The honey witch

Debut author Shields spins a lush web of family, lore, and love in this coming-of-power fantasy set in 1831 England. As the eldest daughter of a well-to-do family, Marigold Claude, 21, faces increasing pressure to marry--but she has absolutely zero interest in doing so. Instead, she yearns for the peace she finds alone in her secret meadow, communing with strange, mystical creatures. Then her grandmother, Althea, shows up unexpectedly from the island of Innisfree and reveals Marigold's destiny: "Every eldest daughter in our lineage is a witch." Specifically, they are Honey Witches, who draw their power from bees and swear to protect the sacred land of Innisfree and its denizens. Marigold is eager to embrace her new role, even after Althea reveals the Honey Witch curse: she'll lose her magic if she ever falls in love. Once in Innisfree, Marigold runs into her childhood friend, August, and his new best friend, the gorgeous, grumpily skeptical Lottie. With Innisfree's future in her hands and the curse hanging over her head, Marigold must resist her attraction to Lottie, all while staying on the lookout for her enemy, the Ash Witch. The plot largely meanders, luxuriating in atmosphere and introspection as Marigold comes into her own. Though not a page-turner, this has its charms. Agent: Mollie Glick, CAA. (May)

In this cozy sapphic-fantasy debut, a young woman forgoes the possibility of romantic love in exchange for magical power, then regrets her decision when a beautiful, prickly skeptic enters her life. The Honey Witches of Innisfree are cursed by a powerful Ash Witch to never find love, but Marigold is overjoyed to accept her grandmother's offer to trade her expected future as a wife and mother for a life of enchanted honey and wondrous nature spirits, called landvættir, on the magical isle of Innisfree. Then Lottie comes to Innisfree with a mysterious past and deep skepticism of what she calls mythcraft, and things take an unexpected turn as Marigold's campaign to convince Lottie of magic's existence leads to a mutual attraction that shouldn't be possible. But with the curse hanging over their heads and signs that the Ash Witch herself has returned, Marigold may need to give Lottie up for her own safety and that of Innisfree itself. Readers interested in a tale that sits at the intersection of witchy relationship fiction and sapphic historical romance will enjoy this charming, slow-paced tale of love triumphing over evil. Copyright 2024 Booklist Reviews.

In Shields's debut, the price of the Honey Witch's magic is that no one can fall in love with her. Marigold prefers magic to her suitors, so she's happy to train as the next Honey Witch—until grumpy skeptic Lottie shows up, and Marigold begins to wonder if she'll lose her magic and her heart. Prepub Alert. Copyright 2023 Library Journal

Debut author Shields spins a lush web of family, lore, and love in this coming-of-power fantasy set in 1831 England. As the eldest daughter of a well-to-do family, Marigold Claude, 21, faces increasing pressure to marry—but she has absolutely zero interest in doing so. Instead, she yearns for the peace she finds alone in her secret meadow, communing with strange, mystical creatures. Then her grandmother, Althea, shows up unexpectedly from the island of Innisfree and reveals Marigold's destiny: "Every eldest daughter in our lineage is a witch." Specifically, they are Honey Witches, who draw their power from bees and swear to protect the sacred land of Innisfree and its denizens. Marigold is eager to embrace her new role, even after Althea reveals the Honey Witch curse: she'll lose her magic if she ever falls in love. Once in Innisfree, Marigold runs into her childhood friend, August, and his new best friend, the gorgeous, grumpily skeptical Lottie. With Innisfree's future in her hands and the curse hanging over her head, Marigold must resist her attraction to Lottie, all while staying on the lookout for her enemy, the Ash Witch. The plot largely meanders, luxuriating in atmosphere and introspection as Marigold comes into her own. Though not a page-turner, this has its charms. Agent: Mollie Glick, CAA. (May)