I loved the dynamic between the two main characters, particularly the flipping of the usual roles. Saskia being the headstrong, powerful one and Fabian being the quiet, overlooked and far more vulnerable one. While their attraction is instant, Burgis slows it all down sufficiently for each of them to get to know each other and appreciate their best points, even as their passion smoulders ever more urgently. Done well, this is always a successful dynamic within romance stories – and this time around it’s done well.

The library setting is a joy – as is the crow companion. I was pleased to see that despite the crow adopting Fabian, it doesn’t transform the bird into anything remotely cosy – quite right, too. And the dynamic around the new fountain pen is suitably cute and memorable for me to thoroughly enjoy it.

However, there is a but… I didn’t bond with Saskia as much as I wanted to. For someone who believes themselves to be monstrous, she does tend to dither inwardly an awful lot and I was a tad dismayed to find that I was a lot more intrigued by one of the other queens when she made her flamboyant entrance. That’s okay – each to her own, no one says I have to love every protagonist, but it did dim my enjoyment of the book, somewhat. Though it wasn’t a dealbreaker, as you can see by the score. While I obtained an arc of Wooing the Witch Queen from the publisher via Netgalley, the opinions I have expressed are unbiased and my own.
8/10

Wooing the Witch Queen is a cosy Romantasy that just fell a little flat for me. Queen Saskia is supposed to be this "evil sorceress" but she is in fact the complete opposite. She is a caring character who wants equal rights for all and goes hard for any of her staff. Everything was all very pleasant with an even more cinnamon roll of a MMC also, who is not intimidated by the fact Saskia was the most powerful witch around. It was definitely nice to see him being nothing but supportive for her.

I also just feel that considering Saskia was supposed to be this intellectual woman, she missed the glaringly obvious fact of who "Fabian" the dark wizard she had hired really was.

The biggest problem I had with this book was the sex scene, while it wasn't ethically not okay, it did leave me feeling a little icky.

Overall, this was mostly inoffensive, it was just an okay read & I won't be carrying on in the series.

Wooing the Witch Queen is an enjoyable romp through magical queens and repressed royalty. Two heirs to separate kingdoms, orphaned and mistreated by their regents, meet as adults when Felix finally escapes and flees, to offer himself as a hostage to Saskia, the witch queen of a neighboring country. The developing relationship, as well as personal growth, leads to a beautifully satisfying climax. I think I need to read it again!

I absolutely adored this book and read it in under 12 hours! I couldn't stop reading and turning those pages. I really loved how this one still had a plot and stakes to it even though it was a cosy fantasy. There was plenty of humour and plenty of romance. I loved how she had to learn to love and trust those around her -- her sisters but also her friends. And he was such a cinnamon roll simp for her that I could not help but ship the couple together. The soft dom/sub dynamic really worked for me, and the world building was just right -- just enough for the story, but not flooding us so it felt like it couldn't be a cosy fantasy anymore. What a great read. Can't wait for the sequel!

What a wonderful read this was! Full of humour, love and magic. It felt like such a good time while also definitely having characters with stories that got you aching for them and the things they went through.

Such a perfect read for a good time, for a romance with a plot and a story you can't wait to continue.

I loved that the MMC loved fountain pens! That was so cute - as someone who also loves fountain pens, I enjoyed reading about that.
Wooing the Witch Queen was a delightful cozy read with lots of political intrigue.
A nice change from the typical romantasy dynamics!
Rated this 3.75 stars but rounded up to 4 stars

I couldn't find myself caring for the characters or the development of the plot. Nothing special/memorable about this book. I did enjoy her protectiveness of Felix. It was a pleasant change from all the possessive male characters in fantasy/ romance books.

I couldn't find myself caring for the characters or the development of the plot. Nothing special/memorable about this book. I did enjoy her protectiveness of Felix. It was a pleasant change from all the possessive male characters in fantasy/ romance books.

This was a lovely, charming and cosy romantasy!

<I>'She was the most dangerous, beautiful, astonishing creature he had ever met... and she was ready to kill to protect him.'</I>
We have our sweet puppet archduke of Estarion, Felix, who runs away from his kingdom once he realises his FIL is trying to kill him to take full control of his kingdom and, actually, he quite likes living. Feeling powerless Felix runs to the neighbouring rival kingdom, thinking that a life as a prisoner to the vicious Queen Saskia is better than no life at all. Only, the terrible and evil queen he has heard so much about doesn't seem that bad, and she mistakes him for the librarian she has been waiting for to sort her magical library! Despite his best efforts, the Queen is MUCH too busy to listen to him correct her opinion. After all, she has to protect her kingdom from her murderous Uncle and the cruel Archduke of Estarion who is set on taking her kingdom and killing the people she loves. And if the wizard she has hired seems unusually sweet, kind and tender well...she would just shove those thoughts and feelings deep within as she doesn't have time for that sort of thing!

I absolutely LOVED the world Stephanie has created here. We have castles, magic, magical creatures, politics, plots, alliances and science set as a wonderful back drop to a love story between an uncertain and gentle archduke and the fiery and powerful queen he finds himself falling for. There is also a wonderful cast of side characters and I can't wait to carry on with the Queens of villainy series!

I am a sucker for truly soft, adoring, devoted male love interests. I am even more of a sucker for women with tremendous power getting to keep it all. Which is to say, this was absolutely my cup of tea.

Felix, Archduke of Estarion, is not all he seems. More captive than royal, he is just trying to make it through each day after the death of his wife, and only friend. He knows it is only a matter of time before his father-in-law has him dealt with, permanently. When he learns that Kitvaria's Witch Queen has built an impassable barrier on her border, which blocks all those bearing weapons, he knows it is his only shot.

Queen Saskia is miserable. She didn't want to be Queen in the first place, all she wanted was to work on her experiments, keep her friends safe, and free her country from the sticky grasp of her horrible, murderous uncle. When a man in a dark cloak arrives, she assumes he is another Dark Wizard here to work on her library. If her new librarian is kinder, and softer, and brighter, and more entirely lovely than she had been expecting... well, she'll just have to ignore that!

When sparks begin to fly, both leads will have to face the darkness in their lives, and find the inner-strength not just to survive, but to allow themselves to love.

Romantic, compelling, humorous, and bursting with colourful characters Wooing the Witch Queen was Emily Henry meets Caitlin Rozakis, a sweeping, glorious, soft-boy romance perfect for fans romance and fantasy alike. Sometimes romance is weaker, writing wise, than it is plot wise, but that was not the case here. Burgis is an excellent writer, the narrative voices are strong, the world is well-conceived, the magic system, although not explained in depth, makes sense, and the bonds explored feel possible.

An utterly deserved 4.5 stars. I look forward to future books in the series!

This was fantastic, really engaging story and characters you really get to know and root for. Great fun read.

Thank you for an ARC of "Wooing the Witch Queen" by Stephanie Burgis. Unfortunately, I was very disappointed in this book. The book had a nice premise as a cozy fantasy romance, but it ended up being not what I expected. The plot is very predictable, and the characters lacked depth, making it difficult to become fully invested in their journey and romance. The sudden strong feelings the characters developed for each other just seemed so over the top. All of that, plus the superficial world-building feels that made little sense at times resulted in the story falling completely flat. Overall, the story is forgettable and fails to leave a lasting impression.

I have been a Stephanie Burgis fan since I first read and reviewed Scales and Sensibility in her Regency Dragons series ( a fabulous mix up of Regency and dragons!). So the chance to read and review this book, the first in a new series called the Queens of Villainy, was an opportunity I couldn't miss.
Our two protagonists are Saskia, Queen of Kitvaria and Witch of the East, and Archduke Felix von Estarion, leader of thee Kingdom of Estarion. Felix is in fact a figurehead being used and abused by his father in law Count von Hertzendorff, and when it becomes clear that his life is in danger Felix escapes to the one place that has resisted his father in law, Kitvaria and it's queen.
Saskia has gained the throne by overthrowing her evil uncle, who killed her parents, painted her as a monstrous power mad witch to the world. However Saskia's real passion is with her experiments, she is deeply loyal to her diverse staff and kingdom, and is attended by her flock of crows and bats.
Felix makes it unscathed to Kitvaria planning to throw himself on the mercy of Queen Saskia, however due to a misunderstanding Saskia believes Felix to be her new librarian Sinistro, a dark wizard. Felix becomes Fabian and so a journey of discovery and self-evaluation begins for both our characters. Felix/Fabian finds that what he thought was a useless education is in fact perfect for the organisation and cataloguing of a library and Saskia finds solace with this quiet, accepting man, who really isn't like any dark wizard she has encountered.
Other key characters are Mirjana, First Minister to Kitvaria and Saskia's first lover and key to her ascending to the throne. Next up are the Lorelei (Fae Queen) and Ailana (Queen of Ice) the remaining Queens of Villainy, keep Saskia on her toes and are her staunchest supporters against the encroaching Serafin Empire.
The key themes circle around being true to yourself, that bad experiences in life do not define who you are, equality and of course love. I would recommend this book and can't wait to see what is in store for Lorelei in the next book Enchanting the Fae Queen.
My thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for access to this ARC, all views are my own.

Oooh, I really loved this book!

Archduke Felix Augustus Von Estarion is in trouble. A widower at twenty-three, he knows that his in-laws would like nothing more than to get rid of him, and his pesky claim to power. Fearing for his life, he flees to the border, to seek refuge and plea for sanctuary from the ‘wicked witch queen’ who rules there. When he arrives, they immediately peg him for another curious dark wizard, shrouded in his dark travelling cloak as he is, and don’t give him a chance to admit to who he is - while making it very clear how much disdain they hold for the Archduke over the border. So, with a new masquerade mask firmly in place, he sets to work organising the long dishevelled library, befriends the crows who live in the castle, and tries not to let his gaze linger for too long on the beautiful, powerful, Queen, who would probably smite him on the spot if she knew who he really was….

I was immediately drawn into this world. You know those books that you crack open and instantly sink into? That’s not always so easy with a fantasy book, where new worlds, titles ,and intriguing new magic systems are thrown at you a mile a minute - yet it all flowed so smoothly. Delightful.

The cast of characters is wonderful - both Felix and Saskia, the Witch Queen, were fleshed out so well - their tragic histories, their caring natures, and their budding infatuation and romance with each other. This extends to the rest of the characters - from the goblins, and trolls, who live and work in the castle, to Saskias fellow evil queens, who were all joys to read whenever they appeared on the page.

Despite the high levels of political chess moves, and the heartbreaking pasts of the main characters, this book is incredibly cosy. Mostly set in a castle high up in the mountains, with a library in disarray, and crows who actually make for adorable familiars (Oskar, I would die for you, truly), it was a joy to curl up with and get lost in. These characters have my heart, and I’m very much looking forward to the next instalment in the series.

Thank you to the publishers, and Netgalley, for the copy to review!

This is a hard book to review in some ways as it was total fluff and every slight conflict that arose was solved and dealt with so quickly there wasn't really anything to say about it. Both Saskia (the Witch Queen) and Felix (the one wooing her) have uncles who are evil b*****ds for want of a better term - her uncle murdered her parents to claim their throne and his uncle tortured him and took away all agency and control he should have had over his own life. But it's OK because they fell in love even though it was repeatedly mentioned throughout the book how Felix the Archduke was a wrong un (he wasn't) and the queen was evil (er no). I didn't feel particularly interested in any of the characters or what happened next to them (except for Oskar he was by far my favourite and he couldn't talk)

Unfortunately I could not get into this book and had to stop reading at 27%. It was too slow paced and I didn’t have any interest in the characters.

3.5 stars!

Wooing the Witch Queen is a charming, whimsical fantasy romance filled with magic, political intrigue, and a delightful slow-burn romance. Stephanie Burgis delivers a fairy tale-esque story with strong character dynamics, witty banter, and just enough tension to keep things engaging. While it doesn’t entirely break new ground, it’s an enjoyable and cozy read, perfect for fans of lighthearted romantasy.

The romance is sweet and well-paced, leaning more into warmth and emotional connection rather than high-stakes angst. However, while I enjoyed their dynamic, I sometimes wished for deeper emotional tension or more complex character development. The world-building, while intriguing, also felt a little surface-level at times—I wanted to dive deeper into the magic system and the politics of the realm.

The pacing is mostly steady, though certain sections feel a bit rushed, particularly toward the climax. I would have loved a little more time for the story to breathe, especially when it came to resolving key conflicts.

Overall, Wooing the Witch Queen is a fun, feel-good romantasy with engaging characters and a fairy tale atmosphere. While it doesn’t quite reach the depth or complexity of some similar books, it’s a thoroughly enjoyable escape. If you love witty banter, magical intrigue, and royal courtship with a strong-willed heroine, this is definitely worth a read!

“A great and entertaining read”
Funny and charming, I couldn’t put this one down! Filled with snark, magic, humour, adorable ravens, friendship, romance, peril and heart. A great read all round, and I’m looking forward to more!

A wonderful and whimsical story. The characters were great, and the plotline enjoyable. I can't wait for the next!

Thank you to the author, publisher and netgalley for an e-arc in exchange for an honest review.

4.5 stars
Content warning: mentioning of historical physical and emotional abuse, manipulation, grief from losing loved ones, betrayals
Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for a digital copy to review. All thoughts are my own.

Wooing the Witch Queen is the perfect level of cosy fantasy. It's not too low in stakes that nothing is happening, yet it's filled with softer moments, and a wholesome cast supporting the two main characters in Saskia's castle. I loved the pacing of this story, utilising brewing tensions in and out of Saskia's court as enough intrigue to keep things moving. Yet, it has a good focus on building both Saskia and Felix as individuals. By the end, you can see the company of one another as well as their personal growth has been worth journeying through. Both are prepared to stand their ground for their people, for their love, and most importantly, for themselves. After taking more passive roles in their individual kingdoms, it's nice to see them slip into their positions of power when it feels right for them to finally fight and accept who they truly are. The obstacles from their oppressive adversaries and establishing their power are satisfactorily wrapped up with room for the world to grow as this series continues.

But where this story shines is in the building of romantic discovery and self-acceptance. I loved the use of the slow burn tactic to build a genuine connection between the pair, and that Saskia feels emboldened to lead her way through the relationship. Whilst some of Felix's submissive behaviour has been quite literally beaten into him, I really appreciated how his softer ways complimented Saskia, and his confidence grew within their set roles well. The romance culminates well and left me smiling fondly. I liked that Saskia embraces her "monstrous" ways and that Felix supports her being herself, much as she's enamoured by his softer details and clever wit and poetry. The balance is delicate at times, but beautifully written, and full of delightful banter. Stephanie Burgis is a master of creating something interesting and fun out of smaller and somewhat mundane situations, and I loved how this skill came into play in building the foundation of this wickedly enjoyable Queens of Villainy series.

I am proud to announce that I have a new type: Felix ✨

Wooing the Witch Queen was an absolute delight! It’s a lovely, wholesome, and cozy read—one of the best slow-burn romances I’ve come across recently—all packed into just under 300 pages. While I found the names and titles a bit confusing at first, once I got the hang of things, I was completely hooked and couldn’t put it down.

The chemistry between Saskia and Felix was utterly addictive. I adored Felix’s gentleness and Saskia’s strength—how they balanced each other so perfectly and how their swoon-worthy romance unfolded so naturally. I was genuinely sad when the book ended because I needed more of them (and honestly, we need more gentle heroes in romantasy books!). This was easily one of my favorite reads of the year.