I went into this expecting a romantasy and ended up with a cute cozy fantasy, which I was not mad about AT ALL. I enjoyed that it didn't take itself too seriously and it felt like the author was having a lot of fun parodying romantasy stereotypes but in a kind and gentle way. Speaking of kind and gentle, our hero was such a breath of fresh air with his sweet nature and journey of self-discovery. Definitely excited for #2 and our chaotic fairy queen!
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an ARC to review!

I absolutely loved this book and the relationship between Saskia and Felix! Not only does Burgis subvert a lot of tropes placed on women throughout fantasy and romance, but she also creates a story that includes more characters to love than to hate! The self-growth, trust, and love that Saskia and Felix develop over the course of the story are also gloriously beautiful! My little librarian/archivist heart fluttered at Felix finding his place as Saskia’s librarian (ahem, Dark Wizard technically) and learning not only about the collection but also the founders and current heir. If you love fantasy romance that hinges on the storyline more than anything else, this is a great book for you! It was also a quick read that I devoured over the course of 48 hours. 
I can not wait to see more of the world and I am looking forward to the next book in the series if it comes to light (and I truly hope it does)!

This dual perspective fantasy romance novel has Archduke Felix sneak into the neighboring kingdom at odds with his kingdom because his nobles are plotting to kill him to start a war. The neighboring kingdom is ruled by a witch queen in need of a librarian to organize her many magical tomes. A mix-up leads to Felix disguising himself as the librarian and then they start feeling attraction. The events in the last third make the plot go along at a quick speed. Felix is a cinnamon roll hero, and Witch Queen Saskia is a solid heroine. I'm not sure about the other witch queens in the series, because the teaser at the end with Lorelai was weird.

I was absolutely delighted by Stephanie Burgis's series opener "Wooing the Witch Queen". This cozy gaslamp romantasy. After the Witch Queen Saskia overthrows her murderous uncle and usurps the throne of Kitvaria, she’s viewed by her people as a villain. Saskia is far from a power grabbing villain, she's actually trying to protect her kingdom, especially as her kingdom teeters on the brink of war with a neighboring empire. She finds more comfort creating powerful new spells in her laboratory than deal with court politics. When dark wizard Fabian shows up on her doorstep, she assumes he’s come to fill a vacancy in the castle’s messy magical library and hires him without a thought not knowing that Fabian is actually the enemy.

The world and politics of "Wooing the Witch Queen" is very accessible and the plot moves at a brisk pace. The characters are wonderful and supple ample amounts of humor. I also really enjoyed the slow burn romance between Saskia and the cinnamon roll librarian "Fabian". The ending sets up book 2 quite nicely and I'm really looking forward to continuing this series. Definitely pick this one up if you're in the mood for a low stakes low steam fantasy like Travis Baldree and T. Kingfisher.

Many thanks to Netgalley and Bramble/Macmillan for an advanced reader's copy of the book.

Thank you to Netgalley and Bramble for this ebook ARC!

If you’re looking for a women-forward fantasy, Wooing The Witch Queen is perfect!

Queen Saskia is a new ruler who defeated her uncle, the usurper, through the use of her incredible powers. However, now that her kingdom is protected by her enchantments, she no longer wants to be in the public eye, but instead desires to return to the experiments she’s begun that will further protect her people.

Felix is a widower who also happens to be the Archduke and ruler of a neighboring land, but his title is in name only, as his father- and brother-in-law rule over him with an iron fist. Overhearing their frustration over not being able to get past the wall of Queen Saskia, Felix manages to escape their clutches, running straight for Queen Saskia’s lands. Through a misunderstanding that works to his advantage, Felix becomes the queen’s librarian. Yet despite his luck, he has to make sure the queen never discovers his true identity because, due to his in-laws, she’s only ever seen him as the enemy.

This book was such a delight! I laughed quite a few times because, as a reader, I very much related to the introverted queen who just wanted to get back to her studies rather than having to deal with society’s interruptions. Saskia is fierce and unapologetic when it comes to her dealings with men with power and I loved this about her. Felix and his care and love of books, reading, and poetry was also such a special touch for us bibliophiles. His sensitivity and his respect for women was such a balm.

The side characters and animal companions closely linked to the main characters were also warm and quirky in all the best ways for a lovely found family atmosphere. I especially loved the Queens of Villainy!

As for the romance, the slow-burn longing between the FMC and the MMC was really sweet. There are two intimate scenes, one of which is more of an open door scene, but they did leave something to be desired because they were interrupted and both felt a bit rushed after waiting so long in the story for them. Overall though, I still enjoyed the lighthearted nature of the love story.

Book Snapshot:
✨ Romantasy verging on cozy fantasy with a hint of intrigue and a dash of spice
✨ Dual POV
✨ Powerful, introverted FMC who doesn’t allow any men to get in her way when it comes to protecting her people
✨ A humble, sweet, academic cinnamon roll of an MMC who respects women and their decisions
✨ A council of female rulers and leaders
✨ Cute, loyal animal companions
✨ Some LGBTQ+ Rep
✨ Slow burn with longing
✨ Found Family
✨ Hidden Identities
✨ Involves a library setting

This book surprised me with a great story and increasing action in the toward the end. The characters were fun and the slow burn was delightful! the pacing was good throughout and absolutely driving in the third act.

The cover and title of this book were mildly off-putting but the description sounded so intriguing I picked it up anyway and I’m so glad I did! I started off hesitantly but the story and characters drew me in and by the end I was giggling and smiling and having a grand time slamming pages as the excitement increased and the story ends so satisfyingly.

I was lucky to try both the ebook and the audiobook version of this title and I switched back and forth. On the audiobook version, it was nice to hear the place names pronounced. The narrator pronounced Gryphon differently than I’ve ever heard, but I got used to it by the end of the book. She did a good variety of voices and inflections so that the characters were distinct.

This was a fun story and I enjoyed it!

Do you like charming low (but actually not that low)stakes cozy paranormal rom coms that are heavily character driven with a soft (hot librarian bookish) MMC and fiesty FMC? Listen, this was fantastic I ate it up, I actually read this twice because I just LOVE sweet and safe romantasies, do you know what I mean? I know what I mean so that's all that matters, slow burn and suspenseful this kept me hooked the plot is fast paced and the world is interesting, I can't wait for the next book! (There is a next one isn't there? ISN'T THERE?!🥹🥹)

*Wooing the Witch Queen* by Stephanie Burgis is a charming and enchanting fantasy filled with romance, magic, and adventure. Set in a captivating world where witches hold immense power, the story follows a determined protagonist who embarks on a quest to win the heart of the elusive and powerful Witch Queen. Burgis’ writing is delightful, with a perfect blend of wit, warmth, and tension. The characters are well-developed, particularly the strong-willed heroine and the enigmatic queen, adding depth to the romance. *Wooing the Witch Queen* is a spellbinding read for fans of whimsical, character-driven fantasy with a touch of magic.

Cute romantasy, very much with a soft MMC love interest, which is a breath of fresh air after the likes of Quicksilver and ACOTAR. Was a bit slow in spots and I wasn't as connected to the characters as I wanted to be, but I am very interested in the sequel set up.

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 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?

First in a new series, this is a sweet, cozy, Romance in a fantasy world. The protagonists are both damaged by past events so the romance is slow as they build trust, even though Saskia doesn't know who the wizard really is. In many books in the past, this has bothered me, but for plot reasons, this time it made sense. It's a nice comfortable read with very little trauma on page.
Recommended for those who need a low stress fantasy romance.

I really enjoyed this magical romance. Saskia is a reluctant wicked sorceress. Felix is a runaway archduke who accidently gets a job as a dark wizard/librarian. So much fun, great characters, wonderful crows.

Thank you to NetGalley and Tor Publishing Group for this DRC.
#WooingtheWitchQueen #NetGalley

Felix may be the Archduke of Estarion, but he's relatively powerless politically, as his father-in-law, the Chief Minister, has exerted his will over Felix for a long time. In a last-ditch effort to save his own life, Felix decides to throw himself at the mercy of the queen of a neighboring enemy realm. Only, when Felix arrives, Queen Saskia mistakenly believes he is a dark wizard there to interview for the position of her new librarian. Not wanting to endanger himself further, Felix, who has no magical power to speak of, decides to learn everything he can to catalogue her books for her, meanwhile Saskia would prefer to do anything other than be a figurehead of her own kingdom, wanting instead to work on experiments and work through her library with the dashing librarian she can't get enough of.

This is a romantasy with a cozy edge that I actually really enjoyed. What worked well for me was that while the stakes were fairly low, the conflict was not. There is some urgency in the pacing and movement to the narrative overall.

As a romance reader, I appreciated the strong central romance arc and mildly steamy open door execution. As a fantasy reader, I appreciated the way Burgis leans into her worldbuilding. There are enough interesting components, but she still keeps things simple and doesn't overexplain, and i appreciate a writer who leans into their worldbuilding without taking themselves too seriously. It makes it a pleasure to pick up a book like this! Ilona Andrews blurbed this one, and their writing is actually a pretty great comp stylistically to Burgis.

This book is a sweet and somehow cozy romantasy despite a "big stakes" premise. If you like a sweet and bookish MMC with a fierce and assertive FMC, a magical world with some politics, and a little bit of a twist, you'll probably enjoy this one. I'll definitely be picking up the sequels to these once they come out.

This cover caught my attention and the synopsis about a wicked queen and a quiet librarian romance sold me. It took me awhile to become invested in the story but at some point I finally connected. I loved the cinnamon roll mmc and the wicked queen with a good heart. They had good chemistry together and his attempts to woo her were so sweet. The crow familiar was delightful and the library setting was magical. I did think more from his backstory could have been delved into and some actual spice on her end could have upped the tension but overall this ended up being a cute romance. I doubt I'll continue on with the series since none of the side characters really hooked me though. 4 stars

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!