A review by nothingforpomegranted
The Honey Witch by Sydney J. Shields

lighthearted fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? It's complicated

3.0

Marigold is a spinster who loves adventure, so when her grandmother returns after decades and invites her to perform the ritual of the Honey Witch, accepting the curse that she will never be loved, it is easy for Marigold to answer in the affirmative. Of course, once Marigold returns to Innisfree with her grandmother, she quickly runs into her old childhood friend August and his best friend Lottie—who stops Marigold in her tracks. This was extremely predictable, to the extent that I was annoyed with the characters for not even considering the possibility of the obvious resolution from the outset. To that point, though I enjoyed the Bridgerton vibes of the first scene and the wholesome interactions between Marigold and her grandmother, and despite the fact that I finished the book within a matter of days, I found myself rather bored after about 20%. Indeed, for the rest of the book, I felt like I was just impatiently waiting for everyone to get their act together.