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3.55 AVERAGE
3.55 AVERAGE
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
hopeful
lighthearted
mysterious
reflective
relaxing
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
adventurous
lighthearted
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
N/A
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
N/A
Cat Dragon had all the makings of a cozy fantasy I usually enjoy. The characters were likeable, the magical creatures were charming, and the world was soft and whimsical. The seasonal magic and the idea of bonding with a familiar felt full of promise and reminded me why I love books like The Spellshop.
Unfortunately, the execution did not quite work for me.
While it was undeniably cozy, the tone often felt too childish which made it difficult to fully connect with the story. The writing was overly flowery at times and disrupted the pacing which already felt a little too slow in places.
I did enjoy the final third of the book more than the beginning. Once the quest started to progress and the animal characters had more focus I found myself more invested. Littlewick was a definite highlight and added heart and humour to the story.
The romance felt underdeveloped and abrupt. It came out of nowhere and lacked the emotional build-up I was hoping for. It had potential but never quite delivered.
Cat Dragon has a lovely premise and a strong cozy aesthetic, but it struggled to hold my attention. There were sweet moments and standout characters, but overall it felt like a missed opportunity.
A witchy cosy fantasy. I loved the introduction to the character and the vibes of the town and her home. I love whimsical books and this book delivered those vibes.
I loved the world building and the descriptions of the animals, plants and creatures.
However, at some points it felt like the book was longer and more complicated than it needed to be. I was struggling to understand what was going on at some points. Crow was my favourite character but their sassy remarks disappeared about halfway through. It then felt like the light-hearted relief had gone.
I loved the world building and the descriptions of the animals, plants and creatures.
However, at some points it felt like the book was longer and more complicated than it needed to be. I was struggling to understand what was going on at some points. Crow was my favourite character but their sassy remarks disappeared about halfway through. It then felt like the light-hearted relief had gone.
I requested this book just for the adorable cat dragons and I was not disappointed. I love a witchy read. Throw in some adorable side kicks. Cat dragon and a crow and a dash of some grumpy sunshine romance and I will swoon so hard. This book was written for me. Cute and quirky with adventure and a bad ass fmc who will stop at nothing to do the right thing. I stayed up way too late to finish this and now I need all the witchy fun reads. I loved the ending and the adventure this took me on.
3.5 stars for the cozy witchy cat-dragon vibes it gave me.
So yes, I did pick the book because of the cover. I mean, how could I not?! I enjoyed the story for the most part. I liked the magic it had, and I liked Aloysia as an MC. I thought she was good, and honestly she won me over with her need to save her garden in the beginning. 100% would be me if I was put in that situation. I looooved the cat dragon because, as a cat owner, I'd like to think he'd be my cat dragon if I had magical powers. Also, crow was sassy AF and you know I need that energy in my life sometimes, I would think even more as a witch who has only heard "witches help" her whole life.
However, I did find it hard to keep up sometimes and the pace seemed to go between superfast to super slow from time to time and that just bothered me sometimes, and it wasn't the most enjoyable. I did feel like I had to go back a few times to really understand what was going on on the next chapters. So that caused me to take longer to read the book and by then my excitement kind of went down for it.
Overall, it isn't a bad book, it did have the cozy witchy vibes and when I genuinely liked the story it just wasn't 100% for me. Maybe like 60% for me and the rest it just wasn't. However, I definetly think that others may really love this and will really enjoy the journey that Aloysua and Hollis go through.
Thank you NetGalley, Samantha, and Harper 360 for the ARC. I received an ARC for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
So yes, I did pick the book because of the cover. I mean, how could I not?! I enjoyed the story for the most part. I liked the magic it had, and I liked Aloysia as an MC. I thought she was good, and honestly she won me over with her need to save her garden in the beginning. 100% would be me if I was put in that situation. I looooved the cat dragon because, as a cat owner, I'd like to think he'd be my cat dragon if I had magical powers. Also, crow was sassy AF and you know I need that energy in my life sometimes, I would think even more as a witch who has only heard "witches help" her whole life.
However, I did find it hard to keep up sometimes and the pace seemed to go between superfast to super slow from time to time and that just bothered me sometimes, and it wasn't the most enjoyable. I did feel like I had to go back a few times to really understand what was going on on the next chapters. So that caused me to take longer to read the book and by then my excitement kind of went down for it.
Overall, it isn't a bad book, it did have the cozy witchy vibes and when I genuinely liked the story it just wasn't 100% for me. Maybe like 60% for me and the rest it just wasn't. However, I definetly think that others may really love this and will really enjoy the journey that Aloysua and Hollis go through.
Thank you NetGalley, Samantha, and Harper 360 for the ARC. I received an ARC for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
adventurous
challenging
lighthearted
mysterious
relaxing
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I'm going to give this a tentative very strong 3 stars. For now. I think that maybe, down the road, I could revisit this and find myself loving it even more. But right now, it's just a lot. Not only is the first third of the story just set up, but everything is overly complicated, and over explained as a result. Nothing can be just how it is. Everything has to be something more. I enjoyed the slow burn romance, but for this being about a cat dragon, I wish it had more to do with the cat dragon. It also started out feeling like I was thrown in the middle and just expected to understand the world, while later explaining everything to me like I'm stupid rather than just a quick explanation of how things worked.
adventurous
lighthearted
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Liked
*Cozy fantasy
*Cat dragons and snarky crow sidekicks
*Best friends brother
*Adventourous journey with magical creatures and plants
*Sentient plants
Disliked
*Felt like I was reading this book for months
*The ending....wth we just never get to see Crow again
4 ⭐️, 0 🌶, 2 🧪
Rating, smut, chemistry
*Cozy fantasy
*Cat dragons and snarky crow sidekicks
*Best friends brother
*Adventourous journey with magical creatures and plants
*Sentient plants
Disliked
*Felt like I was reading this book for months
*The ending....wth we just never get to see Crow again
4 ⭐️, 0 🌶, 2 🧪
Rating, smut, chemistry
Cat Dragon takes you on a serious journey. The first third of the book is the set of, the second third is the journey, and the last part is the epic battle. I liked all the interesting creatures, cat dragons, talking crows, ancestor pumpkins, magical plants, plant and animal Guardians, and many, many more. The creatures helped add a bit of whimsy, and fun, some of the times when the book got a little slow they were the saving by grace. I loved that at the beginning there was a pronunciation of Aloysia’s name, it made the story more seamless, instead of me saying the FMC name different each time, I only wish there was a pronunciation guide for all the interesting names and creatures, it would have been very helpful. While there were times the storytelling got a little slow, with the constant introductions to new characters and/creatures, and new places the slowness doesn’t last long. This was a cute little world to live in for a while, and I wish I could have my own cat dragon.
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Loveable characters:
Yes
A whimsical story about witches, pumpkins and fluffiest cutiest dragons you'll ever meet.
I've read Cat Dragon twice and I genuinely wish cat dragons were real. Samantha Birch has crafted a wonderfully cozy world in Tangleroot Valley, where magic hums through air and every leaf.
Cat Dragon is set in Tangleroot Valley, it's a place where people can prolong their lives by turning into pumpkins and continue guiding their descendants from the garden patch. One day, Aloysia Papplewick, a witch-botanist, is busy tending to her ancestor-pumpkins in preparation for Harvest Day—until a magical mishap changes everything. The source of the Valley's magic, a giant Guardian, collapses over her house, gravely ill—and if he dies, the Valley dies with him. Now, Aloysia must team up with her rival to find a cure and save the Valley. All the while, she's trying to bond with her long-awaited cat dragon, a magical companion she’s dreamed of for over two decades.
The concept of cat dragons is pure joy. They are powerful creatures who provide immense magical strength to their witch partners—and at the same time, they’re ridiculously adorable. The bonding ritual? Belly rubs and back caresses. Honestly, sign me up.
I loved how this novel focused more on self-discovery and personal growth than romance. However, the slow-burn romantic subplot was beautifully understated, and I'm especially thankful for the absence of explicit scenes—it kept the tone tender and wholesome.
The rich descriptions allow readers to fully immerse themselves in Tangleroot Valley, painting the world in lush, vivid detail. Every one of Aloysia’s adventures feels tangible, and reading Cat Dragon was a delightful mix of giggles, gasps, and curiosity about whether the characters would succeed in saving their home.
I gave this novel four stars because I found the beginning a little challenging to get into. However, once you settle into the rhythm of Samantha’s writing and the story’s pace, you’re rewarded with one of the coziest, most enchanting adventures I’ve read in a long time.
Thank you to Samantha Birch and One More Chapter for sending me the proof copy of the novel. It was a magical, memorable read!
I've read Cat Dragon twice and I genuinely wish cat dragons were real. Samantha Birch has crafted a wonderfully cozy world in Tangleroot Valley, where magic hums through air and every leaf.
Cat Dragon is set in Tangleroot Valley, it's a place where people can prolong their lives by turning into pumpkins and continue guiding their descendants from the garden patch. One day, Aloysia Papplewick, a witch-botanist, is busy tending to her ancestor-pumpkins in preparation for Harvest Day—until a magical mishap changes everything. The source of the Valley's magic, a giant Guardian, collapses over her house, gravely ill—and if he dies, the Valley dies with him. Now, Aloysia must team up with her rival to find a cure and save the Valley. All the while, she's trying to bond with her long-awaited cat dragon, a magical companion she’s dreamed of for over two decades.
The concept of cat dragons is pure joy. They are powerful creatures who provide immense magical strength to their witch partners—and at the same time, they’re ridiculously adorable. The bonding ritual? Belly rubs and back caresses. Honestly, sign me up.
I loved how this novel focused more on self-discovery and personal growth than romance. However, the slow-burn romantic subplot was beautifully understated, and I'm especially thankful for the absence of explicit scenes—it kept the tone tender and wholesome.
The rich descriptions allow readers to fully immerse themselves in Tangleroot Valley, painting the world in lush, vivid detail. Every one of Aloysia’s adventures feels tangible, and reading Cat Dragon was a delightful mix of giggles, gasps, and curiosity about whether the characters would succeed in saving their home.
I gave this novel four stars because I found the beginning a little challenging to get into. However, once you settle into the rhythm of Samantha’s writing and the story’s pace, you’re rewarded with one of the coziest, most enchanting adventures I’ve read in a long time.
Thank you to Samantha Birch and One More Chapter for sending me the proof copy of the novel. It was a magical, memorable read!