Honey in Her Veins

by Ruth McKell

Arthur Connoway desperately wants to free himself from the monster inhabiting his mind. Instead, he is rapidly losing control of it following his mother’s death. In a last-ditch effort to feel whole again—and to lay his mother’s memory to rest—Arthur decides to return to the quiet bee farm he once called home, hoping their sacred honey can heal him in more ways than one.

Eight years ago, Eva Moreau's flora magic caused a terrible accident, harming her father in the process. Now, she’s desperate to find a way to heal him, but her attempts only seem to do the opposite. If she could just learn to control her magic, she might be able to save her father and leave the past behind.

When Arthur returns to town looking for absolution, Eva once again loses control of her magic, putting everyone she loves in danger. Together, the pair decides to trek to the source of her family’s magic to find a cure for both Arthur and her father. But there’s a mysterious ghost haunting the forest, and it won’t let Arthur and Eva leave the woods without confronting the secrets of their past...

Genres: Fantasy, Romance, Magical Realism, Fantasy Romance, Fiction, Romantasy, Second Chance Romance

429 pages, Kindle Edition

First published April 7, 2026

About the author

Ruth McKell writes haunting and romantic fiction designed to break and mend her readers' hearts. When she's not channeling her passion for mental health awareness into magic-touched worlds on the page, you can find her sipping tea from her novice apothecary, haunting her local indie bookstores, or exploring the mountains with her husband and son.

Reviews

[Marquise]

All righty! Which of you author friends was it that wrote a story with bee and honey magic I was enthralled by and loved so much it may or mayn't be the reason I requested and was granted the ARC for this book?

Come forward and fess up, please.

[Erin · Rating 3 out of 5]

Content warnings include:
Parental neglect
Death of a parent (off page)
References to self-harm (off page)
Blood and mild violence
Botanical body horror
Alcoholism
Depression
Anxiety attacks
Attempted sexual assault
3.5 stars
Arthur Conway is returning to small-town Pennsylvania with his mother's ashes, and it also means he will be meeting with the Moreau family. Patriarch Jack and his daughters, Isobel and Eva* the bee girl), were devastated by his abrupt departure and have continued to tend the bees in his absence. But Arthur has long been tortured by the monster within, and it doesn't want to stay silent any longer. Can the Moreau family help Arthur before it is too late?

If Jack Moreau was my lighthouse, his daughter Izzy was the relentless tide pushing me back to shore. And maybe I needed them both, but the bee girl was different. Not a beacon. Not a wave. She was the seafloor, home to broken, sunken ships. I wanted to drown in her graveyard of blue, to cut gills in my flesh and rebuild my lungs on her. 40%

I liked the original idea. The magic in the story worked for me, Arthur's internal struggle and the Moreau family's relentless fight to help him. Strictly my opinion, but Izzy and the sheriff's relationship was more interesting than Arthur and Eva. I chose the book because of the cover and the title, but I stayed for the characterization and the storyline. I feel safe recommending this book to others.


Publication Date 07/04/26
Goodreads Review 25/04/26
Thanks to NetGalley and Little, Brown and Company for access to this title. I am auto-approved by this publisher. Quotes are taken from the ARC and may be changed in the final copy. All opinions expressed are my own.

[Zoë · Rating 4 out of 5]

very ethereal i got so caught up in this i was standing in a line while reading and forgot to move up for a second

[Samantha Gaudious · Rating 5 out of 5]

I will forever scream about this book!! 🐝✨

Not only is Honey in her Veins extremely original but we follow a haunting, magical story that had me hooked to every line!!

This is one of those books where not everything is spelled out for you. There’s mystery and suspense and as you keep reading you put all the puzzle pieces together for such a rewarding ending!!! That’s exactly what I look for in a book.

We follow our main characters Arthur and Eve and their beautiful love story. Arthur is very much a complicated person with a monster in his head (which for me represents SO much) and it’s heartbreaking and lovely to see his character grow and want to live and honestly just be so much better. Eve is literally his whole sky and world and you feel that, through the pages. Where he is literally bringing death to everything he touches, she’s the complete opposite, bringing life to everything! (Absolutely loved that!!!)

We also have fabulous side characters and a side romance that I truly appreciated because it gave me even more insight to the family vibe.
The setting was perfect and original, I was living through it all and couldn’t be happier 🐝✨

I could talk about this book for days, it’s absolutely stunning in every way and not to mention the writing was phenomenal!

I cannot wait for more from Ruth 🫶

You can expect a masterpiece but check triggers because of course in every beautiful, heart wrenching story, they’re some deep traumas 💛

[Danielle Pulliam]

**𝔄ℜℭ ℜ𝔢𝔳𝔦𝔢𝔴** ℌ𝔬𝔫𝔢𝔶 𝔦𝔫 ℌ𝔢𝔯 𝔙𝔢𝔦𝔫𝔰 𝔟𝔶 ℜ𝔲𝔱𝔥 𝔐𝔠𝔎𝔢𝔩𝔩

Release Date: April 7, 2026

3.75⭐️3🌶

This book was a very interesting mix of small town romance/drama and magical realism. I found this book confusing at time with all the time jumping between the current timeline and the timeline of when these two where late high school age. However, I did enjoy this read.

Minor Spoilers Ahead:

Eva Moreau lives and works with her older sister Izzy and father Jack, and they maintain and run and bee farm. Eva also has the ability to grow any seeds or help any plant grow at a rapid rate. Jack, her father, has a tree growing in his chest that is slowly killing him; however, Eva cannot seem to control this plant.

Arthur Connoway was dropped off at Eva's house by his flighty mother when he was a teen, and he hasn't seen her since. Arthur's mother, Lotte, and Eva's father may have had a romantic relationship at one point in time, but it's hard to tell.

Arthur's magical ability is the exact opposite of Eva's, and he can kill any plant or person just by touching it, and usually Eva can reverse his magic just back touching that plant or person after him. So, of course, they form a romantic connection from a young age.

After Arthur has an incident, he leaves town for 5 years or more, and only comes back when it is time to spread his mother's ashes. Upon seeing Eva again, of course, all those feelings rise back to the surface, as do the feelings surrounding "the incident" that made him leave when he was a teen.

I found this story to be very different from the normal Urban Fantasy, and enjoyed it for how different it is from my normal reading experience. I would recommend this for people who loved The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue it gave those sorts of vibes.

Themes/Tropes:
🍁Urban Fantasy
🍁Magical Realism
🍁Possession by demon/monster
🍁Plants growing into someone's body
🍁Second Chance Romance

TW:
✨Demonic Possession
✨Sexual Assault
✨Alcoholism
✨Family Drama

[✨Julie✨ · Rating 3 out of 5]

✩ 3 stars ✩

What to Expect:
➼ Unique Magic System
➼ Life vs Death Magic
➼ Friends-to-Lovers
➼ Monster in His Head
➼ Mythical Honey
➼ Narrated by Michael Gallagher & Susannah Jones
➼ Third Person POV

Most books remind me of several other stories, but this book was really something all its own. It had a very unique magic system which I definitely think was a strength, but I also felt that some details weren’t explained thoroughly enough. I also struggled to keep track of the POV at times and found myself mixing up some of the character details. This was written in third person POV and while I did feel like one couple was the central focus of the story, the POV would often shift to another couple who I frankly felt had more chemistry and held my interest a little more. There were a few instances where I was excited to see the relationship between the two MC’s develop only to realize that it was actually the other couple I was reading about which was a bit disappointing. This is one of those books that I wish I could reread in first person POV to see how much more connected to the characters I might have been. As is, I felt pretty distant from them, which made the story less impactful for me.

Beyond the surface relationships, the deeper themes of the story were very compelling. I particularly loved the dichotomy of their two powers. Her powers brought life while his brought death, but there was light and darkness in both of them. Each felt like a representation of nature’s balance for the other. The differences in how they each perceived their powers was also very interesting. He viewed his power as a curse and thought of it like a monster in his head while she seemed to feel that her magic was more of a gift and an extension of herself. It made me think a lot about the power our thoughts can have over us and how they can shape how we view ourselves. If he were able to view his powers in a more positive light, maybe he would also find ways to use his powers for good.

This didn’t end up being a new favorite for me, but I would still recommend it to those who enjoy a more character driven fantasy.

Thank you to the author and the publishing team for gifting me with a finished copy. ❤️

✼　 ҉ 　✼　 ҉ 　✼　 ҉ 　✼　 ҉ 　✼　 ҉ 　✼　 ҉ 　✼

Pre-read: This one sounds so interesting! Such pretty cover art too!

≪ ◦ ❖ ◦ ≫

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[Ray · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was magical, serious, yet honey sweet. I would recommend this to fans of Adrienne young, specifically fans of the Unmaking of June Farrow. I really enjoyed this one. The dual time line allowed a showcasing of first love and mystery/ second chance and problem solving. I pleasantly enjoyed this one.

[Mandy · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5⭐️ This was a total vibe. I enjoyed how unique and fresh this story was. It was giving Spells for Forgetting and One Dark Window-mixed with something else. But, it was also its own story.

[Denise Ruttan · Rating 2 out of 5]

I liked the premise of a boy with a monster in his head whose touch is death to living things, and a girl whose touch inspires growing things wherever she goes, but this didn't quite work for me. I didn't care for the author's writing style, too overwrought and schmaltzy, or the romance. It was just too cozy for my taste.

The magic also was a bit too woo-woo, with no limits. How could anyone live like that? Neither of them also had much agency in trying to control it. In the end the monster was too cute and sappy too. I thought it was weird that trees grew out of people's chests; the monster and the trees were explained but the honey magic was a bit too hand-wavey.

I felt as if this didn't quite know what genre it wanted to be; it was a bit too heavy on spicy romance while trying to be other things too. I found I didn't care for the explicit sex scenes and found myself skimming them because I didn't care enough about the romance. Eva was hot and cold, overly dramatic and selfish. I felt she should have understood why Arthur left without saying goodbye if she knew him so well. Arthur, too, was too passive of a hero for my taste. I found the two of them far too sappy. I often found myself rolling my eyes at how cheesy they were with each other. I thought the "bee girl" nickname that he was obsessed with was lame.

I also found the writing style had too much purple prose and that perhaps contributed to my eye rolling.

Cozy fantasy fans will find much to like here, though, and this is another book where my opinion differs from the majority. I did appreciate the mental heath rep. I loved Isobel as a character and found her romance with the sheriff more compelling; excellent bi rep. Perhaps I just need to stop trying cozy fantasy because I often find it boring and cheesy.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the advance review copy. I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Jeni—Bookish.Bestie.909 · Rating 4 out of 5]

Honey in her Veins was whimsical, dark, romantic, mysterious, and heartwarming all at the same time! I really loved the botanical magic with the cottage and forest atmospheres. I was intrigued from page one about where the story was going (and there was A LOT of story). The prologue was so mysterious I couldn’t wait to keep reading. Ruth’s writing was beautiful, I was so immersed in the world she created.
However, there were a few things that didn’t work for me. I felt a little disappointed when the POV switched to Izzy. I liked her as a side-character but when we got more of her back story I just didn’t care enough. I also struggled with understanding how magic worked in this world. Ruth gave us some answers toward the end, but I just didn’t understand why magic only seemed to affect a handful of people and the rest of the world didn’t question it? Maybe I missed something.
In the beginning I loved the soft, sweet romance, with the potential for a second chance at love. But with so many flashbacks to when they were teens, at times this book felt YA. I like YA books, but it made me feel like the open door spice scenes were a little jarring and out of place. I just wish they would have made more sense with the story. Might just be me though! Overall, I really enjoyed it. I loved how gruesome it got and the way the story came together at the end. I would definitely read another book by this author.

Thank you to NetGalley and Little, Brown and Company for access to the eARC.

[Michael Hays · Rating 4 out of 5]

I want to start by thanking Goodreads and everyone involved in this giveaway, I was very excited to have won!

After reading Honey in Her Veins I thought the love story it contained between Arthur and Eva was amazing! I really enjoyed the way Ruth McKell built this relationship and made it unfold. Unfortunately, I felt like at times the story needed to move along a little more quickly, but it was still a very fascinating story that drew me into this world full of honey and beekeepers. I truly enjoyed this book and will remember these characters for a really long time! The only thing that kept me from giving this book a five star rating is the number of unanswered questions I had when I finished reading it. In the end, I would still like a few more answers, but I will definitely recommend this book anyway because it is amazing!

[Bookishness · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5
This book felt completely original honestly haven’t read anything quite like it before. It had such a magical, atmospheric vibe with an intriguing blend of mystery, shifting between past and present in a way that kept me curious about where the story was heading. The concept of an Arthur carrying a monster inside him was what had my attention.

I really loved the cozy cottage setting and the second-chance romance between Arthur and Eva. Their slow-burn relationship was one of my favorite parts, and I also enjoyed getting multiple POVs from other characters such as Ava’s sister.

That said, the middle portion dragged a bit for me before picking back up toward the ending. I also found myself wanting more depth and backstory especially about who Arthur truly was, the monster possessing him, and the long history between Jack and Arthur’s mother. There were several threads that felt interesting but underexplored, which left me with more questions than answers.

Overall, I think many readers will really enjoy this novel, especially if they love cozy magical atmospheres, mystery, and romance. I just went in expecting a little more development and character growth.

[Katie]

Unfortunately, this was not the story for me...I am a mood reader by trade, (not by choice) and I really struggled to finish this, trying multiple times to start again, but the lack of answers and the choppy pacing left me wanting more, and yet wanting less. This has rave 5 star reviews from everyone else it seems, but "it's gonna be a no from me dawg." The monster part was intriguing, and it very much is an atmospheric book, but it just was not what I was wanting to actively read, and forcing myself to finish things that I don't want to spend the time or energy on is not fair to me or the book. Maybe it's a, it's not you, it's me, since everyone else is into it. I just do not care to finish past 40% and by that part, I should at least care about a character but I don't.

Thanks for the ARC Little, Brown and Company, I really do appreciate it, and I was really looking forward to this, so thanks for the opportunity.

[Sydnie Sweeney · Rating 4 out of 5]

The story opens slow and steady, at a welcome pace. Theres a mystery here, narrative the reader has not earned yet. Something happened eight years ago and we need to know what. It's sickeningly sweet, being kept in the dark about the tragedy that must have occurred. The POV switches between characters, but also between time, as the mystery from eight years ago is unraveled for us. In present day, Arthur's mother is dead. Upon her last wishes he brings her to the bee farm, to scatter her ashes. Arthur is struggling. The mystery we don't yet know about is weighing on him. A burden it seems, blanketing everyone is a layer of grief and resentment. Arthur left 8 years ago and never looked back. He's struggling now that he is back, for his mother's sake, despite the fact that he believes she never truely loved him. The monster inside of Arthur, upon being attacked, has taken control, and he's hurt Jack, the honeyman. The sheriff is in their house, attempting to arrest Arthur. We quickly are lead to believe that Arthur killed him 8 summers ago. In an attempt to save Jack, Arthur and Eva run to the woods for what they believe will heal Jack. Out in the woods, desperate, hurt, and alone, the three of them bloom further than they thought possible. It was actually Eva who killed Dane via vines through his chest. Her dad, Jack, used his own blood, invigorated by the healing honey found deep in the woods, to revive Dane. There was a price to pay and so Jack must live with a live growing Aspen tree jutting out of his body, intertwining with his own organs. Eva is shot and Arthur arranges the same deal to save her life. Eva's sister, Isobel, and Dane also fall in love and marry. The mystery in the woods is Arthur's mom was actually a spirit of the woods.

The authors words are very raw, and real. Clearly someone steeped in reality, without any rose colored lenses. It's definitely an ode to self love and overcoming your demons, as well as rebuking selfishness and embracing found family. While this was an okay story, I was hoping for more regarding the mystery of what was out in the woods. I did struggle to finish it but feel that was only because it wasn't my preferred genre or topic.

[Sarah ⟡ Tea & Tomes · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you Little, Brown and Company via NetGalley for the gifted copy!

This story definitely took me by surprise! I was expecting a lot more body horror and was pleased to find that wasn’t the case. I loved the two sides of nature magic constantly represented by the characters. The multiple POVs didn’t bother me as they kept the story moving forward, and I found them necessary to show the different sides of the story happening. There were many moments that caught me by surprise, and I found myself reading the entire last quarter of the book with my mouth open.

[Rachel Tuteur]

Beautiful writing and soft magic. My second botanical body horror book in the last year. Lovely, though there are some loose ends I wish had been tied up.

[Ehundz · Rating 5 out of 5]

There are no words for how this book has imprinted itself within me. The concept of befriending the monster within us instead of casting it out is so incredibly powerful. This book leaves readers feeling seen, validated, & like all their worst thoughts about themselves are ones that still deserve space to breathe because smothering them only makes them fester & rot. Bonus - Ruth writes some of the most atmospheric, evocative, breathtaking prose I’ve ever read! She will forever be an auto-buy author from me after this breakout debut!

[m i l o u ✨ (grumpy hobbit) · Rating 3 out of 5]

"The bee girl had a bright laugh. The peal of golden sound seemed to wrap around me, warm as the summer heat. Maybe that explained the sudden flush to my cheeks."

S U M M A R Y:

Arthur wanted to free himself from the monster that has been haunting him inside his mind. That causes him to lose his insanity after his mom died. He ditched everything with an excuse and no answers.

Eight years ago, Eva Moreau's flora magic caused a terrible accident, harming her father in the process. Her memory had been missing for awhile. A novice to her powers she's trying to find a way to heal him, but her attempts only seem to do the opposite. If she could just learn to control her magic, she might be able to save her father and leave the past behind.

When Arthur returns to town looking for absolution, Eva once again loses control of her magic, putting everyone she loves in danger when they flee again.. Together, the pair decides to trek to the source of her family’s magic to find a cure for both Arthur and her father. A second chance at romance is here when a mysterious ghost haunting the forest, and it won’t let Arthur and Eva leave the woods without confronting the secrets of their past...



M Y T H O U G H T S:

At first you presume that the book only exists of two characters but that wasn't the case. It also followed the monsters pov and Eva her older sister. Izzi was rock in their family who kept them together and who kept many secrets. I have respect for her.

At first you presume that the book only exists of two characters but that wasn't the case. It also followed the monsters pov and Eva her older sister. Izzi was rock in their family who kept them together and who kept many secrets. I have respect for her.


It was adorable that Eva and Adam had a second chance of romance after Adam had ran away.




─── ･ ｡ﾟ:☆. *.☽ .* :☆ﾟ. ───


↠ Genre: Adult Fantasy, Magical Realism, Romantasy
↠ Reputation: Bi character
↠Published: April 7, 2026
↠ Pov: First Person
↠ Type: Standalone
↠ Rating: 8

🌱☕️ ○ Milou the grumpy hobbit

[Kat · Rating 3 out of 5]

Picked this up while looking through my library's new purchases. In Honey in Her Veins, Arthur Connoway fled the Moreaus' bee farm a decade ago in fear of his ability to destroy any living thing he touches. When his mother dies, her last wish forces him back to confront the Moreaus—and Eva, his first love, who has powers of her own.

Honey in Her Veins has a lot of interesting pieces: honey based magic, a man with a guy in his head, and magic curses. I think it's aiming for something like McKinley's Chalice, which is an excellent target, but unfortunately the overall effect whiffs it. I like a good dose of angst, but here, the general miasma of guilt and suffering didn't feel justified. Most of book is focused on unfolding what happened when Arthur and Eva were teens, and the final reveal feels more anticlimactic than anything. Nobody's evil enough here to justify the tortured self-flagellation. Sure, Arthur feeds off the life-force of plants—so do I. It's called vegetables. Meanwhile, the magical realism elements of the worldbuilding sit uneasily with the more pragmatic plot. Arthur has his powers, and Eva and her father can grow plants with a touch. But nobody else has these abilities or remarks on them in an otherwise ordinary world. The collision results in a bizarre sequence where Eva destroys the town prison with her magic plants to break out a prison, and then is apparently sentenced by the court to community service. It just doesn't gel.

Great concept, but the execution doesn't quite pull it off. I'd recommend rereading McKinley's Chalice instead.

[Hails · Rating 4 out of 5]

Whimsical, eerie, and romantic ✨

I went into this blind, purely encouraged to read based on vibes, a beautiful cover, and the glowing recommendation from friends!

Man oh man what a journey. Not just any journey, but a healing journey, which is always my favorite. These characters were flawed, emotional, and so painfully relatable. I had a fantastic time reading. I also loved that the author did not hold your hand through the world building. The beginning is like “what the heck is going on with the magic” but by the end it makes perfect sense.

“Hey, Bee Girl” I SWOON.

I have a love hate relationship with dual timeline stories. On one hand I like how it allows us to unwrap a mystery and the characters history slowly, but if it isn’t done well then it gets confusing. I will admit there was more than one occasion where I lost track of what timeline a chapter was, which was a little frustrating. I also thought the pacing was a bit uneven at times and felt like some scenes dragged on while others were very quick.

[Elizabeth · Rating 3 out of 5]

I’m just not sure about this book. It’s well written, but it took me forever to slog through it, and it really feels like it should be an easy read.
I think it’s because it’s not sure what it’s supposed to be. Is it mystery, horror, cozy, romance, folklore? At first, I wondered if it was YA , but then there’s sex scenes.
The plot is okay, and who exactly is the villain? Is it mom, Lenny, the monster? I’m slightly disappointed, but not sure why.

[Cait | GoodeyReads · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars

It kind of worked for me and kind of didn't.

Full review to come!

[Riley Angulo · Rating 5 out of 5]

A million stars. Oh my god. This was so beautiful!!!!

[Ashley · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this and so did my husband! It was beautifully written and unlike anything I have ever read.

[Kacie · Rating 4 out of 5]

That epilogue though!!!

[Kayla ✨ heart.ofthe.valkyrie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Debut dark cottagecore standalone romantasy. Utterly unique and completely romantic!!! She’s the sunshine, and the bees, and the flowers. He’s the quiet, the watchful, hiding his monster from world.

This story was as haunting as it was beautiful, it’s like nothing I’ve ever read before. You will fall in love with the writing and the side characters, and of course the main duo will absolutely steal your heart!

READ THIS IF YOU NEED MORE WHIMSY IN YOUR LIFE 🐝🍯

[Erica G. Craig · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is one of the most beautiful and creative books I’ve read in a long time. Atmospheric writing with a really interesting plot. It was suspenseful and kept me guessing until the very end. I fell in love with the characters and their story. Ruth McKell is a MUST read author for me now and forever. Highly recommended! A million stars!

[Tracy Goertzen · Rating 4 out of 5]

It started off a bit bizarre and hard to wrap my head around the fiction with the main characters. After understanding the characters specific traits it began to make sense. It was a good book as I had no idea where the story would go or how it would end. It made me want to keep reading.

[Risa · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5 stars rounded down.


The first third of this book was so fun and compelling. Then we reached the middle, where the pacing dragged too much for my liking. And finally I got to the end, where many of the choices made were a disappointment in terms of characters’ agency and characters’ choices (which I explain more in the spoiler section below).

There were parts of this book that I really enjoyed, especially in the first third like I mentioned. There were also twists and turns sprinkled in that I liked and didn’t see coming. But I feel like the latter half of the book was such a slog, that I didn’t feel all that compelled to pick the book up whenever I set it down. And it took me much longer to finish reading than I initially expected.

The writing on a line level is really great though. And I enjoyed most of the characters (with the exception of one relationship that felt kind of wrong to me personally—more in the spoilers section).

All in all, I think many people will enjoy this novel. I was just expecting more than what I got.




NOTES I TOOK WHILE READING:

- I know the prologue was supposed to intrigued me, but it honestly just left me confused and it felt unoriginal to be honest. I’m sure we’ll get an explanation about it later, but I don’t feel like we actually needed it.

- The writing in this book is so lovely. It’s easy to read but still compelling.

- The monster in Arthur’s head is giving One Dark Window vibes. But I like how he also has this curse to kill anything or anyone he touches.


- It seems Eva’s family may have some kind of plant (life) magic as well, plus they keep bees. So I like that contrast too.


- Wait, so Arthur killed Deputy Dane Walker 8 years ago? (That was a prologue it sounds like!)

- And it sounds like Eva undoes the death he causes, including Dane I would assume. (I really like how their powers are opposites of each other!)

- I liked how Eva used her lively plant magic to break Arthur out of jail!

- Also, it’s interesting that Eva has this plant magic, and her father has a tree growing out of him! I wonder if that’s because of her magic, or if he has the magic too! (And it’s good to know that Isabel is Eva’s half sister—they have the same late mother.)

- With all those notes, it sounds like Lottie (Arthur’s mom) may have had a fling with Jack (Eva’s dad). And I’m curious to know how she creates this magical, all-healing honey!


- Interesting so Isobel has the hots for Dane, who used to be married to her best friend June, who she no longer speaks to. (And Dane and June have a daughter together.)


- 52% in: Found the title on page 174 of the eARC. :)


- Oooh, the women on the bank had called Arthur “son”. So was Lottie some sort of forest creature?

- Yep, sounds like Charlotte was the spirit of the woods.



- 77% in: Ahhh okay, that was a fun plot twist—that it was Eva’s vine, and not Arthur’s death touch, that killed Dane! I liked that we got to see the scene in the barn—where Dane was trying to break up the fight between drunk Lenny and monstrous Arthur during Dane’s wedding reception (which Lenny wasn’t invited to after he assaulted Eva). Too bad Evan intervened, because the monster in Arthur was so close to killing Lenny!

- This also explains why Jack has a tree growing in his body! Jack used the spoonful of honey running through his veins in order to bring Dane back to life after he died (so that Evan wouldn’t be a murderer). And to pay the price of that, he now has a tree growing in him. It’s a bit weird, that he’s able to pluck the honey from his blood stream. But the concept of the magical resurrecting honey is cool.

- I appreciate that the nurse in the hospital said that whatever stopped the sapling from growing saved Jack’s life—so Arthur inadvertently saved Jack. (But at the same time, it seems a bit convenient, to ensure we know Arthur is the good guy here.)


- 83% in: Oh no! That piece of shit Lenny shot Eva!?!? (I mean I’m sure she’ll end up healing just fine, but still!) Also, I know the monster was sparing Lenny for Arthur’s sake, but I wish the monster has just killed Lenny!


- 87% in: So Arthur’s mother helped save Eva: the monster had to agree to let Arthur take back control of his body. And then Arthur used nature magic to heal Eva, at the same cost that Jack paid with a tree growing in him. (And now that the monster isn’t interfering from within his body, he doesn’t kill anyone when he touches them anymore.)

- While I’m obviously glad that Eva is okay, and that Arthur won’t hurt anyone with death magic anymore, I don’t know how I feel about the monster suddenly growing a conscious. Like I understand it loves Arthur and wants to protect him (which means ensuring Eva lives). But the fact that his death magic is just gone for good now, that easily after all these years feels… too easy or something? Like I don’t know, I guess I was hoping that Arthur would overcome the monster through his own doing, not because the monster suddenly grew a heart.


- I’m glad Arthur and Eva are having the sex scene of their dreams, but it is going on for WAY too long. Like yes they are getting their happy ending, but let’s wrap this story up already!


- 94% in: I know Isobel had a tough time when her friends Dane and June got a divorce. But there’s something about her loving her (former) best friend’s husband that kind of feels icky to me. Even if time has passed, and Dane is her neighbor. I feel like if June was truly your best friend, you won’t do that. And honestly, Isobel asking June to get breakfast with her after Dane nearly proposed doesn’t really negate how icky the situation is to me, to be honest.

- I also don’t like that Lenny was just allowed to run away. Sure, not everything has to work out perfectly for our characters, but I still don’t understand why the monster (especially) just let him run away. Like yes, Eva was hurt and dying, but I still don’t really buy it. (Nor do I like it.)


- I liked the ending chapter, where Arthur releases his mother’s ashes by the dock, like he originally came to this town to do.


- OMG, and the epilogue opens with them having sex in a tent one year later—seriously, I thought this was supposed to be a horror novel! Enough with the sex!

- It’s cute that Isobel told Dane that she wants to marry him—a twist on a proposal. And then they got married then and there, rather than waiting; it’s cute in theory, but their relationship is still icky to me.


Final Thoughts
- I’m honestly disappointed. This book started off so strong. Then towards the middle, the pacing started to drag. And then at the end—everything felt too convenient; like I don’t feel like Arthur and Eva really grew as characters. It was monster who decided to give up its hold on Arthur; Arthur had no part in it. And Eva was saved thanks to Arthur’s mother, but that’s it. I wanted more agency from them I guess, which is disappointing especially given the magic they each had from the start.

- I’m also lowkey pissed that Lenny was allowed to just run off, never to be found. Sure, we can assume what happened to Avi in the woods also happened to him eventually; but no body, no death. He was the main antagonist in the book, I would argue, and he STILL got off without any consequences. I didn’t like that.

- I’m still not a fan of Isobel and Dane’s relationship, to be honest. Regardless of the fact that Isobel and June haven’t spoken in years, it’s weird to date your best friend’s ex. Period.

- Lastly, I appreciated Arthur and Eva’s relationship, and I liked seeing them fall back in love with each other through their actions and conversations, there were too many sex scenes for my liking. It ruined the pacing of the story, and felt so unnecessary.

- All in all, it was a fine reading. But I wanted and was expected more.

[reading historical romance · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars rounded up! The entire time I was reading this, I was thinking that it felt like an Adrienne Young book. It made me smile when I read the acknowledgements, and, sure enough, the author thanked Adrienne for her writing community. So, yeah, if you love Adrienne Young like I do, you will definitely enjoy this haunting and magical debut!

IMO, this is less a romance than it is adult fiction. Although certainly the second chance love story between Arthur Connoway (25) and his "Bee Girl" Eva Moreau (25) is the thread that ties the various timelines and all the characters together, the book doesn't really feel like it's mainly about that. The book is heavy, and very metaphorical. The book is written with complex, literary prose and has a number of interwoven themes. I think that readers who are looking for a straight forward romance are going to be surprised at the serious vibes. This is much more a heavier, darker The Unmaking of June Farrow than it is a cozy cottage magic The Spellshop.

The chemistry between Arthur and Eva is impeccable and builds perfectly as the story unfolds in flashbacks and in present day. I love that Eva is Arthur's polar opposite, and has the power to harness nature's ability to grow things from the earth.

The atmosphere, settings, and descriptions are absolutely breathtaking, as are the horror elements incorporated into the story with respect to how nature responds to Eva and Arthur's emotions. Reading this book transported me straight into the story, and the author's ability to create an atmosphere that becomes its own character is a testament to her writing talent.

I also liked all of the characters and felt that I really got to know them.

Well, except for Lottie. Which brings me to my only real issue with the book. There is a lot of world-building and past history, and a tree embedded in Jack, that ultimately didn't end up going anywhere.

For example, we don't ever really find out who Arthur is, or where he came from, only that he was at some point, for unknown reasons, possessed by a "monster" who navigates and interprets much of his sensory and emotional experience of the world.

We also never find out whether the monster cursed Arthur with a "death-touch" -- meaning that Arthur's skin kills all living things, including flora and fauna -- or whether the monster is the curse's avatar. All we do know is that Arthur and the monster experience a feeling of well-being and health as a result of each life force "they" extinguish.

Another example: I still have no idea what the deal was with Charlotte Connoway? Was she human? Was she actually Arthur's mother? Why did hell break loose in Audrey when she died? Why was she inhabiting the forest as some kind of creature made of trees? Why was she so mad about everything?

And what do you mean Jack Moreau and Lottie had a "long history"?

At the end of the book I was left feeling like I now possess an entire novel's worth of information about a bunch of people, with no idea why it matters. Cue: serious reader frustration.

Thank you NetGalley and Little Brown for the opportunity to read and review this novel prior to publication. All opinions are my own.