Isabella Nagg and the Pot of Basil

(Hardback)

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Description

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 tormenting 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 returns to the farm with a spell book purloined from the local wizard, she soon starts to think: what harm could a little magic do

Thus begins Isabella Nagg and the Pot of Basil, a novel of sentient depressed farm animals, a talking pot of basil, wizards, and an entrepreneurial villain running a goblin fruit Ponzi scheme. Cosy, full of wit and Pratchett-ian footnotes, Isabella Nagg and the Pot of Basil is a ultimately a story about claiming a new life and finding oneself. And also, goblins, capitalism, and sorcery.

Reviews

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
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
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
An 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 Dominion
Darkshire is an exciting new voice brimming with self-effacing charm -- Caitlin Doughty, author of Smoke Gets in Your Eyes
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 *
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 Facemaker
Extremely entertaining -- Neil Gaiman

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

Author Bio

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.