Samantha Birch has created a deeply woven world with rich details. I found it easy to lose myself in the adventure when everything was explained so thoroughly.

Aloysia was an interesting character to read about. A homebody that is thrust into an adventure of her lifetime. Out of her depth she is saddled with a partner during her mission- Hollis. Hollis is Ivy’s brother, and has never seem particularly fond of Aloysia. She’s not particularly fond of Hollis either, so when she is unwillingly saddled with him as a protector she is not happy. There is a minor romantic plot between Hollis and Aloysia that the book leaves off with them deciding to be together. It develops slowly, and I found the fantasy plot to be the dominant point of the entire book. Which is what I was expecting.
Along the way of their journey they meet three people who help them with their mission. Lan who is wicked smart and helpful, as well as an excellent negotiator. Shikha who is giving and open, and loves any animal she comes across.
Both women are deep wells of knowledge.
Then there is Eckhardt who is facing his own problems, and as the Shepherd is desperately trying to figure out a way to fix everything.
I found Aloysia to be an interesting character to read about. She is in her thirties and yet she hasn’t experienced much besides taking care of her familial home and property. She takes deep pride in her greenhouse and her knowledge of plants. She’s also alone, I don’t believe her parents are still alive and her only real connection in town is Ivy. Yet when she throws herself and the rest of the town into a predicament she does not hesitate to throw herself into the mission to save the town. I was glad Hollis stepped up to be protection because I do believe she would have been eaten alive in the first day. She is incredibly smart and cunning, butsometimes you just need some muscle to help ease the journey. Also Littlewick adores Hollis. So I was on board for whatever Littlewick wants.

I was super excited to receive an ARC of this book. It was right up my alley, cozy fantasy, witches, romance, cats that are dragons! What a vibe. Once I started reading it though I found it very hard to keep engaged or care about any of the main characters . It took me a while to get through this book which is why my review is quite late.

I don't think this writing style is for me. I didn't like the excessive use of italics and full caps used on every page. Everyone is yelling for some reason. The author uses italics a lot and usually that's for when someone is thinking, but in this case I couldn't tell if the character's where thinking or if they were just explaining things to the reader. The main character, Aloysia, was pretty annoying, she's not someone I would want to engage with in real life so reading about her was not a good time. I don't understand why Hollis and Aloysia didn't like each other to begin with? It wasn't very clear and I wasn't rooting for them or believed they ever liked each other.

The world did seem super interesting and I could get the cozy vibes but I just couldn't immerse myself when everyone was acting terrible and saying things I couldn't understand and talking at each other with their eyebrows but not speaking out loud. The only things I really did like was the Crow. He was great and super funny and stole the whole show for me. I would read a book about his adventures. And the cat dragons I would love one please and thank you.

This book also read like a YA novel and I was expecting an adult book and I believe its marketed as an adult book. No one was an adult here though.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the arc.

This book had a lot of potential, but fell flat in its delivery for me.

This book sounded so cute and cozy, and the characters were eccentric and engaging. However, that’s where it ends for me. I feel like there were a lot of gaps in the book: I never fully understood the magical world and its politics driving the story. I didn’t buy the love story – it’s kind of an enemies (but they both secretly have feelings for each other) to lovers, but I didn’t see any growth or engagement into how the two characters fall for each other. I felt confused about the ending.

Saying that, here’s what I did like about the book: I loved the cozy world, and would have happily spent more time in it if I could see more of it. I wanted to understand more about the prattling pumpkins, how the magic and non magic worlds existed, how the politics between the three very different areas worked together, and more about the role of a witch’s hat. It felt like the books had a lot of vibes, and if there was just an extra layer of depth, this would be a knock out. I really wanted to love this book. I also want to acknowledge that maybe it just wasn’t the time for me to read this book. Others that I saw in reviews, loved this book and took what they needed from the story.

All in all this book has a sweet premise and I’m optimistic that the author will continue to refine their writing.

This was such a cute little read, that I'm so glad I got to experience. A solid 4 star read, I think this is one that any enjoyer of cozy fantasy could pick up and have a great time with. Cute, atmospheric, and cozy Its a perfect read for the upcoming fall season

Like Kiki’s Delivery Service meets Pokémon, Cat Dragon is a cozy adventure romp through a fantasy world with an ecosystem of intriguing magical flora and fauna to be discovered. The story’s main strength is it’s wondrous and immersive word building, we start at Tangleroot, a small town held together by magic, where we meet our protagonist Aloysia, a witch who specializes in plant magic. From there we trek into a forest full of poison, a vibrant bazaar full of magical goods, an inn only reached by flight, and other such delights. The stars of the fantastic world building however, are the aforementioned flora and fauna. Along with the titular cat dragons, I loved the fantasy creatures and plants that the author created, there’s a lot of intriguing lore attached to them as well that plays huge roles in the story. Nature magic lovers, this is for you! There’s also a diverse cast of characters who speak multiple languages, and I really liked the idea of linguistics and communication being its own category of magic to specialize in. In the author’s note, it’s mentioned that she did her best to research the languages used, and had a consultant as well, so I’m assuming any mistakes will be ironed out in the final copy. There is a very small romance subplot between Aloysia and her best friend’s brother Hollis, I wish there had been a little bit more development and interaction on that front. I also wish Hollis’s character had more page presence. Finally, special mention for the talking pumpkins and sentient greenhouse plants, because I liked them. While this is aimed at an adult audience, with protagonists in their 30s, young adult readers can definitely enjoy it as well. The last few sentences set up the potential for a sequel, but this can still be read as a stand-alone as the main plot wraps up, however, I think we’ll want to visit again. Thank you to HarperCollins Canada and NetGalley for the eARC.

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.

What a ride. This was an adventure which reminded me of a RPG. A quest which started out with two and ended up as an adventuring party with familiars. A cozy fantasy with low stakes. Cat Dragon was a pleasant and enjoyable read. I will look out for the author's next book.
I thank the publisher for a copy of this book via Netgalley for my unbiased consideration.

Honestly struggling to review this book. I liked the premise and characters quiet a bit. However the e-arc of this book contains quite a few spelling, grammatical, and formatting errors that made it very hard to follow along with the story and kept pulling me out of the narrative. I hope the finished copy sees some more editing because I see the potential for this cozy fantasy, but as it is it's probably closer to a 3.5.

What a cute and cozy read this was. I do think the best time to read this one is in the autumn with an cozy sweater and warm beverage! I will probably reread again this fall! The world building was just perfect and I super hope book 2 is coming!!!

Received an early copy, thanks to the publisher and NetGalley.

I DNF'd about 30% in. I don't think the writing style is for me although I'm willing to give this book another shot down the road. I love the idea of the book and the cover is adorable.

It was a pleasant and heartwarming read. A slow-paced quest through a magical world filled with charming characters and adorable creatures.

Aloysia is a magicobotanist witch. With the help of her crow companion, a possible new familiar, and her best friend's brother, she sets out on a quest to save Tangleroot Valley and its magic. They will meet new characters along the way who will help them overcome the challenges.

We become attached to each new character, cat-dragon and other creatures. But it is Aloysia who makes the whole story with her personality, her empathy and her courage.

I really enjoyed the world-building. Everything is magical: the villagers, the animals, the plants, and the lore surrounding their traditions and way of life. I particularly enjoyed the process of selecting a familiar, which was unique.

I didn't see the twist at the end coming but it was perfect. If you're looking for a cozy read this fall, this is the one for you.

Thank you to NetGalley and Harper Collins Canada for the eARC

This book was like a warm hug. Would be perfect addition to any cozy reading list.

The characters and world building took a bit to fall in love with, but then I was hooked.

I would love to live in a magical world, gathering friends. Ancestors in my garden & let's not forget Cat Dragons!

A perfect autumn day in book form.

Aloysia Papplewick is a magicobotanical witch who is tending her fantastical pumpkin patch in her beloved Tangleroot Valley. As a witch, she should have a familiar in the form of a cat dragon by now, but somehow it's never happened for her. What happens next will take her on the adventure of a lifetime alongside a cast of unique characters, including her best friend's brother Hollis.

This book warmed my heart and made me so happy. Aloysia is an endearing main character, and the magical world in the book is one that makes the reader beg for more as you go through the book. The book takes readers to places beyond my wildest imagination, making me feel as if I was alongside Aloysia and Hollis as they gathered companions along the way.

After the fantastic world-building of this book, I truly hope that a sequel is in the works!

Thank you to NetGalley and Harper Collins Canada: One More Chapter for the opportunity to read this book for free in exchange for my honest review.

When they said this was like if chai latte was a book, they weren't kidding!
It's cute, cozy and gives off autumn vibes in the best way possible