This is a unique and whimsical book. I enjoy books like this and can't wait to share more on my pages!

The Honey Witch by Sydney J. Shields is a cottagecore fantasy and a sapphic romance about a witch with a curse to never find true love and dark magic that plague her life.

This book wasn't cozy as I thought it'd be.
It was also spicier than expected. I didn't find these to be an issue.

However I found there to be tons of issues with this book.
* The first 1/3 was so slow, I didn't understand where it was going. Then it went all over the place from being fast to slow then back again.
* I didnt care for writing. There were awkward sentences and wording that took me away from the story.
*Marigold and Lottie were pretty two dimensional and their relationship didn't feel real enough.
*Versa never played a part. She only played as a basic evil villain who's evil for no reason (and if there was ones, she never showed it)

All in all, this book had lots of developmental issues that should have been addressed before publication.

I did love the cottagecore vibes and all the nature involved.

Thank you NetGalley and Redhook books for this ARC.

“I'm not scared. I'm yours."

NOTE:
-First, let me start by saying I’ve seen some people say that they wouldn’t classify this book as cozy because of the loss at the beginning. -BUT- I would argue that if you’ve ever played a cozy farming sim where a grandparent brings you to their farm to teach you to take over, you know what happens.
-However, it's important to note that the book does take a turn towards the end, becoming significantly less cozy. I’ll provide some mild spoilers and trigger warnings at the end of this review, but I strongly recommend looking up a complete list. While the loss didn’t take this out of the cozy category for me, I believe the triggers toward the end might. It's a book that may not suit those who only read cozy books.

Review:
I LOVED this book. I was worried because it was one of my most anticipated reads of 2024 that I wouldn’t enjoy it and it wouldn’t live up to my personal hype. That wasn’t the case for me. I loved the way time passed in the book. It felt like a cozy farming sim, and I couldn’t stop comparing it to my favorite cozy game Wylde Flowers.

Our main character, Mari- is such a headstrong and hopeful fmc. There was a brief moment at the beginning where I thought, “Oh great, here we go”, because Marigold’s doing the “not like other girls” thing when a woman comes to her grandmother for help in garnering a suitor's interest. -BUT- Granny Althea wasn’t having any of that and swiftly put Marigold back in her place. I loved her relationship with her grandmother, growing into her magic, and watching her make friends. God, the friendships were so lovely omg. Sydney wrote this book so beautifully, and I felt every word of Mari’s journey like I was reading an old journal. The magic system (the honey, flowers, omens, etc) was so thoughtful and researched that I know I’ll find myself looking for a starless sky or a six-pointed ivy leaf and looking to see the landvaettier painting the sunset. I found myself researching cottages as I read because I want so desperately to live there lol

I also loved Lottie and the love between these two characters. It felt like it grew as naturally as the flowers on Innisfree. This book felt like a love letter to soft, sapphic, witchy love, and I already wish I could read it for the first time again.







Mild spoilers and the TWs I noted:

tw: violence, domestic violence (not by a love interest, deprivation of basic human and other needs (not by a love interest), grief of parental loss (throughout the book), grief of grandparent loss, trauma surrounding fires and being burned

I loved this book! It was so cute. I loved Marigold and her character ARC. I loved the Bridgerton-esque town, though I wish there was more of this (it only really took place in the beginning and a little at the end, otherwise, there was no comparison). I actually teared up during this read and am still thinking about it.

This read more like a contemporary romance instead of a fantasy book. You barely got anything that extremely magical or the drama surrounding that until the last 70%. Then when it did it happen it was done so fast.

Queer, cozy, witchy novel about the newest honey witch who is cursed and destined to be alone forever. Marigold has never felt like she belonged in high society and embraces her new fate when her grandmother whisks her away to the isle of Innisfree. Marigold has always been in tune with the spirits and discovers her grandmother's isle to be full of them, but danger lurks in the woods... a past enemy of the honey witches who only seeks destruction. Marigold will experience loss and find family amongst the people of the isle....love may lurk in the shadows, but secrets and betrayal may destory it before it ever really begins. If you love a cozy, witchy romance that shows you how love can overcome the cruelest of challenges, then this is the one for you.

This was a cute debut novel with a lot of potential. I wish there was more in depth scenes of her training to become a witch. I also thought the ending was rushed. But I would never read more from this author.

This book was absolutely perfect and exactly what I needed. The character growth was incredible, the writing style was absolutely beautiful and captivating, and the magic system was so creative and cozy. The lesbian romance in this book is the best I have ever read it was full of pining and the truest love. 10/10 for me!

It’s hard for me to sum up how I felt about this book, as there were some elements I loved about it and others not as much. I see what some reviewers meant when they said it struggled with pacing. My biggest critique was that I wanted the narration to show, rather than tell, the points it was trying to make.

However, I think it was a decent debut and I would definitely read the author’s future works! I thought the story was a great concept and I loved the idea of the honey magic.

3.5/5
I enjoyed the concept of this book. The magical elements and setting were the strongest points. The best character was Althea, the grandmother, and I found the majority of the other characters either annoying or dull. The pacing was all over the place, the ending in particular was quite rushed. The writing style wasn’t my cup of tea.
I received this arc back in December and tried to start it several times and found myself bored but many of the reviews and draw of honey magic were intriguing. I have an incredibly hard time DNFing but I’m realizing I should start doing so. Many of the in depth reviews summarize this book well and I don’t feel like I got much out of it reading it myself.
Thank you to NetGalley, orbit, and Sydney J Shields for the arc.

the honey witch is about a girl who is about to take up her grandmother’s legacy being, you guessed it, the next honey witch on her island. every eldest daughter in her family had the potential to be a witch, if they so do choose it. we follow our main character (and the eldest daughter), marigold, as she is healing and figuring out what she wants her life to look like, versus the life that society has always told her life should look like. and we are alongside marigold as she is learning her new potion making abilities, while also trying to prove to someone that witchcraft is very real.

this is a really hard book to rate and talk about, because i just never felt connected to the story itself, or the characters, or anything going on with the plot, but i can also recognize that this book had a lot of good in it, that did really mean a lot to me. i mean, first off, sapphic cottagecore vibes, with a queer beekeeper who is learning things from spellbooks her grandmother left her, who is also healing from her past and trying to have a healthy relationship with her friends and family in the present. like, a lot of good! a lot of stuff i will always recommend to you guys!! I just wish i could have connected more with the actual story and plot and not just the themes and concepts.

i also really loved the queer representation in this book, and even though no titles are actually given, i personally feel like the representation of bi, pan, and lesbian was really beautifully done. also, there is a tattoo scene in this book that is truly one of the hottest things i’ve ever read in my entire life. ahhh, friends - i recommend this book just because i want it to succeed and i want more stories from sydney j. shields, and more chances to fall in love with her books completely.

cws from the author at the start of this book: Tattooing/Needles, Burns, Blood/Injuries, Sex, House fire, Bee stings, Loss of a grandparent, Death/Grief, Discussions of infertility, A woman seeks aid of the honey witch for treatment of her miscarriage

other tw/cw i wrote down: mention and talk of abusive and predatory relationship in past, caretaking for a loved one, loss of parents in past, abandonment, fire, blood, vomit

rating: 3.5
This was a fun, wholesome read that, predominantly, lived up to what I expected of it. Pitched as a Sapphic romance with Ghibli vibes, The Honey Witch follows Marigold Claude after her grandmother renters her life to bring the younger witch into her own. In Innisfree, where Honey Witches have lived for centuries, Marigold finally feels at home with her magic and with the bees. There she meets Lottie Burke, who refuses to believe in magic. The two of them were enjoyable to watch fall in love throughout the first two-thirds of the novel, however the last third happened at breakneck speed. The climax was clumsily executed and the magic, though never fully defined, became conveniant. I wish this had been two books, or just a touch longer. Still, I enjoyed it enough to follow Shields through to her next publication, whenever that may be.

This story was just like honey: a sweet delight. I was so happy to receive this galley & then to also receive a physical ARC through work. I've followed the author on Instagram since it was announced and I'm so happy she is getting the hype she deserves.
The Honey Witch is a delightful cottagecore regency romantasy. That sentence pretty much sums up why I knew I would love this book before I even read it, and after having done so I can say it delivered on its promises. Reading this made me feel like I was in a field of sunflowers, soaking up sun with a light breeze in my hair. Drinking tea sweetened with honey, wearing yellow dresses, a big smile framed by freckles. The vibes, setting, descriptions, and aesthetic were all on point. It was also, importantly, very well written and had an enjoyable plot and well-rounded characters. Marigold's character resonated so deeply with me-- feeling like you don't fit in with the people and society around you, yearning for something more, something different, and feeling most at home when surrounded by nature and magic. Okay, maybe I don't relate so much to the magic part, but I wish I could. Lottie and Marigold had a compelling romance, and I found myself wanting to read more of them. If Shields ever decides to return to this world and these characters, consider me sat. The only thing bumping the book to 4 stars instead of 5 was that I did feel some aspects were a bit predictable, but then again isn't that part of what makes a cozy fantasy so appealing?
I've made it my mission to display this book at work and sell it to as many people as possible. Anyone who's read The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches, Mortal Follies, Half a Soul, Legends and Lattes, and even fans of the Bridgerton series. This one is definitely for you!

Thank you to NetGalley and Redhook Books for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.
Pub Date: May 14, 2024

~3.25 stars
I love the cozy cottage-core vibes and world but the writing style just didn't do it for me. I almost DNF'ed but it started to pick up a little/I got used to it around 34%. I think if I read this in junior high/early high school it would have been more my speed. The start of the book just went so fast and so many things happened without taking the time to let things settle or explore anything. It felt like a lot of telling instead of showing too.

At first I wasn’t sure this book was for me. I just wasn’t in the mood for it, but I took a little break after starting it and then came back to it. I’m so glad I did because I loved this book. It was whimsical, cozy, and sweet. I thought it was well written and I loved the lesbian rep.

Actual Rating 1.5

Marigold is 21 and an old maid, never finding the right suitor. When her grandmother appears and offers to train her to become the next Honey Witch, she accepts even when she’s told that Honey Witches can never be loved. But it’s only a matter of time before a darker magic begins to stir, and Marigold finds herself forced to fight to save her home and her heart.

I liked the idea of a Honey Witch and enjoyed how it was incorporated into the story, but that was really the only aspect I liked. The biggest drawback of this work was the characters. There was minimal development beyond the role they served in the story, which left them feeling flat and boring. I couldn’t relate emotionally to any of them, which in turn made the romance feel forced and unbelievable. Similarly, the setting was never incorporated in a meaningful way and was rarely described. This was supposedly set in the 1830s, but most things felt much more modern in a way that created an unsatisfying experience. The worldbuilding was also disappointing, not adding enough to create an interesting backdrop.

There were also several technical things that I found frustrating. This book is massively overwritten, and I could read pages without ever learning anything or anything moving forward. The dialogue was also flat and unfeeling, and it was often used to over explain things. The plot was relatively straightforward and predictable and didn’t add much to the experience.

While there were a few aspects that could have been interesting, they weren’t enough to correct the balance of this one for me. My thanks to NetGalley and Redhook Books for allowing me to read this work. All thoughts and opinions expressed in this review are my own.

First and foremost I requested this book because the cover is and was everything my heart was wanting in that moment. Second, I am so glad that not only is the cover amazing the story is absolutely stunning as well!!

A cozy sapphic, witchy romance that encompasses love, loss and everything in between. This one is sure to stay with me long after closing the cover and I surely wil be buying a copy to have this pretty cover and story on my shelves so I can reread when fall comes and I am in need of comfort.

The first majority of this book was light and playful and somewhat juvenile but in the best of ways. It made me fall in love with the cavas of what Syndney J Shields was creating. The last maybe third of this book seemed to pick up in intensity and let me tell you I am al here for that anxiety it started to give me. It was nearly the same anxiety I can feel in an intense epic fantasy book but without all the epic world fantasy to follow along with. Bravo to this author for making m sit up and take noice of more than just your ability to make me feel comforted and at home.

Thank you NetGalley and Redhook Press for this 4.5 star ARC read!

I was very much looking forward to this book and I do feel like it came through and lived up to the hype! Marigold is a lovable character you want to root for and the underlying themes of breaking generational curses and self discovery are chefs kiss! Definitely recommend this cozy witchy read!

I went into this novel with HIGH expectations. A witchy sapphic fantasy sign me up. The story started off like a regency novel- which worried me because I don't usually enjoy them, but as the story developed the time period made sense. Marigold has always felt out of place amongst her talented high society family, when her grandmother shows up one day unexpectedly, telling her she must join her on an enchanted isle to clam her birth right as a honey witch, she finally feels as if she has found her place. The only negative is that to claim her power she must accept the curse on her bloodline, that she will never be loved.
The backdrop and story was truly magical and whimsical- I loved all the flower and bee imagery and the spirit guardians. The story felt very reminiscent of Rebecca Ross's River Enchanted- which I absolutely adored. Similar beautiful writing style.
The characters were well rounded and loveable and while I could foresee the direction the plot was heading, I found that it was comforting more than anything.
And Lottie, oh how we love a fiery red-head.

First a thank you to NetGalley, Libro.fm, and Sydney for the ARC copies! This is my honest review.
FIVE STARS. The way I was sobbing at the end of this book made me want to read it all over again. This is a debut novel; sapphic cozy fantasy with a mix of cozy mystery. It's pitched as Bridgerton meets Practical Magic (but make it gay) this hit the nail on the head.
The Honey Witch is beautifully written and has themes of familial disagreements, death of a grandparent and grief, as well as exploring self independence.
I did guess at one of the major twists about halfway through, and I can assure you this didn't hinder the story one bit. It was almost satisfying to be right lol.
Marigold is a ray of sunshine, a honey witch who's been practicing her magic and perfecting her trade. When her childhood friend August comes to her looking for her help to find his soulmate, his best friend Lottie has a strong opinion. Lottie is a secret tattoo artist who doesn't believe in magic. Mari wants to help August but also feels like proving Lottie wrong about magic.
The audiobook was amazing! Highly recommend 🥰