A practical witch must sabotage her beloved son’s ascension to the throne in order to keep the kingdom from ruin,in this delightful cozy fantasy from the author of The Ruthless LadyΓÇÖs Guide to Wizardry. Once upon a timea somewhat wicked witch named Gretsella lived in a cozy little cottage in the Dark Forest of Brigandale. She dispensed herbs and tinctures at reasonable pricesmet with her slightly oddball coven on a regular basisand had absolutely no need of any further company whatsoeverthank you very much. But then one afternoonGretsella came home to find a screaming infant on her doorstep. Against all her better judgementshe took the baby in. She named him Bradley. Eighteen years laterBradley has grown into a bafflingly likable young man under GretsellaΓÇÖs extremely tolerantΓÇöone might even say dotingΓÇöeye. But the witchΓÇÖs hopes for an unremarkable yet fulfilling life for her son are shattered when small woodland animals start prophesying that he is the lost prince and should ascend to the throne. Bradley ignores GretsellaΓÇÖs advice that prophecies and talking chipmunks are to be avoided at all costsand sets off for the capital. But soon confusion and chaos are reigningand scheming courtiers are using Bradley for their own ends. Sometimes a witch has to roll up her sleeves and take matters into her own cauldron. So Gretsella resolves to bring about the downfall of her darling sonΓǪ