Honey Witch 🍯

"You can't love anyone without the fear of losing them, without the forethought of grief. There is an inherent loss in love, but that does not mean that love is not worth it."

This was one of the best books I have read this year! I went into it expecting to like it but I am not prepared for all of the emotions that I went through while reading it.

I am not a crier when I'm reading, hell, even in general I don't cry often. But holy crap, I was bawling my eyes out a couple of times while reading The Honey Witch. Honestly, I haven't cried this much while reading a book since I read Fault in Our Stars back in the day!

"It is better to be lost in a beautiful daydream than trapped in a dim reality."

One of the best decisions I made was to annotate, highlight, and tab this book. It was so much fun writing my theories and highlighting moments that were simply beautiful. There were so many amazing lines in this book and the queer rep throughout it from varies characters, especially since its set in an alternative regency era, was great to see.

Overall, I had the best time and I think readers who love fantasy, cozy vibes, & Sapphic romances, should give this book a read!

I enjoyed this book more than I expected. It reminded me of the classic Wizard of Oz story, with its magic, good and bad witches, thunderstorms, and enchanting setting. The vivid descriptions made me feel truly immersed in the story, and I learned a lot about bees and honey in the process. 🍯

The story follows Marigold Claude, who has always felt a deep connection to nature and possesses a unique gift to see and hear things others can't. One day, after a fifteen-year absence, her grandmother reappears and reveals that every eldest daughter in their lineage is a witch, including Marigold. Her grandmother also tells her that Innisfree, the island where she lives on and where Marigold grew up on, needs protection, a task that the grandmother is too weak and frail to undertake alone now. Hence, despite her mother's objections, Marigold sets off on an adventure to this magical place, where she learns about flowers, herbs, spices, and honey. She discovers the beauty of being a Honey Witch, as well as the curse that forbids anyone from falling in love with her.

Marigold mends her relationship with her estranged grandmother, forms a bond with a man she loves like a grandfather, reconciles with a childhood friend, and meets Lottie—a young woman with a traumatic past. Against all odds, Marigold develops a deep affection for Lottie—and she, for her—but it comes at a cost.

Initially, the story felt cozy and picturesque, making me almost forget about the evil witch and her dark intentions. However, the narrative takes a darker turn in the last quarter. There were a couple of unexpected steamy scenes between Marigold and Lottie that I enjoyed. The book emphasizes friendship, family, and feminine power, and it celebrates the queer community. Although I anticipated the plot twist early on, the story could have been slightly improved by reducing Marigold's brooding over the curse. Her prolonged internal struggle was somewhat tedious, especially since she made it clear from the beginning that she did not want a traditional life like her mother's. Additionally, I would have loved more character development, particularly for the grandmother, who played a crucial role Marigold’s identity.

Overall, I really liked the novel and would recommend it to anyone who enjoys sapphic fantasy books with magic and witchcraft, set in a cozy world with moderate violence and dark themes.

A huge thank you to NetGalley, Sydney Shields, and the publishers for an advance copy of the book in exchange for my honest opinion.

ARC Review: Publish Date 5/14/2024
Thank you Net Galley for letting me read more books!

A sapphic, trying-to-be-cosy, witchy romance about friendship, love, and acceptance.

What I loved:
Honey magic! Our main protagonist, Marigold, is a honey witch and her magic comes from the honey her and her bestie bees make. She whispers sweet nothings to her bees to pollinate certain flowers, so she can craft specifically flavored honey that she uses for different spells. I thought this was so cool!

What I didn’t love:
It was quite predictable. I knew how it would end about 30% in. It also felt like several plot points were thrown in “just because”, for some of the main plot points there wasn’t enough explanation / information, and the MAIN plot point, the curse, made absolutely zero sense.

Overall, 3 stars. Solidly Ok.

I think that the book has some flaws, but that the good parts of it outweighed it for me. The novel accomplishes the cozy vibe, and I loved the setting, but I found it at some parts slower than I wanted it to be. But still well worth the read.

IM SO SORRY, I DNF at 15%. I wanted to love this book. It gave all the cottagecore, cozy vibes I wanted so bad but it was just so boring to me. Literally nothing had even happened in the first pages of the book to hook me in. I kept try to read more and it would take me so long to read just a few pages because it wasn’t captivating me.
I’m a big mood reader, so maybe it just wasn’t the right time for this book for me.

I follow this author on Instagram and adore her, so make sure you try the book for yourself!
This is solely my feelings about the book, and I’ll definitely be trying it again in the future.

Thank you NetGalley and Sydney Shields for the e-arc!

Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC. This is my honest review.

Bridgerton meets Practical Magic, I loved the premise of this book! The characters are interesting, the magic is amazing!

A part if me wished there was more scenes in the city (because I love the gossiping Ton in Bridgerton.) But also, it was so reminiscent of the coziness of Practical Magic that it brought me back to my childhood.

Some people have said that they found the middle of the book rather boring, but I didn't so much. I went into this book knowing it was going to be cozy and that's what I got. It focuses a lot on character development over plot and that's lovely for me

I was sucked in by the beautiful cover, but pretty bored by the actual book. Sadly. I thought the honey magic aspect was interesting- this island full of bees creating magical honey and a honey witch to guard the island? Neat. Beautiful. But, overall, this felt surface-level and kind of dragged. I don’t really know how flushed out I wanted it to be, though, because more may just have been more of a bore, but I didn’t feel connected to these characters or their lives. Obviously a curse is interesting and I’m always rooting for love (queer love especially) but I didn’t feel like I knew anyone deeply enough to truly root at all. 3.5 rounded up because this is a debut with great potential and excellent representation. I guess if there were more, like a series, I’d probably read it, but it’s not the most exciting book.

Marigold Claude never liked any of the suitors who tried to woo her and eagerly accompanied her grandmother to the family cottage in Innisfree. She will train to be the next Honey Witch, and no one can fall in love with the Honey Witch. Lottie Burke is a notoriously grumpy skeptic who doesn’t believe in magic, so Marigold can’t resist the challenge to prove that magic is real. She begins to care about Lottie and discovers that a darker magic will destroy her home. Marigold will have to fight for her home and her heart.

In 1831, Marigold's grandmother turned 100 and explained the nature of witchcraft. Honey witches work with bees and plants, bringing life and energy to the land. In balance with this are ash witches, who clear away rot or overgrowth. She begins learning about magic, beekeeping and plants, and healing the people of Innisfree. Lottie is rude and antagonistic, so Marigold challenges her to believe in magic in exchange for a spell to find a soul mate that their friend August wants. This puts them into close proximity, with further risks of exposure to the ash witch.

The beginning moves a little slowly, with a lot of detail regarding how Marigold grew up, what she learned from her grandmother before she passed, and the relationships between people. There is the push and pull of a burgeoning friendship, a friends-to-lovers scenario for Marigold and Lottie.

A sweet story that shifted tones and ended so abruptly!

Queer normative reimagined 1800s with hedge witchy main characters. The first 7/8 of the book are gentle and sweet, focusing on hedge witch practices and family/found family connections, with some steamy sapphic romance, and a foreboding undertone. Then, suddenly, the last bit of the book is very traumatic and violent (not cozy at all). There is a point that felt very rushed, which will be hard to describe without spoilers, but I think the immediate events leading up to the conflict climax really needed more time to play out. It felt so, unsatisfying? Rushed? Kind of unweighted consequences? I did enjoy the dialogue tone, it wasn't too modern to break the suspension of disbelief- reminded me a bit of Bridgerton where there are some modern concepts or shifts but the tone is relatively historically believable.

The resolution is nice, but I wanted to get to experience the characters being happy and safe! This keeps happening with cozy fantasy, there are deeply sad or violent conflicts, and then just an allusion to a happy ending. I feel like cozy things should be... cozy? And doesn't that mean feeling like the aftermath of a full warm hug, and not just the suggestion that a warm hug happens??

Overall, this was super enjoyable and I will recommend it to readers looking for steamy sapphic romance, magical happenings, who are okay with some tension and violence.

This was a fantastic combination of cozy fantasy, witchy, and cottage core. The magic system is based on bees and different types of honey which I found unique. Marigold finds out she is a honey witch and goes on a journey of self-discovery. I finished this book in just two sittings, I didn't want to put it down. If you loved The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches, you're going to love this.

Thank you NetGalley and Redhook Books for an eARC in exchange for my honest review.

I unfortunately could not get into this book. The premise was great but I just felt it was boring. I think I was expecting more magic and for it to feel more cozy.

My first thoughts immediately after starting this was that it's a beautifully written story. It is so well written and it draws you into the pages, how ever, it does feel a tad slow at times which I noticed is a common complaint from other reviews. What I enjoyed: immersive writing, cottage core ambiance, magical vibes, witty humor, nature themed, cozy comfy setting, romance. What could've been improved: pacing (I felt bored at times and that made it difficult to want to pick up) and I needed a bit more drama from this story.

Overall, its one I will recommend for cozy readers who are craving a sweet cottage core book or witchy women. Overall a solid 3 stars for me.

Quotes I loved:

"These are the wild women who run barefoot through the meadow. Who teach new songs to the birds, who howl at the moon together. Wild women are their own kind of magic."

3.5 stars rounded up

This book starts off as a cozy fantasy that is slow paced and rich with vivid descriptions. The later half picks up the pace as the characters are interacting more and the plot progresses quickly.

Honestly, this review was really hard to write. This was one of my most anticipated reads for this year and I am still so thankful for getting the opportunity to receive an ARC. The first half and second half feel like entirely separate books to me. The pacing did a complete 180 around 56% in. I did enjoy the second half of the book, but the pacing picked up so much that some scenes felt akin to whiplash. I would have loved more closure with a longer epilogue to really cement that everything was okay after all of the action right up to the end.

That being said, I think I’ll be on the look out for her next book! I liked the general vibes of the book and the ideas, so I’m excited to see what’s next and if there’s more consistent pacing!


Thank you to NetGalley and Redhook Books for an ARC in exchange for my honest review.
I will be waiting to leave a review on Goodreads until a few weeks post-release as I don't want to interfere with this novel finding it's people.

Thank you to Netgalley for providing me with an ARC of this story.
SPOILERS TO FOLLOW

This was a very interesting story. I enjoyed the magical aspect of it. I'd never really thought of honey as magical before but I suppose it is in a way. I don't think I realized that this book took place in a sort of Regency era. I was very surprised when the opening chapters were talking about balls/suitors etc. I thought it was more of a modern day story but I liked the idea of people in regency dress discussing magical things. It made it more fun. I also did not know that this story had LGBTQIA+ characters in it! (I guess I was really bad at reading the synopsis). I loved that Marigold was bisexual (being bisexual myself) and that the other major characters like Lottie and August were also part of the community (I think MArigold's brother was also attracted to men? I don't remember). There were several plot twists in this book that I felt were pretty obvious but there's one in particular that I was surprised by.

Overall the book was a bit slow.... and boring at some parts. I found myself skimming in places but when the action picked up I was a little more invested. I don't think anything very interesting happened until AFTER Marigold made the soulmate potion for August which was past the midpoint of the book.

I don’t think I was the right audience for this book. I just wasn’t interested in the characters and didn’t feel invested in the story at any point..

I… didn’t like this. The best way I can describe it, is that it didn’t flow. I was expecting coziness. Maybe my definition of cozy is different than the author’s? Maybe I came in with the wrong expectations.

Overall, a sweet cozy fantasy with mild sapphic spice. Marigold is a generational Honey Witch who has been pulled away from her destiny by her family in order to protect her from her family's nemesis, known as the Ash Witch. Defying her mother's wishes, Marigold embraces her history and leaves with her grandmother to learn the ways of Honey Magic. She is informed that there is a curse placed upon the women of her family that prevents them from having anyone fall in love with them. Soon, however she is drawn to the moody Lottie who gives her all the feels, but might not be all that she seems.

I loved the premise of the story, however the writing felt rushed and the family lore was underdeveloped. The magic seemed interesting, but overall confusing as to how it worked and why ash was an opposite to honey. I really had wanted more time to get to know the characters better, including the side characters of Marigold's family and Mr. Benny.

Recommended for readers who like cozy witchy romance stories, but are less concerned with the plot making a lot of sense.

Thank you to NetGalley, Redhook, and Sydney J. Shields for an advanced reader's copy in exchange for an honest review.

Marigold Claude is twenty-one years old and cursed to never find love. But that isn’t enough to keep away her desire to train as the next Honey Witch under her grandmother. I truly enjoyed this story and it was shaping up to be a four-star read for me. Marigold, Lottie, and any other side characters were so lovable and I was genuinely enjoying the cozy feel of Innisfree. The ending of this one dropped it to a three-star read for me though. I was really hoping for a huge battle scene to end dramatically but it ended up being very anticlimactic and uninteresting. However, the relationship between Lottie and Marigold still warms my heart.

Note: I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

I have to say, this may be one of my favorite reads of the year. The first two thirds? 5 stars, absolutely lovely and delicate and magical—the awkwardness of lacking a purpose and not fitting in with society's expectations, the revelation that you are meant for something more, the coming of age (and into your powers) montage, the studying of magic and all that it can do for people and the world... This chunk really read like Anne of Green Gables with magic and it was incredible. I vibed so much with the author's writing and the slow care with which the plot developed. It felt so thoughtful and cheerful and fulfilling...

However, the last third was like a complete 180 in terms of maturity and intensity. Whereas the first half was meandering and playful and almost juvenile at times, this last bit felt wayyyy more mature and intense, like the stakes were 1000% higher and I. was. anxious. So yeah, the pacing was a bit off for me, and to be honest, did I figure out Lottie's whole situation the second we met her? Yes. Did I care? Not really, it just annoyed me how long it took Marigold to figure it out. That aside, I had a really great reading experience.

So, 4.25 out of 5 stars, definitely recommend if you like cozy historical fantasy!

With all the excitement buzzing around ‘The Honey Witch’ like bees around a hive promising a delectable tale of magic, hope, and the power of love to overcome the impossible, Shield’s debut novel has been one of my most highly anticipated this year and I’m delighted at the chance to read it early. This enchanting sapphic romance, where the unlikely love between a skeptic and a witch threatens to unravel curses and ignite magic anew, enticed me not just by the blurb and ‘vibes,’ but the heart wrenching reasoning behind writing it.

'The Honey Witch' is an enchanting tale of magic, love, and self-discovery. Marigold Claude, feeling out of place in 1800s Bardshire, discovers her family's magical legacy and a curse that condemns her to a loveless life. As she trains under her grandmother Althea, she falls for the captivating Lottie Burke, challenging the curse’s hold on her heart. The story excels in beautifully creating a tender sapphic romance with a unique magical world, rich with the warmth of grandmotherly love and the inventive concepts of honey and ash magic. This captivating story is as sweet and profound as it is magical, making it a must-read for fantasy romance lovers.