The Honey Witch

Name: The Honey Witch
Rating: 4 (2300 reviews)
Author: Sydney J. Shields

by Sydney J. Shields

4.0

About this book

Marigold Claude has always preferred the company of meadow spirits to the hollow expectations of suitors. When she inherits her grandmother’s cottage on the remote Isle of Innisfree, she embraces her destiny as the next Honey Witch. However, the role demands a heavy sacrifice: the enchantment that grants her power also ensures that she can never experience true love.

Marigold accepts this lonely fate, until the arrival of Lottie Burke, a cynical skeptic who refuses to believe in anything she cannot touch. Determined to shatter Lottie’s stubborn disbelief, Marigold invites her into a world of whimsy and hidden wonders. What begins as a playful challenge quickly deepens into a profound connection, forcing Marigold to confront the cruel limitations of her magic.

As a sinister, ancient force stirs within the island’s borders, the stakes shift from a struggle for identity to an all-out battle for survival. Marigold must now decide if protecting her home and her heart is worth the ultimate price of her power. This lush, atmospheric tale explores the tension between duty and desire, weaving a tender queer romance into a world where magic is as volatile as the human spirit.

Available Formats

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What readers are saying

Tina

Very Good 4/5

"It took me a while to write a review. Life happens, I guess - but, to be fair, I thought about this story a lot. More about how author decided to write it, its style and the two main chapters of the book. I immediately felt that this book contains much feelings and memories entwined in the story of a special person from author's life. Forgive me if I'm mistaken, but it really felt like that reading it. First part of the book I adored it - it's so emotional. Thoughts about life, descriptions of self-reflect and really deep and beautiful relationships, specially between grandmother and granddaughter. For me, the first part of the book was a perfection, it felt it could be a book just by itself no matter the page count. First part was excellent, straight 5 out of 5 stars. Second part was a struggle, but not in a way that it was boring, but more that it felt that it had something of too much that it really wasn't necessary for the story, and it was hard for me to pin point what that was. Second part took away that excellency. To be fair, I did not know nor did I tried to search about the book more than just mesmerizing how beautiful its covers are. I did not know that it contained elements of romantasy which I believe was the thing in my case that changed the whole impression of the book. After reading it, I looked for the paperback edition and I really liked how is designed, hardback is even more beautiful, excellent for my taste, but unfortunately I am still undecided should I buy it or not. It's such a shame, and that part took my best impression of the story which never annoyed me before about any book I've ever read before. This story left big range of emotions and sometimes I ask myself "Maybe I am too harsh for this one?" because reflecting on my previous reads, some books gained 5 stars and didn't left that much impression on me by leaving me thinking about it after. For my last sentence about this book, I must say, I highly recommend it, specially for the description of nature, self-reflect of a young woman who doesn't feel like fitting into the norms of hers society, family dynamic, and feelings about love and care in general. ["

August 26, 2025 Verified Purchase

Maggie

Sweet

"3.5⭐️ 0.5🌶️ This was a very sweet story about women overcoming challenges and having the power to make their own decisions. The writing and metaphors were beautiful! There were some parts of the story that were extremely predictable, and the ending was really predictable, but also some parts of the journey that I didn’t expect to happen the way that they did. The pacing was really slow at first and really fast at the end, so I wish it was more balanced across the book. Some of the plot was questionable until the very end, when loose ends were tied up, so during the book it felt as if some parts weren’t necessary, when they did end up relating to the plot at the end. The romance was sweet and not too over the top. The grumpy x sunshine trope wasn’t too heavy on the sunshine so it felt somewhat realistic. The characters could have benefitted from additional details in their backstories though. Overall I enjoyed this book and would recommend it for a cozy autumnal romantasy read, especially to people who like period pieces (with some twists). ["

February 5, 2025 Verified Purchase

BookishKB

💛Cozy Fantasy Sapphic Romance

"📖 Bookish Moments I’m obsessed with Marigold and Lottie. This book was a cozy sapphic fantasy, and the romance was so sweet — definitely a slow burn! I loved how their relationship built over time. No rush. No insta-love, but instead a gradual, unfolding romance. Marigold talked a lot about choice and wanting it for herself and women in general — but she had to learn how to accept the choices of others without judgment. By the end of the book, I felt like she got it. Lottie had such a heartbreaking childhood. I wanted to sob reading her backstory. Her past definitely made her resistant to trusting others, and I loved seeing Marigold slowly earn that trust. Read if you love: 💛 Enemies to lovers 💛 Grumpy/sunshine 💛 Slow burn 💛 Cottage-core setting 💛 Healing love ✨ Favorite Quote "Their lips find each other, and they melt like harsh winter under a ruthless sun. This is love. This is the secret that everyone is searching for. This is the warmth in the bones, that sleepy-sweet feeling in the muscle. This is the moment between a dream and the morning, where such goodness feels so real but impossible to hold." 💭 Final Thoughts I loved reading about the magic and watching Marigold grow in her confidence! The setting was very cozy and felt like a warm hug. Perfect for fans of cozy fantasy, sapphic romance, and healing stories. Definitely one of my favorite reads of the year! 📖 Final Score: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 🎧 Audio Score: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 🎙️ Narration Style: Solo 🔁 Re-listen Worthy: Would totally re-listen and reread! ["

April 9, 2025 Verified Purchase

Jenji

Book Review

"The Honey Witch is a cozy, witchy, cottagecore read with a slow burn that is lovely for the shifting season. The story was reminiscent to Bridgerton with a sapphic, magical twist. Early into the story Marigold knows her path is different from that of her sisters and the other women in town, valuing freedom from the constraints of life in her hometown. It is no surprise she immediately leaves to care for the beautiful land of Innisfree with her grandmother after finding out she is a witch, accepting a magical curse to never find love in the process. She meets Lottie who is blunt with a slightly jaded personality, completely comfortable in her own skin, and with an occupation that is considered taboo in the time period of the 1800’s in which the story is set. Marigold was a delightfully written character and was the ray of light to Lottie’s shadowy personality, allowing for a nice balance between the two as they engaged more throughout the story. The magic system was unique, using honey as the base to most spells and exploring a unique relationship between Marigold and the bees she cares for on the land. The Honey Witch is a beautifully written story which is best for someone who appreciates a slow paced, descriptive narrative with a gradual build up. Grab yourself a cup of tea, some honey, and a nice treat to pair with this book. ["

September 28, 2024 Verified Purchase