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A review by beccisays
The Honey Witch by Sydney J. Shields
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.75
I had big expectations, I think it's a very highly anticipated release based on the hype and cover. Overall I liked the book, I think the poetic descriptions were enjoyable, as well as the premise. I just didn't feel strongly connected with the characters or their love story, unfortunately, which is difficult to remedy in a fantasy romance book, particularly one which is marketed as a magical sapphic love story.
On a positive note, the main character is so much sharper than I thought she would be. When you think of a honey witch, you imagine a soft, delicate, feminine, cottagecore daydream of a girl. Marigold has wild tendencies and hard edges, she’s feminist and unruly. It’s interesting and unexpected. I didn't much care for the love interest. She had many interesting aspects, such as her tragic back story, hidden trauma, career choice and prickly personality but they didn't come together to form a compelling character for me.
The setting definitely lives up to the charming, cottagecore dream I was expecting from the book. The magical guardians of the land are a beautiful concept and the magic system itself, based on honey or ash, is unique and not something I have come across before. I like that Marigold's craft is closely linked to kitchen witchery, it lends a note of realism to the enchanting daydream that is Innisfree. I think there was a slight lack of understanding of how the wider world worked for me, we got to know Marigold's old home and new home well but very little of the lands in between.
I think this book is a good example of the kind of 'impossible girls' it was written for. It doesn't sit neatly within the box for cozy low-stakes fantasy, due to the plot following our unruly, feminist heroine saving her home (and the world) from evil. It also doesn't quite reach the heights of a full-blown fantasy romance adventure novel, due to the charming, soothing cottagecore vibes. It sits somewhere in between, in a place that's difficult to label or categorise.
Thank you Redhook Books & Sydney J. Shields for providing this book for review consideration via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.
On a positive note, the main character is so much sharper than I thought she would be. When you think of a honey witch, you imagine a soft, delicate, feminine, cottagecore daydream of a girl. Marigold has wild tendencies and hard edges, she’s feminist and unruly. It’s interesting and unexpected. I didn't much care for the love interest. She had many interesting aspects, such as her tragic back story, hidden trauma, career choice and prickly personality but they didn't come together to form a compelling character for me.
The setting definitely lives up to the charming, cottagecore dream I was expecting from the book. The magical guardians of the land are a beautiful concept and the magic system itself, based on honey or ash, is unique and not something I have come across before. I like that Marigold's craft is closely linked to kitchen witchery, it lends a note of realism to the enchanting daydream that is Innisfree. I think there was a slight lack of understanding of how the wider world worked for me, we got to know Marigold's old home and new home well but very little of the lands in between.
I think this book is a good example of the kind of 'impossible girls' it was written for. It doesn't sit neatly within the box for cozy low-stakes fantasy, due to the plot following our unruly, feminist heroine saving her home (and the world) from evil. It also doesn't quite reach the heights of a full-blown fantasy romance adventure novel, due to the charming, soothing cottagecore vibes. It sits somewhere in between, in a place that's difficult to label or categorise.
Thank you Redhook Books & Sydney J. Shields for providing this book for review consideration via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.