Isabella Nagg and the Pot of Basil: A delightfully witty cosy fantasy for lovers of Pratchett

'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'

''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 change everything.

In a tiny, miserable farm on the edge of the tiny, miserable village of East Grasby, Isabella Nagg is trying to get on with her equally tiny and miserable existence. Dividing her time between enduring her feckless husband, inadequately caring for the farm''s strange collection of animals, cooking up ''scrunge'', and crooning over her treasured pot of basil, Isabella can''t help but think that there might be something more to life. So, while she''s initially aghast when Mr. Nagg comes home with a spell book purloined from the local wizard, she soon starts to think: what harm could a little magic do?

As Isabella embarks on a journey of self-discovery with a grouchy cat-like companion, Darkshire''s imagination runs wild, plunging readers into a delightfully deranged world full of enchantment, folklore, and an entrepreneurial villain running a magical Ponzi scheme.

Cosy, full of wit and Pratchett-ian footnotes, Isabella Nagg and the Pot of Basil is a book for those who can''t help but find magic even in the oddest and most baffling circumstances; a story about claiming a new life and finding oneself - and also goblins, capitalism, and sorcery.

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''

• | Author: Oliver Darkshire
• | Publisher: Hodder & Stoughton
• | Publication Date: Jun 19, 2025
• | Number of Pages:
• | Language: eng
• | Binding: Paperback / softback
• | ISBN-13: 9781399743846
• | ISBN-10: 1399743848