Book Review: The Honey Witch b Sydney J. Shields

I received a review copy from the publisher. This does not affect the contents of my review and all opinions are my own.

The Honey Witch by Sydney J. Shields

Mogsy’s Rating: 3 of 5 stars

Genre: Fantasy, Romance

Series: Stand Alone

Publisher: Redhook (May 14, 2024)

Length: 368 pages

Author Information: Website

Cozy romantasies are apparently all the rage these days, and The Honey Witch by Sydney J. Shields is the latest offering serving up a sweet tale about a young woman’s impossible choice between love and magic.

Readers are introduced to Marigold, who grew up in Bardshire surrounded by family including her parents, siblings, and a doting grandmother. Ever since she turned twenty-one, Marigold’s mother has been anxious to see her oldest daughter get married and start her own life, but our protagonist has other plans. After seeing the man of her dreams propose to another woman, Marigold wonders if fate holds another path for her—feelings which are confirmed when her grandmother Althea proposes an opportunity. Her home on the isle of Innisfree has always been protected and tended to by a Honey Witch, a role which Althea is getting too old to manage on her own. She is seeking a successor in her granddaughter, and Marigold knows in her heart she is meant to take on the Honey Witch mantle.

The catch? In order to receive the magic, Marigold will also need to accept that she will never fall in love. This curse is the cost of the power, but still stinging from fresh heartbreak, she readily makes the trade, against the wishes of her mother. Choice made, Marigold leaves for Innisfree with Althea, committed to her training which includes caring for the isle’s apiary, creating all kinds of miraculous healing potions with the revitalizing honey the bees make. There, she also meets new friends, August, a boy she knew from her childhood, and Lottie, his adopted sister. Despite Lottie’s initial surliness and adamant disbelief in magic, Marigold immediately feels drawn to the beautiful girl, and in time, the two warm up to each other. With the responsibility of keeping Innisfree safe resting on her shoulders, however, Marigold must resist their shared attraction, knowing that her curse will never let her find happiness.

If you’re looking for a page-turner, this probably isn’t going to be the book for you, nor the genre. That said, if you appreciate slow-burning narratives and a charming blend of romance and fantasy, The Honey Witch is an enchanting tale of generational curses, forbidden love, forever friendships, and self-discovery. Still, despite these interesting themes, the novel’s unhurried nature might try the patience of those accustomed to something more eventful and fast-paced plots.

At times, the story can also feel a little too idealistic, too saccharine, too twee—not to mention predictable and simplistic. But seeing as it’s Marigold’s journey that takes center stage, this straightforwardness might be enough. The Honey Witch explores the clash between the forces of love and the power of self-identity, the choices that one needs to make to be happy. Maybe it really doesn’t have to be more complicated than this, I probably would have enjoyed this book more had it included more meaningful conflict and higher stakes.

If you’re into cozy romance fantasy stories that intertwines love and magic, there are currently plenty of options to choose from, but The Honey Witch is one worth checking out. However, your mileage may vary depending on expectations for plot pacing and complexity. Admittedly, things here are on the slower and more simplistic side, but Marigold’s journey and choices may resonate more if you enjoy a good character study and slow-burn love story.