Reading the plot of the book had me a little nervous but this actually ended up being very cute, maybe I do like enemies to lovers after this. I do wish the FMC didn't complain so much about how much of a liability she is but I still appreciated the representation.

The blurb, and the conceit (the prince is now a horse! hijinks ensue!), caught my eye, but if I hadn't been reading this as an ARC, I would have DNF'd. I hoped it would be funnier and more engaging, but Bianca's dutiful nature was dull and Aric didn't bring much personality to the table either. Or the trough, I guess. Aside from the disability rep (which I appreciated), this felt derivative and boring. A cast of potentially interesting side characters was largely wasted. It skews YA in style and vibes, which doesn't really fit the material, and most of the politics and magic stuff, which could have been a good foil to the super basic romance plot, was just hand-waved. Overall, just disappointing.

Behooved is a fun and cozy romantasy that delivers a unique blend of political intrigue, magical curses, and an enemies-to-lovers romance—with a bit of horseplay along the way. If you’re in the mood for a cozy fantasy, this one is for you!

In M. Stevenson’s Behooved, protagonist Bianca does not get off on the right foot with her betrothed, King Aric. Supposedly he was the one to insist on a marriage alliance, but when she arrives, Aric seems to want nothing to do with her. If that wasn’t enough, their marriage night ends with a talking horse in the bedroom—instead of a groom!

This book was not quite how I’d imagined it from the description, but it is full of humor and fun, and was quite the enjoyable read.

M. Stevenson’s Behooved is a debut that gallops into romantasy with a unique premise, a touch of humor, and strong queer-normative and disability representation (Celiac Disease). While sometimes labeled as cozy fantasy, I’d call it cozy-adjacent at best—once Aric turns into a horse, the tone shifts closer to cozy territory, but the stakes remain a bit too high, and Bianca’s serious, often prickly nature keeps the book from settling into that warm, comforting space.

The novel takes a while to hit its stride, with the first quarter dragging due to pacing rather than plot. During this stretch, Bianca is deeply concerned with how others perceive her, and much of her frustration stems from minor slights that don’t feel particularly pressing within the book’s world. However, once her new husband transforms into a horse on their wedding night the story kicks into gear, offering a fun  twist and vibe shift that makes for an entertaining read.

Stevenson’s prose leans formal, which lends the book a distinct, almost fairy-tale-like feel, though it may not be for everyone. Some named characters serve clear roles but don’t develop much beyond them. That said, the novel excels in its queer-normative world, witty banter, and offbeat magical premise.

For a debut from an author without a formal writing background, this is an impressive first outing. While it wasn’t entirely my cup of tea, Behooved will likely appeal to romantasy readers who enjoy grumpy protagonists, sharp humor, and a magical plot with a twist and a nuzzle. If you can overlook some pacing hiccups and enjoy a weekend romp in the stable—with a few extra hurdles along the way—this one is worth saddling up for.⭐️⭐️⭐️3.4/5 starsBehooved will release on May 20, 2025 and is available for pre-order at ethical retailers like Bookshop.org.

Thank you to NetGalley and Bramble, an imprint of Tor Publishing Group, for the eARC in exchange for an honest professional review.

Bianca feels trapped in her role as the second-born daughter to a prominent family. She knows her duty to her family and her country comes first though, and when the neighboring kingdom threatens war with a marriage alliance as the only answer, she's willing to move away from everything she's known to prove to her parents that despite the illness that has defined most of her life she can serve a purpose. Nothing's as it seems though, when she makes it to Gildenheim's shores and her betrothed doesn't seem at all interested in the bride he requested. An assasin on their wedding night causes Bianca to accidentally turn her new husband into a horse, forcing them to journey through the countryside as they unravel the mysteries of the magic binding him and the political machinations that would use them as pawns.

I'll be honest, the premise of this story wasn't what drew me in. Actually, I found it a little silly, however, I was surprised at how it played out in that it wasn't caricature. Despite the world building and lore, the story didn't feel dense or bogged down. In fact, it felt like a light read. The author's "self-insert" by giving her an chronic illness in no way makes her an incapable heroine. If anything, my sympathy for her character was more due to her desire to gain her parents approval and subsequent clining to duty. Bianca proves to be a strong heroine that uses the talents she has as she gains the confidence to go after what she wants.

My one issue would be with the evolution of Bianca's feelings for Aric. The story is told in first person, so the reader is privy to her inner thoughts, and yet it caught me by surprise when she admits to the depth of attraction she feels to Aric. She'd certainly mentioned him she found him physically attractive, and we can see how she comes to see him in a new light, but claiming she "wanted him from the moment she laid eyes on him" felt untrue.

Overall, a fun romp of romantasy with a dash of world building that leaves itself open for more stories within the world. I'd read it again, but not immediately. Absorbing, but not un-put-down-able. 3.5/5

First, thank you to Tor Publishing Group and NetGalley for the ARC!

Second, I loved this book. It’s just a generally fun book! Knowing the premise, I couldn’t help but laugh at the foreshadowing horse puns early in the story. The humor and ticking clock kept the pacing moving well.

I fell in love with Aric. I have a soft spot for a nerdy, introverted prince 🥰 Without giving too much away, I also strongly identified with how he feels at a party 😅 And books are also my favorite weapon, both in a fight and in connecting with people.

Bianca is also a wonderful character. Her strength is undeniable. I love the theme that overcoming a weakness to accomplish something is actually a sign that you are stronger than the person who accomplished the same thing without having the weakness to overcome.

And I can’t close this out without making reference to the representation in this book. The queer normative world was refreshing in a way that I wasn’t expecting. I didn’t realize it was something I needed until M. Stevenson so expertly gave it to me. The disability rep, though, is what sets this book apart. Not just because disability rep is so rare, but because it highlights that there are so many different kinds of heroes and anyone, ANYONE, can be a hero and lead the quest we all dreamed of going on as kids.

So in short, this is a fast, fun read with many important messages you don’t even realize you’re getting because it shows people just as they are, living their lives, and kicking a** 😊

Suppose you’ve ever wondered what would happen if a marriage of convenience collided headfirst with a magical curse, then this book is your next must-read. The book has humor, mystery, and a slow-burn romance that is satisfying and sweet. It is a delightful escape into a world of cozy enchantment. Bianca, who has a secret chronic illness, must marry Prince Aric. She has a less-than-happy reception when she arrives in his kingdom. But just as she’s preparing for a life of stiff royal obligations, an assassination attempt throws everything off course literally. The botched attack turns Aric into a horse by day and back to himself as night. Bianca, accused of harming the prince, must flee with her horse husband. They must find the assassin to clear her name and break the curse, all while avoiding dangerous foes. It is an absolutely adorable and humorous ride.

What truly sets this book apart is its cozy tone. It balances adventure and danger with lighthearted wit. The forced proximity leads to some fantastic banter, which will have you giggling, and the slow-burning affection is charming. Bianca’s resilience and sharp wit shine, and Aric’s bookish, brooding nature make him an endearing hero. The book has a YA writing style, so there are a few missing elements, which is common in YA books, but it was still fun and silly. I recommend it to readers who like a low-stakes, cozy rom-com fantasy.

Thank you, NetGalley and Tor Publishing Group, Bramble, for the opportunity to review and provide my honest feedback.

I loved this book so much! It brought back so many memories of reading fantasy novels as a child. You truly go on a journey with these characters and the story feels at once familiar and fresh. I appreciated the sprinkling of spice the author added that took a comfort story into the modern realm where all the books are just a tad spicy. I loved these characters and I couldn’t put the book down until I knew how it would end. Well worth the read for any fantasy lover.

I wanted to read this book because it had elements of the plot of "My Lady Jane," and what I got was honestly so much better than I had anticipated. Bianca (the main character) has a chronic condition and I absolutely love seeing disabled characters in fantasy novels because representation is so important. This book gives you a fun fantasy romance, a badass disabled character, defiance of typical gender norms for both men and women, abounding queerness (Bianca is bi or pan and there are other queer characters), and a just a general good time!

This is a beautiful love story that entranced me from start to finish. While it seemed very similar to a different book that made me a bit hesitant, its unique charm was very loud and shown through beautifully. The chronic pain representation was so accurately descripted. As someone with chronic pain, I felt it was properly represented and something I never expected to find in a fantasy book.

A quirky story that doesn't take itself too seriously, Behooved filled the void that was left by the cancellation of My Lady Jane. If you’re going in expecting a typical fantasy book, this won’t be for you. But, if you’re looking for a low stakes happy, yet unconventional, fun time, I think this is the perfect cleanse.

DNF.

Listen, I picked this one up EAGER to be charmed, okay? And I tried, I really did. But too much struck me as outright nonsense for me to put up with.

Let’s start with the greats: I straight-up ADORED Bianca – she is an incredible character and I love her. I was really pleasantly surprised that after a fairly meek first chapter – in which we see how eager she is to earn her parents’ approval – she reveals herself to be not just determined, but hyper-competent, confident, and possessed of a very spiky temper (which she is great at controlling when she needs to). Here is a noble-born woman who is GOOD at politicking and dancing and all the rest of it, and who enjoys being good at them and knows she’s good at them. I guess this shouldn’t be such a big deal, but it is, because somehow we rarely get to see characters who seem like they were raised in a real noble house. She can even use a sword and dagger, just to put the seal on her badassery!

(Obviously you don’t need to be good with a sword to be a badass, do I really need to make that caveat? But you know what I mean!)

The worldbuilding is thin as tissue paper, but that actually didn’t bother me so much – I wasn’t expecting Epic Fantasy levels of worldbuilding from a book marketed this way. The prose is…fine? It’s not bad, it’s nothing special (although there are occasional flashes of brilliance with similes). I am very hard to please with first-person, but Bianca’s voice was acceptable.

Unfortunately, pretty much nothing else worked for me.

It’s just that Stevenson doesn’t seem to feel the need to make things make sense.

Bianca’s older sister, Tatiana, has been quietly allowed to duck out of mage training – which is mandatory and takes nine years. But their parents have paid off the mage guild. Hi: are you high? If magic is so dangerous that it legally requires nine entire years of training, then under no circumstances ever would you let mages go untrained! Which honestly seems to prove itself with Tatiana, since one of the first things we learn about her is that she accidentally (?) let loose a whirlwind at a dinner party! WHAT THE HELLS.

Bianca is willing to go off and marry the crown prince of a neighbouring country in order to finalise an important treaty. No issues there. But almost her first thought is that she’ll have a much better life as queen: what??? Specifically

>as a queen, I could choose my own appointments. Keep to my rooms, or my bed, when I was too sick to stand instead of making myself more ill by pushing through, and do so without dreading the rebuke I knew was coming at the first private moment.<

Um – no, actually??? I realise your country no longer has a monarchy, but that is an unbelievably naive view (from a woman who at no other point, on no other topic, appears naive). You have no idea what your fiance is like: he could absolutely rebuke you (he could, in fact, be FURIOUS to learn your country has pawned him off with a chronically ill queen: why is no one concerned about this???), he could be an absolute asshole, and you have no idea what your duties are going to be. Control of your appointments is not at all guaranteed! If anything, I would imagine your presence is going to be much more vitally necessary at the events you’re scheduled to attend than it is in your life now – any event that requires the queen’s presence is going to be much higher-stakes than an event that wants a random noblewoman to attend. What???

The woman who makes Bianca’s tonics – the medicine for her condition – is known as her apothecary. But she also does Bianca’s hair and helps her dress? How do you have an apothecary’s skills AND a lady’s maid’s??? Those are both full-time gigs! I’d understand if her apothecary MASQUERADED as her lady’s maid, that might be a good way to let her be part of Bianca’s retinue without giving away Bianca’s illness – but she actually fills both roles? HOW?

On the ship to her new home, we learn that the leader of her new guard is Bianca’s EX. Why the hells did Bianca not get a say in who had that position?! Why was that allowed to happen? This is ridiculous, the last person you’d want in this situation is an ex!

And so on. It’s all tiny details like this. Bianca arrives at her fiance’s palace and is told the wedding is taking place the next day. A) what the fuck B) why C) how was the date not nailed down in the treaty this marriage is supposedly sealing?! Bonus: besides the ambassador, no one from her country is coming. Not her parents, not her sister, nobody. She’s about to be a QUEEN, her marriage is cementing an apparently VERY IMPORTANT treaty, and no one back home gives a fuck??? Why the hells not?

Bianca does not know when her fiance’s coronation is: what? That is such ridiculously basic information you would have if you were going away to marry an about-to-be king! (Are her family showing up for the coronation? That wasn’t answered by the 30% mark, which is when I stopped reading, but it seemed to be implied that they were not!) Bianca thinks she’s going to be Aric’s equal: why? Do queens have power in his country? In most European countries (which the setting seems mildly inspired by, in that generic Fantasy way) queens had a lot less power than kings, so it’s not guaranteed! Bianca does not see it as a red flag when the coronet she’s given is silver, as opposed to Aric’s golden one: ???

The wedding ceremony involves blood magic. Bianca did not know this ahead of time. HOW? HOW DID YOU NOT KNOW THIS? It’s apparently the norm for royal weddings (not clear whether non-royal weddings involve the same), so it shouldn’t come as any kind of surprise! You should have known about that before you ever got on the ship!

But the point at which I would have defenestrated this book, had I been reading a paper copy, was in the moments after Aric is turned into a horse.

Because.

Wait for it.

HE JUMPS OUT OF A SECOND STORY WINDOW.

AS A HORSE.

………………….IS THIS A JOKE?????????????

How did he not break all four of his legs? HE’S A HORSE! And he KNOWS he’s a horse, he’s not disoriented or anything – he tells Bianca to get on his back, he’s grasped the situation.

Does he not know horses??????? Why would it even OCCUR TO YOU to jump out a window in horse form??? Why on EARTH didn’t you just kick down the door and run off into the hallways and get outside that way? For that matter, why didn’t Stevenson just write them into a ground-floor room???

But reader, you should be proud of me, because I actually didn’t stop there! I kept reading! And I was not rewarded for it! Because Bianca and horse!Aric run away for no apparent reason. Later, they discover that only Bianca can hear Aric’s horse-telepathy, but at the point that they run away they don’t know that, so??? Why would you run away from your guards? Why didn’t you think Aric could talk to his soldiers and explain? You could have run away AFTER, when you realised that wasn’t possible, but running away before?

Bianca doesn’t even ask why they’re running away!!!

*screeches and tears my hair out*

I’m not even going to get into why the protection spell Tatiana gave her sister turned someone into a horse who could telepathically speak to her. I’ll be generous and assume Tatiana screwed up and that wasn’t what the spell was meant to do. ‘CAUS IT SURE LOOKS LIKE TATIANA THOUGHT TURNING SOMEONE INTO A TELEPATHIC HORSE WOULD BE A GREAT WAY TO DEAL WITH AN ASSASSIN! (Horses are dangerous, if you were going to turn an attacker into something why not a mouse or a ladybird or something else that can’t hurt you?!)

Behooved gave me such a headache. And the banter between horse!Aric and Bianca was not my idea of funny or charming. The glittery feeling that comes with the best Fun books just wasn’t here for me even aside from nothing making sense. Maybe it gets cute later on, I don’t know. I’ll never know, because I’m not reading any more of this.

Gah.

Behooved is a fun and cozy romantasy that delivers a unique blend of political intrigue, magical curses, and an enemies-to-lovers romance—with a bit of horseplay along the way.

Bianca and Aric’s arranged marriage is anything but conventional. Not only does Aric greet his bride with an icy demeanor, but by their wedding night, he’s cursed into stallion form. Now framed for his “murder” and on the run, Bianca must navigate courtly plots, break the spell, and deal with the inconvenient fact that her brooding, bookish husband turns human only at night—and that she might actually be falling for him.

I loved how the romance developed between Bianca and Aric. Their initial friction made way for a compelling dynamic where they learned to see each other’s strengths—Bianca, a fierce warrior navigating a world that often underestimates her, and Aric, a shy but thoughtful prince who loves books as much as he dislikes court politics. Their growth felt natural, and I appreciated the chronic illness rep for Bianca, which added depth to her character. The political intrigue, assassination attempts, and travel elements kept the story engaging, even if some plot points were predictable.

What kept this from being a full five stars for me was the repetitive nature of Bianca’s inner thoughts, which slowed the pacing in the first half. Some worldbuilding aspects (especially regarding the politics) felt underdeveloped, and while the bi4bi rep was a nice inclusion, I wish it had been explored more deeply. The YA-leaning writing style also made some moments feel a bit simplistic, but overall, this was an enjoyable standalone adventure filled with heart, humor, and just the right amount of magical mayhem.

If you’re in the mood for a cozy fantasy with an arranged marriage, slow-burn romance, and a cursed prince-turned-stallion, Behooved is well worth the ride! 🐎✨

—sooooo your husband's a horse (of course, of course)

—arranged marriage and nobody's happy to be there

—romance hero: *blushes*

Heat Index: 6/10

The Basics:

Given no choice but to marry Aric, the the heir apparent to a rival nation, Bianca isn't any happier about her new husband than he appears to be about her... But they're given a common cause when an assassination attempt and accidental curse on their wedding night results in Aric living as a horse by day and a man by night. As they set out to break the curse—and uncover who wants at least one of them dead—Bianca and Aric quickly find themselves bound by a lot more than obligation...

The Review:

Okay, so—let's get one thing out of the way. Though I expect this was written prior to the one-season-wonder Amazon series My Lady Jane (RIP)... If you're a grieving fan, then yes, I feel this may be a balm for your wounds. By no means is this a one-to-one to MLJ aside from the "man by night, horse by day" arranged marriage set up (Aric isn't cursed until after he and Bianca marry, and while this is a magical world, it's not a shifter world) but the whimsicality and banter-banter-kiss of it all will most likely be up your alley.

But do you have to be into that kind of madcap series to get into Behooved? No, not at all. While MLJ was joke after joke, Behooved is funny in a lighter, subtler way. I definitely found myself smiling more than once—especially when Aric was huffing and psychically snarking at Bianca while in his horse form. (Yes, they can communicate when Aric is a horse; which is good, as he is in fact a horse for a good chunk of the time.) A horse snarkily calling our heroine "WIFE" as he berates her about putting him in this stupid situation... was kinda hilarious.

Overall, though, this is a lighter fantasy that still invests in stakes and politics—more so than a lot of other "cozy fantasy" romance novels I've read have. I mean, we're not Game of Thrones-ing out here. But Bianca and Aric do have reason to fear for their lives, there is a very clear conspiracy afoot from the jump, war looms overhead if they don't marry, and we even have a little blood magic.

... Which doesn't mean we don't also have some of the hallmarks of cozy fantasy. Aric seems cold and possibly even dangerous when Bianca first meets him (he's still checking out that rack, though, hallelujah)—but really, it's more of a Mr. Darcy-esque social anxiety situation. He's a massive nerd; he's a little shy; he's quite snarky, but clearly sweet, and probably sweeter than Bianca. I found it interesting that Stevenson made it very clear that she envisioned a hero who wasn't quite the romance physical standard, either. You have his long blond hair called out, his narrow shoulders, the ridges of his spine.

I did kind of wish that the bickering had lasted a bit longer, because it is so funny. Bianca doesn't want to admit that there's a spark, and she definitely doesn't want to examine it when her new husband is in horse form (a moment she experiences when she has to ride Aric... not in that way, THAT way...) truly took me out. Stevenson doesn't resolve their issues immediately, but we could've had them going at each other (non-sexual) for a bit longer.

Other things to note: This is a queer-positive fantasy world. Bianca's bisexuality is not hidden, she has a female ex we see on the page, and she's chosen to marry Aric over her sister because said sister is a lesbian. Bianca also has a chronic illness based on celiac disease (Stevenson draws from personal experience) which she deals with, also on the page. Aric's attentiveness to her is a really lovely instance of caretaking, and it totally endeared me to their love story.

The Sex:

The sex is fairly light in this one, but it is on the page and explicit (and we have pulling out, which I found an interesting choice compared to the typical fantasy "uh, I had a birth control spell in my pocket" moment). I found it well-written and fitting the characters, though I will say, Stevenson has Aric ask for consent a LOT. Asking for consent is great! And I do believe that Aric's anxiety and sense of responsibility would have him asking a couple times to be sure. But I would've lived him to have a bit more confidence in Bianca's affirmation. Not a big deal at all, just a little quibble.

Conclusion:

While I could've used a bit more of the "we aggravate each other a lot" stage in this romance, overall it's a fun, light arranged marriage story with just the right amount of magic. True escapism, but with an awareness of the world that keeps it interesting.

Thanks to Bramble and NetGalley for providing me with a copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

This was cute for sure! I enjoyed Bianca's arc as well as Aric's. The horse spell was perfect for that fairy tale, almost cozy vibe. It was still about marrying a prince and saving a kingdom, and had a dash of court politics, but was certainly feel good, all around a really enjoyable read.

This book was a ride. I loved it. While nothing was super surprising or outstanding the comedy was amazing. I thoroughly enjoyed it. Would highly recommend.

Read this book if you want:
- Representation of chronic illnesses
- A MMC who cares, who loves, who is atypical and wonderful
- An FMC who is funny, brave, and older
- A cozy fantasy love story that *feels* like a love story
- Inclusivity!!

All in all, I could not recommend this book enough. M. Stevenson has crafted such an enjoyable, unputdownable book! It's one that I finished within 24 hours of starting, and one that managed to haul me out of one of my worst reading slumps in a long time. Behooved feels like a warm hug on a bad day.

I absolutely adored reading Bianca's story, and I think that she has easily become one of my favorite FMCs of all time. She's so mature and respectful no matter what she's going through, and yet she also has a sharper side (one that becomes apparent at multiple points throughout the story). I never got tired of reading her internal dialogue, and I found that she was an absolute delight to follow along. Her relationship with her sister, as well as her relationship with everyone around her, felt extremely well-written.

Aric!!! Aric!!! Holy moly I never thought the name Aric could be attractive, but M. Stevenson has somehow made Aric synonymous with "ideal life partner." Aric is initially very aloof and cold towards Bianca, which lent itself to the overall theme of "this is a new place and everything sucks." Watching Aric gradually warm up to Bianca and develop feelings for her was absolutely LOVELY, and the way that he treats her gave me all of the warm fuzzies. And horse Aric... well... horse Aric was absolutely hilarious.

All in all, I cannot recommend this book enough. I will forever be a devoted fan to M. Stevenson, particularly if she keeps giving us hilarious horse books :)

Thank you SO much to both Tor and Netgalley for the opportunity to read and review this ARC. I'll be counting down the days until May 20th!

Behooved is a quirky fantasy in which Bianca and Aric are betrothed as part of a peace treaty between their nations. However, a spell goes awry, and Aric is cursed to live as a horse during the day. This cozy but also tender story is perfect for those who love a soft prince and tough heroine embarking on a journey!

My favorite part of the romance plotline in this book was how Bianca and Aric learned to be vulnerable with each other! Aric is a gentle, shy MMC, which is refreshing, and Bianca slowly lets him help when she has flares of her chronic condition. They both put aside their initial distrust and lean on each other’s strengths throughout their journey to reverse the curse. Their relationship was so sweet, and they complemented each other perfectly!

The representation in this book was fantastic, including characters with chronic disabilities and LGBT+ characters!

I wish we had a bit more background on the villain of the story since the end felt rushed and could have used more build-up.

Thank you to Netgalley and Tor/Bramble for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

What a great and unique book!! I haven’t read many books like it. It kept my interest from start to finish. Would definitely recommend !