Honey Goddess: A Novel

by Abiola Abrams

A struggling salon owner is chosen by the African goddess Oshun and plunged into an ancient power struggle in this slow-burn romantasy of ancestral magic, divine feminine power, and the woman bold enough to claim it.

When a goddess is reborn, empires tremble.

Generations ago, a circle of women in the freed-Black town of Amaniville, NY, called on the old gods to save their people. That prayer became a promise as they awaited the daughters who would fulfill it.

Lola Callendar’s life is a hot mess on a good day. She has forty-three dollars to her name, a failing natural-hair salon, and not enough rose quartz to fix the selfish boyfriend she fears is her last chance.

This Caribbean-American beauty-guru is starting to believe she’s too late—for love, for success, for her own happy ending—until a rare cosmic event when she and her found-family of three ride-or-die besties pull forbidden African goddess oracle cards, and everything changes.

She draws one Oshun. An Orisha. A goddess of love, beauty, and abundance. Now bees follow her, honey calls to her, and men stare.

Enter Sebastian D’ablemont—an infuriatingly fine Nawlins Creole alpha billionaire. It’s hate at first sight on both sides, even though he sees her magic, not her mess, and may have some secrets and powers of his own.

But as the a group of energy vampires called Dominion of the Light close in, Lola’s goddess circle and the conjure woman who mentors them prepare for spiritual warfare.

To save her heart—and the world for those who look like her—Lola will have to remember who she truly is.

Slow Burn, Enemies to Lovers, Fated Mates, Goddesses, Gods, Traditional African Spirituality, Generational Healing, Found Family and Sisterhood, Spiritual Warfare, Billionaire, Witches, Spellcraft, Secret Powers, Oracle and Tarot decks, Woman Power, Open Door Spice, Matriarchy, African diaspora representation, Ancestral Magic

Genres: Fantasy

Kindle Edition

Expected publication December 8, 2026

About the author

Abiola Abrams writes for readers who love goddesses, ancestral magic, divination, and women claiming their power.

Her novel HONEY GODDESS follows a heroine over 35 and her circle of friends, who all receive supernatural powers. Expect found family, slow-burn romance, and open-door spice. The story blends rootwork, oracle cards, and tarot with African diaspora spirituality and Mother God energy.

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ABIOLA ABRAMS is a NY-born award-winning author, intuitive, and oracle card creatrix. Her obsessions include women remembering who they were born to be, writing love-soaked, magic-kissed stories about ancestral power, desire, and identity, and channeling spiritual books and oracle decks. Her work is rooted in sacred wisdom, ritual, and the divine feminine.

Her newest novel, HONEY GODDESS, is a romantasy about ancestral power, ride-or-die sisterhood, African and diasporic spiritual traditions, and a woman awakening to the goddess within. Her first novel, DARE, was a magical realism romantic comedy.

Her bestselling spiritual books and oracle decks include AFRICAN GODDESS INITIATION, AFRICAN GODDESS RISING ORACLE, and her newest deck, MOON GODDESS SHADOW ORACLE. She has led Goddess Circles everywhere from her Harlem living room to international retreats.

Abiola has been a writer since childhood, when she turned her toy stove on its side and declared it her first desk. Born to Guyanese parents with Bajan and African heritage, Abiola was raised by a minister of practices rooted in African spirituality. She learned early to honor the seen and unseen worlds.

Her past lives include ghostwriter, ESSENCE Magazine sexpert, lifestyle journalist, gossip columnist, documentarian, and TV big mouth. Abiola studied sociology and creative writing at Sarah Lawrence College and holds an MFA from Vermont College of Fine Arts.

Her most demanding audience is a tiara-wearing mini goddess with off-the-chain opinions about bedtime stories and snacks.

Reviews

[Ashley · Rating 3 out of 5]

★★★☆☆

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Okay this book follows Lola, a salon owner whose business isn't exactly thriving and whose life feels like it's falling apart one bill at a time. After a card pull connects her to Oshun, she learns she's part of something much bigger than herself, tied to ancestral magic, generational destiny, powerful gods, and a fight that has been centuries in the making.

I think my biggest struggle with this book is that I appreciated it more than I actually enjoyed reading it.

There is so much here that I can respect. The focus on sisterhood, community, ancestry, healing, and Black womanhood is easily the strongest part of the story. Lola's bond with Quinn, Marigold, and GG felt more compelling to me than almost anything else happening in the book, and Bea was often the character who kept me invested when the story started losing me.

Unfortunately, I struggled with the fantasy elements. There were a lot of powers, gods, bloodlines, realms, portals, contracts, visions, and magical reveals happening throughout the book, and I never fully felt like I understood how everything connected. By the end, I felt like I had a solid grasp on the themes but was still trying to piece together the fantasy side of the story.

The second half also leans much more heavily into the romance between Lola and Baz. And listen... that man was doing EVERYTHING. Paying debts, buying buildings, cooking meals, drumming in the rain, and apparently collecting new character traits every few chapters. 😂 I know a lot of readers are going to swoon over him, but I never fully connected with the romance. I was honestly more interested in Lola's journey and the relationships within the Circle.

I also found the pacing uneven and struggled to stay fully engaged at times. This took me longer to finish than I expected because I kept waiting for all the fantasy pieces to click together for me, and that moment never quite came.

That said, I can absolutely see who this book is for. If you love symbolism-heavy stories, ancestral healing, divine feminine themes, spiritual journeys, found family, and stories about women stepping into their power, this may be right up your alley.

For me, it was a solid 3-star read. I loved what the book was trying to say. I just never fully connected with how it was told.

💛📚

[Love · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 stars

First of all, thank you & Netgalley so much for sending me a copy of this book.

“Honey Goddness” is about a young Black woman with a failing hair salon. She gets nominated for an award and calls upon the Gods with her friends, but then something happens….

This book is really good! It took me longer than I hoped for to get into the story, but once I did I was hooked. The dialogue and story can be corny at times, but it also has a lot of good story telling.
I can’t rate this book too deeply, since it’s more target toward Black queens (which I’m not), but all I can say is that I love how unapologetically Black the story is.

The fantasy was good, a bit confusing at times but I managed to follow along. The romance was decent, super expected and a “they fall fast and hard” trope. It’s not really my thing but I know a lot of people will love it and their way of communicating.

Overall, done really well and I can’t wait to read more from this author!

[RoRolovesreading · Rating 2 out of 5]

DNF at 56%. The cover is beautiful and I was enjoying seeing Lola and Baz’s relationship finally coming together, but the magical realism, spirits rootwork and tarot cards is not for me.

[Ebony]

Unfortunately, I DNF'd at 49%. I absolutely loved the magic and African spirituality in this. This was steeped in things that I know and love and those parts of the book were fantastic. I just did not mesh with the plot. I was struggling with the repetitiveness of it. And I'm honestly not sure I know what the central plot even was. There was too much and not enough happening to keep my attention.

[Traci · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thanks to NetGalley, Hay House, and Abiola Abrams for allowing me to read an advance reader copy of this book. In full disclosure, I have read one non-fiction book by Ms. Abrams and have two of her oracle card decks. When I saw that she was writing a novel on NetGalley, I immediately requested it, and again, I want to thank NetGalley, Hay House, and Abiola Abrams for the book.

Honey Goddess is as much a novel as it is a spiritual activation. I don’t know that I’ve ever read a novel like it. Not only is this a book about friendship among women, but it’s a story about family, both the family one is born into and the found family that they gain over the course of their life.

I truly enjoyed the fantasy aspects present within the book. Seeing each of the women represent a goddess in African spirituality was empowering, and learning more about each goddess who was invoked within them was a true gift. I relished the gatherings of these women as it felt like I, too, was present with them whenever the group was given “homework” by Bea. Each of these homework exercises was like a ritual that I could do myself to journey beside the characters in the book. It reminded me of the exercises that are present in many spiritual non-fiction books.

As an oracle card reader, I was over the moon to see the use of one of Ms. Abrams’ decks that I own as chapter headings, and I was so curious to see how each card’s message played out in the particular chapter. It helped me to have a little preview to know what I was getting myself into, and I think it was a wonderful way to incorporate the author’s oracle card deck into the story.

I also loved how the book veered into historical fiction with the adventure in New Orleans. Having lived there and being aware of the historical figure used in the book’s history, I was very intrigued to see how she would be used in the story, and I must say that it did not disappoint. In addition, I was super grateful that translations were included right after any phrases that were in another language. I’ve experienced other books where no translations were provided, leading me to have to pause my reading to look them up. I much prefer having the translations present in the book, and I did not think it stopped the flow or took anything away from the book by doing that.
The pacing got a bit slow for a bit in the middle of the first half, though it picked up towards the middle; overwhelmingly, it did not stop me from wanting to finish the book.

This novel contains the following tropes: enemies to lovers, found family, single mom, hidden truth, fantasy, historical fiction, and healing of generational trauma.

I think readers who enjoy romantasy novels and African spirituality will enjoy this book.

[Ariel · Rating 4.5 out of 5]

Romantic fantasy has become my current indulgence, and admittedly, I often categorize books in this genre as "marshmallow reads"—fluffy, sweet, enjoyable, but not necessarily substantial. Honey Goddess, however, was a delightful exception. It gave me everything I love about romantic fantasy while offering something deeper and more meaningful.

One of the things I appreciated most was how the author highlighted the similarities between folklore, traditions, and deities across different cultures. So many cultures share similar stories, beliefs, and spiritual practices, just under different names. Although the author and I do not share the same cultural background, I found myself connecting with the story in ways I hadn't anticipated. There is something beautiful about recognizing pieces of your own cultural experiences in someone else's storytelling. The book also briefly touched on something I have recently become fascinated by: the ways Indigenous peoples and other colonized communities preserved their ancestral beliefs, spiritual practices, and traditions by concealing them from those who sought to suppress or erase them. I find it fascinating how customs survived through adaptation, symbolism, and the blending of traditions, sometimes hiding in plain sight. While this was not the central focus of the story, I appreciated its inclusion because it added another layer of cultural and historical significance to the narrative.

I am not particularly fond of book reviews that give away the plot, so I won't offer a synopsis. I will simply say this: I will never look at honey the same way again.

The romantic interest is an absolute dream man! And who doesn't love a good enemies-to-lovers romance? There is something particularly satisfying about watching a relationship evolve from conflict and tension into genuine love and understanding. What made him especially appealing was that he offered more than love and physical attraction; he provided emotional security, consistency, and stability. At several points, I caught myself thinking, This man is too good to be true. But perhaps that was just my own past trauma doing a little projecting! Either way, it was refreshing to encounter a romantic interest whose appeal extended beyond chemistry and grand gestures. The fact that their relationship began on opposing sides made that emotional connection all the more satisfying.

What I loved even more was that our main character is no damsel in distress waiting to be rescued. She is the hero. She is the light. Her strength does not depend on the man standing beside her, and I appreciated that the romance did not overshadow her own journey.

Another beautiful element of this story is its emphasis on community. It reminds us that strength does not always mean standing alone. There is power in connection, shared wisdom, tradition, and having people who support and uplift one another.

I was fortunate enough to receive an audiobook copy, and I particularly enjoyed the oracle card readings at the beginning of each chapter. They added a lovely mystical touch to the listening experience and complemented the spiritual elements of the story. I also discovered that Abiola Abrams has published oracle cards, which has me curious about whether the physical edition of Honey Goddess includes illustrations of the cards featured throughout the book. If it does, that alone might convince me to add a physical copy to my shelves!

Ultimately, Honey Goddess was so much more than the sweet romantic escape I initially expected. It was a story about love, cultural connections, personal power, spirituality, and the importance of community. It had the sweetness I was craving, but also the substance that made the experience memorable.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for kindly providing me with a complimentary copy of the audiobook in exchange for an honest review. All opinions expressed are entirely my own.

[Guadalupe]

The beginning of the book was very strong! I did find that I got stuck towards the middle. I’ll start off with what I loved:
The women's empowerment in this book was so heartfelt and powerful. I am a huge fan of diverse characters!!! The introduction blew me away. We start off with a powerful poem of the ancestors sharing how their magic honors queens, wisdom, and the black community. Every chapter of this book starts with a quote that for me feels like an affirmation (I loved this).

Lola, our FMC, is a black woman owning a struggling salon business and still shows up to do what she loves. Her friends are unapologetic, and I love this; reading their friendship and unapologetic behavior towards her shitty boyfriend made this a cozy read for me. Lola is a character I loved and could relate to. Her experience of self-doubt and body image is a struggle that I feel is universal for women of color. Her (shitty) boyfriend, Sterling, was so belittling and dismissive of her body, personality, and hair (her afro) that I applaud the author for her style of writing.

Towards the middle, I felt the plot was stretched out with her powers. I feel like Lola got an upgrade in her life, and the back-and-forth with her friends and Kai was exhausting. Overall, 3 star rating.

[Tunrayo Lumpkin · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received an e-ARC from NetGalley.

The premise of this book is so intriguing and from the very first page, I was pulled in. This book is a page turner, you literally do not want to stop reading because there is so much going on! This book is a modern twist on African mythology and how it has changed and morphed across the African diaspora from the Caribbeans to New Orleans. I loved how raw and real our Honey Goddess herself, Lola is. Watching her grow from start to finish all while juggling her new found divinity and a steamy romance with who she initially believed to be the enemy was absolutely riveting. I loved reading about her goddess circle of friends and I truly hope we get to learn more about them and their stories (in future books maybe??). This unapologetically black story is absolutely everything and I enjoyed every second of it. Would highly recommend!!!

[Chinenye · Rating 2 out of 5]

Ok so I got this book as an arc from NetGalley, and I was so excited to see it was from a black author. Let’s just say I see the vision and maybe I’m just not the target audience. I loved the black representation throughout the book.

So I’m assuming this is a fantasy. I did not get the magic system or hierarchy, it is so confusing. She is meant to be reborn and so are others but we only focus on the two main characters, I get they are the main characters but I would like to know about the other characters.
The beginning of the book gave a different vibe form the middle of the book, it was like everyone suddenly had a gift.
I don’t know. I was really interested and binging the book, but the more I read the more confused I got. Ended up dnfing, and I really wanted to like it.

[Helen · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed the fantasy aspects presented within the book. Each of the women represents a goddess in African spirituality was Inspiring, and learning about each goddess was really cool!

I loved how the book veered into historical fiction with the adventure in New Orleans! It took me longer than I hoped to get into the story. The romance was okay, not into a quick insta-love trope. Not really my thing but I believe a lot of people might enjoy that!

Overall, I can’t wait to read more from this author!

Thanks to NetGalley, Hay House, and Abiola Abrams for allowing me to read an advance reader copy of this book.

[Reader J M · Rating 3.5 out of 5]

Honey Goddess

ARC was provided by the publisher, Hay House, via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. This review does not include spoilers.

Abiola Abrams brings to life a tale of a struggling salon owner and African spirituality to life in this book. There are many elements of spirituality that may make some readers uncomfortable because it is very heavily focused. With that said, Honey Goddess is an unapologetic example of Black sisterhood and is tailored to a Black audience, particularly women. The only negative is the character dialogue is lacking in complexity. Overall, this is a decent sci-fi genre book.