4 Stars
This was such a cozy romantasy read with satisfying MCs (Saskia was such a refreshing FMC to follow, especially in a fantasy read and I need me a Fabian, AKA Felix please lol). I loved the found family vibes and cast of characters in this, especially the alliance/friendship between the 3 queens (and the crows!). I listened to this in audiobook format and enjoyed the narration - I had a lot of fun in this world, of course the library setting was my favorite (and I will definitely continue the series especially after that excerpt we got at the end)!

Thank you NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for the ARC!

This book was a romantic fantasy that honestly felt so cozy despite all the political intrigue. The world building was fun, and the cast of characters were all unique. I felt like the romance between the two main characters was well done within the cozy setting, and I couldn’t resist the golden retriever MMC.

The great part about this book, is despite the coziness, the main characters had a fully developed back story.

Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review!

Oh my gosh I adored this book!! The cozy fantasy vibes and the banter were fantastic. I fell hard for our cinnamon roll librarian. I loved how nerdy both main characters were. Their mutual love for knowledge made it really easy to see why they were such a good fit for each other. I also loved how funny this book was. It didn't take itself too seriously and I really enjoyed watching them tease each other. My absolutely favorite part was how loyal they both were. Seeing two characters who had been cast aside and reviled by others finding a person who is going to be firmly in their corner was absolutely adorable. I'm so excited to see more from this author because I love their writing style!

The production company went with a single narrator even though the book was dual pov which I found to be a strange choice. I enjoyed their performance but I would have really loved each character to have their own narrator. As it was, I had a good time with this story and I'm very excited to hear more about the side characters in this world.

A fierce sorceress and a sweet “librarian”star in this sweet and spicy romantasy. Wooing the Witch Queen is perfect for readers who enjoy cozier fantasy settings, but want the tension to be a little higher.

This was such a heartwarming book and just so much fun!

The narration was very engaging and easy to follow. Amanda Leigh Cobb effortlessly swapped between characters and really leaned into the clever, wry tone of the story.

My rating: 4.25⭐️

I absolutely loved this book! The storyline was intriguing and I loved the characters. I feel the book could’ve been much longer with more detail on the main characters back stories. I absolutely need to hear more about Felix’s magic and overall the magic system at large in the universe. Looking forward for sequels!!

Wooing the Witch Queen is a cozy fantasy following an archduke in disguise and a witch queen, with delightful side characters/creatures. I truly enjoyed every second of this book and finished it in less than 24 hours. While it is the beginning of a series, the conflict is resolved and sets up book 2 with enough intrigue as to who the next two main characters will be.

Narration performed by Amanda Leigh Cobb was outstanding as always.

I received an ALC from Macmillan Audio via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Gives very "Assistant to the Villain" vibes in the best way. This book was a very cozy romantasy that is perfect for mood readers that want some type of fantasy, but also want a cozy story with a hint of romance.

Ever since his wife's death, Imperial Archduke Felix has feared his overbearing and power-hungry father-in-law has been plotting his death. Felix flees to his neighboring kingdom, ruled by the wicked witch queen Saskia, hoping to use himself as a bartering chip for his own safety. But when a misunderstanding leads to Felix accepting a job as Saskia's new dark wizard librarian, he finds he'll have to keep his identity a secret, all while falling for his new boss.

With a title like 'Wooing the Witch Queen,' I was honestly expecting this one to be extra spicy and maybe a little corny. But it turned out to be a fun, emotional rom com with a little bit of spice, and I absolutely loved it, especially the banter between Felix and Saskia.

I listened to this one on audio and overall enjoyed the narration. My only complaint was the narrator's inflection sometimes felt a bit too sing-songy, which got a bit annoying at times.

Read if you like:
Dual-POV
Open door
Who did this to you
Secret identity
Hidden magic
Enemies to lovers

Ohh this was fantastic and I loved every moment!! The villainous Witch Queen with a heart of gold, the adorable found family of misfits, and our cinnamon roll Archduke. All the “touch him and be unalived” moments had me so giddy 😂. Full review to follow. Thanks to the publisher for the ALC. I am feral for the sequel already 👀.

Thank you netgalley and the publisher.
Okay, so I just finished listening to Wooing the Witch Queen by Stephanie Burgis on audiobook, and I’ve got to say—it was an amazing experience. The story itself is fantastic, but let me start by giving major props to the narrator. The female voice actor brought the Witch Queen to life in such a powerful way. Her voice was commanding yet vulnerable when it needed to be, and it made every moment feel personal. The transitions between characters were seamless, and the pacing of her delivery was spot-on. It really felt like she was the Witch Queen, and honestly, her performance kept me glued to the story.

As for the book itself, it was a total vibe. The Witch Queen is a complex, deeply layered character—strong, guarded, and so refreshingly real. She’s not looking for love, and she makes that very clear. Then there’s him, the rogue who’s determined to win her over. Their dynamic is full of tension, sharp banter, and these subtle moments of vulnerability that hit you right in the feels. It’s definitely a slow burn, but the kind that makes every little interaction between them feel like fireworks. And hearing it all in the narrator’s voice just made it flow so naturally.

The world-building was another standout for me. The magic system was intricate, and the lore of the Witch Queen’s kingdom was so rich—it felt like I was stepping into a whole other realm. There’s this political tension layered with deep magical traditions, and it added so much depth to the story. The narrator’s tone made even the quieter moments feel charged, like there was always something bigger brewing under the surface.

If I had one tiny critique, it’s that the pacing dipped a little in the middle, but the narrator’s performance kept it engaging even then. And when the story picked up again, wow—what a ride. The ending packed such an emotional punch that I actually found myself rewinding to relive certain scenes.

All in all, Wooing the Witch Queen is a beautifully crafted fantasy romance that feels even more alive thanks to the fluid, captivating narration. It’s the kind of audiobook that makes you look forward to every commute, every chore—just so you can dive back into the story. Five stars for the book and the performance. If you’re a fan of slow-burn romance, magical intrigue, and strong characters, don’t sleep on this one!"

One of my fav golden retriever X black cat books💖💖

This was such a fun read. The fmc is a sassy total baddie and a witch! And the mmc is a power man who is posing as a wizard the help the queen. The mmc’s kingdom is corrupted and found a way to escape. Thus being at the enemies palace, the queen witch.

The slow burn was delightful and cute and I couldn’t get enough of. And the plot was very interesting as well.

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