A Labyrinth of Honeybees

by Heather Fawcett

New rulers meddle with the whims of the old gods in a lush and twisty short story of devotion, intrigue, and murder by the New York Times bestselling author of the Emily Wilde series.

At a remote mountain temple, an inquisitor arrives to question a priestess about a pair of murders. The keeper of the sacred garden, its bees, and its ever-changing hedge maze does have her secrets. But what will protecting them cost her as she uncovers layers of conspiracy on both sides?

Heather Fawcett’s A Labyrinth of Honeybees is part of the Magic & Mystery collection, puzzle-box mysteries from top fantasy authors. They can be read or listened to in one enchanting sitting.

Genres: Fantasy, Short Stories, Mystery, Audiobook, Novella, Fiction, Mystery Thriller

44 pages, Kindle Edition

First published July 28, 2026

About the author

Hello! Welcome to my page.

I'm the author of books for adults and children, including Emily Wilde's Encyclopaedia of Faeries, Even the Darkest Stars, Ember and the Ice Dragons, The School Between Winter and Fairyland, and more.

I'm only occasionally on Goodreads, so if you want a more reliable way to get in contact with me, I'd recommend using social media (I'm on Instagram and Facebook) or the contact form on my website.

Review policy: I only review books that I love, which is why you'll only see 4 and 5 star reviews here. Because readers often ask me about my favourite books and authors, I'm aiming to use this page as a place to collect all of my recommendations.

Also, I am NOT the author of More Than a Mom: Living a Full And Balanced Life When Your Child Has Special Needs. I've asked Goodreads to remove it from my page several times but it keeps getting re-added. If you have questions about this title, please direct them to the other Heather Fawcett!

Reviews

[Alexia · Rating 4.5 out of 5]

4.5 stars.

This author returns with another compelling story that captivated me just as deeply as the Emily Wilde series did.

I genuinely wish, with a sense of desperation, that this story had been longer. Every time I finish an absolutely gorgeous novella, I can't help but feel a pang of disappointment because I crave more.

Every aspect of this story was executed so well. The author's remarkable ability to craft a rich narrative within just a few pages showcases her storytelling skill.

The worldbuilding and the characters are cleverly kept shrouded in an air of mystery, yet the author provides just enough detail to pique curiosity and leave you yearning for more.

In conclusion, I sincerely hope that the author writes a longer version of this one day.

[Ricarda · Rating 4 out of 5]

Heather Fawcett really turned into one of my favorite authors over the years and now she can even fully capture me in 44 pages. This was such a great short story. It's about the priestess of a remote temple getting questioned by an inquisitor about two recent deaths and a missing heir. The atmosphere is tense as the country was recently conquered and the two of them are on opposite sides of the conflict and do not share the same gods. There was such vast world building in only a few pages without ever feeling convoluted. The story actually feels very calm for the most part. The priestess guides the inquisitor through the temple grounds and they visit the gardens, the mountain and the waterfalls of her Goddess. The heart of the place is a giant maze that cannot be solved if the Goddess doesn't allow it. It was all very beautiful and so nice to read about this fantastical place. I also really liked the portrayal of religion. It was deeply rooted in the land and in the people, even when no one was particularly devout, and it was quite the contrast to the foreign religion that seeks to conquer violently. In the end it all escalated a bit too quickly for me and the little twist was no surprise either, but it was a lovely short story overall.

Huge thanks to NetGalley and Amazon Original Stories for providing a digital arc in exchange for an honest review.

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

⋆˚✿˖° Wow! This was probably the most elaborate short story I've ever read. Even though we don't know the names of any of the characters, I wasn't confused about who was who or what in the world was happening. The mystery itself kept me guessing until the very end, although I wanted to kick myself for not knowing how it was going to end since it was pretty self-explanatory. But the setting/world building was the best part! It was all super interesting and made total sense—I didn't feel confused at all by any of it, which is a win for someone like me. 😂

Overall, this was an enjoyable read for me! 💚

✦ Thank you to Amazon Original Stories and NetGalley for providing the arc in exchange for an honest review! All opinions and statements are my own. ✦

──── ୨୧ ────

The Magic & Mystery Collection
#1 The Wednesday Witches Book Club
#2 Miss Gentle and The Case of the Very Flat Monk
#3 The Lion's Tusk
#5 The Wizard Who Kept Himself Suspicious
#6 Battle of the Round House
#7 The Cairndale Orphan

[Melanie (meltotheany) · Rating 4 out of 5]

ARC provided by the publisher via Netgalley

✰ the collection on amazon
✰ the collection on goodreads

i’m not sure if a short story about murder should be so lovely, but oh this setting was just perfection. this mystery follows a priestess grounds keeper, who is showing around the royal inquisitor, who just arrived and has come to deliver the king's judgement on two dead tax collectors, once he gets to the bottom of what happened. oh, and there is also the matter of the king’s missing heir! also, the goddess’ temple is in the middle of a maze that one can not simply get to, unless it is the goddess’ wish. lastly, ghosts follow their murderers around, and the king’s inquisitor has quite the army behind him.

this is for sure a story of old gods versus new gods, with a background theme of the horrors of empire, encapsulated in a lush setting with such a calming cadence. i really loved picturing all the imagery within these few pages. this is for sure a highlight within this entire collection. and this author is one that just keeps impressing me.

trigger + content warnings: war mentions, death, blood, gore

blog | instagram | youtube | wishlist | spotify | amazon

1.) Emily Wilde's Encyclopaedia of Faeries ★★★★
2.) Emily Wilde’s Map of the Otherlands ★★★★

♡ Magic & Mystery Amazon Collection Reviews:
➛ Miss Gentle and the Case of the Very Flat Monk by Travis Baldree
➛ The Wednesday Witches Book Club By Sarah Beth Durst
➛ The Lion’s Tusk By Robert Jackson Bennett
➛ A Labyrinth of Honeybees By Heather Fawcett
➛ The Wizard Who Kept Himself Suspicious By Scott Lynch
➛ Battle of the Round House By Tananarive Due
➛ The Cairndale Orphan By J. M. Miro

[Cristina Neves · Rating 4 out of 5]

In this short cosy fantasy a royal inquisitor is sent by the new king, to investigate the death of two tax collectors, in a place where the Goddess of the Garden and the God of the Forest are worshipped.

He questions the priestess and enlists her to walk him through the ever changing labyrinth to reach the Goddess temple.
He worships the Threefold God! The true one!

The heir to the king was also sent there and she is missing too and the king's power is being challenged.
Because he fears the old gods he's looking for a reason to burn the place.
The beautiful gardens, the meadows, the falls, the mountains, the bees.
What the priestess calls home!

Then the forest is infested with assassins, the killers of the tax collectors revealing an elaborated political intrigue you were not expecting!

[TL *Humaning the Best She Can* · Rating 4 out of 5]

Reading for free with Kindle Unlimited and Audible audio
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This was a fun story :) Enough of the world 🌎 building was there to get the idea of things and tge characters felt like real people and the atmosphere as well.

This is another one I wouldn't mind the author returning to in novellas, full length book, or short stories :)

Narrator did an excellent job 👏 👍🏼.

Would recommend 👌 👍🏼 Really wish I could visit the setting in the story, it sounds so peaceful 💜.

[Paula Valadez · Rating 2.75 out of 5]

Creo que no fue tanto para mí.
Realmente me resultó como un cuento, sin más.
Obviamente, esperaba mucho más pero no fue así.

[Lucia · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love Heather Fawcett's stories and this one is no exception!
For such a short story a lot happens, and we get a lot of world building that really flesh out this fantasy world.
I enjoyed the fantasy aspect more than the mystery itself, but I really enjoyed the story overall, it’s another of my favorites from this collection.

Thanks to Amazon Original Stories via NetGalley for providing an eARC

[Ruth♡ · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5 🌟

Le tenía altas expectativas a este, por la autora y no sé, siento que nunca le entendí bien a todo lo que pasaba ni al mundo y eso me hizo no disfrutarlo tanto.

[Kat · Rating 4 out of 5]

Basically a perfect short story; A Labyrinth of Honeybees does exactly as much as its page count allows for, with a neat and tidy little mystery and a tantalizing glimpse into a super interesting fantasy world I’m dying to see more of. I loved its lush summer setting and just a dash of coziness that never turned twee. I also really enjoyed Heather Fawcett’s writing in this one - it’s clever, humorous, and evocative. On a line level, this is probably my favorite piece of writing I’ve read from her. (The characters can’t compare to Emily Wilde, of course, but I’m also impressed by the subtle character work in this short story.)

[Sandy ❦✶⁺⋆ · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was enjoyable but not a standout.

I think if you particularly enjoy HF's writing style, then this is another example of a domestic setting interlaced with magic and a story lead by a headstrong female lead.

I think, as if the case with most novellas, the story was too short to fully immerse oneself in the setting and in this instance also to understand the implications of the plot. There is clearly a rich world built behind this episode and it would be interesting to see more of it.

[Chantaal · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a neat little surprise of a short story! I would absolutely read more in this world.

[✘✘ Sarah ✘✘ (former Nefarious Breeder of Murderous Crustaceans) · Rating 3 out of 5]

Meh and stuff.

[Jessica · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sly and surprising story about the inquisitor of a conquering nation attempting to investigate the shrine of one of the land's old gods. With the "help" of the . . . groundskeeper? Priestess . . . ? who lives there.

[Kaitlyn · Rating 5 out of 5]

I initially picked this up because I saw Heather Fawcett's name and was like what is this little book?! After binging the Emily Wilde series last year, Heather Fawcett has become an immediate auto-buy author for me. Her worlds are intriguing, cozy, sometimes a little dark, and always magical. There is something so charming about the worlds she creates, and I'm glad to report it shone through even in a very short novella.

This novella explores politics and religions (new and old) and for being only 44 pages, it packs a punch. I would recommend going in blind as this is an extremely short novella but it really ties up nicely in a neat little package while not having a firm ending. It's not overtly deep into the world lore but just enough to give you an easy understanding of the world and there's a bit of mystery to keep you enticed! I don't think this novella could have been laid out any more perfectly, it was just enough to not leave you wanting or feeling as though it was unfinished or set to accomplish too much in not enough time. (Although, I do want and would read more of this world if she wrote it.)

If you're looking for a quick slightly cozy fantasy mystery then I highly advise you pick this one up. Perfect for a quick commute or when you have 30-45minutes to spare. Loved this one!

Thank you to Amazon Original Stories for the e-arc. As always, all opinions are my own.

*✧: ･ﾟ: *✧･ﾟ:*✧･ﾟ: *✧･ﾟ:*✧･ﾟ: *✧･ﾟ:*✧: ･ﾟ:✧*

I just love Heather fawcett’s writing. Rtc!

[lost in epilogue | ཐི༏ཋྀ​​݁ ₊ ݁ .]

only 44 pages but i know i'ma eat it up! 🐝

[aria ✧ · Rating 4 out of 5]

── 4.0✦

Oh, the worldbuilding in this was DELICIOUS

[Cristina · Rating 3 out of 5]

It’s too short; I was hoping to find out a bit more.

[Jace · Rating 4 out of 5]

If Heather writes it I’m reading it and always lovinggggg it! Wish so badly this world was created into a full novel/series! I just love her writing so much and how you immediately feel transported into the most whimsical world. Thank you for gracing us all with this magical short story!

And thank you NetGalley for the early arc!

[ren ౨ৎ (in a tiny slump) · Rating 2 out of 5]

─── ୨ৎ 2 stars
⤿ .ᐟ spoiler-free review

i don’t really know what heather fawcett was trying to do with this novella, but it was clearly too much. i enjoy her writing as a whole, but i really think her main skills within fantasy revolve around world-building and the creation of complex characters. these are two skills she utilizes within his 44-page novella, and unfortunately, that backfires on her. it feels like so much contrived information is being thrown at you within such a short amount of time just to have the most anticlimactic conclusion in the world.

i didn’t necessarily hate this... i just feel like it was a waste of time.

[Abigail McKenna · Rating 3 out of 5]

if I'm honest I probably should circle back and read this again when I'm not sick/exhausted because the flowery prose and high fantasy of it all kinda went over my head. it had a distinctly "till we have faces" flavor that I quite liked, but it didn't stick in my mind.

[Me, My Shelf, & I · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5/5

I quite like the way the old world religions have faded to myth, though their power and practitioners have not dwindled entirely. The interplay between them and the new decree of kings and tyrants is an interesting dichotomy that I've yet to grow tired of in Fantasy. I think what was missing for me in this was that the fantastical setting only really came into play at the end, so it didn't feel as rich or interesting for the majority of the story.

[Sara · Rating 3 out of 5]

A slow mystery about a priestess who is confronted by an inquisitor searching for a missing princess. There's also a lot of bees and a labyrinth that moves at the whim of its Goddess. I was pretty confused for a lot of this, but as things came together at the end I ended up enjoying it, although I don't think there was much of a story to tell and thews a lot of lore squeezed into too few pages.

[Ashley · Rating 4 out of 5]

This did not go where I thought it would go! Would also like a full novel set in this world.

[Carm · Rating 3 out of 5]

You know, I don’t like to hold the length of a short story against it. They’re short. That’s the whole point. BUT! I can’t help but think I would have liked this more as a novel. The concept was cool. I liked characters and the religious shenanigans. If these characters or this world resurfaced down the road, I would definitely read that book.

[labibliofille · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars, rounded up for goodreads

[Hare Llow · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5
This is the first time I've read this author and I liked her style
The story is simple and it works, but it left me wanting more

[Christine · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was okay. I like the use of ghosts and the use of religion.

[Brok3n · Rating 3 out of 5]

My review of A Labyrinth of Honeybees, by Heather Fawcett:

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

[Michelle’s · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fawcett is excellent at balancing peaceful, bucolic scenery with murderous, high-stakes. She gives us characters that are multi-faceted, and not necessarily easy to figure out. A perfect little snippet/bite-size into this world of gods. And also, the way the title ties in to the story… 🤌🏼😘 Loved that it was a murder mystery.

It stopped a little too abruptly for me, but I figured that’s more my greediness for Fawcett’s writing.

P.S. did any one else like the mention of Pegasus in this story? 😍