3.75 stars, but rounding up to 4. I had the pleasure of reading a ARC copy of the Honey Witch.

Marigold Claude is getting close to spinsterhood at only 21, but she has no dreams of finding love, but instead, prefers to spend time in the meadows, and having friendships with spirits, and becoming a Honey Witch.

That all changes as an old friend brings Lottie, a skeptic, to meet her, and as they grow close, it challenges Marigolds decisions of love or magic.

The narrative is lyrical, but not in an overdetailed way. The author was able to provide a description of the world in a beautiful way, but quick and to the point, I was able to be immersed quickly.

It was a very cozy read, enjoyable and perfect for reading while sipping tea outside in the garden!

As wonderful as the vibes are, the dialog at time was a bit out of sorts, which made it jarring compared to the narrative. There are lines by both Marigold and the Althea felt forced in the beginning, but around 20% of the way through, it starts to get better.

I wish that when her Grandmother, Althea, gave the backstory, it was richer. It was a good high level recap, but I would have loved it if we could re-live it through her eyes instead. The moment when Marigold learns of her true nature was an info-dump, which takes the reader out of the world. I would have loved a change of POV or even having it told more detailed sporadically throughout the book so it feels more mysterious throughout the novel.

I like the FMC, Marigold! She is fun and snarky and clever! She recognized her faults, and didn’t make excuses for them, and her positivity had me smiling throughout the book.

If you are looking for a book full of magic that wraps you up in coziness, this is it. Marigold is determined to stay true to herself, even if she knows she’s a bit different from the rest of her loving family. Her grandmother shows her why, and then begins to show her why they are called a Honey Witch. I never knew there were so many different types of honey, or how the flavors can be so subtle. (Also, I was so excited to see the Savannah Bee Company credited for where Sydney learned so much!) Caring for the land and its creatures is an honor. Is that enough?

Enter her childhood best friend August and the most sour woman Marigold has ever met. Lottie mocks her magic any chance she can get. How can such a kind hearted friend also be friends with this woman?! Let them take you on a journey of frustration, earning trust, dancing, goodbyes (for a bit), heartbreak, and perseverance.

I also loved the mix of relationships represented. The loneliness that can come from not being able to be with the one you love, hetero, WLM, MLM, and Bi all represented. I went into this story expecting just a cozy witchy book. I got so much more. Now, excuse me while I go buy a wide variety of honey to try.

I want to thank Orbit Books US, NetGalley, and Sydney J Shields for this ARC copy in exchange for an honest review. It was truly an honor to get to read The Honey Witch early.

Do you like Bridgerton but wish it was witchy and LGBTQ+? Do you feel like you’re secretly a witch meant travel to a magical island and protect nature? Do you love bees? Yes? Well, have I got a book rec for you!

Marigold has never felt at home in Bardshire’s rigid social climate. As the eldest of the Claude siblings, she is a pariah that grows more isolated every year that she is not married.

When her grandmother, Althea, returns to take her to Innisfree and fulfill her destiny, she must make the decision: find her happiness and leave her family or live life missing a piece of herself. Being Honey Witch comes with one downside - she can never be loved.

The Honey Witch follows Marigold through the ups and down of taking on the Honey Witch mantle, and the consequences of her grandmothers feud with the Ash Witches. Can she overcome their curse and save Innisfree?

This is in the top 5 most romantic books I’ve read this year. It is lighthearted, loving, intense, and hopeful.

I had the honor of reading an ARC of this book. It has been my first advanced copy, and let me say it has set the tone high for the others!! I was so excited to get approved for this novel as it's been top of my list for 2024, and I've seen so many reviews on tiktok about it!

This book gives very cozy cottage witchy vibes. A perfect Sapphic novel with a slight slow-burn. You heard it, Lesbians and witches. The author does a great job of setting up the fantasy world and giving each character life (no flats here)!! I love how the magic surrounds bees, and the author (Sydney Shields) is actually also a beekeeper!! It's such a cute way of adding your life experiences into a novel. There are a total of 13 (I believe) Taylor Swift references to find in this book, I have found 5 and I can't wait for others to read it so I can see which ones I've missed!!

The storyline is between a girl (Marigold) and her grandmother, and overall follows Marigold's journey as a Honey Witch. She's so cool. Chapter 34 had me REELING. Needless to say, I'll also be pre-ordering a copy because my ARC was digital, and I can't wait to have the final book in my hands!! I have a long list of quotes that I hope Sydney Shields keeps in the books!

This book is a cozy hug in book form. And the writing? Total Rebecca Ross vibes. If you're a fan, you know what I'm talking about. I'm crossing my fingers for a hardback because it deserves a spot on my shelf for repeat reads.

The magic in the story is unique and enchanting, though some parts are predictable, but it's like predicting your favorite plot twist in a rom-com – you secretly love it. The only hiccup? It's written in third person, and with Mari and Lottie sharing the same pronouns, I had a few "Wait, who's talking?" moments. A minor thing, though.

If Sydney was going for that nostalgic, feel-good vibe, definitely nailed it.

The Honey Witch is a tale of grief, loneliness, and friendship. Overall, I enjoyed this unique story by Sydney J. Shields. The magic system was interesting. My only wish is that the world building and the characters were deeper. However, I will be recommending this to some friends!

Thank you NetGalley and to the publisher for this ARC!

Thank you so much to NetGalley and Redhook for this ARC.

Cozy fantasy where 21 year old Marigold discovers that the magic she's always felt has always been real. Under the tutelage of her aging grandmother, Althea, she learns how to protect the nature sanctuary island Innisfree and maybe find love against all odds (read: curse).

I really adored the first ~40% of the book and I wish that the rest of the book was as consistent. Althea is written with so much care and affection and I think the void created by her death is very distracting the rest of the book because none of the other characters felt as strong. Maybe I'm in the minority with this, but I wish this book was a good deal longer because the pacing of the story made it hard to stay invested. The romance didn't get enough time to cook which was disappointing because the bones of the relationship dynamic are so strong.

This book was not what I was expecting and the tense in which it was written took some getting used to. Nevertheless, I enjoyed the book overall. A little cozy, a little not cozy, and a little bit of spice.

This was such a sweet, slow, magical story. I loved watching these two fall in love despite the curse. Sweet as honey, highly recommended.

Sapphic, witchy cottagecore romance set in the regency era. I liked the usage of nature and magic. As an added bonus, spice is included!

This book caught my attention amidst the fervor on social media and within my social circles, sparking eager anticipation for me to delve into its story. I can emphatically state that the book not only met but exceeded my expectations.
My goodness it was so well written. The prose, intricately woven from the initial page to the concluding word, demonstrated a remarkable level of skill. The pacing was nothing short of extraordinary, immersing me in every carefully chosen word on each page.
The ensemble of characters and the meticulously crafted world-building were nothing short of phenomenal. Each character contributed a unique blend of drama, humor, wit, and more, enriching the narrative. Unexpected twists and anticipated moments kept me engaged, yet it was the emotionally charged ending that truly moved me. I confess to shedding tears at various junctures in the story. A masterful writer possesses the ability to translate emotions onto paper, and this author accomplished that with exceptional finesse and more.
When I say run don’t walk to get this book I mean it.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC!

I’m newer to cozy fantasy in general, but this was a lovely little read in that vein. The concept was unique to me and the story was very heartwarming and nice. The authors writing style was also enjoyable to read.

Thank you so much to NetGalley and Redhook for this ARC.

Full disclosure I had the pleasure of beta reading this book back before the author queried it. I loved it then and I love it now. It was so interesting to see how many things changed in the story from that point to the finished version.

This book is cozy, warm, and delightful. The whole thing feels like a warm hug. Lottie has my entire heart with her prickly exterior and soft insides. And Marigold shines as our leading lady.

Her growth in accepting love and the celebration of ALL women no matter their choices in this book is just perfection. I would recommend this book to anyone looking for a heartwarming sapphic romance or who enjoys historical fantasy.

I love the story and the idea of a woman needing freedom to be wild. The message is fantastic but I must admit it was hard for me to get into at first. The writing feels a little bland, and though I did wind up enjoying it it felt like it could have used more meat to the bones of the writing, you know what I mean? It's definitely a great book it just feels like it needed to be workshopped a little more. Perhaps it's just my taste, but I felt like it wasn't as great as the idea of the story itself. That being said, I loved the characters and the story behind the honey witches. It was incredibly interesting and fun to read from that aspect but a deeper dive into the writing made me get taken out of the story a little bit. Otherwise I really enjoyed it!

I looked forward to reading this book because I loved the vibes it gave off. I struggled with the text at times because it either felt as if it were dragging or it was going too fast. I felt like too much was happening that wasn't necessary. Other than that, it was a cute and fun quick read.

Practical Magic meets.... Halloween Town? (yes seriously, her grandma whisks her away to a magical land where she's a witch, and there's even a carriage driver named Benny)

I was immediately drawn into the Honey Witch. The opening scene does an excellent job of setting up the world and Marigold as a character.

Beyond that though, I had a lot of trouble staying engaged.

Marigold shines the most when the story allows her to exercise her agency. Unfortunately most of the time the plot is happening to her as opposed to her driving the plot forward.

The author has an excellent use of language. Flowery, without getting too bogged down in it. You will have have a picture painted for you. Descriptions focus primarily on sight and sound though, and I do wish it had more often delved into other senses. Folk magic is very physical. I think to do it proper justice it needs to be felt with your whole body.

I get the impression that this story is trying to evoke cozy fantasy vibes. The one aspect that keeps it from knocking it out of the park is a lack of quiet moments. There's constant movement, either in the form of plot or exposition. I would have liked it to slow down and spend some time with the characters just being people.

Despite my criticisms, I think the author is one to keep an eye on. A lot of my issues with the writing can be chalked up to inexperience, and you can see that there are some great instincts in character and world building.

ARC provided by Net Galley.

I am completely obsessed with this book!! I found out about this book back in January on 2023 and I’ve been thinking about it almost daily ever since! This was my most anticipated read of the entire year!!! I would have done awful things to be able to read this book so many times this year! So as soon as this ARC was approved, I was SOOOO freaking excited !

So first off, THANK YOU FOR LETTING ME READ THIS EARLY! This made me so happy, you have no idea!

Anyways, as far as my feedback, I LOVED this book. I completely adored the world and the magic system. I’m so in love with the idea of a honey witch and an ash witch. I’m an avid witchy book reader, I read witchy books all year round. And so many of them feel exactly the same. This concept was unique and felt very special.

I loved the entire atmosphere on the isle where the main character moved, I loved the bees, the yellow flowers, the honey, the grimoire, her home library, her meadow, the spirits, literally everything about it. I also completely adored the sapphic romance. And the city where her family lives also reminds me of Bridgerton, and I found that super interesting too!

I feel like this book was written for me. It’s so perfect and lovely and comforting.

I don’t have a single bad thing to say about it. It’s a lovely, beautiful, flawless witchy book. I will definitely be recommending this book all the time now!

Maybe my expectations were too high for this book, but I unfortunately eye rolled more than I’d like to admit at the characters, magic, and storyline. The love story had no chemistry between the characters and the magic and world building felt way too light to make me care. Even so, it was a cozy read and I loved the bond between Marigold and her grandmother.

Thank you to Redhook Books and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for my thoughts and opinions.

This is easily going to be one of my new comfort reads. I was hooked from the first line and found myself trying to read this every single spare moment that I had. It's beautiful! The stunning picture the book paints had me both laughing and crying along with the characters. I am going to re-read this so many more times in the future. It's so cozy, but action packed. LOVED IT SO MUCH

Thanks to Redhook books for providing this book for review consideration via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.
⭐️⭐️⭐️.75
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The Honey Witch follows Marigold a young witch who is embarking on her own coming of age quest full of mystics and ire. Marigold has a strong connection to nature around her and her grandmother urges her to develop these special abilities further.
I enjoyed the descriptions in this novel, the writing is lyrical and almost poetic it has a certain flair of whimsy. The main character is easy to love and even more so as her worldview tilts and she has to recognize her own faults. I would describe this book as cozy and a nice new addition into that theme.
By the second chapter we have a lot of lore, a very rushed explanation for what is going on, it felt like a huge information dump. This could have maybe been sprinkled throughout a few chapters but it felt weird having it all at once.
We love a positive father in a young witches life! I absolutely adored Marigold father and I beg for more scenes between the two of them together.
Lottie as a character grates on my nerves, she was mean and judgemental. Marigold was so kind and understanding and the relationship felt unbalanced.
The ending portion of the book was a tad cliched but overall it was a nice story.