The Honey Witch Review

Hello, all!

If you're looking for a good transitional book for fall, then look no further than The Honey Witch by Sydney J. Shields. 

Pub Date: 5-14-24
Adult - Fantasy

Marigold Claude has always felt like an outsider within society. She would rather spend her nights twirling barefoot in meadows than in a ballroom, and while her siblings long for relationships, Marigold could think of nothing worse than being someone's wife. So when her estranged grandmother shows up, offering to train Marigold as the next Honey Witch, Marigold jumps at the chance. On the tiny island of Innisfree, Marigold's grandmother teaches her about their history and how she comes from a long line of powerful witches who protect the spirits of the island, but at a price-- no one can fall in love with the Honey Witch.

At first, Marigold has no qualms about falling in love since she doesn't believe in it anyway, but then she meets Lottie Burke. This impossibly beautiful woman challenges Marigold in every way, and Marigold can't help but fall for her. But the closer the two become, the more Lottie suffers for it. As the pair tries to navigate their precarious relationship, an old foe reappears, threatening everything Marigold holds dear. If Marigold wishes to save her home and Lottie, she must be willing to risk not only her magic but her heart as well.

I'm always hesitant with books described as cozy fantasies. I tend to dislike them because I usually find them too slow. Typically, everything about them tends to be lower stakes, and I always get bored, so I was worried this would be the case here. I'm happy to report that it wasn't. Was it a fast-paced plot where tons of things happened? No. Was what happened predictable? Yes. The characters were okay, but I didn't feel emotionally invested. I thought the magic could've been explained more (especially the history of the curse/feud between the Honey and Ash Witches). I also would've liked to have seen more of Marigold's training because it felt like she went from novice to all-powerful at the drop of a dime. Despite all that, the writing was so lush and atmospheric that I couldn't help but fall into this world headfirst, so I would recommend it if you like witchy stories.

Rating: 3/5