A review by chrissiesbooknook
Cat Dragon by Samantha Birch

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

2.5

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.