If you're a fan of forced proximity, miscommunication, and arranged marriage romances with a twist, then you definitely should check out this book.

I really liked both Bianca and Aric and their character journeys. The chronic illness representation in Bianca was, I think, well researched and written, and it was nice to see it done in a way that wasn't negative.

I also enjoyed the miscommunication trope here - it was really well done. It added just enough drama and action to the plot without being over the top, and helped drive the action.

The horse puns were overkill…
I tried so hard to like it, but seriously?!
He hadn’t even turned into a horse yet 🫠😂

Good story, it did feel a little slow at times particularly in the middle where it felt like the story was dragging but I did like the twist at the end. I also liked the representation of having a main character who was strong but also battling a chronic illness which isn't very common as most fantasy stories usually end with heroine being all powerful but this story had a heroine who was far from perfect but still courageous.

Overall, I enjoyed it and would still recommend it to customers as it still had a good plot and good character development.

I thought this was very good and I will have to add this to the shop shelves. Thank you for the chance for us to review.

When I saw the cover of the book, I was like, "Sign me up!" I love a good fairy tale like story, ever since I was little and that hasn't changed much. This book is like if the book My Lady Jane got the fairy tale treatment. This isn't as quirky as My Lady Jane, but it still had that vibe. This also looked at the themes of duty versus heart, which I really liked.

My only complaint is that the spicy scenes seemed out of place to me, but I'm not a big smut reader in general.

Thank you to NetGalley for a copy of this book for my honest review.

I was pleasantly surprised by this book. Fantasy romance is not my usual cup of tea, so I went into this book with low expectations (the main male character is a horse shifter????). To my shock, I had a pretty good time. I would definitely try another book from M. Stevenson

Thank you Bramble & Macmillan audio for the drc and alc. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Honestly, this book is hilarious and such a fun read! A cozy romantasy with plenty of humor and banter as Bianca and Aric fight to stay alive, prove Bianca did not kill Aric on their wedding night, reverse the magic that turned Aric into a horse *oops* and figure out who tried to assassinate Aric and the political drama at hand. Some of the dialog and themes are a little repetitive and there's definitely miscommunication at play between our MCs but overall it's a cute, quick adventure with some spice. I love that Aric is really such a soft MMC despite coming off brooding and cold and Bianca is clearly a bad*ss, strong woman who's willing to do what it takes to protect her people, even if that means entering an arranged marriage with a Prince she's never met to prevent a war. It's fast paced with a lot of political intrigue and horse puns, so if you're looking for a good quick read you might want to check this one out! (Also look how pretty the cover is!!!)

I was also able to listen to the audio for this one which was great! The narrator Natalie Naudus does a fantastic job and will keep you engaged throughout the story. I typically listen at around 2x speed and that was perfect for this one.

a good choice if you like:
*arranged marriage
*forced proximity
*chronic illness rep
*bi FMC
*sort of enemies to lovers
*magic & mischief
*only one bed
*miscommunication
*political intrigue
*having a fun time (:

I've seen a lot of reviews saying "save a horse ride your husband" and I cackled each time -- I love that😂

As much as I wanted to like this book, I just did not. The story promised a really fun adventure, and I felt like I was just stuck in the Bianca's head the entire time. I believe this story would have benefited from being in third-person POV to let the action and antics be played up more. The premise of a Prince being a horse by day and man by night sounds like a Princess Bride type of story, but ended up being a lackluster fantasy romance. I did not feel that two main characters had any real chemistry, so the entire romance felt very forced. Overall, this was not the book for me.

This was so fun! It was hilarious and I was laughing at loud several times throughout the book. I loved the world and the take on magic, and how it differed between kingdoms, and the romance was adorable.

All the fantasy adventure I was hoping for. The romping and political intrigue was excellent. And I really enjoyed how Bianca and Aric’s personalities played off of each other.

If anyone was hoping for another taste of the show Lady Jane, this story will sate that. Here’s hoping we get another book in the series. I am invested.

ADORED!!! I didn't realize how cozy romatasy could be a thing until i read this book. Because while it is a lot of FLUFF, there's the same feeling of this being a very /adult/ romantasy novel. The jokes were funny, the moments made me cry and I loved to see two people learn to trust each other.

Save a horse, ride your husband! (or whatever they say)

This truly was the lighthearted, cozy fantasy as stated. I was immediately charmed in the first half but lost some steam in the second. The premise—a royal couple navigating curses, assassination plots, and magical mysteries—was whimsical and fun, especially with the MMC being cursed into a horse. The banter between Bianca and Aric, paired with playful horse puns, added humor and warmth, but the rushed romance and underdeveloped magic system left me wanting more. A great pick for fans of My Lady Jane or those looking for a palate cleanser.

Thank you, NetGalley, for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Behooved by M. Stevenson was a delight to read. Bianca is an easy FMC to root for. She's sharp-witted, can defend herself and her horse, and is a bit stabby. I am here for all of the horse puns and banter. It was fun and quirky, the perfect cozy romantasy to get me out of my reading slump. The writing was lyrical, without being pretentious. I found myself hooked when the spell goes awry, until the very last page.

Good premise, good plot. A little spicier than I prefer, and a little didactic. And the constant round of "I'm weak and you couldn't possibly love me"/"No, I"M weak and YOU couldn't possibly love ME"/"No, I'M weak and YOU couldn't--" gets old. I understand what the author was going for, but there are better methods of character and relationship development.

Bianca is a daughter of house Liliana, one of 9 noble houses ruling Damaria. She has a chronic illness that can flare at any time. When her parents demand she marry Prince Aric to avoid war, she reluctantly agrees. Her magically talented sister Tatiana gives her an experimental protection charm.

After the wedding, Aric is attacked in their bedchamber, so Bianca invokes the charm, which turns her new husband into a large white horse. They flee the palace, heading into all kinds of adventures, in a race against time, to understand who orchestrated the attack, prove Bianca's innocence of her husband's murder, and permanently unhorse Aric before the country's looming coronation.

Behooved is a fun wild ride into an enemies-to-lovers, slow-burn romantasy, full of bewitching magic and dueling kingdoms.

Overall, I loved the My Lady Jane vibes, but the pacing and execution of the story I found were not for me.

*Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for sending me an eARC in exchange for an honest review.*

My thanks to NetGalley for making an eARC of this book available for my review.

This was a fun little fantasy and romance story, with the the main character a young woman who is being married off to a neighboring kingdom in order to benefit her family. The husband-to-be at first appears to be more than a bit uncaring and standoffish, but those appearances need to be put into some context that is revealed later in the book. When he is accidentally transformed into a horse during an assassination attempt, things go quite a bit haywire and the two of them end up on the run (literally). This was very enjoyable, and the journey well worth it.

This was a cute fantasy romance. I enjoyed our FMC and she made me laugh a few times. Definitely a slow burn and the way these two denied their feelings at times was sweet. But the actual story was unique, the secret that brings them together…just adorable and if you enjoy those things you’ll love this book.

I enjoyed reading this romantasy book. I loved the concept and I found it very humorous with the main character, Bianca, trying her best to convince herself that her attraction to her husband is just a fluke due to circumstances. There were many moments that made me want to look away and cringe in second hand embarrassment because of Bianca. The dynamic between Bianca and her husband, Aric, is so sweet but also hilarious, considering that Aric is horse by day and man by night.
Something that I thoroughly enjoyed in this fantasy book is the representation of Celiac Disease and queer people. I love seeing the main character having a condition that makes things difficult but it doesn’t stop them from doing their job, and seeing that shown in a fantasy book where adventure is something common is really nice. The queer representation is great as well and how there isn’t a huge discourse over queer relationships but instead seen as something normal, which is something I quite like.
There is political intrigue and with the arranged marriage between Aric and Bianca, it is the leading factor of the plot and who tried to take over and the treaty in discussion. Although the political intrigue isn’t the most critical plot point, it is something that is mentioned and gives a bit more world-building to the story.
I would like to say that although I really enjoyed the beginning and middle of the book, the ending for me felt very rushed. I felt there could be more done for the ending to give it a more conclusive wrap up instead of everything being revealed. We know from the beginning who the person behind the whole political intrigue is but it would be fine if the ending gave a bit more depth into the reasoning or background of the political intrigue.
There is a lot that is not concluded in the ending as well, like what happened to Bianca and Tatiana’s parents after they figured out that they were behind the entire political marriage and treaties.
Overall, I enjoyed reading it and while the ending could have been executed better, I would recommend this to someone who wants an easy read, standalone romantasy, with queer and Celiac disease representation.

Thank you Tor/Bramble for the gifted copy!

Behooved
M. Stevenson
Publishing Date: May 22, 2025
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

🎧 Narrator: Natalie Naudus 🎧

This romantasy took me by surprise in the best way. It is fun and humorous while also being romantic and intriguing, it’s easily digestible and fast paced, and I really really enjoyed it!

Bianca is part of a magical family with no magic of her own. She is betrothed to Aric, a brooding grump, in order to solidify an alliance. During the wedding there is an assassination attempt, things get crazy, and Bianca’s new hubby is turned into a horse!

This book gives us enemies to lovers romance with magical political intrigue as Bianca and Aric find their way out of this mess.. and to each other.

🎧 Natalie Naudus is always flawless and this is no exception!