The cover is what initially brought me in! This is a perfect plan of cozy fantasy and dark humor. I laughed out loud while reading and that doesn't happen often!

This was a delightful read. I returned to it, stared at the cover multiple times on the Netgalley shelves, and decided to take a shot in the dark. I loved the cover and the title, which is quirky.
I found myself legitimately laughing aloud while reading and being surprised at how loveable this cranky old woman is. It looked like it would be an absolute villain arc for these characters, but this was sincerely a cozy fantasy with a light washing of dark humor. The rest of the humor was plenty of puns, clever jokes, and funny situations. If a person is looking for something reasonably lighthearted and short (with a pleasant amount of lore, mind you), this is the book!
Thank you, Netgalley, for this great read!

What a strange, charming little cozy fantasy! I really enjoyed the story - it felt like a hug. It gives me Emily Wilde vibes, which is one of my favorite books. Well done Oliver Darkshire!

Read this early courtesy of #netgalley ARC.

I loved this book. I laughed out loud and I learned a new word “smaragdine… a word I need to add to my dictionary in iOS so that it stops trying to autocorrect it thinking it’s not a word. It is a word!

This was a quick, delightful read and it was just what I needed to add some levity and happiness in the new year. Folks who enjoy reading stories set in medieval times or quasi-medieval-ish wizard stories will enjoy all of the nods to classic literature featuring these aforementioned wizards. I described this book to a friend today as “clever funny” and I stand by that. I will likely read this again in the future as I enjoyed it that much…which is pretty much the highest praise I can offer.

“Isabella Nagg and the Pot of Basil” centers around Isabella, a resilient woman living on a farm in a quaint village with her less-than-ideal husband. Her spouse, notorious for his inability to care for himself and constant complaining, makes life challenging. Despite the farm's lack of fruitful harvests, except for the mysterious mandrake leaves growing on a cursed stone, the story takes a captivating turn when the village wizard retires. Isabelle stumbles upon spell books in his abandoned home and becomes intrigued by the possibilities they hold.

This book had me completely enthralled from start to finish. The vivid descriptions of village life, culture, and history were so immersive that I felt transported to that world. Each character was richly developed, allowing me to envision them with ease.

Ultimately, I believe the book is a profound narrative about the power of self-reinvention and the courage to start anew, regardless of societal expectations. It beautifully illustrates how one can embark on a new chapter in life, on one's own terms.

Wish I could have kept reading on Isabella’s next adventures!