Crows Crossing is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to amazon.com.
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.
My Review Of The Honey Witch
I recently had the pleasure of reading this book. The world this author created is so cozy and heartwarming. This book follows Marigold, who feels out of place in the place she currently lives, with feelings of knowing there’s something more to life. She ends up going back to her grandmother’s island to take the place of the honey witch. Unfortunately, no one can fall in love with her, though, a curse of what she’s become. So this story follows her challenges of this curse and learning from her grandmother how to take care of the magical island she inherited.
I honestly loved this book. It’s such a cute story with captivating characters. I instantly felt a connection to Marigold with how she was feeling, knowing there was a different life path for her.
What I Liked:
Character Dynamics: I enjoyed that it showed the challenges that come with a parent who wants to protect you but also hinders you. Conflicts didn’t resolve overnight and healed over time with effort. I loved the relationship between Marigold and her grandmother, showing how she cared enough about her to be stern but also soft with her when needed.
The Romance: The romance was cute. The grumpy/sunshine combo will always get me. I enjoyed the challenges that came with her curse and how it affected her relationship.
The Cozy Magic: I loved the magic that imbued the island. When they stepped onto the land, it felt like a different world, just for them. I loved the magical spirits that also inhabited the island and how the bees would listen to the honey witch. I also loved that it was a honey witch – it’s not a common type of magic, and I was excited to explore it in this book.
What I Didn’t Like:
Ending Was Rushed: The ending of this book felt very rushed. The conflict was fleshed out, but the conclusion wasn’t. The ending could have been the last 100 pages to help the middle of the book not drag out.
Predictability: I guessed the twist pretty early on in the book. I felt like it could’ve been hidden a bit better to surprise the reader.
Would I Recommend The Honey Witch?
This book is definitely a fun and cozy read. If you enjoy fantasy books that feel like a warm hug, this is it. Shields built a beautiful world with this book that you have to experience! The relationships are so touching and realistic. It’s a great sapphic love story.
The Author:
Sydney J. Shields is a swamp creature who evolved to hold a pen. She is a Magna Cum Laude graduate of Columbus State University where she majored in Communication. She currently lives in Savannah, Georgia with her partner and their dog. When not writing, Sydney can be found playing chess in the park, savoring afternoon tea, or doing any other activities that an 84-year-old soul trapped in a 25-year-old body would enjoy. You can find her across social media @SydneyJShields.
Let me know what you thought of this book or if you have any books to recommend for me to read and review in the comments below!
