Introduction
Published in May 2026, this new release authored by Ruby Rune is an underrated gem for those that love their spice and their fantasy. With a 4.19 rating on Goodreads, it’s safe to say it has been well-received amongst the community.
A Summary
Avery Alarch has always been the witch everyone quietly expects to fail. Now she has one day to summon a familiar or she loses her magic and her place at Caerwyn University for good. In a panic, she turns to a forbidden spell and hopes for a tiny magical cat. What appears instead is Felix, a towering cat shifter with a temper, a grudge, and zero interest in being her familiar. Thanks to the spell, they are stuck together, and neither of them is thrilled about it. Their only chance at breaking the bond is to solve a set of enchanted riddles before the magic tears them apart. That would be simple if Felix did not keep trapping her in shadows and if their arguing did not keep slipping into something that feels a little too warm. As they chase clues and uncover a dangerous secret, Avery starts to realise that the worst familiar she could have summoned might also be the one she cannot stop thinking about.
Writing Style
This is a dual-POV novel - from Avery and Felix’s perspective - and has fairly consistent switches between the two characters. The chapters are fairly regular, between 10-15 pages on average. The prose is lightheaded and humorous, even in the darker moments.
My Thoughts
This book isn’t one I have ever heard of and read it on a complete whim, but it did not disappoint. I will not lie to you, the best part of this book is the romance, specifically the smuttier aspects of it. The author really went all out for those scenes and left nothing unsaid, which made it a super fun and mildly embarrassing read. The worldbuilding is definitely present, but nowhere near as deep as a lot of other romantasy novels I have read, but the base knowledge you need to know is given to you so there isn’t too much confusion. I think it would have added more stakes if there was more immersive worldbuilding but honestly it didn’t bother me too much because the whole book feels really fun and cheeky rather than overly dramatic. The characters are so lovable and I found myself really rooting for them throughout the story. Even the side characters are given little quirks to make themselves feel more real and full of life.
However, there was one scene in particular that lowered the rating for me, and it was the scene in the maze with Felix’s monster. I typically don’t mind dark scenes when they are done correctly, and in my opinion, this wasn’t done nearly as well as it could have been. For me, this came way too close to a rape fantasy rather than a spicy scene, and it is important to note that just because a part of Avery found it sexy, does not mean it isn’t sexual assault. If she didn’t clearly consent, then that is sexual assault. I think it’s immensely important that, even in the spiciest novels, the precedent of clear consent is present.
Does A Game of Cat and Witch Contain Sex Scenes?
Hell yes, throughout the later parts of the novel especially, but the smuttiness is present all throughout with both characters fantasizing about the other a lot. Spice Level - 4/5
Recommendation
Look, I really enjoyed this novel and I think it was a really fun experience, but that one scene makes me hesitant to say I would recommend it.
