Such a fun, easy read with great vibes. It didn’t take itself too seriously, and that was exactly what I was in the mood for.

The banter was charming, the romance was sweet, and the whole thing just felt like a cozy escape. Definitely one to pick up when you need something light and enjoyable.

Happy Release day to @mstevensonbooks and her fun fantasy imagining- 'Behooved'.

I think i can convince you to read this book in only one line:

"Oh. The bed. There was only one."

Just incase that isnt enough, this is one for you if you fancy:

❤️ magical Kingdoms with a rich rivalry
🩷 incredible strength shown through chronic illness rep (based on celiac)
🧡 queernormative characters and world
💛 queer MC (main romance is WLM)
💚 hilarious, fun antics with medium stakes
💙 lots of horse puns 👀
🩵 arranged political marriage gone right
💜 backfiring magic
🤎 whimsical, fairy tale feel
🖤 double crossing politicians
🩶 incorrect first impressions
🤍 different cultural viewpoints on magic

Thanks so much @netgalley and @hodderstoughton @hodderscape for my advance copy 😘 I had a lot of fun!

Behooved is an excellent novel filled with political marriages, a curse to be broken, and twists and turns along the way. The world it is set in is magical in more ways than one, and it was interesting to find out the differences between how magic is used in different locations - something I wish was expanded on more.
The adventure filled most of the story, alongside some excellent character and romantic developments. Overall, it was a lovely easy read with enough surprises to keep me theorising and interested in what was going to happen next!
Solid 4 stars from me!

I enjoyed this book it felt very different and I enjoyed reading it. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for a copy of this book.

This was such a fun read, and I was totally in this for the vibes.

I wasn’t completely invested until the second half, but the banter between the two main characters felt so natural and easy.

If you are looking for a light, easy to read fantasy with great quips. Then this is definitely for you. The storyline very much reminded me of The princess bride and My Lady Jane, but I honestly didn’t mind at all. I knew when I picked this up that it wasn’t going to be heavy world building, and intricate magic systems. This book came at the perfect time after finishing some very heavy hitting romantasy books, and I was definitely here for the vibes!

A light hearted, beautiful romance with plenty of silly horse puns. You have to be in the mood for a good time. It was excellent. I’m so glad I read it!

This enemies-to-lovers romantasy, full of tropes like miscommunication and only-one-stall/bed, was so charming, I loved it! Indeed, I am spellbound by this – and this is not surprising. The cover? Gorgeous. The premise of an arranged marriage and a prince cursed to be horse by day and human by night? Compelling. Horse puns? Galore. My mood? Un*stable*, this was quite a *ride* hehe ahem sorry.

Stevenson’s narrative was teeming with magical and gorgeous descriptions, decent pacing and the world-building was nothing short of excellent. There was a good deal of political intrigue, general mystery, magic and of course romance. Moreover, this is an exceptionally brilliant debut and I am sure we shall see more great things from her! While many aspects of the plot were very predictable which is the reason for my 4-star rating, I think many will still enjoy this.

As someone who knows people with chronic illnesses, the representation was done very well here through the main character having an unknown condition inspired by the author’s own struggles with celiac disease. This was a wonderful inclusion that shows anyone can be a hero, and I think those with chronic health conditions will both relate to and appreciate this.

The best part of this story is the relationship between Aric and Bianca, which has both hilarious yet very tender moments. I am not a fan of the miscommunication trope but it was done just fine here and is essential to the plot. The lovely thing is their parallels: both Aric and Bianca both come from households with huge expectations that they follow their duties rather than their hearts; they both feel like a disappointment to their parents because Bianca has had ableist views pointed to her her whole life and Aric does not fight and prefers studying (the latter which I like because it makes a change from the stereotypical main male characters). It is beautiful that they help each other see their own strength and worth.

It reminds me a bit of The Emperor’s New Groove because of Aric being turned into an animal and him thinking she has something to do with it – it’s like Pacha and Kuzco “Why would I kidnap a llama?” “I don’t know you’re the criminal mastermind, not me!” haha.

I like the colours and names of the kingdoms. Damaria means “Divine” or “Beloved”, ironic perhaps for Bianca as she is not beloved in her kingdom; Gildenheim means “Golden Home” which is a great choice, giving this sense of prosperity. The blue colour is for Damaria (associated with security, loyalty, wisdom yet can be seen as sadness and coldness), fitting for the fact Bianca is not happy with the situation and is trained not to let people know her real feelings. The green is for Gildenheim (symbolic of nature, growth, balance and hope yet associated with inexperience and greed) and is perfect for the fact they are greatly tied to nature and magic but Aric is inexperienced as a ruler and there is greed via who wants to become the new ruler.

I found the concept of this book really enticing because I loved My Lady Jane, and while the first half was well paced and fun, the second half felt really slow. I was struggling to pick it up and lost most of my interest.
I found the relationship a bit unbelievable its pacing. They had only known each other a few days and Aric had been a horse for half of that time when Bianca was saying she loved him.
This is a cosy fantasy so while I wasn’t expecting much action, now I look back, I’m not really sure what the plot was half the time.
I liked the chronicles illness rep though felt this could have been done slightly better instead of just having her seemingly randomly have these pains, maybe have us find out by the end what it is that she is experiencing. Knowing now it is supposed to be Celiacs disease, I feel that could have been made more obvious.

Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC

2.75 stars

Behooved by M. Stevenson is a quirky and offbeat read that took some getting used to. The tone is intentionally fluffy and over-the-top, which initially felt disorienting.

The middle third of the book is where things really come together. The pacing picks up, the characters begin to click, and the narrative feels more cohesive and entertaining. It was during this section that I felt most engaged and genuinely curious about what would happen next.

Unfortunately, the first and last thirds didn’t work as well for me. The beginning took a while to find its footing, and the ending felt rushed and chaotic, with the plot veering in several directions that didn’t quite land. The story seemed to lose its focus, and the resolution felt more confusing than satisfying.

Overall, this wasn’t quite my kind of book, but I can see it appealing to readers who enjoy whimsical, off-centre stories with a strong sense of style. While it didn’t fully work for me, I have no doubt it will find its audience.

Save a horse, ride your husband... who has turned into a horse? I think that's how the saying goes...

I had the best time reading Behooved, it has such a fun premise and kept that fun going the whole way through while also balancing a serious plot thread and conversations of growth and defying peoples expectations. This book follows Bianca and Aric, who are forced into going on the run after an assassination attempt on their wedding night leaves Bianca accused of murder and Aric cursed to turn into... a horse? It truly is as fun and weird as it sounds!

This book also has a lot of tropes that I love including the one bed trope, forced proximity and what I would consider a very very mild enemies to lovers plot line. This book also has chronic illness representation and recognising strength in people living with chronic conditions which is really awesome to see. I have read that the condition is inspired by coeliac disease which I haven't seen in a novel before, and it is great to see this being normalised through literature.

I also loved our main characters, with Bianca being an insecure, duty driven princess insistent on being useful after years of being looked down on due to her chronic illness, and Aric, a slightly awkward and reclusive bookworm who has spent his life in the shadows of others. I would protect them both with my life. I really appreciated their growth throughout the story but I LOVED their relationship so much, they had me kicking my feet and smiling so hard it was so cute!

If you are after a fun and quirky read full of magic and cute romance please pick this book up, you won't regret it!

Thank you to NetGalley and Hodder & Staughton for providing me with an advanced copy of this book!

A mesmerising read that drew me in from page 1. Beautiful author craft, a captivating story and some really great characters.

3.5 ⭐This was a delightfully fun fantasy that fans of My Lady Jane will enjoy! It was a funny and easy to read book that is great if you're looking for some low(ish) stakes adventure and escapism. I really liked that the FMC was a chronic illness sufferer and how this was portrayed, not only in the context of a fantasy world, but also just in general- it felt authentic and well written. The romance was sweet and I liked the dynamic.
a

If you loved My Lady Jane and needed more then this book is for you.
Cozy fantasy, forced marriage, grumpy mc, headstrong fmc, banter, the horse puns?? I loved it, this book was just so easy to just devour.
Save a horse, ride a Prince.

This was a really enjoyable, lighthearted read with tropes that I have been loving lately. It reminded me a lot of the TV show My Lady Jane which is what initially drew me in.
I enjoyed the romance and the characters dynamics along with an easygoing plot that I could get lost in without too much heaviness.
I would recommend this to anyone who loves close proximity. lighthearted banter, and transformative characters.

I like my romantasy books heavier on fantasy and lighter on pure vibes, tropes and typical characters — which I know is silly of me to expect in the first place, but the new romantasy releases sound so promising that I can’t help hoping. This hope was placed on Behooved too. Alas…it turns out this one is better enjoyed when you read it purely for the romance and vibes.

I’m not saying this book is bad. It simply isn’t fresh enough. There is nothing new with the plot. It’s your typical marriage of convenience, enemies-to-lovers, miscommunications, forced proximity (there’s only one bed!), spice at the most ridiculous times and places, and more. If you’ve consumed enough media of the romance genre, you’ll most likely already have the entire story in your head without having even read the book.

Moreover, it doesn’t help that it was super easy to figure out who was behind the whole assassination plot — like, really? How hard is it supposed to be when only a few characters are named and literally only one would benefit from the whole drama?

Anyway, a saving grace to this templated plotline is definitely the marginally fresher lead characters (look, anytime I don’t have to read a pure doormat or damsel in distress, I breathe a sigh of relief). Bianca, the female lead, has a chronic illness, but that doesn’t stop her from wielding weapons and fighting. Aric, the male lead, is not the most socially graceful. He prefers the company of books, has an RBF, and when he’s nervous or shy, appears as cold as a sheet of ice. Their romance is more physical attraction than slow burn love, but they’re still kinda cute together, I’d give them that.

All my misgivings aside, I do think romance readers looking for a light romantasy would better enjoy Behooved . It’s cute, it’s fun, but it’s also very much a ‘no thoughts, head empty’ read.

When my best friend linked me to this synopsis, I knew I had to read it.
This is a lighthearted fantasy read, with some comical aspects to it, too.
I think my favourite thing about this story is that it reminds me of the TV show My Lady Jane (which should never have been cancelled)

I love a good FMC / MMC marriage of convenience, but make it magical by turning our MMC into a horse.

If you need a light, quick, funny story that will make you giggle and wiggle your feet, then this is for you!

Thank you to Hodder & Stoughton and NetGalley for sending me a copy of Behooved in exchange for an honest review.

3.5 stars!

Behooved is a cosy fantasy that follows Bianca, a lady of Damaria, who suffers from a chronic condition and who is chosen to marry Aric, the heir to the throne of a neighbouring country in order to secure an alliance between their nations. However, on their wedding night, an assassin tries to kill Aric and he ends up turning into a horse by day, man by night. Bianca and Aric must work out how to break Aric's curse and stop a coup that is taking place in Aric's absence.

For the most part this was really fun! There were a few horse puns thrown into the book which made me laugh/equally roll my eyes sometimes, and the writing was quite humorous in general. There's also disability rep with Bianca's condition; I really enjoyed how the author took her own experiences with coeliac disease and used that to create Bianca's illness in a fantasy world, it was interesting. There's also lesbian and bi rep in here, with two characters being hinted at maybe having a relationship in the future, I'd love a book about them in the future!

I think my least favourite part of this was how fast the romance part of the story kicked in. I love a good arranged marriage plot where the couple take some time to really warm up to each other, and this was like that except they warmed up a little too fast for my liking. I'd have liked more of a slow burn. Bianca and Aric are also quite introspective characters so there was some miscommunication thrown in there which isn't my favourite, but that seemed to ease off as they fell in love with each other.

I did really like their development as the story went on though. Both MCs are quite insecure about what they see as their weaknesses, so I enjoyed them believing in themselves more as the book went on, and realising that their individual quirks are not weaknesses but traits that make them who they are. I also enjoyed the way they helped each other on their journeys, that sweet side of the romance was really endearing.

Overall Behooved is a really fun rom-com book with lots of horse puns and a wacky premise. If you enjoy funny stories with the one bed trope, an arranged marriage, and a sweet bookworm prince who turns into a horse at inappropriate times, I think you'll really enjoy this one!

Although I like the idea of giving a fantasy character celiac disease, it didn't fit well with the rest of the story. Also, the romance developed a little too fast. Otherwise, it's exactly the good stuff one would expect from a story with the premise 'my new husband changed into a horse'.

Thank you NetGalley and Hodderscape for giving me access to an e-arc for review consideration. All opinions are my own.

A really fun historical romance very reminiscent of My Lady Jane (horse husband, anyone!?). I loved that this was a little silly, a little magical, and a lot strange - it made for an easy and enjoyable read and a wild ride. Bianca and Aric's marriage begins with a twist, and these two must overcome their animosity to work together and restore Aric safely to his kingdom. With others working against them, it's not easy to know who to trust - and whether or not they can trust each other. I raced through this book and enjoyed the slow burn romance between Bianca and Aric, brought on by a good dose of forced proximity. Also great to see a female main character skilled with a sword alongside her bookish husband!

I received a free copy of this book. All views are my own.

🐴This one is about Bianca, a noblewoman who must put her own feelings aside and marry Aric, the heir of a neighbouring kingdom, in order to prevent a war. When she meets her betrothed, he is cold and distant, and she begins to believe that all of her worst fears for the future will now come true. But wait, it gets worse! On their wedding night, instead of going one mediocre round, they are attacked by an assassin, and in the aftermath, Aric is transformed into a horse. The two must go on the run, especially when Bianca is accused of Aric’s murder! Did I mention that Aric regains his human form by night? Eyebrows eyebrows 😏👑

🐴I saw some early buzz for this book, and one of my favourite artists did the cover (she absolutely COOKED 🔥!!) The book was easier for me to get into as an audiobook, so I ended up doing that (partly also due to some issues I had with my ARC). There’s a lot of setup in the first quarter, but it’s worth it because once the action starts, it gets quite good. I loved the bickering between Bianca and Aric, and how their misunderstandings came to slowly be resolved as they worked together to figure out who was plotting against them. There was also a good amount of chemistry for me! Overall, it was an enjoyable cozy fantasy read! 👑

Thank you NetGalley and Hodder & Stoughton for the review copy!