The Honey Witch - by Sydney J Shields (Paperback)

About the Book

Includes an excerpt from A letter to the luminous deep by Sylvie Cathrall (pages 351-359).

Book Synopsis

AN INSTANT USA TODAY BESTSELLER

The Honey Witch of Innisfree can never find true love. That is her curse to bear.

But when a young woman who doesn't believe in magic arrives on her island, sparks fly in this deliciously sweet debut romantasy 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 the family 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 come 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.

"The Honey Witch is a sweet feast, brimming with whimsy, magic, and tender longing." - Rachel Gillig

"Featuring a grumpy/sunshine queer romance, lovely imagery, and a distinctly cozy aesthetic, this one is a charmer." --Paste Magazine

Review Quotes

"The Honey Witch evokes pure glee and sadness while also giving the reader a gorgeous setting to explore... This story will draw in its audience with imagery and heal their souls with queer love. After reading Shields's novel, even those without a sweet tooth will be left craving honey."--Daily Bruin

"[A] warmhearted fantasy [that] will satisfy readers of sapphic romances who love the alternate historical world of Bridgerton or who grew up watching Halloweentown and Practical Magic."

--BookPage

"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."

--Booklist

"Debut author Shields spins a lush web of family, lore, and love in this coming-of-power fantasy set in 1831 England [...] luxuriating in atmosphere and introspection as Marigold comes into her own."--Publishers Weekly

"As effervescent as a bottle of sparkling mead, The Honey Witch charms with every sentence. Shields writes with a fierce, uncynical honesty that will have you believing in soulmates, uncovering magic everywhere, and embracing your own wildness."--S. T. Gibson, author of A Dowry of Blood

"With beautiful prose, a cozy setting filled with magic and honey, and a swoon-worthy sapphic romance, The Honey Witch delivers a gorgeous story of love, loss, and the perils of loneliness. This fantastic debut by Sydney J. Shields is an instant favorite." --Rebecca Thorne, author of Can't Spell Treason Without Tea

"The Honey Witch is a sweet feast, brimming with whimsy, magic, and tender longing. Shields' world is sugar-glazed and heart-warming and thoroughly enjoyable."--Rachel Gillig, author of One Dark Window

"Shields has written a cozy confection of a book--full of whimsy, spice, and heart. With characters whose warmth and charm are irresistible, The Honey Witch is an ode to love, and just how sweet it can be." --Maiga Doocy, author of Sorcery and Small Magics

"The Honey Witch is a tale that deserves to be savored but begs to be devoured. Enchanting, whimsical, and firmly rooted in finding yourself after loss, this novel will break your heart and then soothe it with magic honey. Full of friendship and beauty at every turn of the page, The Honey Witch will heal you and help you feel seen in equal measure. Pour yourself a cup of tea, drizzle in some local honey, and let this decadent book transport you." --Breanne Randall, New York Times bestselling author of The Unfortunate Side Effects of Heartbreak and Magic

"For anyone who has ever known what the mundane world wants them to be isn't possible or even desirable, The Honey Witch takes a luminous, divergent path." --Willa Reece, author of Wildwood Magic

"As sweet and warm as honeyed tea. Shields' debut deftly explores love, loss, and loneliness--and the joy of seeing magic in all things, however small. With charming characters and a lush setting, The Honey Witch will delight fans of cozy fantasy."

--Allison Saft, New York Times bestselling author of A Far Wilder Magic

"The Honey Witch will charm you with its setting, its appealing characters, both young and old, and its love for all things natural--especially bees! This tale of a young witch dealing with a curse and a battle between dark magic and light, with her romance in the balance, is one all fans of witches and folk magic will love."--Louisa Morgan, author of A Secret History of Witches

"Reading The Honey Witch is like dreaming in a fragrant sunlit garden while bees sing around you. It's a gorgeous book, with a lovely cottagecore ambience and a heart-warming sapphic romance intertwined with unique magic that enchants the imagination. I was so charmed by this impressive debut."
--India Holton, international bestselling author

About the Author

Sydney J. Shields is a swamp creature who evolved to hold a pen. She is a Magna Cum Laude graduate of Columbus State University where she majored in Communication. She currently lives in Savannah, Georgia with her partner and their dog. You can find her across social media @SydneyJShields, or her website, sydneyjshields.com.