A review by moodreadingmagic
The Honey Witch by Sydney J. Shields

adventurous emotional lighthearted mysterious fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.5

Thank you Orbit and Netgalley for the opportunity to review an early copy of this book. All opinions are my own. 

One would think that a cozy witchy fantasy is best to read in the fall but The Honey Witch is full of all the springtime vibes. This book is the epitome of cottagecore and provides enchanting world building and beautiful prose. For fans of Practical Magic, The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches  and the video game Wylde Flowers; The Honey Witch is a sapphic fantasy romance set in regency era times with queer normative representation and women empowerment abound. The magic system heavily relies on flowers, bees and honey and offers a fresh perspective on the magic of nature and what it provides us to heal and thrive.

“To have survived this long despite the world’s penchant for beautiful, dead girls?...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.”

I mean come on, this quote? I was hooked immediately. 

This has quickly become one of my favorite cozy fantasies. The Honey Witch comes out 05/14/24 and if you are looking for a beautiful, enchanting historical fantasy romance, this is your book.