Cat Dragon by Samantha Birch

✦ BLURB ✦

‘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.’

In the whimsical world of Tangleroot Valley, magic flows like the seasons, and every witch has her cat dragon – except Aloysia Papplewick.

She’s far from bonding with her fiery feline familiar, and with her magical farm in chaos, her prattling pumpkin patch meddling in her life and the annual Harvest Festival to prepare for, Aloysia has enough to handle – even before her best friend’s insufferable brother, Hollis, brings danger and distraction to her door.

When she and Hollis are whisked away on a quest to a mysterious mountain, Aloysia must contend with magic, mayhem – and a spark she never expected.

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The pumpkins talk. The dragon sulks. The farm’s on fire. It’s going great.

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✶ PRE-READING ✶

Aloysia Papplewick, a magical farmer with a meddling pumpkin patch and a problematic cat dragon? I was expecting warm-and-whimsical vibes, a sprinkle of chaos, and maybe some low-stakes romance brewing under the autumn leaves. I also suspected I’d be tempted to assign personalities to every single magical vegetable.

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✶ POST-READING ✶

As I thought...
This was a classic cosy fantasy setup, with a small community, soft magic, and a deeply likable but slightly overwhelmed heroine. Aloysia's farm-life troubles, paired with magical mishaps, gave me those low-stakes-but-not-no-stakes feels that cosy fantasy does so well. Also: talking produce should be in more books.

It surprised me by...
Taking a while to unspool, but then absolutely running with its more adventurous arc. Once the quest kicks in, it reveals a clever magical system, surprising emotional depth, and some sly humour tucked between the sweetness. And the relationship dynamic? Very much a "he annoys me... but also maybe I’d die for him" situation.

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✦ RECOMMENDATIONS ✦

📚 FOR FANS OF

• Legends & Lattes by Travis Baldree

• The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches by Sangu Mandanna

• Kiki’s Delivery Service 

 

✦ MUSIC PAIRING ✦

Because sometimes, the heart of a story plays out like a song.

🎵 Featured Song: “Home” by Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros - whimsical, wandering, and heartfelt.
🎶 Vibe Album: Sufjan Stevens – Illinois - a patchwork of weird, sweet, melancholic, and magical.
🎧 Artist Recommendation: Florence + The Machine (for that earthy magic and spark of chaos).

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✧ VIBE CHECK ✧

🎨 Colour Palette: pumpkin orange, dragon-scale emerald, misty lilac.
🎬 Soundtrack: Stardust meets Kiki’s Delivery Service. (yes again, it just fits)
🌸 Season: Autumn on the edge of winter.
💭 Mood: Whimsical, stubborn, quietly brave.
🌰 Scent: Spiced pumpkin, singed parchment, and cat fur.

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★ TAROT CARD PULLED ★

9 of Wands – Light Seer’s Tarot
This is the card of the battle-weary but unyielding—wounded, yes, but still standing, and still ready to face whatever comes next. Much like the figure in the card, Aloysia faces a cascade of magical messes, emotional upheaval, and one very inconvenient spark of romance… and she refuses to be beaten by any of it. This card captures her grit, her stubborn resilience, and the quiet fury of someone who’s not going down with her farm.

Cat Dragon publishes on the 14th August, 2025. I received a free copy and am giving an honest review.