Thanks to NetGalley & Tor Publishing Group for the early copy in exchange for an honest review.

This was definitely a very cozy and chill fantasy romance. I hesitate to call it romantasy because it had a fair balance of fantasy, romance, and world-building. Usually romantasy in my experience focuses exclusively on romance and a tiny bit of fantasy in the background. This book balanced the slow burn romance with the world-building so it was still neat to see the world expand beyond its protagonists.

Saskia and Felix were very cute and great characters independent of each other and it was sweet to see their budding friendship evolve into something more.

I actually wish this book was longer and we had more in-between time. And a minor complaint: I feel like the title doesn't really fit the story. It makes it seem more romantic than it actually is. It wasn't Felix's intention to "woo the witch queen" at all...

The Vibes:

—cozy fantasy

—evil (but is she really) woman

—secret identity

Heat Index: 4/10

The Basics:

"Wicked" sorceress Queen Saskia needs to focus on protecting her kingdom—which means strengthening her craft. That leaves her magical library unattended, which is why she seizes the opportunity to hire the new dark sorcerer Fabian. What she doesn't know? Gentle Fabian is an Imperial archduke, Felix—and he's not even magical.

The Review:

A lot to like about this one, especially if you're a fan of cozy romance. There's a real Princess Bride vibe to the descriptions here, albeit with a bit more political reality. There are stakes to the world, but they aren't all too serious. Theoretically, our heroines are wicked, but are they really? Or are they just made out to be, with a bit of a bad girl vibe?

It kind of just depends on how you interpret the story, to be honest. I didn't really see Saskia as evil in any way, and for a lot of readers that's going to be a positive thing. Me? I could've seen her go a little darker, a little badder.

She is darker than Felix, who's really quite a cinnamon roll. Which is again, why I would've lived to see Saskia go a bit edgier. Because he's such a sweetie (albeit with a bit of a political complication, to say the least) and Saskia really isn't as bad as she's made out to be... it's really a cute romance between two nice people. I could've used a bit more—a little extra bite to offset the coziness.

But you know what? A lot of people will disagree with me, and I do think this fulfills the promise of the premise.

I will say—despite Saskia and Felix coming from warring nations, I wouldn't call this enemies to lovers. For one, because she really doesn't know they're from warring nations for a good chunk of the book. But for another, because this is a romance that's very much based on the slow burn (despite a pretty immediate attraction) and bonding.

It's definitely less of a thrill and more of a comfort read... but I do think the next book might be a bit different, and I look forward to seeing if I'm right.

The Sex:

Gotta say—while I respect authors' preferred heat levels, I wish the sex had been more descriptive. It's nicely written, but over and done with in the blink of an eye. Not quite closed door, but not super present.

While this was a little soft for me, I think it's going to be exactly what a lot of cozy romantasy readers want. And it's going to be nice for them to read on a cold February day.

Thanks to Bramble and NetGalley for providing me with a copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Wooing the Witch Queen ended up being exactly what I wanted. The cast of characters were delightful. The world building was interesting. The chemistry between Saskia and Felix developed in such a satisfying way. Oskar the crow was adorable! The story pacing was great and things didn't feel rushed. I appreciated that Saskia and Felix developed their interest in each other over months rather than over a weekend. But that the yearning was always present but growing deeper as time went. It's definitely more of a slow burn, but the overall story doesn't make it feel dragged out. It felt like it came together at the right time and the right place. I'd recommend Wooing the Witch Queen for readers who are interested in reading a romance with a fantasy backdrop. Especially for readers who are interested in getting into a new series. The snippet for the second book at the end of this ARC has me interested to see what Burgis does next! I'm looking forward to it.

Thank you Netgalley and Stephanie for this wonderful arc.

I loved the slow burn romance but fast paced plot and I LOVE a hot Librarian. Loved the tropes and the dynamics between the Witch Queen and the sweet Librarian boy. It was a delightful read and I look forward to seeing more from this author.

When Archduke Felix needs a place to hide from his murderous relatives, he figures there's no place safer than the court of the wicked sorceress Queen Saskia. She's no friend to the empire, has a magical wall around her country to keep out anyone trying to invade, and needs someone to organize her magical library. She also, unfortunately, has murderous feelings about the Archduke, owing to the actions of his regent who's been using Felix as a puppet ruler. So when Queen Saskia mistakes Felix for a dark wizard, he doesn't correct her. But the more time Felix and the Queen spend with each other, the more they begin to fall for each other, until Felix realizes that if his identity is revealed, he's risking not only his life, but his heart as well.

WOOING THE WITCH QUEEN is a cozy fantasy romance mixed with a healthy dollop of "fight the patriarchy" energy. Queen Saskia brings a take-no-prisoners attitude to the table, willing and able to incinerate condescending wizards and pretenders to the throne. Of course, much of the "wickedness" ascribed to her comes from her insistence on treating non-humans as equal to humans and her refusal to let any man dictate terms to her (though I suppose her fondness for a crown of bones doesn't help).

On the other side of the pairing is Felix, a cinnamon role of a man fleeing an abusive life. He loves books and fountain pens and the extraordinarily powerful woman that is Queen Saskia. While he's a bit of a tempering influence on Saskia's more murderous inclinations, he also fully supports Saskia in her bold, brash ways.

There's a lot to adore about how this couple comes together. There's the obvious flirtations in the library, bonding over a love of books while hands briefly touch. There's the growing respect for each other as they each see the love and protection the other offers to those around them. And perhaps my favorite part of all, Felix's embracing of a Saskia in all her passionate glory.

And for those wondering about how spicy this one gets, I'd classify it as akin to PG-13. Things are more implied than explicit, everything essentially happening juuuust off page.

The one downside to this novel is that it relies fairly heavily on Queen Saskia overlooking some glaringly obvious clues as to Felix's real identity. There are a couple of moments where the leaps of logic she makes are somewhat baffling. It's the kind of contortions that are somewhat common in romance novels to keep the tension going, but some of the explanations offered were a real stretch.

WOOING THE WITCH QUEEN is the cozy power fantasy romance I didn't know I needed. It's that classic tale of finding a person who accepts you for who you are. More importantly, it's about a powerful woman finding a man who isn't threatened by her power but instead is wildly attracted to it. I had a delightful time with this tale, and I will definitely be back for the next installment of the QUEENS OF VILLAINY romance series.

Thank you Bramble and Netgalley for this eARC, these opinions are my own. A sweet and cosy story! Fabian is running away from his abusive in laws. He goes to a new territory to seek asylum, one that is run by a fearsome witch queen. He’s mistaken as a dark sorcerer and begins working in the Queen’s library. During his time he begins to fall for the Queen, who may not be what everyone fears. He’ll have to pretend or risk being caught. Can he pull it off? And what will he do as his feelings begin to grow? I loved both Fabian and Saskia! Plus the supporting characters are all so fun! Loved the crows! A fast paced story that will drag you in! Gives all the warm and fuzzies and will have you wanting to curl up and get comfortable! Great if you enjoy romantasies!

I received an E-Arc from Netgalley and Publisher for an honest review!
Thank you!

This story is a favorite! Once I started reading this book, it took me a little while to get into it. Time flew by and I could not stop reading about Saskia and Fabian. There were a few times I had to sneak away to go read because I had to know what was going to happen next. I love when I get immersed in a story and I cannot put down the book/e-arc .

The drama, the emotions, the magic, the suspense: will they or won't they...slow burn, fast paced (for me), strength of Saskia, the history background of Saskia and Fabian was intriguing and one could feel what they were feeling..everything about this story had me on the edge of my seat. I even almost yelled at the E-Arc about "Fabian" and his identity moment! There was one point where I had to stop reading because I was like nooooo but then I told myself you must because you do need to know. I am so glad I kept on reading and how else would I leave a review!

Things that I liked from the story was :
The environment was an interesting set up.
The crows were an awesome touch.
The goblins were unique characters.
Fountain pens!
Slow burn magic and romance.
Saskia's allies were whimsical and fun.
The library!

I think you should get this book when it comes out! I'm definitely going to get a physical copy for my collection. Plus I'm ready for more to read about this world. I'm pretty sure the author has more stories lined up!

Wooing the Witch Queen is a cozy romantasy about a young Archduke on the run from his abusive in-laws. He flees to a neighboring country to beg asylum but via mistaken identity he is hired as a librarian for the witch queen.
Thank you to NetGalley and Bramble for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for my honest review. Unfortunately this book is only getting 2.5⭐️.
As a possibly spicy romantasy this book was a bore by 65% with almost no real interactions between the main couple. Even the most significant periods of time they spent with each other in the library all occurred off page.
As a fantasy about a female led ruler of her own country powerful witch queen this felt like a real missed opportunity.
I will not be recommending this book.

This was lovely! An engaging, quick read: I picked it up to read a chapter and ended up finishing half in one sitting.

Burgis balances well the fantasy elements, the political world-building, and a charming romance.

Such a fun twist on the wicked witch trope, with a sweet wizard librarian and a lovely cast of supporting characters. I especially liked the role that Saskia's crow flock played in moving the story along, crows being such intelligent and crafty creatures. This was a slower burn of a romance than I normally love, and in my opinion there was some awkwardness with the intimate scenes (especially when Saskia casts a restrictive spell during one). I appreciated how the author made Saskia so tender hearted and protective of her found family of goblins, trolls, crows, and a mysterious librarian. The action all took place in a bit of a rush at the book resolution, which tied things up but also left the door open for the next book in the series. Grateful for access through NetGalley to this early copy, I think fans of cozy fantasy and magic will enjoy this a lot!

“Fabian” is on the run from the abuse of his father-in-law. Fearing his planned death, he runs straight into the neighboring territory of the fearsome witch queen. Preparing to throw himself on her mercy, he finds himself welcomed into the castle due to a case of mistaken identity. He takes on the position of a dark sorcerer, set with the task of organizing her library. Except he has no magic and finds himself falling for the not-so-wicked Queen Saskia, who prefers working in her lab to concerning herself with affairs of state. Will his identity be revealed? What will the consequences be?

I kind of adored this book. It’s delightfully cosy and has super lovable characters. Saskia and her allied queens are called the Queens of Villainy, and I loved their dynamic. Like most powerful women, Saskia is labeled wicked, but while she can be a little imposing and over-the-top (she has a bone crown!), she’s all about creating a safe haven for non human and magic users. “Fabian” is a total cinnamon roll, and the secret/mistaken identity aspect was quite fun. Other elements I loved were the crow familiars (living the dream!) and unexpected fountain pen subplot!

If you are looking for a cosy romantasy to enjoy this winter season, to read snuggled up with your crow familiar and piping hot coffee, this is really delightful.

Thank you very much to NetGalley and the publisher. I received an advance review copy, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

I saw another read do an early review and jumped on to grab it.

Oh my gosh, what a fresh take on a wicked witch fantasy read! I was hooked and read it all in one day, I got sucked in and didn't want to come up for air. The dual POV between Felix and Saskia moves the story along wonderfully along with gives you more character depth and world building. I loved how Felix was and how the roles were flipped, it added to the story and made you root for him so much. Saskia and her witch "gang" were a trip and fun to read, I am very much looking forward to each of their stories.

Review:
Okay first thing first. This book is mainly a romance with elements of fantasy. If you’re looking for high fantasy this book is not for you. It is a fun and fantastical romance though. I loved the MCs’ Felix (a.k.a. “Fabian”) and Saskia’s banter with each other. The whole cast of characters are developed really well.

However, the romance felt more physical than emotional since our MCs lust after each other after they’re first meeting, but they don’t act on anything until halfway through the book which is why I say this is a slow burn.

I felt like the entire book was a buildup to the 75% part of the book when HUGE plot points actually start happening. But then the entire plot is resolved within 2-4 chapters which was highly disappointing because I wanted more details and conflict at the end of the story since the buildup was so long.

All in all, I enjoyed the story, but found I was missing the high fantasy elements that I was craving. If you’re craving a Romance Fantasy for February I’d recommend this book.

Thank you @netgalley and torpublishinggroup for letting me read this book in advance in exchange for my honest thoughts.

I absolutely inhaled this fantasy romance featuring an "evil queen" and the ruler (in disguise!) of a neighboring land.

Felix is the Archduke of Estarion, and he's such a little sweetheart! Also he's been terribly abused by his regent/father-in-law, kept away from the actual governance of his land, and since his wife's death, at danger of being assassinated really any day. So he runs to Kitvaria to throw himself at the feet of its ruling witch queen only to be confused for the dark wizard she advertised for. Although he planned to come clean about his identity, he realizes that his reputation as the Archduke is pretty terrible, so he figures he'll lie low and catalogue her library for her...

If you love romance and you like fantasy, this is the book for you. I'm differentiating it from romantasy because the fantasy elements are set dressing for the romance: this is a false identity romance with a little magic on the side. It also includes two of my favorite character types: the intellectual cinnamon roll MC and the "unlikable" FMC. (She's really not all that unlikable but everyone thinks she is.) Like I said, I loved it.

This might be a great book for romantasy readers who want to try out a more romancey book, or for historical romance readers who find fantasy world building to be a little much. It's steamy but on the lower heat side.

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

This book was so good!!! The is an absolute perfect cozy romantasy book to read while drinking hot cocoa on a rainy day. Or perhaps someone just trying to get out of a reading slump. I adored the characters and the romance. It was so sweet watching everything develop and play out. 10/10 read!

I think a lot of readers are going to be thrown off by the opening chapter's style. In comparison to the rest of the book, the exposition from Felix’s side is a little clunky but that's to be expected when there are so many titles and epithets thrown around.


This is immensely reminiscent of Dreadful by Caitlin Rozakis- which a high compliment from me given that I adored that book.

The dynamic between Saskia and Felix is just so delightful. I am an absolute sucker for the male main character in the pairing being a bit wimpy and timid compared to the FMC. The mutual pining in this is honestly a thing of legend, a much needed break from the high heat and spice most books of the genre err towards.

Also all the side characters are so much fun- I'm glad that this appears to be a part of a series because I absolutely need the other queens respective books.

This has been my biggest and most favorite Netgalley review session because all the books I’ve been reading are amazing! This one is truly something special for me, I love female rage

This was an absolutely delightful read.

An Archduke flees the abuse of his advisors, intending to throw himself on the mercy of Queen Saskia, the "wicked" sorceress of the neighbouring polity. However, a misunderstanding results in him being hired to sort out the castle's library. Saskia has established a magic border to keep her kingdom safe from the invaders; she's created a haven for non-humans and those with magic. All she wants to do is experiment in her laboratory but instead she has to manage a complicated political situation.

She and the librarian quickly grow close, despite the secrets surrounding them. Watching each negotiate past trauma and current secrets to build a relationship is fantastic.

The secondary characters are also charming and fully realized, from the grumpy housekeeper to the crows. Highly recommend for those looking for a mostly cozy read, with charming inter-personal relationships and enough politicking etc to keep the brain engaged.

🧙‍♀️👑 ARC REVIEW 👑🧙‍♀️

Wooing The Witch Queen by Stephanie Burgis
4/5 ⭐
Pub date 🇺🇸 : Feb 18th, 2025

This book had me hooked from the beginning! It was sweet, funny, and had two perfectly imperfect main characters. I finished it in less than 48 hours 😅

The story begins with an Archduke seeking asylum with the wicked witch queen, and through a series of misunderstandings, becomes her librarian in disguise 🥸

Please read if you like the following:

🐦‍⬛ Powerful female main character with a nerdy side
🐦‍⬛ Sweet and supportive (and sexy) love interests
🐦‍⬛ The wickedness of a witch queen's court
🐦‍⬛ Masks 🎭😘

A big thank you to NetGalley and Bramble for this advanced copy!

🏷️ #NetGalley #Romantasy #bookstagram #books #booklover #book #bookworm #bookstagrammer #reading #bookish #bookaddict #booknerd #bibliophile #readersofinstagram #booksofinstagram #booksbooksbooks #bookreview #instabook #bookrecommendations #read #bookcommunity #bookphotography #bookshelf #bookaholic #bookblogger #booklovers #booklove #booktok #reader

I absolutely adored this book and devoured it in one sitting! I immediately fell for the MMC, Felix, during the first few chapters. Paired with our bisexual Queen Saskia, this romantasy is a fun and flirty palate-cleanser.

This book is a stand alone story, but will be part of an interconnected trilogy featuring different characters. I'm already impatiently awaiting the next book!