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The Bee King
When the crops fail, the monsters come.
When the monsters come, they buy the daughters.
Alice would do anything to keep her sister and cousin out of the hands of the monsters. She would even accept a marriage proposal from the Bee King, the mysterious honey magnate allegedly driving the prosperity of the empire.
But when she arrives at the Apiary, the secluded estate of her betrothed, nothing is as it seems. The empire's wealthy and famous are converging upon the estate and she soon learns that the Bee King is not marrying her for love or lust, but third reason--a dark, strange, and deadly reason.
When the monsters come, they buy the daughters.
Alice would do anything to keep her sister and cousin out of the hands of the monsters. She would even accept a marriage proposal from the Bee King, the mysterious honey magnate allegedly driving the prosperity of the empire.
But when she arrives at the Apiary, the secluded estate of her betrothed, nothing is as it seems. The empire's wealthy and famous are converging upon the estate and she soon learns that the Bee King is not marrying her for love or lust, but third reason--a dark, strange, and deadly reason.
280 pages, Paperback
Published April 22, 2023
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 65 reviews
April 28, 2023
TW: Abuse, Suicide, Rape (and rape of minors)
Alice is unusually strong and is a tireless worker, doing anything to keep her younger sister and cousin out of the hands of the monsters who visit their island. The monsters come when the island is at its leanest, buying the islanders’ daughters for nights of pleasure. When Bee Men arrive on the island and announce that there’s to be a bride choosing ceremony to find a new spouse for the Bee King, Alice knows she must attend to protect her younger family members. The night results in dangers and difficult decisions, and Alice finds herself at the Apiary where she must fight for her life and the lives of those she cares about.
The concept of this work was interesting, but its execution fell flat in some important places. It was not situated well in its setting – it began reading like a traditional fantasy, but then references to more modern things were included, eventually leading me to assume it was set in a 1920s-esque America (but it was about 30% through the book before I could reach this conclusion). Things happened quickly throughout the book, but it felt like it just skimmed along without any real depth or development, which made it impossible to become invested in the story (just one example of this was the bride choosing ceremony). There was also zero nuance in this work. As much as possible, the author was constantly summarizing the bad things that happened to girls or the challenges Alice was up against or what she’d already faced. This became repetitive and frustrating, taking away any impact these events could have had.
The characters were also lacking. Alice was the only one who was a little developed, but she stayed static throughout the entire book. There was no depth or growth to her or the other characters, leaving it impossible to become emotionally connected or invested in any of them. And a minor complaint: the protagonist is described so many times as being bulky and strong, built like an ox, etc. But she couldn’t look further from that on the book’s cover (just look how thin those arms are and how delicate her features are). The cover is gorgeous, but not an accurate representation of Alice.
There were some interesting moments scattered throughout the book and the concept was fascinating, but the book lacked too much for it to be engaging. My thanks to BookSirens and the author for allowing me to review this work, which will be published 16 May 2023. All thoughts and opinions expressed in this review are my own.
Alice is unusually strong and is a tireless worker, doing anything to keep her younger sister and cousin out of the hands of the monsters who visit their island. The monsters come when the island is at its leanest, buying the islanders’ daughters for nights of pleasure. When Bee Men arrive on the island and announce that there’s to be a bride choosing ceremony to find a new spouse for the Bee King, Alice knows she must attend to protect her younger family members. The night results in dangers and difficult decisions, and Alice finds herself at the Apiary where she must fight for her life and the lives of those she cares about.
The concept of this work was interesting, but its execution fell flat in some important places. It was not situated well in its setting – it began reading like a traditional fantasy, but then references to more modern things were included, eventually leading me to assume it was set in a 1920s-esque America (but it was about 30% through the book before I could reach this conclusion). Things happened quickly throughout the book, but it felt like it just skimmed along without any real depth or development, which made it impossible to become invested in the story (just one example of this was the bride choosing ceremony). There was also zero nuance in this work. As much as possible, the author was constantly summarizing the bad things that happened to girls or the challenges Alice was up against or what she’d already faced. This became repetitive and frustrating, taking away any impact these events could have had.
The characters were also lacking. Alice was the only one who was a little developed, but she stayed static throughout the entire book. There was no depth or growth to her or the other characters, leaving it impossible to become emotionally connected or invested in any of them. And a minor complaint: the protagonist is described so many times as being bulky and strong, built like an ox, etc. But she couldn’t look further from that on the book’s cover (just look how thin those arms are and how delicate her features are). The cover is gorgeous, but not an accurate representation of Alice.
There were some interesting moments scattered throughout the book and the concept was fascinating, but the book lacked too much for it to be engaging. My thanks to BookSirens and the author for allowing me to review this work, which will be published 16 May 2023. All thoughts and opinions expressed in this review are my own.
March 2, 2023
AH this cover is SO GORGEOUS ^_^
ARC sign-ups here> https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FA...
I beta read the pre-published version of this, <3 Pretty intense and interesting stuff.... can't wait to finish and see the final result!!
(Note: this does contain some horror elements involving violence and also mature themes, mostly on the disturbing side, so reader discretion is advised)
ARC sign-ups here> https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FA...
I beta read the pre-published version of this, <3 Pretty intense and interesting stuff.... can't wait to finish and see the final result!!
(Note: this does contain some horror elements involving violence and also mature themes, mostly on the disturbing side, so reader discretion is advised)
May 9, 2023
Wildly enjoyable! The Bee King tells the story of Alice, an older sister determined to protect her sister, niece and every other girl in town when the arrival of something comes. . She'll even accept a marriage proposal from the Bee King. Alice's life is full of plot twists and darkness; one Alice must face head-on. I found this story to be remarkable without giving much away.
May 3, 2023
The Bee King is a young adult story with elements of horror, so would perhaps suit mature teens and above.
Alice lives on an island where poverty and crop failures often lead islanders to sell their daughters. Alice will do anything to protect her sister and cousin; she works hard and defends them from her abusive, drunken father.
One day the mysterious, fabled Bee Men arrive in the town, offering families much needed money in return for sending their daughters to a special ball where one will be chosen as the new wife of the Bee King, and Alice does all she can to protect her sister and cousin.
With many analogies to bees and their life-cycle, this is an enchanting tale. It’s a little gruesome in places and does touch on sensitive subject matters which some readers may find difficult to read about. There are whiffs of fairy tales and fables woven in to the narrative with a sprinkle of magic and revenge. If you like bees and a touch of horror, then this is worth a read.
Alice lives on an island where poverty and crop failures often lead islanders to sell their daughters. Alice will do anything to protect her sister and cousin; she works hard and defends them from her abusive, drunken father.
One day the mysterious, fabled Bee Men arrive in the town, offering families much needed money in return for sending their daughters to a special ball where one will be chosen as the new wife of the Bee King, and Alice does all she can to protect her sister and cousin.
With many analogies to bees and their life-cycle, this is an enchanting tale. It’s a little gruesome in places and does touch on sensitive subject matters which some readers may find difficult to read about. There are whiffs of fairy tales and fables woven in to the narrative with a sprinkle of magic and revenge. If you like bees and a touch of horror, then this is worth a read.
May 6, 2023
"Always the same. They were angry. They wanted what wasn't theirs. They expected a willing sacrificial lamb.
No. No, no, no."
I absolutely loved this book! Mathilda Zeller does a masterful job of world-building. It was very refreshing and the bee/hive parallels had me in awe each and every time. The storyline managed to keep me on the edge of my seat, and - while I predicted one of the major twists (I'm suspicious by nature and tend to look for clues everywhere), - I kept being surprised by the direction the story took. The story was compelling and, being a woman in a world built on patriarchy, I related very much to the main character Alice. Even though I'm not a particularly resentful or vengeful person myself, you can't help but feel angry in the face of the unfairness and mistreatment of the girls of Oxenbee. The female and lower class exploitation was one of the main themes throughout, and it left me reeling with sadness and anger but also...hope for the future. The ending was surprising, yet extremely satisfying. Justice was served and I could not be more glad!
To be honest, this was my first venture into the horror genre and - as someone who is a bit of a wuss and therefore does not really watch horror movies - I wasn't quite sure what I was signing up for. As it turns out, I was very much into it so I'm glad I took a gamble on it (apparently all those hours watching true crime documentaries and reading thrillers might have numbed me to the gorey stuff). Fantasy horror might just be my new favourite genre, who knew?
I absolutely recommend this book. Just be mindful of the trigger/content warnings. The physical injuries/deaths can get quite graphic, but other topics like sexual assault are only mentioned and there are no descriptive scenes. Still proceed with caution or skip this book if you find any of that triggering.
Thanks to Booksirens and Mathilda Zeller for kindly providing this ebook ARC for free, in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
No. No, no, no."
I absolutely loved this book! Mathilda Zeller does a masterful job of world-building. It was very refreshing and the bee/hive parallels had me in awe each and every time. The storyline managed to keep me on the edge of my seat, and - while I predicted one of the major twists (I'm suspicious by nature and tend to look for clues everywhere), - I kept being surprised by the direction the story took. The story was compelling and, being a woman in a world built on patriarchy, I related very much to the main character Alice. Even though I'm not a particularly resentful or vengeful person myself, you can't help but feel angry in the face of the unfairness and mistreatment of the girls of Oxenbee. The female and lower class exploitation was one of the main themes throughout, and it left me reeling with sadness and anger but also...hope for the future. The ending was surprising, yet extremely satisfying. Justice was served and I could not be more glad!
To be honest, this was my first venture into the horror genre and - as someone who is a bit of a wuss and therefore does not really watch horror movies - I wasn't quite sure what I was signing up for. As it turns out, I was very much into it so I'm glad I took a gamble on it (apparently all those hours watching true crime documentaries and reading thrillers might have numbed me to the gorey stuff). Fantasy horror might just be my new favourite genre, who knew?
I absolutely recommend this book. Just be mindful of the trigger/content warnings. The physical injuries/deaths can get quite graphic, but other topics like sexual assault are only mentioned and there are no descriptive scenes. Still proceed with caution or skip this book if you find any of that triggering.
Thanks to Booksirens and Mathilda Zeller for kindly providing this ebook ARC for free, in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
May 2, 2023
First off, let's talk about the cover. Beautiful. I'm a sucker for folk horror, and this definitely fit the bill. Disappointing harvests always bring out the worst in people.
Alice is a flawed powerhouse of a main character, and her decisions are always made in the context of protecting her sister and cousin from the monsters. Who will protect her?
The Bee King is an empowering look at who/what the monsters are in this world.
I recieved an ARC of this book, and am leaving a review of my own free will.
Alice is a flawed powerhouse of a main character, and her decisions are always made in the context of protecting her sister and cousin from the monsters. Who will protect her?
The Bee King is an empowering look at who/what the monsters are in this world.
I recieved an ARC of this book, and am leaving a review of my own free will.
May 25, 2023
A disturbing book but with an intresting worldbuilding envolving honey and bees. Alice have to married Bee King to protect her sister and cousin, but the king court is more horrible that she was expected and she will have to be very strong to survive.
Really like the story of the Bee Queen, Sarah true revelation was a little confused and there was parts of the plot that was too much gore for my taste.
Really like the story of the Bee Queen, Sarah true revelation was a little confused and there was parts of the plot that was too much gore for my taste.
Read
May 13, 2023The Bee King is a Horror novel with a gothic roaring twenties setting and a dark fairytale undertone. Mathilda Zeller takes you on a journey filled with feminine rage and the dark, sticky slide that people take once power gets ahold of them. I loved the spooky Bee Men and their mythos associated with the Bee King, the Moon Honey, and all the deliciously sweet details dripped through the story.
August 22, 2024
I was trying to describe this on a reading sprint and I both intrigued and baffled the chat.
The premise of this one is really strong, in in some ways it kinda reminded me of The Honeys that I read last year.
The titular bee king requests all the girls on a small impoverished town to attend a party at a local mansion so a bride can be selected, for each girl that attends, $100 will be given to the family. The girls range from 12 (yes I really) to 16/17. Alice is too old but manages to force an invite so she can protect her younger 2 sisters from being forced into marriage.
From here we step to a mix of more folklore and family politics orientated story, along with a dash of mystery as we discover what it would mean for Alice to become the wife of the Bee King as all is not as it seems.
The author did a solid job of foreshadowing a number of twists,and their were some fascinating interactions, and the inititla set up didna good job of showing how horrifying life was in the village of Oxenbee. The core concept is also a really interesting one that does go in an interesting direction.
I do have some nit picks however, firstly the time period felt ill defined early on and it took a while to pin it down, although this is definitively clarified near the end. Also there are 'fade to black' moments, with narrative reasons, that left me feeling mildly lost at times in the middle. Finally whilst Alice is a compelling character, there are multiple occasions she comes across as almost holier than though which did on occasion grate on my nerves.
Overall I enjoyed this quite a bit, it's a good historical fantasy/horror, with some decent mystery and family politics built in.
The premise of this one is really strong, in in some ways it kinda reminded me of The Honeys that I read last year.
The titular bee king requests all the girls on a small impoverished town to attend a party at a local mansion so a bride can be selected, for each girl that attends, $100 will be given to the family. The girls range from 12 (yes I really) to 16/17. Alice is too old but manages to force an invite so she can protect her younger 2 sisters from being forced into marriage.
From here we step to a mix of more folklore and family politics orientated story, along with a dash of mystery as we discover what it would mean for Alice to become the wife of the Bee King as all is not as it seems.
The author did a solid job of foreshadowing a number of twists,and their were some fascinating interactions, and the inititla set up didna good job of showing how horrifying life was in the village of Oxenbee. The core concept is also a really interesting one that does go in an interesting direction.
I do have some nit picks however, firstly the time period felt ill defined early on and it took a while to pin it down, although this is definitively clarified near the end. Also there are 'fade to black' moments, with narrative reasons, that left me feeling mildly lost at times in the middle. Finally whilst Alice is a compelling character, there are multiple occasions she comes across as almost holier than though which did on occasion grate on my nerves.
Overall I enjoyed this quite a bit, it's a good historical fantasy/horror, with some decent mystery and family politics built in.
May 13, 2023
**ARC review**
TW: Rape, abuse, suicide, gore
I’m super conflicted about this book. Was it fast-paced and engaging? Yes. Was the setting and imagery vivid and visceral? Yes. And yet, there is a lot about this book that left me feeling uneasy and a little confused—like the true motivation behind everything therein was just beyond my reach.
In terms of characters, I think Alice was a single-minded woman bent on protecting her loved ones. This is something born out well throughout the story, though there isn’t much that’s changed about her from start to finish. The secondary characters, people like Max and Fred, Sarah and Florence, and even the Bee Queen felt decently controlled, but at times I found myself suffering a little bit of whiplash with how quickly the characters’ behaviors and personalities changed scene-to-scene. I don’t feel like I was engrossed enough in the story to not question some basics like: why bees? and why doesn’t the MC eat any real food throughout the whole story? and are the Monsters actual monsters or am I meant to read this figuratively?
Additionally, it was hard to place this book in a solid setting/time period. At times, I thought it was perhaps 1920s or 1930s but that was never clearly established. I think, too, the Apiary mansion that Alice is taken to feels really amorphous in my head. Sometimes it read as a world straight out of fantasy, and other times it was solidly a period piece. There wasn’t enough to pull the world together so that it read cohesively.
The gothic-horror vibes were well developed throughout and I think it checks all of the boxes for the genre. Gives very Mexican Gothic, Turn of the Screw, or even Inheritance Games vibes with its own dark, sometimes viscerally sickening twist.
TW: Rape, abuse, suicide, gore
I’m super conflicted about this book. Was it fast-paced and engaging? Yes. Was the setting and imagery vivid and visceral? Yes. And yet, there is a lot about this book that left me feeling uneasy and a little confused—like the true motivation behind everything therein was just beyond my reach.
In terms of characters, I think Alice was a single-minded woman bent on protecting her loved ones. This is something born out well throughout the story, though there isn’t much that’s changed about her from start to finish. The secondary characters, people like Max and Fred, Sarah and Florence, and even the Bee Queen felt decently controlled, but at times I found myself suffering a little bit of whiplash with how quickly the characters’ behaviors and personalities changed scene-to-scene. I don’t feel like I was engrossed enough in the story to not question some basics like: why bees? and why doesn’t the MC eat any real food throughout the whole story? and are the Monsters actual monsters or am I meant to read this figuratively?
Additionally, it was hard to place this book in a solid setting/time period. At times, I thought it was perhaps 1920s or 1930s but that was never clearly established. I think, too, the Apiary mansion that Alice is taken to feels really amorphous in my head. Sometimes it read as a world straight out of fantasy, and other times it was solidly a period piece. There wasn’t enough to pull the world together so that it read cohesively.
The gothic-horror vibes were well developed throughout and I think it checks all of the boxes for the genre. Gives very Mexican Gothic, Turn of the Screw, or even Inheritance Games vibes with its own dark, sometimes viscerally sickening twist.
May 3, 2023
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily. The Bee King is a dark fantasy that is suitable for mature young adults and older. The theme of this book is very dark, with murder, domestic, and sexual violence toward minors. The protagonist is someone who is easy to adore and root for. The writing is easy to follow and flows well, making this a book one I can see many having a difficult time putting down. It did not take too long into the book to realize it was one I would recommend and talk about for a long time. This was a surprise treat for me. It was unique and unpredictable, where I thought things would be going, it did not, and I loved it! I recommend it for anyone who enjoys creature horror and dark fantasy.
May 21, 2023
I have so much to say about this story. Visually it is like a dark Great Gatsby, with the rotten underbelly of the 20s exposed.
In part it has that feverish horror reminiscent of The Wicker Man.
And running through is a thread of rage, of women, being used and enslaved.
This book has been described as a horror: but I don't know if it is. The ending is so terribly satisfying. I love that the heroine is as she is, that she learns who she is is just fine.
This just stepped into my no. 1 spot for favourite book.
It is complex, hugely visual, dark and so melodic. What a story.
In part it has that feverish horror reminiscent of The Wicker Man.
And running through is a thread of rage, of women, being used and enslaved.
This book has been described as a horror: but I don't know if it is. The ending is so terribly satisfying. I love that the heroine is as she is, that she learns who she is is just fine.
This just stepped into my no. 1 spot for favourite book.
It is complex, hugely visual, dark and so melodic. What a story.
May 7, 2025
Set in an alternate version of the 1920s, in a small island community, THE BEE KING is part fairytale, part horror story. Our heroine, Alice, is strong and muscular; she's had to be, to protect her sister and young cousin from her alcoholic wastrel father, who plans to sell her to a much older man for a dowry. However, plans change when the Bee Men arrive from the mainland. The Bee Men wear pinstriped suits and black veils, and they are responsible for the mysterious "moon bees" that make a magical honey guaranteed to create good fortune. They also serve the equally mysterious Bee King, who has come to the island in a search for his new bride.
Reading this book was like a fever dream. It has elements of Cinderella and Bluebeard, but it also has the dark and surreal whimsy of some of Hayao Miyazaki's edgier works. The storyline is dark but what makes it redemptive is the feminine rage fueling Alice's every move; she resents living in a society that uses female flesh as currency and is determined to do whatever it takes to get herself and her sister's out of it. This is definitely a monster story that will have you questioning who the real monster really is by the end.
A few people asked me if this was really scary and I personally don't think it is. There is body horror and allusions to the very real horrors of sexual assault and violence against women and young girls, but this is the sort of story that is more creepy than scary and a lot of the violence is that surreal fairytale violence that is so cartoonish that it doesn't feel as visceral or immediate as what you'd find in a crime thriller. When I wasn't reading this book, I was thinking about this book, and wondering what would happen next. I had never heard of this author before until I read her contribution to the Native horror anthology, NEVER WHISTLE AT NIGHT, and after reading Kushtaka, I went out and bought all her books.
She said she's got even more gothic horror planned and I absolutely cannot wait for it.
4.5 stars
Reading this book was like a fever dream. It has elements of Cinderella and Bluebeard, but it also has the dark and surreal whimsy of some of Hayao Miyazaki's edgier works. The storyline is dark but what makes it redemptive is the feminine rage fueling Alice's every move; she resents living in a society that uses female flesh as currency and is determined to do whatever it takes to get herself and her sister's out of it. This is definitely a monster story that will have you questioning who the real monster really is by the end.
A few people asked me if this was really scary and I personally don't think it is. There is body horror and allusions to the very real horrors of sexual assault and violence against women and young girls, but this is the sort of story that is more creepy than scary and a lot of the violence is that surreal fairytale violence that is so cartoonish that it doesn't feel as visceral or immediate as what you'd find in a crime thriller. When I wasn't reading this book, I was thinking about this book, and wondering what would happen next. I had never heard of this author before until I read her contribution to the Native horror anthology, NEVER WHISTLE AT NIGHT, and after reading Kushtaka, I went out and bought all her books.
She said she's got even more gothic horror planned and I absolutely cannot wait for it.
4.5 stars
May 10, 2023
I really loved the creepy vibes and the feminist themes in this short novel. The pacing was great and the atmosphere was fantastic. Alice, the MC, is a great character to root for. I love that she's feisty and cares a lot about her sister and their cousin, and to an extent, the other girls in their town of Oxenbee. The twists and turns were pretty satisfying, and I really liked the ending. There were several moments where I wondered if Alice would do the right thing or succumb to the mess that she walked into.
I just wished that some concepts were more fully developed and explored. The more important secondary characters, like Fred and Sarah, felt underdeveloped and their personalities and actions seemed inconsistent. The ending with Fred didn't resonate with me. There wasn't enough relationship development between Fred and Alice for me to believe their ending, since Fred seemed really wishy washy the entire time.
Sarah's personality was also inconsistent. It'd be more realistic (in a sense) if the reveal with Sarah didn't change her personality completely. This also includes her use of magic. I wish that magic would've been introduced earlier in the novel, or at least have it explicitly mentioned (since it was implicitly mentioned with the power of the moon bees and moon honey). The magic seemed like it came out of nowhere to fill a plot hole.
There were several copyediting issues throughout the novel too. I think with more edits and more fleshed out secondary characters, this could be a powerful novel.
Other than those issues, the horror was excellent and the feminist themes really shone through.
Thank you to BookSirens and Mathilda Zeller for this arc.
I just wished that some concepts were more fully developed and explored. The more important secondary characters, like Fred and Sarah, felt underdeveloped and their personalities and actions seemed inconsistent. The ending with Fred didn't resonate with me. There wasn't enough relationship development between Fred and Alice for me to believe their ending, since Fred seemed really wishy washy the entire time.
Sarah's personality was also inconsistent. It'd be more realistic (in a sense) if the reveal with Sarah didn't change her personality completely. This also includes her use of magic. I wish that magic would've been introduced earlier in the novel, or at least have it explicitly mentioned (since it was implicitly mentioned with the power of the moon bees and moon honey). The magic seemed like it came out of nowhere to fill a plot hole.
There were several copyediting issues throughout the novel too. I think with more edits and more fleshed out secondary characters, this could be a powerful novel.
Other than those issues, the horror was excellent and the feminist themes really shone through.
Thank you to BookSirens and Mathilda Zeller for this arc.
May 29, 2023
I had the opportunity to read an electronic advance review copy of "The Bee King," which I received for free. I want to emphasize that this review is voluntary.
The Bee King follows the story of Alice, a young woman who lives in the little town of Oxenbee. From the beginning, her main focus is to protect her sister and cousin from the monsters -wealthy men that come to exploit the girls on the island- and from her own father, who would sell all of them to subsidize his alcohol addiction.
The story moves quickly from the moment when the 'Bee Men' come to the island in search of a bride for the Bee King -an terribly wealthy merchant who controls the only supply of moon honey-. Alice is forced to make brave but impossible choices in order to maintain the safety of her family.
Personally, I found the concept of the book intriguing. There's an inherent desire to witness powerful and affluent men, who often evade consequences for their actions, face justice. Mathilda Zeller adeptly portrays Alice's predicament, her deep-seated rage, and her selfless love, while weaving in carefully crafted supernatural elements.
Unfortunately, after the first few chapters, a lot of the story felt flat and seemed rushed. The majority of the characters remained one-dimensional and rather predictable throughout, **Possible spoilers ahead**
The Bee King follows the story of Alice, a young woman who lives in the little town of Oxenbee. From the beginning, her main focus is to protect her sister and cousin from the monsters -wealthy men that come to exploit the girls on the island- and from her own father, who would sell all of them to subsidize his alcohol addiction.
The story moves quickly from the moment when the 'Bee Men' come to the island in search of a bride for the Bee King -an terribly wealthy merchant who controls the only supply of moon honey-. Alice is forced to make brave but impossible choices in order to maintain the safety of her family.
Personally, I found the concept of the book intriguing. There's an inherent desire to witness powerful and affluent men, who often evade consequences for their actions, face justice. Mathilda Zeller adeptly portrays Alice's predicament, her deep-seated rage, and her selfless love, while weaving in carefully crafted supernatural elements.
Unfortunately, after the first few chapters, a lot of the story felt flat and seemed rushed. The majority of the characters remained one-dimensional and rather predictable throughout, **Possible spoilers ahead**
March 16, 2023
TW: rape, suicide, paedophilia, murder
✅ Horror-story with a choleric heroine
✅ Fights the patriarchy
✅ Great plot twists
🆗 There are a lot of characters, so sometimes it is hard to keep track
❌ The final suggests a romantic connection between two main characters, but we never see the bonding properly grow
The premise is great, and the beginning is really gripping. I love that Alice isn't described as the prettiest girl in her hometown, but the strongest. She is also the least loved, despite being the one who loves and cares the most for others around her. The setting of Oxenbee and the Apiary was well done and there is a sense of unease and the feeling, so the reader feels a bit out-of-the-loop, just like Alice. The twists and turns are even greater because of it. And I love how the story is all about fighting the patriarchy and killing the monsters who take and force girls for their own pleasure. The only downside for me was the pace: I think the story would benefit of having more pages and a medium, rather than a fast pace. I also felt like Fred was a pretty minor, undeveloped character and was therefore a bit surprised with their ending.
I read an eARC provided by Mathilda Zeller, but this opinion is my own, and completely voluntary.
✅ Horror-story with a choleric heroine
✅ Fights the patriarchy
✅ Great plot twists
🆗 There are a lot of characters, so sometimes it is hard to keep track
❌ The final suggests a romantic connection between two main characters, but we never see the bonding properly grow
The premise is great, and the beginning is really gripping. I love that Alice isn't described as the prettiest girl in her hometown, but the strongest. She is also the least loved, despite being the one who loves and cares the most for others around her. The setting of Oxenbee and the Apiary was well done and there is a sense of unease and the feeling, so the reader feels a bit out-of-the-loop, just like Alice. The twists and turns are even greater because of it. And I love how the story is all about fighting the patriarchy and killing the monsters who take and force girls for their own pleasure. The only downside for me was the pace: I think the story would benefit of having more pages and a medium, rather than a fast pace. I also felt like Fred was a pretty minor, undeveloped character and was therefore a bit surprised with their ending.
I read an eARC provided by Mathilda Zeller, but this opinion is my own, and completely voluntary.
April 24, 2023
This was my very first ARC read and I really enjoyed it! The story was very different from anything I’ve ever read so I enjoyed the originality of it. While some of the twists were a bit predictable there were some that surprised me, and that’s hard to do because I typically figure out the twists pretty quickly. I absolutely loved the ending and how everything came together. Honestly, I usually want my books to have a love interest but this book didn’t need it and I’m glad it didn’t have it.
My only critique would be to have more character development through the relationships of the characters. I wanted to see more of Alice’s relationship with her sisters and more encounters between her, Fred, and Max. I would like to have seen her slowly uncover the secrets that are going on rather than things just come spilling out. I would also liked to have seen Fred and Max interact more with each other as well as with their father.
But overall I really enjoyed this story.
I received an advanced review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
My only critique would be to have more character development through the relationships of the characters. I wanted to see more of Alice’s relationship with her sisters and more encounters between her, Fred, and Max. I would like to have seen her slowly uncover the secrets that are going on rather than things just come spilling out. I would also liked to have seen Fred and Max interact more with each other as well as with their father.
But overall I really enjoyed this story.
I received an advanced review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
April 25, 2023
This was such a wild enjoyable ride. The bee king tells the story of Alice, an older sister determined to protect her sister, niece and every other girl in town when the monsters come. She’ll even accept a marriage proposal from the bee king. Not knowing what she’s getting into we see the story develop in an adventure fit for a heroine, with plot twists you can’t imagine and details that will knock you off your feet.
I ADORED this story, there are plot twists around every corner, the details and things that are worked out and considered are INSANE and it’s just an overall great read.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily. My opinion however is entirely my own.
I ADORED this story, there are plot twists around every corner, the details and things that are worked out and considered are INSANE and it’s just an overall great read.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily. My opinion however is entirely my own.
May 10, 2023
“There would always be more girls, more violence, more honey, more money.”
Where to begin with this book? Well, firstly, the cover is gorgeous and eye catching.
The plot was a mix of fantasy and folktale, at times flowing in a surreal liquid gold state.
I loved that the main character was strong and true to herself, willing to sacrifice everything for her sisters and the town girls. The side characters and the Queen all played integral parts to the story as well.
I will say at the 3/4 mark things got a little too hazy and confusing for me, but the ending was perfect.
A really thrilling story of a woman taking back ownership of her body, protecting those she cares about, and delivering justice to monsters.
Thank you to BookSirens & the Author for a copy
Where to begin with this book? Well, firstly, the cover is gorgeous and eye catching.
The plot was a mix of fantasy and folktale, at times flowing in a surreal liquid gold state.
I loved that the main character was strong and true to herself, willing to sacrifice everything for her sisters and the town girls. The side characters and the Queen all played integral parts to the story as well.
I will say at the 3/4 mark things got a little too hazy and confusing for me, but the ending was perfect.
A really thrilling story of a woman taking back ownership of her body, protecting those she cares about, and delivering justice to monsters.
Thank you to BookSirens & the Author for a copy
April 17, 2023
Thank you BookSirens for the ARC!
4.5/5 rounded up
Wow, what a ride!
A fast-paced horror-story with a buff and choleric heroine (!) filled with fantastic plot-twists (which, if anyone knows me well enough knows, is high praise from me) and revenge sweet as honey :)
4.5/5 rounded up
Wow, what a ride!
A fast-paced horror-story with a buff and choleric heroine (!) filled with fantastic plot-twists (which, if anyone knows me well enough knows, is high praise from me) and revenge sweet as honey :)
April 16, 2023
Highly visceral, gorgeous feminine rage. I wept.
(Please note that I received an advanced reader copy of this book in exchange for an honest review)
(Please note that I received an advanced reader copy of this book in exchange for an honest review)
Read
May 14, 2023DNFed on pg 132
August 12, 2024
2 stars might even be too high
sigh
sigh
July 3, 2025
Alice has spent most of her life working so hard to keep just enough money coming in so that her drunken father won't have to sell her or her younger sister and cousin to the monsters that come to their little island. The monsters that come and take their pleasures with the daughters of the island.
When the Bee King announces that he needs a bride, Alice watches as families from all over the island line up to receive a hundred dollars in exchange for sending their daughters to a fancy party. At this party the Bee King will choose his new wife, but all Alice sees are the young girls around her, and feels the rage of not being able to protect them all.
This story hits home in so many ways, and as I watched Alice do the best she could with the hand she was dealt, I certainly knew what she was going through. Understood the frustration of being stuck; of being being held down in the dirt because power and greed were more revered than humanity.
In all the ways that this is a dark fairy tale, there are grains of truth to be taken and learned from. I very much look forward to reading more from this author.
When the Bee King announces that he needs a bride, Alice watches as families from all over the island line up to receive a hundred dollars in exchange for sending their daughters to a fancy party. At this party the Bee King will choose his new wife, but all Alice sees are the young girls around her, and feels the rage of not being able to protect them all.
This story hits home in so many ways, and as I watched Alice do the best she could with the hand she was dealt, I certainly knew what she was going through. Understood the frustration of being stuck; of being being held down in the dirt because power and greed were more revered than humanity.
In all the ways that this is a dark fairy tale, there are grains of truth to be taken and learned from. I very much look forward to reading more from this author.
December 31, 2025
This is a mesmerizing and atmospheric gothic fantasy that weaves together elements of folk horror, mystery, and survival into a deeply original tale. The story is set in a stark world governed by a brutal rule: "When the crops fail, the monsters come. When the monsters come, they buy the daughters." To save her sister and cousin from this grim fate, our heroine, Alice, makes a desperate bargain. She agrees to marry the enigmatic Bee King, the reclusive honey magnate whose wealth is rumored to underpin the entire empire's prosperity.
Alice’s sacrifice leads her to the Apiary, her betrothed's secluded estate, where nothing is as it seems. The gathering of the empire's elite and famous creates a claustrophobic, decadent atmosphere, ripe with secrets. Alice soon discovers the chilling truth: the Bee King's proposal is not driven by love or desire, but for a "dark, strange, and deadly" third reason. This revelation transforms her journey from one of marital duty into a fight for survival and understanding within a beautifully bizarre and deeply unsettling hive of secrets.
Alice’s sacrifice leads her to the Apiary, her betrothed's secluded estate, where nothing is as it seems. The gathering of the empire's elite and famous creates a claustrophobic, decadent atmosphere, ripe with secrets. Alice soon discovers the chilling truth: the Bee King's proposal is not driven by love or desire, but for a "dark, strange, and deadly" third reason. This revelation transforms her journey from one of marital duty into a fight for survival and understanding within a beautifully bizarre and deeply unsettling hive of secrets.
July 31, 2024
Another fantasy coming of age book sent to me randomly by Paper Quest - a great place to get books you wouldn't normally read published by indie publishers
I found some of the concepts in here interesting and challenging. There was a good twist towards the end but it was then spelt out in one of those "now I'm going to kill you" scenes and I felt there wasn't enough build up. And the end is very dark justice.
I found some of the concepts in here interesting and challenging. There was a good twist towards the end but it was then spelt out in one of those "now I'm going to kill you" scenes and I felt there wasn't enough build up. And the end is very dark justice.
February 11, 2025
I don't have trouble putting a book down to go to sleep very often. Between living with low energy for many years and having small children, I value my sleep highly. THIS book however kept me up WAY too late 3 nights in a row.
You might be thinking, It took you the days to read it?! Remember the small children? I snatch my reading in small time segments and after the kids are asleep.
You might be thinking, It took you the days to read it?! Remember the small children? I snatch my reading in small time segments and after the kids are asleep.
July 12, 2025
Narration was insufferable.
February 22, 2026
Gripping through and through, adored the world-building. Felt the intensity from the beginning and the horror elements kept the story engaging in a unique way!
May 6, 2023
I wanted to love this, but couldn't. The most significant thing (that has nothing to do with the inside of the book) that I need to mention is: AI cover. A big no. Any author who uses AI cover at this point in time (when they are all unethical) will not get my money. If I did not receive an ARC of the book, I would not have bought it just for this reason, and I recommend everyone to do the same.
First, the pros: the prose is very strong, interesting and sometimes even beautiful throughout the book. You can definitely feel the horror/genuine UNSETTLING vibes in almost every scene and it was quite interesting to me as I don't read horror usually. In this regard, I applaud the author.
A lot of other things fall flat, unfortunately.
The characters were SUCH ridiculous caricatures. And when they weren't, they were inconsistent af. I swear to god, they all could have just been called by their one overexaggerated, melodramatic characteristic instead of names, because almost no one in this book was multi-dimensional or "natural". Everyone had their one exaggerated character trait amped up to 120% and it just did not feel realistic. Absolutely no nuance. Alice was also not the most realistic or multidimensional character. She did have faults and facets (at least compared to everyone else in the book) but it was still not enough to not pull me out of the story most of the time. And if the characters aren't like that, they flip-flop. Sarah flip-flops in her personality completely a few times, and so does Alice to be honest. She is 100% decided on something, then literally half an hour later in the story she is out. Fred is as great example as well. So inconsistent.
The atmosphere, world, and worldbuilding were good and interesting ideas, definitely, but it was also super confusing in a lot of places. First pages, I thought we were in a fantasy world/time frame. Then we somehow skipped into some sort of victorian England-ish vibe, and then later, we are getting mentions of Rolls Royce cars and pistols??? Whiplash after whiplash with the worldbuilding.
And honestly, since chapter 19, I was completely checked out and skimming things quickly just to get to the end and get it over with. Things started coming out that didn't make sense but you could tell the author expected us all to be there like "WOW, what a twist!" but twist is not at twist when it is literally the most crazy thing you can imagine. You cannot do that and then be "Ha! I am so smart, no one expected this!" After chapter 19 even the writing just went downhill. Everyone kept shifting personalities, nothing made sense, people would disarm each other and shift power like 5 times in a scene... Sigh. What a disappointment, honestly. The beginning had so much potential, but near the end this book just completely disintegrates and becomes this nonsensical, soulless thing, similar to the AI cover.
First, the pros: the prose is very strong, interesting and sometimes even beautiful throughout the book. You can definitely feel the horror/genuine UNSETTLING vibes in almost every scene and it was quite interesting to me as I don't read horror usually. In this regard, I applaud the author.
A lot of other things fall flat, unfortunately.
The characters were SUCH ridiculous caricatures. And when they weren't, they were inconsistent af. I swear to god, they all could have just been called by their one overexaggerated, melodramatic characteristic instead of names, because almost no one in this book was multi-dimensional or "natural". Everyone had their one exaggerated character trait amped up to 120% and it just did not feel realistic. Absolutely no nuance. Alice was also not the most realistic or multidimensional character. She did have faults and facets (at least compared to everyone else in the book) but it was still not enough to not pull me out of the story most of the time. And if the characters aren't like that, they flip-flop. Sarah flip-flops in her personality completely a few times, and so does Alice to be honest. She is 100% decided on something, then literally half an hour later in the story she is out. Fred is as great example as well. So inconsistent.
The atmosphere, world, and worldbuilding were good and interesting ideas, definitely, but it was also super confusing in a lot of places. First pages, I thought we were in a fantasy world/time frame. Then we somehow skipped into some sort of victorian England-ish vibe, and then later, we are getting mentions of Rolls Royce cars and pistols??? Whiplash after whiplash with the worldbuilding.
And honestly, since chapter 19, I was completely checked out and skimming things quickly just to get to the end and get it over with. Things started coming out that didn't make sense but you could tell the author expected us all to be there like "WOW, what a twist!" but twist is not at twist when it is literally the most crazy thing you can imagine. You cannot do that and then be "Ha! I am so smart, no one expected this!" After chapter 19 even the writing just went downhill. Everyone kept shifting personalities, nothing made sense, people would disarm each other and shift power like 5 times in a scene... Sigh. What a disappointment, honestly. The beginning had so much potential, but near the end this book just completely disintegrates and becomes this nonsensical, soulless thing, similar to the AI cover.
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