Thank you, Netgalley, for the arc. Cover is absolutely gorgeous, and the story is nicely written. I really liked the author's style more than the story.
This is a story of self-discovery, bravery, love and magic. Mari find a place to belong and that she is ment for more.
Not my style of story, but the writing made it a pleasure to read.

Sweet and lovely, there is so much potential for an amazing read. Instead, it’s too fast and cloying with melodrama to make up for the bullet-like speed. Add some air and let the reader and the characters breathe. That said, perfect for teens or inexperienced readers that don’t mind the pacing.

i am so shocked i actually received this as an arc! i saw the author posting about it on tiktok and RAN to netgalley to see if i could get an arc! this story is so beautiful and so well done i wish i could live in it! it’s so original and i loved everything about this book! if i could rate it 10 stars, i would. i feel like this book was written for me because i literally have nothing bad to say about it at all!

The Honey Witch sets us in a lovely Victorian-esque England (?) with a young woman who everyone assumes is in want of a spouse. Except that she's rather wild and would far prefer to follow in her Grandmother's footsteps on the isle of Innisfree, caring for the wild places with the help of local spirits and, yes, some really fantastic honey. Her path towards caring for the land and the neighbouring people requires her to take on a horrible curse - will she be willing to live without true love?

The book has a lovely tone. The main character is sweet, strong, and stands with integrity to overcome even the most cruel opposition. Her main love interest is also a fascinating character who carries darkness out of grief and loss, easily misunderstood and all the richer when we get to know her. A late teen and older recommend, as the romance can get a bit detailed. Lovely book and makes me look at honey just a little bit more magically.

The Honey Witch is…aggressively fine. But it rubbed me the wrong way almost from the start; the story almost falls over itself it moves so fast, rushing as if trying to get itself over with. A story about honey-magic makes me expect lush, soft prose, and languorous pacing, but that is absolutely not what we have here; seriously, what is the damn rush? The dialogue is stilted and false, with random shifts in topic and passionate reactions that come out of nowhere and seem massively disproportionate. And rather than letting us slowly and deliciously discover this world bit by bit, Shields beats us about the head with clunky info-dumping.

There are moments of brilliance – especially in the opening chapters, Shields occasionally gives us a line that really sparkles;

<what is so wrong about being a bitch? It is the closest a girl can be to a wolf.>

But these are few and far between. There’s quite a bit of preaching, most of it shoehorned in where there really isn’t room for it; for example, early on there’s a passage where, out of nowhere, Marigold starts thinking about ‘the world’s penchant for beautiful, dead girls’. Cue a rambly aside on how society prefers girls die young and pretty rather than grow old and…become witches? Like, this is a genuine issue (well, maybe not the witchy part, in this day and age) but the lecture is coming completely out of left field; nothing in the chapter up to this point had anything to do with this topic. It’s not a tough subject being examined by the narrative; it’s Shields grandstanding, and not being even the tiniest bit subtle about it.

Then there’s the worldbuilding, which, hoo boy. So the whole honey-witches-can’t-fall-in-love thing???

<She cursed us to never have anyone fall in love with us in an attempt to end us.>

The curse isn’t a punishment, or intended to inflict suffering – the goal was to end the bloodline of honey witches. What??? Uh, does someone need to explain to Shields that love isn’t a required part of the recipe for having a child??? How in the gods’ names does cursing you to never have true love equal a family dying out???

Except no, Shields is well aware; not only did Marigold’s grandmother have a child without love, she had a child without a partner at all. She literally made a baby with magic, all by herself.

HI. IF THAT’S A THING WITCHES CAN DO…WHAT THE FUCK IS WITH THE DAMN CURSE???

It annoys the hell out of me both because it’s just stupid, and because it would have cost Shields nothing to change the motivation of the witch who cast the curse. Say she wanted this family to suffer! Say she did it out of vengeance or sadism or anger or whatever. But if her goal was to end her enemy’s bloodline, the curse is completely pointless.

Does Shields require the curse for plot? Yes. So keep the curse, but come up with some kind of reasonable backstory for it, for crying out loud. It’s not hard.

Then there’s the whole nonsense about how, just like water is the opposite of fire, and air the opposite of earth…honey is the opposite of ashes.

No.

Sorry, but. No.

Again: completely and utterly unnecessary. All you had to say was, these are the two kinds of magic, honey magic and ash magic. Ta da! You didn’t need to set them up as some kind of elemental opposites. Because now you just sound confusing and stupid.

Why is this like this???

And I don’t even want to talk about how the whole ‘Marigold, you’re a witch’ thing went down, with her mother screaming at her grandmother and being The Most Dramatic and I could not stop cringing at all of it.

The Honey Witch just…really isn’t what it’s being marketed as. The book starts with Marigold – in a Regency-esque time period – not having fun at a ball, which, fair. But the whole first 20% is just this…not-that-subtly anti-men, anti-marriage spiel, which, somewhat fair, but Shields really shoves it down your throat. Marigold is The Most Special because she goes and dances in the rain and meets up with magic butterflies rather than looking for a husband, and all of this with the fast-forward button on, and the info-dumping, and dialogue like…like I don’t even know what. Like a badly written script being performed by very bad actors. And not just info-dumping, but telling-telling-telling, recounting the past for us at light-speed so we know how all the relationships work, because we certainly don’t get a chance to get a feel for those relationships ourselves. There’s no emotional development at all, and then the grandmother whisks Marigold away to start her new life as a witch.

I was expecting – and wanted – languid storytelling, cosy and sweet, with pretty prose and a grumpy/sunshine romance. Instead, I got choppy writing, an origin story we didn’t need (seriously, it would have saved so much cringing if the story had opened with Marigold on Innisfree instead of the headless chicken that was the glimpse of her home life), insultingly stupid worldbuilding, and a book that just can’t figure out how to slow down. Did someone hand Shields back her manuscript and tell her she had to cut 300 pages or something? Because that’s almost what it feels like, a story crammed into fewer pages than it needs.

Reading The Honey Witch was like wearing the worst scratchy wool you can think of; it just itched, and it’s such a relief to call it quits and not have to deal with it any more. THANK YOU BUT NO.

Thanks to NetGalley for the Arc

Buzz Buzz, The Honey Witch, does not disappoint. Perfect for all the sapphics who desire to run away and become the town witch alongside their girlfriend. I cannot understate how much fun this was to read; in a world where every story is about saving the world, Shields looks at everyday magic and how it can be found in minor ways. Marigold and Lottie are charming; watching Lottie learn to believe in magic while Marigold finds a place she truly belongs is a beautiful contrast in motive. My only regret is that it's still winter when this arc was finished, but I will likely be rereading it once spring comes.

A sunshiney Honey Witch cursed to never fall in love meets a beautiful grump of a tattoo artist.. what could go wrong?

This book hit all the right spots for me - picture cozy, cottagecore vibes with a dash of regency era, but make it queer. There’s a light sprinkling of spice that definitely leaves you wanting more, especially when “good girl” is involved 🫠

The writing was beautiful and there are lines that will stay with me for a long time. The author does an amazing job of highlighting the power of love when given without expectation, especially within family and community. I will definitely be recommending this book to anyone who will listen, I absolutely loved it!

Thank you NetGalley and Redhook Books for this ARC!

I was so excited to read this as it sounded so magical and whimsical but also the cover is BEAUTIFUL. This book is so beautifully written. I loved all the themes in the book. Grief is always so hard but the author did an incredible job of talking about it. I really enjoyed this book and look forward to hearing my friends’ opinions on it. 🫶🏼

3.5 stars:
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for this ARC! This book is AMAZING. I've seen a lot of the author's tiktoks (for a while) about this book, and it not only met my (high) expectations but exceeded them. I thoroughly enjoyed all the Taylor Swift references. I think they were also done in a very subtle way, which is good because I HATE when books make overt pop culture references as I feel like it takes away from the timelessness of a book.

The book's overall vibe is cozy and cute, although I feel like that coziness took away from some of the actual action, which is part of the reason it's four stars not five. I think the pacing was a little off at points too, like how the entire conflict/battle at the end is squished into a chapter or two while the first half of the book is all exposition. I also would've liked the Ash witches to be explained a bit more. Since the book doesn't go super in depth into them, the whole rivalry between Versa (the ash witch) and the honey witches (specifically her family) felt less important.

Also special mention to her beautiful descriptions of Innisfree/her cottage/her house in Bardshire/ the meadow.

The Honey Witch was one of my most anticipated debuts of 2024. As a romantic fantasy lover, I had really high hopes for this book. Sapphic romantasies are scarce, and unfortunately, this book wasn’t a good one. This book had a very interesting concept that seemed cool. I loved the sound of a cottagecore sapphic romantic fantasy, but I could not stand the writing. I dislike pop culture references in books, especially when the books don’t seem to be set in modern times, and this one had too many Taylor Swift references for me to enjoy it; it felt very inauthentic and over-the-top.

I feel incredibly lucky to have received an ARC of The Honey Witch to review. I would like to thank NetGalley, Redhook Books, and Sydney J. Shields for this opportunity. I’ve had the book on pre-order from the moment I could and can’t wait to have a copy in my hands - as well as the audiobook when there is one!

The world of The Honey Witch is an odd place filled with a close-minded Victorianesque patriarchy that subjugates and controls women yet seemed supportive of all sexual orientations and relationships. While I appreciated the latter, I found the former unnecessary.

I loved Marigold but was frustrated that her grandmother did not spend enough time teaching the young woman about her magic, how Ash Witches’ magic works, or Marigold’s place in the world as Honey Witch or the Curse she was under. As a reader, the magic system of this world was very unclear and chaotic, and kind of felt made up as the story progressed. I tried to put that aside even though it bothered me throughout the book.

This story is described as ‘cozy cottage’, but it did not hit me that way. There was very little romance or happiness. When Marigold first meets Lottie, there is no spark or attraction at all, and Lottie is awful for a long time before suddenly changing and falling for the Honey Witch. I didn’t understand the flip-flop, and we never experienced Lottie’s emotional journey or how she suddenly shifted from being brusque and demeaning to Marigold to professing love. It was like she was two different characters.

All of that said, I did enjoy the book, but I was hoping for more depth to the world and characters, less telling and more showing/feeling/experiencing, and a lot more romance. I would have enjoyed more focus and effort spent on Marigold and Lottie’s relationship and less on everything else.

I love love loved this book! I read it in just three days and never wanted to put it down. It was the perfect witchy, cozy, sapphic story.

The tension between Marigold and Lottie was *chef’s kiss*, made even more intense by the curse Marigold is under. The forbidden love trope was executed just perfectly. Every touch and kiss and even glance caused pain for Lottie, but she fell for Marigold anyway. And though Lottie was nothing but rude to Marigold in the beginning, Marigold was attracted to her regardless.

Besides the love story absolutely sizzling throughout, the cozy vibes were immaculate. Marigold lives on the island of Innisfree, in a tiny cottage, tending to her bees and practicing witchcraft. And if that doesn’t sound like the perfect life I don’t know what is.

The side characters were also adorable, from Lottie’s bff August to Marigold’s troublesome siblings. Mr. Benny has my whole heart! The way he acted as a grandfather for Marigold was so wholesome and adorable.

And if you are looking for spice, The Honey Witch definitely delivers. Just because the main characters shouldn’t touch doesn’t mean they don’t….

The only reason I withheld a star from this new fave of mine was because of some issues with pacing and stakes. The stakes were absolutely so high, but the final conflict was squished into the very end, so there was no time for suspense or for me to really be invested in all that Marigold could lose. Most of the story was a slow and cozy vibe, so the final boss battle felt somewhat out of place. Other than that, though, this book was perfection!!

I absolutely recommend this book and I can’t wait to get my hands on a physical copy when it comes out!

Nestled within the pages of 'The Honey Witch', readers are transported to a whimsical world where cottage core meets the mystical allure of witches and the intricate web of a timeless curse. The author, with a masterful stroke, paints scenes of idyllic cottages surrounded by lush, enchanted forests, setting the stage for a story that unfolds like the petals of a magical bloom.

The author's attention to detail in describing the cottage core aesthetics adds a layer of visual richness, inviting readers to imagine the crackling hearth, aromatic herbs hanging from wooden beams, and the soft glow of candlelight dancing on well-worn pages of ancient spellbooks. It's a sensory experience that immerses one in the heart of this magical realm.

The prose itself is like a spell, bewitching readers with its lyrical quality and transporting them into a world where time seems to slow, allowing them to savor every moment. The author's ability to evoke emotions is truly enchanting, whether it be the joy of a shared cup of tea or the melancholy of an eternal love tinged with a hint of sorrow.

For those seeking solace in a tale that wraps them in a warm embrace of magic, love, and the simple joys of life, this book is an enchanting journey into the heart of a cozy fantasy realm.

4.5 stars! Thank you to NetGalley and Redhook Publishing for this advanced copy! You can pick up The Honey Witch on May 14, 2024.

I loved this story! Sydney J. Shields built a gorgeous, cozy world full of magic and mischief. The lore around Honey Witches and Ash Witches was fascinating, the romance was tense and sizzling, and the characters really popped off the page.

But this book also explored tender lessons on grief, found family, and identity. We see Marigold grow into herself and learn to love the parts of herself that society shunned. We see Lottie unguard her heart from Marigold and accept love from the last person she expected. And we get surprisingly heart-pounding action near the end that shows how strong Lottie and Marigold's new bond truly is.

Sydney's writing was decadent yet straightforward, and overall I really enjoyed this! If you need a cozy, witchy book set on a magical island featuring magic honeybees and slight Bridgerton vibes, this is your book!

Ahhh. A sweet, honey love. Filled with magic and longing. Historical romance LGBTQ style. Love takes time to grow into something powerful. Beautiful.

This book was a quick read, filled with adventure, conversations that aren’t always easy, persistent female characters, grief and personal growth. There was a lot of “twists” I had guessed, but I still liked how they were presented and how the solutions were met. This love story Included happy endings and heartbreak all at the same time, and that is just what we want.

The Honey Witch is a debut fantasy romance that focuses of Marigold, a woman sworn to care for a magical island. In exchange for her magic, she is cursed to never fall in love. What worked for me in this book were to moments of gorgeous, cozy imagery. The author’s idescriptions of the setting, foods, and experiences are where this book shines. The magic system is also absolutely lovely! I think I would be willing to try another book by this author again purely because of this.
However, the overall plot did not work for me. It felt rushed and drawn out at the same time.I also had a hard time being invested in the relationship. It seemed to come into being out of nowhere.The story towards the end got a little bleak, but then rapidly turned out ok? I’d say if you want to read a book just for cozy vibes and not really anything else, this could be a book for you.

Thank you for allowing me to read this ARC! I feel like this is a nice cozy palette cleanser but it did leave me wanting more…more depth? More something. There were parts that I wish it went more into detail and felt a bit rushed however I feel like it would be a perfect cozy autumn palette cleanser when you need a fun easy ready.

2.5 stars (rounded down to 2)

[Please mind the author's content/trigger warnings!]

I really, really wanted to like this book; it started out very strong for me, and I connected best to the first 30% or so of the book. After that, unfortunately, I started to struggle. By the 80%, I was skimming out of curiosity to see how the last 50 or so pages was going to wrap everything up.

Pros:
There's a lot of really strong passages and descriptions, especially regarding Innisfree. The vibes were there for me: flowers, bees, a little cottage, and low stakes. It's also always refreshing to come into a queer-normative world!

I also liked that there were plenty of passages about bodily automomy and living life the way a person sees fit (marriage versus being single for instance), and that no one way is better than the other.

I loved Mr. Benny, and August was an adorable ray of sunshine!

Cons:
There were some instances where the prose took me out of reading, words or phrases that didn't fit for the time period (like "okay"), though that I was able to put mostly put aside.

I think where I struggled to continue reading happened when... nothing really happened. It was taking care of the cottage and the island, looking up/creating spells, and that seemed to be it. Even Marigold's interaction with the love interest seemed almost inconsequential. That may also be because I didn't really feel the connection between them, which is a shame because I'm a sucker for the grumpy/sunshine dynamic!

There were some interactions between Marigold and Lottie that grabbed me for a short time, but ultimately felt rushed and somewhat forced.

Overall:
The vibes were there, but this book just wasn't for me. I do genuinely think others will enjoy it though! I think this will find its audience with those who enjoy cozy cottage romances and magical sapphics ♡

Lastly, thank you to Netgalley for providing a free digital ARC!

This story was a really lovely, witchy, sapphic, cottage core palette cleanser. (While it was so cozy and heartfelt, there are trigger warnings to be wary of! Make sure to check out before beginning!) The Honey Witch has a bee/honey related magic system which I loved and reminded me of a mix between the very secret society of irregular witches and the honeys (both queer in good measure and have elements similar to this story). Overall, I enjoyed the story but some aspects were hurried and not super flushed out. I hope you give it a go to see for yourself! 🖤