Queen Saskia, one of the Queens of Villainy, is feared by many, but few know her true character. She took her throne from her evil uncle and in the process, gained quite the negative and fearsome reputation for herself. In reality, her goal is solely to keep her people safe from the evil neighboring empire. One day, as Saskia is busily working in her laboratory, experimenting with spells to help with her kingdom's defense, a mysterious dark wizard arrives at her castle unannounced. Saskia hires the wizard, Fabian, to be her new librarian. He seems kind and capable enough. Little does Saskia know, Fabian is harboring secrets of his own...

This is a cozy fantasy romance but not so cozy that it's lacking plot entirely. The stakes are lowish, but not nonexistent. Fabian serves kind of the 'gentle hero' role in he and Saskia's relationship, letting her take the lead (in and out of the bedroom). Saskia herself is strong, independent, intelligent, and has the best pets (seriously, I'm emotionally attached to the crows). I also really enjoyed the relationships between the Queens of Villainy as a group, which makes me excited to follow their stories as the series progresses.

As far as the narration goes, I'd say it's quite perfect. Engaging, easy to follow, and not grating or difficult to listen to, in any way.

This is my first Stephanie Burgis novel and oh, I'm hooked now. What a fun world she's created- I can't wait to read the next in the series!

Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for the ALC copy in exchange for an honest review!

I had a lot of fun with this. I really liked that it was Felix who was running away from bad situation and sought out her strength and protection, as this flips the script on typical execution of tropes. I also really enjoyed the causal queerness of the world. This was a lot of fun and had some really interesting world building, and I’m definitely looking forward to the next book. The narration was really good and did a good job of giving each character a distinct voice.

My only criticism of this book is I wish there was more of everything. More interactions between the characters, more magic,and more story in general. It is a book one so I look forward to seeing the story continue.

I love the queer representations. Bisexual queen? Hell yeah! I also love that she decided not to change herself to fit in. Very hot alt girl of her in my opinion. And she got her golden retriever man? Perfection.

I got an audio arc for this book. The narrators voice felt very fitting for the female lead, however there were times where the voices for our two leads kind of blended and made it hard to decipher who was talking/thinking.

I absolutely inhaled this fantasy romance featuring an "evil queen" and the ruler (in disguise!) of a neighboring land.

Felix is the Archduke of Estarion, and he's such a little sweetheart! Also he's been terribly abused by his regent/father-in-law, kept away from the actual governance of his land, and since his wife's death, at danger of being assassinated really any day. So he runs to Kitvaria to throw himself at the feet of its ruling witch queen only to be confused for the dark wizard she advertised for. Although he planned to come clean about his identity, he realizes that his reputation as the Archduke is pretty terrible, so he figures he'll lie low and catalogue her library for her...

If you love romance and you like fantasy, this is the book for you. I'm differentiating it from romantasy because the fantasy elements are set dressing for the romance: this is a false identity romance with a little magic on the side. It also includes two of my favorite character types: the intellectual cinnamon roll MC and the "unlikable" FMC. (She's really not all that unlikable but everyone thinks she is.) Like I said, I loved it.

This might be a great book for romantasy readers who want to try out a more romancey book, or for historical romance readers who find fantasy world building to be a little much. It's steamy but on the lower heat side (part of the reason I could pick up the audio later!).

**I loved this book so much that I picked up the audio to listen! Narrator Amanda Leigh Cobb did a great job bringing the characters to life. She is appropriately entertaining, taking the story as seriously as it's supposed to be taken. If you're an audio reader, I can definitely recommend it.

This objective review is based on a complimentary copy of the novel.

Fast read, cool worldbuilding. Sets up a trilogy, looking forward to the next one! Thanks for the early copy!

I will always love a witchy romance! Wooing the witch queen is about an evil sorceress and a dark wizard librarian who is really a human with no magic. Felix is such a sweetie and every time he asked Saskia “would you like me to write more poetry for you I swooned he’s so down bad for her. Audiobook is so good really enjoyed the narrator she was perfect to narrate this story.

Thank you Bramble and NetGalley for this arc

4 Stars, 1.5 Spicy, CF Friendly

Tropes: Slow burn, cinnamon roll/golden retriever MMC, Badass FMC, "enemies" to friends to lovers, hidden identify/characters in hiding, LGBT+ rep, HEA/HFN ending

This was an adorable book! I loved the characters, they had some depth to them and there was some character development (though could have been more). The world was interesting with a unique magic system (though that was only lightly touched on and not detailed enough). The support characters were all great. I really have nothing negative to say about this book. Such a feel-good, adorable, entertaining book. The writing could have been polished a bit more. The view is third person with limited dual POV, so I found getting into that style of narration a bit difficult at first after reading mainly first person books.

The narrator did an excellent job narrating this audiobook with a distinct voice and feel for each character. 5 Stars for the narrator. I really enjoyed listening to this narrator, she brought the book to life.

Genre: Fantasy Romance
-Romance is the main plot

World Building: 3.5/5
-Created kingdoms, holidays/religion, and creatures, but wasn’t the main emphasis
Character Development: 3/5
Spice: 1/5
Romance: 3/5
Life Lessons/Themes: 1/5
Overall Enjoyment: 4/5
Overall Rating: 3.5/5

Main Themes: Cozy Fantasy Romance; Romance; Fantasy; Slow Burn; Hidden Identity; Enemies to Friends to Lovers; New Roles; Personal Growth; Dude In Distress Saves Himself; Strong FMC; LGBTQ+; Bisexual Main Character; Cinnamon Roll MMC; Golden Retriever MMC

Writing Style: Third-Person Limited Dual POV

Analysis: I would categorize this book as a cozy fantasy romance. The book does a good job showing how romance can build over time. Through close proximity, the two main characters find themselves developing feelings for each other which take them from strangers to friends to more. It shows how feelings build over time. What I also enjoyed was that the characters helped each other grow individually as they grew closer. Saskia learns to view things differently and grows to become the leader she is meant to be. “Fabian” learns confidence and is given the space to learn and grow and dream in ways he was never able to before.

Narration: I often find a narrator can make/break the success of an audiobook. The narrator did a great job of changing her voice depending on which character was speaking/thinking, helping immerse the listener in the world.

Who I Would Recommend It To: I recommend this book to those who like a sweet slow romance but appreciate a fantasy context over something more contemporary. It’s a perfect light, casual read that will leave you feeling happy.

It did take me a little bit to get into this book, but am glad I kept reading as I loved the book. I highly recommend you get this book!!!

This was such a sweet read! While most fantasy recs I have seen lately deal with epic fantasy (high-stakes with world threatening conflicts), this book takes a slow, sweet, and cozy path through the world of fantasy. Stephanie Burgis focuses on the romance while building a fantasy setting to bring the fairytale to life. We have magic, witches, warlocks, magical creatures, and political tension between kingdoms - the fantastical things you would hope to see in a fantasy world. While it has magic, science is incorporated into this world with the inventions of things like fountain pens, and the approach Saskia (FMC) takes to her magic like a scientist in their laboratory.

Saskia: I also really appreciate the fact Saskia is written as a strong bisexual character. Her sexuality is obviously mentioned (it is a romance after all), but it was not made to be a big deal. Her sexuality was a part of a character, but it did not solely define who she was. The representation was casually tied into the story and well done. I also loved how her strength was not just in her magic or political power, but was shown in the ways she was assertive/strong-willed. It makes her such a good role model!

Felix/"Fabian": I LOVE the way his character was written and he is my favorite character of this series so far. At the beginning he gives "Dude In Distress Saves Himself" but as the story continues and we learn more about the characters, you get to see more about who he is outside of the context of where he started. He is such a nerdy, cute cinnamon roll. As the plot develops and we see how "Fabian" helps and supports Saskia, he reminds me of all of those memes/videos of bisexual women and their golden retriever boyfriends. "Fabian" is always so sweet and supportive. I admire the ways the author wrote him to stand up for Saskia, especially given the fact he is the less powerful of the pair.

The ONLY thing I did not like about this book was the title (I feel like it initially gives the impression the MMC sets out with the intention to seduce the FMC). At the same time though, it is catchy and I get it in hindsight.

***I received a free advance reader copy via NetGalley in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are my own.***

Instagram Review: Will be posted on l.betweenthespines.l
Goodreads Review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/7091084410

I really enjoyed the world building in this. It's a great fast paced romantasy. I really liked that the MC fled to his enemy for help. I think there was some good character growth and thought the narration was done really well.

Thank you @macmillan.audio for the gifted copy

This book was an absolute delight to listen to! The audiobook had me gripped from start to finish & I couldn't put it down!

It had so many great moments with our two main characters, but the magic and the world gripped me the most. It was written so wonderfully & the narrator did a fantastic job at immersing the reader in the world. It was the perfect mix of cozy and fantasy, the perfect type of read for a relaxing weekend!

Definitely an author I will be reading more from!

Thank you NetGalley for an eARC!

For fans of:
- Legends and Lattes



This book includes:
- the shyest "villain" you've ever met
- a misunderstood queen
- kingdoms at war
- kind of enemies to lovers
- dual POV
- "looks like they could kill you, but is a cinnamon roll" MMC
- an evil dictator

"Wooing the Witch Queen" is what you can expect from an easy, lighthearted romantasy. The plot is predictable and there isn't anything special about the story, however this is an enjoyable with lots of cute moments. It was fun watching the MMC discover himself and grow into the man he always deserved to be. To all those looking for a cozy romance, this book is for you.

I received this audiobook as an ARC in exchange for an honest review. Thank you to NetGalley, Stephanie Burgis, and Macmillan Audio for the opportunity to review this book. This review has been posted to GoodReads check out my profile https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/62314863 and it will be posted to my bookstagram account https://www.instagram.com/tinynightingales/ and booktok https://www.tiktok.com/@tinynightingales?is_from_webapp=1&sender_device=pc

Wooing the Witch Queen is a sweet and exciting read! I love how head strong Queen Saskia is, and how soft Felix is. While I wished to explore more character depth, I think it was all made up for by how fun and cozy this read was! Both characters meshed well together. Amanda Leigh Cobb did an amazing job at narrating the story keeping up with the perfect tone.

I finished this audiobook in two days. I couldn’t stop listening! It’s just shy of 13 hours, and if I didn’t have kids and a job, I probably could’ve finished it in one day.

Saskia is a powerful witch, who recently won her throne back from her uncle who’d murdered her parents and made her entire kingdom believe she was an evil sorceress. She doesn’t really want to be queen, but she’ll use her position and all of her powers to protect her kingdom and the people she loves.

Felix is a an archduke who’s been used and abused by his late wife’s family who rule with cruelty in his name. Fearing an assassination attempt, he flees to Saskia’s castle hoping for protection from the only person who’s ever successfully stood up to his in-laws.

Neither is what the other expected. In more ways than one! With a little misunderstanding and a big dose of subterfuge, thus begins the most unexpectedly cozy romantasy I’ve read this year.

From beginning to end, Wooing the Witch Queen had me giggling, squeeing and swooning. Also, I want an Oscar now, and a flock of crows.

The plot moves quickly, and is pretty much all character-based. And I love love love Amanda Leigh Cobb, and was so happy to see that she’s the narrator! She was perfection from beginning to end.

I absolutely love Saskia! It’s so refreshing to finally see an FMC who is actually smart, and not just described as smart, but then constantly makes stupid choices. Same for Felix. Neither did that annoying thing where they overthink a moment/miscommunication for chapters and chapters. Within a few pages, they’d reconsider the moment, how they felt and what they do & don’t want, and they’d actually act in their best interest.

And I absolutely love Ms. Burgis for that!

There’s very little spice and nothing explicit, but it doesn’t need it. The romance carries the story. Witch Queen felt like a warm cup of tea and a snuggly blanket on a dreary day, and I didn’t know how much I needed that.

The ending felt a little anticlimactic to me, but not fatally so. Be sure to listen to the epilogue! The setup for book 2 surprised me and made me snort laugh.

Thank you to Macmillan Audio and Netgalley for the advanced listener copy! I absolutely cannot wait for Enchanting the Elf Queen!

Wooing the Witch Queen is a very interesting story that intertwines romance and fantasy BUT also secrets and wars. This story was almost kind of like Heartless Hunter BUT not young/new adult! There's a person hiding under false pretenses with someone who would be PISSED to know the truth... and of course these two people fall in love! 🥰 It's my favorite and makes the story so interesting! I loved all of the twists and turns that came with this story and am pretty interested in book 2 (because the way that it's set up at the end of this book AND the sample for the next book REALLY drum up some intrigue)!
Also, this audiobook was pretty interesting! There was only one narrator but it still felt pretty clear between characters talking and it was pretty good!
Thank you so much to Macmillan Audio for an early copy of this audiobook!💖

Thank you to NetGalley, Stephanie Burgis, Macmillan Audio, and Tor Bramble Publishing for an Advanced Listener's Copy of this title!

I definitely didn't know I needed a witch queen X sweet "dark wizard" librarian (with a secret) romance in my life, but boy am I glad I found it! Wicked Witch Queen Saskia would love nothing more than to spend all day locked in her laboratory to minister to her experiments, but she unfortunately has an empire to run. When a hooded and cloaked wizard arrives on her doorstep to fill the position of castle librarian she thinks little of him, not knowing that he is actually her archnemesis the Archduke in disguise and on the run from problems of his own. Hilarity ensues, and only time will tell if their budding romance will spark a greater magic once his true identity is revealed.

This was such a fun and unserious Gaslamp Lit (fantasy X historical fiction) listen that also tugged on my heartstrings a bit. I love the Uno-reverse of the powerful royal being the FMC and the soft and sweet mortal running after her as the MMC - of course I love a wicked dark king who's good at all the things but watching this man categorize books, write poetry, sit at her feet to let her take control during ~spicy time~, and stand back to let the FMC do her thing definitely healed something in me. I loved the sassy and grumpy found family; the almost cartoonishly-evil-stereotype of Saskia having a murder of crows and gatherings of bats following in her wake while she runs around wearing a crown of bones; and the meddling of Saskia's "friends" in the background, disturbing her peace and leaving glitter rainbows and melting ice in their wake.

I also thought the narrator did an excellent job moving between characters, keeping the tension, and generally giving this book a fun, tongue-in-cheek feel which made it really easy to listen to!

Overall, if you like books with the vibes of medieval-ish fantasy that lean into their own stereotypes (I kept being reminded of "Assistant to the Villain" when I was reading this, in the best way), FMCs who get to ask "who did this to you", goblins, the concept of having a private librarian, meddling deities, bisexual panic, winter balls, "be a good boy" MMCs with earrings, friends who are the embodiment of Elphaba and Glinda, and overall the kind of adult fantasy romance that Disney could probably make a killing on if they weren't cowards, you'll love this book (AND the next one to come!).

“Wooing the Witch Queen” by Stephanie Burgis is the first book in a new series, “Queens of Villainy”. This romantasy novel follows Queen Saskia, an extremely powerful sorceress who seized the throne from her despicable uncle to protect her people, and Felix, the archduke who Saskia hates.

Felix is pretty much held captive by his in-laws and is the figurehead for his father in-laws schemes to overthrow Queen Saskia. He decides that he needs to escape in order to live so he disguises himself and seeks out Saskia for aid. Upon arrival at Saskia’s castle, she’s a bit impatient to get to her lab to experiment that she mistakes Felix for a dark wizard whom she’s waiting to fill a librarian role for her. Felix, unsure how to reveal himself after the mishap, takes the position and figures out quite quickly how much he enjoys it. While learning of Saskia’s plan to capture the missing archduke and kill him, he becomes more scared to reveal himself. Especially as their relationship starts to turn into something more. But how can two “rivals” really end up together?

This book is filled with wholesome characters and offers fun dynamics among them. There is some slight world building, which may come into a fuller picture has the series progresses which would be an added plus. There is a good amount of fantasy blended with the romance aspect, as is my preference. If you’re a fan with strong female lead characters, I definitely recommend!

What a cute book! I had no idea what to expect when starting this story but it was so perfect for the season. Such a sweet cozy romantic fantasy and I will definitely be adding the next book to my TBR when it comes out.

What I loved-
I loved the whimsical setting, the different creatures that lived in the castle added such a fairytale feeling to the story. I also love a romantic, gentle, and studious MMC and Felix was such a cutie. He added so much warmth to the story. The 3 queens added such a fun dynamic too and I would have loved even more of them!

What I didn’t love-
As much as I loved both main characters I felt the romantic relationship was under developed, It went from attraction to love without much substance to get them there in my opinion. I would also say that I a have absolutely no idea what the magic system was, it felt very random.

Overall I would give this book a 3 star rating, I enjoyed it and would recommend it to anyone looking for a cozy romantasy.

Thank you Netgalley for the ARC!

This was such a fun, sweet time.

Looking at the cover (honestly both the US and UK covers) I was really worried because this book had about a 50% chance of being charming, and a 50% chance of being annoying af. Thankfully it wasn't the latter!

Characters/Romance:
This story is very centered on two characters who were born into royal families but, for one reason or another, were controlled by the people in their lives such that they never previously had a chance to rule (or any related training).

She's newly come into ruling her kingdom, and he's on the run from his. Both are tentative and insecure, putting up fronts to disguise themselves, and stepping into uncomfortably unfamiliar roles in totally cinnamon roll fashion. But even without looking for romance, they find themselves drawn to each other (though he falls first so hard, lmao, it's on sight).

As noted about the cinnamon roll thing: "queens of villainy" is a bit misleading-- their primary villainous acts are being women who don't behave the way tradition/society dictates they should.

Secondary Cast:
The list of supporting characters is quite long, but memorable. And the ending definitely sets up the next romance for one of the other queens in a way that intrigues me to continue the series.

The World-Building:
This is such a character focused story that we really don't learn much about the kingdom, the different species, the magic system... It's pretty much just details that are related to the characters' backstories and motivations, in order to facilitate the story.

The good news is that it didn't seem to break internal consistency or present a lot of logical holes, and there's definitely room for future nuggets and development. But this is a Romance first and foremost, with Fantasy as a much lighter concern.

Overall:
I'm in for book two! I think the banter and mischievous menace vibe of the heroine in the next book could prove to be my fav in the series.

I adored the audio of this story. A sweet Adult Romantasy that had the exact amount of cozy and stakes that I needed to read. Thanks to NetGalley and the Publisher for the E-ARC.

Delightful! A briskly paced romantasy with plenty of political intrigue and a charming supporting cast of magical creatures. The audio narration was competent, with some differentiation between characters.