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metaphorsandmisc's review against another edition
emotional
lighthearted
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief and Fire/Fire injury
Moderate: Death of parent, Sexual content, Animal death, and Blood
Minor: Miscarriage and Confinement
percys_panda_pillow_pet's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
mysterious
relaxing
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
First of all, I must thank NetGalley and Redhook Books for the chance to read this arc!
Let's start with the positives! I was really looking forward to this book ever since I saw the author advertise it on Instagram with the pitch of "Sapphic Howl's Moving Castle", and if you've seen my recent review of Howl's Moving Castle and know me at all, you'd know that's right up my alley haha. Though I am personally not a huge romance fan, occasionally I make exceptions for premises that intrigue me and this did not disappoint. I loved the unique idea and setting. I was really into the background lore of witches in this world and how their magic worked, especially Honey Witch magic, which I just thought was so cool and inventive to be based on the honey bees make. All the relationships were fantastic, romantic, platonic, and familial. My favorite was definitely Lottie and Marigold's relationship. The tension and development were great and I loved the gradual shift from frosty acquaintances to steamy lovers.
I also have to mention that throughout the book I could see the inspiration from Howl's Moving Castle but the story was totally its own thing. As well, I loved the little nod of Lottie sort of taking the role of Sophie, when in the original story (as well as the movie) Sophie had a sister named Lottie. It was a nice Easter egg for fans of both.
Now into the critique. I want to preface that this is a debut from a first-time published author and that will affect my critique as such. One cannot expect a new author to publish a perfectly crafted novel. That said, the writing is a bit amateurish and clumsy at times. The pacing was a bit jarring for me in the first section or so where there is a lot of introduction and exposition. However, the story finds its flow when all that is done with, and the romantic plot starts to develop. This is where the book shines and I could not put it down, at least until the climax where I suddenly decided to put it down and wait a couple more days before finishing the book. I'm honestly not sure why, except that perhaps the writing took me out of the story a little. I still came back and finished it gladly, though!
Overall, I think this is a fantastic debut! I know some people might read this, then look at my rating and critique and go "huh?" However, the mark of a good writer is room for improvement and I see a lot of that in this novel. Like I said, don't expect a first-time debut to be the next Shakespeare, because it never will be. But I can see where Shields has worked hard to develop this story into what it is. She has put so much love and labor into this and credit goes where credit is due. I'm honestly super excited for what she might put out next. I genuinely hope I haven't put anyone off of reading this if you were excited for it like I was. The Honey Witch by Sydney J. Shields is magical, whimsical, a bit dark at times, romantic, and steamy and a really good read if you enjoy all of the above.
Let's start with the positives! I was really looking forward to this book ever since I saw the author advertise it on Instagram with the pitch of "Sapphic Howl's Moving Castle", and if you've seen my recent review of Howl's Moving Castle and know me at all, you'd know that's right up my alley haha. Though I am personally not a huge romance fan, occasionally I make exceptions for premises that intrigue me and this did not disappoint. I loved the unique idea and setting. I was really into the background lore of witches in this world and how their magic worked, especially Honey Witch magic, which I just thought was so cool and inventive to be based on the honey bees make. All the relationships were fantastic, romantic, platonic, and familial. My favorite was definitely Lottie and Marigold's relationship. The tension and development were great and I loved the gradual shift from frosty acquaintances to steamy lovers.
I also have to mention that throughout the book I could see the inspiration from Howl's Moving Castle but the story was totally its own thing. As well, I loved the little nod of Lottie sort of taking the role of Sophie, when in the original story (as well as the movie) Sophie had a sister named Lottie. It was a nice Easter egg for fans of both.
Now into the critique. I want to preface that this is a debut from a first-time published author and that will affect my critique as such. One cannot expect a new author to publish a perfectly crafted novel. That said, the writing is a bit amateurish and clumsy at times. The pacing was a bit jarring for me in the first section or so where there is a lot of introduction and exposition. However, the story finds its flow when all that is done with, and the romantic plot starts to develop. This is where the book shines and I could not put it down, at least until the climax where I suddenly decided to put it down and wait a couple more days before finishing the book. I'm honestly not sure why, except that perhaps the writing took me out of the story a little. I still came back and finished it gladly, though!
Overall, I think this is a fantastic debut! I know some people might read this, then look at my rating and critique and go "huh?" However, the mark of a good writer is room for improvement and I see a lot of that in this novel. Like I said, don't expect a first-time debut to be the next Shakespeare, because it never will be. But I can see where Shields has worked hard to develop this story into what it is. She has put so much love and labor into this and credit goes where credit is due. I'm honestly super excited for what she might put out next. I genuinely hope I haven't put anyone off of reading this if you were excited for it like I was. The Honey Witch by Sydney J. Shields is magical, whimsical, a bit dark at times, romantic, and steamy and a really good read if you enjoy all of the above.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Fire/Fire injury, Alcohol, Blood, Grief, Confinement, Death, Abortion, and Sexual content
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
leechspit's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
An absolutely charming, frenemies to lovers romance featuring LGBTQ+ leads. Marigold, the MC, is absolutely loveable and her position is very similar to many historical romance tropes. She loves her family, but doesn't want to find love. She wants to find herself, her purpose, and what drives her to be a "wild woman." She learns that she's meant to be a Honey Witch, and in finding herself, she also finds old and new relationships that we grow to cherish like Marigold does.
This writer writes for those stuck in the same loop of historical romance, who thirst for a short and sweet story with sentimental plot twists. Each side character has their own stories, making them likeable in their own right.
August, Marigold's childhood friend in Innisfree, brings Lottie into Marigolds social circle in hopes to integrate Marigold into their complex friend circle. Lottie is our tattooed skeptic who refuses Marigold's magic solicitations, but begins to sway when it comes to the other kinds of solicitations.
What I enjoy the most is the way the author shows magic as a utility as well as having realistic limitations. I feel like there could have easily been another 100 pages, exploring more of the magic and love of the story, but I also feel like this leaves a fantastic opportunity for the author to continue this as a series. There were so many unanswered questions and so many parts of this world that I wanted to have explored, but that just shows how much this book sticks with you.
The story has worldbuilding, fantastic side characters, an few emotional moments, and exploring all kinds of facets of love. Read this book if you love a good love story, with a little bit of spice and a side of tears.
I received a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review and feedback through NetGalley and the respective publisher.
This writer writes for those stuck in the same loop of historical romance, who thirst for a short and sweet story with sentimental plot twists. Each side character has their own stories, making them likeable in their own right.
August, Marigold's childhood friend in Innisfree, brings Lottie into Marigolds social circle in hopes to integrate Marigold into their complex friend circle. Lottie is our tattooed skeptic who refuses Marigold's magic solicitations, but begins to sway when it comes to the other kinds of solicitations.
What I enjoy the most is the way the author shows magic as a utility as well as having realistic limitations. I feel like there could have easily been another 100 pages, exploring more of the magic and love of the story, but I also feel like this leaves a fantastic opportunity for the author to continue this as a series. There were so many unanswered questions and so many parts of this world that I wanted to have explored, but that just shows how much this book sticks with you.
The story has worldbuilding, fantastic side characters, an few emotional moments, and exploring all kinds of facets of love. Read this book if you love a good love story, with a little bit of spice and a side of tears.
I received a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review and feedback through NetGalley and the respective publisher.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse
Moderate: Child death and Miscarriage
Minor: Violence and Confinement
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