“Wooing the Witch Queen” is a witty romantasy by Stephanie Burgis.

Rating: ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️
Plot: ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️
Characters: ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️
Suspense: ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️
Ending: ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️


What you’ll find in this book:
⭐️ Witty romantasy
⭐️ Next level chemistry
⭐️ Playful and flirtatious
⭐️ Charming intrigue
⭐️ Magical intrigue

My Review:

Wooing the Witch Queen is a delightful and witty romantasy that effortlessly blends humor, magic, and sizzling chemistry. The first book in the Queens of Villainy trilogy, it introduces Queen Saskia, a powerful sorceress with a wicked reputation, who is determined to protect her people at all costs. When a mysterious, charming (and slightly nerdy) librarian named Fabian enters her life, sparks fly — and not just from the magic!
I absolutely loved this book, giving it a solid four stars. The chemistry between Saskia and Fabian is next level. Their interactions are playful, flirtatious, and full of tension, making their developing relationship incredibly entertaining. Saskia is a fierce, no-nonsense queen, while Fabian, who hides a much bigger secret than Saskia realizes, is sweetly awkward and endearing. The push and pull between them creates a dynamic that is both humorous and deeply engaging.
Burgis’s writing is sharp and full of wit, with just the right balance of lighthearted moments and tense intrigue. The premise of a wicked queen falling for a disguised archduke is fresh and captivating, and the plot, while full of twists, never loses its sense of fun. The magical elements are well-developed, and the interactions between characters feel authentic and rich in emotional depth.
Wooing the Witch Queen is a wonderfully intriguing and funny start to a promising series. The chemistry between the main characters, coupled with a fast-paced and magical plot, makes it a highly enjoyable read. If you’re a fan of witty romance with a touch of fantasy, this book is definitely for you!

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.

3.5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

Wooing The Witch is the first book in the Queens of Villainy Trilogy, which follows Felix, the Archduke of the Kingdom of Estarion who seeks sanctuary in a neighbouring kingdom where he meets Queen Saskia, the wicked Scorceress. He hides his identity and portrays himself as a dark wizard to assist the Queen in her library.

A fun, cute witchy romantasy which was quite charming in places, however for me lacked a little world building.

However, I enjoyed the characters and their relationships, especially their light-hearted wit throughout. I really loved Oskar the Crow who was a delight.

It will be interesting to see how the stories and characters develop in the coming books.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for the opportunity to read this ARC.

LOVED THIS.
when you’re want to ignore your hot new wizard librarian but he keeps befriending all of the crows and obsessing over fountain pens

"Wooing the Witch Queen" by Stephanie Burgis is a charming fantasy romance featuring Queen Saskia, a powerful sorceress, and Felix, an archduke hiding as a dark wizard. Their slow-burn romance unfolds amidst witty banter, political intrigue, and magical adventures. With engaging characters and cozy fantasy vibes, it's a delightful read for fans of lighthearted fantasy romances.

4.5 stars - Calling all cosy fantasy fans - are you ready for a new obsession? We have a misunderstood witch queen who is fiercely loyal and protective, and secretly a softie despite the monstrous reputation she had. Then we have an Archduke in disguise and on the run who’s a gentle and romantic soul with an equally bad reputation and a passion for his new library (and the queen who owns it!).

Queen Saskia and Archduke Felix/Fabian brought so much warmth to the story as their tentative feelings blossomed alongside a sweet friendship. Fabian finds a home in this castle filled with curious ravens and a dazzling queen, drawn into the found family made up of trolls, goblins and orcs. He’s completely in awe of the powerful witch and her determined and protective soul, which is a dynamic I absolutely love to see. Saskia needs to be appreciated for her own brand of chaos without the attempts to mold her into someone she’s not. Fabian delivers!

This is such a warm and inviting story, with three wild witch queens and charming outcasts bringing a little extra to the story. Mix that with the magic, villainous enemies, light politics and a delightful bit of romance and you’ve got the best kind of book. I can’t wait to see what story Stephanie Burgis brings us next!

This book was a prime example of how much a cover can make a difference to me. At first I saw the US cover, which unfortunately didn't convince me at all and because of which I decided against the book. However, when I saw the UK cover, my opinion suddenly changed and I decided to give it a chance.
And gosh, am I glad I did.
Anyone who loved ‘Sorcery and Small Magics’ will probably also enjoy ‘Wooing the Witch Queen’. For me, it was the first time I've enjoyed both characters and their relationship so much since then. Genre-wise, the two books confuse me though, as ‘Sorcery and Small Magics’ is rated as cozy fantasy, but ‘Wooing the Witch Queen’ is not. In my eyes, both felt very similarly cozy; if anything, the Witch Queen had even more feel-good potential. Not least because of the cute foundfamily you'll meet here.
The main characters of Wooing the Witch Queen were top notch.
Firstly, we have the bisexual Saskia, for whom sexuality wasn't just written as a label. We learn a lot about her first and so far only relationship, which was with a woman. Their current relationship as ex-lovers feels authentic and I bought every second of it. I wish I'd had such great representation when I was younger.
Another nice way to deal with past relationships was Felix's way of thinking about his late wife. His description of exactly how he felt and still feels today about the arranged marriage also feels genuine and relatable. It is the perfect description of his whole tender nature and it is perfect just the way it is. We don't need the hundredth Shadowdaddy who either wants to save the world or reduce it to rubble.
As I would love to see more volumes with this pair, I'm almost a little disappointed that the two follow-up volumes will probably deal with the other two ‘queens of villainy’. At the same time, I'm also looking forward to them, as they are also interesting and promising characters.
So well, I'm excited for everything Stephanie Burgis will gift us.

SPOILER
In my opinion, it was unnecessary to give Felix magic as well. Apart from the fact that I would have liked to have a couple consisting of a magician and a non-magician again, it would have been a twist to have only the woman be magically gifted. It would also have been somehow cooler if Felix had met his non-magical abuser as an equal and THEREFORE stronger. Especially since he didn't really need his magic to stand up to him.

A thoroughly enjoyable read. Great characters, a brilliantly constructed world and the best romantic elements.

I was totally invested in this newly created world and it's characters. A dark witch Queen, a 'dark wizard' librarian fleeing his past and two dynamic allies.

It was sweet to see the connection of the two MCs and how their relationship developed against the back drop of political unrest and danger. And I absolutely adored the two otherworld characters who were not shy to put the newly appointed 'librarian' in his place to protect their queen.

I was totally invested in finding out what happened at the end and loved the way the author wrapped this up while leaving it open for a second book which I super excited for.

This was a well deserved 4.5 star read for me and one I'll definitely need on my bookshelves.

Wooing the Witch Queen is a charming blend of romance, magic, and intrigue and I'm so happy I got to read it in advance of its release. If you’re into witty, romantic fantasy with a dash of suspense, this is definitely one to check out. I’m excited to see where this story goes next!

"Wooing the Witch Queen" is an absolute delight of a cozy romantasy that flips typical genre tropes on their head in the best possible way. Instead of the usual grumpy hero/sunshine heroine dynamic, we get the powerful, feared witch queen Saskia and her adorkable librarian Felix - who happens to be hiding the fact that he's actually a runaway archduke with zero magical ability. The slow-burn romance between them unfolds beautifully against a backdrop of political intrigue, magical libraries, and found family charm.

What really sets this story apart is how it balances its lighter elements with genuine emotional depth. Both leads are wonderfully developed characters dealing with their own traumas and insecurities, and their growing relationship feels earned rather than rushed. While some might find the plot a bit predictable, the stellar character dynamics and witty writing more than make up for it. The supporting cast, particularly Saskia's quirky castle staff, adds wonderful depth to this enchanting world. Perfect for readers who enjoy their romantasy with equal parts heart and humor.

Thank you to NetGalley and Pan Macmillan/Tor Bramble for providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

The blurb of this book hooked me right away, and the story didn't disappoint neither. I had so much fun reading about strong-willed Queen Saskia and gentle Felix. It's a hilarious combination, full of miscommunications and assumptions that made the story light-hearted, and made me laugh out loud quite a few times. It was nice to see these takes on the main characters, who also had their roles reverse—on many romances, villains are usually males. The author gives a great twist to many stereotypes, and because of this she's able to take on more serious subjects with a lighter tone. I can't wait to see what book 2 will bring us.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for gifting me a free arc in exchange for an honest review! All opinions are my own.

I absolutely loved the cosy descriptions of food, spiced hot chocolates and warm fires in the library!! The atmosphere this book delivers is there right from the start and I really liked these moments!

I overall found this book to be somewhat generic in terms of plot and world. I think the standout feature of it is probably the male love interest, who is gentle and kind - traits that are not often found in male main characters in current romantasy books. It was very refreshing to read about this kind of mmc. Unfortunately, I found that I couldn’t really differentiate between Saskia and Félix’s pov because they sound exactly the same, which is a shame because I liked both of their characters.

My main issue with the book is that it is very predictable and has little to no world building or exploration of the magic system. However, if you are looking for a cosy, light romance set in a witchy library, then this is definitely for you!

Overall - 2.75⭐️ rounded up to 3

This wasn’t what I was expecting, but I loved it!

Witch Queen, Saskia, is more interested in her spells and potions than having to navigate the exhausting politics of ruling her country. Archduke Felix is on the run and in disguise. Can they help each other, or will the secrets ruin any chance they have?

This was an intriguing twist on the usual damsel-on-the-run storyline, and I found myself fully immersed and read it in almost one sitting!

Thank you to Pan Macmillian and Stephanie Burgis for gifting me a proof copy of Wooing The Witch Queen in exchange for a fair and honest review. Reading Wooing the Witch Queen felt like curling up in a cozy blanket, listening to gentle rainfall against the window while drinking your favourite warming cup of tea.

Stephanie Burgis crafts a bewitching tale full of high-stake plot twists in a war where nothing is as it seems, hidden identities, found family, and a slow-burn romance showing the transformative power of love and connection between two hearts. Her writing style is charming, full of coziness, fun, tongue-in-cheek humour, and lots of wicked snappy banter. The worldbuilding is magically vivid, bringing to life the richly detailed kingdoms and vast geographies of the world, as well as the warm, cozy atmosphere for intimate scenes of a gentle romance.

For me, the cast of remarkable characters, well-crafted characters, poignant backstories, and heart-warming character arcs make Wooing the Witch Queen such an incredible book to read. I fell deeply in love with all of them, especially Felix. I need more Felix-styled MMC in my fantasy – don't get me wrong, I love a morally grey bad boy as much any book girlie, but I need more of this type of healthy book boyfriend, unafraid to gently loving, emotionally intelligent, vulnerable and sensitive without needing to be a jerk or defectively gruff, despite the traumas they have endured in their life.

The reversed grumpy x sunshine dynamic works beautifully with Felix's gorgeously gentle, patient, and thoughtful cinnamon-roll nature and Saskia's fierce, bloodthirsty protectiveness and grumpy queen persona, who petrifies the patriarchy but makes her beloved by her people. It's so easy to fall in love with their sweet dynamic. Felix and Saskia balance each other in their relationship. I loved the delightful slow-burn romance full of tender moments, sweet shyness, and the ease they find in each company in just being in the moment.

A spellbinding romantasy with a plot full of magic, hidden identities, found family, and political scheming in the grapple for the power of a throne. Everything about this book oozes one thing – a cozy charm that will warm you from the heart to the top of your head and down to the tips of your curling toes. If you love witchy-vibed romantasy with a sweet enemies-to-lovers romance and cozy charm, Wooing the Witch Queen is a perfect read for your TBR!

4.5 of 5 stars
https://lynns-books.com/2025/02/20/review-wooing-the-witch-queen-queens-of-villainy-no-1-by-stephanie-burgis/
My Five Word TL:DR Review: Cosy Romantasy with Villainous Queens

What more could you possibly ask for?

I confess that cosy fantasy is a real hit for me at the moment and picking up a book by Burgis is the equivalent of a cup of tea and a big hug, her books are like snuggly comfort blankets and her writing goes from strength to strength. I had a deliciously good time with Wooing the Witch Queen.

So, this book has a dollop of romance but it’s not so gloopy that it takes over the plot. There’s an interesting world, some nasty characters trying to take over, politics, endearing critters and a lovely supporting cast. Are you not intrigued?

Saskia is the infamous titular Witch Queen. Called a monster by the uncle she finally managed to get rid of, and generally reviled beyond her own realm, she is a powerful sorceress and has cast a protective spell over the land to protect her people from being overthrown by the (evil) Archduke of Estarion. Meanwhile, she’s been on the search for a dark wizard to organise her chaotic library so when a young man appears at the castle, quite naturally, Saskia and her staff jump to the conclusion he’s here for the coveted role. Little do they know that the actual Archduke (who is little more than a figurehead who is being used and abused) has made good his escape and has turned up at her castle seeking sanctuary. Of course, he’s only too happy to have this little misunderstanding play out and takes to his new duties with gusto.

What I loved about this.

I really enjoyed the writing, it’s outrageously easy to sink into and who wouldn’t be won over by that? The characters are flawed but likable. The world has been well thought out but the details are not overbearing. We learn of the histories of both our central characters through gentle reflection rather than overbearing info dumps. The atmosphere is wonderfully cosy and being primarily set in a castle there’s a mediaeval feel that is softened considerably by the fact that most of the scenes take part in the library. I love a good library setting. Oh, and crows. And trolls, and underground tunnels.

Saskia is a great character. She is fiercely protective of those she loves and works hard to keep her lands safe. At the same time the role of Queen sits uneasily on her shoulders. She doesn’t want to schmoose and has no interest in politics and putting on a face. She’s happier in her laboratory working on concoctions – or spending time in her library, particularly since she employed a rather easy on the eye librarian. Fabian, the new librarian (aka Archduke Felix Augustus) is keeping lots of secrets, not least of which is his attraction to Saskia. Of course, if she discovers that he is really her arch enemy (even though he isn’t) he will be in grave danger – and yet he wants to come clean. He’s a gentle nerd – and who doesn’t love a gentle nerd?

Without doubt, Burgis has created two other equally fascinating characters here in the form of Saskia’s allies. Two other queens, Lorelei and Ailana, (the three have formed an alliance and are known as the Queens of Villainy – a title they are happy to nurture as it bestows upon them a rather fearsome reputation). I loved these two – their roles here are kept to a minimum as we focus mainly on Saskia/Felix but I believe that the next two books will focus on each of them in turn – which I’m really happy about.

Overall, if you’re enjoying your cosy romantasy at the moment then you should definitely pick this up. There’s a slow build romance, tension, magic, politics, trolls, fae and a library. Go, treat yourself.

I received a copy through Netgalley, courtesy of the author, for which my thanks. The above is my own opinion.

Wooing the Witch Queen is a marshmallow book – sweet, fluffy, more-ish and comforting, but with little substance. It was a lovely quick read for a cold and foggy day. I will probably buy the next in the series but I doubt that I will keep them or reread them. There’s absolutely nothing wrong with sweets in moderation! Why isn’t there a fluffy fantasy genre? I think we need one.

My one quibble? What is it with the concept that the hero/heroine cannot possibly be recognised because they are wearing a mask or a disguise? This is not a possible thing, especially for weeks on end.

I wasn’t expecting such a cosy fantasy, and this was pleasantly surprising. There isn’t as much jeopardy and political intrigue as you might think from reading the blurb, and I was glad of that.

The main characters are very likeable, with Saskia in particular an interesting, strong and intelligent love interest with a painful history. The world building is perfect - just the right side of giving us enough detail, without too much of an info-dump. Plenty of information is implied to create an ancient empire with warring factions.

Don’t read this expecting a dramatic and tense storyline. This is medium-stakes with a slooow burn romance (my favourite kind).

First of all, thank you so much PanMacmillan, Tor Bramble and Netgalley for the e-arc in exchange for my honest and unbiased review.

This was cosy romantic fantasy perfection! I absolutely loved this sweet and magical read, it was the ideal mix of tension, fun and comfort in a whimsical setting, with very little spice (1-1.5).

The plot was medium stakes and very easy to fall into, and I really enjoyed being in a medieval, castle setting. It reminded me a little of beauty and the beast (in the best way!) and gave me that added touch of nostalgia that made me enjoy the reading experience even more.

Both Saskia and Felix were adorable, their slow burn yearning and quiet development of feelings towards each other felt so natural. I loved how they found so many things to love about one another, without wanting to change them or be a different person, with Saskia's previous relationship, this was something she'd experienced. You really are rooting for them throughout the book, and the small third-act conflict didn't feel too stressful, it was very well done!

The side characters were also a welcome addition, and I was so happy when little Oskar the crow became Felix's familiar, it was sooo cute! Overall, the found family was done fantastically and I loved seeing snippets of daily life in the castle.

I loved the style the book was written and I'd love to read more of Stephanie's work, as it didn't take itself too seriously and made for a really funny internal monologue with each character! I also can't wait to read the rest of the series, and pick up with what I imagine will be Queen Lorelei's story.

If you're looking for a sweet cinnamon roll MMC who is obsessed with his love, and a powerful yet gentle FMC who learns to love her strength, alongside some hilarious side characters and a gorgeous setting; then this is perfect for you!

I always love Stephanie Burgis’s fantasy worlds that she creates. They always seem to be cozy in some way with enough stakes but not the heavy complexity you get with high fantasy. You definitely have to be in the mood for this type of story but if it works for you the you’ll love it.

I didn’t know going in that there would be a hidden identity element to the story. I never fully enough that plot trope as I always feel like it’s just avoiding getting to the interesting part with the identity out in the open, that’s when things are interesting, and if not handled well it can really feel like a weight hanging over the reader until the secret is out. I didn’t mind it so much in this story as Burgis handled it well as a plot point and it did make sense why the hidden identity. But I still wish the secret could have been out sooner as I would have found that more interesting, especially as the tension it creates is run through quite quickly.

Overall I really enjoyed the two lead characters created in this story and how their relationship unfolded. The secondary characters were very well fleshed out too and you can see where the story has space to continue whilst mostly wrapping up the leads stories. I’m unsure if I will continue the series but I do love the authors previous work so I very well might.

I received an advanced copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

I was really looking forward to this book. I read some other books by this author and they were all lovely, lighthearted, romantic and a lot of fun. I placed my pre-order as soon as I could and then I noticed that the book was also available through Netgalley. Of course I had to request my copy right away and I was really happy that Tor Bramble granted me a digital review copy. Since the book is officially released this week, I dove in last week.

Once more I enjoyed this book from start to finish. The author is really great at balancing all the different ingredients of the story. The political situation is quite complicated, it's clear there's a lot going on on this continent, there's a lot of history and yet the book never feels heavy. What we need to know to understand these characters is explained and everything else is implied or simply left out. Therefore we can focus on the more important ingredient of the story.

The romance! And the romance is lovely. That's firstly because it's quite easy to fall in love with both main characters in this story. Although Claudia is quite strong and intelligent, she does have weaknesses and is far from perfect. It's therefore easy to identify with her and to root for her. Felix might be one of the most wonderful characters I've ever encountered in books. He's thoughtful, kind, smart and he has a big heart.

I also loved the ending of the story. It's quite satisfying, while the door is also open for more stories in this world. The epilogue of the story already promises a very fun next installment, with a different queen as the main character. I'm already looking forward to getting to know these characters better. What I've seen from them in this story made me really curious and I'm sure their story is gonna be just as much fun as this one was!