I wish so dearly to have loved this but I don’t think it worked the way it should have! Which is such a bummer because the premise and the cover are so delightful. This felt like it was supposed to be a young adult book but the author had to age everyone up and add (cringy) sex scenes to apply to a wider audience. The characters and their voice stood out to me as like 16-18, when in reality our FMC is 26. Her internal monologue was exhausting at times.

I think the story would have benefited from breathing a bit and slowing down. There is no “slow burn” in this plot, everything happens over a very short period of time. The magic system also desperately needed an overhaul.

I know this book was described a lot as being a cozy romantasy read, but it really doesn’t feel like it which I enjoyed. It has high stakes moments and some pretty spicy scenes as well which isn’t normally shown in most cozy books, and it was very entertaining. I found the book reminded me of My Lady Jane, so if anyone’s read the book or seen the TV show adaptation, you should definitely give this book a go as it’s pretty similar in some aspects.

Tomorrow is the release day for one of my most anticipated books this year, Behooved by M. Stevenson. This debut romantasy novel is for the horse lovers out there.

When Bianca is sent to marry the neighboring kingdom’s heir apparent, Aric, she doesn’t expect to turn her new husband into a horse on their wedding night. Um, oops. Nor does she expect for the two of them to be chased off by assassins. Bianca and Aric start off on the wrong hoof—I mean, foot—but quickly surmise that they must work together to undo his curse and save his kingdom.

As a former horse girl and fan of both fantasy and romance, this is exactly the book I needed.

What I Liked:
- This book is kind of bonkers! I’m not sure how many people can relate to accidentally turning their new husband into a horse on their wedding night—I certainly can’t—but it’s this kind of unexpected and silly storytelling that caught my interest. Behooved is just so much fun! From these wild events to Bianca’s humorous observations, this book is a wonderful escape.
- The romance! Bianca and Aric are forced into a marriage they don’t want, so they’re more enemies than anything else at the beginning. But through forced proximity and a common goal, they get to know each other, and it’s so sweet! (Spicy, too!)
- Flipped gender norms. Aric is the bookish guy who isn’t keen on fighting. Bianca is the woman who is great with weapons, at least in practice if not in the real world. She repeatedly has to save him, which I actually loved. And he’s not “emasculated” for it or anything; he’s simply accepted for the gentle man that he is. Love this!
- Queer-normative world. The main romance is between a man and woman, but I do like that the characters and world-building actively make space for queerness. Bianca is openly bisexual, while her sister is a lesbian. This is fully accepted in their world, which is great to see.
- Chronic illness. Bianca has a strange condition that causes her to have flare-ups. There’s actually some mystery surrounding this later on in the book. I hate how she’s been shamed for it, but love how Aric sees her with tenderness instead.

Final Thoughts
Behooved is the perfect book to escape into. The romance, the adventure, the court politics and family dynamics and horse themes—it’s joyous and clever. I fully expected to enjoy this book, and it more than lived up to the hype. I only hope that the fun won’t stop here; two characters at the end are maybe setup for their own romance, and I still have questions in need of answers. Please let there be a sequel! In any case, I look forward to reading more from M. Stevenson.

THIS is my kind of romantasy!

Behooved is a breath of fresh air after an unceasing tide of nearly identical ~romantasy~ books that have been released in the past year alone. Bianca is an incredible protagonist that lives with a chronic illness while getting the job done, and Aric is a fun departure from the grumpy MLs you usually see in this genre. The politics that forced these two together into a contract marriage is one of my favorite tropes, and Stevenson writes it SO so well. Especially with the added twist involved, Bianca and Aric go on an emotional journey together concurrently with their physical one. I found the romantic development well-written, and both characters are so soft when it comes to their own feelings and consideration for one another that I was kicking my feet.

The world building was slim but sufficient; we actually get very little about Bianca's home, Damaria, other than the concept of magic being strictly regulated. This is a foil to Aric's kingdom, Gildenheim, which leaves magic largely to its own devices while also integrating it into certain rituals tied to the rulers. Even as we travel through Gildenheim for the story, we don't learn much about it that makes it stand out from any other typical fantasy setting. I was willing to overlook this since it is cozy fantasy, but others may disagree.

If you like horse puns, banter, and characters who struggle to be honest with others (and themselves), then Bianca and Aric will entertain you the whole time. Both have very ingrained self-loathing borne from their inability to meet the expectations of those around them, so learning to love each other and SPECIFICALLY those aspects that they were taught to hide and hate about themselves made me weak. Bonus points for Aric's acceptance of Bianca's illness, which Stevenson confirms is celiac disease and DOESN'T write a magical cure or permanent fix to erase it.

If I had to only pick one word to describe Behooved, it would be “delightful.”

M. Stevenson somehow wrote a book full of adventure, romance, and whimsy with major Princess Bride vibes, while still tackling tough topics like the trauma of failing to meet your parents' expectations and the way living with a chronic illness impacts your health. Five stars.

Behooved is centered around one of the most classic romance tropes, a marriage of convenience, but Bianca soon learns there is absolutely nothing convenient about the fact that she accidentally turned her new husband, Aric, into a part-time horse on their wedding night. To make things worse, Bianca is framed for his murder (because no one knows he is a horse), so the two must flee before the real assassin finishes his/her job. Behooved is full of political machinations, action, magic spells that go hilariously wrong, and follows two young people who through it all, help each other learn that they are good enough just the way they are.

Thanks to Bramble/Tor Publishing Group and Netgalley for the advance copy!

I have really mixed feelings about Behooved, in so much that it quite adequately accomplishes what it is setting out to do, but also not in a particularly stand-out way. It feels like the plot was crafted around the premise (horse MMC! Shenanigans ensure!) I do think if you're looking for a fun paperback beach read with a pretty cover, Behooved will get the job done. I just also don't think I would be reaching for it again and again.

Probably the strongest representation in Behooved is it's protagonist Bianca, who is chronically ill (inspired by M. Stevenson's own lived experiences with celiac disease) and openly and proudly bisexual. In her mid twenties, she is also older than your typical 19 year old romantasy heroine, and candid about her past romantic and sexual experiences. This characterization enabled Stevenson to write spice scenes that I felt really shone, especially the words spoken between the two leads.

The hiccup for me is that the words of devotion and admiration and love between the two leads didn't feel earned after they travel together over the course of a harried week.. The depiction of the characters on Kelly Chong's gorgeous cover illustration reflect how I feel about the protags--faceless. And unfortunately, the supporting cast does not fare much better (particularly the sister, oof.) I'm not sure how I feel about an Asian coded character being described as "monolid" if only because when other characters are introduced they are not described as...double-lidded. And the villain...Well, he's no Edmund from King Lear, that's for sure. Especially with the character arcs of FMC and MMC, I feel like the story would have worked better with them in their early twenties, say five years younger.

Part of my reading, I think, was hoping for a worthy successor to My Lady Jane (the show). But it isn't as snappy, the chemistry isn't as scorching, and there's an excruciatingly slow start as you wait for MMC to horsify--a lot of horsy foreshadowing anvils while you wait (MMC's voice prior to the spell is described as "hoarse".) I don't know how that can be helped, necessarily--I guess it's a Doylist reading because the reader likely knows the premise upon picking up the book and is sold by the premise, but then foreshadowing becomes dramatic irony in the reading of it. There were times where I wish the editing had been more polished. "Maybe it was time to stop thinking with my head and start thinking with my heart"--oof.

I mentally shelve Behoove the same place I would shelve a Vanessa Hudgens Netflix Christmas Special--a lot of fun, and I will watch it to the end, but it won't stick with me. It's servicable, but not mindblowing. I won't be rewinding to scenes or pondering about it while I'm washing the dishes. A delightful snack, as ephemeral and sweet as spun sugar floss.

This read like a whimsical fairytale. Aric and Bianca's banter was top notch, their romance was cute. This book is steeped with magic and a satisfying conclusion.

Thank you to Netgalley for providing a digital arc in exchange for an honest review.

I will admit that I didn't have high hopes for this when I requested it because the idea seemed silly, but this absolutely blew me away. Perfect for fans of My Lady Jane. Quite literally, it's My Lady Jane but a bit spicy and wrapped up in a happy neat bow. It's cute and not that serious while being everything I needed from a romantasy book.

Behooved by M. Stevenson is a heartfelt and thoughtful romantasy that blends light magic with real emotional depth. The romance grows slowly and naturally, and the characters feel honest and relatable. It’s a quiet, moving story about trust, healing, and finding your worth.

Thank you to Tor Books and Netgalley for sending me an early copy of this book! All opinions are my own!

This was such a cute, fresh breath of a book! From the adorable romance to the hilarity of the plot itself, everything was just wrapped in a warm hug! But don't forget that what's wrapped up also has a great depth to it with the best character development and discovery of self-love and confidence.

I found myself giggling way too much with this book. I loved the world, the characters, and their adventures. The world was so easy to get into but did not feel as though it was too simple. The characters were all endearing and made you love them as soon as they came in. Their adventures were hilarious, heartfelt, and fun.

And then don't get me started on the disability/chronic illness representation. It was so well done, and I adored how it was treated. From our FMC to the MMC and his own feelings, the condition was treated with care at every turn and with every emotion it brought out.

This book has it all! It will make the perfect summer read!

4.25 ⭐️ 2.5🌶️
This was a really cute low stakes slow burn romantasy read! I enjoyed the fresh storyline and the characters in this spin on a bunch of fairytale tropes we know and love.
Bianca is a chronically ill baddie from one kingdom, who is underappreciated by her parents but can handle a sword because physical training helps her feel more in control of her life. At the looming threat of war from their neighboring kingdom Bianca's parents offer her hand in marriage to achieve a peace treaty. Enter the broody, aloof, quiet heir apparent, her betrothed. He seems to hate her on sight. While trying to navigate a new kingdom, a new husband who seems to hate her, and all new people as well as different magic in this new place Bianca has a full plate. Oh yeah to top it off she accidentally turned him into a horse on their wedding night.
This was so cute and quirky but well done! I loved the character & relationship development, and was very happy with the ending. Can we get a 2nd book about Bianca's sister!?!

This book was exactly what I needed to fill the My Lady Jane-sized hole in my heart. 🐎✨

Imagine: a noblewoman with a chronic illness, an arranged marriage, and a prince who turns into a horse by day. Yes, you read that right. The premise is delightfully absurd, and it totally works.

Bianca and Aric's slow-burn romance had me giggling and swooning in equal measure. Their banter? Top-notch. The magical mishaps? Hilarious. And the representation of chronic illness was handled with care and authenticity, adding depth to Bianca's character without defining her.

If you're into cozy romantasy with a dash of political intrigue and a whole lot of heart, Behooved is your next read. It's charming, quirky, and just the right amount of ridiculous—in the best way possible.

It was a fun read! Nice romance. Arranged marriage between nobles but they’re both duty oriented and willing to make an honest go of it. I have to say an amulet to turn an attacker into a horse is… stupid. Horses are dangerous if they decide to be. Thousand pound bundles of nervous prey animal can kick the strongest man into paste. Perhaps a nice amulet of turn the attacker into a chihuahua so you could pick it up ? But hey, for plot purposes it must be a horse…

Thank you to Bramble for access to the eARC via NetGalley!

Behooved is a fun, charming, and lighthearted romantasy read. I especially appreciated the realistic chronic illness rep, which made perfect sense after reading the author’s note. I also really liked that the MMC wasn’t hypermasculine or the typical “dark and brooding” type that seems to dominate the genre. It was refreshing to see a softer, more reserved love interest.

I found the concept of magic being controlled and weaponized by the government particularly compelling. The transformation of something inherently natural and untamed into a tool for technological advancement and warfare was clever world-building in a fantasy world, made even more believable by the government’s manipulation of public perception by framing untrained, unpredictable magic as dangerous and outlawing it to maintain control.

The book is a standalone, which is totally fine, but it did mean that the plot felt a bit underdeveloped and somewhat predictable at times. I also wasn’t entirely sold on the romance between the FMC and MMC (it’s hard to believe in a deep, lasting connection that was formed over just a few days). I would have loved to see more of the magic system explored as well. Nonetheless, I still enjoyed following Bianca and Aric along on their journey!

Behooved is a whimsical and heartfelt fantasy that offers charming moments, witty dialogue, and enough horse puns to make any dad-joke enthusiast smile. I appreciated its sensitive portrayal of chronic illness—a rare and appreciated theme in the romantasy genre. Stevenson's effort to bring visibility to this experience through a magical lens is commendable and may speak deeply to readers looking for representation in their stories.

That said, the novel’s appeal may be more suited to a younger audience. The plot relies heavily on miscommunications and misunderstandings that feel implausible among more mature characters, which can be frustrating for adult readers seeking complexity and depth in character interactions. While the world is populated by a wide cast, many of the characters feel one note and beg the question "Why are you here?"

Overall, Behooved reads much like a young adult fantasy—light, accessible, and emotionally earnest. Those looking for a richly layered romantasy might find this one a bit too simplistic. However, readers who enjoy gentle, low-stakes fantasy with a self-aware comedic tone will have a great time with this one.

P.S. I can't help but feel like I've now read the real-world version of Big Mouth's The Rock of Gibraltar

4.5 stars rounded up and my thanks to Netgalley and the Publisher for the eARC!

Behooved gave me two things:
1. A magic system that made sense
2. Main characters that were absolutely obsessed with each other the very second they started actually speaking to each other.

If that was all it gave me, I'd still rate it very high. This book was so fun and the characters were believable and frustrating and lovely all in one.
Bianca is told she must marry the soon-to-be king of a rival nation, but no amount of trade negotiations is going to make her love Aric. That is, until an assassination attempt on their wedding night accidentally turns Aric into a horse during the day and back into a man at night. Those cold....lonely nights.

But in all seriousness, I truly loved every minute of this story. Bianca has a chronic pain condition that anyone with celiac will recognize instantly. And while there are moments of "we can fix you," they're mostly hand waved away with a "I don't need fixing, I just need management, thank you."

The idea of this story was great and the book itself was pretty good. I enjoyed when the Aric and Bianca were interacting, but I just wish that there had been more interactions between them or other characters. Most of the time it felt like Bianca was just going over everything in her head, so that got a bit repetitive. The magic system was interesting and the fact that the approach to magic was vastly different between the lands also added some mystery. If you read this one be prepared for horse jokes because with Aric turning into a horse they are popping up all over the place which was cute.

Plot: Our FMC, is a disappointment to her parents and feels like a failure because of her chronic pain and the guilt she feels because she isn't the "perfect daughter." So when an opportunity arises to marry a foreign prince to secure a needed alliance that will prevent war, she agrees to go. She is determined to make her family proud even if this new prince is rumored to be a bit of a jerk, and even if she has to leave a beloved sister behind. However, not everything, or really anything, is at it seems when she final meets up with her soo-to-be-husband. After a spell gone wrong, and lots of horsing around, our FMC has to save herself, her new husband, and her countries alliance.

Overall thoughts: This book was a really fun read. Kind of like a cozy fantasy mystery with a little danger and spice woven in. This would be a GREAT standalone read following a heavy read or a big ol' series. I could see it easily curing a book hangover.
I loved that the FMC represented some chronic pain realness. As someone with a chronic pain disorder I saw what I go through on a daily basis and could really sympathize with our poor FMC. I've never had to save my husband from a spell gone wrong but I have had to survive a 40hr work week and that seems about the same. Ish. I really appreciated her sass on top of having to deal with a world falling apart and chronic pain. Sometimes that's how you cope. That rang incredibly true for me.
I liked the MMC a lot too. He's something different from what I've seen a lot of in the fantasy/romantasy realm recently and I appreciated that. He's a bit softer. A lover/reader and not a fighter. While the FMC get's to be the badass and the fighter. The story also flowed really nicely. I enjoyed the authors writing style and the length of the book for a standalone. For me it was the perfect length.
It did feel a bit like the author was, on occasion, trying a bit too hard. Sometime simple language is all we need. You don't need to say a chair is "squatting" on the other side of the room. You can just say the chair is there. You don't need to make everything fancy and floral. Just say the chair is there so I'm not taken out of the moment and picturing a chair come to life, Beauty and the Beast style, squatting in a corner... Beautiful word choice and allegory are important but not needed in every paragraph. Ya know? But it wasn't too bad. but clearly noticeable. I still really enjoyed the book over all.


What made my weirdo heart happy:
"...like any young person learning a foreign language, I'd acquired as many lascivious phrases as possible." Truth is spoken here.
"Oh. The bed. There was only one."
"...I had proved myself as useful as a dessert fork in a naval battle." I will be using this.


Will I read more books by this author?: Yes. I enjoyed the sass of the FMC and would love to read more of it.

Would I recommend this book to a friend?: Yes. Absolutely.

Bianca is the second daughter of a noble family in a typical fantasy kingdom. In order to avoid a war with a neighboring kingdom, she agrees to marry the heir presumptive, Aric. At first, they clash a lot. But on their wedding night they are attacked by an assassin. Bianca uses a spell that her sister gave her for protection without knowing what it would do. Instead of stopping the assassin, it turns Aric into a horse. Now they must try to break the spell and get back in time for the coronation. Overall, a light and fun fantasy romance.

The twist where Aric turned into a stallion at night gave this Romantasy a bit of a Beauty and the Beast vibe, as Bianca and Aric try to navigate assassins on their tail and their political alliance/marriage. There was a lot going on here, with multiple forces trying to win the political game, but the worldbuilding was good.

Overall, it was a really fun read.