The Somewhat Wicked Witch of Brigandale

by C.M. Waggoner

A practical witch must sabotage her beloved son's ascension to the throne in order to keep the kingdom from ruin, in this delightful cozy fantasy from the author of The Ruthless Lady’s Guide to Wizardry.

Once upon a time, a somewhat wicked witch named Gretsella lived in a cozy little cottage in the Dark Forest of Brigandale. She dispensed herbs and tinctures at reasonable prices, met with her slightly oddball coven on a regular basis, and had absolutely no need of any further company whatsoever, thank you very much. But then one afternoon, Gretsella came home to find a screaming infant on her doorstep.

Against all her better judgement, she took the baby in. She named him Bradley.

Eighteen years later, Bradley has grown into a bafflingly likable young man under Gretsella’s extremely tolerant—one might even say doting—eye. But the witch’s hopes for an unremarkable yet fulfilling life for her son are shattered when small woodland animals start prophesying that he is the lost prince and should ascend to the throne. Bradley ignores Gretsella’s advice that prophecies and talking chipmunks are to be avoided at all costs, and sets off for the capital. But soon confusion and chaos are reigning, and scheming courtiers are using Bradley for their own ends. Sometimes a witch has to roll up her sleeves and take matters into her own cauldron. So Gretsella resolves to bring about the downfall of her darling son…

Genres: Fantasy, Cozy, Witches, Cozy Fantasy, Fiction, Adult, Magic

217 pages, Kindle Edition

First published March 17, 2026

About the author

C. M. Waggoner grew up in rural upstate New York, where she spent a lot of time reading fantasy novels in a swamp. She studied creative writing at SUNY Purchase and lived in China for eight years before moving to Albany, New York, where she now lives with her husband and daughter. She is the author of three books: Unnatural Magic, The Ruthless Lady’s Guide to Wizardry, The Village Library Demon-Hunting Society, and The Somewhat Wicked Witch of Brigandale. When she’s not writing or reading, she enjoys cooking, trying to learn how to draw, and going on extremely long walks. To voice your complaints to the management (or sign up for her mailing list), visit cmwaggoner.com.

Reviews

[Jamie · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Gretsella was firmly opposed to Life Lessons of all kinds. There were, in her view, two proper ways to come to an understanding about the ways of the world: through native intelligence and old-fashioned common sense, as she had, or by having the ways of the world firmly explained to you by Gretsella, as she preferred for everyone else.”

So Gretsella is pretty much my spirit animal. Not only because of the quote above, but also because I aspire to someday be a curmudgeonly old witch who lives in the forest surrounded by talking animals. Actually, they don't even need to talk, especially if they're going to go on and on about prophecies all the time (but maybe they only do that if your son is meant to be king, I don't know how these things work in real life). Really, all of the characters are pretty great. Gretsella is fun and her coven members are fun and Bradley is fun (although admittedly rather daft), and they all make this book really, um … fun.

There's humor and snark and people get turned into parrots, and it's all very entertaining and fairy tale-esque. It's not a super deep story, but it's full of coziness and heart and maybe even a little bit of subterfuge. Gretsella does throw a rock at a squirrel at one point, but I'll give her a pass since the squirrel totally deserves it.

Also, I really enjoyed the twist concerning "Carrots" at the end. That was ... unexpected.

This book is pretty short and simple and there's not a lot to ramble on and on about, but it really is delightful. If you're looking for a light and cozy read about motherhood and magic and the nature of muffins, definitely consider giving The Somewhat Wicked Witch of Brigandale a read.

4.6 stars, rounded up.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Ace for providing me with an advance copy of this book to review. Its expected publication date is March 17, 2026.

[Melki · Rating 5 out of 5]

"No mother should have to endure anything half so dreadful as her own son developing the ability to formulate independent thoughts."

Sigh! Never send a man to do a woman's witch's job . . .

When Bradley, the orphan that Gretsella raised, turns out to be the rightful king of Evermore, he leaves the forest where he grew up, and heads off to rule a city.

Within months he manages to crash the economy, and cause chaos.

Now it's up to Gretsella to save the day.

This was such a fun, silly read, and was particularly welcome after the depressing book I had just finished. It was definitely the right book at the right time.

And . . . I had to laugh out loud when one of Bradley's loyal subjects patiently explains how supply and demand, AND inflation work in terms simple enough for even a president to understand.



Thanks to NetGalley and the Berkley Publishing Group for the electronic ARC, though my review is of the published hardback copy purchased by my library.

[Danielle Pulliam · Rating 4 out of 5]

**𝔄ℜℭ ℜ𝔢𝔳𝔦𝔢𝔴** 𝔗𝔥𝔢 𝔖𝔬𝔪𝔢𝔴𝔥𝔞𝔱 𝔚𝔦𝔠𝔨𝔢𝔡 𝔚𝔦𝔱𝔠𝔥 𝔬𝔣 𝔅𝔯𝔦𝔤𝔞𝔫𝔡𝔞𝔩𝔢 𝔟𝔶 ℭ. 𝔐. 𝔚𝔞𝔤𝔤𝔬𝔫𝔢𝔯

Release Date: March 17, 2026

4⭐️1🌶

This is a very funny little fairy tale spoof. I found myself laughing more often than I usually do while reading. If you love a story about a witch cozied up in a dark forest, when a little baby lands on her doorstep, then this book is for you.

Minor Spoilers Ahead:

Witch Gretsella lives in a cozy little cottage in the Dark Forest of Brigandale. She dispenses herbs and tinctures at reasonable prices, meets with her slightly oddball coven on a regular basis, and has absolutely no need of any further company whatsoever, thank you very much. But then one afternoon, Gretsella comes home to find a screaming infant on her doorstep.

This would not be the first infant abandoned on the doorstep of a witch, so she decides to take him in and call in Bradley. Not long after, Gretsella learns that the local monarchy has misplaced their firstborn son, and that the mother died and the uncle has taken over the kingdom. She thinks the infant she was gifted most likely is the firstborn son to the late king, but decides to keep him anyway.

This book was such a fun fast read, and anyone who loved Once Upon A Broken Heart, definitely needs to read this.

Themes/Tropes:
🍁Practical Magic Vibes
🍁Fairy Tale Spoof
🍁Cottagecore
🍁Once Upon A Broken Heart Vibes
🍁A Witch in the Woods
🍁Sleeping Beauty Retelling

TW:
✨Child Abandonment
✨Unsupportive parents
✨Mild language

Thank you to @netgalley for this ARC copy!

[Jillian · Rating 5 out of 5]

Gretsella, known colloquially as the witch with reasonable prices, once turned the postman into a newt and has a distaste for gossip unless she originates it. Her adopted son unexpectedly ascends to the throne of Evermore, which is fine until word gets back that he sucks at his job. Bradley has a Libertarian approach to ruling in that he cancels taxes and isn’t very smart. When he doesn’t answer his toadaphone (just slap the toad and speak to it!), Gretsella must trek to Evermore and take over. In no particular order of importance, there are talking chipmunks, a democratic revolution, weaponized chamber pots, and a knight cursed with always having a stain on his shirt. Sometimes, a government collapse is necessary to build something better and it might require the clever machinations of a manipulative, but well-meaning witch to lead the charge. This book has me itching to change my email signature to “Hag of the Highest Order” as a whimsical test of my employer’s tolerance. Please be aware that I am no longer accepting invites to girls’ nights. Should my sisters wish to lay eyes upon me, I expect to be summoned to a convocation of the coven.

[Karyn Silverman]

I feel a little called out, honestly.
A charming little tale of motherhood, overthrowing monarchs, and democracy. With a witch who would like you to think of her as wicked but mostly she’s just the old lady we all secretly want to be.
Delightful.

[Tyler Hancsak · Rating 4 out of 5]

A cozy cozy cozy tale of hilarious tomfoolery and a dumb king. I love how funny this was - which was totally unexpected. Our fmc was such a curmudgeon witch, who actually has a heart of gold and hilarious dry humor. I loved watching her navigate through this story.

The king was hilarious in a dumb way - like MAJOR golden retriever energy. I loved watching his relationship with his mother and LOVED that he was gay.

All in all, this is a cozy, silly goose time. 10/10.

[Julie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Super cozy, low-stakes fantasy about a witch who ends up adopting an orphaned baby placed on her doorstep.

This reminds me a lot of something T Kingfisher would write. Also, I had a flash of Spindle's End while reading this. Though since it's cozy, it's very clever and there's no real dramatic danger in the book!

[Violet · Rating 5 out of 5]

Many thanks to Berkley Publishing and NetGalley for providing me an advanced review copy of this gem of a book. I was expecting a cute cozy fantasy, which delivered, but I didn’t realize it was going to be so funny! I laughed out loud so many times I had to start saving highlights. The characters are all so endearing, the pace is perfect, and it was delightfully cozy without being cheesy. Absolutely loved it. ✨

[Meg · Rating 5 out of 5]

Gretsella is a witch who has earned her reputation as somewhat wicked and very practical. One day, an infant shows up on her doorstep, and she takes him in and raises him, giving him a name and her love, in her own way. Bradley grows up to be a very handsome, very kind, and mostly unchallenged young man; his is the kind of face you look at and think for him instead of allowing him to develop critical thinking. He flits from job to job, settling into that of apprentice hairdresser....until the day he learns he is the long lost prince and it's up to him to save the kingdom, and he rides off with a handsome knight to do just that. The problem is that Bradley hasn't stretched the critical thinking muscles and kingdom management is beyond his grasp, and Gretsella decides it's her time to roll up her witchy sleeves and take on the challenge herself.

What an absolute DELIGHT this was! The Somewhat Wicked Witch of Brigandale is marketed as cozy fantasy, and while by definition it is low stakes its tight narrative and humorous tone make it an absolute hoot to read. The plot moves very quickly, the side characters have all the right touches to feel real but unobtrusive, and the magic borders on whimsical and absurd alongside the tone. (Of COURSE you need to give your son a "toadphone" to call home when he goes off to the city to run a kingdom!)

What a pleasure to read in an evening after a long week. The audiobook adds spunk to the story, and if you enjoy listening to your books, I highly recommend the audio.

Thank you to Ace for an eARC. The Somewhat Wicked Witch of Brigandale is out 3/17/2026.

[Shannon · Rating 4 out of 5]

A tongue in cheek riff on fairy tale happily ever after that follows a witch and the mother of a new king and her machinations at court to keep her son on throne only to be thwarted by another woman claiming to not be a witch (but who really is). This was entertaining, light-hearted and had me laughing. Just a good time and good on audio too. Recommended for fans of books like This princess kills monsters.

[Alli · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is so fun!!! Local witch discovers baby boy, takes him in, and 18 years later, is informed by forest creatures that her adopted son is the prince (about to be king) of the land. Unfortunately, the son is also a huge himbo. Like, the level of himbo cannot be overstated. And unfortunately, himbos make terrible kings. What’s a nosy, interfering witch/mother to do?

[Dawn Arias · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was such a fun, whimsical read. The writing is poetic and fun, I laughed out loud with some of the shenanigans, taken aback by some of the scandal, and was amused by some of the plotting. It was a super quick read that is perfect for a plane or a beach day.

[Nelly]

Is this book worth the read or I like the cover a little to much !!!! LOL

[Marlene · Rating 5 out of 5]

The witch Gretsella isn’t nearly as black as she would like to be painted. She’s not really wicked, she’s just really, really practical, completely blunt about it, and the field in which she grows her fucks has been barren for decades.

At least until someone deposits a baby on her doorstep right next to the milk. There is a tradition about that, and Gretsella is all about tradition when she wants to be. The rest of the time, she tells tradition to take a hike.

On this particular occasion, she does both. Even though she’s never had any inclination whatsoever for either a baby, an assistant or an apprentice, she takes the little boy into her remote cottage – and into the heart she claims not to have. The knights from the capital, searching for the missing baby princeling…THEM she tells to take a hike. (Actually, she tells their horses to take a hike, and since the knights are all still mounted that takes care of them, too.)

Now that she has acquired a baby and has decided to keep him, tradition dictates that she invite the members of her coven to her hut to give the baby – she’s named him Bradley – the traditional gifts that witches give royal children when they’re not deliberately intending to curse someone.

Unintended consequences may vary, and that’s certainly true of the gifts that her coven gives little Bradley. One wishes him beauty, one wishes him courtesy, while the last and definitely the least traditional wishes for Bradley to have a “powerful right hook.”

From the very beginning, Gretsella wonders which will cause Bradley – and by extension herself – the most difficulties when Bradley grows up, that strong and decisive punch – or the fact that none of the members of her coven wished for Bradley the one thing they all have an abundance – some might say an overabundance of.

No one saw fit to wish Bradley the gift of brains, which turns out to be a HUGE problem when prophecy and the power of story tropes catches up with Bradley the Lost Prince of Evermore.

Bradley is meant to be king. But there’s nothing in Bradley that has been mentored to be a king. When Bradley’s strong desire to please people and make them happy runs headlong into a battalion of knights who have come to take Bradley away to overthrow the evil usurper who has taken his family’s place, Gretsella knows it’s going to be nothing but trouble.

Especially for her, when Bradley finally does the thing he’s best at. When he gets in over his head – and he is very, very far over it as King of Evermore – he calls his mother to come and rescue him.

Just not in the way that anyone in Evermore ever imagined.

Escape Rating A-: The Somewhat Wicked Witch of Brigandale is an even cozier fantasy than the author’s The Village Library Demon Hunting Society, which was the reason I picked this up in the first place.

After all, Gretsella and her coven are only ‘somewhat’ wicked, whereas the demon under tiny Winesap is not only wicked, they’re bored out of everyone in the entire town’s minds, and that’s a dangerous combination for pretty much everybody around – especially all the miscellaneous murder victims.

Gretsella’s ‘wickedness’, somewhat or completely, is very much in the eye of the beholder – rather like the villainy of the Queens of Villainy in Wooing the Witch Queen. Gretsella’s wickedness is mostly about getting her own way and making sure that she continues to do so.

(Gretsella and her coven remind me a LOT of the rather eclectic traveling party in T. Kingfisher’s Nettle and Bone. If you loved that or any of her other cozy-ish fantasies, Gretsella’s voice is very similar. Including the snark.)

Gretsella’s so-called wickedness is a pretense that she’s hanging onto with both hands, because she’s not in the least bit wicked where her son Bradley is concerned. Even if she can’t admit either how much she loves him or how much she misses him when he heads to the capital.

She’s eager to go help him out, she’s just been waiting for the invitation. Because Bradley isn’t stupid, he’s just overwhelmed. It’s not really about intelligence, it’s about training and aptitude. He doesn’t know how to be king because he’s never had to work his way through the hard stuff and doesn’t know where to begin.

The charm of the story is all in what happens once she gets there. Because she knows her son as much as she loves him, and she knows he doesn’t really want to be king. He wants the people to be taken care of, but it’s not the job or the life he wants. So his mother has to figure out a way to get him out of the pickle that his courtesy has gotten him into.

That the solution turns out to be a combination of politics and witchcraft and some very witchy shenanigans with political aspirations was utterly delightful, wryly sarcastic and surprisingly effective while inspiring both rueful chuckles and the occasional belly laugh.

It’s brilliant, it’s clever, and the cursing at the end is absolutely inspired.

The way this story works doesn’t quite follow the cozy fantasy mold (this isn’t itself a romance but one or two romances do occur), but it follows it enough – and with enough delightful asides and twists, to remind the reader not only of Kingfisher but with just the right touch of those Queens of Villainy and Violet Thistlewaite Is Not a Villain Anymore. So if you enjoyed any of those and don’t mind a cozy fantasy where the romance is a tertiary plot point rather than even a secondary one, The Somewhat Wicked Witch of Brigandale is rather wickedly charming.

Originally published at Reading Reality

[PlotTrysts · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of my favorite authors, and one who I think is criminally underrated, is C.M. Waggoner. She writes light fantasy that I hate calling "cozy" because to me, that means "boring" and her books are definitely not boring! But they don't usually involve the great struggle between Good and Evil, and the fantasy worlds often feel more historical/gaslamp than epic.

Her latest, The Somewhat Wicked Witch of Brigandale, is a whimsical, fairy tale inspired romp. The main character is Gretsella, pseudonymous wicked witch, and her adopted son, Bradley. He was left on her doorstep as a baby, and she has steadfastly ignored any and all clues that he might be a significant figure in national history. But now that Bradley has grown into a (very, very) fine specimen of a man and gotten a great job at the hairdresser's down the road, it's becoming very difficult to pretend like the woodland animals are talking nonsense about how he's the rightful king.

Gretsella knows that Bradley is a wonderful man with many strengths ... but governance probably isn't one of them. After he's convinced to go off and join the quest to take back the kingdom, she knows she's got to step in and save the populace from his (benevolent but dumb) reign - and save him from the responsibility of ruling.

Gretsella is a witch and she thinks of herself as wicked, but perhaps obviously her main goal is her son's happiness. It was a ton of fun to read Gretsella twist her innate kindliness to match her "wicked" reputation.*

This is a short, silly novel that feels like a big hug without being so "cozy" that I fall asleep.

*As opposed to so many IRL people who try to twist their objectively gross deeds to meet their public moral personae...


This objective review is based on a complimentary copy of the novel.

[Angela · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've enjoyed the Unnatural Magic duology by this author but this new book is my favorite by far. Its very Pratchett-esque and I mean that in the most respectful way possible. Granny Weatherwax is one of my all time fave Disc World characters and Gretsella feels like she should be part of Granny Weatherwax's coven. The big difference is that Pratchett stuck to proper fantasy settings with Granny Weatherwax and the limitations of those settings, whereas this book has the fantasy setting but with some tongue in cheek modern conveniences wrapped in fairytale style. I could definitely get down for a toadaphone over a cellphone any day. We've seen these types of things before in media take Shrek 2 with using the Magic Mirror as a tv for example. It doesn't take away anything from the fantasy setting as it just plain makes sense, at least to me, same with using crystal balls and things for other day to day conveniences. Gretsella also doesn't follow the average tropes of the witch character. She's not a siren or a hag, doesn't have a lover or longterm companion, she doesn't care what the people think about her (mostly) and even though she hadn't been interested in having kids of her own she oddly takes it in stride to care for the baby who she would come to call her own son (the why's are technically explained in book) and isn't super sentimental but she's not coldhearted either. Bradley wasn't what I was expecting but as a character he's fine if a little bit of a wishy washy himbo. He also has a purpose but its not what he's been told and if he'd listened to Gretsella there would've been a lot less misery for him. Its a very charming and solid book and I really hope to see Gretsella again someday in a new story.

[Julie Witt · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a very fun cozy fantasy about a witch who likes everybody to think she's wicked, but is she really? She's living by herself in the middle of the forest, quite happy and content, when a baby is left on her doorstep. She takes him in and against her will she finds that she grows to love him. She's known from the beginning that he's a prince who was left with her when his father was deposed and they were afraid he would be killed by the usurper, and as he grows and finds his calling (he's a hairdresser in town, and quite good at it), she decides she has to do everything in her power to keep him from leaving her and becoming the king he was meant to be. Bradley is beautiful and kind, but he's not the brightest bulb in the box, so she knows he would make a terrible king, but when some knights show up one day to take him back to the castle and overthrow the usurper, he's quite excited. Gretsella decides that the best thing she can do is go along with him, as his advisor, and sabotage him until he comes to his senses and abdicates.

This was a relatively short book and a very quick read because the writing just flows from one ludicrous situation to another. The characters are delightful, even Gretsella (don't tell her I said that because I'm sure she would curse me, as she's wont to do), and likeable. The ending was very satisfying, and I had a smile on my face almost the whole time I was reading the book. There were a few situations that were a little dissonant but they were few and far between.

All in all, this was a very enjoyable book and I do recommend it.

4/5 stars.

*** I would like to thank NetGalley, Berkley Publishing Group, and C. M. Waggoner for the opportunity to read and review The Somewhat Wicked Witch of Brigandale.

[Linda Garcia · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to #netgalley, #berkleypublishinggroup, #penguinrandomhouse and #cmwaggoner for this cozy little book. It was a delight to read and I feel that Gretsella is my spirit animal.

This book is hysterical and I don't know if the author meant it to be as funny as it was. I read this book in my head like I was reading a fairytale to a youngin (ala The Princess Bride).

The chapter names had me screaming because it felt very ADHD, very me. The author is like, I'm telling you this story but let's back up and talk about this other thing that may tie in later, oh and let's take a side side convo and talk about this too! I felt like I was having a conversation with my other neurodivergent friends. Chaotic good!

The descriptions of places or items had me chuckling throughout the book. The ones that stood out and had me belly laugh:

"Witch Barb chose her name after spending several days in communion with a spirit from a dark realm called Weehawken" (LOL IYKYK)

"Participate in a profane ritual called 'the annual church spaghetti dinner'" LOL LOL

"... all assembled in the secret former torture room next to the cheese cellar in the basement"

I am so glad I took a chance on requesting this book. As much as I would love to see what else Gretsella can get in to, a series would probably take away from this feeling of this being a fairytale to be told year after year.

[Kat's Bookshelf · Rating 5 out of 5]

Gretsella is a wicked witch with reasonable prices who comes home one day to find an infant that was left on her doorstep. Thus begins the story of Bradley, the would-be king and his mom's attempt to overthrow him (because it's in his best interest).

The Somewhat Wicked Witch of Brigandale is a fast, fun read. A book like this could be all fluff, but the cast of characters make it something special. The story scratches just enough at social issues and the human condition to give it some meat without weighing the it down. Brigandale pokes a little fun at various tropes commonly found in fairy tales and fantasy tales. It reminds me a little bit of Just Stab Me Now in that way -- just the right level of snark to give it many laugh out loud moments!

My only complaint about the book would be the diversions in the main story to fill in some back story. While these breaks were introduced in clever ways and were often just as entertaining as the central story, I still found them disruptive to the overall flow.

4.5 stars -- read this if you're looking for a cozy, fun, big-hearted story. It'll put a smile on your face!

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the eARC in exchange for an honest review.

[Kathy Martin · Rating 5 out of 5]

This cozy fantasy tells the story of Gretsella who is a witch living in the Dark Forest of Brigandale. She sells herbs and tinctures, meets with her oddball coven, and is perfectly happy. Then one day she discovers a baby on her doorstep.

Gretsella takes the baby in, names him Bradley, and raises him. Members of her coven gifted him with beauty, politeness, and a powerful right hook. They also told her that he was the son of the deposed monarch, but she planned to raise him to lead an utterly unremarkable life.

However, when Bradley turns eighteen, he is discovered by knights who want him to overthrow the current despot and take the throne. Gretsella tries very hard to discourage him from taking the path. She believes that he will be happiest living in the village, being a hairdresser, and playing ball with his friends.

Bradey doesn't take her advice and heads off to the city to secure his new fate. He manages to overthrow the king, but he doesn't know anything about ruling a kingdom. He calls on Gretsella to come help him. She still has her old plan and works to find a way for Bradley to stop being a king and come home.

This was an engaging fairy tale filled with all sorts of humor. Bradley is beautiful but not very bright. Gretsella is wicked but not very wicked. The other characters are also well-developed. I especially liked Gretsella's unusual coven.

[M. K. French · Rating 4 out of 5]

Gretsella is a witch in the Dark Forest of Brigandale, selling herbs and tinctures at reasonable prices, and meeting her slightly oddball coven regularly. When a baby is left on her doorstep, she takes him in and names him Bradley. Eighteen years later, small woodland animals prophecy that Bradley is the lost prince and should ascend to the throne. Bradley ignores Gretsella’s advice and sets off for the capital, where scheming courtiers soon use Bradley for their own ends. To save him from himself, Gretsella plans to depose her darling son.

Bradley is a himbo who's happiest making other people happy, so when knights loyal to his late biological parents arrive and want him to overthrow his great uncle, he does. Not knowing anything about anything, he's easily overwhelmed and manipulated. Gretsella is "evil" in that she eventually brings up deposing the king, but that's almost anticlimactic. The story has several asides and a thread about a girl named Carrots, and it's not until the end that her story makes sense. The book is more comedic than dramatic, for all that the summary could imply an epic fantasy story. This book doesn't take itself seriously, giving the reader some fun reading time.

[Lindsi (Do You Dog-ear?) · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Somewhat Wicked Witch of Brigandale was utterly absurd. I really struggled with this one and couldn’t connect with the characters at all. The author has them jumping from one ludicrous situation to the next, and I never felt like there was a good reason for anything they were doing. Gretsella also doesn’t sabotage her son’s kingdom or his ascension to the throne—she actually goes there and fixes what he’s broken.

Bradley is a few slices short of a full loaf and can barely function on his own. I have no idea why a character would be written to be so dull and dimwitted, especially when he was raised by a crafty witch who’s supposed to think several steps ahead. The book also doesn’t mention its LGBTQ+ themes anywhere, but as Gretsella herself puts it, Bradley is easily distracted by anything in trousers. It’s a semi-prevalent part of the story, and I wish it had been advertised—or at least mentioned—somewhere in the book's marketing.

The story would have been far more interesting if Gretsella had actually tried to undermine her son’s authority and sabotage his kingdom to bring him back. Instead, she’s soft-hearted and would never do anything that might truly harm him. I also would have liked to see more of her coven. Other than Gretsella, none of the characters are particularly fleshed out.

The curses were ridiculous—a stain on someone’s shirt? Really?—and the characters left a lot to be desired. There’s very little worldbuilding, and hardly anything makes much sense. I think this was meant to be humorous and a little cheeky, but I went into it expecting a cozy fantasy with witches.

Overall, it was a very quick read, but the whole thing was incredibly frustrating. I wish I’d stopped reading when I first had an inkling it wasn’t going to work for me, but I kept going to see if it got better. It didn’t. (★★⭑☆☆)

I received an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. My thoughts and opinions are my own. Any quotes I use are from an unpublished copy and may not reflect the finished product.

[Noelani · Rating 3 out of 5]

▪️Read this if you like:
▫️light & cozy fantasy
▫️a quirky cast of characters
▫️bingeable books
———
3.5⭐️ This was such a fun & cozy book!

Since this was on the shorter side (just under 230 pages), I liked that it kicked right off with the action and got into the plot. We meet main characters Gretsella and Bradley, and I immediately liked them. They’re a true grumpy/sunshine pairing (though Bradley is definitely giving himbo energy), and their mother-son dynamic was funny and sweet. The fantasy elements were easy to follow, and I liked seeing all the ways it was incorporated with the setting.

The pace was pretty quick for the first half, but then slowed towards the middle, and stayed that way until the end. Because this book is so short, we didn’t get super in-depth character building, which would’ve added a lot to the plot.

That said, I did enjoy this. The quirky cast of characters around the castle were fun, and I liked how everyone was scheming in their own ways. The stakes didn’t feel very high, which was nice for this kind of story, and let me just be along for the ride.

Thank you Berkley for the free copy!

[Jaime Garza · Rating 4 out of 5]

As I reach the end of this book, I’m struck by how many books feature characters who meet their demise for various reasons. Surprisingly, this book stands out as the only one I’ve read in a while that doesn’t contain a death. It’s a delightful change of pace.

The story revolves around Gretsela, a witch originally named Greta, and her adopted son, Bradley, heir to the kingdom, who was abandoned at her doorstep. Gretsela takes him in and raises him as her own. The book also delves into the story of Carrots, a lonely girl who struggles as a witch in denial.

Gretsela is a cunning and mischievous witch who enjoys cursing people at the slightest provocation. However, beneath her seemingly cruel exterior lies a heart of gold. She genuinely cares for her adopted son and goes to great lengths to help him navigate life’s challenges. Gretsela’s character is both intriguing and endearing, making her a memorable figure in the story.

The book is filled with heartwarming moments and humorous anecdotes. It creates a cozy and peaceful atmosphere, making it an ideal read for a relaxing afternoon. I finished the book in a couple of hours and left with a warm and positive feeling.

[Nikki · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved The Somewhat Wicked Witch of Brigandale. I wasn’t entirely sure what to expect getting into the book, but it was cozy, witty, and so sweet with the best kind of witchy flair. Gretsella is the perfect amount of snarky forest witch with a secret marshmellowy center deep, deep down and I want to be her. The writing style and flow of the book was really different and interesting, I loved the various intercut narrations to add further commentary to specific characters or concepts. The holly dragon explanations were my favorite parts. I love George so much. I may be getting soft in my third decade, but I definitely teared up reading the second explanation. The declarations within were so well done and made me want that for myself.

This was my first book by C.M. Waggoner, but the author is definitely on my want to read more list after The Somewhat Wicked Witch of Brigandale

Thank you to NetGalley and Berkley Publishing Group/Ace for providing an advanced copy for me to read and review.

[Lydia · Rating 4 out of 5]

Delightfully quirky cozy fantasy that was a very enjoyable feel-good read. Gretsella, known as the witch of the reasonable prices, finds a baby on her doorstep one day, a baby that she names Bradley and who, as it turns out, is the long lost prince. When a grown up Bradley discovers this, he is determined to do his duty and claim the throne. The thing is, Gretsella is convinced this is a terrible idea. Given that she is a slightly wicked witch after all, she determines that there is nothing else to be done but cause his downfall herself, so that he will come home where he belongs.

I loved Gretsella's narration--she was very curmudgeonly and delightfully assured of her own self-importance. The story is very light and humorous, with fairy tale vibes. Nothing too deep and not too long, but very enjoyable nonetheless.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

[Katie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you @berkleypub #berkleypartner #berkleypublishing for the free copy of this book and @prhaudio for the ALC. All opinions are my own.

This a was cute, witty and enjoyable read. I loved the fairy tale aspect of it with grumpy witch Gretsella that lives alone in the woods. When she unexpectedly finds a baby at her doorstep, she begrudgingly decides to raise the baby.

When he turns 18, it is revealed by talking woodland creatures that Bradley, Gretsella’s son is the rightful king. Bradley is happy living as slightly dim witted hairdresser with his mother in the forest but soon find himself living in town trying to understand “the economy.” Gretsella, ever the meddlesome control freak who happens to love her son, does everything she can to overthrow the king.

There is so much social commentary woven into this funny tale. Quips about motherhood, kings, democracy, the economy, love, betrayal, ambition. I laughed out loud several times and nodded in agreement at much of the observational humor. And it was all revealed in a charming, funny fairy tale.

This was a quick read (224 pages/5.5 hours on audio). I did it as a tandem and really loved Rebecca Stern’s narration. It caught the humorous nuances of the writing in a subtle way that really made them land.

Upon completion, I originally rated this 3.5 stars. But this book has stayed with me for the last several days and I realized how it impacted me even more as I wrote this review. It was smart, clever, witty, timely, insightful and enchanting. (4.0)

[Laura · Rating 3 out of 5]

There are moments of charm here, but overall? This just felt like any number of other books set in fantasy worlds that are approaching the topic with humor. Gretsella's raising Bradley is glossed over, and there are innumerable times we're told how he's incredibly good looking yet kinda dim. His hairdressing career feels as though it's playing into a stereotype, and only late in the book do we learn he likes playing what sounds like soccer "with the guys".

I did love the prophetic animals and how Gretsella manages both King Bradley and all the people around him. Where the "somewhat wicked" part comes from is a mystery, since she advertises "reasonable rates" and no one ever mentions the wickedness.

eARC provided by publisher via Netgalley.

[Heather · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.75 stars

Gretsella is a very practical witch who charges reasonable prices. She leans into the wicked stereotypes without doing anything especially wicked. She raises Bradley, who may or may not be the lost prince. One day, small woodland creatures start prophesying that Bradley will destroy the kingdom. And when Bradley is set on the throne, the kingdom does falter. So Gretsella heads to the Capitol to see if she can extricate Bradley from this mess. She may have to be a little more wicked.

I really wanted to like this book more. The narrator is sassy and meta. Gretsella is unreliable. I think I wanted to understand more about the worldbuilding, but since Gretsella didn't that much about the outside world, it was all hazy.

***Read an eARC from NetGalley***