Sydney J. Shields

The Honey Witch

Hannah Nugent

…surrounded by the poets who propel the narrative- how romantic to die young, unstretched, unsullied, without ever outgrowing the part of the ingenue. But what happens when the girl keeps living, when she ages proudly and defiantly, without abandoning imagination, or stories, or that secret wish to find magic wherever it hides? Well, then the poets would call her a witch. 

Cassidy Nolan

She had told her mother, “One day, I will be a rose. And I will plant myself somewhere so beautiful that I will never want to leave.”

Her mother laughed. “And what if someone wants to pluck you?”

“That is what the thorns are for,” she said.

“You are a wild creature, Miss Claude. I hope to see you again,” he calls after her. She waves goodbye and then takes off in a run, knowing that she will not allow herself to be tamed.

Her mother loves to remind her of her age, as if it is a reason to stop believing in magic. She rolls her eyes at the thought—yes, she is a grown woman, and is that not magical in itself? To have survived this long, despite the world’s penchant for beautiful dead girls? Marigold has grown up surrounded by the poets who propel the narrative—how romantic to die young, unstretched, unsullied, without ever outgrowing the part of the ingenue. But what happens when the girl keeps living, when she ages proudly and defiantly, without abandoning imagination, or stories, or that secret wish to find magic wherever it hides?

Well, then the poets would call her a witch.

It is better to be lost in a beautiful daydream than trapped in a dim reality.

Most people live their lives in the pursuit of happiness, but she accepted long ago that happiness was out of her reach. So she lived her life in pursuit of her mother’s happiness instead but still managed to fall short.

“Well, that’s how all love works,” August says. “You can’t love anyone without the fear of losing them, without the forethought of grief. There is an inherent loss in love, but that does not mean that love is not worth it.”

 What she would give to be part of such eternity.

That is the first time she has heard Lottie say her name. It’s melodic, almost haunting, like it could lure her into the sea.

“Life is short, art is forever,” Lottie says.

Lottie’s lip trembles as she takes Marigold’s face into her hands. “No one has ever fought for me like that before.”

“I cannot help myself. My need for you makes me wicked.” She presses her forehead to hers. “I would do anything to keep you safe, Lottie. Anything.”

Lottie looks at her lips. “We need to run away. I need to be alone with you.”

laine

“One day, I will be a rose. And I will plant myself somewhere so beautiful that I will never want to leave.”

These are the wild women who run barefoot through the meadow, who teach new songs to the birds, who howl at the moon together. Wild women are their own kind of magic.

when men are so consistently disappointing that just having a laugh with one has you contemplating marriage 🤩

They share a genuine laugh, and at this moment, she thinks that maybe marriage wouldn’t be the worst fate in the world.

Congratulations to dear old George. He has all that he wanted and did nothing to deserve it. The men will shake his hand and the women will watch Priya slowly realize that she is trapped, and they will teach her how to pretend that she is not breaking. Marigold, decidedly, will never be broken by him, or anyone, ever again.

Marigold laughed then—what is so wrong about being a bitch? It is the closest a girl can be to a wolf.

just love this book, so many quotable moments. idec that it could seem like trying to hard or pandering, it’s better than the opposite. i love female empowerment !

Her mother loves to remind her of her age, as if it is a reason to stop believing in magic. She rolls her eyes at the thought—yes, she is a grown woman, and is that not magical in itself?

“…She’s not hurting anyone. She simply wants a little red lipstick and a nice boy to notice her.”

“But shouldn’t she want more for her life than that?”

“What any woman wants for herself is not for you to decide. You would do well to remember that.”

The Honey Witch of Innisfree can never find true love. That is her curse to bear. But when a skeptic 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 her 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 comes 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.

Elizabeth

This book has my entire heart. It was so whimsical, and cozy, and angsty, and truly magical. I loved every single second of it. The end was a little rushed but honestly? I'm choosing to ignore it. 

Tsu 💙

This book has my entire heart. It was so whimsical, and cozy, and angsty, and truly magical. I loved every single second of it. The end was a little rushed but honestly? I'm choosing to ignore it. 

I just wish that I had more of it.

Bridgerton meets Halloweentown! Though the plot twist was very predictable it was an easy and comforting read. I love honey magic so I was excited to read about a honey witch. Def recommend! 

Leah Diaz 

I absolutely loved this and I can’t even tell you why because almost nothing happens. I disliked and DNFed Legends and Lattes for the same reason but the specific cozy vibes of this book just really worked for me. The audiobook is also amazing!

Abigail

oh gosh this book.....captures the many forms in which love can take so, so beautifully.

kezzie

This book was beautiful. It made me want to run away to a magical isle and live amongst the bees. 

star girl✨

Halloween town and Bridgerton combined!!! 

Hannah Alexander 

AMAZING 

Halloween town and Bridgerton combined!!! 

Can u marry book characters?

DNF, 20%. One fifth into the book and the plot hadn't gone anywhere? 

halfmoon

Okay I went into thinking I wouldn't enjoy it. But I was surprised with how much I loved this book. A cosy fantasy book a curse,agic, witches and enemies to lovers.

Samantha King

Okay I went into thinking I wouldn't enjoy it. But I was surprised with how much I loved this book. A cosy fantasy book a curse,agic, witches and enemies to lovers.



This book was so cute. I requested it because the cover piqued my interest and I liked how the synopsis sounded, but I wasn't prepared for how much I would truly enjoy this book. Marigold was such a relatable character to me and I loved reading about her relationship with both Lottie and her grandmother Althea. It's been too long since I've read a sapphic romance and the one in this book did not disappoint. This book felt like a warm comforting hug and I can't wait for it to come out so I can make all my friends read it too.

Thank you to Netgalley for the ARC!

THE HONEY WITCH is a sapphic cottagecore fantasy (and yes, it's exactly as amazing as it sounds). marigold claude has always felt different from the rest of her family, and when her grandmother visits her family's estate, she learns it's because she comes from a long line of honey witches. she moves to her grandmother's cottage to take care of a magical isle and learn all about her powers, when she meets the grumpy but beautiful lottie burke. despite the fact that lottie seems to hate her, marigold can't seem to stay away from her, despite knowing that a curse prevents her from falling in love. if this hasn't already sold you on this book, maybe the fact that it's also a historical queernormative romance might. THE HONEY WITCH is a stunning debut and i absolutely loved it. thanks to netgalley and redhook for the arc. THE HONEY WITCH comes out may 14th!

valentina

We follow Marigold, a 21 year old who finds out she is a witch like her grandmother (Althea) and needs to takeover soon. She follows Althea to a small isle called Innisfree. 

The book seems to be set in Ireland, and has an overall very British rules and conversations, but too American to be properly British. 

A few of the minor characters had  Irish names (Ronan, Caoimhe & Lachlan).

Lottie is so one dimensional and annoying. There is nothing redeeming about her and baffles me why Mari likes her as she is mean and whiny. 

The book is set around 1830, which has patriarchal rules (she must marry and is an old spinster at 21), but then queerness is openly accepted. Several of the characters are queer or fluid. It’s one of the only redeeming qualities of the book.

Most of the text is slightly old timey but then it has odd words sprinkled in definitely not commonly used then like f*ck. 

This book was marked as cozy, but I found from about a third on that the book keep creeping up in tension and the looming of something nefarious. 

The book could have had the same message with far fewer pages. It was hard to get through. Sadly, I would not recommend it. 

Suzanne

We follow Marigold, a 21 year old who finds out she is a witch like her grandmother (Althea) and needs to takeover soon. She follows Althea to a small isle called Innisfree. 

The book seems to be set in Ireland, and has an overall very British rules and conversations, but too American to be properly British. 

A few of the minor characters had  Irish names (Ronan, Caoimhe & Lachlan).

Lottie is so one dimensional and annoying. There is nothing redeeming about her and baffles me why Mari likes her as she is mean and whiny. 

The book is set around 1830, which has patriarchal rules (she must marry and is an old spinster at 21), but then queerness is openly accepted. Several of the characters are queer or fluid. It’s one of the only redeeming qualities of the book.

Most of the text is slightly old timey but then it has odd words sprinkled in definitely not commonly used then like f*ck. 

This book was marked as cozy, but I found from about a third on that the book keep creeping up in tension and the looming of something nefarious. 

The book could have had the same message with far fewer pages. It was hard to get through. Sadly, I would not recommend it. 

Thanks to NetGalley for the ebook.