The Honey Witch' by Sydney J. Shields is pure magic! Shields brings the world to life with vivid descriptions and a story that'll draw you in. The main character's journey is so captivating, you'll be rooting for her from start to finish. With themes of family, power, and self-discovery, this book is a must-read for fantasy fans. Shields' writing is enchanting, and her world-building is top-notch. Get ready to be swept away by this bewitching tale!

Thank you to Redhook Publishing and NetGalley for the chance to read an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

Pub Date : 5.14.2024

The Honey Witch is a cozy fantasy book that hits the right amount of magical world building and romance. Marigold is swept away by her grandmother to take over her job as Honey Witch on a small magical island. Along with learning her grandmother’s protection spells and how to take care of her new community, Marigold accepts the family curse: no one can fall in love with a Honey Witch. Marigold doesn’t think this will be an issue, but when she starts to feel strongly about a new potential friend, skeptical Lottie, she really begins to feel the burden of this role she’s taken on. There’s also a dark element from Marigold’s childhood looming on the horizon and threatening everything the Honey Witches have built.

I love the push and pull of Marigold and Lottie’s relationship. While there are misconceptions and miscommunications as with any romance, it’s clear that these two really respect and care about each other. I appreciate how they both also have other relationships that they cultivate, with friends and family, and don’t ignore the world for each other. It really is a story about love, romantic, familial, community, etc. Plus, the magic system is really fun, having both honey magic and shadow magic as the main types discussed, but having the feeling of more magic out in the world at the same time. It a very fun space to explore. Check this sapphic rom-com fantasy out for all your cozy feels.

This was the cozy witchy Bridgerton-esque cottagecore honey bee fever dream book of my personal dreams. One could argue it was a little forced and a truly chaotic mash of elements to create that cottagecore fever dream but..... I don't care, particularly. A super fun romp of a debut. None of the angst was enough to make this anything more than a cozy feel good read for me. Will definitely read more by this author!

DNF at 10%

This is a cozy book and I didn't enjoy it. I think that this type of book is not for me

A cozy queer fantasy perfect for a Midsummer’s night. Mari and Lottie bring magic to this cottagecore gem. Slow burn and low on spice, but ever so sweet. I loved this from start to finish.

Thank you NetGalley and Sydney J. Shields for the opportunity to read this book.

The Honey Witch is a sweet, cozy read with a charming magical setting and a tender slow-burn romance. I really enjoyed the quiet strength of Marigold and the way her relationship with Lottie developed—there’s something very comforting about the soft magic and emotional warmth woven through the story. The Isle of Innisfree feels like a dreamy escape, and the lore around the Honey Witch was both unique and endearing.

That said, the pacing felt a bit slow for me, especially in the first half. It took some time for the plot to really pick up, which made it harder to stay fully engaged. Still, the story has a lot of heart, and I appreciated its themes of self-discovery and quiet resilience. It didn’t totally sweep me away, but it was a pleasant and gentle read. I’d give it 3 stars.

Cozy read. Witchy vibes. Not a literary masterpiece but that’s not what I was expecting going into this book. It gave the vibes I was expecting.

This one just wasn’t it for me. I had a hard time getting through it — although I really loved the concept. 3/5 for me.

DNF @ 10%. I was so excited for this one. The premise sounded perfect - witches, sapphic love, cozy cottage core vibes? Sign me up. But once I actually started reading, it just…didn’t click. The vibes were vibing, but the story wasn’t giving. At all.

It felt slow, meandering, and honestly I was just bored. I kept waiting for that spark, but it never showed up.

Many thanks to Redhook/Hachette Book Group for the ARC—appreciate the chance to check it out!

Unfortunately, this book wasn’t for me. I wanted to love this book, but I dnf’ed at 17%. The story just wasn’t grabbing me.

I was super excited to read this book, I love Queer witches. Sadly, I didn't really connect this book and ended up being a little bored.
There were parts that were really interesting, it just felt rushed overall.

One of my September listens was The Honey Witch, which has all the things you’d want in a magical cozy fall read. While the premise was great, the execution left me wanting. Filled with cottagecore vibes, this fantasy romance read more as a YA and/or a cozy read than anything else. So while the story itself was…fine; I never full felt invested in any of our characters, the plot, and thought the storyline felt a bit forced. I’m also still not 100% sure on the bases of the ‘magic’ and that always is just a let down for me.

I’m glad I did a buddy read otherwise I probably would have DNF’d. The audiobook itself was also fine, the narrator I liked but again just couldn’t seem to focus or care much about the story.

The Honey Witch comes out now. Huge thank you to Redhook for my advanced copy in exchange for my honest opinion. If you liked this review, please let me know either by commenting below or by visiting my:
Instagram @speakingof.books.
Tiktok @speakingof.books
Website: SPEAKINGOF.ORG

Sweet, whimsical, and just a touch witchy, The Honey Witch is like sipping floral tea in a sun-dappled cottage—cozy with a hint of mischief. Shields crafts a charming world where bees are magical assistants and love blooms as unpredictably as wildflowers.

The vibe? Cottagecore, but make it mysterious. Endearingly chaotic even. Plot-wise, don’t expect high stakes—just a breezy escape into botanical enchantment.

Perfect for bee enthusiasts or anyone who’s ever side-eyed their houseplants and wondered, *What are you plotting?* 🍯🐝

This book was my dream as a child! A distant relative comes along to suddenly tell me that I have magical powers and we are going off somewhere magical. I truly loved the world and especially loved that bees were part of the magic system. I found this to be so creative! The romance was very sweet and took it's time getting there (in a good way!). For a debut, I especially loved this book and can't wait to see what the author does next.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this book!

I was quite excited for The Honey Witch when I first read the premise. It sounded like a feel-good, warm-hug type of story. And while that is what it was, unfortunately I just didn't connect with this story in the same way I have for other stories within the cozy fantasy genre.

For one, I never felt like I connected to the characters real well. I'm not sure exactly what it was or why, but Marigold just felt a little flat to me. I never found myself growing with her or feeling her emotions throughout the story. The same was true of the cast of secondary characters. This story had elements of found family, which is normally one of my favorite tropes, but none of the characters induced that heart-tugging sensation in me.

The other drawback for me was that the plot felt a bit slow and drawn out at times. I think the story would have benefited by being cut down a bit.

Ultimately, it was a fun, light-hearted cozy fantasy but it just didn't draw me in and warm my soul like some of the most notable in the genre. A solid 3 star read for me.

Okay here is the thing, I think this book has a lot of potential, BUT there are many areas it is lacking. The first 14 or so chapters drag on. Shields includes many details that I feel do not add to the plot or characterization. There are many places in which things are brought up, but never tied back into the story. Then there were details that should have been included earlier than they were. I do feel Marigold is a relatable and likable character. Mari and Lottie’s relationship kept me reading. The tattoo scene on the ship is perfect! I do wish we were able to see Lottie’s growth rather than it be being a sudden shift in her character. The last thing: I feel the ending was extremely rushed. In my opinion, the first 14 chapters could have been shortened to 4, and the last 2 could have been 10 chapters. I think had a read this 3 years ago, I would probably have enjoyed it a lot more.

'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.'

The Honey Witch has all the ingredients for a cozy, magical read, but instead of a slow, honey-drenched tale, it rushes through its story at breakneck speed. The prose is more clipped than lush, the world-building often feels flimsy, and the dialogue shifts erratically between grand statements and awkward exposition. Marigold, our protagonist, is special because the book tells us so, not because we get to experience her growth naturally. The curse that drives the plot—preventing honey witches from being loved—falls apart under the slightest scrutiny, especially when magic baby-making is casually introduced.

There are occasional flashes of brilliance, particularly in Shields’ lyrical descriptions, but the story can’t seem to decide whether it wants to be a whimsical romance or a bitter commentary on societal expectations. The pacing is chaotic, dumping backstory at full speed instead of letting relationships and stakes develop organically. A novel about honey-magic should have been slow and decadent, but instead, it’s frantically trying to get itself over with.

Ultimately, The Honey Witch isn’t bad, just deeply frustrating. The potential is there, buried under awkward storytelling choices and an exhausting rush to the finish line. If you’re looking for a cozy, atmospheric fantasy, this probably won’t satisfy your craving.

The Honey Witch has a lot of mixed reviews, and until reading the book I couldn't pinpoint what about it could be so devisive. Now that I have read it, I can understand why so many people feel so uncertain about this novel. I think in terms of plot and setting, this novel is very strong. I really like the story's premise and the setting of Innisfree. Unfortunately, I found a lot of issues with the writing itself. Throughout the book, there are many signs that this is an inexperienced author's work (that is not to say a bad author's work). My main issue was how blunt and unnatural so many scenes felt. There were so many moments that felt like they were added solely because the tropes were trendy, and as such, weren't incorporated into the story very smoothly. There was also a lot of dialogue that felt like the author was trying too hard to be poetic. Overall, I think this story's plot and themes are quite strong, but I had issues with how hand-fisted, and often poorly paced the story is. That being said, the potential is there, and I would love to revisit this author's writing in the future after she has a bit more experience under her belt

Cozy witchy fantasy read with a HEA. I love that she found her soulmate ❤️. Also…I received this as an ARC early last year then my life crashed and burned and I never got around to reading it. I’m sad I put it off this long because it was right up my alley. I ended up borrowing the audio from Libby while reading the arc copy and thoroughly enjoyed the experience.

Loved the magic system, this was a really beautiful story of magic and love and the trails to get there.