Isabella Nagg and the Pot of Basil

Hardback Published on: 19/06/2025
Price: £20.00
Free UK delivery on orders over £25, otherwise £2.99
In stock
Usually dispatched within 1-2 days
Make and edit your lists in your account
No stock available in any shop.
In stock
Usually dispatched within 1-2 days
No stock available in any shop.

Bookseller Reviews

View all
Isabella Nagg and the Pot of Basil
Hop in!! We’re befriending eldritch cats!!
What an absolute joy of a book!! I want to reluctantly team up with an eldritch cat and learn magic, whilst a strange woman turns a goblin market into a pr... READ MORE
Lucy at Leeds
Isabella Nagg and the Pot of Basil
Refreshingly quirky, light, and doesn't take itself too seriously
If you know the story of Isabella and the Pot of Basil from the Decameron or the John Keats poem (which I didn't), then the book title gives away the sourc... READ MORE
Selena, Guildford
Isabella Nagg and the Pot of Basil
Cosy and poetic
Fans of Pratchettian footnotes* and lovers of Romantic poetry are the parts of a Venn diagram that rarely overlap. Oliver Darkshire appears to be that rare... READ MORE
Richard Hayden in Rye
Isabella Nagg and the Pot of Basil
Everyone Knows You Don't Eat The Goblin Fruit
Isabella Nagg has had to do everything, from cooking and cleaning for her husband, Mr Nagg, when all he had to do was take the mandrake leaves from their u... READ MORE
Rebecca at East Kilbride
Isabella Nagg and the Pot of Basil
For fans of Terry Pratchett
What an unexpected but absolutely stand out fantasy debut. This year I have been chasing uniqueness, variety and something that I just don't see often in m... READ MORE
IndiaReadsALot
Isabella Nagg and the Pot of Basil
BRING BACK SILLY BOOKS!!
This was absolutely FANTASTIC!!! It’s so exciting seeing more and more magically obscure and ridiculously satirical fantasy books on the rise! It had me la... READ MORE
Salima
Isabella Nagg and the Pot of Basil
Cosy fantasy with a hint of Pratchett and a smattering of decapitation.
Isabella Nagg is the wife to an ungrateful Husband on an untidy Mandrake Farm. After Mr Nagg steals a book of magic from a local Wizard, Isabella takes it... READ MORE
Jodie - Plymouth Drake Circus
Isabella Nagg and the Pot of Basil
Magical!
Completely unexpected in the best kind of way. Isabella Nagg is not exactly living her best life at the start; she's definitely made a few wrong decisions... READ MORE
Chrys - Plymouth

Synopsis

'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'

Publisher information

  • Publisher: Hodder & Stoughton
  • ISBN: 9781399743839
  • Number of pages: 256
  • Dimensions: 236 x 160 x 26 mm
  • Weight: 442g
  • Languages: English

Customer Reviews

View all
Isabella Nagg and the Pot of Basil
Refreshing and hilarious folklore inspired read
What a fun read! The magic system was unique yet bonkers, it fitted so perfectly with the novel and I really enjoyed the feminist twist in the tale. The bo... READ MORE
Kels
Isabella Nagg and the Pot of Basil
Could be a great book
The publishers describe Oliver Darkshire’s Isabella Nagg and the Pot of Basil as “Cosy, full of wit and Pratchett-ian footnotes”. I would agree that it’s f... READ MORE
Colin Edwards
Isabella Nagg and the Pot of Basil
A fun read
A book for fans of comedic fantasy such as Terry Pratchett, and for fans of folklore books like Greenteeth. I read an eARC of this book so thank you to the... READ MORE
Jennifer Charlton
Isabella Nagg and the Pot of Basil
An unmitigated mess
Oh dear, I was so looking forward to this one. Darkshire’s debut memoir was a delight; this was an unmitigated mess. Comparing any writing to Pratchett ... READ MORE
Huttson Lo
Isabella Nagg and the Pot of Basil
Good Enough
Isabella Nagg and the Pot of Basil' is a humorous, cozy fantasy with a magical fairy tale atmosphere. The book is funny, especially when the characters of... READ MORE
Penny Makrelli
This reviewer received a free of charge product for review.