A powerful, wicked sorceress? And a "sweet and a little nerdy" librarian love interest? Sign me up! I love powerful women and underdog men, what can I say.

This book delivered on its premise in the area where so many of them just bait & switch the reader. It's a short & sweet, bingeable fantasy romance with "black cat x golden retriever" energy (she's grumpy, he's sunshine).

We know immediately Saskia is not so wicked when the blurb states "she only wants one thing: to keep her people safe from the empire next door". She's a good person with a bad reputation and a dilemma: try to amend it, or harness it for intimidation purposes. She's introverted and has a baggage from the past, therefore suffers no fools. But she's hardworking, caring and very likeable.

Her companions, the ogre Morlokk, the troll Mrs. Haglitz, the goblin Krakk and the crow Oscar create a colourful entourage with often comedic effects.

Felix / Fabian is a political pawn held hostage in his own castle and when he realizes he'd likely be assassinated soon, he runs to the only place his tormentors can't reach - Saskia's magically walled kingdom. Then he gets hired by Saskia by mistake because she jumps to a conclusion (which is lampshaded later as "divine intervention to get them together"). Romance ensues.

It's a fairly slice of life / court intrigue fantasy of manners. I've seen it called cozy, but I'm not sure how cozy it is when both protagonists have tragic backstories and deal with grief and low self-esteem. I've also seen it called "gaslamp" which usually lies adjacent to cozy and Regency / Victorian style fantasy. Balls, ceremonies, social gatherings, gossip and romantic interactions fill the pages.

I enjoyed the romance development especially seeing Saskia take a more active role of a pursuer and initiator while F. was more restrained himself. I rarely see MF romantasy allow the fmc to lead the development of the relationship instead of just agreeing to the mmc's advances. I love to see a sexually confident woman depicted in a MF relationship. There was a lot of consent checking, which is a good thing, and the spice was mild open door.

I also liked how Saskia grew confidence in other aspects of her life thanks to F. and started giving pushback to people who tried to belittle or manipulate her.

What I didn't like was the typical for cozy and romance stories a clear division between "villains" and "good side characters". Villains are always cartoonishly evil and get the punishment they deserve, but the "good side characters" rarely even get a slap on the wrist even if they go way out of line (and most likely will be reused as protagonists in book 2 and 3 of the series...).

Except cultivating a repository of side characters to elevate them to leads of the sequels, I feel it also puts gloves on the hands of the current protagonists - they only retaliate against people who are grotesquely evil, and they forgive easily everyone else. That keeps the protagonists in the "morally white and 200% likeable territory".

I personally felt specific side characters should not have gotten Scott free with all the disrespect they thrown against Saskia and all the slimy gaslighty tactics they used against her. "Oops sorry, my mistake" isn't enough imo.

The writing style was charming and full of situational humour, and I enjoyed following Saskia's character arc to be less of a self-sacrificing workaholic, and F.'s character arc of finding his own worth, power and confidence while remaining extremely respectful, supportive and kind.

Overall the story is short and mostly character-focused, so we don't learn a lot about the magic or the world at large except "these kingdoms exist", but I feel in a standalone fantasy romance worldbuilding is expected to take a back seat.

Recommended for fans of fantasy of manners with romance focus a la Olivia Atwater's Regency Faerie Tales, but with a bit extra spice, and readers of MF romantasy with queer protagonists (Saskia is bisexual, at least 2 side characters are queer too). If you, like me, love stories where fmc is more powerful / take-charge than the mmc and it's never taken away from her, this is a must read.

TW: physical child abuse, death of loved ones (both in backstories, non-graphic)

Thank you Netgalley, Pan Macmillan & Tor Bramble UK for the ARC!

3 stars - Cosy fantasy romance.

Duke Fabian / Felix escapes his bully of a father in law into the neighbouring enemy territory ruled by Witch Queen Saskia. Due to a miscommunication mix up Felix begins to work as Saskia's librarian under the guise of a dark wizard unbeknown to Sakia he is the "enemy" duke herself and the neighbouring two witch queens have been searching for.

I would say this book is more of a cosy romance set within a fantasy setting. I enjoyed how the roles were reversed compared to other books - the damsel was Felix with Saskia coming to his rescue. I also liked the scenes within the library and with the crow that took a liking to Felix.

I was expecting more fantasy from the blurb and I felt the world was underdeveloped as the story concentrated on the romance. If your looking for a easy romance read then this book is for you. Would recommend for those who enjoyed Can't spell treason without tea.

Thank you NetGalley for providing me with the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I had high hopes for this one and there was quite a bit I did like about it, but ultimately it didn’t quite hit the mark for me. One thing I particularly enjoyed about this concept did deliver quite well though; the reversal of conventional roles. Despite having dual POV, I did feel as though the male main character Felix was the more prominent main character rather than Saskia, the female main character. Both in terms of personality and role, they seem to have switched with what is more common in similar tales, and it was well done and refreshing.

I really took to Felix - while I certainly love a mysterious or darker male character, Felix was the entire opposite and he was simply such a sweet character altogether, I would not mind seeing more of his kind. I liked him so much, I almost want to say he carried this whole book for me; because unfortunately, Saskia did not work for me.

I truly wanted to like her, but something did not click. On one hand, she was meant to be an evil witch queen, on the other, she was meant to be misunderstood and kind hearted. To me, she largely failed at both. I found her terribly immature and impatient, dismissing sensible advice and pouring whenever she couldn’t do what she fancied. As a result, I found she was a terrible player at politics, which is definitely not unimportant for the plot.

Then, very sadly, I did not really enjoy the romance. I suppose it’s always tricky if you only like one of a pair in a romance story, but the issue for me largely lay within the pacing. Despite having read several reviews saying this was slow burn, to me it was very close to insta love. At the very least, I felt there was insta lust which then developed into very strong love (as in throw my kingdom and life away for you love) within a fairly short amount of time. Given the stakes of lives and kingdoms, I just didn’t relate to how both characters prioritised the romance, and that’s coming from someone who wants a good chunk of love story in their book.

This was by no means bad though, it was overall quite fun, it was a fast paced and quick book to get through and it’s an interesting world. I understand this is meant to be one of three books although it can be fully read as a standalone. I don’t think I’ll continue the series as I’m already a bit squirmish about the series and trio of female main characters calling themselves Queens of Villainy - the name feels rather cartoonish and I already struggled with the silliness of the fae queen who will be taking the lead in the sequel. Regardless, Felix was an absolute gem.

Wooing the witch Queen is a solid 4* read. It's such a nice change to read about a strong female character who is considered in this story to be an evil and powerful character, to be feared by all in the neighbouring realms. However, as much as she is almighty and powerful and certainly to not be underestimated, recalling presence of Fabian or dark wizard and Librarian, so is actually Felix, the Prince, escaping his own Kingdom, brings out Queen Saskia's vulnerable side and it's great to see these lead characters relationship grow. It feels like a dangerous dance of lust and want for one another and as the narrative develops and threat of war is upon the Queen, their connection grows much deeper. I really enjoyed this cosy slow burn romance and my heart was in my mouth when Felix showed his true self! I did not expect the twist at the end of the book. There has to be more to come surely...........

Wooing the Witch Queen transports you back in time to a beautiful vivid setting in the gas-lamp era, there is a majestic castle with its own giant library. The world itself is full of forests, ogres and witches. What’s not to like? The story and romance and light hearted, cozy and fun. There’s a fake identity that is fun to read about and wonder how events will turn out. The romance was a bit instant for me but I did like the Grumpy x Sunshine dynamic. Overall a fun read that is a great palate cleanser between more epic reads. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC. This is a voluntary review of my own thoughts.

This was such a fun read! I read an eARC of this book on NetGalley so thank you to the author and the publisher.

We’re seeing a lot of books lately which challenge the typical clear cut villain characterisation and I’m loving it! This is another great example. We have Felix who rules in name only and is really a pawn for his horrendous father in law. He flees and seeks sanctuary with a neighbouring enemy, putting his life at risk for the chance of freedom. He’s heard the witch queen in charge is monstrous and evil. However things are not quite what they seem.

I loved the main characters in this. Felix is so humble and kind. He’s intelligent and caring and hardworking and just wants to work in the library having a peaceful life. He’s suffered a great deal in his life but it hasn’t jaded or made him lose his gentle spirit. Saskia is painted as a monster but really just wants to be left alone and to protect her people allowing magic users and creatures to be left in peace. They are both portrayed in ways that aren’t accurate by those who wish to use them for their own nefarious purposes. These were two people who I could really root for!

The setting was fantastic, so vivid and magical. I could really picture the different kingdoms and castles. The magic was really interesting particularly when you throw in libraries with magical tomes and the arrogant dark wizards!

I had so much fun reading this book, I’ll definitely be looking for more from this author.

Wooing the Witch Queen is a cozy romantasy with a bit of a tongue in cheek vibe. I liked the characters well enough, and the plot was pretty well paced, but something was missing for me and I wasn't wowed. Plenty of people will love it though!

I received a copy from the publisher in exchange for an honest review

I do enjoy a world building book and this one was just about perfect. The grumpy/sunshine has been done so many times before, but this is a reverse one and our heroine is a grump, but to be fair she totally has a million reasons to be so. Felix is a soft sunshine, who jumps off the page. I loved this book and I'm really looking forward to this authors next book.

I really enjoyed this story! From the elements of magic, to the relationship between are main characters, every aspect kept me intrigued!

Saskia is such a strong female lead! She is the definition of female rage and standing up for the people she loves dearly. Felix took my heart! I love his softness, especially toward Saskia and the kindness his gives to the people around him.
The humorous writing was divine. I kept giggling at Saskia's inner monolog.

Thank you for this title! I thoroughly enjoyed my time with it. Also cannot wait for the next instalment.

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/7092340304?book_show_action=false

I had high expectations for this book and like always when this happens, they have not been met, so I’m left with a bit of disappointment.

The book was not bad on itself, problem was it didn’t stick out to me, didn’t impress me and the fantasy world building was just not explained like at all.

The characters were mid and the dynamics between them didn’t leave me much to remember.

Unfortunately I won’t be continuing this series.

Although I didn’t appreciate it as much as I had expected, I’m sure this book will be loved by many.

A completely different genre for me, I did enjoy Wooing the Witch Queen after I managed to get into it.

Its a fantasy read, which I am really trying to get into at the minute. Saskia is Queen and feared by many. She is a witch and is determined to keep her people safe.

She hires a librarian Fabian and the story really starts taking off.

I found it quite hard to get into to start with but I am glad that I stuck with it and finished it.

Thanks to Netgalley, the publisher and author for allowing me an ARC in exchange for my honest review.

3 1/2 stars. Burgis' newest fantasy romance novel is a lot of wholesome fun with a very cute main couple. However, I had a few issues with the plot that hindered my overall enjoyment.

First of all, Wooing the Witch Queen is cosy and creative. Much of the book is dedicated to library scenes, delicious food, and a hodge-podge found family in a magnificent castle. These warm, vibrant scenes were written very well with a wonderfully rich atmosphere. I enjoyed that even with high stakes of capture and war, Burgis pauses to make time for developing the romance and the cast of characters.

The romance itself is also wonderfully unconventional. Saskia portrays qualities mostly found in male protagonists such as brashness, assertiveness, and a dislike for social etiquette or diplomacy. Felix, on the other hand, portrays more traditionally feminine qualities with his gentle, polite nature and love for libraries and ink pens. Together, they have palpable chemistry.

Unfortunately, there were a couple of plot points that I found implausible or silly. For instance, Felix must pretend to be a sorcerer for the majority of the novel, yet he has no magic of his own and never attempts to show Queen Saskia or her staff any semblance of magical ability. Therefore, I was surprised that Saskia never started to question Felix's fake identity.

I also found Saskia's inability to listen to her advisor, Mirjana, very concerning. While the book seemed to champion Saskia sticking to her own wants and desires, I found her advisor's advice logical and necessary; Mirjana simply wanted Saskia's people to feel safe and listened to, whereas Saskia wished to be isolated, absent, and intimidating. Moreover, three rulers in this novel (Saskia included) are called 'The Queens of Villainy' which is a very entertaining moniker but I found it hard to take seriously.

The novel's conclusion is quite satisfying and I was quickly turning the pages to see how everything turned out. I was pleased and surprised by one of the plot twists, and I really enjoyed Felix's character growth. While this novel is part of a planned series featuring different characters, Wooing the Witch Queen can be read as a stand-alone novel.

Despite my little nitpicks, I did enjoy this novel and would recommend this to anyone looking for a cute fantasy romance who is willing to overlook some weaknesses in the plot. I really loved the pairing of Felix and Saskia, and I savoured the cosy castle scenes.

*I received an e-ARC for free in exchange for an honest review*

I have to say it took me a few chapters to get invested, but once we were there it took off! For me, it was a plot line I hadn't seen before in the deception of his identity so I was pleased to see something a bit unusual! I really enjoyed how fierce Saskia was and how she developed over the book, becoming a bit softer as she fell for her mysterious librarian. The cozy vibes of this were great, with the book being mainly based around a library. I loved the other queens that popped in and out, too, they really shook things up! Overall, this was a really enjoyable read, cozy, sexy and lots of fun.

Wooing The Witch Queen by Stephanie Burgis was a delightful read! It is a very lighthearted romantasy that doesn't take itself too seriously.

I liked both Saskia and Felix as main characters, and I loved their interactions. Felix had such a kind and calm personality, and I totally understand why Saskia fell for him. Another great aspect of the book was the found family, with Morlokk and Mrs. Haglitz being great side characters.

Overall, I really enjoyed reading this book, and I can't wait for the next book in the series! The next book will be about a different couple, and I'm very curious to see how their story plays out.

I definitely recommend Wooing The Witch Queen for everyone who is looking for a lighthearted romantasy!

*Thanks to NetGalley and Tor Bramble for an eARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

Feared evil queen Queen Saskia has two problems. First, her new grasp on the throne is tenuous, with shaky alliances and a gathering enemy force at her border. All she wants is to find a magical solution in her lab, not throw parties for the elite who stood by as she suffered under her uncle's control. Second, she's hired a mysterious dark wizard, Fabian, as her new librarian, and she's falling for him. She doesn't even know that he's the 'enemy' Imperial archduke in disguise. Their growing romance unfolds against a backdrop of political intrigue, magical experiments, and genuine personal growth.

What I Loved:
Powerful female heroine and strong, gentle male hero
Great world-building featuring traditionally 'evil' creatures/species such as crows (my fav!), trolls, and magical politics
Found family vibes
Genuine character development
The perfect balance of cosy and spicy romance

What I didn't Love:
Nothing! This book is a perfect cosy fantasy, thank god it's the start of a series.

Common Tropes:
Hidden/Mistaken Identity
Royalty in disguise
Found family

This book is perfect for readers who enjoy fantasy romance with strong character development, unconventional gender dynamics, and the perfect blend of political intrigue and tender moments - with a little spice.

Thank you to Tor Bramble and NetGalley for providing a copy for me to review, all opinions are my own.

Wooing the Witch Queen is a light, easy romance with a wintery feel. It was a fun, quick if unchallenging read which really suited me at this time. Saskia and Felix are very likeable characters and I will certainly look out for the sequel to see more of them, even if it will primarily be the story of a different couple.

Thanks to NetGalley and Pan MacMillan for the opportunity to read an eArc. These opinions are my own.

If you like unchallenging, cozy romantasy this will appeal. There is nothing intellectually demanding in the plot and the characters all follow their set paths without any surprises. Personally I would have liked it to be a little grittier and the romantic development a bit more tense. The supporting cast offers avenues of interest for sure, and I loved the crow!
Ok as a distraction, not a title if you want something meaty to get your teeth into.

3.5 stars rounded up.

A very cute, cozy romantasy with excellent writing, I can see Wooing the Witch Queen being a big hit for people who love that genre. Unfortunately I found it a little too cozy. The two leads were too perfect (the MMC in particular) and the story too lacking in real conflict for me to love it. Also, for a series titled Queens of Villainy, the book shies away from any real violence, and I find it funny that we are expected to believe that turning someone into a mouse or slug isn't functionally a death sentence anyway. I did like Oskar the crow very much though.

Highly recommended for those who like very sweet and cozy romantasy.

Love the twists, magic and suspense. Can't wait for the next book

Thank you Stephanie Burgis, Pan Macmillan and Netgalley for the ARC

ARC Review for Wooing the Witch Queen by Stephanie Burgis

The first book in the "Queens of Villainy" series, "Wooing the Witch Queen" is a cozy, romantic fantasy that sets the stage for a world filled with powerful queens, unexpected heroes, and plenty of magic.

Felix, the Archduke of a neighboring realm, has spent his life as little more than a puppet, controlled by the advisors who surround him. Desperate to escape their manipulations, he runs away to the one person no one would dare to pursue him to: Queen Saskia, the infamous Witch Queen, seeking sanctuary.
A misunderstanding soon lands him the role of her librarian, a position that keeps him close to the sharp, brilliant ruler who’s too busy restoring her kingdom to realize the Archduke she’s hunting for is standing right in front of her, organizing her chaotic library.

As they work together, his quiet, thoughtful demeanor begins to complement her brash, magical intensity. What follows is a romantic journey full of witty banter, reluctant realizations, and some genuinely sweet moments. Along the way, Felix discovers that heroism doesn’t always come with a sword—it can also mean standing by someone when the world is against them.

This book is perfect for readers who enjoy cozy, character-driven fantasy with a focus on romance. If you love stories where a kind, unassuming hero wins over a powerful, sharp-tongued heroine, this will be right up your alley. The supporting cast—particularly the other queens—adds flavor and intrigue, hinting at exciting developments for future books.

That said, the plot didn’t quite strike the right balance for me. While I loved Felix and Saskia as individuals, their romance felt a bit rushed. They caught feelings quickly, and I missed those pivotal, heartfelt moments that make a slow-burn romance shine. The story leaned heavily on the romance, and I would’ve loved a bit more tension or excitement in the overall plot to round it out.

Still, the book shines in its humor, heart, and potential for the series.
The next book in the series "Enchanting the Fae Queen", which will focus on one of the other queens we meet here. If you’re looking for a cozy fantasy escape with strong characters and sweet romance, this is a great one to add to your list!

Thank you Netgalley for the ARC!