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Croft & Tabby #2

Back Off Witch

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What’s worse than a sharp-tongued cat in a heatwave? Being stuck inside with her.

When my friend Kayla asks for my help as a wizard, I jump at the chance to escape my apartment—and Tabitha.

In New York’s inner city, a child’s closet hides a monster. At least according to my starry-eyed friend, who claims powers of intuition. But this time she might be onto something. The scariest part? The child will only confide in Tabitha.

Now I need to convince my succubus cat, who remains committed to eating, sleeping, staying cool, and, yes, devouring my soul, to help stop a supernatural threat that’s climbing faster than the city’s thermometer.

Can Tabitha and I overcome our differences in time to save an innocent life?

Or will she undermine me just to prove she’s still queen?

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!

71 pages, Kindle Edition

First published February 14, 2022

122 people are currently reading
90 people want to read

About the author

Brad Magnarella

50 books383 followers
Brad 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

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5 stars
303 (57%)
4 stars
166 (31%)
3 stars
52 (9%)
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 41 reviews
Profile Image for Montzalee Wittmann.
5,249 reviews2,348 followers
April 19, 2022
Back off Witch
Brad Magnarella
This short story has Croft helping that same girl again but this time it's to fight a monster from a boy's closet! The fat cat, that's actually a trapped succubus, gets into the action too!
Fun story! Great narration!
6,726 reviews5 followers
August 12, 2023
Entertaining fantasy listening 🎶🔰

Professor Croft and Tabitha are called upon by Kayla to help with a young boy 👦 having issues. Croft finds a witch in his bedroom closet. But it is not over and go to the grandparents to find the truth. I would recommend this series and author to 👍 readers of fantasy world 🌎 novels 👍🔰. 2023 😀👒👻🐈
680 reviews13 followers
February 17, 2022
A fun short story. I really enjoyed Croft’s and Tabby’s adventure
30 reviews
February 16, 2022
Another fun tale of Croft and Tabby

This is yet another fun short tale regarding the early relationship between Croft and his succubus cat. Full of snark, witty and charm. If you are a fan of urban fantasy, definitely pick this one up
Profile Image for Kat Lebo.
858 reviews15 followers
February 28, 2022
Back Off Witch: A Croft and Tabby Short (Croft & Tabby #2)
by Brad Magnarella

I love the Prof. Croft series, and these prequel stories about Croft and succubus-turned-house-cat, Tabitha, are great fun!
Profile Image for Pheebee.
82 reviews
July 11, 2023
More great adventures

More interesting adventures for the Wizard and his cat and finding new villains to sort out. Great just waiting for the next story.
186 reviews11 followers
February 15, 2022
Tabitha and Prof Croft work together again. Tabitha is always reluctant to help, probably because she's once removed from a demon, but Prof Croft bribes and cajoles her into coaxing a little boy to reveal the beast he's afraid of and that is endangering his life. Of course, with Prof Croft, nothing is easy. What sounds like a decent low involvement plan totally blows up into something much bigger. Non magic believers, gather 'round for an entertaining and well written addition to the Croft and Tabby short. By the way, these are a nice way to try out Prof Croft's world to see if you might want to engage with the full size novels, which I encourage wholeheartedly.
Profile Image for HaZyBLuE .
70 reviews2 followers
March 13, 2022
Quickly becoming my favorite!

I absolutely adore Tabby! I am thrilled that Magnarella gave us these (book 1 was great as well!) wonderful glimpses into the dynamics of the intricate relationship between Everson and Tabby. For anyone fortunate enough to be reading this book as the first experience of the Croftverse, I wholeheartedly suggest reading every other work available from this author. Prof Croft and the Croftverse are a truly bewitching place to visit, and I find myself returning day after day, year after year.

I can't wait until Audible offers these so that I may purchase them. James Patrick Cronin never disappoints with his immersive and magical performances!
Profile Image for Holly Stone.
917 reviews2 followers
February 15, 2022
This is a Croft and Tabby short story cute with some serious bits Tabby of course still trapped in her cat form still trying everything to get Emerson to free her Lol. A young boy is drawing pictures of a scary old hag woman and Emerson is asked to help. When he takes Tabby in to visit with the children the boy shows Tabby the picture and when she tells Emerson what it is he knows the boy is in some serious trouble the picture is of a Baba Roga (Baba Yaga) and she wants the boy body and soul...Emerson has to find her and destroy her before she finishes her task.
Profile Image for George.
79 reviews3 followers
March 10, 2022
A good short story.

Given that the author has now twice brought the character Kayla back in his short stories, one can only wonder if he planning to add her to the novels.
It will be interesting to see just who, or what she is, as she is plainly more than Croft has been able to figure out thus far.
A child in trouble, a succubus stuck in the body of an overfed cat, and a dangerous and wicked Russian witch make for an interesting tale.
Profile Image for Tawnya.
395 reviews60 followers
October 12, 2025
Tabitha is her usual crabby self. Underneath all of the large, LARGE cat is a heart of somewhat gold. As usual Brad has made a book that is funny and entertaining. This one I think could actually be read to kids about the age of the boy in the book-8. It's almost like a bedtime story for finicky cats and kids who like magic.
107 reviews
March 22, 2022
AN ENTERTAINING LOOK INTO THE DAWNING OF A FANTASTIC CHARACTER

These are going to be great to keep fans "fed" between longer book length tales. It's good to see Croft and Tabitha's relationship grow and to remember that she's not just a huge kitty, but a really nasty "super". Have always loved her attitude.
123 reviews
September 22, 2022
Tabitha’s outing to a Magic Show

All in all Tabitha helped Professor Croft defeat the Babaroga who was intent on eating Oliver. Kayla and Oliver’s mother was there when the Babaroga appeared at the grandparents house. Everyone was trying to protect Oliver from the witches clutches. Tabitha caused a distraction to give Professor Croft time to defeat the witch.
Profile Image for Beverly.
299 reviews
February 19, 2022
Excellent short story!

This us a fun story involving Prof Croft's succubus cat,. Tabatha.

If you're unfamilliar with the Prof Croft series, I think you could read this short story to get a taste of the series. I feel certain you'll want to read more.
22 reviews
March 3, 2022
A short about Tabitha

With the internets infatuation with cats, it’s a shame we don’t have more books about Tabitha. But I’ll take what I can’t get. This was a fun quick short story.
27 reviews
March 18, 2022
Fun read

Nothing but a quick enjoyable read from beginning to end. Getting to know Tabitha a bit better, and though she isn't on par with Peaches or Mouse she clearly has the potential to be much more than she has to date. I.hope Brad takes the hint.😉
169 reviews
May 12, 2022
A Fun Story

This was a fun and light book to read after needing to get out of a heavy book for a bit. This and the book before it have inspired me to look into the rest of the series.
15 reviews
February 17, 2022
A fun short story. Tabitha has attitude and a soft side. The proff works his magic too save the day. A good taster for Brad Magnarellas full length adventures!
5 reviews
February 18, 2022
Excellent

As always, the story has a fast pace sand I can never predict how it will end.

The short stories are a fun way to build background on Tabitha too.

Brad never fails!
Profile Image for Corinne Loder.
42 reviews1 follower
February 28, 2022
Croft and Tabitha

To read how with the help of Tabitha the cat take on an evil entity was intense and entertaining. Mr Magnarella strikes again.
42 reviews1 follower
March 16, 2022
Just fun...

A happy story when many aren't. Prof Croft and Tabitha make for an interesting duo. The story is short but worth a read.
Profile Image for Todd.
2,249 reviews8 followers
March 16, 2022
Croft and Tabby have to save a kid from a monster in his closet
349 reviews2 followers
April 2, 2022
I love Tabitha's crazy. Such a fun short story, fast paced, action packed, and lots of Tabitha snark. I can't get enough of her!
Profile Image for Leslie.
2,114 reviews25 followers
June 5, 2022
A cat, a scared child, a ditsy moon maiden, a comic book store with a secret, and one frazzled magician… it’s the potion for a fun story about ancient terrors.
13 reviews
July 1, 2022
Coolest Not-Really-a-Cat Ever!

Thoroughly enjoyed this adventure and nominate Tabitha for Best Supporting Cat in an Urban Fantasy novel. Looking forward to more.
5 reviews
May 16, 2024
Absolutely entertaining!

I really love this author! Written well and very engaging. If you like the Dresden Files you will love this. Don't miss the Croft series. Fantastic!
Profile Image for Norma.
513 reviews2 followers
May 3, 2023
Highly entertaining read.

This adventure of Croft is especially fun for the fans of the series. It also highlights Tabitha, an interesting sidekick.
Profile Image for Kati.
2,364 reviews66 followers
August 3, 2025
I'm still surprised that Jim Butcher hasn't sued Brad Magnarella yet because the Croft books are literally a knock-off of Harry Dresden. I own a whole bunch of them - I got over-enthusiastic before actually sampling them, typical me - so I'm slowly making my way through them. They are not bad but I'm not really getting the hype. Oh well.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 41 reviews

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