An Arcane Study of Stars

"While Shields' sophomore novel glitters with the lush atmosphere and heart that have become her signature talents, An Arcane Study of Stars shines brightest in its academic prowess. Here is a truly Good dark academia novel, with classroom scenes that beg to be annotated and rivals-to-lovers who will have you screaming into your fists, all written in prose so sharp it sinks its teeth into you and takes a bite out of your soul."

"Reading The Honey Witch is like dreaming in a fragrant sunlit garden while bees sing around you. It's a gorgeous book, with a lovely cottagecore ambience and a heart-warming sapphic romance intertwined with unique magic that enchants the imagination. I was so charmed by this impressive debut." 
 

"The Honey Witch is a sweet feast, brimming with whimsy, magic, and tender longing. Shields' world is sugar-glazed and heart-warming and thoroughly enjoyable." 

"The Honey Witch is a tale that deserves to be savored but begs to be devoured. Enchanting,  whimsical, and firmly rooted in finding yourself after loss, this novel will break your heart and then soothe it with magic honey. Full of friendship and beauty at every turn of the page, The Honey Witch will heal you and help you feel seen in equal measure. Pour yourself a cup of tea, drizzle in some local honey, and let this decadent book transport you." 

"As sweet and warm as honeyed tea. Shields’ debut deftly explores love, loss, and loneliness—and the joy of seeing magic in all things, however small. With charming characters and a lush setting, The Honey Witch will delight fans of cozy fantasy."

"As effervescent as a bottle of sparkling mead, The Honey Witch charms with every sentence. Shields writes with a fierce, uncynical honesty that will have you believing in soulmates, uncovering magic everywhere, and embracing your own wildness."

"The Honey Witch will charm you with its setting, its appealing characters, both young and old, and its love for all things natural—especially bees! This tale of a young witch dealing with a curse and a battle between dark magic and light, with her romance in the balance, is one all fans of witches and folk magic will love."

“For anyone who has ever known what the mundane world wants them to be isn’t possible or even desirable, The Honey Witch takes a luminous, divergent path." 

"Shields has written a cozy confection of a book—full of whimsy, spice, and heart. With characters whose warmth and charm are irresistible, The Honey Witch is an ode to love, and just how sweet it can be." 

"With beautiful prose, a cozy setting filled with magic and honey, and a swoon-worthy sapphic romance, The Honey Witch delivers a gorgeous story of love, loss, and the perils of loneliness. This fantastic debut by Sydney J. Shields is an instant favorite." 

“Debut author Shields spins a lush web of family, lore, and love in this coming-of-power fantasy set in 1831 England […] luxuriating in atmosphere and introspection as Marigold comes into her own.”

"[A] warmhearted fantasy [that] will satisfy readers of sapphic romances who love the alternate historical world of Bridgerton or who grew up watching Halloweentown and Practical Magic."

"Readers interested in a tale that sits at the intersection of witchy relationship fiction and sapphic historical romance will enjoy this charming, slow-paced tale of love triumphing over evil."

"The Honey Witch evokes pure glee and sadness while also giving the reader a gorgeous setting to explore... This story will draw in its audience with imagery and heal their souls with queer love. After reading Shields's novel, even those without a sweet tooth will be left craving honey."