I personally did not care for this book. I got about 30% in and had to DNF. I just wasn’t drawn to the world of this book therefore I couldn’t continue. Thank you so much for this opportunity.

Oh my god, this was so good i already want the next book, like STAT right now, you can't make me wait a whole year or more for the next one.

This was such a fun read!

Queen Saskia is a sorceress with a sharp edge who is focused on protecting her people from a neighboring empire. What she doesn’t have time for is her messy, disorganized magical library. Fabian is a mysterious dark wizard who she hires as her new librarian.

BUT - He isn’t a wizard at all. He is an Imperial archduke in disguise, with zero magical ability and secrets that could destroy them both.

Okay, I adored Fabian! He’s got this golden retriever energy.

The contrast between his sunshiney personality and Saskia’s sharp, broody vibe? The best!.

The twists kept me on my toes but the story still had this cozy, magical feel.

Highly recommend if you’re in the mood for a cozy Romantasy!

Thank you NetGalley and Bramble for the gifted copy!

Aww the first half of this book was SO lovely. Felix escapes his absolutely horrible royal family by fleeing to the one ruler they fear - Saskia, a queen who had to take back her crown stolen by her murdering uncle. Since Saskia can't know Felix is from an enemy kingdom, he doesn't stop her when she thinks he's shown up because of an ad she placed for a new magical librarian. His duties involve sorting out the books, cataloguing them and definitely not falling in love with the powerful, gorgeous curved Saskia.

This has fountain pens, descriptions of gorgeous foods, a scientifically-minded queen, magical books, a cinnamon roll of a hero and a lovely romance. It could have been absolutely perfect and cosy and charming but I was a bit disappointed in the later half of the book where the stakes become a bit higher and all hell breaks loose. I might still pick up the second book to see where it goes from there though.

My endless thanks to NetGalley and Tor for this ARC!

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.