DNF @ 20%

The writing for this was not for me. The pacing felt hurried, and, although the vibes were sweet and magical, I wasn't getting invested. This may be a good novel for some, but not for me.

I just finished reading a copy of the honey witch by Sydney j. Shields that I was granted a free copy of four of you by net gallery. I did not receive any compensation for this review. All opinions and thoughts written here are my own.
The honey witch by Sydney j. Shields he has a refreshing love story that proves that love conquers all through time and space. And regardless of gender, love is the healer of all things that trouble the world.
I thoroughly enjoyed reading this refreshing tale that had a little bit of old world charm with the clean feeling of the purity of Love, washing away and healing the wounds that darkness can cause. This was a very refreshing, low pressure, easy read . I also love the way that The characters here really showcase the arts of physical art, music and the art of cooking, and healing as well.
I found this story very enjoyable and refreshing. I hope to be allowed to continue to read any other books that Sydney j. Shields rights in the future and I hope she continues the stories with these characters. I would be interested to see where they go from here
Thank you very much for this wonderful piece of work

DNF- 50%

I was excited to read this book, especially since it was featured in a book box, but i just couldn't finish this book, The reason why I am leaving a review is because i did read half the book and that took my time.

I felt the story was a bit rushed and a little...meh. The MC didn't really interest me so therefore i didn't really care for her story. I felt bored the entire time until i decided to not finish it.

The Honey Witch by Sydney J. Shields was one of my favorite reads for 2024. I loved the world building and Marigold’s journey of self discovery. The love story was secondary to the main plot but still essential and beautiful. I can’t wait for more from this new author. This gets an uncommon 5⭐️ from me.

This was pure magic. I left like I was watching a theater play right in front of me while reading this book. The author was able to not only capture my attention, but keep me glued to the pages all the way until the end. When the end? Oh wow, it definitely went from 0 to 100, I was holding my breath all the until the end. What an epic journey.

1.5

I started this book at least 3 times before I finally finished and I kept giving up between the 10-20% mark and I kept trying again because I had hope it would get better and it just didn’t and I’m so sad about it.

The Honey Witch is cottagecore sapphic fantasy which on paper should totally work for me, but I struggled with the writing. It felt very stilted, especially in the dialogue, and prevented me from getting immersed in the story, which then gave me time to pick holes in the world building and pacing that I might have been able to overlook if I had been more immersed. I have seen some people love this, and I truly think it was the writing that made me struggle so much, so I would recommend sampling the first couple chapters to see if it works for you.

The Honey Witch is a bit of a mixed bag. Some of the prose is beautiful, with lines that are evocatively crafted and unique descriptions. Some of the plotting was a little confusing, like the juxtaposition of honey and ashes.

Unfortunately this fully missed the mark of being a cozy cottagecore fantasy for me. If you have to keep reminding me over and over and over again how whimsical and vibrant and magical everything is then, well, it’s simply not. An atmosphere cannot be shoved onto readers, it has to actually be built through your skills as a writer.

The opening portion of this book, the entire lead up to Marigold discovering her witch calling, is her fighting against societal norms that dedicate that she must be a wife and mother. The whole point is that finding out she’s a Honey Witch makes it click for her that the reason she never fit in was because she has a different calling. And yet, this whole time same-sex couples are happily accepted. How can you have enforced gender roles in a queernormative world? Because despite the lack of homophobia, this world mirrors the regency era fairly close. Women are still forced to have a chaperone when in mixed company. There’s a whole plot point about how it’s illegal for women to have tattoos but it’s fine for men. Aster mentions making the “unconventional” decision to make Frankie a part of her bridal party.

On top of that, at no point does Marigold dismantle her own misogynistic perceptions. She looks down on and mocks the “silly” love struck girls she encounters. She believes she’s more enlightened because she “wants more for her life.” Even her own grandmother calls her out on it. And you’d think this means at some point Marigold would have a moment to change her way of thinking, but she doesn’t! We never touch on it again.

This is advertised as a grumpy x sunshine romance but there is no grump or sunshine. Just because Marigold is all golden honey and flowers does not make her sunshine. The title is meant to describe personality… and her personality is nowhere near constant positivity and happiness. She’s literally miserable for the majority of the book, and with a temper to match. Lottie may be somewhat closed off and sour at the beginning, but it’s later revealed that it was the curse’s influence, so! She’s not even a true grump, it’s just a cop-out. If anything Marigold should have been the grump and Lottie should have been some lovey-dovey sunshine girl that Marigold would have called an airhead. That way Marigold would have been forced to change her perception on other women.

So much of the plot was predictable. There were so many ways to prevent what happened. Marigold’s grandmother sought her out to train her as her replacement because she feared the Ash Witch would return and overpower her. But as the new Honey Witch, the moment there is a hint of danger Marigold leaves the island. Things are being set on fire and she leaves to visit home.

Our main conflict, the love curse, is trampled on the entire book. The Ash Witch cast the curse in an attempt to destroy the Honey Witch bloodline. But Marigold’s grandmother circumvents this by magically creating asexual reproduction. But that doesn’t even matter because apparently the curse bends against the will of soulmates?

The ending was so convoluted, it was difficult to follow along with the revelations made about Lottie’s origins. It was too rushed compared to the more leisure pace of the rest of the book. I was left feeling very unsatisfied by the world building, romance, and ending.

I wanted to love this cottage core fantasy romance but it was so painfully slow in the middle I lost interest. This book was cute and cozy and delivered on the cozy fantasy vibes but the plot felt very underwhelming and the pacing felt all over the place the beginning felt fast paced and info heavy but about a third of the way in it felt like it slowed way down. I enjoyed the ending but at that point I just kind of wanted to finish the book. I think my biggest issue with this book was it read very ya, so much so I actually went back and checked to make sure I didn’t misread what it was categorized as. The characters felt young and when some of the spicy scenes came up I was kind of shocked. I don’t think this author is for me but if you enjoy ya romantasy you may enjoy this, personally I just enjoyed a more fleshed out world and plot.I would like to thank NetGalley and the publishers for a chance to read this book for an honest review.

The Honey Witch is a cozy, sapphic, witchy cottagcore book, a perfect read for lovers of cozy fantasy.

A Beautiful fantasy. I loved getting lost in the lore and the spells and the romance was lovely. I've recommended this book to several of my friends already.

I unfortunately couldn’t get into this book and ended up putting it down. I could see where it has a specific audience that’d enjoy it, but it wasn’t for me.

Sapphic love story with grumpyxsunshine!! This has been one of my favorite romantasies I've read. And it stands out to me in a subgenera that is quickly becoming very crowded. I lovedddd this and truly will be screaming about this to everyone to PLEASE read it!!

Absolutely loved it! I thought based off the cover and description that the story was going to be more on the soft cottagecore sapphic vibe, but it had a lot of other aspects that made the story unique! The curse played a big part of making the story slightly more dark and dramatic which I loved, and the romance was perfect. Would definitely recommend giving it a read!

Set against the backdrop of a small, magical village, this book is a perfect read for the colder months when you’re craving something that feels like a warm cup of tea. The story follows a witch with a unique gift for honey making and her unexpected connection with a newcomer who brings a touch of mystery—and plenty of romantic tension—to her otherwise peaceful life. The romance unfolds with a slow burn that feels genuine and heartwarming, with moments that will leave you smiling and rooting for their happily-ever-after.

The lush descriptions of the magical environment, complete with enchanting forests and candlelit cottages, perfectly capture the cozy autumn and winter aesthetic. The writing is vivid and atmospheric, pulling you into a world where magic feels tangible yet grounded.

What sets The Honey Witch apart is its exploration of themes like belonging, self-discovery, and the power of community. The characters are relatable and well-rounded, with plenty of witty banter and tender moments to enjoy. Overall it’s a charming debut that promises great things for the author’s future works.

One of the cutest, coziest and heartwarming romantic fantasies I have read to date! This story was wonderful, and the underlying themes of dealing with grief really hit home for me, especially having to do with her grandmother.
I LOVED the bees. The honey witch just drew you into her cottagecore fantasy world and made all your dreams come true! I do wish it had been a bit longer and hadn’t ended a bit too abruptly, I wanted to see more of Marigold and Lottie as they navigated their newfound relationship together. But that was my only teeny tiny complaint. I hope to see much more of Sydney shields!!

Thank you to Netgalley and the Publishing Company for this Advanced Readers Copy of The Honey Witch by Sydney J. Shields!

This book was one of my absolute favorite reads this year and probably ever. Their relationship was my absolute favorite and the build was spectacular. I fell in love with their love.

I ended up DNFing this title at 68%. I was sold on the cozy aspect of the book and the sapphic tattooed love story but the story felt under developed and too drawn out. I’ll probably try to listen to the audio book to see if it helps with the pacing but as a book it felt a little dry.

Shields’ writing is warm and atmospheric, effortlessly pulling you into a world filled with enchanting details and heartfelt moments. The romance is tender, and the exploration of healing—both magical and emotional—gives the story real depth. While the pacing is gentle and might feel slow for some, the charming characters and whimsical setting make it a delightful read for fans of magical realism and heartfelt fantasy.