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Croft & Tabby #1
Pox You
Warning: Foul-mouthed cat ahead
Prof Croft here and, yes, I trapped a murderous succubus in a kitten’s body and made her my pet. The alternative was to behead her, and as wizards go, I’m just not that callous.
Do you think Tabitha shows any appreciation? Two years old now, her speech has grown along with her girth, and when not insulting me, she’s plotting ways to devour my soul.
But that’s the least of my problems. An early winter storm has plunged our unheated apartment to near freezing, and I’m too cash-strapped to afford a chimney sweep. So when a strange woman appears, asking me to investigate an attack at an old smallpox hospital, I accept the case along with her vague offer of compensation.
And If I can involve Tabitha, who knows? Maybe we’ll finally start bonding.
Sure, and maybe Hell will host the next Winter Games.
Croft & Tabby is a spinoff of the popular Prof Croft series, set before the main books. If you like snarky cats, fledgling mages, and supernatural investigations, you'll love Croft & Tabby!
Prof Croft here and, yes, I trapped a murderous succubus in a kitten’s body and made her my pet. The alternative was to behead her, and as wizards go, I’m just not that callous.
Do you think Tabitha shows any appreciation? Two years old now, her speech has grown along with her girth, and when not insulting me, she’s plotting ways to devour my soul.
But that’s the least of my problems. An early winter storm has plunged our unheated apartment to near freezing, and I’m too cash-strapped to afford a chimney sweep. So when a strange woman appears, asking me to investigate an attack at an old smallpox hospital, I accept the case along with her vague offer of compensation.
And If I can involve Tabitha, who knows? Maybe we’ll finally start bonding.
Sure, and maybe Hell will host the next Winter Games.
Croft & Tabby is a spinoff of the popular Prof Croft series, set before the main books. If you like snarky cats, fledgling mages, and supernatural investigations, you'll love Croft & Tabby!
59 pages, Kindle Edition
First published July 28, 2021
About the author
Brad Magnarella
51 books394 followersBrad Magnarella writes urban fantasy for the same reason most read it – to explore worlds where magic crackles from fingertips, vampires and shifters walk city streets, cats talk (some excessively), and good prevails against all odds. It’s shamelessly fun.
His three main series, Prof Croft, Blue Wolf, and Maddy Deeds, make up the growing Croftverse, with nearly a half-million books sold to date and an Independent Audiobook Award nomination.
Hopelessly nomadic, Brad can be found in a rented room overseas or hiking America's backcountry.
To learn more about the Croftverse, and download two free prequel novellas, visit his website at bradmagnarella.com
His three main series, Prof Croft, Blue Wolf, and Maddy Deeds, make up the growing Croftverse, with nearly a half-million books sold to date and an Independent Audiobook Award nomination.
Hopelessly nomadic, Brad can be found in a rented room overseas or hiking America's backcountry.
To learn more about the Croftverse, and download two free prequel novellas, visit his website at bradmagnarella.com
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 63 reviews
April 19, 2022
Pox You: A Croft and Tabby Short
(Croft & Tabby #1)
by Brad Magnarella
This is a short story, and a prequel of sorts, for the Prof. Croft series. Croft is a wizard and he lives with a pampered fat fat that really is housing a trapped succubus that had tried to steal his soul. She still tries! 😂
In this short adventure, a gal shows up and wants Croft's help with solving an unusual happenings at her dad's work.
Exciting and clever!
(Croft & Tabby #1)
by Brad Magnarella
This is a short story, and a prequel of sorts, for the Prof. Croft series. Croft is a wizard and he lives with a pampered fat fat that really is housing a trapped succubus that had tried to steal his soul. She still tries! 😂
In this short adventure, a gal shows up and wants Croft's help with solving an unusual happenings at her dad's work.
Exciting and clever!
August 9, 2023
Entertaining horror listening 🎶🔰
Prof Croft and Tabitha the cat 🐱 live in an apartment building. Croft is called out to help with an old hospital being remodel. It is haunted and he is being ask to help. He is successful but is wounded. I would recommend this novella series and author to 👍 readers of haunting ghost 👻mystery novels 👍🔰. 2023 😀👒👻🐈
Prof Croft and Tabitha the cat 🐱 live in an apartment building. Croft is called out to help with an old hospital being remodel. It is haunted and he is being ask to help. He is successful but is wounded. I would recommend this novella series and author to 👍 readers of haunting ghost 👻mystery novels 👍🔰. 2023 😀👒👻🐈
July 1, 2023
This was a fun short read. Croft and Tabitha are hilarious. The story is action packed, magic filled and gun b
July 10, 2023
A different sort of partnership book
I liked this story as a different sort of partnership, and I could be interested in seeing where this could lead
I liked this story as a different sort of partnership, and I could be interested in seeing where this could lead
May 3, 2023
Another entertaining adventure.
I love the Croftverse books, and these shorter stories are a good source of entertainment between the main story line. These short reads are highly recommended.
I love the Croftverse books, and these shorter stories are a good source of entertainment between the main story line. These short reads are highly recommended.
May 31, 2022
Audiobook
May 16, 2023
Pox You
Pox You. A good, short and interesting read. Recommended. I've read more than a few Croft &Tabby books and find them fun and amusing.
Pox You. A good, short and interesting read. Recommended. I've read more than a few Croft &Tabby books and find them fun and amusing.
December 28, 2021
This is the first book in the \Croft and Tabby series and it is short (59 pages) Tabitha is a succubus who tries to kill Everson so he turns her into a LARGE Tabby Cat who can talk. Everson gets a call to help a girl's father save his business something is attacking his workers...Everson thinks he has the problem solved until someone else gets attacked. When he returns to the job site he finds a Beast.. Soon realizing it is a Shifter in Beast form he tries to help it return to human with no success. Pretty good book I think I am going to like the Prof. Croft Universe
August 6, 2023
a Professor and a Tabby Walk into a ….
A wizard and his cat….well not quite! Prof Croft is a wizard, but Tabitha is no ordinary tabby. Once on a time when the professor caught a succubus, he couldn’t kill it. And by that I mean In cold blood. So, instead of killing her, he turned her into a tabby cat. At that point, a kitten. Well, tabby’s grown-up. Still waiting to suck the professor’s soul up, they basically coexist.
Let the stories begin.
This is a short story, but introduces you to the Croft and Tabby books. Quite an enjoyable read. Even if you haven’t read the professor Croft books, as I hadn’t, you don’t need to. Couldn’t tell you if that’s an advantage, or not! But, this book was very a very nice read.
A wizard and his cat….well not quite! Prof Croft is a wizard, but Tabitha is no ordinary tabby. Once on a time when the professor caught a succubus, he couldn’t kill it. And by that I mean In cold blood. So, instead of killing her, he turned her into a tabby cat. At that point, a kitten. Well, tabby’s grown-up. Still waiting to suck the professor’s soul up, they basically coexist.
Let the stories begin.
This is a short story, but introduces you to the Croft and Tabby books. Quite an enjoyable read. Even if you haven’t read the professor Croft books, as I hadn’t, you don’t need to. Couldn’t tell you if that’s an advantage, or not! But, this book was very a very nice read.
July 16, 2023
Fun Read made me wish there was more
Lovely original fast paced story . Cat lovers will love it. Urban fantasy fans too.
A book of short stories on this theme would be super
Lovely original fast paced story . Cat lovers will love it. Urban fantasy fans too.
A book of short stories on this theme would be super
June 10, 2025
“Do you have any matcha tea?” Kayla asked.
“No, just Colombian dark roast.”
“Half a cup, then. Too much caffeine scatters my intuition.”
“No, just Colombian dark roast.”
“Half a cup, then. Too much caffeine scatters my intuition.”
June 4, 2023
Pox You, the first book in the Croft & Tabby series by Brad Magnarella is a fun and fast-paced Paranormal Fantasy following wizard Professor Croft and Tabitha, his foul-mouthed cat.
Needing some extra cash to get his chimney cleaned in order to stay warm during a cold spell, Professor Croft takes on a case to investigate an attack at an old smallpox hospital that is being restored. Of course, payment for the case is somewhat vague but I can get Tabitha involved as well.
This is a fast-paced novella that is exciting and a great palate cleanser. Well written, decent characterization, and a good plot, this book is great for cat lovers who also like the paranormal and supernatural genres. The humor keeps the mood light and fun.
3.5 stars
Needing some extra cash to get his chimney cleaned in order to stay warm during a cold spell, Professor Croft takes on a case to investigate an attack at an old smallpox hospital that is being restored. Of course, payment for the case is somewhat vague but I can get Tabitha involved as well.
This is a fast-paced novella that is exciting and a great palate cleanser. Well written, decent characterization, and a good plot, this book is great for cat lovers who also like the paranormal and supernatural genres. The humor keeps the mood light and fun.
3.5 stars
April 26, 2023
Good vibes, happy ending
I've read several Prof Drift novels and denied them all.
This short story brings fluffy, pudgy, ginger cat into the midst of a soiree in which our wizard hero solves a supernatural evil lurking in a decaying small pox hospital. The hospital is being renovated and strange then scary events happen. The contractor's daughter calls upon Everson to solved the haunting.
And our saucy the - against her nature - vibcomes to the rescue.
I've read several Prof Drift novels and denied them all.
This short story brings fluffy, pudgy, ginger cat into the midst of a soiree in which our wizard hero solves a supernatural evil lurking in a decaying small pox hospital. The hospital is being renovated and strange then scary events happen. The contractor's daughter calls upon Everson to solved the haunting.
And our saucy the - against her nature - vibcomes to the rescue.
July 30, 2021
LOVED IT!!! from cover to cover!!! LOVED the characters both new and OLD FAVORITES!! I think the author captures the TRUE essence of all cats in Tabitha. She has a smart potty mouth, is quick witted, when awake, her dialogue with Everson is awesomely funny both to his face and mumbled under her breathe and behind his back!!! THIS book is 11 action packed chapters of FUN, FEAR, VISUALS that would make me run screaming. In this book Prof. Croft is still working on his magic and gaining experience with new types of otherworldly beings. Of course he is up for the challenge.
The characters Professor Croft comes in contact with are both terrifying and to say the least, interesting!! This author has a way with WOWING his audience and I don't want to spoil a single moment of that for you. I'm really, really overjoyed that the author took us on this adventure. I wouldn't have wanted to miss a moment of it!!! He packs a whole lot of excitement into each and every word builds us up to a crescendo that will have you gasping for air when you realize you've been holding your breathe through a particularly intense scene, of which there are MANY!!
The characters Professor Croft comes in contact with are both terrifying and to say the least, interesting!! This author has a way with WOWING his audience and I don't want to spoil a single moment of that for you. I'm really, really overjoyed that the author took us on this adventure. I wouldn't have wanted to miss a moment of it!!! He packs a whole lot of excitement into each and every word builds us up to a crescendo that will have you gasping for air when you realize you've been holding your breathe through a particularly intense scene, of which there are MANY!!
June 12, 2023
Prof Croft is struggling. The snow outside is deep, and his apartment is freezing. He can’t afford to pay for the chimney to be swept, so when an offer of work comes his way, he takes it, despite the vague nature of the commission: investigate strange goings-on disturbing the renovations at a former smallpox hospital.
It’s a familiar type of set up for the story, but intriguing enough, and the characters of both Croft and his snarky, overweight feline with the soul of a succubus bring it to life. There’s mystery and danger, ghosts and shifters, plus a cooky female who might, or might not, have some sort of sensitivity to the paranormal.
Dialogue is crisp, settings are vividly described, pace is fast enough to keep you page turning, and the ending is highly satisfying, even though this is nominally a prequel short story. If you are a fan of destitute wizards in contemporary settings, this is a book you will enjoy.
It’s a familiar type of set up for the story, but intriguing enough, and the characters of both Croft and his snarky, overweight feline with the soul of a succubus bring it to life. There’s mystery and danger, ghosts and shifters, plus a cooky female who might, or might not, have some sort of sensitivity to the paranormal.
Dialogue is crisp, settings are vividly described, pace is fast enough to keep you page turning, and the ending is highly satisfying, even though this is nominally a prequel short story. If you are a fan of destitute wizards in contemporary settings, this is a book you will enjoy.
August 10, 2026
This book was definitely a little weird, creepy, and funny all at the same time. Professor Croft is already having a rough time trying to get the money together to fix his chimney, and then he ends up getting pulled into a strange case involving an attack at an old smallpox hospital.
But honestly, Tabitha was my favorite part. A foul-mouthed cat who is actually a murderous succubus trapped in a kitten’s body? 😂 I mean, how can you not love that kind of crazy?
There’s some creepy stuff, a little mystery, magic, and plenty of moments that had me thinking WTF. I liked the mix of humor and supernatural craziness, and even though it was a quick read, it kept me interested.
Definitely a fun one if you like your paranormal stories a little weird and a lot chaotic. Tabitha alone deserves a star.
But honestly, Tabitha was my favorite part. A foul-mouthed cat who is actually a murderous succubus trapped in a kitten’s body? 😂 I mean, how can you not love that kind of crazy?
There’s some creepy stuff, a little mystery, magic, and plenty of moments that had me thinking WTF. I liked the mix of humor and supernatural craziness, and even though it was a quick read, it kept me interested.
Definitely a fun one if you like your paranormal stories a little weird and a lot chaotic. Tabitha alone deserves a star.
August 20, 2021
So refreshing. I’ve been on a romance kick for a long time and there certainly seems to be a difference in a man’s writing versus many of the female authors I’ve come across-significantly less superfluous detail. It was wonderful to not run face first into a thousand romance tropes or forced romantic connections. Ahhhhh. Loved it.
The book itself was really good, well-written, engaging, charming. Generally very refreshing. Definitely going to follow this author down their rabbit hole. Here we go.
The book itself was really good, well-written, engaging, charming. Generally very refreshing. Definitely going to follow this author down their rabbit hole. Here we go.
August 22, 2021
Fun short story. I hadn’t read any Professor Croft books in a while so really enjoyed returning to his world. Tabitha is always a treat and it was great to have her featured, albeit being somewhat uncooperative/grumpy, but what else is new? I especially enjoyed how she, a succubus, was offended by the advances of a tomcat.
I don’t specifically remember Kayla but she was a nice addition and I wouldn’t mind seeing her and her intuition in the future.
I don’t specifically remember Kayla but she was a nice addition and I wouldn’t mind seeing her and her intuition in the future.
April 28, 2022
Cute Short
The author was very good at describing the situations and background. I was a bit cold just reading the main character's problem of no heat in his apartment (or it was the cold snap). This was a nice quick read that could be done in a n hour or a day depending on your reading speed. I liked how the author shows the problem and how the main character tries to solve it. Very enjoyable.
The author was very good at describing the situations and background. I was a bit cold just reading the main character's problem of no heat in his apartment (or it was the cold snap). This was a nice quick read that could be done in a n hour or a day depending on your reading speed. I liked how the author shows the problem and how the main character tries to solve it. Very enjoyable.
August 7, 2021
Pox You, a Croft and Tabby short
By Brad Magnarella
This was a fun look at the early days of Prof Croft's relationship with the succubus/tabby cat, named so creatively Tabby. As a fan of the series, this was like icing on a cake, sweet, easily and quickly consumed, leaving the reader with a smile, and a desire for more!
By Brad Magnarella
This was a fun look at the early days of Prof Croft's relationship with the succubus/tabby cat, named so creatively Tabby. As a fan of the series, this was like icing on a cake, sweet, easily and quickly consumed, leaving the reader with a smile, and a desire for more!
August 8, 2021
A sweet little tale of a wizard and his cat
Tabitha is not really a cat and she’s hardly sweet. This short story adds more dimension to an already huge succubus trapped in a cat’s body. Wizard and Professor Everson Croft has a habit of taking on night jobs that don’t pay. Another job comes to his doorstep and it’s almost more than he can handle.
Tabitha is not really a cat and she’s hardly sweet. This short story adds more dimension to an already huge succubus trapped in a cat’s body. Wizard and Professor Everson Croft has a habit of taking on night jobs that don’t pay. Another job comes to his doorstep and it’s almost more than he can handle.
March 21, 2022
EVERSON AND TABITHA GOOD TEAM IF CRANKY
I had forgotten Tabitha 's genesis, but I can't imagine Croft without her. I have missed her snark , but this is a thrilling fill-in. Everson is ever ready to face that which waits in the dark. Love, love, love Everson Croft and Tabitha.
I had forgotten Tabitha 's genesis, but I can't imagine Croft without her. I have missed her snark , but this is a thrilling fill-in. Everson is ever ready to face that which waits in the dark. Love, love, love Everson Croft and Tabitha.
June 13, 2022
This is a really fun start to an urban fantasy series perfect for fans of Harry Dresden and those who light their magical detective stories on the light side, with tons of funny banter, fun characters, and plots that keep you guessing how things will turn out. Will definitely be reading more from this author!
September 22, 2022
Tabitha the cat with an attitude
I enjoyed the short story about Croft and Tabby. Croft always the person to help his friends put himself in danger to fight off a shifter panther to save the father of a friend. All worked out well because Croft saved the father and his friends had a chimney sweep come to clean out his flu so he could build a fire for warmth.
I enjoyed the short story about Croft and Tabby. Croft always the person to help his friends put himself in danger to fight off a shifter panther to save the father of a friend. All worked out well because Croft saved the father and his friends had a chimney sweep come to clean out his flu so he could build a fire for warmth.
March 15, 2023
I've enjoyed every Prof. Croft books I've read thus far! I'm so glad to have discovered Brad Magnarella and this series! I can't recommend this series enough! This isn't a full book, just 59 pages, but I think it's an important story to fill in gaps and stuff, especially about Tabitha! Go on, buy the first book in this amazing series, you won't be sorry!
January 11, 2025
I mean…meh. A bit better than the 2nd prequel, but I’m not sure I understand how we got here. There is a small bit of info about Everson’s past in this one, not like the first prequel, but I’m going to keep going just to see where this goes. I do not find Tabitha to be likable at all which is taking this series down for me.
April 21, 2025
Trying to give the whole Croft series another chance. This short story was not bad per se but I'm just not feeling Tabby. Snarky supernatural side-kicks - animal or not - work better if they show at least some care. Still, I will persevere and finish at least this series of short stories focusing on Croft and Tabby.
August 25, 2021
Half and half
I did not really like or really dislike this prologue story. It was readable such that I am willing to read one more story to see if the characters draw me in further.
I did not really like or really dislike this prologue story. It was readable such that I am willing to read one more story to see if the characters draw me in further.
March 1, 2024
A good cheeseburger of a book.
The writing is decent, not too light, the world building good. The characters are likable. The puzzle was interesting and the protagonist solved it in a logical way
The writing is decent, not too light, the world building good. The characters are likable. The puzzle was interesting and the protagonist solved it in a logical way
March 23, 2024
Pox You: A Croft and Tabby Short (Book 1)
I really enjoyed getting this initial short introduction to this series. New author for me and this series is fun. Gotta go and start book 2.
I really enjoyed getting this initial short introduction to this series. New author for me and this series is fun. Gotta go and start book 2.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 63 reviews