This book was such a fun, heartwarming ride—literally. Bianca and Aric’s relationship starts off on the worst possible foot, but watching them go from reluctant allies to something much deeper was so satisfying. Bianca is a fierce, capable heroine who doesn’t let her chronic illness define her, and Aric is the kind of shy, bookish love interest I adore. Their dynamic was equal parts frustrating and adorable, and their banter kept me entertained the whole way through.

Beyond the romance, there’s political intrigue, a magical curse, and an assassination attempt gone wrong, all of which made for an exciting plot. I really enjoyed the world of Gildenheim, though I wish we got to explore more of its magic system and side characters. Some of them felt a little underdeveloped, and I would have loved to spend more time with them.

That said, this book was such a cozy, charming read. It had just the right mix of humor, adventure, and romance, plus great chronic illness and LGBTQ+ representation. If you love fairytales with a twist, grumpy-sunshine pairings, or just the idea of a man being cursed into a horse and his new wife having to deal with it, this one’s for you!

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the eARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

4.5 🌟

I thoroughly enjoyed this book! I was not expecting to love it as much as I did because I was not 100% sold on My Lady Jane, but I feel like this book did the horse thing very nicely. I liked that it did not focus on Aric when he was a horse. Obviously there are scenes between Bianca and Aric when he is a horse, but all of their touching scenes together happened in his human form.

If you love a studious, nerdy mmc and a tough, both mentally and physically, fmc then you will love this book. I thought that Aric and Bianca worked really well together and that their little miscommunication in the beginning worked well in the story without being annoying. I liked the addition of Bianca's chronic illness because she was still the strong one while also dealing with her illness. And I loved that Aric lifted her up when she called herself weak by saying like you are dealing with so much on top of the illness and that screams strength to me. I loved it.

Bianca, our protagonist, is immediately relatable. She's a woman burdened by duty but yearning for more, and her initial meeting with the aloof and seemingly hostile Prince Aric sets the stage for a tense and frustrating relationship. However, the assassination attempt and subsequent curse throw everything delightfully off course.
The humor in "Behooved" is spot-on. The absurdity of Bianca having to literally ride her husband to safety provides ample opportunities for comedic moments. Stevenson masterfully uses the situation to explore their characters, forcing Bianca and Aric to rely on each other in ways they never anticipated. The descriptions of Aric's equine antics are genuinely funny without ever feeling disrespectful to the characters.
But at its heart, "Behooved" is a romance, and a surprisingly touching one at that. Watching Bianca and Aric navigate their unusual circumstances, learning to trust and rely on each other, is genuinely heartwarming. The forced proximity (and the fact that Bianca literally carries him!) allows them to see beyond their initial prejudices and discover each other's true character. The "frustratingly attractive man by night" aspect adds a delicious element of tension, and the slow burn of their romance is incredibly satisfying.
Overall, "Behooved" is a charming and engaging read that will leave you smiling. M. Stevenson has crafted a unique and memorable story, blending humor, intrigue, and romance into a truly unforgettable package. If you're looking for a lighthearted fantasy with a strong female lead, a compelling plot, and a romance that will sweep you off your feet (or onto a saddle!), then "Behooved" is definitely worth a read. Highly recommended!

Wow - I just LOVED this! Mariana has such a an easy to sink into and evocative writing style, I was gripped from the very first page. I’ve been looking for something to fill that My Lady Jane hole and this was just perfect! I loved Bianca’s tenacity and earnest commitment to her morals and goals. She was a very compelling MC and I enjoyed how much time and thought she put into each decision, especially when it came to Aric. I adore a bookish and cautious MMC and he fit the bill perfectly - hooves and all. The stakes were present from the off and provided a fantastic mix between heart pounding action, cosy humor and romance. I loved it so much and can’t wait to see it out in the world!!

Behooved is a fun, light read that truly gave me a break from all that's going on in real life. I dove into the story and thoroughly enjoyed the adventure, gobbling it up within a matter of days, and was quite content in doing so. It gave me the Ladyhawke-esque vibes I adore and one could say I'm quite feral for Aric. His character is amazing and I adore him, particularly how Stevenson portrayed his character in such a way that the reader was able to see past Bianca's POV to how Aric really was long before Bianca could see it clearly.

I want to mention the portrayal of celiac's disease in this book. While I've been tested for celiac's disease and do not have it, I was given the test due to the similarities of my own "condition" to celiac's, and it was such an amazing experience to read a book where the main character who is a hero in her own right had the same problems I've experienced for nearly 20 years. I've always supported inclusion in literature, having written inclusive characters myself, but it truly feels wonderful to be on the receiving end of it all and to witness a character with the same pains you experience yourself. Anyone who has IBS, celiac's, and the vast majority of other bowel/intestinal issues will find themselves within the pages of this book.

3.5 stars ⭐️ ⭐️⭐️💫

This was a different kind of romantasy for me to read. Both of the main characters have to get married and end up having an assassination attempt on the night of their wedding. Throughout the story, they try to find out who tried to assassinate him and who put a magical spell on him. Together, they try to come together and find a cure for the spell. It’s about a guy who turns into a horse what was different too was that the FMC had a chronic illness and is also bi. It was interesting having the representation that it had in the story. The growth between the two characters and their relationship was very well written. This is a cute light easy read lots and lots of horse puns… lol
Thank you, NetGalley, for the arc of the book in exchange for an honest opinion of behooved

I can't wait for this one to hit the shelves so other readers can get their hands on it! I loved the romantic, fairy-tale vibe that this book gave. While not quite a cozy fantasy, I can see cozy readers having a great time reading this one!

Did you like My Lady Jane? Well then, I have just the book for you! The MMC turns into a horse during the day.

It’s a standalone fantasy romance with an arranged marriage between a shy, nerdy king-to-be and a bi noble from an enemy kingdom. She suffers from celiac disease, and you don’t often see that type of rep in fantasy. Both main characters suffer from insecurities and toxic family history. Their love builds quickly; it was entertaining to see them work together and bring down their shields.

First and foremost, thank you NetGalley for the ARC!

this book gave me all the warm and fuzzies and i had such a fun time falling in love with these characters! The way that Stevenson effortlessly gives each character such depth and personality made it that much easier to connect with the story overall.

i love how Aric starts out as your typical standoffish, “i’m doing this because i have to, not because i want to” type. and Bianca “it is my duty” Liliana, just for you to end up finding out that they both yearned for each other the whole time in secret. ugh, i just eat this trope up every time.

i absolutely loved how anxiety and insecurity is so prevalent in this story because it just helped me connect and relate to the characters.

if you’re looking for sweet romantic comedy vibes with a splash of magical accidents, this read is perfect for you!

Cozy, cute, and well paced. Though I wanted a little more depth to the characters I enjoyed Behooved.
I especially love that the story is similar to others and the tropes have been used in similar ways in other books I've recently read M. Stevenson used them to the absolute best of their ability.
Excited to have this one in store, I think its going to be a fast favorite!

Thank you NetGalley and Tor and Bramble for this ARC!

This ones for the 'My Lady Jane' girlies...

First of all, the cover is absolutely amazing—I need this on my shelf as a trophy asap.

I love a marriage of convenience, and Stevenson did an excellent job at this. It also has an intriguing magic system, killer banter, horse puns, and the one bed trope for my fellow readers who love that.

It's a shame I didn't really feel connected to the characters, and at the beginning Bianca and Aric just didn't communicate at all (my least favourite trope) (these characters are 26+, you should know how to communicate by now).

But shoving that aside, this book doesn't take itself too seriously, and I feel like you shouldn't either if you dive into this book. This book was a really fun time; lighthearted, fast-paced, fun, and whimsical!

I thought it was a cute book but it reminded me a little too much of My Lady Jane. I would recommend this to readers of light-hearted fantasy/romance.

As I read the synopsis for this, I immediately knew that I needed to read this. Bramble made my dreams come true and approved me for an early copy of this book, and please let me tell you that this book did not disappoint - it was everything I didn’t know I needed in a book.

The tropes are f**king excellent -
💒arranged marriage
👑Royalty
☕️cozy
🛏️only one bed
👸🏻terrific MFC - I adored Bianca
🍞MFC with chronic illness
🤴wonderful (and dreamy) MMC

It’s only February 8 and I already know that this book is one of my most enjoyed of 2025 - I loved this and can’t wait to read more by the author!

Absolute and utter recommendation - I hope you love it as much as I did.



Many thanks to Bramble and NetGalley for the DRC

Thank you to Bramble and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest reivew

I would recommend if you're looking for (SPOILERS

-m/f fantasy romance
-marriage of convenience
-chornic illness rep
- a curse
- roadtrip
-slow burn

This was a lot of fun. Lady Jane vibes, two people who resigned themselves to never falling in love and whoops is that what this is. A curse that turns her marriage of convenience husband into a horse. I love how she has to protect and save him throughout the book, and these two fall for each other in the softest of ways even with everything up against them. A cozy and fun world. I'm excited to see what M. Stevenson writes next.

An unconventional romance, a thrilling adventure and a curse gone awry. I absolutely adored this book! Through a set of misunderstandings, a duty bound marriage, an assasination attempt and a protection spell gone bad, Biancas new husband Aric gets turned into a horse, but without Aric the man, everyone believes that hes been killed and that Bianca herself did the killing. And so the newlyweds are on the run together in a race to reverse the spell and stop a deeper plot to take the throne, all the while learning more about each other. Loved, loved, loved it!

Thanks to NetGalley and Tor/Bramble for an advanced copy!

The cover of this book is so beautiful! That's what first caught my attention. The premise also sounded very interesting, and it also sounded different and unique compared to lots of romantasy books I've read.

Overall, it was a fun read. The idea was fun, and executed well enough. I didn't really feel like I connected with any of the characters, though, and Bianca got on my nerves sometimes. Also, I feel like Bianca's "condition" was too mysterious--I know it was supposed to be unexplained, but there should have been a little bit more information for how big of a deal it was. The tension between Bianca and Aric was good, but once they decided they liked each other, it felt a little like insta-love. I did like the sibling relationship between Tatiana and Bianca. If you love romantasy that isn't too heavy on the magic/worldbuilding but still has enough magic to make things fun, this is a great read for you!

Behooved was SUCH a good time! I absolutely love so many things about this story, but none more than the fact that it never takes itself too seriously. The premise is admittedly a bit ridiculous—An arranged marriage between two people who absolutely CANNOT stand each other—one of whom just so happens to turn into a horse when the sun comes up—and that’s exactly what makes it so much fun. The author fully owns the absurdity and runs with it, packing the plot with humor, heart, and so many horse puns, you might need a saddle just to keep up. Chef’s kiss.

This book is cozy and whimsical— it reminded me of the uniquely wonderful, offbeat charm that packs such a huge punch in The Princess Bride as well as the regrettably axed My Lady Jane series on Prime (though I’m sure that particular comparison is a bit obvious, and perhaps a touch on the nose).

It’s the kind of story where you’re in on the joke from the start, and the absurdity is just part of the fun. It’s whimsical, witty, and doesn’t take itself too seriously—and honestly, that’s what makes it such a delightful read

I can’t recommend this one enough! It’s a delightful, lighthearted read that also manages to shine a well-deserved spotlight on communities too often sidelined in the fantasy genre. Enter Bianca—our bisexual, chronically-ill heroine who tackles challenges like it's her damn day job, all while defending her adorably nonviolent, bookworm husband like the absolute champion that she is.

The perfect blend of humor, heart, and representation makes this a must-read. If you love witty, fun stories that don’t take themselves too seriously but still have something to say, Behooved is your next literary adventure, trust me.

Behooved by M. Stevenson is a breath of fresh air in the fantasy genre, and I can truly say it blew me away. The story follows Bianca and her arranged marriage to Aric. Bianca is a strong-willed woman who suffers from a chronic illness that she has been told makes her weak. Despite what she has been led to believe about herself, she accepts the proposal and enters an unknown court, only to find that her soon-to-be husband is nothing like she imagined. After some dancing, a failed assassination attempt, and a spell gone wrong, Bianca and Aric are on the run. What follows is a hilarious, heartbreaking, and swoon-worthy tale - all things I want from a light fantasy book.

If you love stories like Ella Enchanted and My Lady Jane, chronic illness representation, the one-bed trope, and a good time then this book is for you!


Thank you to Netgalley, M. Stevenson, and Tor Publishing for the eARC!

OK so LOVE the chronic illness rep, unique magic system and detailed intricate world building, I felt fully immersed and invested in the story and characters, was a quick read because I couldn't put it down!

Behooved by M Stevenson follows Bianca, Duchess of Damaria, known for her sense of duty as she accepts a betrothal to Prince Aric, the heir of Gildenheim, to solidify a treaty and stave off war. A failed assassination attempt on their wedding night leaves Prince Aric transformed into a white stallion. Bianca will need to find a way to break the spell before Prince Aric’s coronation and somewhere along the way their arranged marriage becomes one of love.

This was a unique story with nonstop action, an intriguing magic system, and beautifully flawed characters. M Stevenson does a wonderful job of creating a world and characters that draws you in. I loved how much both Bianca and Aric grow and learn throughout the story and their budding romance felt very real. I would highly recommend this to readers who enjoy fantasy and romance.