annieb123's Review of The Honey Witch

by Sydney J. Shields

'Reading The Honey Witch is like dreaming in a fragrant sunlit garden while bees sing around you. It's a gorgeous book, with a lovely cottagecore ambience and a heart-warming sapphic romance intertwined with unique magic that enchants the imagination' India Holton, internationally bestselling author

***THE NUMBER ONE SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLER***

The Honey Witch of Innisfree can never find true love. That is her curse to bear. But when a young woman who doesn't believe in magic arrives on her island, sparks fly in this deliciously sweet debut novel of magic, hope, and love overcoming all.

Twenty-one-year-old Marigold Claude has always preferred the company of the spirits of the meadow to any of the suitors who've tried to woo her. So when her grandmother whisks her away to the family cottage on the tiny Isle of Innisfree with an offer to train her as the next Honey Witch, she accepts immediately. But her newfound magic and independence come with a price: No one can fall in love with the Honey Witch.

When Lottie Burke, a notoriously grumpy skeptic who doesn't believe in magic, shows up on her doorstep, Marigold can't resist the challenge to prove to her that magic is real. But soon, Marigold begins to care for Lottie in ways she never expected. And when darker magic awakens and threatens to destroy her home, she must fight for much more than her new home-at the risk of losing her magic and her heart..

A delicious debut that combines the swoon-worthy romance of Bridgerton and the whimsical sorcery of Practical Magic, with a dash of The Secret Life of Bees thrown in for good fun.

Praise for The Honey Witch:

'As effervescent as a bottle of sparkling mead, The Honey Witch charms with every sentence. Shields writes with a fierce, uncynical honesty that will have you believing in soulmates, uncovering magic everywhere, and embracing your own wildness' S.T. Gibson, author of An Education in Malice

'The Honey Witch is a sweet feast, brimming with whimsy, magic, and tender longing. . . sugar-glazed and heart warming and thoroughly enjoyable' Rachel Gillig, author of One Dark Window

'As sweet and warm as honeyed tea. Shields' debut deftly explores love, loss, and loneliness-and the joy of seeing magic in all things, however small. With charming characters and a lush setting, The Honey Witch will delight fans of cosy fantasy' Allison Saft, author of A Far Wilder Magic

'Gorgeously lyrical and utterly addicting' Rebecca Thorne, author of Can't Spell Treason Without Tea

'Enchanting, whimsical, and firmly rooted in finding yourself after loss, this novel will break your heart and then soothe it with magic honey. Pour yourself a cup of tea, drizzle in some local honey, and let this decadent book transport you' Breanne Randall, author of The Unfortunate Side Effects of Heartbreak and Magic

'The Honey Witch will charm you with its setting and its love for all things natural - especially bees! This tale of a young witch dealing with a curse and a battle between dark magic and light, with her romance in the balance, is one all fans of witches and folk magic will love' Louisa Morgan, author of The Secret History of Witches

'Shields has written a cosy confection of a book-full of whimsy, spice, and heart. The Honey Witch is an ode to love, and just how sweet it can be' Maiga Doocy, author of Sorcery and Small Magics

'For anyone who has ever known what the mundane world wants them to be isn't possible or even desirable, The Honey Witch takes a luminous, divergent path' Willa Reece, author of Wildwood Magic

Originally posted on my blog Nonstop Reader.

The Honey Witch is a sweetly engaging historical romantasy by debut author Sydney J. Shields. Released 14th May 2024 by Hachette on their Redhook imprint, it's 368 pages and is available in hardcover, paperback, audio, and ebook formats. It's worth noting that the ebook format has a handy interactive table of contents as well as interactive links.

This is a cottagecore/witchy F/F romantasy. The magic system is somewhat diffusely described, leaving readers to largely puzzle it out themselves. The honey and nature magic are interesting, but never directly developed (potentially to come in future works?). It's a historical setting, based very loosely on Regency England. Appealingly, but unrealistically, it's homonormative, lots of characters are in openly homosexual relationships, without any repercussions. It's pure wish fulfillment to read a historical romance without homophobia, and will likely deeply appeal to readers who want some escapist happy reading for a change.

There are some odd details which are introduced and then aren't resolved ideally (or at all) in the novel. It's mentioned, for example, that tattoos are hugely taboo and forbidden (illegal even), and then just ignored without explanation for the rest of the book. The prose is dreamy and the characterizations are diffuse and indistinct.

The unabridged audiobook has a run time of 13 hours 1 minute and is capably read by Mia Hutchinson-Shaw. She has a very young sounding voice which complements the YA(ish) vibe of the book. She does a good job delineating the various characters and keeps them distinct. Sound and production quality are high throughout the read.

Three and a half stars. It's not a YA read, but has a definite YA/NA vibe. It's dreamy and there's not a distinct plotline. Definitely readable, but readers looking for definition and directness and plot resolution tied up in a nice package are destined for disappointment.

Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.

Reading updates

31 July, 2024: Started reading

31 July, 2024: Finished reading

31 July, 2024: Reviewed