Wooing the Witch Queen

Queens of Villainy, Book 1

By: Stephanie Burgis

Narrated by: Amanda Leigh Cobb

Wooing the Witch Queen by Stephanie Burgis is the start of a delightful, funny and seductive romantasy trilogy, set in a gaslamp-lit world where hags and ogres lurk in thick pine forests and genteel court intrigues can turn deadly . . .

Queen Saskia is the wicked sorceress everyone fears. After successfully wrestling the throne from her evil uncle, she only wants one thing: to keep her people safe from the empire next door. For that, she needs to spend more time in her laboratory experimenting with her spells. She definitely doesn’t have time to bring order to her chaotic library of magic.

When a mysterious dark wizard arrives at her castle, Saskia hires him as her new librarian on the spot. ‘Fabian’ is sweet and a little nerdy, and his requests seem a little strange – what in the name of Divine Elva is a fountain pen? – but he’s getting the job done. And if he writes her flirtatious poetry and his innocent touch makes her skin singe, well . . .

Little does Saskia know that the ‘wizard’ she’s falling for is actually an Imperial archduke in disguise, with no magical training whatsoever. On the run, he’s in danger from Saskia's enemies and her new-found allies, too. So when Saskia finally discovers the truth, will their love save them – or be their doom?

‘Stephanie Burgis is a fresh new voice and I can’t wait to see what she does next’ – Ilona Andrews, No. 1 New York Times bestselling author of the Kate Daniels series

©2025 Stephanie Burgis (P)2025 Macmillan Publishers International Limited

Critic reviews

I've yet to read a Stephanie Burgis book I haven't adored, and Wooing the Witch Queen is no exception. With a cast of delightful characters, a wonderfully fierce heroine and heaps of wit, this is a warm and lovely story with a big heart (Sangu Mandanna, bestselling author of The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches)

Wooing the Witch Queen is spectacular! Full of charm, wit and magic, with two pitch-perfect main characters and a swoonworthy romance, it's absolutely irresistible. I loved it! (Sarah Beth Durst, New York Times bestselling author of The Spellshop)

If you’re looking for the perfect blend of swoon-worthy romance and delightful fantasy world-building, Wooing the Witch Queen should be your next read. Filled with found family, cozy vibes, and characters who care deeply about one another, I blazed through it at record speed because I couldn’t wait to get to the happily ever after—and Burgis delivered! I adored it, and I can’t wait to see what book two holds!" (Jessie Mihalik, author of Hunt the Stars)