I really wanted to love this one. The stat of it really drew me in and I was excited for a witchy read which is usually right up my street. Unfortunately I just couldn’t feel invested in this story at all and it dragged for me. To the point that I decided to give up around 40% in.

There is a lot to like about this book, the world building is rich and the characters and magical beings cute and charming. There is plenty to like about the story itself, the premise and the characters. However I found the pacing a bit all over the place and sometimes just felt a bit lost as to what was going on.

It might well be a bit right now thing as I do really love the concept. And I’m sure many others will absolutely adore this witchy, whimsical book!

Oooh this was a book for me alright 🥰

I love the coziness of it all, the unique magic and it definitely made me start my summerween era on those rainy days! 🌧🎃
It also gave a hint of a Terry Pratchett vibe which I loved!
This book was just fantastic and made for me it seemed: I enjoyed the magical gardening explanations (the solanum lycopersicum and the allium ursinum 🤭), the Japanese and French references 🇫🇷, and all the other languages that popped up throughout the book as we travel outside Tangleroot with Aloysia, Hollis and Lan and Shikah to help the huge creatures that are the Guardians protect the magic. Without forgetting Littlewick and Crow 🥹

Cute, cozy, funny, whimsy and light-hearted, but also sad and emotional 😢 and full of tension and yearning 😍
Samantha has an endless imagination for her world building through the botanical and zoological aspect in a magical way!

My last plea:
Can I please keep my grandma around as a prattling pumpkin though?

This book is for you if you love:
- cozy fantasy with romance subplot
- FMC in her thirties
- talking plants and animals
- Blind rep who's a badass with a guide cat dragon
- an FMC who fights for what she believes in
- MC who yearns 😍
- cat dragons as a familiar
- reluctant allies to lovers
- Forced proximity
- one bed at the inn 🤭
- slow burn YA with tension and yearning ❤️
- magical plants and animals

⭐️ 3.5 stars, rounded up!

thank you to One More Chapter, HarperCollins, and NetGalley for the ARC!

i wanted to love this. i really, really wanted to love this – but every time i felt myself slip into the world of tangleroot valley, i would find myself being pulled out of it just as quickly. the writing style made the story both difficult to get into and awkward to follow, and i was tripped up by it more times than i can count. it was overly descriptive in some parts, and confusingly vague in others. the made-up magical terms felt excessive, and whilst the inclusion of different languages (in total: japanese, french, norweigan, hindi and german) was cool to start with, after pages and pages of keeping my phone open on google translate, it got very tiring, very quickly. the characters were the only thing keeping me from giving up entirely, but even they felt somewhat overlooked at times (lán, i’m looking at you).

overall, cat dragon felt rushed in some places, dragged in others – and underwhelming in most. it still retained some of its charm with its characters, but, apart from their little found family, i didn’t find myself caring for much else.

I wanted to love this but the writing style wasn’t for me! I do think a lot of people would enjoy it as a cute cosy autumn read though

It was a 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 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!

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

Firstly thank you to One More Chapter, NetGalley and Samantha Birch for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I enjoyed this story. Came for a cosy feel good fantasy and got more adventure than expected. I didnt struggle with the book and adored the world built but at around 25% into the book I hit a mental block, but I blame life events which scrabbled my brain and made it hard for me to follow anything! Took a break and came back to it and the pacing was good for remainder of book and I got to grips with the characters and world.

One for cosy reading season!

a new fav cosy book perfect for fall.
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.

Thank you to One More Chapter for the gifted ARC.

I really wanted to enjoy this cozy fantasy, but unfortunately, it just didn’t work for me. I struggled with the writing style, which at times felt confusing and pulled me out of the story—I often found myself re-reading passages to understand what was happening. Because of that, I couldn’t fully settle into the plot or characters, and the overall reading experience wasn’t as enjoyable as I’d hoped.

That being said, I think readers who love cozy fantasy settings, dragons, and light romantic elements may find this book much more appealing.

Dnf. I was very confused while reading. There were a lot of moments when the writing style made it difficult to know what was going on

Thank. you to One More Chapter for the eARC.

Did Not Finish.

Cat-sized dragons should be 100% my thing. But I found myself starting and stopping this book multiple times over multiple days. The words and language were excessively flowery and I just didn't vibe with it. There was a lot of imaginative fake magic-y words, and I got so hung up on them that I felt like it was work to read, and not fun. Alas, not for me.

This book is full of cosy, autumnal, witchy vibes with magical plants and animals! I would happily have read a slice-of-life book set in this world but was pleasantly surprised by the fairly high stakes plot here!

If you love cosy fantasy with some adventuring, I’d definitely recommend giving this a try, especially over autumn! The perfect book to cosy up with and have a cup of tea.

Thank you to Harper Collins and Netgalley for the eARC.

Thank you for sending me a copy of this book, I am so grateful and thoroughly enjoyed it.

This was such a wonderfully whimsical read. I will say it did take me some time to get into and some time to get my head around what was going on and who was who. But approximately 20% in this all clicked into place and I was able to enjoy and devour this book without too much thought to the troubles I encountered at the start.

I liked the characters in this book, and I felt like it was easy to build the connections that were needed to enjoy the book to the best of its ability. Whilst the characters felt so different to each other they were so loveable in their own little ways. I found myself egging Aloysia on and just wanted the best for her throughout. The world building and the descriptions made me want to dive straight into the world and spend some time with the characters. The creatures in this book need a special mention. I would like one of each please Samantha and if I could have my very own cat dragon that would be very much appreciated thank you very much!

I am going to be recommending this book to all of my bookish friends in real life and online because I really do feel like it is a book that everybody needs to read.

What a great find this was! A wonderful story and just lets appreciate that cover for a moment! Beautiful!

Anyone who has read my reviews before, knows I love to be able to visualise what is happening in a book, be able to see the characters and where they are. This one took that one step further, this was like a movie playing within my mind. Whenever I put it down it was like hitting pause on a full colour, full action movie, then restarting it was straight back into the immersive action.

Aloysia is busy, single-handedly running her farm, while dealing with her ancestors as prattling pumpkins and trying to find her feline familiar! However when something goes amiss with the towns Guardian, she and best friend Ivy’s brother, Hollis, must go on a dangerous, magical quest to help save the town!

I did find it took a little time to fully get into the story, but that was getting to know all the characters, where they lived, their magic and the creatures around them. Once in I was fully invested and found it hard to put down, especially the last third.

This book is whimsical, magical and enchanting, it draws you in, awakens your imagination and takes you far away from the world as we know it.

The characters are all wonderful and well developed, Aloysia meets some fantastic people along the way, all of whom become firm favourites.

Overall this is definitely one to get lost in, forget what you know of the world and open your mind up to beautiful Cat Dragons and other mystical creatures. I hope we get to meet these characters again.

I went into this one following a string of heavier fantasy novels as a refreshing break of sorts, expecting a cozy little fantasy to bring out the Autumnal vibes I’m craving lately. This book delivered all of my cozy cottagecore witchy desires, but it also gave so much more.

I think I would be quite distraught if an adorably dangerous Cat Dragon had not yet chosen to spend its life by my side, but this is a tale that shows everything that is supposed to happen WILL happen, just in its own time. This book explores friendships, purpose and self-discovery wrapped in a whimsical adventure. I went into this one pretty burnt out, so I loved being able to just follow along in this whimsical world as they plod along on their magical tasks. It was a fun and fantastically descriptive tale of found-family and cozy magic that left me feeling the same way as that first brisk Autumn day wrapped in a blanket and fluffy socks, sipping away on hot drinks.

The book was slower paced which fit perfectly with what I was looking for and lets you sink into Tangleroot Valley in the most magical way. Crow was absolutely brilliant, and let’s be honest, no one in their right mind is ever going to turn down a Cat Dragon, the most chaotic and curious mix imaginable. The creatures introduced are more than just “pets”, and their distinct personalities really shine through here.

Thank you to Samantha Birch and the publishing/NetGalley team for allowing me the opportunity to give an advance review of this book. Cat Dragon was delightfully charming and gave me all the whimsical, cozy Autumn vibes I was hoping for, earning a comforting 5/5 star rating perfect for anyone wanting a jumpstart into the season of mists and mellow fruitfulness ✨

I have never read a cosy fantasy book before....well maybe i have but never one as lovely and whimsical as the Cat Dragon!

Immediately we meet Aloysia Papplewick and she is a witch, the only problem is she still doesn't have a familiar even after many attempts to find one. The magical people of Tangleroot valley don't have just any familiars they rely on their Cat Dragons!

Aloysia ends up having to go on an adventure along with Hollis, who is Ivy's (her best friend) brother and well with a bit of forced proximity sparks start to fly.

I really loved the world building and the slow burn romance and i especially loved meeting Littlewick, the lovely cat dragon!

Highly recommend

This would be a super cute cosy Autumnal read. If you love cosy, whimsical fantasy then you will enjoy this one. Talking creatures, an enchanted village, a fairly fast paced plot, a witch FMC who’s facing challenges that others are not as she can’t bond with a cat-dragon. I love witchy reads and this was cute.

Cat Dragon is a whimsical and cozy fantasy that captures the charm of cottagecore magic, adorable animal companions, and heartwarming friendships. At the heart of the story is Aloysia, a young witch in Tangleroot Valley who has yet to bond with her magical familiar, a cat dragon, something every other witch seems to master with ease. When disaster strikes the valley, Aloysia is thrown into an unexpected quest alongside Hollis, her best friend’s brother, leading them through magical lands filled with danger, wonder, and maybe even a bit of romance.

There’s so much to love here. The world of Tangleroot is vivid and beautifully imagined, the magical creatures (especially Littlewick the cat dragon) are endlessly charming, and the atmosphere is steeped in autumnal coziness. The cast is diverse and likeable, with even minor characters leaving an impression. The story has a nice mix of mystery, adventure, and emotional depth, all wrapped up in a comforting magical world.

That said, the book isn’t without its issues. The pacing starts slow and some transitions between scenes feel abrupt or unclear. The writing style, while lyrical and unique, occasionally leans too heavily into obscure vocabulary and awkward phrasing, which can pull readers out of the story. The romance subplot also feels underdeveloped and somewhat unnecessary to the main arc, though it does add a touch of sweetness.

Despite a few bumps in execution, Cat Dragon remains a fun and heartfelt read, especially for fans of cozy, low-stakes fantasy with a magical animal twist. Perfect for curling up with during the fall season, this is a charming debut with a lot of potential and one that will especially appeal to lovers of books like The Spellshop or Legends & Lattes.

2.5⭐️

Cat Dragon's premise was so enchanting, and I was ready to dive into this magically whimsical cosy fantasy, but unfortunately, it wasn't for me.
The writing style wasn't what I expected. I got the impression the author was trying to give us an epic high fantasy storyline whilst keeping the cosy vibe, and it just wasn't working for me personally. I felt some parts were too descriptive when it wasn't needed, the pacing felt a little all over the place, resulting in the plot escalating from 'let's relax and enjoy this quest' to 'the world is ending' far too quickly. Plot twists and key moments were happening out of the blue and without much context or explanation, making it feel less authentic. There was so much packed into this book that it was beginning to feel over saturated. I didn't relate or feel a connection to the characters. Nothing about them stood out. The romantic element, while obvious, also felt so out of place. It was as though it was quickly added in before it was too late. If you edited some tiny parts towards the end regarding the MC's relationship, then I don't see why this couldn't have been put forward as a YA fantasy rather than an adult.

Thank you to NetGalley, One More Chapter, and Harper Collins for the e-arc in exchange for an honest review.

Cat Dragon is a cozy fantasy that includes a witch and Cat Dragons and a whole bunch of other magical characters.

I’ve had so much fun joining Aloysia and Hollis on their adventures.

The world they’re from is full of so many different magical creatures and talking pumpkins, which had me laughing away. It was fun trying to imagine everything that was going on.

This author brought us a world that was built up so beautifully, you could clearly see in your mind the world of Tangleroot.

I’ll definitely be giving more of her books a read in the future. The storyline was great as were the characters.