This book is a cute, heartwarming, wlw fantasy romance. It follows the main character as she struggles with acceptance, discovers her powers, experiences grief, and falls in love along the way.

The magic system is based around honey and various botanicals, and I really loved reading about her caring for the bees and the land.

The love story was great, and I really loved the chemistry between the romantic interests in this book.

Although it was mostly very light hearted, it had some darker moments at the end which I was surprised by. I wasn’t sure if I liked the sudden switch at first, but in the end I think it added some great tension and emotion to the story.

Thank you to Netgalley and the author/publisher for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you to the publisher, author and NetGalley for gifting me this ARC in exchange of an honest review.

I unfortunately had to DNF this at 14%, it was simply not my cup of tea. The pacing was too slow to my liking. The story and plot is very promising but I just couldn’t do it. I’m sure many of you will actually enjoy this story!

The one word I would use to describe Sydney J. Shield’s “The Honey Witch” would be whimsical. “The Honey Witch” follows Marigold, a young lady in the 1800s that feels she simply does not fit in. While others her age desire love, she feels that it simply is not in the cards for her. This idea is proven to be true when her grandmother reappears in her life. Her grandmother is a witch, more specifically, a honey witch. Honey witches cultivate bees, and can perform magic with their honey. Marigold is ecstatic about the news that she will be the next honey witch; she will finally have her calling in life.
However there is one catch: honey witches have been cursed to never fall in love.

I LOVED this book. It felt so cozy and whimsical. This book made me feel like I was covered in a warm blanket and drinking hot chocolate with a cat on my lap. The setting of Innisfree felt like something out of a children’s movie. I would move there in a heart beat. The world was definitely one of my favorite parts of this book. It was such a sweet setting that I never wanted to leave.

At the end of this book I found myself yearning for more time with the characters. I wanted to know what happened next. There was an epilogue, but I wanted to know more of the inbetween. Lottie was my favorite character in the book. Lottie and Marigold reminded of the grumpy x sunshine trope in the best of ways. Lottie never did anything to truly hurt Marigold, and there were heavy, conflicting emotions on both sides. For those of you that don’t like a quick, fast relationship, this is for you.

My main complaint about this book would be a lot of it did feel cliche. There were a lot of tropes that did make me want to roll my eyes. I also predicted the ending less than half-way through. However, I still thoroughly enjoyed this book! It all worked for me, and did not take away from my enjoyment. I would caution other readers though, that if this is something you think you would not like, to research further and decide whether it is the book for you.

Thank you to NetGalley, Redhook & Orbit for this ARC in exchange for a honest review!

Make sure to look out for “The Honey Witch” by Sydney J. Shields coming out on May 14th, 2024!

"The Honey Witch" is a slow cottagecore sapphic romantasy with a setting that reads like a highly idealized upper-class version of the Regency. Marigold chooses to join her grandmother on the isle of Innisfree as a honey witch, but at the cost of never being able to know true love--until one of the island's residents is mysteriously able to resist her curse.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the arc! Opinions are my own.

Perfect For Fans Of...
Witchy, fantasy, sapphic novels.🧙‍♀️

Quick Synopsis
Marigold's life is upended when her grandmother reveals that their family comes from a long line of honey witches. Accepting her new life. Marigold goes to the family cottage to train and take her place as the new honey witch. This comes at the cost of Marigold being able to have true love. However, when a known magic skeptic by the name of Lottie shows up, Marigold may have to decide if the cost is greater than the reward.

My Review
I gave this book 4 out of 5 stars. I enjoyed reading this book. The plot was good as well as the characters. I really like the magic setting and the plot twist that comes at the end. Although it felt kind of rushed because it was not the main conflict of the story. Lottie and Marigold make a very good couple and I really like the enemies to lovers in this. This book is perfect to read this spring. The magic in this is connected to nature so if you prefer that kind of magic, then it's perfect for you. Overall, I would recommend this book to others. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC. All opinions are my own.

What an adventure! I am not sure what I expected going into this book, except for a cozy fantasy, and it completely took me by surprise! Marigold is a young woman with a wanderers heart who longs for a freedom that she cannot imagine coinciding with the societal norms laid out in front of her. She is desperate for the feet in the sand, hair in the wind type of freedom that exists beyond her known home. So when he grandmother shows up out of the blue and presents her with the opportunity to entertain those desires and take a deep dive into a new world, she jumps at the chance! The Honey Witch is a coming of age tale, delivered in a surprisingly poignant way. Shields explores themes of love in a multitude of mediums and does so poetically. Paternal and maternal love, love at first sight, unrequited love, sacrificial love, selfish love, vulnerable love, confident love, love that harms and hurts, and love that heals and mends. This was cozy fantasy with a twist and these characters deliver a sense of familiarity while keeping you on your toes. I would recommend this to anyone who loved Legends and Latte's, but enjoyed the prose of S.T. Gibson. Shields does a beautiful job creating a sense of whimsy in her world. I would advise anyone interested in reading that this book is more spicy than I was prepared for, so reader be warned....this is not a children's tale by any means. The only reason I would not rate this book any higher than three stars is that the beginning of the book did such a wonderful job taking it's time and letting you soak in all of the new and mystical encounters that Mari comes across, the middle felt a little back and forth, and the ending felt like a race to complete the plot. Overall it was a delightful read and I'm grateful to NetGalley and OrbitBooks for the opportunity to enjoy it prior to it's release!

"Honey Witch" was a delightful cozy fantasy, blending love and fear seamlessly. I loved the magic system and the charming island setting. While the story was somewhat predictable, that's exactly what I enjoy in a cozy fantasy - a smooth ride without cliffhangers. However, I rated it four stars because the final fourth of the book felt lacking. Though I usually don't seek additional pages, a few more chapters to fully develop the ending would have been appreciated. This novel won’t be for everyone but if you love sapphic love stories, cozy fantasy, or just a little adventure “Honey Witch” is for you! Thank you to Redhook & Orbit for the opportunity to read this advance ebook!

The Honey Witch: by Sydney J. Shields

Book Review

4/5 stars

For a debut novel this book really painted a beautiful picture! As advertised by the author this is basically a Jane Austen meets Bridgerton meets cottage cozy. The aspect of honey being the key ingredient to magic for the Honey Witches. This world was such a warm hug, it makes me want to go lay in a field of flowers and just look at the stars. Marigold and Lottie being each others Impossible Girls was everything for me. Being an impossible girl is exactly how I wooed my wife, so it has a special place in my heart. I also am just so excited to see more sapphic fantasy books being brought into the book world. It is my favorite genres put together.

Y’all will not want to miss this one! But please read the trigger warnings!!

Getting to read this book early was such a dream. From the first time I heard about it I knew I was going to be reading it. Sapphic cottage core cozy fantasy? Yes please! And it did not disappoint. I loved all the characters and the story. The progression of the romance was perfect for me. I love rivals to lovers, and these characters had the kind of depth that I couldn’t help but fall in love with. And I really loved the unique magic system Shields created for this story.

Marigold has always known she’s different. She doesn’t have a special, flashy talent to show off like the rest of her talented family. And everyone thinks she’s just a bit… odd. She finally finds out why when her grandmother comes to visit and tells her their true heritage. Marigold then journeys with her grandmother to start her new life as the honey witch of Innisfree. One little generational curse isn’t going to stop her.

Everything about this book was exactly what I had hoped for. The cottage core regency setting with loveable characters and a sapphic rivals to lovers-esque relationship was *chef’s kiss*. The magic, setting, and themes of both grief and female autonomy all fit together to create a truly unique and wonderful experience. I can’t wait to read more of her books in the future!

Huge thank you to NetGalley and Redhook books for the pleasure of reading this book as an arc!
Publication date: 14 May 2024

Thank you to NetGalley for granting me access to the eARC of this book.

I rate this book 2 stars.

The setting of the book really caught my attention, especially the author's knack for painting vivid pictures of meadows, and beekeeping. It felt like a cozy getaway, and I could easily envision myself wandering the Isle of Innisfree. The notion of bees and honey as magical elements added a delightful twist to the story.
However, while the setting was enchanting, I struggled to connect with the characters. Their development seemed a bit straightforward, with motivations spelled out in a 'cause-and-effect' style. I felt the narrative needed more poetic depth to truly resonate. The pacing was a bit wonky too – starting off slow and then suddenly racing forward like a runaway train. This made the story somewhat predictable and took away from its charm.
Moreover, I couldn't shake the feeling of encountering familiar tropes throughout the book. Certain characters came off as cliché, especially in their dismissive attitudes toward traditional femininity. It felt a bit too "I'm not like other girls" for my taste.

DNF after Part 1

Thank you to NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book. I started the book engaged with the MC and the storyline, but gradually I found myself putting it down more frequently. The story seemed to stall and nothing much happen for quite a while. When something did happen, the language the MC used seemed so out of character for how she'd been speaking that it threw me out of the story while I tried to figure out what had changed. Rated the book 1 star to comply with posting requirements.

this was so achingly slow and tedious to get through. i was really hoping this would be a new favorite so im really bummed. the pacing was off as well and due to circumstances, we never really get to see our two love interests together fully until the very end. just not one id recommend.

3.5 stars. A sweet fantasy romance about a witch cursed to never have romantic love and a cynical girl who doesn't believe in magic. The writing felt dreamy and beautiful. I struggled getting into the book initially, a lot of information was introduced through the narration and not the dialogue, feeling a bit info-dumpy. But the story picked up once we got to the island and more characters were introduced. I wish the family relationships had been developed more. The romance started a bit clunky, but I grew to really enjoy Marigold's and Lottie's relationship. The magic system was a bit confusing, sometimes feeling underdeveloped and rushed, especially towards the end, but it still served the characters and their relationship.

i truly enjoyed this book and didn't find any of the characters terribly unlikeable. do you know how sometimes you're reading a book and the beginning and end are so captivating and the middle drags a bit? i thought the opposite was true here. it's not that the beginning and end were boring, i just felt like they were rushed whereas the middle was so beautifully developed. if you're considering this book, i would definitely encourage you to give it a shot! even if you think the beginning is a bit rushed, i promise the entire middle is so captivating

This book is delightful! The cottage core backdrop helps the story really stand out! I love the use of and tie together of nature and magic. The grumpy x sunshine trope is alive and well and, along with the forbidden romance, creates great tension. Highly recommend!!

This book is so hard to describe as I have just finished it and I'm crying. It was such a beautiful story from beginning to end. The path that dear Marigold takes, following in her Grandmother's footsteps. The whole story was gorgeous, and the meaning behind the title of Honey Witch is a lovely one. All of the characters had such a deep nuance about them. Each one mattered greatly to the story. So many unexpected twists and turns. I loved every minute of it. So many emotions to be had ... From huge smiles, to laughter, to relief, to lust and to love, and yes, to tears. I want this book proudly displayed once it comes out as it's one of the greatest stories I've read. It's cottagecore, and gothic and romantic. I will be reading again once it comes out so I can annotate the heck out of it. Beautiful book, just beautiful.

Overall rating: 5/5

Let me just start with how beautiful this book is. I just finished it and was left wanting for more in the best way possible. This book discusses magic, love, grief and loneliness in ways that feel like being enveloped in a warm hug. You are left wanting of a world where the Honey Witch and even the Ash Witch exist because it is a world where it is possible to find your soulmate. It is a world where even your grief is beautiful. Fantasy is many things but when it can make even the most heart breaking of topics such as losing a loved one, battling insecurities, and even loneliness seem beautiful then that is true magic. All praise to this wondrous novel and to the author for making something truly breathtaking.
I cannot wait for so much more from Sydney J. Shields.

By and large, this is a lovely, fairly cozy historical fantasy, but I do wish that the book came with a warning for the ectopic pregnancy that the MC and her grandmother must help resolve/treat about 20% of the way in. It's very intense (obviously) and very jarring, and I know it could be immensely triggering for some readers, particularly coming in the middle of such cozy fare. Otherwise, it's a great book, though I'm not always the biggest fan of a grumpy love interest (having it be a woman made it a bit less stereotypical/annoying, at least).

Super cozy, magical adventure. Breaks your heart and then sows it back up with love and through found family. Interesting magic system that I wish we’d seen more of. Overall, I’d recommend as a refreshing summer read.

Really really enjoyed this book! I would consider this to be cozy fantasy - the focus was definitely on the day-to-day and relationships of the MC (the actual Honey Witch), regardless of the BBG that we knew was looming.

It was very naturalistic - this is the kind of reading that I enjoy so it's not surprising that I enjoyed the book. If you are looking for an action-packed or fast-paced thrilled, this would not be a recommendation for you. But if you metaphorically want to "stop and smell the roses" this might be for you.

This is probably my favorite NetGalley eArc I've received - I have been losing faith recently but maybe will stick around for a bit longer knowing that titles like this exist!