-German-Hufflepuff-TheHobit twist. There’s snow griffins (super important for the land’s magic), cat dragons (aka dramalkittens that smell like maple syrup—yum!), talking papplewick pumpkins, a sassy crow, kestrels, cockatrices (weird snake-egg-chicken monsters), and coos (chubby cows with crème brûlée milk—hello, foodie heaven!). As a gardener, I enjoyed the magical plants—it’s like Mrs. Sprout’s class but with extra sparkle. The world feels so real, thanks to Sam’s cozy words like “higgledy-piggledy” and “biscuit-finding mission.”
The main crew is awesome! Aloysia (Alo), a 30-year-old witch (yay for not being 20!), is a magicobotanical queen. Her nickname “Wick” from her BFF Ivy is adorable. Alo’s best pals are her talking crow and her cat dragon. Then there’s Hollis, Ivy’s grumpy brother who’s a total woodworker hunk. He’s got my heart with stuff like buying Alo a purple hat and a cat dragon carrier. Lan, Shikha, and Eckhart round out the gang, and they all shine in their wild adventures. Oh, and Alo’s annoying relatives? Ugh, I was like, “Girl, how do you deal?!” But Alo’s so strong, even if she feels like everyone expects too much from her.
So, I’m not a native English speaker, and the start was kinda slow for me. All those made-up fantasy words were tricky, and the world-building with Guardians, plants, and creatures felt like a lot. But stick with it! After Chapter 8, when Alo gets her cat dragon familiar, it’s like BOOM—non-stop action! The gang faces crazy challenges, and every time I thought, “Yes, they’ve got this!”—swoosh, nope! More drama pops up. The last 100 pages? Total Sarah J. Maas vibes! It’s an emotional rollercoaster with so much action I could barely breathe. The ending? OMG, I did NOT see it coming, but it was the good kind of surprise. I’m dying for a sequel! ( Yes, Sam, I sense you have a looooot more to tell us, also I need more from Lan, pretty please!)

I enjoyed Sam's writing and found it so cozy and fun. I laughed at lines like “The crystal ball, the vapours, and the soles of my feet all agree – this year’s Shepherd will be a woman!” The cat dragons (Catty, Lemon, Pussy Willow, and one nameless cutie) are sooo cute, and the food stuff—like crème brûlée milk—had me hungry the whole time. Freindly rec- get some snack and tea or pumpkin spice latte when you read this!
What I would love is a map, to see where our people went.
Cat Dragon was truly an adventure! And it had my most favourite tropes.

Best friend's brother
He fell first long ago
Slow-burn romance
ONLY ONE BED!
Witches and magic!
Hufflepuff and The Hobbit vibes

[Ella-Mae Campling · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a cozy dream of a novel! I adore magic, animals (but particularly foxes and cats), dragons, plants and autumnal vibes. So I felt like this book spoke to me like no other, I went in thinking that I needed to manage expectations but they were blown away like a dandelion in the wind. The worldbuilding felt so multifaceted and while some cozy fantasy lovers may not have enjoyed the info-dumping whirlwind of a book, I adored it and felt like I was encased in a D & D campaign or on a Hobbit-esque quest with friends! The romance was sweet and an added extra, so it was nice to read a cozy fantasy that also had that in but didn’t feel essential to the plot progression and the slow burn of it was just divine! I fell in love with so many of the characters like Crow, and Littlewick and wanted the journey to never end. Also, something that came about early on in the story was a character who instead of just having a cat dragon (the best familiar to ever familiar by the way) as a familiar, also had the extra special bond of having their familiar as an assistance animal. It overjoyed me -as someone who has had an assistance dog in the past- to see it dealt with so authentically and wonderfully by the author; imagine someone with an assistance dog at the airport (which is a horror) and being treated as lesser/ infantilised and you’ll understand the scene crafted. This character kicked a**. Loved it. Loved them. I used to always imagine my disabilities as being “magically fixed” when dreaming inside books as a kid, so to see somewhere where this didn’t seem necessary was still a new experience for me. Strong characters, brilliant world-centered mythology and cozy warmth ensue for this adventure. Felt like I was placed inside my favorite cozy games like Strange Horticulture, Coffee Talk or Wytchwood. Readers of Rewitched, The Phoenix Keeper or Legends & Lattes I expect to also love it, especially those of us who have a fun obsession with Animals (Were you also Magizoologists in your dreams?) or Horticulture. I loved how easy it was to be swept up into the town of Tangleroot and cannot wait to see what Birch brings our way next.

[Faye Anne · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'd been in one continuous boring meeting from 9.30am til 5pm on Thursday, and when I clocked off and slithered downstairs with a brain the consistency of goo, I was presented with the most adorable copy of Cat Dragon by a delivery driver. It was fate. I had started reading something else the day before but I needed something cute and cozy to bring me back to life. I have the SE from Locked Library's Forbidden Wing August 2025 box and it is beautiful!

I've enjoyed reading this book since then, but I have been incredibly tired from work and then parenting, so I found my mind drifting while reading. On a few occasions I felt like the book expected me to have picked up on why some of the characters were feeling certain things or to intuit why certain things had happened, but I hadn't. I'm putting this down to my tiredness rather than to the book itself, but it is very descriptive and some sentences run very long, so that might not have helped. I enjoyed it though, and it was a cute and cozy read for Autumn.

The romance is no-spice and on the sweet and cozy side. Cat Dragon is plot-heavy rather than romance-focused. The romance is there but in a minor way. I saw someone refer to this as YA in the reviews, but due to the writing style and sometimes complicated language used, I don't think it's YA. I'm assuming that they thought it was YA due to the light level and intensity of the romance.

If you like a cute and cozy world but with an action-focused plot and a small side of romance, this might be the cozy Autumn fantasy that you're looking for.