Wooing the Witch Queen was the cozy fantasy romance of my dreams. The characters were fully developed, the pacing kept me engaged and the dialogue felt very natural. The stakes never felt high, but it worked, and I think it was more enjoyable than if they had been.

Stephanie Burgis is a masterful storyteller, and I can't wait for the next installment in the series. I would recommend this book to anyone who loves an enchanting, whimsical world and a perfectly torturous slow burn romance.

Thank you to Tor Publishing, Bramble and NetGalley for an eARC of this book.

Overall this was a cute book, with an interesting premise, a fun romance, but an ultimately weak plot. I thought the actual writing was good, but the book just wasn’t long enough to dive into the political maneuvering, or the romance either. But I enjoyed the story all the same and I will definitely be reading the next book!

🌈Queer rep: Bi female main character, previous FF relationship in the past

I adored this book, particularly the role reversal of the male protagonist hiding in plain sight from the strong and capable female protagonist. A grumpy and sunshine romance, this was a beautiful start to what I hope is a longstanding series!

I wasn't sure what I was signing up for in requesting this one, but I am so glad to have read it. The nuance surrounding abuse and the PTSD that comes from it are not light subjects, but Burgis handled these topics in a way that had me tearing up and rooting for these characters the whole time. The twist at the end? Lovely. The fact that there was *barely* if any a third act breakup? My absolute favorite. A hot librarian? Sign me the heck up! I loved this book.

5/5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Wooing the Witch Queen
Author: Stephanie Burgis

Thank you so much Tor Publishing for my copy of this amazing read! Absolutely devoured this one. I finished it in one day. 😂. Saskia is a witch queen that has taken back her kingdom from her evil uncle. A mysterious wizard arrives at her castle and she ends up employing him as her librarian to help organize her magic library. Also told from our librarians POV, he is actually a famous archduke in disguise that is using her palace as a hiding place. With trolls, and ogres in her employ, and her two other witche accomplices she has an alliance with, the magical side cast of characters was to die for. I loved the vibe of the whole book, and the fantasy elements made me feel like I was there. I loved Saskia and our librarian as MCs. Both of their own stories made me want to keep reading. We have a spice level of maybe 🌶️🌶️/5. Can’t wait for more of this series. Thank you so much for the read! This just released on 2/18/25!

Cute, fun, slow burn & magic? Count me in! This was so much fun to read, I loved the twist mixed with suspense and great world building.

🩵💚 Wooing the Witch Queen ARC Review 💚🩵

Thank you so much to Stephanie Burgis and Tor Publishing for the opportunity to read and review this book!!

Wooing the Witch Queen is a fantasy romance and book 1 in the Queens of Villainy series. Queen Saskia is the notorious Queen of the Witches but all she wants to do is keep her people safe. When a mysterious man arrives at her castle, she immediately hires him as a librarian. But what if he isn’t the person he says he is???

This was such a fun read! Saskia was a wonderful character and I really enjoyed reading her story! Felix was such an unexpected delight and I adored the growth of the relationship between him and Saskia. This was such a fun magical world and I adored the magic system.

Overall this was a solid four star read! I enjoyed the story and the world! This book did have some potential triggers, so please check if you’re sensitive. This book was a bit of a slow burn and the smutty moments were a little vague in their descriptiveness, so overall two flames for spice

If you’re a fan of fantasy romance with low angst, fun world building and strong characters, then absolutely pick this one up!

I loved this cute and fun fantasy romance! It’s especially nice to see the sweet innocent captive be the male in the romance for once, and the dark broody one the woman. And I do love a librarian! Wooing the witch queen has a silly title that hides its deeper story. Felix and Saskia are loveable and their romance feels natural. Not quite enough of the politics for my taste. Can’t wait for the next one!

Thank you to NetGalley, Bramble, and Ms. Burgis for the opportunity to read an ARC of this title. An honest review was requested but not required.

Things I loved:
-The writing, in general. The plot and dialogue were engaging and felt remarkably uncontrived for a fantasy romance. Saskia's exasperation and frustration with her situation felt so genuine, and Felix/Fabian's character growth from a repressed figurehead to full agency felt so satisfactory. The pull between them felt very natural and I appreciated that Ms. Burgis took her time letting it grow.
-Oskar. This book played RIGHT into my (a) longterm love of crows and (b) secret (or not-so-secret) desire to have a pet corvid of my very own. UGH, Oskar was so cute.
-The friendships between Saskia and the other "villainous Queens", and the way they were determined to draw her out of her isolation.

Things I loved less:
-The cover, I'm sorry, it was a little awkward looking. Felix kind of looked like a cleaned up Billy Butcherson ( ">﹏< )
-The nickname "Villainous Queens". They don't really seem that villainous? *shrug*. A little bummed that the next book is clearly Lorelei's, as of the two, Ailana was my favorite (Queen Elsa vibes!!!!). Oh well, it's a save-the-best-for-last situation, I suppose.
However these are really minor quibbles and nothing I can't overlook.

Overall this was a lot of fun. I will be adding Stephanie Burgis to my list of authors whose back work I'll be looking up, and whose forthcoming books I'll be adding to my list.

⭐⭐⭐⭐

I don’t read a lot of romance unless there’s a touch of the fantastical — magic, supernatural creatures or spacefaring adventures are a must! (If you have recommendations that fit this bill, send them my way!)

Bramble Romance consistently delivers fantasy and sci-fi romances I enjoy, so when I saw Wooing the Witch Queen on NetGalley, requesting it was a no-brainer. That Stephanie Burgis wrote it only made the decision easier — I’ve loved several of her historical fantasies through the years and this one was no exception.

The story kicks off with an archduke fleeing his kingdom to escape his abusers, only to be mistaken for a dark wizard seeking employment by his homeland’s greatest enemies. Sparks fly — both literal and magical — as he and the formidable Witch Queen find themselves drawn to each other.

This book was pure fun. Burgis builds an enchanting world filled with found family, magical mishaps and characters whose personal histories shape their every decision. Saskia and Felix make a fantastic pair, but I have to say, Oskar the crow might just be my favorite.

If you love villainous queens who may not be as wicked as they seem, softhearted heroes who just want to be loved and fiercely loyal friends, Wooing the Witch Queen is a must-read. I can’t wait for the next book in the Queens of Villainy series!

I am a sucker for a sprayed edge and I was completely pulled in by this cover for Wooing the Witch Queen! Queen Saskia, a feared sorceress, is focused on on her work, but when she hires a mysterious librarian, her and Fabian find themselves in an unexpected attraction—only Fabian has a secret that could destroy them: he’s actually Felix, the Imperial archduke who Saskia is determined to take down. This is a quick read, coming in at just under 300 pages. It’s a cozy fantasy with a soft romance and a strong, fierce FMC. Both are riddled with their past traumas and are trying their best as rulers, while also falling in love. I would have loved more moments of these two sharing and growing, but I loved the gentleness in the romance; there’s a softness to it that I just wanted more of. I also thought the trust they developed was so good! The side characters were so fun, and it’s a really whimsical read. I did want more development in the romance, but I liked the growth of these characters, and I loved how the fantasy unfolded. If you’re a cozy romantatsy reader, you won’t want to miss this one!

~I received an ARC through Netgalley. All opinions expressed are my own.~

~~I did receive an arc, but I also preordered the paperback copy of this novel and though I started reading the arc, the majority was read from the published copy.~~

Overall this was an enjoyable read. I like the premise of ruler seeking refuge with his enemy. It is a cozy fantasy, maybe cozy romantasy?? Give me more fierce bisexual queen and wizard librarian stories!

I would have liked a little more bulking up to overall story. Too much time was spent setting up a series and not enough world-building. I would have appreciated a map at the beginning of the book. I do wish the characters were developed a bit more including the side characters. Show me more interactions between the main characters and the crows and orcs. Give me more slow burn with side eye and longing.

Thank you to TOR/Bramble and Netgalley for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

This was a sweet, cozy romantasy and it was fun, definitely cozy and light, to read! Overall a 3 star read for me. It was full of witty banter, sweet exchanges and sudden intrigues!

Since this is a standalone, there wasn’t time or room for much worldbuilding, so I wasn’t able to get a good sense of the world from the book itself. However, we did have surrounding countries involved with their own rulers that were present in the story! The brief lore of each region was also touched upon, and was intriguing!

At the same time, since this is a standalone, and there is political intrigue, I didn’t feel as though the political points and intrigue for the plot were as well fleshed out as you’d see in a longer series or book. Those parts left me wanting, and felt as though they were mostly created to give the characters a reason to interact/seek refuge/have a sort of “enemies” to lovers situation. With that in mind, since the political background and plot weren’t as strong for me, the enemies portion of the relationship felt difficult to believe.

The character building and relationship was very cute and fun to read! I enjoyed both Saskia and Fabian, and I enjoyed their light chemistry and their witty banter. They didn’t have as strong of an enemies to lovers trope as I usually prefer. However, it was present, to a lighter, cozier degree. I also really enjoyed how they supported and helped the other grow, even in this short amount of time together. Their acceptance and support was very cute and heart warming and made for a super cozy romantasy novel.

Overall, I did enjoy this romantasy. The spice level was quite low, but still present, and the tender moments were really sweet to read!

I enjoyed this one! This is my kind of cozy fantasy. It was cute and had me laughing throughout. It definitely has an unserious/silly humour that kind of gave me a nostalgic feeling for old fantasy movies I loved as a kid, but with that added level of romance I love now.
It was low stakes, a straightforward plot, and solid pacing. I would definitely pick up book 2 when it releases. I have a feeling Lorelei's story will be entertaining 😂

I'd recommend it if you enjoy...
Low stakes/cozy fantasy medieval vibes
Hidden identities
Sweet cinnamon roll MMC
A dash of political intrigue

A captivating read for fans of fantasy romance, particularly those who delight in stories of strong, complex heroines, witty banter, and forbidden love, set against a richly imagined backdrop of magic, mystery, and adventure.

Wooing the Witch Queen by Stephanie Burgis

This one is about Saskia, the witch Queen of Kitvaria, who as a child had her kingdom usurped by her uncle and recently gave him the boot with her impressive witch powers. Her evil uncle fled to the protection of a neighbouring enemy. Saskia is getting her bearings as Queen and needs a dark wizard to organize her library, which is in complete disarray, so she is happy to hire Fabian, a dark wizard who shows up on her doorstep. Fabian is not like the other dark wizards who have darkened Saskia’s door. He’s polite, nerdy, and he doesn’t throw temper tantrums and blow things up. Actually, even though he keeps most of his face covered… he’s kinda cute. And he makes Saskia feel seen. And he’s really great at calming her emotions when she gets overwhelmed. And… oh, bother, is this love?

This was a delightfully whimsical breath of fresh air. I really enjoy books that say silly things with a straight face. The case of mistaken identity between Saskia and “Fabian” just kept getting cuter and funnier. The best comp for me would be Assistant to the Villain, but in this case the villain is a witch Queen who mostly just wants to be left alone to putter about in her little laboratory and occasionally displays staggering feats of power. I loved the writing style and am very much looking forward to more in this series!

Thank you so much Tor Publishing Group and Netgalley for this ARC!

I have a weird sense of humor, and I have been lucky to find a few fantasy books that perfectly fall within that. I am so happy to add another book to that collection of favorites. The sense of humor, the general absurdities and chaos, the depth of heart all make this a book I devoured and would cheerfully read again and again. I love how the classic tropes of the genre were turned on their heads to give this delightful book that surprised me at every turn. This is one of those books that I love so much I have a hard time talking about it - I just want to shove it into your face to read it too.

I want to plunge into this world and just immerse myself in it forever. The teaser for the next book (and I hope many many more than the 2 that are set up) cannot come soon enough.

Cute cozy fantasy romance with a side of horribly traumatic childhoods with serious abuse. It’s in the past and they’ve escaped the abusers but affects the characters if that would be too much for the reader. Aside from the traumatic pasts it’s a very cozy gentle book. Likable main characters, interesting and fun friends for the main characters. I will quite cheerfully mark this author to follow in Goodreads and the next book as a to read title!

Queen Saskia is the wicked sorceress who took the throne from her evil uncle, determined to protect her people by experimenting with spells. She has no time to organize her library of spells, so she hires the dark wizard Fabian. He seems nerdy and writes her poetry, and is actually an Imperial archduke in disguise. He has no magical training and is on the run himself. When his identity is finally revealed, will their love save or doom each other?

Saskia was hunted by her own uncle, who had her parents killed, and was incredibly racist against magical species like orcs and trolls. Saskia wrested control back, but the eighteen years of neglect has left her castle library a wreck, and there are many magical scrolls and tomes. She put out a want ad of sorts and assumed Felix was an evil magician answering the ad. Prior ones had been destructive in their displays of power and condescending as all get out, so she undercuts a possible explosion by hiring him on the spot. He feels bad about the deception but wants to hide from his father-in-law who had been his regent and tormentor for years. Felix and Saskia dance around each other and their insecurities and get to know each other. At the same time, there are very real threats from the Empire and the kingdom that Felix left behind.

This is a classic mistaken identity romance, and I enjoyed seeing Saskia and Felix find a home where they are loved and appreciated for who they are. Of course, there are friends who suspect Felix; Saskia has an alliance and friendship of sorts with two other magical queens, and one clearly suspects Felix from the start. It all comes to a head in the final quarter of the book, when the threat of war looms and so does the truth. We not only get a happily ever after, but we also see glimpses of another novel in this series. It's bound to be fun, like all of Stephanie Burgess' romances, and I really look forward to it.

Cozy and sweet romance between a witch queen and a cinnamon roll archduke who has been imprisoned by his guardian his entire life. The humor really worked for me. This if for readers who want their villains to be not very villainous but instead secretly the best people you've ever met. Our main character is a bisexual queen.