This was a really cosy fantasy read that made my heart feel full and was so comforting to lose myself into.

If you’re looking for a book that has a magical world, enchanting characters, cosy settings and a slow burn romance full of intrigue and tension, this is a book for you!

I wasn’t sure what to expect going into this but it pleasantly surprised me. I’m not usually a cosy fantasy reader but this was a break from the heavier fantasy reads and provided some lighthearted and swoony fun!

Thank you so much to Pan Macmillan for sending me an ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Being honest, I wasn't sure about this one because of the title - and then the cover artwork in some other print versions of this book made it seem as if it was going to be a real romantasy, which isn't really me. I'm glad I persevered with it though and it was an easy and quick to read story. Whilst a little predictable in places, I liked the lead characters - three feisty witches - and enjoyed their character development over the course of the plot. The Archduke adds a good counterpoint to them. This is the first in a series (Queens of Villainy) and I liked how the ending of this one neatly sets up the next book.

Three and a half
This was a fun and ever so slightly light hearted read for me. I enjoyed the whole scenario with a fearsome queen and an archduke who finds himself to be far braver than he thought. Felix hopes that Saskia will shelter him but she mistakes him for someone who can help sort out her library and as he overhears the queens plotting to kill the archduke obviously he doesn't correct the misunderstanding . Yet the quiet librarian enchants the fierce queen and as their relationship develops how can he convince her that he is not the evil dictator she believes ?
We meet two other queens who are both getting their own books and they do appear to be quite bonkers well certainly one most definitely does ! I very much enjoyed the whole setting of this and could imagine a world similar to Chitty Chitty Bang Bang but happily no child catcher although there is undoubtedly something similar here. The supporting characters added greatly to the story and we even get a meddling God which was a fun idea. I'm just not a reader who enjoys the more cinnamon roll type of hero but will state that Felix does grow in strength as a character which I liked. If you enjoy cosy romance with a little magic then this book will certainly be entertaining.
This voluntary take is of a copy I requested and my thoughts and comments are honest and I believe fair

A spur of the moment escape quickly turns into a case of mistaken identity, redemption, and needing to protect a newfound family...

Wooing the Witch Queen is an odd (but engaging) read as it is both very grim but also humorous. The MC essentially tricks the 'evil' queen into thinking he's someone else and then slowly wins her over. He's not doing it maliciously, and he often shows he feels guilty about it, but he never clears it up until things have gone way too far. It made me a bit uncomfortable to be honest. However, the tone clearly is set up to make this an amusing chance of fate. We're meant to be in on the joke every time she goes off about her enemy, but I was cringing as he basically catfishes her.

That aside, the story is entertaining and I liked the big reveal at the end - wasn't fully suspecting the twist and it played out well. It also made me want to learn more about the magic system in general as this book didn't have much detail regarding how it works, but hints at some dark secrets surrounding who is allowed to harness this power.

I wish we had more interactions between the MC and the other creatures as this was by far one of the sweeter parts of the story. It's about misunderstandings and acceptance, friendship and trust. I felt like this needed to be focused on more (like the kitchen scene) as it seemed rushed to show how the MC's kingdom is wrong about monsters.

Overall a problematic romance with some cozier elements.

This was a really fun read! Saskia and Felix were great MCs and the worldbuilding in this novel was excellent. The steamier scenes were woven so well into the naturally progressing romance that they didn't feel 'plugged in', which is something I really appreciate in a romantasy!

Thanks so much to both Netgalley and the publisher for the arc!

Wooing the Witch Queen by Stephanie Burgis is the first in a trilogy of romantic fantasies, and I have to say it has one of the most satisfying endings I have read in quite some time.
Set in a world filled with magical creatures the book tells the story of Queen Saskia, the fearsome wicked queen who wrested the throne from the uncle who branded her a monster. Her reputation is hiding the truth, she is a woman who cares deeply for her kingdom and is very protective of those she loves. In her determination to protect her queendom from the ruthless Arch Duke Felix whose territories border her own she decides to hire a dark wizard to hep by bringing some order to the chaos that is her magical library. Little does she realise that Fabian, her new employee is in fact the Duke in disguise, completely without magical powers but desperate to escape the clutches of the abusive uncle who has been ruling in his name for years. Given that this is a romantasy I'm pretty sure you can guess what happens next.
I absolutely loved this book, it just made me smile so much while reading. It is full of heart and charm and happily ever afters, and I think the world could do with more of that right now.
The characters are just wonderful, I loved that the so called norms were subverted so that we have a sweet cinnamon roll male character who falls for a grumpy, clever and strong Queen, and I think the development of their relationship over the course of the book was just perfection - seeing Saskia slowly let down the walls she built up to protect herself and trust despite her misgivings was beautiful, as was seeing Felix find his strength and have the courage to face those who kept him down for so long. It was also great to see a book where the female main character was willing to pursue the man and take agency in the relationship, and I know that was driven in part by the secret that Felix was keeping which held him back, but it still felt very true to Saskia's nature that she would go after what she wanted.
The secondary characters do so much to bring the rich world that Burgis has created to life, from Morlokk, Saskia's major domo who happens to be an ogre, to kindly Mrs Haglitz, the troll house keeper, who sees much more than many would give her credit for. With its own deities and complex political alliances this feels like a fully fleshed out world of the author's imagination and I look forward to seeing more as further books in the series are released.
I have seen this book described as cosy, and while that is true to some degree, it never feels cloying or overly sweet, it is just that perfect slice of joy in book form.
I read an ARC courtesy of NetGalley and the publishers, all opinions are my own.

This was a fun read. Felix escapes from his violent uncle and father in law who want him dead and seeks refuge from a neighbouring queendom. When he walks into her court he is mistaken for a dark wizard she has employed to sort out her fathers library. Unbenownst to the Queen however, Felix is in fact the Duke of the Kingdom she is at war with and Felix may not be able to hide his idenity for very long.

This is a really fun read, and as a bibliophile i thoroughly enjoyed the library setting and could imagine it clearly in my mind. In and of itself this is a story about acceptance for who you are as a person and not what you look like. I loved reading about Goblins, and Trolls, and the other creatures in the court. Charming and heartwarming with a touch of spice.

This is a cosy fantasy romance with a cinnamon roll MMC and an ‘evil’ but not so evil witch queen.

I enjoyed the role reversal to what we typically experience in books, where the FMC (witch queen) was the more dominant character and the MMC was more of a damsel.

I would have preferred a slower burn as the connection between them felt quite instant. Also would have liked a bit more world building. I liked the side characters at the castle, thought they were really cute. Overall this was an easy read.

Thank you @panmacmillan & @netgalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

First of all, thank you to NetGalleand the publishers for an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

This book had me tense from the moment Felix was mistaken for a dark wizard. I enjoyed Saskia and Felix's interactions. This book was fun. The found family aspect of this book was my favourite bit, as well as the crow, Oscar.

Would have preferred a little more worldbuilding, but it was scattered throughout.

Looking forward to seeing how the rest of the series develops.

Thank you NetGalley & Pan Macmillan for the ARC. DNF @ 50%.

This is a romance that essentially begins with an infatuation that speedruns its way to the first physically intimate scene that occurs before the 50% mark. Simply not for me because I just know I'd actually love this novel as a slowburn. And I mean a proper slowburn where the the couple bonds through multiple scenes where they get to understand each other, rather than like two(?) instances of them talking and then a fastforward of a few months. Individually, Queen Saskia and Felix do make interesting characters; I liked Saskia's assertion & sass and Felix's gentle demeanor. But I can't get past my annoyance of the borderline instalust and I don't want to taint what pleasant experiences I have with these two thus far. Hence the DNF. I do think this will appeal to a lot of readers because the concept and characterizations are really fun.

A fabulous tale where an Archduke, Felix, meets the witch queen Saskia, and finds that she is not the monster she is reputed to be. He comes to offer his self as a hostage and is mistaken for a dark wizard. He is hired as a member of staff. His growing attraction to the witch queen and her interest in him are documented very well. This author is brilliant at telling a good story and making the characters real. I loved the book and would recommend it highly.

I really enjoyed reading about Saskia, the evil witch Queen, and Fabian/Felix a secret royal refugee (Archduke of Estarion), whom Saskia employees to help her organise her magical library as she thinks he is a dark wizard now that she has less time for research since taking back the throne to her kingdom from her evil uncle. I loved the slow burn between the two and that Fabian can really see Saskia for who she is and not who she is pretending to be. I thought it was a really cosy romantasy, and I actually liked in some parts the slight predictability of the plot as I was cheering when things went the right way and it was nice to have a MMC who was confident enough within himself and his title to not be intimidated by the MFC strength and status, and could both see each others vulnerabilities and helped raise each other up rather than tear each other down. Really enjoyable, cosy read and I can't wait to read more.

Wooing the Witch Queen is a fun, cosy romantasy and it is the first book of the Queens of Villainy, a series of standalones. If you love your romance books with a dash of fantasy, you will absolutely adore Wooing the Witch Queen. Stephanie Burgis has crafted a unique, rich fantasy world that does not overshadow the beautiful romance.

This first book focuses on Queen Saskia and Felix (aka Fabian), her new librarian, who is keeping his true identity a secret. I absolutely adored their romance and I spent most of the book grinning and swooning.

I cannot wait to see what Stephanie Burgis has in store for us in the next book of the Queens of Villainy series!

Wooing The Witch Queen

Fearing for himself and others, Félix flees his homeland and plans to throw himself on the mercy of Queen Saskia, the wicked witch Queen that is so feared. Only when he gets there, everyone believes him to be a dark wizard wanting to take up the position of castle Librarian. Unable to tell the truth, Felix finds himself with a new job and a new name - ‘Fabian’ the dark wizard.

Saskia is desperately trying to keep hold of throne she managed to wrestle from her wicked uncle, but it’s not easy when there is war on the horizon. She wants to protect her people but after being called a ‘monster’ for so many years - she feels at a loss. Her only comfort is her friend Fabian. Who she absolutely does not have feelings for…

Felix throws himself into his new role, trying to think of ways to help and protect Saskia and his new friends but when he starts to fall for the feared Queen - how can he even begin to tell her truth?

And what will Saskia do when she learns he’s not only lied to her but that he’s from the land of her enemies? Will their love be able to survive? Or will it all come crashing down?

—-
The first book in the Queens of Villainy series and I am in love with it. Saskia, Felix, Lorelei, Ailana, Mrs Haglitz, Morlokk and of course Oskar the crow - they are all brilliant characters. It’s an enchanting and witty read and I’m so excited to see what happens next.

I’d best describe this book as a slow burn for both myself and the characters. The second half of the book really ramped things up and the action intrigued me. It was well written but I wish I knew a little more about the immediate history of Saskia’s parents and Felix’s story prior to this. A prequel maybe? 👀

Unfortunately, this book didn't work for me. It definitely didn't feel like a first book in a series, there was barely any world building or background information given on anything. Most information seemed brief and felt more like reminders than actually setting up the story properly.

There was too much repetition too - constantly being told about how Saskia is thought of as a tyrant queen, the reasons why people think she's an evil witch, over and over again.

The romance was a big let down too, the attraction shallow, I really didn't understand where the romantic feelings came from and why.

There was some very, very minor longing, then vague smut, the type I dislike - either include spice, or make it closed door, don't give me flowery, weirdly described smut that's over incredibly quickly. This is obviously mostly a case of personal preference, but it truly just didn't fit in this story.

I also noticed a few random perspective changes. The book is written in third POV, but a few first place POV sentences were thrown in, for no reason that I could fathom.

I was also confused about why it was necessary to have a goddess appear in the story, without explanation as to how she fits in the world, which seemed too modern but weirdly also old too. I truly didn't see the point in this.

The only good things I have to say, are about Felix - his powers and kindness, and there were humorous instances, with a few clever, witty moments.

Overall, this was just too bland, and I felt like something was missing the entire time I was reading, not a single aspect was developed enough in any way.

This was lighter in tone than I thought, and definitely more humorous but I enjoyed it immensely. Intriguing world building and interesting back stories for the characters made for an intriguing plot and a sweet but soulful love story. It's a sort of grumpy to sunshine trope with a ferocious (on the outside) queen and a gentle (fountain pen obsessed) librarian and it made a lovely change to have a less than alpha male lead, but one one who was sweet, thoughtful and multi-layered. I loved this cosy romantasy and very much look forward to the next in the series (tempting extract in the back!).

4.5/5⭐

Wooing the Witch Queen is a delightful blend of whimsy and depth, sweeping you away into a world full of yearning, secrets, and enchanting characters. Written in a comforting and easy cadence, it’s the kind of book that wraps around you like a cozy blanket, inviting you to stay until the very last page.

Though the plot itself is fairly simple, this book is rich with moments of unexpected charm and depth. It’s an unconventional, refreshing tale with a diverse cast that turns familiar fantasy tropes on their heads.

The tension between the characters is absolutely delicious, especially that between the fearsome yet lonely queen and her gentle, fountain-pen-obsessed librarian, who slowly befriends her crows and dismantles her emotional barriers. Their slow-burn connection is filled with longing and discovery, and it’s a joy to witness their transformation as the pages go by. But it’s not just the romance that shines in this story. The exploration of other relationships—both supportive and not—is equally compelling. My favourite of these is the chaotic dynamic between the Queens of Villainy.

At its heart, Wooing the Witch Queen is the story of a young woman finding her place in the world and learning to embrace her power and individuality. It is a lovely, heartfelt read that sets the stage perfectly for future books.

Thank you so much to the author and NetGalley for providing me with a digital copy of Wooing the Witch Queen in exchange for my honest review.

Title: Wooing the Witch Queen
Author: Stephanie Burgis
Pages: 304
Rating: 4/5


"In a Gaslamp-lit world where hags and ogres lurk in thick pine forests, three magical queens form an uneasy alliance to protect their lands from invasion…and love turns their world upside down."

This was such an endearing, funny, misunderstood, romantic trope loving book.
Misunderstood villain - check
Hot librarian - check
Miscommunication - check
Adorable familiars - check
Friendships and found families - check

Oh and tragic back stories!!

Well, you get the picture.

The world building was visual but not too wordy. It was a delight to read and a real feel good book. I'm very excited for book two and what will happen next.

It's a feel good romance with some great characters and backstory!!

You'll love this book if you like
- romantasy
- low spice/ fade to black
- hidden magic
- morally grey
- misunderstood villain
- bookish scenes
- miscommunication

A heartwarming, witty, romantic read. I loved this. I was completely enchanted by the story. Thank you to the author, publisher and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this.