Isabella Nagg and the Pot of Basil

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What to expect

'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:

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
'Had me completely enthralled from start to finish'

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

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

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
'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'

Critics Review

This book is a delightful modern fairytale full of strangeness and wonder, and no small amount of humour. Oliver Darkshire has done a wonderful job bringing us into his fresh, fantastical world, and it's somewhere you want to stay.
Alice Bell, author of Displeasure Island and Grave Expectations
I lost track of the number of times that I audibly chortled, snorted, and made startled little noises of exclamation through my nose while tearing my way through Isabella Nagg and the Pot of Basil. Funny, inventive, and deeply unsettling in the grand tradition of some of the more obscure fairy tales it references, this book is a gem that was perfectly cut to fit the Pratchett-shaped hole in my heart
C.M. Waggoner, author of The Ruthless Lady's Guide to Wizardry
Brings to mind the works of Terry Pratchett ... a delightful read. It will make you laugh and surprisingly tug on your heartstrings
Reactor Magazine
Witty and wry*, a book filled with untrustworthy herbs, far too much porridge, and the most unusual and compelling explanation for goblins you will ever see.
*and punctuated by an egregious number of delightful footnotes
Caitlin Rozakis, author of Dreadful
With more humour than you can shake a homemade apple-tree wand at, and a folkloric world of magic tomes, snarky almost-cats and the twin menaces of goblins and capitalism, Darkshire's story is a bubbling cauldron overflowing with imagination and charm
Chris Sugden, Sunday Times bestselling co-author of High Vaultage
I have been longing for fantasy stories with middle-aged heroines, so I was delighted to discover the pragmatic and intelligent Isabella. Oliver Darkshire weaves a vivid story with a humorous, fantastical voice and complicated world-building
Katy Nyquist, author of A Holy Maiden's Guide to Getting Kidnapped
Darkshire's humorous and clever fantasy borrows from poets and folklorists alike
Washington Post
Delightfully deranged . . . a new and original kind of enchantment
Reactor Magazine
PRAISE FOR ONCE UPON A TOME
Laugh-out-loud
Garth Nix, award-winning author of The Left-Handed Booksellers of London
Peculiarly hilarious and/or hilariously peculiar!
William Gibson
Witty and heartwarming
Publishers Weekly
A mischievous Terry Pratchett tone ... Uproariously funny
Fine Books Magazine
Witty. Whimsical. Smart. A cozy gem
Jenny Lawson, New York Times bestselling author of Broken (In the Best Possible Way)
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
Enchanting ... every page is a pleasure
Lindsey Fitzharris, bestselling author of The Facemaker
Darkshire is an exciting new voice brimming with self-effacing charm
Caitlin Doughty, author of Smoke Gets in Your Eyes
Utterly charming
Tom Holland, bestselling author of Dominion
Mr. Darkshire is a witty observer ... charming
Wall Street Journal
An utter treat
Daily Mail
Extremely entertaining
Neil Gaiman

User Reviews

Book 5.0
Narration 5.0
5.0
5.0
A fun listen! I hope there will be more to come - I was immediately looking for another book in the same universe. The story charged on with a good pace, no slow spots. It’s gently witty and engaging with some very entertaining character voices. I appreciated the more nuanced, less cynical approach to the notion of ‘good’ and ‘evil’ that’s not usually found in the fantasy genre. Bonus points for starting the protagonist’s adventure at midlife.
circuit2workit 18/11/2025

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