The Little Dragon's Witch

by E.M. Swann

Eirlys Honeybrooke runs a sanctuary for magical creatures.
Prince Lyall Viremont is about to become her most troublesome rescue.
Hidden deep within the forest, Eirlys has made a home for the magic the rest of the world would rather hunt. Mosslings tangle around her ankles, pegacats curl in her lap, and one particularly judgemental firefly fox has claimed her bed. Hurt, hunted, or simply with nowhere else to go, every creature that finds its way to Eirlys gets the same
Somewhere safe to belong.
So when a tiny lavender dragon appears in desperate need of help, taking him in is hardly a decision at all.
Unfortunately, the dragon comes with a prince.
Prince Lyall Viremont is rude, arrogant, foul-mouthed, and cursed to become a dragon no bigger than a cat whenever he gets too angry, frightened, frustrated—or anything else he would rather not discuss.
For a man with Lyall’s temper, this is catastrophically unmanageable.
Eirlys is about to make it worse.
ANGER TURNS HIM INTO A DRAGON.
DESIRE IS PROVING FAR MORE INCONVENIENT.
Hunted by his own guards and running out of time to break his curse, Lyall needs to return to the kingdom he fled.
Eirlys should have every reason to stay behind. Galdur hunts magic in all its forms—witches, wickens, creatures, and anyone unfortunate enough to possess it.
But her father ventured into that same kingdom weeks ago.
And he never came home.
So Eirlys leaves the safety of her sanctuary and follows a prince she absolutely should not trust into a kingdom that would kill her if it knew what she was.
The closer they get, the harder Lyall falls for the witch he should never have needed—and the harder he falls, the more impossible his curse becomes to control.
But Lyall is keeping secrets.
And while Eirlys is searching for her father, she has no idea the prince beside her may know far more about his disappearance than he is willing to admit.
THE LITTLE DRAGON’S WITCH IS A WHIMSICAL SLOW-BURN ROMANTASY FILLED WITH MAGICAL CREATURES, SHARP BANTER, CURSED PRINCES, DANGEROUS SECRETS, AND A DRAGON SMALL ENOUGH TO CARRY.
**A Note for Readers**
The Little Dragon's Witch is a cosy, whimsical fantasy on the surface, filled with magical creatures, a tiny dragon and a charming sanctuary. However, darker themes lie beneath its whimsical exterior, and the story gradually ventures into darker fantasy territory. Please bear this in mind before stepping into Galdur.

Genres: Fantasy, Cozy, Romance

469 pages, Kindle Edition

Expected publication November 24, 2026

About the author

E.M. Swann writes romantic fantasy filled with magic, strange creatures, questionable decisions, and men who are generally far more trouble than they are worth.
A lifelong animal lover, she has a particular soft spot for cows and shares her home with two cats, Winnie and Velociraptor. The latter of whom probably tells you everything you need to know about her. Her obsession with dinosaurs began somewhere between The Land Before Time and Jurassic Park and despite having several decades to grow out of it, has only become significantly worse.
When she isn't writing, she can usually be found reading, spending time with animals, rewatching Jurassic Park for an entirely reasonable number of times, researching dinosaurs she absolutely does not need to know more about, or starting another book idea when she already has several perfectly good ones waiting to be finished.
She firmly believes cows are underappreciated, dinosaurs make almost everything better, and there is always room in a fantasy novel for one more magical creature.
The Little Dragon’s Witch is her debut novel.
You can follow E.M. Swann online or join her newsletter for upcoming releases, character art, behind-the-scenes extras, and whatever creature has most recently taken over her imagination.

Reviews

[Krista Kimball · Rating 3.25 out of 5]

Was this a perfect book? No,not really. But something was captivating and made me finish this book pretty quick. I love our FMC. She is kindness and her animal companions are so fun. The secondary characters are worth the read. I found myself wanting to know everything about Isodel.

Our MMC is definitely shady. However, he didn’t completely disgust me. I want to see his redemption arc.

Know going in that it leaves you on a cliff hanger. It was a deterrent for me but I didn’t know going in this wasn’t mean to be a stand alone.

[Caitlin · Rating 3 out of 5]

The author was kind enough to send me an advanced review copy. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

I want to preface this with that despite my lower rating I loved this as a cozy fantasy read, the first 280 pages are perfect. The first page reeled me in and I was hooked. I would have finished this in one day.

I loved the magic system and all the little creatures. The world building was great and I was picturing a Studio Ghibli-esque charm mixed with the wit and humor of The Princess Bride. I love getting behind an FMC who is an all around good and kind person, a much needed strength in a world that can be cruel. The MMC was a prick from the get go which was understood since we are led to believe he is cursed and perhaps it was given to him to help him learn and improve upon his temper...text book spoiled prince who is used to getting what he wants.

The way he would man-handle her was our first red flag if not the blatant disregard for her feelings wasn't. But again, I thought ok - this gives us room to grow? Yeah, no...

Back to my earlier comment about a perfect story up until pg. 280 and what subsequently caused me to stop reading for the day.









SPOILERS AHEAD!!!











He kills her Dad!

One motivation besides the FMC being an all around good person is the attempt to find her Father which she brings up to our MMC multiple times who is knowingly withholding the truth. He lies to her about it at every turn and this marketed cozy fantasy goes right out the window as we are led down to a literal torture chamber and dungeon where the MMC is known to dissect and torture the cute little creatures our FMC has spent her life protecting. HE CARVED HER DAD'S FLESH?!? Which she sees pinned and hanging against the wall. What?

What threw me off more was how unserious everyone kept carrying on...Yeah, she was distraught and sad but then everyone is still throwing around witty comments as if we are still in this cozy fantasy together? Yes she runs back to her house but then upon the MMC coming back to her - they rekindle feelings and she cannot fight her attraction? Hello? He killed your Dad lady, which they bring up multiple times and he reiterates in his own POV.

Marketing this as a cozy romance is off putting in the way things carry on after we find out this guy is a psychopath. We end the book STILL believing her Father is dead and the MMC not redeeming himself in anyway.

The Dad better be the fox.

Anyway, I cannot wait for the second installment.

To change this rating I very much hope the prince is lying and omitting more information which he has done and is known to do, or her Father is really Thimble...

[rainsbookreads · Rating 2 out of 5]

Advanced reader copy received from the author

This book was marketed as a cozy fantasy with whimsical vibes. We have a witch who has a sanctuary for the magical creatures in the forest, where she inevitably met a little dragon, a.k.a the grumpy prince.

I liked the premise and the vibes for the early parts of the book. We have a sunshine fmc and a very grumpy and brooding mmc. The creatures were a really cozy add to the story!

However, the more the plot progresses, the more they deviate from the initial story. All of a sudden, we take a more grotesque and emotionally stressful route.



*POTENTIAL SPOILERS*



I was not a fan of the constant sexual innuendos that the mmc has in his POV, as well as his judgement that fmc is "soft and cannot harm a butterfly" even when she claims that she's able to defend herself. It feels very... invalidating in a way, as this goes on all throughout the book.

On the other hand, fmc didn't really help with how she somehow stayed attracted to her father's killer. The writing felt a little bit counterintuitive, especially when the fmc uses that exact reason to stay away from mmc, and then ends up in multiple almost intimate situations. I get that the point of this was to build up tension, but I think there could've been a different way to portray it. Maybe if the mmc wasn't as outright with his physical want for her, it would've hit just right. Maybe I was looking for a little more bond and connection other than being physically close. Also, I thought the prince wasn't aware of his magic? We didn't even get any hints regarding his gained knowledge, and we were just hit by the sudden change in size at the end.

Overall, my favorite characters were Thimble and the griffin. They were the most sensible and humorous characters in the book. I hope things get a little clearer in the next one as the ending didn't really give us much to go off of >_<

[Jessica · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you E.M. Swann for the eARC.

I stumbled across the cover of this book whilst browsing through bookstagram and thought it was the most adorable cover I'd ever seen. Incorporate a riveting synopsis about a witch, magical creatures and a Prince that turns into a tiny, purple dragon; I was sold straight away.

Our FMC is Eirlys, a positively adorable witch with colourful bubble magic. She dwells in a sanctuary for magical creatures in the forest with her father. They're a nurturing family, protecting any creatures she discovers. Eirlys is the sweetest character I have had the pleasure of reading about, roaming through the world like it's sunshine and rainbows. She is a fabulous character, her warming nature has made her a new beloved FMC of mine. She has the overarching drive to protect the creatures no matter what, I cherish her so much. From her simple beginnings caring for her creatures, to attempting to aid Lyall with his curse, to all of the trials and tribulations she faces along the way with her friends. Throughout it all, she remains true to herself; her kindhearted nature never withers despite moments where having an alternative opinion would be the more popular choice.

Crown Prince of Galdur, Prince Lyall Viremont is our MMC. A prince who was cursed by a witch, transforming into a loaf sized, purple dragon when he isn't in control of his emotions. He is overbearing, stubborn, rude and ungrateful, but I love him. He tracks down Eirlys, yet he is horribly hostile towards her. Due to her nature she happily obliges, willingly offering her assistance to him. As time progresses, his walls gradually reveal the truth, he learns to appreciate the beauty of his surroundings. A stark contradiction to the methods and procedures he was instructed on by his father whilst growing up. Lyall is a horrifically flawed character, who has committed many unquestionable acts. However, you believe that he cares, that underneath that loaf sized ball of emotions is someone striving to atone for the sins of his past.

Outside of the two main characters, there is another character that I adored. He's called Corwin, he is Lyall's best and oldest friend. The quintessential comical friend, continuously providing humour to our characters lives when required. The majority of the moments he was speaking, I was cracking up. Particularly the cave scene, I was crying from laughing so hard. Aside from his humour, he is thoughtful, compassionate, considerate and willing to do whatever is required of him. He was so entertaining to read, I relished experiencing his happiness and humour pouring from the pages.

My favourite element of this entire book was all of the creatures populating the world. The manner in which E.M. Swann devised and portrayed them was so cute, I'd love to care for all of them in my personal sanctuary. Amongst my favourites include the Mosslings, Pegacats and the Firefly foxes; in particular one specific fox. Thimble has rapidly ascended the ranks of my favourite animal sidekicks. He was adorable, feisty, protective, quirky and an overall menace. Whenever he featured on the page, I fell in love with him a fraction more. I wish he existed, I'd love to have him alongside me.

Overall, what an utterly outstanding book! The first half of the book is so endearing, it was a beautiful and whimsical read. Later on when you cross the half way point, the story delves deeper and the dark underbelly of the world reveals itself. There are still flashes of whimsy, but the story becomes more routed in the harsh reality of their world as Eirlys travels further away from her sanctuary. The characters, the world building, the magic and the magical creatures were crafted to perfection. The ending was fantastic, I'm ecstatic for the arrival of book 2. I can't wait to witness what happens next with our characters and creatures. Thank you E.M. Swann for this amazing book!

[allymj · Rating 5 out of 5]

i adored this book so much! 🫧

the little dragon’s witch has such a beautiful, whimsical, cottagecore feel to it. the magical creatures, the sanctuary, the little details woven throughout.

i particularly appreciated the darker side of the story. beneath all that whimsy is a world with some genuinely ugly attitudes towards witches & that contrast is intentional. the sanctuary feels so special precisely because of what exists outside it. i wouldn’t necessarily describe this as an entirely cosy fantasy, despite how beautifully it captures that feeling.

reading other reviews, the MMC deserves a little more consideration. i understand why some readers might find him frustrating, but i think it’s important to consider the environment he’s grown up in, the beliefs he’s had instilled in him and the fact that he’s also cursed. he’s approaching an unfamiliar world through everything he’s been conditioned to believe. THAT alone gives us an understanding of where it comes from. i don’t think we’re necessarily supposed to agree with him, or even like him all the time. personally, i find it far more interesting when a character has deeply ingrained beliefs that need to be challenged. otherwise, what room is there for meaningful growth? .. there’s an entire worldview that needs to be reconsidered, which makes the progression of their relationship all the more satisfying.

for a debut novel, i think e.m. swann has created something really lovely. it’s whimsical, funny, romantic and occasionally darker

such a gorgeous read, and i’m already looking forward to more from this world. 🐉🩷

[Aurie · Rating 2 out of 5]

My first ARC, and I'm genuinely sad this one wasn't for me.

First of all, a huge thank you to the author for the opportunity to read this ARC! As my first experience with an ARC, I really wanted to love this book, but unfortunately, it just wasn't the right fit for me.

The positives...

The writing is descriptive, engaging, and easy to read. While I felt it could benefit from a little editing and less repetition, I could see the potential here. The world is genuinely interesting, and I especially loved the cottage and all the magical animals Eirlys was taking care of. Honestly, I wish we'd had MORE of that!

There are some witty, adorable moments, and the humour genuinely made me smile. I can absolutely see the potential for this writing style to develop into something wonderfully quirky, funny, and magical.

The negatives...

The swearing was a big issue for me. I'm certainly not against characters swearing, and I think it can be effective when used to convey strong emotions or reveal something about a character. Here, though, it often felt excessive and unnecessary, and it eventually became distracting rather than impactful.

And then there's the MMC.

Oh, dear. I wanted to like him, but his behaviour was such a turn-off for me. He came across as childish, immature, and downright rude. If a man spoke to me like that in real life, we'd be having a VERY different conversation. Unfortunately, being attractive (or even being a cute little dragon) can only get you so far, and his looks simply weren't enough to make up for his personality.

The FMC was another struggle. Eirlys, sweetheart, being kind doesn't mean you have to be a doormat! You can be compassionate, caring, and understanding while still standing up for yourself. I really struggled with how she handled certain situations.

And the biggest surprise? These characters are in their late twenties?! Because, honestly, I spent a good portion of my reading experience thinking they were teenagers. Their behaviour, thought processes, and interactions felt much younger than their actual ages, and I just couldn't get past that disconnect.

Final thoughts

Ultimately, I decided to DNF at 25%. As much as I wanted to push through, I wasn't enjoying the reading experience enough to continue, and I think it's okay to acknowledge when a book just isn't for you.

That said, I genuinely appreciate the author's effort, creativity, and the opportunity to read this ARC. I can see the potential in the world and the writing, and I hope the author continues developing this style because I think it could grow into something truly fun, charming, and unique.

I'm sorry this one didn't work for me, but I sincerely hope it finds readers who adore it! And if the author continues writing, I'd absolutely be open to trying another book in the future.

Thank you again for the ARC opportunity, and I wish the author every success with this book and whatever comes next!

[Taylin Fox · Rating 3.75 out of 5]

ARC BOOK READER REVIEW

This was an interesting mix of cozy fantasy and dark romantasy that I'm not fully certain encompassed either to the best of its ability, but I still really enjoyed the story! Real quick thank you to the author for allowing me to read this early and give my feedback.

The book started out giving me cozy vibes that gradually began taking a much darker route, while continuing to mix in this level of innocence that could be genuinely heartbreaking.

It gave me FernGully vibes, especially with the magical atmosphere, interesting world-building, and the relationship the FMC has with nature and the animals around her is just very aligned with our OG fairy - Crysta.

I think where the story struggled for me is how the darker moments were handled. There were some genuinely awful things happening, but I didn't always feel the emotional weight of them. The plot was high stakes, but the characters reactions often felt surprisingly low stakes. I think part of that may be the amount of times 'Oh, cheese and crackers' was used to express when something wasn't going to plan, as well as the general ditziness that the FMC seemed to have - which was very sweet and gave off childlike naïvete or simply being whimsically flippant. It allowed for a continued sense of cozy safety to stay throughout the book, even when things weren't actually safe.

Overall, I liked the story. I thought the combination of cozy fantasy and dark romantasy was interesting, and I enjoyed the magical atmosphere and worldbuilding. I just wish some of the darker elements and emotional consequences had been explored more deeply. Very curious of if there is going to be a book two as well as the end gave more questions then it did answers of everything happening within the kingdom.

[Grace · Rating 5 out of 5]

First of all I wanted to thank the author for providing me with an ARC of this book, I absolutely loved it and can’t wait for more! ❤️

Tropes:
💜 cozy romantasy
🐉 magical creatures
💜 witches
🐉 grumpy x sunshine
💜 a cursed prince who turns into a cat-sized dragon
🐉 soft FMC
💜 rude and arrogant MMC
🐉 he falls first

Before I even started reading this book, I was so excited from seeing all the character art and tropes I immediately saved this to my TBR 📚 and have been hoping it wouldn’t disappoint.

I loved everything from start to finish—from Eirlys’ sanctuary for magical animals 🤗 to Lyall’s temper causing him to turn into a… **redacted for spoilers 🫣 iykyk**

However, I did feel like sometimes the cozy fantasy vibe was a little lost throughout the book and became more plot and romance driven. Although, the tension between Eirlys and Lyall totally makes up for it IMO and I’m totally not complaining. 😊 Also, there were a few plot holes, but hopefully those will be explained in book two. 🤞

I had so much fun reading this book, it genuinely helped me get out of a reading slump. E.M. Swann did such an amazing job for this book, especially for it being her debut novel. I will definitely be reading the second book when it comes out and hope this book and author get more recognition! 💜

[Jessica Thomas · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received this book as an ARC and all thoughts and opinions are my own ✨

This book took me places I NEVER expected to go, and all I have to say is touché, E.M. Swann, you got me!

Eirlys is a witch. Lyall has been cursed into a cat-sized dragon and desperately needs her help, even though his kingdom hunts witches.

Throughout the story I thoroughly enjoyed falling in love with the two MCs and this incredible world. The soft FMC vs. rude MMC dynamic was done so well, but I particularly enjoyed that we got both their POVs from the beginning. Eirlys is a sweet, caring, sometimes ditsy, but hilarious counterpart to Lyall's straightforward and snappy character.

By the first few chapters, I hit a flow state and could not put the book down. The TENSION, people. This is a true slow burn, and it's phenomenally torturous (but so worth it).

Warning: the turn this book takes is wildly unexpected, and I admit, I had to put it down and go to bed. I was furious, and all I kept thinking was, how do we come back from this??

And boy, do we!

If you like whimsy, opposites attract, laugh-out-loud moments, and scenes that have you kicking your feet and slamming the book down before immediately picking it back up, you'll love this book.

[Armageddon Reads · Rating 5 out of 5]

🐉💜

Oh, how I absolutely ADORED this book!

The Little Dragon's Witch is hands down one of the best ARCs I've had the pleasure of reading in quite some time! From the moment I started, I was hooked, finding every spare minute I could to sneak in another chapter.

E.M. Swann has created such an enchanting world, filled with magical creatures, captivating characters, and a story that left me completely invested.

One of my favorite aspects was the stark contrast between our FMC and MMC. Their vastly different personalities made their interactions so refreshing and entertaining, and watching their relationship develop was an absolute delight.

And the romance?! We're talking a SLOOOOOOW burn, but the tension, chemistry, and undeniable pull between these two made every moment worth it. Beneath everything standing in their way, there was this beautiful sense of a love that simply refused to be denied.

And can we PLEASE talk about that ending?!

Because WHAT WAS THAT, E.M. SWANN?! 😭 I was practically screaming in frustration! You cannot leave me like that and expect me to patiently wait for book two!

This magical world has completely stolen my heart, and I cannot wait to lose myself in it again.

Book two cannot come soon enough! 🐉💜

Thank you for the opportunity to read this ARC!

[ArtsyMLE · Rating 2 out of 5]

⭐️⭐️ I fell in love with the start of this cozy fantasy saga. The magical mechanics of this world are darling and so very fun. Grumpy dragon prince + bubbly sunshine witch sounds like a beautiful pairing to me. However, the book takes a turn and becomes disturbing in a way I didn’t feel prepared enough to read. Now I LOVE me some morally gray to morally black MMCs. Mafia mobsters, serial killers, gangsters, stalkers, crime lords, etc. I'll happily take all of those men on a silver platter. However, I feel that Lyall went too far.

While the author does provide trigger warnings, I personally felt they didn’t fully prepare me for the severity of some of the darker themes. I believe that more detailed warnings would help readers make an informed decision before diving into this otherwise enchanting world.

I’d like to make a special note about my favorite character, Thimble. He is the goodest and smartest boi and I want one…. In fact, I want all of Eirlys’s magical friends!!!

Thank you to the author and publisher for providing an advance review copy. All opinions are my own. 🌶️🌶️

[Aubrie · Rating 2.25 out of 5]

ARC Reader
I’ll start off with the good.
The Little Dragon’s Witch was full of whimsy with cute critters and a feisty little dragon. There were also little bits of humour throughout that I really enjoyed and up until around halfway, I was really liking the book.

But..

Lyall is a walking red flag imo. For one, Lyall literally killed/tortured her father but Eirlys doesn’t seem to be clocking it. After some brief anger, she’s back to liking him with only a few lines in her POV saying that she shouldn’t want him but she still does. Something that also turned me off was that in Lyall’s POV there are quite a few lines that feel like he is objectifying the FMC. Also, the FMC’s friend, who is also a witch, was supposed to dislike the prince and his people since they hunt down witches, but in the span of a few chapters suddenly they’re all buddy-buddy even though she knows that Lyall killed Eirlys’s father. I didn’t really understand how her feelings could change so fast, especially when she joins the others in teasing Eirlys.

Although I loved the concept and the beginning, as the story went on I found that the MMC’s actions are too unforgivable in my opinion. By the end, while the plot twist was nice, I feel like there was no resolution to the issue of the MMC’s morality.

[Kate Voisey · Rating 4.5 out of 5]

I loved this book! It was NOT what I was expecting from the title or cover (I just knew there was a dragon involved, so I had to read it). The storyline and characters are complex and there are so many twists and turns. The ending was definitely not what I was expecting, which I loved, because it wasn't predictable. I loved the characters and the mythical creatures too.
I am super excited to eventually read the next part of Eirlys and Lyall's story.

[Emilia Rizzi · Rating 2.75 out of 5]

ARC!!!
I had a very hard time with this book. I really wanted to love it. The setting and the world building were the things that got me hooked in the book. I loved the creatures, the cozy vibe of the first half of the book, and the plot seemed to be quite interesting and straight forward. It was refreshing to have such a kind hearted FMC.
The MMC, though..... Oh dear gods, I wanted to kill him.... A walking red flag, not foul mouthed, but 100% foul tempered and foul mannered. The way he was treating her up until the 46(?)% mark of the book had me wanting to DNF. I disliked the instant lust from his part. I really was not rooting for them... Up until the 47% mark .... That was when I saw the tiniest change and I really believed that maybe this can actually evolve naturally to something beautiful.
And then we reach the moment where everything went downhill......
The writing was ok, although it felt at times like reading the same pages over and over. A lot of repetition regarding thoughts, emotional state, even dialogues.... But my biggest issue were the plot holes!!! Spoilers ahead


Spoilers!!!!!!














We see our MMC throughout the first half of the book not trusting magic, hating everything magical and being hostile towards anything remotely non human. The assumption is "he's cursed by a witch and was taught to hate them" and it all makes sense. Then the curse is broken and we see his mother, the queen, not only knowing the correct terminology for a male witch (wicken) but cast something on him that he chooses to ignore at the time. He also has a witch mark. And when the FMC tells him that he is one of them, he refuses to even acknowledge it. So far this gave me a prince who is ignorant regarding his actual heritage. Then we visit the dangeon and all hell brakes loose. And we see his hatred for magic and magical creatures. And it's at this point that I decided that these two ending up together is going to be forced, especially because he not only killed her father, but also skinned him alive to preserve his mark!!!!!!! I mean how the f are they supposed to survive this???? Then we learn that some curses change your natural state. Meaning that he most likely was an actual dragon and the curse was him turning tiny. That gave me the impression that again he is a shifter by nature, but doesn't know it yet. Especially considering that he doesn't acknowledge his mother's abilities. And then we reach the f-ing cliffhanger at the end of the book, where he admits to her that he lied about the nature of the curse, and proceeds to turn into a full sized dragon AT WILL!!!!
This made no sense!!! The murdering part and the lies you could tell.... He's inner thoughts and his body language gave them away.... But him knowing that he is a shifter, he is a wicken, felt so completely out of place.....

I do want to continue to book 2 when it releases, just to see how these holes will be filled.... I am hopeful....

[gee · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’d like to thank E. M. Swann for an eARC of this book in return for my open & honest opinion & review.

WHAT A BLOODY BOOK 👏

I honestly don’t even know where to start with this book. I absolutely bloody loved it. I picked it up and almost finished the entire thing in a day, I literally could not put it down. To say that this is the author’s debut novel?!!! I honestly can barely believe it.

If you are looking for a purely whimsical, cutesy & cozy fantasy read, this book is not for you. Whilst it has this at surface level, it actually delves into much deeper, darker topics as the book goes on. Think classic fairytale vibes.

This book is written so so well. It’s immersive, it’s descriptive but not overly so, and it’s just everything I could ask for. The author paints such a vivid, pretty picture and with such ease as well. The writing flows very well and is super easy to follow and some of the descriptions of scenery near the beginning of the book just give such clear, whimsical and magical vibes. I loved it.

I also loved the way that two POVs were written. I thought they integrated very well, and really complemented each other and helped to enhance the story.

The character writing was honestly insane. The different personalities jumped off the page at you and they felt so well thought out and just had so much depth. I loved seeing the relationships develop and the emotions that were evoked from me at certain points because of how well this was done was just next level. I also loved the unique expression of Eirlys’ magic; it felt very Eirlys-coded and fed very nicely into her personality. I also thought the way that her feelings were portrayed through her magic expression was very clever and well thought out.

A key thing I wanted to note was a certain scene towards the middle point of the book. I’m not going to go into details or spoiler it but I wanted to mention it. It was before quite a key point in the book; the scene was written to be very calm, intimate and sensual, and you could just feel that a bomb drop was about to occur. This just made the chapter feel so eerie and suspenseful; I thought it was really well done.

Coming out the end of this book, I definitely have so many questions still that I am hoping to be wrapped up on the second book (obviously this is a given with this being the first in a duology). But I can honestly say I have no idea where this series is going to go and I cannot wait to read the next one. I will be eagerly following E. M. Swann’s writing career after finishing this book.

[Olivia Ellem · Rating 4.25 out of 5]

First I want to say how grateful I am to have received this amazing debut novel as an ARC!

I really enjoyed this book and was immediately hooked from the first chapter.
The author used beautiful imagery to create a cosy, whimsical atmosphere and establish an intriguing magic system with unique creatures.


I feel E.M. Swann did an excellent job of using comedic timing to make the humour feel effortless and, in turn, create moments of levity within the story. I found myself genuinely laughing out loud while reading the book.

I loved the FMC and her sunny, ethereal demeanour. E.M. Swann has been successful in writing a brave, intelligent and kind character with whom I was able to connect with instantly. I liked how Eirlys’s compassion was utilised as a strength throughout the story, and I enjoyed how strong-willed she remained despite her softness.

I really enjoyed the banter between the FMC and MMC and felt they had great romantic chemistry. The pair portrayed a fun grumpy x sunshine dynamic during the first half of the book, however, I feel the relationship started to feel strained and less lighthearted as the plot darkened. Unfortunately, these darker themes felt at odds with the earlier cosy feel, making the book seem slightly incohesive.

I was originally captivated by the prince and thought the author did a great job of portraying him as cold and arrogant, whilst establishing a subtle playfulness . I was hoping to see more growth from Lyall, but after learning of his betrayal and seeing some antagonistic treatment toward Eirlys, I began to feel a little bit disconnected from his character. However, this does leave room for further character development in the following book.

I found Corwin, Isolde and Mielli to be entertaining secondary characters and look forward to seeing their development in the sequel. Corwin’s portrayal aided in creating a more humorous tone in the latter half of the book, which helped balance the darker aspects of the plot.

I felt the plot twist was skilfully done and definitely took me by surprise, leaving the story perfectly poised for the next book. Overall, I think E.M. Swann did an excellent job writing her debut novel and while it wasn’t without any faults, I fell in love with the world she created and look forward to continuing the series when the second book comes out.

[Miranda · Rating 4.75 out of 5]

4.7 stars ONLY cause of what Lyall did and because he’s an asshole 😒

I’m excited for book 2!! I cannot wait to see how Eirlys and Lyall’s relationship grows!

I’m going to jump around a little big here so stay with me!

Shit.. This book… I thought this was going to be cozy AF… it took such a turn.. and ughhh why couldn’t he just tell her what he did?!?? I feel so bad for her.. Her life instantly changed in the span of a month it seems and honestly if he said something to her, It probably would have made everything a little better in the end but they are eventually getting there!

His mom is a little suspicious for my liking… like what was that whole conversation about during the ball 👀👀👀 is she a witch and no one knows?!?? She wasn’t concerned at all that he was “cursed” and made into a dragon when his emotions get out of hand…. And what do you mean she took care of the guards and they won’t be bothering him anymore if/when he transforms again?? SUSPICIOUS AF!!!!

Love her best friend Mielli! She seems like such a fun friend to have!! But strange that the prince doesn’t like her friend snapping at Eirlys for being with him meanwhile he talks to Eirlys worse than Mielli at this current moment 😮‍💨🤌🏻

And what if Lyall only likes Eirlys because of her magic towards creatures 👀👀 like that’s a little suspicious too but maybe I’m thinking too far into it lol

And how come him kissing Isolde made his dragon bigger on the inside but when he kissed Eirlys it didn’t “break his curse” or do anything different with his dragon?? I feel like he was always like this.. which again brings me back to her magic calling him to her and that’s why he likes her

But in the end I have to give it to Lyall. He’s doing everything he can to make her happy and protect her and give her everything she wants/needs. I know there’s no undoing what he did. There’s definitely no way to get passed that but I don’t know end of story I hope they end up together lol 🤷🏻‍♀️

I’m a dark romance girly so as bad as them come they will probably be together anyway and that’s what I like lol

[Atomic Rose · Rating 5 out of 5]

ARC Read

This book wasn't supposed to break me like this.

I am so in love with Eirlys and Lyall. Thimble holds my heart in his angry little paws, how protective he is of Eirlys is heartwarming, and he definitely deserves the whole bed.
The Dynamic between Eirlys and Lyall doesn't feel at all forced like it so easily could've been. They build their relationship gradually, with Eirlys starting as someone who must help everyone, and Lyall hating every second of it.
Until he Doesn't.

I was worried that the second half of the book would be a drag of unnecessary plot, but oh how wrong I was.
The second half of the book was just as brilliant as the first, with even more tension and character development than I thought possible.

It was extremely well written, I love E.M Swann's writing style, and I love how she built this world, it has been so well considered and thought out that you can follow every trail trekked by each character, and their relationships build thoughtfully through the whole story, Each interaction is planned and executed brilliantly, especially with the additional characters (who are so marvellously weaved into the story, they could never be "background characters").

Every page of this book is designed to make you Laugh, Cry, and wonder how something so cosy could destroy you so thoroughly.

I have decided that my favourite quotes have come out of this book, it is equal parts hilarious and serious, but I don't think it was particularly funny for Lord Loafers.

I have been holding out for this book for so long, and now that I have finally read it, it was so worth the wait.

E.M. Swann, I need your next book please, my heart can't handle leaving the magic for so long.

My little purple dragon needs a return and I will be counting the days until I can continue this story 💜

I wish I could give more stars for the brilliance that was The Little Dragon's Witch

[Elara · Rating 1.5 out of 5]

I received a copy of this book as an ARC, this is my honest review.

Dark Fantasy / Romantasy
Magical creatures / Forced proximity / Grumpy x sunshine

At first glance this book is as sweet as its protagonist, Eirlys, but the further you venture into its pages, the more you realise that the adventure you embarked on is much darker than you first thought.

Story summary :
Eirlys is a witch with a magical animal sanctuary. Lyall is a prince cursed to become a small dragon. When he arrives at her sanctuary she helps him without a second thought, agreeing to venture into the kingdom that would kill her if it knew she held magic. But as they get closer things become more complicated. Eirlys is looking for her lost father and Lyall is keeping secrets, he may know far more about her father’s disappearance than he is willing to admit.

Review :
I really wanted to enjoy this book, but I did not expect the very dark turn it took.

The world building and overall writing style were enjoyable, and I fell in love with all of the magical creatures that really came alive through the book, and that’s why the dark switch in plot lines didn’t work for me at all.

I really enjoyed the first part of this book, but I felt like the plot twist could have been better handled or potentially lessened into something that didn’t derail what the characters had built between them up to that point. The beginning of this story is slow with low stakes, and this continues up to about the 50% mark. From this point the story felt out of place and the contrast between the two elements, cozy to very dark, was just too stark. I think that the themes in this book contrast too much and I found the switch between them jarring and very unsettling.

I think this book could appeal to someone looking for a darker story, however that wasn’t what I was expecting going into it as the blurb presents it a sweet cozy fantasy.

[Emma · Rating 5 out of 5]

A cosy, dark fairytale with a Grimm-inspired twist for adults!

Little Dragons Witch is a fantastic debut that completely embraces its description as a cosy dark fairytale. It brought to mind the classic Grimm fairytales, but with a darker, more mature feel that makes the story wonderfully intriguing. There’s also a lovely thread of humour woven throughout, adding charm and lightness to the darker elements and making the reading experience all the more enjoyable.

One of my favourite aspects was the contrast between the two main characters. She brings the light, while he leans very much towards the dark, and the tension between their differing worldviews makes their interactions particularly compelling. They challenge each other’s perspectives, leaving me curious to see how their adventures might change them both. I’m especially interested to discover how the author develops his redemption arc in future instalments, and whether the influence they have on each other will lead to unexpected growth.

The world-building was another real highlight for me. I loved the vivid imagery surrounding the animal sanctuary, the forest, and the magical creatures that inhabit this world. The mosslings were a particular delight! The setting has a wonderfully atmospheric, fairytale quality that makes it easy to become immersed in the story.

Overall, this was an awesome debut with a distinctive atmosphere, intriguing characters, engaging humour, and a magical world I’m keen to revisit. The story has left me curious about what lies ahead for these characters, and I’m already looking forward to the next book. I’m also excited to see what else this author creates in the future.

A wonderful start to what I hope will be a captivating series!

Thank you to the author/publisher for providing me with an advance reader copy. This is my honest and voluntary review.

[Sari Anisa · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is my honest review after finishing reading the e-book copy I received from the author.

Firstly, Thanks to the Author for letting me read a copy of this book before its release. I'm at a loss for words to explain how much I love this book. It is amazing.

I didn't expect to find a magical girl with white hair, magical animals, a beautiful world, and a cat-sized dragon that was so quick to anger. Quite a unique combination. The writing is also beautiful, and comfortable to read. The plot twist wasn't easy to predict, so it felt very surprising. I didn't even realize I was caught in it. For a story about a curse, I really liked how the author presented the concept. The curse is mysterious and incredibly complex. It feels like playing a puzzle, and makes you curious.

The story is sweet, but also tragic. Even though the author gave me a warning, I still wasn't prepared. It was incredibly painful, but some moments were incredibly sweet, peaceful, and hilarious. I love the interactions between each character, especially Crowin and Elyris. They're like spring for our angry dragon. I have to thank Crowin and Eirys, for providing a bit of comedy to this heavy story.

I want to commend the author for successfully leaving me in a dilemma. Because of these two people's relationship, I'm torn between whether to support or oppose them. Their story feels like a ticking time bomb that could explode at any moment. By the way, Eirys is my favorite character, she is beautiful, kind, gentle, adorable and funny. She is also very stubborn and principled. I think Eirys' character makes the story feel very fresh and sweet. I'm so excited for the second book. I just finished it, but I wouldn't mind picking it up again. I'll read it and fall in love with this beautiful book all over again.

[Nevwren · Rating 2 out of 5]

I received this book for free from the author/publisher and am voluntarily leaving this review.

I was on the fence about this review. I loved the first 70% of the book. The pacing of the story was great; things moved, but they left some time for character development, and I did not find the climax rushed. I thought the characters were interesting, and I was interested in how the characters would grow.

Then FMC found out that MMC killed her father. FMC at first acts appropriately - with disgust and disdain- but the story itself does not seem to take this seriously. It continues the light-hearted jokes from before but they feel out of place. MMC's friends' casual banter about how much MMC wants to have sex with FMC. MMC does not get character growth and ignores FMC's boundaries. Every time he pursues FMC, it makes me nauseous. FMC seems to start to desire MMC again, with the reminder of MMC being the father's killer used as tension to keep them apart instead of something that really needs to be addressed.

I would have enjoyed this book much more if the FMC held her ground and MMC had to truly deal with his longing on his own, and his guilt seemed to come from a place of growth instead of wanting to get into her pants. There would be time to recover their relationship, as there is a book 2 planned.

Recommended this to a friend 70% in, told them never mind at 85%, and almost DNF'd. A lot of good writing for such a large part of the book, and dark themes are fine if the book is honest about them instead of pretending they are romantic. Finding out who the MMC really is and his part in the killing of witches was a FANTASTIC reveal and could have led to some interesting plots to explore. But the writing itself didn't realize things had changed, and what worked in the first part wasn't going to work in the second.

[Evie_Reads · Rating 3.75 out of 5]

📚ARC READ📚

Cozy romance fantasy with dark themes. A witch and a Prince witch hunter. She heals the injured animals and gives them a place to stay. He injures the animals and destroys any place filled with magic… except her.

I really liked this book in the beginning. I liked the adventure and the witty banter. The consuming tension between them. I liked how she was strong in her own way without having to resort to dark magic. I loved that she wants to heal all animals and believes they all deserve to have a future. It was super fun to read about them slowly falling for the other.

But after the halfway point where the truth is revealed, I feel like it kinda went downhill. The FMC got on my nerves more, she helped a prince that hunts witches and she knew there was a possibility that he could kill her, yet stills helps him, and is surprised when she finds out the truth. Like yes, be angry all you want, matter of fact, I encourage the anger, but I’m not sure why she expected him to be different. Also, it just kept confusing me how one second she’s mad at him for what he did and the next she’s falling for his touch, like do we hate him or not? Cause personally, I believe what he did cannot be forgiven. It seemed like sometimes she forgot what he did or she’s still in denial. I’m not sure how the romance plot is going to work between them now. Like there’s morally gray MMC’s and then there’s this. Afterwards it felt repetitive, the dialogue, the banter, the actions. I think because it also wasn’t a slow burn (takes place within a week), I can’t really grasp how she’s fallen for him that hard.

Anyways, I did like the read, maybe I wasn’t open minded enough while reading, but I am looking forward to book 2 for answers.

[SuzieLeigh · Rating 4.5 out of 5]

This slow burn romantasy was an absolutely pleasure to read. I was struck by the genuine feel of the characters throughout the read. Picture a woodland sanctuary in the middle of know where - cared for by the sweetest and kindest witch you can imagine and you have found Eirlys Honeybrooke. The surrounding lands are ruled over by a vicious land murderous king, who vows to rid it of all things magical. Enter a little lavender dragon, half drowned and in desperate need of help ! This is right up Eirlys's alley and she nurses it back to health. The twist in the tale for her is that the dragon is more than meets the eye - this cute little cat sized mite has another side. Broody, arrogant and rude, Prince Lyall Vermont has been cursed by a witch to transform into the pint sized dragon, it appears whenever he can not control his temper, is backed into a corner and somethings a lady never discusses :)
Humiliated and disgusted to need the help of the very thing he has grown up wanting to eliminate, Lyall makes a deal to help Eirlys find her father, who has been missing for weeks after a visit to the kingdom, if she will help him break the curse. EASY RIGHT ! With a bubble-blowing, good hearted and ever optimist little witch, along with her firefly fox sidekick and an always grumpy, self righteous, pompous ass in the prince - things may not quite always go to plan. A slow-burn, forced proximity romantasy that left a cheeky grin on my face as I turned the pages. It was a lovely way to look at magic and its beauty but also feel the tragedy of those who wish to stamp out what they don't understand. Thank you E.M. Swann for sharing the wonder that is Eirlys and her wonderful heart.

[RomantasyMama]

The Little Dragon’s Witch – ARC Review ✨

I rate this book 3.5 starts but Goodreads is glitching to do 1/2 stars so I’ve marked up 1/2 star to 4.

For an author’s debut novel, The Little Dragon’s Witch is a fantastic first release!

I really enjoyed the dynamic between the FMC and MMC. The FMC is incredibly easy to love, whilst the MMC has a serious redemption arc ahead of him. After some of the revelations in this book, I’m genuinely curious to see how the author plans to navigate their relationship moving forward. The FMC is all sunshine and roses, but let’s just say he has a long way to go if he hopes to earn her forgiveness!

There are a few gaps that I hope will be explored and filled in throughout the second book. One thing that left me particularly perplexed was the MMC’s attitude towards everyone else. He comes across as rude and obnoxious to just about everyone, yet behaves differently towards his fiancée, despite theirs being an arranged match that he didn’t choose himself. I’m hoping we get more insight into this dynamic in the next instalment.
The side characters were a fantastic addition to the story, fitting in naturally and adding to the overall reading experience. And I absolutely loved all the animals throughout the book!

Overall, a fantastic debut novel that left me with questions and plenty of curiosity about what comes next. I’m excited to see how the characters develop, how some of those unanswered questions are addressed, and whether the MMC can truly redeem himself. I can’t wait to pick up book two! ✨

[Jess · Rating 4.75 out of 5]

Thank you so much to the author for the opportunity to read The Little Dragon’s Witch as an ARC! This is my honest review.

I really enjoyed this book! The pacing and writing style kept me engaged, the FMC and prince had great chemistry, and their nicknames were adorable. Without getting too spoiler-y, while I appreciate that the FMC stays true to her goals of advocating for the animals around her, I would love to see her develop a deeper reaction to the events unfolding in her world. Hopefully, that’s something we’ll get to explore in future books!

My biggest critique is that this part of the story felt a little underdeveloped, and I’m still not entirely sure I understand the prince’s motivations behind some of his actions. That said, I thought the foreshadowing was well done and added a nice layer of angst while keeping the story’s vibes pretty cozy and fairytale-esque.

Full honesty, I’ve been reading a lot of dark romance lately, so my scale of what qualifies as a light read may be a smidge skewed.

I loved all the mythical creatures sprinkled throughout the story (shout out to Thimble) and am excited to read more from this author as her writing continues to develop. I would absolutely read this even without receiving an ARC and definitely recommend it!

[kayley*ੈ✩‧₊˚ · Rating 3.75 out of 5]

𝙧𝙚𝙫𝙞𝙚𝙬 𝙤𝙛 𝙖𝙙𝙫𝙖𝙣𝙘𝙚𝙙 𝙧𝙚𝙖𝙙𝙚𝙧 𝙘𝙤𝙥𝙮 𝙧𝙚𝙘𝙚𝙞𝙫𝙚𝙙 𝙛𝙧𝙤𝙢 𝙖𝙪𝙩𝙝𝙤𝙧

this book brought me through so many emotions like smiling through some interactions between characters to being in complete shock. what drew me in was the concept of cozy fantasy mixed with dark fantasy and that’s exactly what we got. the first half was following the journey of our little dragon and bubble witch to fix this curse until darker secrets eventually get revealed. there were some plot points throughout the story that were never answered that i’m hoping gets readdressed in the second book (which i need right now).

🫧🐉

eirlyys was by far my favorite character written that didn’t annoy me because of the innocence she has. the love she had for all those adorable creatures 🥺. lyall was just a grumpy mmc that didn’t really give me the wow factor and let’s just say he better redeem himself. aside from the side characters that i hope to see more of.

i needed soooo much more from that ending cause like wtf? i had so many questions and wanted the answers right in the moment.

thank you to the author for giving me the opportunity to review the book🤍

[Rhiannon Jade · Rating 4.25 out of 5]

ARC REVIEW

Firstly, thank you to this wonderful author for giving me the chance to read this book before its release.

Secondly... Holy shit what a fantastic debut novel!!!!

This book was a mixture of a cozy fantasy were the FMC is a witch who cares for magical creatures along with the adventure we love in our fantasy when we meet the prince cursed to turn into a small purple dragon when his emotions are overwhelming (which happens a lot for this prince) and then we follow them on a quest to break his curse, meeting other endearing and hilarious characters while also getting some mystery mixed in with everything.

I fell in love with the characters and the magical creatures in this story from the beginning. E. M. Swann had a way of making my feel so invested in the characters to a point where I didn't want to put the book down until I had read the last sentence.

And the plot twist she delivered was so unexpected as has set us up nicely for book 2 (which I'd like to read immediately 😅) and let's not even mention the ending that shocked me so much I squeaked!!!!

[Ashley Thompson · Rating 4.25 out of 5]

I received this story as an ARC from the Author! Thank you E.M. Swann for the opportunity!

I really enjoyed it! 🫧
Characters and plot are well built and quickly introduced/adapted

Young witch cares for animals that need help. When she finds a small purple dragon… that’s when her adventure begins.
An angry rough impatient prince appears at her door and demands her help. He is cursed (or so he claims) and demands she helps end the curse. The King is a known witch/ magic killer.
She should run, she should refuse, but that need to help harmed creatures makes impossible to say no.
While the story progresses you meet humans, other witches, aninals you’ll love and humans you’ll dislike strongly!
When the truth starts to come out and she finds out the prince is not who she thought he was… you’ll not put the book down.
Broken heart, trying to be true to herself, and help creatures she wants to stay for the creatures. She needs to escape to save them.
Looking forward to book 2!!!!!!! Can’t wait to see what happens!

[Pattya Holbert · Rating 5 out of 5]

A lovely debut with magical creatures from mosslings to pegacats to griffons plus a tiny dragon with anger issues.

Prince Lyall has been cursed to turn into a lavender loaf-sized dragon upon feeling any strong emotion. Running from his own guards he happens upon Eirlys, a witch with a compassionate heart towards creatures in need.

Even after he turns back into a very naked human and has the guards chasing after them both, she’s determined to help him and convince him that magical creatures deserve to live too.

There are many reasons to resist the attraction Eirlys feels for the Prince but the more time they spend together the harder it gets.

This book gives all the feels, Eirlys is such a genuinely good person and Lyall has become obsessed with her, including touch-her-and-die vibes. I wish I had her little creatures in my life, especially Thimble the firefly fox who is incredibly loyal. I can’t wait to find out what happens next.

This is a slow burn, low spice first book in a magical series.