Review by Booklist Review
Burgis' adult debut (after the YA fantasy The Raven Throne, 2023) is a story that combines the whimsy and magic of Wicked with a singeing love story that would make a cauldron boil. "Wicked" Queen Saskia hires a nerdy and sweet man, Fabian, as her new librarian so she can get back to the work of protecting her people. To do this, she holes herself up in her lab, hoping to create new potions and spells that will keep her kingdom safe. However, her newly hired librarian has a secret himself and is not who he seems to be. The narrative bounces back and forth between the two main characters' perspectives, showing readers that these two are bound to come together. Although the story takes a bit of time to get going, Burgis develops a satisfying, slow-burn romance with very imaginative and magical characters that will keep the reader's inner witch and wizard interested. Fans of Elise Kova will love this series starter.
From Booklist, Copyright (c) American Library Association. Used with permission.
Review by Publisher's Weekly Review
Transporting readers to a gaslamp world, Burgis (the Regency Dragons series) unfurls an enchanting fantasy rom-com. After the sorceress Saskia overthrows her murderous uncle and usurps the throne of Kitvaria, she's viewed by her people as a terrifying witch. She's really just trying to protect them, however, especially as her kingdom teeters on the brink of war with a neighboring empire. She would much rather concoct powerful new spells in her laboratory than deal with court politics. When dark wizard Fabian shows up on her doorstep, she assumes he's come to fill a vacancy in the castle's messy magical library and hires him without a thought. But Fabian is no mere librarian: he's the very archduke who's supposedly trying to invade Saskia's land. Fabian himself is on the run from his traitorous father-in-law and was hoping to find asylum in the much-feared kingdom of Kitvaria. As mutual attraction simmers between the two heads of state, Fabian's disguise wears thin, but revealing his true identity may very well start a war. Burgis keeps the pages flying while impressively balancing political intrigue, slow-burning romance, and comic relief. Readers will be enchanted. Agent: Molly Ker Hawn, Bent Agency. (Feb.)
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Review by Library Journal Review
Queen Saskia has taken the throne from her uncle, and she is determined to keep her people safe from the bordering empire her uncle has escaped to. She will use her reputation as a wicked sorceress, along with her scheming queen allies, to focus on developing spells to protect her kingdom. When a wizard arrives, Saskia is happy to hire him as her librarian to sort out the disarray in her library of magic. What Saskia doesn't know is that her wizard is, in fact, the archduke of the neighboring empire, in hiding from enemies of state, and has no magic whatsoever. As their attraction slowly reveals itself, Saskia must decide if she can get past his true identity or if their love will fail in the face of reality. Witty dialogue, a slow-burn romance, and secrets keep this story moving at a steady clip. The setup for the next volume will have readers excited for more. VERDICT Burgis's (Claws and Contrivances) clever romantasy is ideal for readers of Travis Baldree and Freya Marske.--Kristi Chadwick
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