'This book is a gem that was perfectly cut to fit the Pratchett-shaped hole in my heart' C.M. Waggoner

'A bubbling cauldron overflowing with imagination and charm' Chris Sugden

Books can change lives. Magic books can cause absolute chaos.

Isabella Nagg lives on a tiny, miserable farm in a tiny, miserable village with a husband who's about as useful as a wet sock. Her days are filled with scrunge (don't ask), mildly cursed livestock, and singing to her beloved pot of basil. It's not much-but it's hers.

Then Mr. Nagg brings home a stolen spell book from the local wizard, and Isabella starts to wonder: what's the worst that could happen?

Cue one grumpy cat-like companion, a magical Ponzi scheme, and a journey through a world where enchantment meets bureaucracy and goblins have opinions on capitalism. As Isabella stumbles into spells, secrets, and self-discovery, she might just find that magic isn't the only thing she's been missing.

Isabella Nagg and the Pot of Basil is a delightfully bonkers, footnote-filled romp for fans of Pratchett, folklore, and anyone who suspects their houseplants might be judging them.

NetGalley readers love Isabella Nagg and the Pot of Basil:

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'Had me completely enthralled from start to finish'

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
'A really hilarious cozy fantasy'

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
'A delightful read . . . I found myself legitimately laughing aloud'

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'I described this book to a friend today as "clever funny" . . . 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'

"Brings to mind the works of Terry Pratchett ... a delightful read. It will make you laugh and surprisingly tug on your heartstrings" - Reactor Magazine

"Delightfully deranged . . . a new and original kind of enchantment" - Reactor Magazine

"Darkshire's humorous and clever fantasy borrows from poets and folklorists alike" - Washington Post

"An utter treat" - Daily Mail

"Mr. Darkshire is a witty observer ... charming" - Wall Street Journal

"With its mixture of exaggerated misanthropy and eloquent surrealism, Once Upon a Tome calls to mind the cult television sitcom Black Books" - Times Literary Supplement

"A mischievous Terry Pratchett tone ... Uproariously funny" - Fine Books Magazine

"Witty and heartwarming" - Publishers Weekly