Scan barcode
caseythereader's review
emotional
lighthearted
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Fire/Fire injury, Alcohol, Sexual content, Miscarriage, Grief, Death, and Injury/Injury detail
ana_the_frog's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Fire/Fire injury, and Grief
Moderate: Blood, Miscarriage, Torture, Injury/Injury detail, and Violence
Minor: Infertility, Death of parent, Physical abuse, and Sexual content
mamaewalk's review
adventurous
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
Such a good read. Starts off cozy and sweet but definitely has high stakes in second half. What I love is the queer joy. Queer relationships are a normal thing that no one bats an eye at in this world.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Fire/Fire injury, Death, and Grief
Moderate: Death of parent, Miscarriage, Infertility, Blood, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Abandonment, Abortion, Emotional abuse, and Violence
jadubug's review against another edition
emotional
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
I’m getting back into reading fiction and really enjoyed this book as my re-entry! While the pace was pretty fast at first, it evened out and I had time to fall in love with the characters. I post it noted my favorite passages and everything, I don’t remember the last time I read a book so fast! The direction of the story isn’t as challenging to predict, but I think a read like that was suited to my needs. I really loved the characters, both main and background. Little moments made me so happy, and I love to see friendships and relationships form. I also love nature and connections to nature that are either spiritual or bigger than we are, so I was bound to enjoy this book.
As for the “it’s complicated” aspects of my ratings, I feel like it was a little hard to track character development because a lot of development happened off screen. I feel like it’s a little understandable since there’s a lot to cover in the timeline, but Marigold got the hang of things pretty quickly, considering the speed of her circumstances changing. I also chose that ranking for the diversity category since most of the main characters are queer, but most of the characters are also white. I guess it’s part of the setting (1800s Western Europe esque setting), but it would be nice to see more important characters of color like August.
Overall, I just had the best time reading this book!! I’m so glad I got a physical copy so it will always be on my shelf. I really want to draw the characters, now.
As for the “it’s complicated” aspects of my ratings, I feel like it was a little hard to track character development because a lot of development happened off screen. I feel like it’s a little understandable since there’s a lot to cover in the timeline, but Marigold got the hang of things pretty quickly, considering the speed of her circumstances changing. I also chose that ranking for the diversity category since most of the main characters are queer, but most of the characters are also white. I guess it’s part of the setting (1800s Western Europe esque setting), but it would be nice to see more important characters of color like August.
Overall, I just had the best time reading this book!! I’m so glad I got a physical copy so it will always be on my shelf. I really want to draw the characters, now.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Miscarriage, Grief, Death, Injury/Injury detail, Violence, and Fire/Fire injury
lauren_reads_outside's review
adventurous
emotional
lighthearted
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Be warned: the pacing on this book is a little wonky so if you're here for the sapphic witches, be patient! They're coming! They're worth it! So worth it!
If you stick through the world building vibes of regency girl doesn't want to get married and would rather frolic in the woods, and grandma whisks away for a sort of training sequences, you will be rewarded with not quite enemies to lovers sapphic yearning and pay off and big fight scenes.
The vibes in this book are immaculate and oh to be a yearning gay witch away on her farm giving spells to the nearby town.
I hope for sequels of the side characters! Thank you NetGalley for the ARC.
If you stick through the world building vibes of regency girl doesn't want to get married and would rather frolic in the woods, and grandma whisks away for a sort of training sequences, you will be rewarded with not quite enemies to lovers sapphic yearning and pay off and big fight scenes.
The vibes in this book are immaculate and oh to be a yearning gay witch away on her farm giving spells to the nearby town.
I hope for sequels of the side characters! Thank you NetGalley for the ARC.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Injury/Injury detail, Murder, and Sexual content
Moderate: Miscarriage, Alcohol, Death, and Fire/Fire injury
Minor: Infertility, Torture, Physical abuse, and Pregnancy
charlie_emgwy's review against another edition
emotional
lighthearted
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
I really enjoyed this book, it was beautifully written, not quite 5 as at a certain point I could see where it was going.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death, Miscarriage, Fire/Fire injury, and Injury/Injury detail
booksdogsandcoffee's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
sad
tense
medium-paced
2.75
Perfect for fans of Bridgerton sprinkled with the vibes of Halloweentown and a dash of coziness.
Thank you orbit/redhook for an advance reader copy!
ShieId's debut was trying to do many things, some well and some not. I loved the magic system of the Honey and Ash witches, it was so cool how each type works both together and with nature. I also loved the grumpy/sunshine romance dynamic.
What I personally don't think worked is the pacing, and voice of the novel. It started off very well, then sadly dragged for almost 150 pages till it really peaked my interest again. With the voicing of the book, when in the village of Bardshire there is a certain tone the author uses, while in Innisfree there is another. Which may be what was intended, but again in my personal opinion was a bit hard to read and follow while reading.
I would have loved to see the ending fleshed out a bit more. But overall I think this book is going to find it's people and so many will love and enjoy it.
Thank you orbit/redhook for an advance reader copy!
ShieId's debut was trying to do many things, some well and some not. I loved the magic system of the Honey and Ash witches, it was so cool how each type works both together and with nature. I also loved the grumpy/sunshine romance dynamic.
What I personally don't think worked is the pacing, and voice of the novel. It started off very well, then sadly dragged for almost 150 pages till it really peaked my interest again. With the voicing of the book, when in the village of Bardshire there is a certain tone the author uses, while in Innisfree there is another. Which may be what was intended, but again in my personal opinion was a bit hard to read and follow while reading.
I would have loved to see the ending fleshed out a bit more. But overall I think this book is going to find it's people and so many will love and enjoy it.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death
Moderate: Sexual content, Vomit, Grief, Medical content, Fire/Fire injury, Miscarriage, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Torture
likeagilmoregirl's review
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
mysterious
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.75
If you were to mix the perfect amount of cozy fantasy, a healthy dash of high-stakes magic, and a sprinkle of sapphic spice into a cauldron, the outcome would be The Honey Witch by Sydney J. Shields.
Filled with passages that speak to the souls of women who long to run free, The Honey Witch is a story of self-discovery and self-acceptance. The protagonist, Marigold feels trapped in a society she does not fit into with a family that does not understand her, but loves her nonetheless. With the desire to be her true self, she sacrifices the life she knows and the possibility of true love to follow in her grandmother’s footsteps as a Honey Witch, counterpart to the Ash Witches.
With a threat looming above her new home and an impossible girl challenging her curse to be alone forever, Marigold must find the strength within herself to save her home and find true freedom once and for all.
I absolutely loved reading this book! The characters are lovable and have well-defined personalities and characteristics. I found myself wishing that I could spend more time following their adventures before this story was even done. And the world around them was colorful and exciting. I enjoyed every second, even when I was sobbing my eyes out.
The only critique I could possibly insert here is that, at times, the dialogue or inner monologue of the characters felt a little cheesy and out of place. But I’ve accepted much worse from other favorite books. Who of us isn’t a little cheesy from time to time?
Marigold and friends hold a very special place in my heart and I cannot wait to read more by this author.
*Huge thanks to NetGalley, Sydney J. Shields, and Redhook Books for providing me with the ARC e-book version of The Honey Witch for honest review*
Filled with passages that speak to the souls of women who long to run free, The Honey Witch is a story of self-discovery and self-acceptance. The protagonist, Marigold feels trapped in a society she does not fit into with a family that does not understand her, but loves her nonetheless. With the desire to be her true self, she sacrifices the life she knows and the possibility of true love to follow in her grandmother’s footsteps as a Honey Witch, counterpart to the Ash Witches.
With a threat looming above her new home and an impossible girl challenging her curse to be alone forever, Marigold must find the strength within herself to save her home and find true freedom once and for all.
I absolutely loved reading this book! The characters are lovable and have well-defined personalities and characteristics. I found myself wishing that I could spend more time following their adventures before this story was even done. And the world around them was colorful and exciting. I enjoyed every second, even when I was sobbing my eyes out.
The only critique I could possibly insert here is that, at times, the dialogue or inner monologue of the characters felt a little cheesy and out of place. But I’ve accepted much worse from other favorite books. Who of us isn’t a little cheesy from time to time?
Marigold and friends hold a very special place in my heart and I cannot wait to read more by this author.
*Huge thanks to NetGalley, Sydney J. Shields, and Redhook Books for providing me with the ARC e-book version of The Honey Witch for honest review*
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief, Abandonment, Death of parent, Panic attacks/disorders, Death, Fire/Fire injury, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Sexual content
bookishpip's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
What a stunning debut. I saw this book on a Goodreads ‘anticipated books in 2024’ list and was lucky enough to be granted early access (thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for the EARC!).
Honestly, this book truly did not disappoint. I was completely hooked from the beginning and fell completely under the spell of The Honey Witch’s story. It was a beautifully written and cosy read, but equally did not shy away from some tough subject matter such as grief and loneliness. It’s some of the most introspective writing I’ve seen in a debut, with a wonderfully balanced mixture of character building, world building and social commentary.
Generally I’m not hugely into romance novels and I’d be hesitant to label this book as such, but there is a beautiful love story intertwined with the overarching story themes without ever feeling like too much.
I don’t want to say too much and risk spoilers, but if you’re a fan of cosy witchy books, this is absolutely for you. I’d definitely recommend. All of the stars.
Honestly, this book truly did not disappoint. I was completely hooked from the beginning and fell completely under the spell of The Honey Witch’s story. It was a beautifully written and cosy read, but equally did not shy away from some tough subject matter such as grief and loneliness. It’s some of the most introspective writing I’ve seen in a debut, with a wonderfully balanced mixture of character building, world building and social commentary.
Generally I’m not hugely into romance novels and I’d be hesitant to label this book as such, but there is a beautiful love story intertwined with the overarching story themes without ever feeling like too much.
I don’t want to say too much and risk spoilers, but if you’re a fan of cosy witchy books, this is absolutely for you. I’d definitely recommend. All of the stars.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Injury/Injury detail, Grief, Death of parent, Fire/Fire injury, and Death
cassidy_rain's review
adventurous
hopeful
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
3.5
First of, thank you to NetGalley and Redhook books for the opportunity to read this early in exchange for an honest review. This book is set to be published May 14, 2024.
This book felt like Bridgerton meets witches and ✨magic✨. I love the cover and the vibes. Overall I thought it was a very cute and cozy read! That said, there are some heavier topics and events as well, so do check triggers.
Description: Marigold never really felt like she belonged amongst her siblings and peers, going to fancy balls and waiting to be courted and married. Her grandmother shows up after fifteen years of absence and drops a bombshell on Marigold- she's a witch, a Honey Witch to be exact. Innisfree, the magical island where Marigold's grandmother lives is under attack from a rival witch. There's just one catch, becoming a Honey Witch leaves a curse behind, where one is not able to ever fall in love. Marigold must decide if the risk is worth it and if she will leave behind everything she knows to train in honey witchcraft and protect her legacy.
The overall storytelling is done really well. I think it's a unique take on your traditional witch story/romance. The writing is very descriptive and I felt very immersed in the story while I was reading. It was really easy to picture what the different cities and landscapes looked like and how the magic system worked. A lot of care went in to setting up the story. The Honey Witches are essentially healers, they use different potions for different ailments (as well as some fun spells too!). Each spell has it's own ingredients and reasonings for using it and it feels realistic in that sense. I love the softness to it, to think that Marigold is so powerful, but uses it to help her community. The story is very female empowering and has strong themes of choice sprinkled throughout.
I really liked the two main characters, Marigold and Lottie. Lottie is a character that has a lot of pain and baggage and lashes out to those around her, but I feel for her and enjoyed her character development. The grandmother, Althea, was also an amazing character. However, I did not feel very invested in any of the other characters. I did not like the pairing of August and Frankie. I understand this is a magical fantasy world, but their relationship was very insta-lovey and too coincidental and unnecessary.
Some of the dialogue between characters felt a bit cheesy and the ending felt a bit rushed. The bulk of the story is pretty tame and low-stakes, and then the ending is fast and intense. Overall, I think it's a fun story and a really strong debut novel!
I think you'll like this if you're a fan of soft, magical stories- such as Divine Rivals and The Ex Hex.
The big tropes are:
-forbidden love
-found family
-there's even a late night, one-room-left-at-the-inn scene....
-LGBTQIA+
This book felt like Bridgerton meets witches and ✨magic✨. I love the cover and the vibes. Overall I thought it was a very cute and cozy read! That said, there are some heavier topics and events as well, so do check triggers.
Description: Marigold never really felt like she belonged amongst her siblings and peers, going to fancy balls and waiting to be courted and married. Her grandmother shows up after fifteen years of absence and drops a bombshell on Marigold- she's a witch, a Honey Witch to be exact. Innisfree, the magical island where Marigold's grandmother lives is under attack from a rival witch. There's just one catch, becoming a Honey Witch leaves a curse behind, where one is not able to ever fall in love. Marigold must decide if the risk is worth it and if she will leave behind everything she knows to train in honey witchcraft and protect her legacy.
The overall storytelling is done really well. I think it's a unique take on your traditional witch story/romance. The writing is very descriptive and I felt very immersed in the story while I was reading. It was really easy to picture what the different cities and landscapes looked like and how the magic system worked. A lot of care went in to setting up the story. The Honey Witches are essentially healers, they use different potions for different ailments (as well as some fun spells too!). Each spell has it's own ingredients and reasonings for using it and it feels realistic in that sense. I love the softness to it, to think that Marigold is so powerful, but uses it to help her community. The story is very female empowering and has strong themes of choice sprinkled throughout.
I really liked the two main characters, Marigold and Lottie. Lottie is a character that has a lot of pain and baggage and lashes out to those around her, but I feel for her and enjoyed her character development. The grandmother, Althea, was also an amazing character. However, I did not feel very invested in any of the other characters.
Some of the dialogue between characters felt a bit cheesy and the ending felt a bit rushed. The bulk of the story is pretty tame and low-stakes, and then the ending is fast and intense. Overall, I think it's a fun story and a really strong debut novel!
I think you'll like this if you're a fan of soft, magical stories- such as Divine Rivals and The Ex Hex.
The big tropes are:
-forbidden love
-found family
-there's even a late night, one-room-left-at-the-inn scene....
-LGBTQIA+
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood, Injury/Injury detail, Death, Fire/Fire injury, and Grief
Minor: Confinement and Miscarriage