~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.

Felix is the Archduke of Estarion, but his father-in-law has long controlled everything as Estarion’s Chief Minister, with his son as the head of the military. They put themselves into power after Felix’s parents died fifteen years ago. Knowing the Chief plans to kill him, Felix decides to escape to neighboring Kitvaria which is ruled by the dangerous Witch Queen Saskia. Since his life would be forfeit if his identity is discovered, Felix plays the part of dark wizard librarian.

Wooing the Witch Queen is an enjoyable story from beginning to end. I will admit up front, I was very worried because Felix hides his true identity, and I guessed it would cause huge problems once he is discovered. Yet my fears quickly settled, and I became engrossed with the tale because Burgis does such an amazing job letting the details unfold at just the right moments. I love the lingering gazes and accidental touches that build over time. Felix and Saskia’s desire is palpable, and Felix’s attempts to woo Saskia are so romantic. I love their connection, and even though it could seem dishonest, it’s genuine. She knows in her heart that Fabian né Felix is a gentle, kind soul. It’s in every action and gesture.

Saskia’s non-human staff are delightful. I love their loyalty and protectiveness. My favorite is Oskar the crow who befriends Felix and becomes his familiar. I love that Felix gives the crows gifts of buttons and string, etc. The other two Queens of Villainy are interesting. Lorelei is a loose cannon and a bit frustrating. I liked Ailana because she listened and made decisions after careful consideration. It will be interesting to see how the trio’s dynamics evolve in subsequent books.

In the end, Wooing the Witch Queen is a delightful romance set in an exciting new fantasy world. And with the way this one ends, I cannot wait to read more.

My Rating: A-

Confession: I have been craving a serious damsel in distress novel. Sure, I love all these wonderful strong female main characters fighting their way against the odds, cutting down armies to get the crown and save the kingdom, but WOW I've read a lot of them.

Wooing The Witch Queen taught me that I do not care if the damsel turns out to be a delightfully bookish Cinnamon Roll Archduke. I just need someone in distress. No, I will NOT be analyzing that, thanks very much, but when it was the queen demanding to know "who did this to you?" as our shirtless hero winced at his scars, well, this book had officially wooed me.

This book takes delight in sprinkling snarky one-liners in between its mostly cozy pages, some politics that feel really familiar (they'll take any leader as long as she's not a woman? wow, that one hurt), but what was utterly delightful was how every trope we all love got tilted just a touch, or genderswapped entirely. A poetry-writing royal on the run, hiding in his enemy's castle working under a mistaken identity as a librarian? We've kind of seen it...but not like this. In the midst of a miserable reading slump of epic proportions (see: eight unfinished fantasy and romantasy novels, kindly do not ask about other genres), the opening line instantly had me. It was feisty and defiant and unexpected, and while the book was less irreverent and cozier (but less smutty) than I'd anticipated, Wooing the Witch Queen never failed to delight in giving me comfort in the familiar while changing it just enough to make it feel new. Even the ending switches it up and lets our characters win in a way that is so well thought out and deliciously satisfying, while acknowledging there's still more work to be done (as in, hooray, Stephanie Burgis has sequels to write). Honestly, reading that ending right now felt like therapy.

My persnickety self wanted more side character development (they were delightful, let them shine!) and needed more world-building for a five-star experience. I needed more history, descriptions, and explanations when it came to the kingdom and its politics and inhabitants (I think there might be some sort of hierarchy of nonhumans?). And despite her fearful villainous reputation and own self-description, Saskia wasn't much of a wicked witch (which was based on one rumor and...aesthetics?). The tone was also slightly inconsistent, and the snark fell away for a cozier feel after a while (you'll mostly be relying on side characters to make you laugh by the end). But this book gets the romance just right, and the complete role reversal and switch of power dynamics was refreshing and fun and sweet and...yes, just a little wicked.

And bonus: I spy with my eye two more witch queens in need of a paramour: one who is afraid to fall in love because of its power, and one who doesn't believe in true love at all (but might hit on a lamp if it's cute enough). This is going to be FUN.

Thank you to Tor/Bramble for the ARC, but please note that all opinions are my own.

📣 deception, a cinnamon roll “dark wizard,” & a “wicked queen” who wears a crown of bones (but also takes care of the people who need her)

Thanks to the publisher & Netgalley for the complimentary ARC. All opinions provided are my own.

📖 are you a cinnamon roll or a villain in the mornings? I can be cinnamon roll-ish if I have time to drink coffee & relax before my kids wake up 🤣.

Wooing the Witch Queen thoroughly wooed me. Romance & fantasy fans, add this upcoming release by Stephanie Burgis to your TBR—it has it all!

Archduke Felix is a widower who’s long been under the clutches of his abusive uncle. He takes advantage of an opportunity to escape to his uncle’s enemy: the witch Queen Saskia. Mistaking him for a dark wizard, she hires him to be her librarian, not realizing that he’s the puppet leader of the country trying to take hers over.

This book has romance, steam, & some tension as cinnamon roll Felix pretends to be a dark wizard & wrestles with the lies he’s telling Saskia by omission. The world-building is fun & Burgis builds satisfying backstories for both characters that make Felix’s found family & Saskia’s reluctant alliance all the sweeter. &, if this doesn’t convince you, there’s also a “who did this to you??” moment, but it’s the Wicked Queen doing the asking.

5 ⭐️, out 02/18.

CWs: murder, abuse.

[ID: Jess wears jeans, a white sweater dress, & boots, & holds the ebook while standing on a porch.]

Wooing the Witch Queen is an utterly delightful romantasy and I could not put it down! This is the first in Stephanie Burgis’s Queen of Villainy series and follows Saskia, the titular witch queen and her mysterious wizard librarian who is more than he seems. This book had everything I could have wanted and I just had such a good time reading it and it left me squealing with delight on several occasions!
Saskia is new to the throne of Kitvaria after she overthrew her awful uncle who murdered her parents and made her out to be some sort of monster thanks to her unasked for, yet very powerful magic. She’s busy working on her magical experiments and desperately needs her library of magic texts organized by someone competent. This is a lucky thing for the Archduke Felix of Estarion who has fled from his abusive and likely murderous father-in-law who had been acting as his regent since his parents died many years before. Felix shows up planning to ask for sanctuary but is instead immediately hired to be the librarian because Saskia assumes he’s a dark wizard who was supposed to show up for an interview. ‘Fabian’ as he decides to be called is determined to not be found out and works himself to the bone to please Saskia and keep the staff from growing suspicious. As the two spend more and more time together they begin to form an inevitable attraction, which is a delicious slow burn filled with yearning and some seriously intense casual interactions. I won’t spoil any major plot points because that takes away all the fun!
Saskia and Felix are wonderful main characters on so many levels even aside from the romantic aspect of things. They have complicated and troubled pasts they are both working to overcome in somewhat different ways. Felix has run from his while Saskia is done running and has faced it head on by taking the Kitvarian throne. She’s also working to create a kingdom that welcomes the non-human inhabitants just as equally as it does the human, which honors both her mother’s scholarly legacy and her own dearest supporters who now serve her. I also enjoyed both characters working through their past relationships though their situations are also quite different.
Wooing the Witch Queen was, simply put, a pleasure to read. It’s a slow burn and doesn’t get explicit with the spice, but there’s plenty of tantalizing moments between Saskia and Felix. The minor characters add a ton to the story that help make even this short novel feel like it has nice depth. The worldbuilding is enough to make political concerns, alliances, and enemies feel important, but it’s not particularly deep. I expect the next books in the trilogy will broaden the readers’ horizons both literally and figuratively, but ultimately these are romance books so I’m not expecting too much. I look forward to the next installment which will follow the fae queen, Lorelai - I think her book will be rather chaotic and fun!

This review was originally posted on Books of My Heart


Review copy was received from Netgalley. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

4.5 hearts

As usual, Stephanie Burgis has created a charming whimsical story. It took me a little bit to get into the characters. But Fabian / Felix was so kind and earnest, both Saskia and I appreciated him. His acceptance of the crows, trolls and goblins was endearing.

Saskia seemed scattered at first. She took so much upon herself it's not surprising. Luckily, she has Felix and her castle staff to support her. I loved seeing her relationship with Felix build while she tried to ignore her feelings.

When things blow up, I was thrilled with Felix, continuing in his honest, straightforward way. Saskia was shocked but needed to look at the facts. Luckily, even though she didn't follow her advisor's recommendations she had made allies. Plus Felix supported her wholeheartedly.

Felix went through his own learning as he worked in the library, organizing and studying spell books. His admiration for Saskia as well as his own confidence blooms. Eventually, he learns of the additional betrayal of him.

Even with the progress made, there is much work to overcome prejudice in the empire. I look forward to more of the Queens of Villainy and their romances. No doubt the Fae Queen will stir up all kinds of trouble. If not, the Goddess surely has ideas.

I received a free early copy of this book for review. This is my own opinion.

<b>Genre:</b> Romantic fantasy
<b>Tropes:</b> opposites attract, mistaken identity, “who did this to you”,
<b>Spice Level:</b> on page scene, not descriptive

Wooing the Witch queen is a light, cozy fantasy romance perfect for readers who root for the “villain”. Even though its characters have endured some truly heinous things, the tone is light, not getting weighed down in heavy content. The darkest thing we see on page is bad guys getting turned into animals and (mild vague spoiler) and attempted poisoning.


Saskia calls herself a wicked queen the entire book, though the only real wickedness we saw from her was in a spicy scene. I really loved her and Felix’s relationship, and how it was drawn out. The other queens are…something. I hope to see them more as friends and less overbearing in future books, but as this book was setting up their friendship, I think that’ll progress well too.

I think if I had to compare this to something, I’d say the voice in the beginning reminds me a lot of Assistant to the Villain but it doesn’t really maintain that voice after the first few chapters. The vibe is there but that irreverent sort of funny fantasy voice slowly trickles away. Totally, it almost reminds me of The Spellshop? Maybe? I can’t quite place the things it reminds me of, but it’s kinda between the two.

Overall, I really enjoyed this, and I’d definitely recommend it if you’re a fan of cozy fantasy.

Thanks to Netgalley and Tor for the arc!

A most excellent start to The Queen’s of Villainy series! This fairytale-like story truly captivated me. I listened to the audiobook while following along with the eARC as well.

There are so many things I enjoyed about this story — the characters, the setting, the romance, even the political intrigue. It was a different kind of romance and even a different kind of fantasy story. Though I thought there was some similar storytelling to T. Kingfisher’s books. But this book was definitely a lot more lighthearted.

Saskia and Felix’s romance was really quite tender and wholesome. Both of these love interests are seen as a hindrance to the important families they were born into. And both were able to take back their power on their own terms, on their own timelines as well. But when they come together, it was really interesting seeing how their relationship grew. For one, Saskia is a powerful queen, doing her best not only to represent that power to her enemies, but she is unyielding in her earnestness to protect her people, especially non-human creatures in her kingdom. Felix has only just escaped his ‘imprisonment’ as the face of the Archduke (not the actual one enacting policies) and is just learning to be free again. The traditional romantic roles are reversed in this book compared to your typical romantasy plot, which I found quite refreshing. There is also bi representation from Saskia with her former lover being part of her court too.

While the romance aspect of this book was beautifully written, I also appreciated the ways found family were represented in this book. From Saskia’s ogre majordomo, Mrs. Haglitz her fervent housekeeper and the incredibly helpful goblins in Saskia’s castle. To the 3 independent wicked queens forming an alliance, and friendship, calling themselves The Queen’s of Villainy.

I am so excited to continue this series! I think this author wrote this book quite cleverly, as a foundation for an epic series. An excerpt of the next book is included at the end of this book, and I am MORE than intrigued to read the next book.

Thank-you so much for a chance to read this ARC.

This was so so much fun I didn't expect that! Cozy and cute, this is a great quick read that is so enthralling. We jumped right into it and I loved every second of it.

This was so much fun! I sped through it in one sitting because I was having such a great time. I loved all of the characters, they all felt so different and unique. Felix was adorable, such a cinnamon roll!! We love a soft boy. Also his job is literally to clean up a library, the bookworm dream. For me this was a great romantasy - the balance of fantasy plot/world-building and the romance was perfect. I think a lot of the popular romantasy has central romance that way overpowers the plot, which is fine, but makes it feel like it belongs more in the romance genre than romantasy. ANYWAY. All that is to say this is probably my ideal form of romantasy and I will definitely be reading the next books in this series.

TWs // CWs: discussion of past physical and emotional abuse, death of a spouse from illness (in the past)
REP: queer main character (bi maybe? pan?)

*thank you to netgalley and the publisher for an early copy of this book in exchange for an honest review*

Wooing the Witch Queen is a cozy, magical delight! Burgis weaves a charming tale with lovable characters, sweet romance, and just the right touch of humor. The world feels rich and immersive, making it a perfect feel-good read. If you love warm fantasy with a dash of enchantment, this one’s a must-read!

This is an entertaining, slow-burn romantasy. Wooing the Witch Queen features a bad-ass Queen, rich on power and magic. She is riddled in past traumas and loss of loved ones just like her new librarian who has come to her kingdom. The librarian (aka the Duke) is shrouded in a disguise as he's escaped the horrors of his own kingdom to make a new life.

This book is more cozy, romantasy then some of the other popular ones in this genre. The role reversals was a pleasant surprise as it was the Duke in peril NOT the Queen. Could the fantasy world been a bit more flushed out, of course.

Overall, an easy, sweet romance for fans of this genre.

Thank you, Tor Publishing Group | Bramble