I loved this book so much! This book is such a perfect fit for the rising genre of cozy witchy books. It was so nice to read a cozy fantasy book with queer characters and a new setting. I think that many readers will love this one. Thanks NetGalley for allowing me to read this one!

The Honey Witch by Sydney Shields - eBook ARC

Title: The Honey Witch - A Departure into Enchanting Realms

As an avid reader of epic fantasy, I am always on the lookout for stories that transport me to realms of magic. When I stumbled upon "The Honey Witch" by Sydney J Shields, I found myself intrigued by the promise of a different kind of enchantment. Shields' novel, while a departure from the sprawling landscapes and epic battles typical of the genre, offers a refreshing and intimate exploration of magic woven into the fabric of everyday life.

Set in a quaint village nestled amidst rolling hills and ancient forests, "The Honey Witch" follows the journey of Mara, a young woman with a unique gift for beekeeping and an affinity for the mystical energies that course through the natural world. In a narrative that unfolds like the delicate dance of honeybees among wildflowers, Shields masterfully blends elements of folklore, herbalism, and elemental magic to create a world that feels both familiar and fantastical.

Despite its quieter pace, "The Honey Witch" is not without its moments of tension and intrigue. As Mara delves deeper into the mysteries of her craft, she finds herself drawn into a web of ancient rivalries and hidden dangers that threaten to upend the delicate balance of her world. Shields expertly ratchets up the stakes, building towards a climax that is as thrilling as it is satisfying, reminding readers that even the smallest of actions can have far-reaching consequences.

In conclusion, "The Honey Witch" may not offer the sweeping scope and epic battles of traditional fantasy fare, but what it lacks in grandiosity, it more than makes up for in charm, depth, and heart. Sydney J Shields' lyrical prose and vivid imagination combine to create a captivating tale that will linger in the minds of readers long after the final page is turned. Whether you're a seasoned fantasy enthusiast or simply seeking a magical escape from the mundane, "The Honey Witch" is sure to cast its spell upon you.

We are following Marigold Claude as she discovers she is a honey witch. She travels to Innisfree with her grandmother where she trains to be the next Honey Witch. She has the ability to communicate with bees and use their honey for potions to cure the villagers' ailments.. But her newfound magic and independence come with a No one can fall in love with the Honey Witch. Of course things become messy when Marigold meets Lottie, a grumpy skeptic and sparks fly.

I thought this book was cute, but read a bit YA to me even though our character was 21 years old. I enjoyed seeing Marigold grow into herself and deal with difficult challenges in her new found home. She finds love with a grumpy female who is an Ash Witch, the opposite of a Honey Witch, so it is a grumpy sunshine romance trope. At times I was a bit bored with the day to day activities of our characters. I wish there were more high stakes or action involved in the story.

Thank you to Netgalley and Redhook books for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

i thought this book was so sweet!! my favorite was marigold, i just related to her so much!

thank you Netgalley for the eARC!

Honestly, the main character really got on my nerves. This book is the "not like other girls" trope on steroids. The lush writing was beautiful in some parts, but felt overwritten overall. My experience with this book is so unfortunate because I was really, really looking forward to it since I love stories set in cottages with magic and whimsy, but it really was a slog to get through!

I really wanted to love this book. It started off very promising. Unfortunately, it was just too slow for my liking. I felt like I kept waiting for something interesting to happen the whole time. It just couldn't keep my attention. It's well written and definitely has potential as a cozy read, it's just not for me.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

This book made me realize something about my reading preferences: I am not a huge fan of books written in a third person POV in the present tense. I was having trouble connecting with the story initially, and when I pinpointed that as the issue, it actually made it a lot easier to get into it. I loved the general idea behind this book, and the magic system was very fun. Parts of it (especially the ending) felt maybe a little off or rushed, pacing-wise, and the villain wasn't very three dimensional, but overall this was a fun, light cottagecore sapphic romantasy. And that cover! So dreamy!

(Rating this 3.5 stars, adjusting slightly for this feedback format)

The way The Honey Witch has been marketed, I knew I had to read it. While I’m not sure either of the two works it was compared to in its marketing felt right for me (Howls Moving Castle meets Jane Austen), it was a fun and at times cozy and whimsical read!

My overall feeling is that this book felt like it was trying to do too much at once. You start the story attending a regency era ball that our FMC desperately doesn’t want to be attending with characters that honestly could have been completely edited out of the story, now that I look back. Then maybe three chapters in, there’s a sharp pivot, introducing the stakes of the book, which tonally to me felt fairly light and almost cozy until the last few chapters. You get a quick snapshot of the art of tattooing in the regency era, and then you’re thrust into the middle of a high stakes fiery battle between good and evil.

Maybe as a result of all of these things it’s trying to accomplish, it feels to me like this book struggles a little with how it handles the passage of time, lingering in small moments but then lurching forward without any warning.

This book should have been squarely up my alley but I left its world feeling like I wished the book had had a few more editing passes to workshop some of these issues. I wanted better for not only the characters themselves (especially the grandmother’s love interest!) but also the ideas lain out in the story.

All that said, there were moments so cozy and so sweet that I deeply enjoyed. Throw in a bit of found family, albeit with a rough start, and I really did enjoy spending time in the world of The Honey Witch.

Thank you to Netgalley for the advance copy.

I really enjoyed the general story of this book but just felt the book was weirdly paced with too much filler. The storyline and the relationships and romance was really well put together and had a great ending.

The Honey Witch is a book to sit down and chill with no hurries or worries. It entices you in with a cozy, cottage core vibe, and then completely enchants you with the fantastical and the magic. The relaxed pacing of the story allows you to savor every sweet and deliciously sticky description--just like honey. Readers looking for an original take on witches and magic should definitely read this!

[Netgalley ARC]

Unfortunately this book just wasn't for me. This was an anticipated release for me partly due to the beautiful cover and partly due to the interesting premise. I was really anticipating cozy vibes from this, but the coziness could not overcoming the writing style for me.

My main issue with this book was the dialogue and inner monolouge of the characters. It is stiff and doesn't flow well. It also seemed like the author couldn't make up her mind if she should stick with speech that seemed more historical or include modern terms in as well. I enjoyed the sections where the author described the island and the magic very interested, but any explanation was all within dialogue which really slowed down each scene and took me out of the cozy vibes.

A lot of the story is repetitive and the plot is very slow. Though I enjoy a slow cozy story, the plot hadn't really appeared and there was no evidence of romance at the point where I DNF'd.

I did enjoy some of the themes the author started to explore such as grief and loss. I also appreciated that she was setting this up to be a most diverse story than most fantasy stories we see.

Despite these positives I was not having a good time and decided to DNF at 30%.

before i give a review, i would like to thank rhe publisher redhook books and netgalley for giving me an early copy for an exchange for a review. i honestly thought this was okay, i’ve read better written fantasies but i will still try to read more from this author in the future considering this is their debut so they have room to grow so i'll give them the benefit of the doubt. i cant wait to see what they write next. be sure to pick up this book if you're interested on release day. the release is may 14, 2024 in north america.

I was fortunate to receive an ARC for review, so shoutout to the author and NetGalley!

3/5 ⭐️ 1/5 🌶️

I was looking to switch things up with this book, since it seemed to have cozier (and witchier) vibes than my typical romantasy picks. I found the magic system to be refreshingly unique, and the author created a cute (but, thankfully, not sickly sweet) atmosphere through a diverse cast of characters.

If you’re looking for a drawn out, more-than-YA, enemies to lovers style romance, this won’t be it for you. If a sapphic, Bridgerton-esque storyline that tackles unique themes piques your interest, then you’ve absolutely found your next read!

This book has been on my must read list for ages and I was so excited to receive the ARC for it! The cover is beautiful and if someone is looking for a cozy, low-stakes fantasy this is the book for them. Marigold and Lottie's pining is lovely and I really enjoyed all of the imagery (and sneaky Taylor Swift references) that the author included. I found myself emotional at the end and would recommend this to someone looking for a gentle read with sapphic romance.

The Honey Witch made me feel all of the feelings. This story is mostly one of found family, love, and friendship.

The vibes are definitely giving in this book. I feel like it was so easy to immerse myself into the world.

This is definitely a cozy fantasy, and I would recommend it for fans of Legends and Lattes.

The magic system is easy to understand, even if you don't normally read fantasy it won't take long to get enveloped into the world.

I loved this book, it felt like a warm hug!

I LOVED this book! I would definitely recommend but read the trigger warnings. There is death and grief as well as miscarriage. I am going to be thinking about these characters for a long time! Thank you! I can’t wait to order a physical copy!

I absolutely loved this book! It was so cozy and comforting. It genuinely felt like a nice warm hug. I loved the world and how magical and whimsical it felt. I felt like I was able to really imagine and see the island as if I were there. I also loved the characters. All of the relationships were amazing and fun to watch develop. I definitely want to see more of August and Frankie characters because they were hilarious! I don’t think I could say anything to truly convey how much I adored this story.

𝕋𝕙𝕖 ℍ𝕠𝕟𝕖𝕪 𝕎𝕚𝕥𝕔𝕙 🐝

Marigold has never fit in. Growing up in a town full of artist, with an exceedingly talented family, her apparent lack of any creative skills has made her an outcast. Her only real hope for acceptance was marriage, but Marigold refuses to be tamed. The only time she truly feels alive is when she’s dancing in the meadow under the full moon, an act that would be deemed improper and embarrassing by her mother and their peers.

All that begins to change when an unexpected visit from her estranged grandmother turns Marigold’s world upside down. Her grandmother has been the only person to ever make her feel like she’s belonged, and now she knows why: Marigold is a Honey Witch, and it’s time for her to come to her grandmothers sacred isle to protect the ancient magic it holds from a great evil bent on destroying it.

There is, however, one catch to claiming her magic: a curse that means no one can ever fall in love with her. At first this doesn’t seem so bad, but when Marigold meets an angsty redhead who doesn’t believe in magic, she’s suddenly not so sure if she can spend a lifetime living without love.

The Honey Witch was the cozy, sapphic, witchy romance I didn’t know I needed in my life. As the name implies, everything about this celebration of love, in all its forms, was so very sweet. I adored Marigold, and absolutely loved her refusal to fit into one of society’s boxes, and her commitment to being wholly herself. The magic system was simple and elegant, as was the writing. Overall a very enjoyable read that kept me smiling the entire time. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Pub Date: May 14, 2024

Thank you NetGalley and Orbit Books for this free e-reader copy in exchange for an honest review.

I absolutely loved this. I enjoyed branching out and reading a sapphic love story. I think the character development and story like were great! Lots of cozy cottage vibes

Marigold Claude is a Honey Witch, a dream come true for the girl who has always felt more drawn to meadows and full moons than men and marriage, but there is a catch: she is cursed to never find true love. Enter Lottie Burke, a prickly skeptic who refuses to believe in magic. Feelings begin to blossom in this cozy sapphic fantasy, but something dark burns in the background.

I struggled with this one in the beginning. This is marketed as an adult novel (and it is; there is enough spice (albeit not that much) to warrant that haha), but the writing in the first third felt incredibly “showing with no telling” to me and it read very much like a story for young adult readers. But I was ultimately glad that I pushed through. After about the first third, I found myself enjoying the book a lot more. I’m not sure if the writing got better or if there had been enough establishment of plot and characters that I cared more about what was going to happen (and thus could overlook the lesser quality writing).

The stakes felt higher midway through and I actually found myself rather invested in Marigold and Lottie’s relationship (grumpy and sunshine for the win!). We also get enough background on Lottie to understand why she’s so prickly and this helped make up for what felt like, in my opinion, extreme antagonism during her first few meetings with Marigold.

As someone who works in the environmental field, I also really appreciated the care and detail that went into describing beekeeping and the making of the honey witch spells. #SaveTheBees

I read a few other reviews on this one before I picked it up and knew that it started off slower. Ultimately, I think that made the story better for me because I knew it would likely pick up and thus I was incentivized to continue reading. If you're looking for something lighter, not too worried about writing quality, and love a good cozy, sapphic read, I'd give this one a go!

Thank you to NetGalley and Orbit Books for providing me with an advanced reader's copy to review.