Isabella Nagg and the Pot of Basil cover art

Isabella Nagg and the Pot of Basil

A delightfully witty cosy fantasy for lovers of Pratchett

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Isabella Nagg and the Pot of Basil

By: Oliver Darkshire
Narrated by: Oliver Darkshire
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'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'©2025 Oliver Darkshire Dragons & Mythical Creatures Fantasy Humorous Magic Cats Wizardry Magic Users
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Critic reviews

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 (Vanessa Armstrong)
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
Delightfully deranged . . . a new and original kind of enchantment
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
A mischievous Terry Pratchett tone ... Uproariously funny
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
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
An utter treat (Book of the Week)
Extremely entertaining (Neil Gaiman)
All stars
Most relevant
Not sure I'd describe it as cosy, however I love the intricate world building and the characters. Would be great to see another in the same universe.

Excellent listen

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