kevinscorner 's review for:

Behooved by M. Stevenson

4.5

funny lighthearted fast-paced

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Behooved is a standalone cozy-ish romantasy by M. Stevenson. Bianca is sent off to marry the ill-reputed heir of a neighboring kingdom in order to stave off war. Their first meeting confirms all of her worst fears about Prince Aric, and things go from bad to worse on their wedding night. An assassination attempt leads to a spell going awry, magically transforming Aric into a horse. Accused of his murder, Bianca runs away with her stallion husband who only turns back human at night. Now they must work together to unravel the curse, uncover the assassination plot, and save the throne just in time for Prince Aric’s coronation.

The moment I read the description, I knew I had to pick it up because of just how ridiculous and campy it sounded (in the best way). And I’m happy to say it delivered exactly that. The book knows how silly it is and absolutely leans into it with charm and confidence. It is fast-paced and a light read with a cozy vibe despite the not-quite-low stakes. It’s an enemies-to-lovers romance with miscommunication and only-one-bed tripes. There’s a bit of spice and even more banter.

Bianca and Aric make for a fun pairing. Bianca can be frustrating at times with how self-critical and judgmental she is, but it’s rooted in understandable insecurities stemming from her upbringing and chronic illness. Meanwhile, I adored Aric with his grumpy stubbornness and unexpected tenderness. I do wish we got chapters from his perspective too. Also, I’m a sucker for awkward magical hijinks (of course he’s naked when he transforms), and this book delivers those moments perfectly.

Behooved is a breezy steamy romantasy that fully commits to its horsey chaos. A genuinely fun read, whether or not you were a horse girl.