Isabella Nagg and the Pot of Basil

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 DreadfulWith 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 VaultageThis 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 ExpectationsI 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 WizardryI 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 KidnappedBrings to mind the works of Terry Pratchett … a delightful read. It will make you laugh and surprisingly tug on your heartstrings – Vanessa Armstrong * 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 *PRAISE FOR ONCE UPON A TOMELaugh-out-loud – Garth Nix, award-winning author of The Left-Handed Booksellers of LondonPeculiarly hilarious and/or hilariously peculiar! – William GibsonAn utter treat – Book of the Week * Daily Mail *Mr. Darkshire is a witty observer … charming * Wall Street Journal *Utterly charming – Tom Holland, bestselling author of DominionDarkshire is an exciting new voice brimming with self-effacing charm – Caitlin Doughty, author of Smoke Gets in Your EyesWith 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. Whimsical. Smart. A cozy gem – Jenny Lawson, New York Times bestselling author of Broken (In the Best Possible Way)Witty and heartwarming * Publishers Weekly *Enchanting … every page is a pleasure – Lindsey Fitzharris, bestselling author of The FacemakerExtremely entertaining – Neil Gaiman

Oliver Darkshire is trying very hard not to think about his life choices, or how he got here. He lives in Manchester with his husband, and once a week they sit down to figure out how they will fit another bookcase into his study without blocking the door.

He is also the author of Once Upon a Tome.