This comedic romantasy gave a nice, cozy feel. The banter between the two main characters often made me grin and laugh out loud. The idea of a future king being turned into an animal made for a fun story. Even though the story maintained an air of comedy, it still had a serious plot. I was definitely invested in the plot and the characters both of which were well developed. The female narrator did a good job voicing all the characters and distinguishing between them all. I definitely recommend to all the readers who love a funny, fast-paced, romantic fantasy story.

Behooved, by author @mstevensonbooks was a pleasure to listen to. This tale follows a duty-bound princess on her journey to become a queen. She's to marry a prince of a far off land in order to maintain peace. It's definitely not a love match. An assassination attempt goes wrong, and she finds herself on the run with her new husband who just so happens to have had a spell cast on him that renders him a horse by day and a man by night. Join this chronically-ill princess on her wild ride to clear her name and prove her worth. She might even decide her new husband is worth getting to know and isn't so bad after all.

3.5 stars! I enjoyed listening to the audiobook of Behooved; it was such a sweet and fun, easy read. It was very silly, but also so heartwarming.

Let’s start with the things I loved. The narration by Natalie Naudus was wonderful. She voiced all the characters very well and I loved the way she delivered the humorous lines in the book. I also appreciated the queer and chronic illness representation; we always need more representation in books, especially in fantasy! And I loved the humor (horse puns!), the banter, and the endearing moments. Some of the quotes made me laugh out loud, and others just warmed my heart. One for example: “Strength isn’t about what your body can do. It’s about how you respond to adversity. And I’ve never known someone so determined to do the right thing, no matter the personal cost.”

However, I did have a few issues with this book. One being that it felt like it was leading up to a big reveal or twist about her condition, but nothing was ever described in detail. This may have been by design, but it just seemed like there was supposed to be a twist that never came to fruition. Another issue for me was the lack of self-esteem in both MCs; which I can definitely relate to, and I do love when a character can find the confidence in themselves in the end, but the repetitive “but why do you like me??” got a little frustrating. And finally, I thought the book started off strong, but lost me a little around the 80% mark. It mildly lost my attention from that point until the reveals started happening at the end of the book. That being said, these weren’t dealbreakers for me, just wanted to note my reasons for not rating it a 5.

Overall, I enjoyed this audio! I’d most likely recommend this (and already have) to fans of Assistant to the Villain.

Thank you to Macmillan Audio, M. Stevenson, and NetGalley for this ALC!

“Strength isn’t about what your body can do. It’s about how you respond to adversity. And I’ve never known someone so determined to do the right thing no matter the personal cost.” ~~~Aric.

I really enjoyed this sweet Romantasy complete with magic, adventure, and political intrigue!

First we have Bianca, the dutiful second daughter, leaving her country and beloved sister to marry the new heir of a neighboring kingdom to prevent a war. Bianca suffers from an undisclosed chronic illness that makes her feel like the weak link in her family’s political powerhouse. It was nice to see her develop a sense of self worth during this story’s journeys.

Next we have Aric, the latest addition to my “Bookish Cinnamon Roll Hall of Fame”. He would much rather live a life of quiet study and solitude than be the ruler of his kingdom.

During a failed assassination attempt on their wedding night, a magical mishap leaves Aric a horse by day and man by night. Needing to break this curse before Aric’s coronation day, the couple set out on a journey to meet up with Bianca’s sister (the creator of the curse).

Once they discover that they aren’t each other’s enemy, we get a sweet slow burn romance of two fated mates working against time to save their kingdoms from their conniving families. Huzzah!

Along the way, we have Only One Bed, Forced Proximity, and plenty of horse puns!

My only complaints are that Bianca’s illness is never revealed (my guess is something similar to celiac disease) and sometimes Bianca’s inner monologues could be overly long.

I would rate the spice level a two.

The audiobook is perfectly performed by Natalie Naudus and I recommend it for my fellow audiophiles. Thank you so much to Macmillan Audio for my early listening copy!

What do you do when you accidentally turn your husband into a horse on your wedding night? You ride him—duh! Behooved was such a fun and quirky fantasy with a unique premise and a ton of charm. The romance is definitely a slow burn, but the banter and humor kept things moving and totally entertaining.

I listened to the audiobook (thank you to Macmillan Audio and NetGalley for the early copy), and as usual, they nailed it. Natalie Naudus did an amazing job with the narration—she had me cracking up with her delivery, especially during the snarky back-and-forths between Bianca and Aric.

The chemistry between the leads was great, and honestly, I was really into the yearning and tension between them. I even found myself wishing the steamy moments lasted a little longer, which isn’t something I usually say! I was also left with a couple of lingering questions—mainly about the green witches and Bianca’s illness. Those elements felt important, so I was surprised they didn’t get more closure. Maybe there’s a sequel coming?

All in all, this was a four-star read for me. If you’re into magical mishaps, slow-burn romance, and a story that doesn’t take itself too seriously, Behooved is definitely worth the ride.

This was a solid 3 star book!

It’s the classic tale (tail) of an unwanted princess arranged to marry a new king to prevent war, with the added twist of having that king turn into a horse!

That said, despite the somewhat silly concept and title, this book took itself pretty seriously. Almost too seriously? The man was a horse but the most fun we had with it was trying to get him down some rickety inn stairs. It felt like a missed opportunity.

Honestly, most of this felt a little bit like a miss. Instead of miscommunication of an equine proportions, it’s just plane boring miscommunication cause they can still talk the whole time Aric is a horse. It’s also never explained why they can ONLY communicate telepathically when he’s a horse. Just like it’s never explained what exactly Biana’s mysterious illness was (I guessed POTS at first, then a food allergy/intolerance, then briefly poison but that was a disappointing dead end).

It was a perfectly mid book. The conflict was present, if not very pressing. The romance was decent, if not very compelling. The writing was passable, if a little dry. The character development was— well it was kinda weak actually but par for the course with romantasy.

Bianca agrees to marry the prince from a neighboring kingdom in order to complete her duty and keep her people safe. Prince Aric does not seem happy to be marrying her even though he was the one that insisted they be married or there would be a war. He seems to hate her before they even met. Then on their wedding night an assignation attempt goes wrong and Aric becomes cursed to turn into a horse during the day and a man at night. it seems that the assignation attempt was a part of a larger plot and Bianca has been framed for Aric's murder. They must now determine how to break the spell on Aric and keep both their kingdoms safe.

I absolutely loved this book. There were moments that made me laugh at well and moments that made me feel emotional. The characters were relatable int heir own ways and I loved the chronic illness representation. The romance was super sweet and more of a slow burn as they learn to trust each other.

Behooved by M. Stevenson is an utterly delightful & highly entertaining cozy fantasy romance that is a ride of a time.

Behooved is great for those looking to read…
💜 Cozy Fantasy Romance
💜 Arranged Marriage
💜 Chronic Illness Representation
💜 Queernormative World
💜 Bi4Bi Pairing
💜 Only One Bed
💜 Bookish Love Interest
💜 Hate to Love

This was wildly unexpected but just a fun & easy to escape in read that had me amused, immersed & entertained though out. I love a nerdy bookish book interest & this was a great hero along with a fierce heroine.

I am always so grateful for the chronic illness representation & I thought this was done so well. I live for feeling seen in the books I read & I am so thankful for this.

I was fortunate enough to listen to the audiobook of this & it was just wonderful. I could not stop listening to this. The narrator did great & I listened at 2x & it was perfect for my ADHD brain.

If you are looking for a cozy, easy to escape in fantasy romance that’s unique & wild adventure, I highly recommend Behooved!

Massive thanks to NetGalley, Tor/Bramble & Macmillan Audio for the gifted copy, which I voluntarily read & reviewed.

I will post on socials & Amazon around release week & add links once I do. .

I had such a great time listening to the audiobook for this wonderful story. Natalie Naudus was a perfect pick for the narration and Bianca’s voice. This fantasy world was interesting and I loved the characters.

Bianca was a character I related to on many levels. She has a hard time believing in herself because of what she has been told by her parents about her chronic illness. It was so powerful to see her find confidence in herself. Also, I’m glad that her illness cannot just be magically cured and she keeps fighting even when she is having one of her flares of sickness and pain. Many times in fantasy where there is magic being used so much in the world, an illness would have been healed quickly in the book. It feels much more real to see her having to continue on even when she feels terrible and this shows her strength. I like that this was an empowering story along with the fantasy and romance aspects.

Arranged marriages are quite common in fantasy novels and I enjoyed seeing how M. Stevenson had Aric turn into a horse. There was so much humor because of this, especially with the horse puns. Bianca and Aric’s relationship was charming in every way. Aric is the type of character I adore. He at first seems to be aloof, but it doesn’t take long to see the man he really is. Such a sweetheart. I like how they both are able to help the other feel more comfortable being who they are. Their romance was sweet.

I look forward getting my own copy of this wonderful book for my collection and reading more of M. Stevenson’s writing. I recommend this book to cozy fantasy fans, fantasy romance fans, and fans of My Lady Jane.

I went into this book not expecting to like it much because cozy fantasy is very often not my thing. But I really liked this one. I think the audio was what made me like it so much.

The narration was absolutely perfect. The voice felt like the right age and they definitely had the right attitude. I was swept away by the innocent, carefree voice that started the story out. And because of this voice, I kept going when I probably wouldn’t have if I were reading a physical copy.

I’m really glad I kept going because I found this book to be cute, endearing, and whimsical. I’m looking forward to seeing what other people have to say about this book after its release. I have a feeling it’s going to be quite popular.

Thank you very much to Macmillan Audio and NetGalley for an ALC of this book. All opinions are my own and are not influenced by the manner in which I received it.

“No. I would not tell the ambassador, or anyone who didn’t absolutely need to know, that I had accidentally turned my husband into a horse.”

3.5 ⭐️

Bianca, Duchess of Damaria, must marry Aric of Gilenheim to unite the kingdoms.

On the night of their wedding, an assassin attempts to kill them. Bianca uses a magic locket to try to protect her husband ending in a very serious problem… her new husband has turned into a horse.

Bianca is accused of his murder, so the pair run away hoping to find answers they so desperately need.

As they slowly start opening up to one another, they begin to build an actual relationship.

But, as if things couldn’t get any worse, someone is trying to take over the kingdom & it’s a race to get back to claim their rightful place on the thrones.

What to expect:
🐴 Unique magic system
👑 Chronic illness
🐴 Arranged marriage
👑 Cozy fantasy
🐴 Enemies to lovers

Thoughts:
This was definitely a cozy fantasy that gave me Shrek vibes. I love a good arranged marriage trope & appreciate chronic illness representation in books. It started out really strong but unfortunately it kinda sizzled out for a little bit. The ending was sweet. Overall, a fun & creative read!

Wow! What a fun ride. The writing was lyrical and beautiful, the story was a blast, the narrator for the audiobook was fantastic. I will definitely be recommending this book and buying a physical copy when it releases. Thanks for the ARC

If you are in the mood for a fantastical romantic quest filled with whimsy, magic, and heart - Behooved is for you. This is a bit of a slow burn start to the romance (enemies to begrudging accomplices to lovers) with a few fantasy element concept challenges. Overall, the listen is an enjoyable adventure to both follow a budding love story and solve who is pulling the strings behind our main characters arranged marriage and murder attempt!
4.75 stars

This book was okay. I had heard so many things about it, so I think I probably had some preconceived expectations.
If you are a fan of things such as The Princess Bride, this is probably the book for you.
I think if I could have turned off my brain while reading the book, I might have enjoyed it more.
Man by day, horse by night. Betrothed. War at stake. Assassination attempt.
I didn't feel like there wasn't quite enough world building for me to get much out of the book.
The plot was different. I think structurally it was okay. Pace, a little slow.
Some banter. Some love story. Miscommunication - not a big fan of this trope.
The book is just everywhere and I couldn't figure out any rationale during the entire book.
Lots of statements were contradictory.
I have a hard time rating this one as I just don't know what to think.
Best I can do is 2 stars.
Thank you to NetGalley for the opportunity to review this ARC!
Happy Reading!

Behooved was just the sort of read I needed right now. Lighthearted, a bit silly, but with lovely chemistry between the two leads and a mystery I was curious to see resolved.

This one is for the My Lady Jane fans. This was such a fun time, especially if you enjoy cozy romantasy.

Bianca was such a great heroine. I loved her. Aric starts out rude but he's really just a softie. These two were grumpy x grumpy which made their dynamic a lot of fun. Plus Aric turns into a horse half the time so that's funny and entertaining. The romance is a slow burn but I liked watching these two fall in love.

The plot was exciting and super entertaining. I love whodunnits and this had a fantastical element to it which made it even more exciting. I also enjoyed the magical elements and thought the world building was well done.

I thought Bianca's chronic pain was well represented too.

Natalie Naudus narration added so much to the story. I am so glad I was able to listen to this. Her voice captures the characters perfectly and is nice & crisp.

Highly entertainging & romantic. Would recommend!

Thank you so much to Macmillan Audio for an early audiobook copy of Behooved!💖
This audiobook was SOOO much fun!!! Behooved may remind people of My Lady Jane (due to a kind of horse shifter situation) BUT this book mainly gave me some Princess Bride vibes!!! I cannot verbalize exactly why that is but there are just some situation and words in the story that gave me these feelings (and from someone who has been obsessed with The Princess Bride for like 99% of her life, this is a HUGE compliment)!!!😂 This book is kind of a cozy fantasy but there are some higher stakes BUT there's no like war or anything that happens...there's betrayal, magic, a curse, growth, romance, and some just goofy vibes that make this feel sort of like the Assistant to the Villain series because it is funny but also fantasy and romance!
I really enjoyed this book and 100% want more books like it!!! 🫶 I do sort of wish there had been a narrator for the male main character BUT that is just if I had to pick something to complain about! 😂

Thank you to Macmillan Audio and Netgalley for this ARC audiobook! This opportunity does not affect my review in anyway. No spoilers below.

3.5⭐️This was quite a fun and light read, and the narrator did a good job portraying the FMC. The story begins with an arranged marriage that, apparently, neither of them wanted. We move from enemies to lovers and get some great banter between a horse and woman LOL. However, the author is able to work in some serious matters such as self-doubt and overcoming perceived and literal weaknesses. This book does have a HEA, so happy reading!!

I really enjoyed this! It was a fun and cozy story and I really loved the narrator! The book cover is gorgeous and really vibes with the story.

Behooved by @mstevensonbooks was such a hilarious, wholesome and just feel good audiobook. I loved the narrator @natalienaudus was fantastic and just perfect for this story. I really felt like her tone was perfect for the princess of this story.

In the gender bent swan-princess retelling, kind of in, what I pictured, a 'Shrek' type world, behooved, follows the story of Bianca. She knows that duty always comes before heart and your own passions, so when her parents ask her to marry the soon-to-be King of a neighboring Kingdom, she knows that she must say yes. Upon her arrival, the king is bitter and rude, but when someone breaks in to assassinate him, she finds herself protecting him by using a magical necklace from her witchy sister that just so happens to turn him into a horse by accident. Accused of his murder. She must work with the prince that she loathes... Who is now a horse in the daytime, to find the true murderer and take back the kingdom.

Really just such a great read and a phenomenal audiobook!!

Thank you to @macmillanusa @macmillan.audio @netgalley for the arc!

First of all the cover for Behooved is so beautiful. Also the narrator did such a great job. The premise of the story sounded so good. An arranged marriage, a curse, forced proximity, slow burn. However, I felt like I was bored for the majority of this book. I didn’t feel the chemistry between the two characters either. Miscommunication is one of my least favorite tropes. Bianca knew she wasn’t going into the marriage for a love match. She was just doing it to stop a potential war. However, it felt like she would just nit pick everything Aric did. There isn’t much world building. This just wasn’t for me.
Thank you NetGalley for an audiobook arc.