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

she was cute! she was genuinely a good time and i read her almost entirely in one sitting/day, which after this reading slump felt like a huge accomplishment. the writing was solid and i enjoyed the story for what it was, cringey bits (i will say) aside. i would absolutely still implore everyone read this, especially this spooky season for a cute, quick, and very fun read!

You know how some people say that some actors look like they have seen a smartphone and thus wouldn't be good in a period piece? I felt roughly that way about these characters. They all felt like they had the life experience and moral compass of a modern liberal, and it made it hard to really get immersed.

I think I felt that this book was just a little bit too much in the middle of a lot of other things. It didn't have the self-consistent world building to scratch the fantasy itch for me (really, a world in which the fountain pen was invented well after the spread of the steam engine? And nothing at all about the mechanics of the magic system you keep alluding to?). It didn't have the nuanced character studies to scratch the lit-fic itch (you would think that two main characters who have essentially the same copy-pasted backstory would maybe be able to have a conversation or two about that or maybe talk about how trauma shaped them). It didn't even really have the smut to, well, scratch that itch (there is sex, but not much and it's not particularly specific).

What was left was ... pleasant. Perhaps a little milquetoast, but enjoyable enough that I did finish it. Nothing covering new ground, but a comfortable diversion.

I totally loved this! Yes, a miscommunication plot was at the heart of the book, which I know can be annoying, but the characters were both so sweet that I loved it regardless. I loved how Saskia was just like, "this adorable librarian is mine, you can't have him". It was a fun introduction to a complex fantasy world, and I can't wait for the next one! It's also a pretty queer world! Saskia is bi and has a complicated ex-girlfriend. One of the three evil queens is a lesbian, and I believe we'll be getting her for the third book. I love more queer normative fantasy! Long live the evil queens!

I don’t know if cozy romantasy is a thing, but I would describe this book as cozy romantasy. I never thought a romance between an evil witch queen and a faux dark wizard librarian would be so fun and fluffy, but this was just so sweet and delightful. Those looking for super spicy romantasy might not like this, but for those who like mild spice and lots of tension, this might be right up your alley. And there are two more villainous queens whose romances have yet to be told!

This was very cute and very sweet, if a little shallow. It's a perfect story to go straight to paperback, because as such a fast read I feel like I'd struggle to sell it in hardcover, but I'd just finished something very heavy and this was a perfect antidote. I don't love when misunderstandings stretch as long as these did, but the lightness of tone sort of mitigated that for me and I minded less than I'd expected.

5/5

When you’re determined to ignore your hot new wizard librarian but he keeps befriending all of the crows and obsessing over fountain pens.

Hidden identities and castle coziness combine like the most bewitching magic spell in this brand new romantasy series. In the vein of Ella Enchanted and Legends and Lattes, Stephanie Burgis delivers an unforgettable romantic fantasy that is uproariously funny and packs an emotional punch right among the coziness. A feared sorceress hires a wizard to aid her in the dark arts and straighten up her massive library, but little does she know he is actually an Imperial Archduke in disguise and the one she considers to be her greatest enemy. Combine castle antics with a bit of found family, intrigue, and romance and you get this book. Burgis traps two unlikely allies in a castle and makes them confront the facades they’ve upheld and the loneliness they could stand to leave behind. I love the focus on who people are behind the masks they wear and how it can be protective, or a lie to uphold to gain power over others. An all-around hilarious beginning that I will continue through for the other witches’ love stories. Read this for the massive library and crow companions alone.

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