Episode Forty Nine

A wicked queen, a runaway archduke in disguise, and a library begging to be tamed—this one had us grinning, gasping, and arguing about consent, secrets, and sex magic. We dive into Wooing the Witch Queen by Stephanie Burgess, a romantasy that flips the script: the heroine is the fearsome protector with a laboratory and a reputation, while the love interest is tender, bookish, and carrying scars he didn’t earn. That balance of power isn’t a gimmick; it’s the beating heart of a story that treats softness as bravery and rage as care.

We walk through the fairy-tale echoes—think Beauty and the Beast, but reversed—and why the library courtship works so well. From flirtatious poetry and fountain pens to a cataloging project that doubles as foreplay, the romance is playful without losing heat. We also dig into the world’s quiet brilliance: a queer-normative society presented without fanfare, political stakes tied to how magical minorities are treated, and a found family that feels chosen in the best way. Predictable turns don’t dull the ride; the tension comes from timing, trust, and the danger of truths left unsaid.

Along the way, we share bookish news: audiobook narrator updates, Fourth Wing nights with the 76ers and Flyers, a Temeraire-inspired tabletop RPG, Ruby Dixon’s daily dragon-shifter serial, and special-edition Kickstarters lighting up monster romance shelves. If you loved Emily Wilde, Assistance of the Villain, or Villains and Virtues, this episode is your cozy, clever, slightly feral sweet spot.

Wooing the Witch Queen by Stephanie Burgis
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