📖 Overview
Stephanie Burgis is a children's and young adult fantasy author known for her historical fantasy novels and contemporary middle-grade fiction. Her work frequently combines magic, humor, and family dynamics in both historical and modern settings.
The Kat, Incorrigible trilogy, beginning with Kat, Incorrigible (published as A Most Improper Magick in the UK), established Burgis in the middle-grade fantasy market. Set in Regency England, the series follows a young witch navigating both magic and social expectations of the era.
Burgis has expanded into adult fantasy with works like Snowspelled and Thornbound in the Harwood Spellbook series, which presents an alternate historical fantasy world where magic and politics intersect. Her contemporary middle-grade novels include Dragon with a Chocolate Heart and its sequels, which blend dragons, magic, and chocolate-making.
Beyond novels, Burgis has published short fiction in various magazines and anthologies. She holds an MFA in Writing for Children from Clarion University and currently resides in Wales with her family.
👀 Reviews
Readers praise Burgis's blend of magical elements with historical settings, particularly in the Kat, Incorrigible series. Many note her ability to write engaging middle-grade protagonists who feel authentic rather than precious. Fans frequently mention the humor and family dynamics as strengths.
From online reviews:
"The perfect mix of magic and Regency manners" - Goodreads reviewer
"My daughter couldn't put it down - finally a heroine who acts like a real 12-year-old" - Amazon review
"Manages to be funny without trying too hard" - LibraryThing comment
Common criticisms include predictable plot patterns in series books and occasional pacing issues in the middle sections. Some adult readers find the younger protagonists' voices too modern for historical settings.
Average ratings:
Kat, Incorrigible: 4.0/5 on Goodreads (7,800+ ratings)
Dragon with a Chocolate Heart: 4.2/5 on Goodreads (3,200+ ratings)
Snowspelled: 3.9/5 on Amazon (890+ ratings)
Most negative reviews focus on marketing category confusion rather than content issues - some books are shelved as YA but read younger.
📚 Books by Stephanie Burgis
Kat, Incorrigible - In Regency England, a 12-year-old discovers she's inherited her mother's magical abilities while trying to prevent her sisters' disastrous romances.
Renegade Magic - Kat travels to Bath to save her brother from a magical conspiracy while dealing with her family's social scandals.
Stolen Magic - Kat must protect the Order of Guardians from a powerful magical threat while preparing for her sister's wedding.
The Dragon with a Chocolate Heart - A young dragon is transformed into a human girl and becomes an apprentice chocolatier in a magical city.
The Girl with the Dragon Heart - A chocolate shop worker with a painful past must use her skills as a spy to save her city from political intrigue.
The Princess who Flew with Dragons - A princess who prefers books to people must navigate dragon politics to prevent a war.
Snowspelled - In an alternate Angland where women hold political power, a former magic user investigates supernatural occurrences during a snowbound house party.
Thornbound - A woman establishes the first magic school for gentlewitches while facing opposition from powerful political forces.
Moontangled - Two women must navigate their secret romance amid magical politics and social expectations.
Scales and Sensibility - A Regency-era woman inherits a dragon and becomes entangled in a scheme involving an heiress and her suitors.
Good Neighbors - A Victorian-era magician and her dragon familiar solve magical mysteries in their town.
Spellswept - A prequel story about Amy's brother Jonathan and his romance with a politically ambitious witch.
The Harwood Spellbook - A collection of stories set in the same alternate magical Angland as Snowspelled.
Renegade Magic - Kat travels to Bath to save her brother from a magical conspiracy while dealing with her family's social scandals.
Stolen Magic - Kat must protect the Order of Guardians from a powerful magical threat while preparing for her sister's wedding.
The Dragon with a Chocolate Heart - A young dragon is transformed into a human girl and becomes an apprentice chocolatier in a magical city.
The Girl with the Dragon Heart - A chocolate shop worker with a painful past must use her skills as a spy to save her city from political intrigue.
The Princess who Flew with Dragons - A princess who prefers books to people must navigate dragon politics to prevent a war.
Snowspelled - In an alternate Angland where women hold political power, a former magic user investigates supernatural occurrences during a snowbound house party.
Thornbound - A woman establishes the first magic school for gentlewitches while facing opposition from powerful political forces.
Moontangled - Two women must navigate their secret romance amid magical politics and social expectations.
Scales and Sensibility - A Regency-era woman inherits a dragon and becomes entangled in a scheme involving an heiress and her suitors.
Good Neighbors - A Victorian-era magician and her dragon familiar solve magical mysteries in their town.
Spellswept - A prequel story about Amy's brother Jonathan and his romance with a politically ambitious witch.
The Harwood Spellbook - A collection of stories set in the same alternate magical Angland as Snowspelled.
👥 Similar authors
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Diana Wynne Jones creates fantasy worlds with complex magical systems and family dynamics. Her works include standalone novels and series that mix everyday life with magical adventures and often feature young protagonists discovering their abilities.
Caroline Stevermer focuses on alternate history fantasy with magical education and Regency-era settings. She explores themes of class, magic, and social expectations through the lens of young characters learning to navigate society.
Jessica Day George writes fantasy incorporating fairy tale elements and magical kingdoms. Her works feature protagonists who solve mysteries and face challenges while dealing with family obligations and magical politics.
Katherine Arden combines historical fiction with folklore and magic in her narratives. Her books incorporate elements of fairy tales and mythology while exploring character relationships and societal constraints.