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atthelibrarywithmegan's review
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
tense
fast-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? Yes
3.0
I received a free digital ARC in exchange for an honest review.
I was in such a deep reading slump and I picked this ARC on a whim, hoping it would pull me out. Spoiler alert: it did! I’d mostly forgotten what the plot to THE HONEY WITCH was, so I briefly skimmed over it. I had no idea it was a queer book, but looking back, the blurb definitely clues you in on that little tidbit. Needless to say, I was pleasantly surprised when I realized it.
Before I get into the bones of the story, I want to touch on the queerness of the book. There were no big over explanations to why someone was queer, why that woman had been with men and women, why someone’s preference was the way it was. Everyone simply just existed and I absolutely love when a novel/series does that.
You enter Marigold’s world of Bardshire where she has twin siblings who are incredibly talented, and she is not. She is the odd one, the one with no talent, the one trying to find her place in the world. After a night under the full moon, when the veil is thin, she ends up being surprised by her grandmother and learns the family secret: she comes from a line of honey witches. The only catch; no one can fall in love with a honey witch. Since Marigold is adamant that she doesn’t want to become “just a wife,” she jumps at the chance to be whisked away to Innsfree and begin her training.
In Innsfree, Marigold’s grandmother, Althea, teaches her the way of the honey witch and leaves her with her legacy. Now enter August - a childhood friend whom Marigold is so glad to reconnect with - and Lottie Burke, August’s best friend. An impossible girl who refers to magic/witchcraft as “mythcraft.” Marigold does all that she can to convince Lottie that magic is in fact real. Can she do it? Can Marigold break the curse on honey witches, and can she protect Innsfree in the meantime? You’ll just have to read THE HONEY WITCH when it comes out in May!
This was a solid 3 star read for me. I enjoyed it very much, and will be recommending it, but I’m not sure it’ll find a home on my shelf. That is to be determined by how much I think about it in the coming months.
TRIGGER WARNINGS: Death, fire/fire injury, grief, miscarriage, confinement, sexual content.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Fire/Fire injury, Miscarriage, and Blood
Minor: Death of parent and Death
thisbookisbananas's review against another edition
dark
emotional
relaxing
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
The Honey Witch is a debut fantasy romance that focuses of Marigold, a woman sworn to care for a magical island. In exchange for her magic, she is cursed to never fall in love. What worked for me in this book were to moments of gorgeous, cozy imagery. The author’s descriptions of the setting, foods, and experiences are where this book shines. The magic system is also absolutely lovely! I think I would be willing to try another book by this author again purely because of this.
However, the overall plot did not work for me. It felt rushed and drawn out at the same time.I also had a hard time being invested in the relationship. It seemed to come into being out of nowhere.The story towards the end got a little bleak, but then rapidly turned out ok? I’d say if you want to read a book just for cozy vibes and not really anything else, this could be a book for you.
Thank you to NetGalley, Redhook, and Orbit Books for the advanced reader copy. All opinions are my own.
However, the overall plot did not work for me. It felt rushed and drawn out at the same time.I also had a hard time being invested in the relationship. It seemed to come into being out of nowhere.The story towards the end got a little bleak, but then rapidly turned out ok? I’d say if you want to read a book just for cozy vibes and not really anything else, this could be a book for you.
Thank you to NetGalley, Redhook, and Orbit Books for the advanced reader copy. All opinions are my own.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Miscarriage and Sexual content
Minor: 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
rebeccathorne's review against another edition
dark
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
relaxing
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
I was delighted to receive an ARC of this book! No spoilers in this review.
Marigold knows she doesn't belong in high society--not with honey witch magic in her blood. When her grandmother, Althea, offers to whisk her to a magical island filled with bees, nature spirits, and solitude, she instantly accepts. But Marigold doesn't understand the extent of a honey witch's curse... that she's destined to be alone, lonely, forever.
Until Lottie, that is...
This book was a breath of fresh air. It felt like Bridgerton, but a Bridgerton mixed with magic, spells, and intense love and loss. Althea was honestly one of my favorite characters--she reminded me so much of my own grandparents, although significantly less sassy. She was the supportive grandma we all want, and her magic alone made me want to flee to Innisfree with Marigold.
The romance happened pretty fast for my taste, but I'm a slow burn fan, so that doesn't really surprise me. I did love Lottie's personality, and August was an absolute delight. All the characters felt so real to me, and the lyrical writing style made this a fast, immensely enjoyable read!
It even has some very creepy undertones that kept the pages turning faster and faster towards the end of the book. Damn. Great stuff!
Overall, highly recommend THE HONEY WITCH. What a stunning debut by author Sydney J. Shields! Congrats on the upcoming release!
Marigold knows she doesn't belong in high society--not with honey witch magic in her blood. When her grandmother, Althea, offers to whisk her to a magical island filled with bees, nature spirits, and solitude, she instantly accepts. But Marigold doesn't understand the extent of a honey witch's curse... that she's destined to be alone, lonely, forever.
Until Lottie, that is...
This book was a breath of fresh air. It felt like Bridgerton, but a Bridgerton mixed with magic, spells, and intense love and loss. Althea was honestly one of my favorite characters--she reminded me so much of my own grandparents, although significantly less sassy. She was the supportive grandma we all want, and her magic alone made me want to flee to Innisfree with Marigold.
The romance happened pretty fast for my taste, but I'm a slow burn fan, so that doesn't really surprise me. I did love Lottie's personality, and August was an absolute delight. All the characters felt so real to me, and the lyrical writing style made this a fast, immensely enjoyable read!
It even has some very creepy undertones that kept the pages turning faster and faster towards the end of the book. Damn. Great stuff!
Overall, highly recommend THE HONEY WITCH. What a stunning debut by author Sydney J. Shields! Congrats on the upcoming release!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Violence, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Fire/Fire injury, Death of parent, and Physical abuse
Minor: Grief and Miscarriage
This book is mostly cozy, but does have some darker instances as the story progresses. The Ash Witch is a very violent villain, so be prepared for the content warnings above!madisonwren_'s review against another edition
emotional
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
3.5
As a lover of "witch books," I expected to love this and it delivered. It follows Marigold's story - from feeling like she doesn't fit into the roles that are expected of her, to learning she is a Honey Witch and embracing that role. I loved the connection Marigold felt to her grandmother, the cozy island world she found herself in, the nurturing theme of her magic, the exploration of grief, and the found family elements. This is an excellent read if you love witches, an enchanting atmosphere, LGBT representation, and a story that follows a young woman's coming of age / grief / romance. The themes in this book are not all light and airy, but that added a depth that the story needed. I only say that in case readers are looking for a cozy fantasy with super low stakes - check the trigger warnings. The author lists them clearly on Goodreads and Storygraph is another great resource.
I read an ARC copy of this book, and presently there are a few phrases that repeat and a small stylistic inconsistencies in the writing that are minor and likely to be ironed out in editing. I didn't feel like this took away from the story at all.
Excellent debut by Sydney J. Shields. Thank you to NetGalley and Redhook for the ARC!
I read an ARC copy of this book, and presently there are a few phrases that repeat and a small stylistic inconsistencies in the writing that are minor and likely to be ironed out in editing. I didn't feel like this took away from the story at all.
Excellent debut by Sydney J. Shields. Thank you to NetGalley and Redhook for the ARC!
Content Warnings
Moderate: Grief
Minor: Abortion and Miscarriage
stefs_bookshelf's review against another edition
hopeful
lighthearted
relaxing
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Content Warnings
Minor: 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
alliesannotation's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
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? No
4.75
Absolutely stunning.
⭐️: 4.75/5
🌶️: 1/5, Mild Salsa
I have a hard time believing this is a debut novel. I am impressed and so sad it’s over. Reading The Honey Witch took me into a book world the way books used to when I was younger. Innisfree feels real. Shields’ unique writing style and fresh POV made for an enchanting read about an enchanting world, and you can’t ask for more from a fantasy book about a golden witch.
No spoilers, because this doesn’t come out until May 2024, but some of my favorites included:
✨ The present tense writing - We just don’t see books written in present tense often, so it brought things very into the moment. It helped foreshadowing stay a little hidden, and you discovered things along with the character.
✨ The detail in the witch’s world - Often, books either give little to know description of a magic system, or elaborate in near-painful detail that drags the book (and those info-dump scenes) too long. The Honey Witch does neither, giving the world’s magic a more natural slant.
✨ Diversity Doppler - It’s basically the Bechdel’s test but for diversity in books: does the book feature more than one marginalized community? YES!
✨ True twist and mystery until the end - You know those books where, about 87% in, everything’s all wrapped up with an HEA, and the last 10% is basically epilogue? Not here, friends. I loved that there were threads of mystery throughout.
✨ Comfort - The Honey Witch brought me back to those feelings you love to get while reading. This books feels cozy.
🌶️ Salsa Ingredients: This could very nearly be a closed-door romance but for one scene that is critical to the plot of the book. The one scene uses softer explicit language.
The pacing is quite fast. There will be scenes that come up quickly with shorter or more abrupt transitions, so be prepared for that! You also may be left with questions about the magic system or societal system that aren’t explicitly defined, but in my opinion, this fits the book well, especially one of the main character arcs.
Overall, this is one of my best reads of the year, and it isn’t even out yet. Shields is one to watch.
**ARC Review: I was given an advance copy of this book to read in exchange for my honest review.**
⭐️: 4.75/5
🌶️: 1/5, Mild Salsa
I have a hard time believing this is a debut novel. I am impressed and so sad it’s over. Reading The Honey Witch took me into a book world the way books used to when I was younger. Innisfree feels real. Shields’ unique writing style and fresh POV made for an enchanting read about an enchanting world, and you can’t ask for more from a fantasy book about a golden witch.
No spoilers, because this doesn’t come out until May 2024, but some of my favorites included:
✨ The present tense writing - We just don’t see books written in present tense often, so it brought things very into the moment. It helped foreshadowing stay a little hidden, and you discovered things along with the character.
✨ The detail in the witch’s world - Often, books either give little to know description of a magic system, or elaborate in near-painful detail that drags the book (and those info-dump scenes) too long. The Honey Witch does neither, giving the world’s magic a more natural slant.
✨ Diversity Doppler - It’s basically the Bechdel’s test but for diversity in books: does the book feature more than one marginalized community? YES!
✨ True twist and mystery until the end - You know those books where, about 87% in, everything’s all wrapped up with an HEA, and the last 10% is basically epilogue? Not here, friends. I loved that there were threads of mystery throughout.
✨ Comfort - The Honey Witch brought me back to those feelings you love to get while reading. This books feels cozy.
🌶️ Salsa Ingredients: This could very nearly be a closed-door romance but for one scene that is critical to the plot of the book. The one scene uses softer explicit language.
The pacing is quite fast. There will be scenes that come up quickly with shorter or more abrupt transitions, so be prepared for that! You also may be left with questions about the magic system or societal system that aren’t explicitly defined, but in my opinion, this fits the book well, especially one of the main character arcs.
Overall, this is one of my best reads of the year, and it isn’t even out yet. Shields is one to watch.
**ARC Review: I was given an advance copy of this book to read in exchange for my honest review.**
Content Warnings
Moderate: Fire/Fire injury, Blood, Death, and Grief
Minor: Injury/Injury detail and Miscarriage
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