Wooing the Witch Queen

Queens of Villainy #1

by Stephanie Burgis

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.

Queen Saskia is the wicked sorceress everyone fears. After successfully wrestling the throne from her evil uncle, she only wants one thing: to keep her people safe from the empire next door. For that, she needs to spend more time in her laboratory experimenting with her spells. She definitely doesn’t have time to bring order to her chaotic library of magic.

When a mysterious dark wizard arrives at her castle, Saskia hires him as her new librarian on the spot. “Fabian” is sweet and a little nerdy, and his requests seem a little strange – what in the name of Divine Elva is a fountain pen? – but he’s getting the job done. And if he writes her flirtatious poetry and his innocent touch makes her skin singe, well…

Little does Saskia know that the "wizard" she’s falling for is actually an Imperial archduke in disguise, with no magical training whatsoever. On the run, with perilous secrets on his trail and a fast growing yearning for the wicked sorceress, he's in danger from her enemies and her newfound allies, too. When his identity is finally revealed, will their love save or doom each other?

Genres: Fantasy, Romance, Romantasy, Fantasy Romance, Witches, Adult, Audiobook

304 pages, Paperback

First published February 18, 2025

About the author

I grew up in America, but now I live in Wales with my husband, fellow writer Patrick Samphire, our two sons, and our sweet (and extremely vocal) tabby cat, Pebbles. I write fantasy rom-coms for adults (most recently Claws and Contrivances and Good Neighbors) and fun MG fantasy adventure novels, too (most recently The Raven Crown duology). My next series will be the adult romantasy trilogy The Queens of Villainy, published by Tor Bramble, starting in 2025 with Wooing the Witch Queen.

To get early sneak peeks at new stories and novels, sign up for my newsletter here: stephanieburgis.com/newsletter.

To join my Dragons' Book Club and get early copies of every ebook that I put out myself (so, all of my novellas, short story ebooks, etc!), check out my Patreon page, where I also published a series of fantasy rom-coms (Good Neighbors) across 2020-2021.

I only rate and review the books that I like, which is why all of my ratings are 4 or 5 stars.

Reviews

[Robin · Rating 4 out of 5]

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

thank you to edelweiss for providing the arc in exchange for an honest review

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[Stephanie]

ETA: AND it's out in the UK now, too, as well as North America. Huzzah! The Queens of Villainy are stalking magnificently across the world. ;)

I love these characters and their found family so much. I hope you'll have fun with them, too!

And if you could take 5 minutes to crosspost an honest review to Amazon at any point, I'd be hugely grateful. Reviews there make a HUGE difference to visibility.

[Intisar Khanani · Rating 5 out of 5]

What an absolute delight this book was, and oh, do we need more gentle heroes! This lovely new story from Stephanie Burgis features a rakish Queen of Villainy and her gentle librarian--who harbors some serious secrets. If you love hidden identities, slow burn romance, and learning to face the ghosts of your past--by learning to draw strength from those you love--then this story is for you.

Burgis turns so many stereotypes on their head, but by far the one I loved the most was what makes us strong - or weak. Gentleness as strength. Radical kindness. Loving and leaning on someone allowing you to find your own strength and stand strong. What a beautiful story! And don't be confused--the true villains certainly get their just deserts, but figuring out what that is and how to go about it is also part of our characters' arc, and I loved that.

This is an adult romantasy, and it certainly hits the expected romance notes within a fabulously fantastical world, but there are also plenty of twists to keep you intrigued, and so much heart. Also! Crow friends, our hero nerding out over fountain pens, a troll housekeeper and the absolute best found family! What more could you want?

Highly recommend!

[Bethany (Beautifully Bookish Bethany) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wooing the Witch Queen is a cozy fantasy romance between a bisexual queen with magic powers and a fearsome reputation, and her dark wizard librarian. Who is actually an archduke in disguise, and while he's trying to escape those who controlled his life, she doesn't know he's the supposed enemy she's searching for. But they slowly develop feelings for each other as his nerdiness and care reaches her softer side...

This was really lovely, and has those cozy fantasy vibes. There are supposed stakes, but honestly they never feel too high because of the way the writing feels, and I'm and entirely okay with that. This is very much golden retriever boyfriend and prickly bi-girlfriend energy. I think a lot of people will enjoy it! I received a copy of this book for review from the publisher, all opinions are my own.

[Soft Nectarine ~ · Rating 3 out of 5]

dnf @35%

I really wanted to enjoy this candle-light romantasy but the story felt like an early draft. Storyline was rushed although the book actually had decent length.

I enjoyed the dynamics between the main characters especially the gentle mmc. The book is a refreshing departure from the typical romantasy dynamics! However, the characters felt a little one dimensional and some of the dialogue came across as cringy. But the cover is so cuuuuute! ✨

Also the entire story is one giant miscommunication, which is one of my least favorite tropes. It’s me, I’m the problem

low stakes romantasy
enemies to lovers
strong & dominant fmc
bi fmc
gentle fmc
royal on the run 👑
female friendships
academia vibes
HEA

[Kristen's Bookshelf · Rating 4 out of 5]

As always, thanks to Bramble for giving me the opportunity to read this ARC!
This was a fantastic cozy romantasy with a sprinkle of political intrigue! The troll housekeeper was my absolute favorite character, very much like Mrs. Potts from Beauty and the Beast. If you want to step into a fantasy world but don't want to start with an action packed story with confusing terms and tongue twisting names, this is the perfect stepping stone into this genre. You get wicked witches, trolls, crows, magic and a happily ever after!

[Krystle Rouse · Rating 2 out of 5]

I just really couldn’t get into this book. This was my first book by Stephanie Burgis. Her novel as a whole lacked setting of world building. The novel is really hurting because it is deficient in just building a relationship between the characters. It is also contradicts itself by Saskia describes herself as evil and wicked, but we see none of it. The author shows us no reason that Saskia is wicked. Overall, I was just really disappointed.

I want to thank NetGalley for providing me with a copy of the book in exchange for a honest review.

[Zoë · Rating 2 out of 5]

he was so simp himbo you go queen mute your man lololol

[Maeghan 🦋 HIATUS on & off · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.75✨
This was a super cute-cozy-fluffy Romantasy. I had fun with this! Definitely switched my brain to off with this one.

The crows 🐦‍⬛ were everything 🥹 so cute!! Felix was very golden retriever. I wish Queen Saskia gave more villain energy. But it was a good palate cleanser. The next book is about the Fae Queen Lorelei but I didn’t like her. I’m personally excited for Queen Ailana as I feel her book will be a slow burn.

[Kay H · Rating 5 out of 5]

Now THIS is my kind of cozy fantasy romance. The plot is solid, the stakes are medium-high, and the romance tension is tensioning. The vibes though... they are cozy as heck. With much of this set in a castle, primarily the library, it gives those cozy bookish but medieval vibes. The crow animal companions are also a wonderful addition.

One note: I usually immediately cringe when modern-day items are found in a medieval setting. But in this case, the author took the care and time to explain the ballpoint pens so I found it quite endearing! This is all it takes, a bit of recognition for these out-of-place items and a bit of explanation of how they came to be. Either remove them or explain them - that simple. This turned what could be a loss of a star rating, into actually being one of my favourite little quirks of the book.

The romance is sweet and has a dash of spice in just the right amounts. You are rooting for them through and through, and the third act conflict wasn't unnecessarily drawn out or painful.

I highly recommend that you add this book to your "most anticipated of 2025" list, particularly the audiobook. The character depictions were impeccable, and overall, it was a fantastic listening experience.

[Kate (BloggingwithDragons) · Rating 3 out of 5]

I received this book for free from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

I'm a huge fan of Stephanie Burgis’s other series, Regency Dragons (which features the heartwarming and fantastic Scales and Sensibility and Claws and Contrivances ), so I was beyond excited to pick up her latest work, Wooing the Witch Queen. Wooing the Witch Queen is a cozy and wholesome romantasy and reading this light and fun novel is much like receiving a warm hug from a friend you haven't seen in some time. Wooing the Witch Queen features two likable protagonists, Archduke Felix and the eponymous witch queen, Saskia, who slowly catch feelings for one another. With royalty though, their romance has big implications for the world at large.

Like all of Burgis's works, Wooing the Witch Queen has an ingenious premise. Saskia, a feared wicked witch, has just managed to wrest back control of her kingdom from evil uncle. Unfortunately for her, there is no rest for the wicked, and she finds herself up to her eyeballs in political machinations. Unable to devote herself to her research, she jumps at the chance to hire a dark wizard to organize her magical library. Unbeknownst to her, the mysterious gentleman in question, Felix (alias Fabian) is actually the archduke of an enemy empire, with a lot more to him than meets the eye. Naturally, it isn't too long before sparks fly.

“But for the first time since she'd repossessed this castle, she found herself thinking that she might not mind spending more of her own time in the library, from now on.”

Wooing the Witch Queen is interesting in that it is both a slow burn and it isn't. Saskia and Felix/Fabian feel a pull towards each other the moment they meet, with their interactions over time leading them to want to get to know one another more. I'm not a fan of insta-lust myself, so I was glad to see that the two didn't leap into anything from the get go and take their time to get to know and appreciate one another. Despite their status of royalty from warring nations, their relationship is more friends to lovers than enemies to lovers. Fans of the former trope will undoubtedly find plenty to enjoy in their blossoming regard for one another. 

“According to the stories he's heard, Queen Saskia not only delighted in surrounding herself with vicious, inhuman monsters—she was one herself and always had been.”

I was really excited for the prospect of an evil queen getting a happy ending, but admittedly, I was a little disappointed by the execution. Despite her reputation, which does proceed her, Saskia is never really evil. In fact, she's a wonderful human being who wants rights for all, not just humans, and will stop at nothing for equality for all sentient beings, which is considered quite revolutionary. Despite being the strongest sorceress in the world, readers never see her doing anything villainous or committing many extreme acts of powers, let alone any evil ones for the greater good or anything.

Instead, the rumors of her misdeeds are greatly exaggerated, created by her uncle as propaganda in manipulating the people into believing he needed to rule. While this is pretty adorable and all well and good, I personally would have loved to see the queen wearing a crown of bones and using crows as familiars be a teensy bit more bloodthirsty and devious. However, that's just my personal preference. 

“Truly, she should have known better, by now, than ever to have worried. A dark wizard who spoke to everyone he met with kindness, respected all nonhuman members of her staff, and looked after her most impudent young crow with unfailing sweetness was a rare and precious find. She wouldn't let herself forget that again.”

But Saskia isn't the only character with a heart of gold, the male lead, Felix/Fabian is even more of a cinnamon roll than her. It's so nice to read a romantasy novel without a problematic male character. There is no controlling behavior or toxic masculinity to be found here, as Felix is not at all emasculated by his love interest being the most powerful woman in the world at all. Instead, he sees Saskia for who she is as a person and not for what she can provide for him.

For me, it was a bit too obvious that these two characters would work out any challenges that arose due to Felix’s secret identity, past lovers, or anything else. The two were just too sincere in their affections to let anything hurt the other. I would have liked to feel a little bit more tension and suspense during moments where problems came up, but I have that problem with a lot of cozy fantasy novels, which is kind of the opposite of what the entire genre is about. So, take my opinion with a grain of salt.

Reading the preview of the next book in the series leads me to think that there will be less of a wholesome romance between the two new leads, and more of contentious one, which will undoubtedly be very entertaining. Readers who enjoy cozy fantasies/romantasies, especially fans of The Embraced/Embraced by Magic series or Elisa Kova’s Married to Magic will find plenty to love here.

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[Maddie · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 ⭐️

**thank you to Tor/Bramble for the gifted copy!**

[Brend · Rating 3 out of 5]

Great concept, fun world, big potential to be turned into a movie with an incredibly hot cast.

However, reading this felt like meeting someone at a party, liking them instantly, but then realizing they do not have the power to shut up.
You ask them what they did today and with every single actual sentence that matters, there comes three paragraphs of something random they want you to know. Maybe it will matter, maybe it will not, but you're not getting out of there to get a new drink until they're done talking and maybe that will happen only by next weekend.

[Louise · Rating 4 out of 5]

(3.75 stars)
Wooing The Witch Queen was a lovely story with a slow-burn romance, which I believe will delight readers of “cozy fantasy.”

Saskia is a young queen who has a reputation for being really evil. (But she’s really not.) She’s trying to protect her kingdom from the schemes of a neighboring kingdom, supposedly ruled by Archduke Felix, but really ruled by his cruel relative. Saskia took over the kingdom from her own cruel relative, so Saskia and Felix actually have a lot in common but they don’t know it.

Felix manages to escape somehow and finds his way to Saskia’s castle, where he hopes to seek shelter/asylum. But she thinks he’s a dark wizard answering her ad for a librarian to organize the totally unorganized magical library she inherited. Felix says his name is Fabian and wears a mask to conceal his famous face (it seems that wasn’t usual for a dark wizard?).

Saskia is a powerful witch and Felix/Fabian has no wizarding skills, but he works hard to read and categorize her collection of magical tomes and miscellaneous spell papers. Most of the book centers on the growing relationship between these two. It’s sweet to watch them gradually fall for each other - but of course Saskia doesn’t know who Felix/Fabian really is.

This is the first book in a series and it seems that the rest of the books will focus on the other “queens of villainy.” These women provided some comic relief, as did Saskia’s First Minister. There are two major non-human characters who serve Saskia: Morlokk, her majordomo, an ogre, and Mrs. Haglitz, her housekeeper, a troll, both of whom were wonderful characters, as were the castle’s crows, especially Oskar.

Note: There is a bit of steam in the later sections of the book. And there are references to physical punishments inflicted on the two main characters in the past.

I mainly listened to the audiobook version, which was beautifully narrated by Amanda Leigh Cobb. It kept me entertained on a long flight.

Thank you to Macmillan Audio and NetGalley for the opportunity to listen to a review copy of this audiobook and to Bramble and NetGalley for the opportunity to read a review copy of this book. All opinions are my own.

[Crystal's Bookish Life · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was fun! Fast pace, great characters, unique plot, and i especially loved the creativity of the world building and magic and the author's voice, which was clever and a bit sarcastic.

[mag_book_ · Rating 2 out of 5]

2/5
Ale to bylo nudne 🥱 miała być zła królów i nerdowy bibliotekarz pod przykrywką ale wyszło to tak płasko i dennie. Ta cała intryga co się działa była tak przegadana, zero world buildingu. Jeszcze ta cała relacja wyszła tak sztucznie bo mieli 3 sceny na krzyż i miłość. W ogóle nie dało się odczuć by coś więcej ich łączyło jak zmienili ze sobą parę zdań.
Plus za Felixa jego nieśmiałość i nerdowatosc była urocza.

[lookmairead · Rating 3 out of 5]

Sometimes you need an enormous cinnamon roll (MMC) and a guaranteed sweet plot (that feels like a hug).

My thanks to #MacAudio2025 for this month’s listen. 🥰

3.5

[Kat · Rating 3 out of 5]

Wooing the Witch Queen is a perfectly pleasant and inoffensive cozy fantasy romance, but it had the potential to be so much better, and by the end of the book I was really frustrated by that.

Right off the bat, this story is doing something interesting with its gender dynamics. It delivers exactly what it promises: a powerful, fearsome sorceress and the hapless, slightly pathetic librarian who falls in love with her. Unfortunately, that’s sort of… it. Both of these characters remain pretty flat and archetypical. Their “romance” is very surface-level, which is surprising, because the groundwork is laid for more - both characters are traumatized by abusive childhoods and both have grieved terrible losses of loved ones. But the book is thoroughly uninterested in letting them explore or actually connect based on those things, treating them instead like set dressing in the background.

Ultimately, though, my biggest problem with this book is that one glaringly obvious tweak would have made it a million times better: Saskia should have realized Felix’s identity immediately. (Or initially suspected it and quickly confirmed it. Or just figured it out very quickly after hiring him.) I cannot stress enough how much this would have fixed. The initial premise - Felix accidentally obtains work in his political enemy’s castle due to an improbable misunderstanding - is fun and silly in theory, but it becomes increasingly strained as the story goes along, until it is way, WAY past the point my suspension of disbelief can handle. Maintaining this misunderstanding/secret identity becomes EXCRUCIATING, forcing the story to constantly bend over backwards to accommodate it and making basically every character seem clueless and incompetent along the way.

That’s a particular problem for Saskia, becomes it causes the book to narratively undermine itself. Saskia is this character who is both an outsider (magically) and simultaneously a woman in a man’s world, struggling to hold onto her power and authority. She faces constant challenges from other characters who want to undermine her, and she’s righteously self-assured of her own competence. Except… that doesn’t land so well when she IS actually kind of incompetent. Like, ridiculously so. Like I can’t even believe how stupid this character has to be in order to continue NOT noticing who Felix is.

Alternately, if she had realized who he was and chosen to pretend not to, I would have actually believed she’s this clever, competent character she’s supposed to be. It could have created some fun cat and mouse scenarios. We also could have gotten a more genuine, deeper connection between the characters and avoided a sex scene that… well, I won’t quite call it “ethically dubious,” but I certainly didn’t like it.

I doubt I’ll read book two, but I might skip it and still pick up the third one since it will be sapphic.

Thanks to the publisher for providing me with an audio ARC in exchange for an honest review!

[Danielle The Book Huntress · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wooing the Witch Queen is a feel-good, humorous fantasy romance that flips the script, Saskia has “take charge” and “leave me alone” energy, and Fabian is gentle and kind, carrying physical and emotional trauma from his past, but so full of love and goodness. They feel so right together. Fantastic elements are vividly rendered and enjoyable, the storytelling immersing the reader into a world brimming over in magic. Wooing the Witch Queen is a pleasant, fluffy concoction of fantasy and romance mixed together, for those who enjoy this combination, or newbies who want to dip their toes into the genre.

Reviewed for Affaire de Coeur Magazine. http://affairedecoeur.com.

Advanced Review Copy provided by Netgalley courtesy of Tor Publishing Group.

[Linden · Rating 4 out of 5]

Saskia is known as the Evil Witch Queen, and hires what she believes is a dark wizard to organize her magical library. She doesn't know that Felix is a royal refugee, an Archduke from a neighboring kingdom ruled by an evil power-mad relative. They are growing closer, but can he ever tell Saskia the truth about his identity? Recommended for fans of Travis Baldree's cozy fantasies. Thanks to Edelweiss and the publisher for the ARC.

[Rian *fire and books* · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was utterly ravishing.

Firstly, my thanks to the publisher for allowing me early access to the arc and a bonus thank you to Libro for the delicious audiobook. Wooing the Witch Queen wasn’t on my radar until Owlcrate selected it as a monthly pick and I’m so glad they did. This is exactly what I want from my book boxes! Something not on my radar but absolutely perfect.

This is a delightful cozy fantasy romance with very little spice (1.5/5). The mutual pining/he falls first was exactly what I needed to perk myself up during this less than fun winter.

Saskia is fierce, loyal, loving, and still traumatized by the loss of her parents while trying to run a kingdom with her rather grating ex-girlfriend.

And Felix? Oh my that man has been through the ringer! He’s faced a lot of physical and emotional abuse from someone who should have loved and supported him, while also dealing with the loss of his wife and best friend.

It’s heartbreaking how much these two have lost and gone through and yet they keep coming together. The supporting cast is absolutely fantastic, if a little bonkers (yes, I am looking at you Lorelei).

If you’re looking for something similar to Assistant to the Villain or You Can’t Spell Treason Without Tea then this is perfect for you.

[Nils | nilsreviewsit · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wooing the Witch Queen by Stephanie Burgis is a heartwarmingly fun cosy fantasy which radiates with whimsy and charm.

When Felix, the Archduke of Estarion escapes the clutches of his father-in-law, the Count, he flees to the only woman he knows could oppose his captors. Queen Saskia, known as an evil and cruel witch lives in Kadaric Castle behind a magical wall and with her non-human minions. When Felix enters the castle Saskia mistakes him for a dark wizard who has come to bring order to her magical library and out of fear he decides to take on the role. The longer Felix resides in the castle the more he realises Saskia is not all her reputation perceives her to be and the closer he gets the more he finds what he’s spent years without.

I immediately adored Felix with his gentle, kind nature and his vulnerability. In contrast Saskia is fiery and quick to anger but beneath she is just as kind and just as vulnerable. Throughout Felix and Saskia woo each other starting with a growing trust and developing with deeply meaningful gestures and gifts. It really was so satisfying to see the genuine romance between them, the way they helped each other become more confident people and the way they protected one another.

Found family is one of my favourite tropes/themes and seeing two characters without a family gain a non-human, magical one was very heartwarming. My favourites were Oskar the crow who becomes Felix’s guide and Mrs Haglitz, the troll housekeeper, who loved everyone in the castle dearly and just wanted to take care of them, subverting how a reader would normally perceive a troll to be like! There was also the Queen’s of Villainy, Lorelei and Ailana, who became such important allies.

This was the kind of read that kept me smiling and had the kind of romance that was incredibly endearing.

ARC provided by Olivia at Pan McMillan and Tor in exchange for an honest review.

[thosemeddlingkids · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5 stars

Very meh on this one. Queer MF fantasy featuring a bi witch queen & simpy/subby nerdy librarian "wizard" who shows up out of the blue.

I did enjoy the crows, the soft spoken and poetry loving MMC just there to organize the library and escape his troubles. Also was nice seeing a super powerful witchy FMC who just wanted to work on her potions and experiments with a full staff of ogres, goblins, and other creatures. Mrs. Haglitz is my mvp.

However, this did so much telling rather than showing writing wise. The world building was meh, and the romance was also underdeveloped. There's glimmerings of chemistry and desire between the leads, but something was missing. Whatever the writing style is where there's a lot of words but nothing is said - that's where this fell into. Also the mask the MMC wears conveniently shows every feature on his face and in his eyes while also concealing his very identifiable face? Sure.

I did appreciate that this romantasy was low steam, as in there's one confusingly vague sex scene and it's mainly them announcing their love to each other. I'm a little burned out on the sexathons normally happening in this subgenre and that was a nice change.

Wish I liked this one more! The cover art is what hooked me, plus this having a simpy MMC. I do love seeing that dynamic in MF romances.

[Louise H's Book Thoughts · Rating 4 out of 5]

It took me a few chapters to settle into the book as the very whimsical (Disney?) nature at first felt almost childish. However the wonderful characters and good storytelling soon overcame that.
Whilst the story covers some dark themes it is done in a way that keeps the story feeling warm and gentle.

I’m looking forward to book #2.

[ize ‧₊˚ ☁️⋅👼 ‧₊˚ ♡ · Rating 5 out of 5]

oh to be loved loudly, tenderly, passionately, and fiercely. i need archduke felix augustus von estarion biblically. he writes her poetry 😩 nobody gets how sweetly this book touched me. the witch queen and her dark wizard librarian 🧙‍♂️

[susu · Rating 4 out of 5]

When the golden retriever wizard meets the grumpy powerful witch! 🫠 He literally WORSHIPS the ground she walks on.

Their dynamic was so fun. He’s such a simp and I ATE IT UP!! She’s the definition of female rage, defending the people she loves.

Plot was solid, though I felt that it was a bit rushed at the end to reach a conclusion. This is a standalone, because the next book follows a different couple,(One of the other queens)but, I felt that there were still answers that we needed, which will hopefully be given in the next books.

I liked how each queen was unique, and that we’ll be getting each of their stories. Excited for the next installment!

[DianaRose · Rating 4 out of 5]

firstly, thank you to the publisher for an arc and an alc!

this was a fun and quick, low stakes cozy romantasy, emphasis moreso on the fantasy and political intrigue rather than the romance, which i’m not mad about! i mean, who doesn't love a dark librarian as the love interest (;
i always find that i enjoy when a romantasy is more fantasy than smut, and this was rather tame.

the narrator did a fantastic job!

i’m excited for the next book in this cozy romantasy series!

[Natasha Leighton · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 Stars
Beautifully swoon-worthy and bursting with whimsy, Wooing The Witch Queen was such a cosy, humorous read that I’m glad to say, I loved every magically chaotic second of!

The setting itself was wonderfully vivid and wove a quirky, fairy tale inspired backdrop that reminded me a little of (at least in vibes if not in plot) The 10th Kingdom— which, given how much I was obsessed with that show as a kid made me very happy.

But where Stephanie Burgis truly shines, is in her characters, most of whom were brilliantly well written and soo compelling. Be it the found family dynamics between Mrs. Haglitz, Morlokk and Queen Saskia, to the delicious theatrics of the Queens of Villainy (who enthusiastically take Saskia under their wing) I was completely hooked!

Our protagonists, Saskia and Felix, were utterly amazing too! Both born into power that was taken from them; for Saskia that was the brutal murder of her family and imprisonment by her uncle (before finding freedom, and leading a rebellion that restored her to her rightful position.)

And for Felix, it was his father’s manipulative advisor, who used Felix as a political pawn since his parents died fifteen years prior. Yet, the way in which they both navigate these situations were quite fascinating, and really highlighted the very different but complimentary demeanours that I found soo wonderfully endearing.

Saskia, in upholding her fearsome Witch Queen reputation (which she uses to protect her people from tyranny) sacrifices the chance to make actual emotional connections with people, which clearly affects her more than she lets on. So I loved that, in getting to know Felix, she began to see the positives in opening up emotionally. And to believe in herself the same way everyone around her already does.

Likewise, I loved seeing Felix (even if in disguise as a dark wizard due to a misunderstanding) finally getting the chance to choose his own path and make his own decisions for the first time. His gentle, cinnamon roll nature didn’t just win over me and our protagonist, Saskia either, as we see several characters (animal companion, Oskar the crow) fall for his compassionate (and adorably genuine) disposition too.

And I loved just how swoon-worthy and sweet the romance between them was! Their dynamics did have a hint of Beauty and The Beast about it (Felix being more like the bookish Belle and Saskia’s temperament aligning more with Beast) and their scenes together were incredible—I can’t imagine anyone NOT rooting for them!

Overall, this was a satisfying, (character driven) read that’s perfect for anyone craving the cosy vibes of Legends & Lattes, but with more politics and mistaken identity based romance. I literally cannot wait to get my hands on the sequel!

Also, thanks to BookBreak and Bramble/Pan Macmillan for the stunning proof.

[Tammy · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 stars

The nitty-gritty: A delightful romantasy that focuses more on characters and world-building than romance, Wooing the Witch Queen is the perfect start to a promising series.

I’ve been a Stephanie Burgis fan since 2016, and with each new book, she gets better and better. Wooing the Witch Queen is the start to a new romantasy trilogy, and in my opinion it’s her best book yet. Here’s what you get: relatable, well developed characters who aren’t perfect but are aware of their faults and work on them; funny dialog that will keep a smile on your face; intricate world building with a focus on political machinations; a slow-burn romance with plenty of flirting and spicy suggestiveness but with closed door spice; high stakes and characters in danger; a loyal crow named Oskar; wonderful side characters; fountain pens; a magical library to die for; and pitch perfect writing. If any of these things sound good, then grab this book as soon as you can!

Archduke Felix Augustus von Estarion is convinced that his in-laws are trying to kill him. His beloved wife Emmeline died a year ago, and since then his father-in-law Count von Hertzendorff has been trying to get Felix out of the way so he can take over the kingdom of Estarion. After one such murderous attempt, Felix has had enough, and decides to run away to the kingdom of Kitvaria, ruled by the “Witch of the East” Queen Saskia, hoping that she will protect him.

But when Felix arrives at Kadarik Castle, he’s mistaken for a dark wizard. Saskia has sent a message out that she needs a dark wizard to organize her magical library, and her majordomo Morlokk assumes he’s come for the job. Before he can explain who he really is, Felix finds himself presented to the queen, who doesn’t recognize him due to the mask (presumably worn by all dark wizards) given to him by Morlokk. 

Meanwhile, Saskia—who hates the Archduke for his cruel policies—is trying to come up with a protection spell to keep her enemies out of Kitvaria, and she’s aligned herself with two other queens from nearby kingdoms: Queen Loreleil of Balravia, a vivacious fae who seems to have her own agenda; and Ailana of Nornne, the Queen of Winter who uses ice magic. The three have dubbed themselves the Queens of Villainy, mostly because of their wicked reputations, and together they hope to keep their kingdoms from being taken over by the Serafin Empire.

Felix, who has told everyone in the castle that his name is “Fabian” in order to keep his cover a little bit longer, is attracted to the feisty Queen Saskia, but fears her wrath if she finds out who he really is. As they start to bond over spell books and mutual respect, the Empire is planning its next move.

Wooing the Witch Queen is full of charm and playful banter, mostly due to Burgis’s ability to write interesting and charismatic characters. Right away, I sympathized with Felix, who has a terrible past and was abused for years. I won’t go into too much detail in order to avoid spoilers, but let’s just say Felix is misunderstood and he has a very good reason for running away. Once he arrives at Saskia’s castle, he decides to keep his real identity hidden, simply because he knows how much Saskia hates him. I loved the scenes where he’s discovering Saskia’s wonderful library, and he’s determined to actually do a good job of organizing it, even if he is doing it under pretense. Yes, he’s lying to her, but you can tell he feels bad about it!

Saskia was such a great character as well. She’s supposed to be a Wicked Witch, but she’s less interested in politics and running a kingdom that experimenting with magic in her personal laboratory. She craves the quiet life, but to her dismay, her fellow Queens of Villainy won’t leave her alone and want to draw her into their drama. When Felix arrives, it gives her an excuse to visit him in the library and just hang out. Of course, this is where the two start to get to know each other and sparks begin to fly. These two are so cute together, despite the fact that Saskia has no idea who “Fabian” really is. That added lots of tension to their relationship, and when she inevitably finds out, I loved the way Burgis handled it.

I have to mention the other two Queens of Villainy as well, because as you might have guessed, the other books in the series will focus on Lorelei and Ailana and their respective love interests.  Lorelei comes the closest to being “wicked” with her scheming ways, and I’m really looking forward to learning more about both of them.

Burgis has invented a fully fleshed out world, and this first book barely scratches the surface of the many lands and kingdoms contained with the Serafin Empire. I liked her take on magic, where children are all tested at a young age to see if they have any magical abilities. Those that show promise are sent to school to train as wizards, and those who use magic outside the bounds of this formal training are deemed “dark wizards.” Burgis also explores racism in her world by making non human creatures like trolls and ogres secondary citizens. Saskia, who follows her late mother’s beliefs that all creatures should be treated the same, deliberately surrounds herself with them, thumbing her nose at the laws and traditions of the Empire, which is another reason I loved her so much.

As the romance between Saskia and Felix heats up, the Count and his army prepare to infiltrate Saskia’s magical barrier in order to take back Kitvaria. Despite the heavier themes of clashing kingdoms and potential war, Burgis keeps things light with plenty of humorous moments, including some adorable scenes between the Queen and her librarian. A short epilogue acts as a lead-in to book two in the series, Enchanting the Fae Queen, where we learn who our next romantic couple will be. Stephanie Burgis fans do not want to miss this book, and if you haven't discovered this author yet, Wooing the Witch Queen is the perfect place to start.

Big thanks to the publisher for providing a review copy.

[Danny_reads · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is my favorite book by this author so far!

I had such a good time with this. I was skeptical in the beginning, but it quickly reeled me in. The premise was super fun and I liked how the relationship progressed, and how everything was resolved in the end. I also loved the bisexual rep in our fmc.

I don't know what it is about this author, but her work always feels cozy to me.