Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this digital ARC in exchange for an honest review.

The Homey Witch is a great cozy romance. It started really strong and pulled me right in! To be honest I didn’t love Marigold, but she’s unapologetic and I do like the added depth that comes with that.

This is a fun, easy read about witches and romance and I can’t recommend it enough!

Thank you to Redhook and NetGalley to providing me an eARC for one of my most anticipated reads for 2024!

Warning my review is slightly spoilerish as I talk about an event that happens around chapter 3 or 4.

The writing starts off really strong, but sadly it slowly starts to fall off. Hopefully a round of editing will significantly improve it.

I love the cozy world that Sydney created, and all the beautiful prose. It feels like I, myself, am on Innisfree and enjoying the beauty of it all. However, I wished the witch aspect was more flushed out as it felt like random things were thrown out and never properly explained. Like Marigold (the name suits her perfectly) drinking the vial of honey. Did it unlock or strengthen her powers? What was so special about that particular honey?

A bit more on the writing aspect, every conversation felt awkward and overly formal when it’s just Marigold talking to her family. Also the third person pov constantly changed from a narrator telling the story to seeing the world through Marigold’s eyes. The voice isn’t consistent.

To sum it up, the writing starts off strong with beautiful prose. But then it falls off, and the writing becomes flat and awkward. Moreover, the magic and spells need to be flushed out instead of it being whatever is convenient. I hope there’ll be significant improvements in the writing before the book is published.

A cozy story about magic and witches, sign me up! I thought this was such a nice story and I really loved the world building the author did.

This story has all the tropes you could want: enemies to lovers, forbidden love and soulmates. If you love getting lost in magical world, you’ll love this book!

Also thank you to Redhook books, NetGalley and Orbit books for letting me read the arc of this book!

A fantasy with magic and queer romance. The concept of honey and ash magic was interesting and unique. The characters were kind and lovable. I always appreciate a world where characters can be gay and it’s totally normal. No extra commentary or explanation required.

Themes of grief and loneliness explored.

Overall, I’d say my biggest critique was the pacing. While I think the writing was strong, I struggled through the first 25%. I wish this would have been condensed and trimmed down. Then the ending was almost rapid fire events. I think we could have cut out some of the fluff to give space for some of the more pivotal plot moments to have more time.

The Honey Witch was warm, cozy, and captivating. The characters are written beautifully and deeply. I felt a very real connection and especially loved the strong relationship with Marigold’s grandmother. The relationships played out in a way that was genuine and authentic and the complexities and hardships made them rise off the page becoming more relatable. I loved the relationship between Marigold & Lottie. It wasn’t insta-love and it unfolded in a unique way. I also appreciated the LGBTQ+ rep. It was natural and it was nice to read a book where it wasn’t a big deal and it was just a normal and accepted part of their world.

I loved the all the witchy vibes and magic. I also loved the focus on and power of the bees - it was such a unique part of the storyline. The author has a lovely writing style - it’s very whimsical and poetic. Overall, absolutely adored this book and cannot wait for future books from the author.

This review will be posted on social media closer to the publish date. Thank you to NetGalley & Orbit Books for the eARC!

I had a hard time getting into this book. I didn't think Marigold or Lottie were likable or compelling characters, which made it hard for me to feel invested in the story. For example, Marigold makes fun of another woman for pining after a man ("'Ooh, notice me, love me, I'm just a silly girl and I want a silly husband,' she mocks"). Her grandmother criticizes her for this and it's made clear that Marigold is being unfair, but I wasn't invested enough to see whether she became any more likable by the end.

Some of the other reviews have called this a "cozy fantasy" which I think is apt. The plot and pacing was pretty laid back, which just isn't my cup of tea. I like a plot that's more high stakes. But if you're looking for a chill fantasy then I'd still suggest giving this book a try for yourself.

First of all, the cover is absolutely beautiful and eye catching.
I will say the beginning is a little slow but it was a cute cozy little fantasy and it did make me tear up. A wholesome book with a magic ride.

The Honey Witch was an absolute delight! I was entranced from the very beginning and it never let me out of its clutches. Marigold was a delightful protagonist, both boldly unapologetic and deeply conflicted. As for the romance, it took my breath away. Brew yourself a pot of tea (with lavender and honey of course) and cozy up with this enchanting, romantic, cozy fantasy debut!

This was a cute and cozy fantasy with a side of romance. Ultimately the writing and the story didn't quite hold my interest as I hoped, but I think that those who are looking for a cozy witch story will really enjoy this book!

The Honey Witch is a soft, gentle and cozy fantasy following Marigold, a young Honey Witch who, upon discovering her identity coming from a long line of Honey Witches, leaves her family and the expectations of a boring, lonely marriage of tradition, to live in Innisfree, somewhere her connection with nature, ability to understand spirits and bees allows her to be free, and her truest self. As she begins utilizing her magic and harvesting honey with the intent to help people who come to her for help, Mari begins to grow and adapt to her new life. However, loneliness ails her until an old friend and an alluring young woman begin to share her life.
 
This book feels very soft and gentle to me. Although there are some minor and oblique trigger warnings, this is a lighthearted story with a gentle (maybe a bit rough around the edges) main character whose mannerisms are warm. The book is also gentle, and a bit meandering as we follow Marigold as she learns from and takes over for her grandmother whose time is coming to an end. With a touch of family drama, this is mostly a feel-good book that explores themes of loneliness, friendship, the healing powers of nature, and a tentative but endearing sapphic romance.

This book is gentle and in touch with the most innocent parts of nature. It is a good book to read outside during springtime. It's definitely a story of personal growth and the writing allows you to feel and experience new things along with Marigold. It's oddly a bit of an emotional journey as you and Marigold learn how to control her magic and care for others as she learns to be a guardian of sorts. Marigold is confident in knowing what her goals are and what she wants to do. She's a cute character and I practically pictured her in chibi animation style.

I'm personally not particularly a fan of cozy fantasy, so this one wasn't really for me, but I did enjoy a number of parts of the book. Marigold learning about nature and taking on the responsibility of caring for others was so beautiful and relatable. Her character is generally a cute fluffball, and the writing is so beautiful and immersive. A charming springtime read!

Who knew beekeeping could be so magical!

Marigold Claude follows in her grandmother’s footsteps and becomes a magical beekeeping witch! The only drawback is that no one can fall in love with the Honey Witch. That is, until she meets Lottie Burke, a magic non-believer who sparks a little more than a challenge in Marigold’s heart.

I thought this book was so cute. It’s every cottagecore girl’s dream. The relationship between Marigold and her grandmother was especially heartwarming. I enjoyed the romance, despite how cheesy and insta-love-y as it was. It fits the cozy vibes the book establishes perfectly.

If you’re looking for a complex magic system and a deep winding story, this may not be the book for you. It’s a simple, feel good fantasy, filled with cheesy dialogue and a fairytale-like narrative. Perfect for a cozy night in.

Thank you to NetGalley and Redhook Books for this ARC.

First of all, can we have a moment of awe to appreciate the book cover? It’s so magical.

Marigold doesn’t feel like she belongs. Not in her home or town. She is twenty years old, without any prospects or talents. She should be married and expecting a child because that’s the only role for women in her town. But you know what else? She is a wild creature that feels connected to the grass, sky, and moon. She is the daughter of the earth. She is the honey witch.

Marigold leaves with her grandmother to follow her fate as a honey witch, where she’ll meet Lottie Burke, who doesn’t believe in magic, but Marigold is determined to prove her wrong.

This is a journey of self-discovery, bravery, and magic. The writing is so poetic and enchanting. I felt like there were fireworks in my brain while reading! It was that good.

I love Marigold, but I have mixed feelings about Lottie. To be completely honest, I’m more in love with the author's writing than the story itself. It was a magical story, but it wasn’t for me.

Thank you NetGalley and Redhook Books for this ARC.

There seems to be a booming business for cozy fantasy at the moment, causing all kinds of titles with varying levels of quality coming onto the scene. Fortunately for us, The Honey Witch is one of the better ones. Wtih good pacing and an original plot, it avoids the pitfall of assuming that a book is cozy because it has a cozy setting without giving characters and the plot the attention they deserve. Sydney Shields has written a great little book.

Such a sweet sweet story. Although it was a decently slow story throughout, it was calming and did make me cry. Very thoughtful book.

Absolutely stunning.

⭐️: 4.75/5
🌶️: 1/5, Mild Salsa

I have a hard time believing this is a debut novel. I am impressed and so sad it’s over. Reading The Honey Witch took me into a book world the way books used to when I was younger. Innisfree feels real. Shields’ unique writing style and fresh POV made for an enchanting read about an enchanting world, and you can’t ask for more from a fantasy book about a golden witch.

No spoilers, because this doesn’t come out until May 2024, but some of my favorites included:
✨ The present tense writing - We just don’t see books written in present tense often, so it brought things very into the moment. It helped foreshadowing stay a little hidden, and you discovered things along with the character.
✨ The detail in the witch’s world - Often, books either give little to know description of a magic system, or elaborate in near-painful detail that drags the book (and those info-dump scenes) too long. The Honey Witch does neither, giving the world’s magic a more natural slant.
✨ Diversity Doppler - It’s basically the Bechdel’s test but for diversity in books: does the book feature more than one marginalized community? YES!
✨ True twist and mystery until the end - You know those books where, about 87% in, everything’s all wrapped up with an HEA, and the last 10% is basically epilogue? Not here, friends. I loved that there were threads of mystery throughout.
✨ Comfort - The Honey Witch brought me back to those feelings you love to get while reading. This books feels cozy.

🌶️ Salsa Ingredients: This could very nearly be a closed-door romance but for one scene that is critical to the plot of the book. The one scene uses softer explicit language.

The pacing is quite fast. There will be scenes that come up quickly with shorter or more abrupt transitions, so be prepared for that! You also may be left with questions about the magic system or societal system that aren’t explicitly defined, but in my opinion, this fits the book well, especially one of the main character arcs.

Overall, this is one of my best reads of the year, and it isn’t even out yet. Shields is one to watch.

**ARC Review: I was given an advance copy of this book to read in exchange for my honest review.**

I really wanted to like this, but unfortunately it didn’t do it for me. I think it was the writing style- it seemed to suffer from a lot of telling rather than showing. It was also very predictable. I’m sure this will go over well with some people, it just wasn’t for me.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for allowing me to read this advanced copy in exchange for my honest review! Even though we are still within the first week of 2024, I feel strongly that this novel will end up becoming one of my favorites of the year. Marigold, the protagonist, is delightful and grew so much over the course of this novel. She had to learn to not only trust herself, but her family and friends as well. This novel truly gave me witchy LGBTQIA+ Bridgerton vibes...I'm in love!! The power system in the book was complex yet easily understandable, the characters were all multidimensional, and the fact that there was no racism or homophobia present was just astounding. I love that the author chose not to include either of those things, given the time period and setting of the novel. There was some time period-typical misogyny and questionable feelings in regards to tattoos, but overall this novel was just incredible. Even the relationship between Mari and her mother, which started off rocky, got a sweet resolution by the end. Some of the plot points were easily guessable, but I think the mark of a good author is when they're able to set things up for their audience with subtle clues throughout the text.
I ADORE that Mari and Lottie got the ending that they truly deserved, Queer/Sapphic literature absolutely needs more happy endings like this. I hope to see more novels like this in the future, and sincerely wish the author nothing but the best! I will be running, not walking, to pick up my own copy of this as soon as the physical copies are released.

The Honey Witch tells the story of a world filled with magic, curses, soulmates, and women who defy societal expectations. When Marigold agrees to join her grandmother and accept her destiny as the next Honey Witch, things get complicated. I found the book a little slow to start, but it picked up and had nice character development. If you're a fan of magic and true love, this one is absolutely worth the read.

First of all, can we have a moment of awe to appreciate the book cover? It’s so magical.
 
Marigold doesn’t feel like she belongs. Not in her home or town. She is twenty years old, without any prospects or talents. She should be married and expecting a child because that’s the only role for women in her town. But you know what else? She is a wild creature that feels connected to the grass, sky, and moon. She is the daughter of the earth. She is the honey witch.
 
Marigold leaves with her grandmother to follow her fate as a honey witch, where she’ll meet Lottie Burke, who doesn’t believe in magic, but Marigold is determined to prove her wrong.
 
This is a journey of self-discovery, bravery, and magic. The writing is so poetic and enchanting. I felt like there were fireworks in my brain while reading! It was that good.
 
I love Marigold, but I have mixed feelings about Lottie. To be completely honest, I’m more in love with the author's writing than the story itself. It was a magical story, but it wasn’t for me.

Thank you NetGalley and Redhook Books for this ARC.

Absolutely loveddd this book!! The romance was the perfect balance of yearning and seeing the characters get to explore their relationship. The romance was just filled with such strong tension I was having such a fun time just reading even small glances between the characters. I really liked the magical aspects and thought it was cool how some things I recognized in my own slight knowledge in herbalism. Absolutely lovely book!!