Cat Dragon by Samantha Birch

'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.'

Welcome to the whimsical world of Tangleroot Valley, where magic thrives in every corner, and witch Aloysia Papplewick tends to her Prattling Pumpkin patch. But there's one thing Aloysia doesn't have - her familiar. The magical folk of the valley take flight astride and depend upon their majestic yet adorable companions - cat-dragons. Fluffy yet fierce, playful but protective, each cat-dragon is a unique blend - which is rumoured to say something about the witch or wizard it bonds with, and perhaps even predict their future. Aloysia has failed thirteen times already to bond with her own - until now - and no sooner has she done so than the two of them are whisked away on a quest to protect the valley...

Embrace the magic as this delightful tale weaves a cozy spell of adventure, self-discovery, friendship and romance. For fans of Studio Ghibli, Harry Potter, The Spellshop and cottagecore.

Samantha Birch is a British author and writer of cozy video games, beginning with prehistoric shopkeeping and life sim Amber Isle. She was a copywriter and a journalist for titles including GLAMOUR and Brides before moving into fiction. This is her first fantasy novel, and the realisation of a childhood dream.