This was a quick, fun read. "Wooing the Witch Queen" was an unexpected character driven, cozy fantasy read.

I really enjoyed both our main characters, but particularly our male main character. He was not what I was expecting and I was very glad for it.

I am excited to see what this author writes next. I definitely recommend this book to any fantasy reader or anyone looking for a palate cleanser.

Rated 3.5 stars rounded up to 4 stars. Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for the ARC ebook.

This book will have you rooting for the evil Queen (and wanting to be her best friend!)

First of all, the world building and vibes of this book are iconic and irreverent! I was quickly immersed into the world and wanted to soak up every minute. It was impressive how much was packed into a shorter (277 pages) book. Definitely a breath of fresh air compared to some romantasy thick door stops and I never felt like I was missing anything!

Saskia and Felix have my whole heart, The slow burn, he falls first, her ‘I will scorch the earth for you’ devotion…yum yum yum! I couldn’t get enough, although a teensy part of me wanted more steam I also enjoyed what *was* on the page (though I’d say 1-2 🔥🔥 for anyone wondering)

I can’t fail to mention the other Villain Queens that made up the trio and I was THRILLED to find out we get more books with them in the future!

Can’t wait to recommend this to all my customers!

I absolutely loved this book! When I requested this book, I had never read anything by this author, but the description of this book intrigued me. It was an adorable story with two main characters that have trauma in their past. Our (strong) female lead is a witch who has been given a wicked reputation loves her people and wants what's best for them, even if that's using her powers and wicked reputation. Our male lead is a seemingly ordinary human who is gentle and kind, but is still strong and fierce, despite being a lover, not a fighter. The way that their relationship blooms is very well done.

I thought this story well very well done and I'm excited for the next book in this series!

4/5 ⭐️

Overall, I really enjoyed this book! It hit all the right points of a romantasy for me: a decently engaging plot, compelling characters, and fully fleshed out romance. Felix and Saskia worked perfectly for me because they seemed to round each other out in terms of temperament and dynamic. I do wish there was a little more back and forth before they finally got to together but I see why it was done that way for the sake of the plot. I’m looking forward to the next book in the series and will definitely be interested in more from this author in the future!

Thank you to NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review!

A cozy Fantasy Romance where our male lead Felix is in distress & runs away from his kingdom where he is basically a prisoner to the enemy's kingdom where our female lead, Queen Saskia, rules. Felix gets mistaken as the new dark wizard librarian & ends up being treated better here as a minion for the "monstrous queen" as he ever did as the Archduke of his kingdom.

It is a fun reversal of the typical trope of the female lead being abused & running away to the "evil" enemy ruler under a disguise/ mistaken identity.

When a bisexual villainess witch queen accidentally hires her political rival to be her librarian, they cannot help but fall in love. For years, the Imperial archduke, Felix, has suffered under the control of his regent. With the death of his wife, he has nothing left to lose, so he decides to run away and ask the witch queen for her protection. Unfortunately, Queen Saskia mistakenly assumes Felix is the dark wizard she hired to organize her library and he will not be the one to correct her — especially after he discovers she is looking for him. Fabian is just an adorably kind poet librarian with an excellent crow wingman who is slowly falling for the impressively dangerous witch queen before him. Who can blame him?

I really enjoyed the Gaslamp element, it was everything that I enjoyed about the fantasy genre. The characters were everything that I wanted in this type of book. I loved that the wicked sorceress was trying to keep her kingdom safe, the rest of the cast worked well overall and enjoyed how they worked in this world. It was everything that I wanted and was glad I was able to read this. Stephanie Burgis has a strong style for this type of book and can't wait to read more.

A fluffy and amusing romance with tropes of secret identity, found family, and politics. I particularly enjoyed the non-human characters.

Wooing the Witch Queen by Stephanie Burgis is a charming and magical romance. With witty dialogue and lovable characters, it’s a lighthearted, enchanting story that leaves you smiling. A delightful, feel-good read!

I loved this - I was really hopeful going in and wasn't disappointed. The writing is so fun and I loved the characters and their political scheming. The Queen's of Villainy are such a fun girl gang and I can't wait to read the rest of their stories!

The romance was so so sweet I was squealing - I love a cinnamon bun MMC who stands up for his girl.

The vibes actually reminded me alot of Dreadful, which I loved - just villainous castle shenanigans with the best found families.

I eat up books with a male love interest that isn't the gruff alpha bro type. Give me all the nerdy awkward love interests! This is a very cozy and sweet story following a "villianous" witch queen and (by way of several misunderstandings) her archenemy turned wizard librarian.

While the plot doesn't do anything extremely original, I had a great time and flew through it. I would say that some people may be turned off by a story pulled along by a series of misunderstandings, as the majority of the plot relies on assumptions and miscommunication.

Besides that, I think anyone looking for a cozy fantasy romance will be very satisfied with Wooing The Witch Queen.

5 Stars, hands down one of the best books I’ve had the pleasure of reading this year. Wonderful characters and story, and a romance that absolutely made me melt. Longer review to come on my blog - I truly cannot recommend this book enough!

What an absolute delight this book was, and oh, do we need more gentle heroes! This lovely new story from Stephanie Burgis features a rakish Queen of Villainy and her gentle librarian--who harbors some serious secrets. If you love hidden identities, slow burn romance, and learning to face the ghosts of your past--by learning to draw strength from those you love--then this story is for you.

Burgis turns so many stereotypes on their head, but by far the one I loved the most was what makes us strong - or weak. Gentleness as strength. Radical kindness. Loving and leaning on someone allowing you to find your own strength and stand strong. What a beautiful story! And don't be confused--the true villains certainly get their just deserts, but figuring out what that is and how to go about it is also part of our characters' arc, and I loved that.

This is an adult romantasy, and it certainly hits the expected romance notes within a fabulously fantastical world, but there are also plenty of twists to keep you intrigued, and so much heart. Also! Crow friends, our hero nerding out over fountain pens, a troll housekeeper and the absolute best found family! What more could you want?

Highly recommend!

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for an advanced copy!!!! As a librarian, I always love a book with a librarian that is trying to be dark and mysterious for his evil (who really isn't evil) queen while actually being a cinnamon roll.

A tasty fantasy romance amuse-bouche. The focus here is more on the romance than the plot but there's enough worldbuilding to set up the series. The romance itself is a lovely change of pace from some of the more common romance-novel couple dynamics. Felix, Archduke of Estarion, is a bookish and sensitive man that's been corralled into passivity by his overcontrolling father-in-law. He runs away, seeking asylum or death from Saskia, the titular Witch Queen. Saskia, meanwhile, is torn between playing into the lies told about about how wild and uncontrollable and monstrous she is and the pressure from her First Minister (and ex-girlfriend) to tone down her power and be a more respectable ruler.
A misunderstanding results in Felix posing as Saskia's Dark Wizard and librarian. As they get to know each other as people, they both help each other begin to find a way forward in their respective journeys.
Plus there are plenty of shenanigans and a fun supporting cast.
I generally prefer a little more plot in my fantasy romance but I'll definitely be picking this one up for my 'feel-good reads' list.

Exciting and fun, this was a great one to end the month on. I enjoyed the way the world was built and the way the two main characters interacted was great.

Thanks for the advanced copy!! This was an interesting read. It was not quite what I thought it would be, but was way better than I expected. The relationship between the MC’s was captivating and I would recommend to anybody who likes witches and fantasy books! Can’t wait to see what she writes next!

It’s cozy, it’s fantasy, there’s a library, what more could I ask for?
The plot was built on a miscommunication trope, but I didn’t find it annoying like I usually would. This was an easy read, and I would read more by the author. A solid 4 star read.
Thank you NetGalley for the ARC!

Burgis weaves a delightful fantasy that sparkles with charm and intrigue. The chemistry between Queen Saskia and her librarian, crackles with tension and playful banter, making their every interaction electric. As their relationship deepens, the stakes rise, blurring the lines between trust and deception. Burgis masterfully explores themes of identity and the masks we wear, all while keeping the tone light and engaging. With enchanting prose and witty dialogue, this captivating tale of a wicked sorceress and her charming Fabian draws you in and keeps you rooting for their love amidst the chaos of magic. It’s a heartfelt journey that reminds us that the greatest enchantments often come from the connections we least expect.

Rating a 3.5

This story is humorous, heartbreaking, and a dash of romance. When a sorceress, Saskia, hires a wizard librarian, Fabian, to help her learn the dark arts, little does she know she has hired her archenemy, the ArchDuke. He poses as a wizard to escape his murderous court/family who wants to take power and rule. Saskia has secured her throne through villainess; ultimately, her goal is to protect her kingdom. This book is a slow burn that builds the chemistry between Saskia and Fabian. Despite the darker backdrop of looming war and political betrayal, their budding romance has a soft, romantic element. Saskia’s sharp, somewhat cold demeanor contrasts beautifully with Fabian’s warmth. While the political tensions between the kingdoms add suspense, the story never loses sight of its romantic core.

The book was a more personal, character-driven story about love, trust, and deception than any epic world-building. It is a quick, cozy, light fantasy that will put a smile on your face. Readers will fall in love with the Archduke/Fabian in the first chapter. The book delivers a delightful escape into a world where love can be transformative, even where deception and danger lurk in the shadows.

I received an ARC ebook for my honest review. Thank you, NetGalley and Tor Publishing, Bramble