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!

4.5 stars

BEHOOVED is a fun, fantasy rom-com with great disability representation.

I liked that this was on the rom-com side of romantasy. It's not something I've seen much of and I liked the levity. It's nice to have fun when reading, not shredding your nails with tension. This is a book that embraces tropes and has a lot of fun with them. It's all a bit absurd - I mean, turning your husband into a horse? - and uses that as a starting point for comical situations.

I absolutely loved the disability representation. Bianca has unspecified stomach issues that she does not know the cause of, inspired by the author's celiac condition. This family of IBD illnesses is not something I've seen in fantasy before, and as someone with several family members with IBD, I'm so glad it's being shown in media.

The sister, Tatiana, was my favourite character. She steals every scene, a very chaotic but full-hearted individual who has a bit too much enthusiasm and not enough training to be handing out so many magical objects she's made. I liked how they kept with the tone of the overall story, slightly over the top and absurd, and added more humour.

It's a standalone that wraps up the relationship and the external arc nicely. I would like another book in this world following other characters with similarly humorous adventures.

Rating: 3.5 stars

Thank you to Hodder & Staunton, Netgalley and the author for providing me with an arc of this book in exchange for an honest review.

This book was super whimsical, beautifully written and really intriguing. The hidden disability / chronic illness rep was handled sensitively and I loved the message of inner strength and power, in spite of physical setbacks and familial judgement.

The rest felt like a tale of two halves personally, I loved the magic system and the setting, and wanted to see more from the world building, as aspects felt quite rushed and pieced together haphazardly. The romance between the two main characters also fell flat, as it was super slow burn up to around 60-70%, and then all of a sudden was a full relationship and expressions of love. I did love Aric and his character was very sweet, but I wanted more from our two MCs.

Finally, the conclusion came together very quickly, and whilst the lead up was slow, the last 25 pages sailed through the wrap up super quick which left the pacing very stilted. All in all I did enjoy this read, and it was a cute, cozy story with plenty of sweetness.

Thank you NetGalley and Hodder & Stoughton for the e-arc of Behooved by M. Stevenson!

To sum this one up! In Behooved, Bianca’s arranged marriage to Prince Aric goes awry when he’s cursed into a horse by day and she’s blamed for his murder. On the run together, they must break the curse and clear her name!

Rating: 2.75/5 stars!

I was very intrigued to read this one after seeing this feature on a lot of "2025 most anticipated releases" lists. You would expect fun and whimsy vibes based off the promotion of this book which I felt was definitely achieved throughout the story (also so many horse jokes/puns which was amusing). Additionally, as someone who has a chronic illness- I also loved that this has representation which I rarely see in fantasies and appreciated the authors note at the end around this. More books with this representation please!

However, I didn't buy the chemistry between Bianca and Aric- it felt a bit rushed and I found myself confused about the pacing of becoming enemies to lovers which is why my rating is a bit lower. Great set up however I just felt it was not super realistic and too instant- my personal preference though when it comes to romantasy!

I would recommend this to readers after a highly whimsy romantasy and even fans of Lady Jane!

What a beautiful book that has left me reeling. The cover sold me originally, being a certified horse girl I knew that Behooved was going to serve me all the good Lady Jane vibes that I wanted and WOW did it deliver.

M. Stevenson writes like a dream, the worldbuilding was super immersive and this book SERVED with all the cosy fantasy vibes I was needing. I can't even begin to list all of the tropes )there are so many) but please know they are well executed and I just know this book has left a void in my heart that I know I'm going to struggle to fill.

The horse puns gave me life, and M. Stevenson's characters are fully fleshed out - both with likeable personalities and so many factors to relate to. If you're looking for a cute and cosy fantasy with all the best grumpy x grumpy, forced marriage and shapeshifting vibes then this one is for you!

Well, I really do like the cover, so eye catching and pretty. And I do like how Bianca, though she does have a chronic illness (which is explained in the author's note at the end) is still capable and strong in spite of it. I will say also, that despite the magic Tatiana has, it does not make sense to give your sister a magic locket that turns her attacker into a horse. It makes for a funny story because it hits Aric instead of the assassin, but I mean otherwise, it would be so much easier for a horse to trample and kill Bianca. So that threw me for a bit. Though I did enjoy some of her other spells, like the spittoon. Tatiana definitely does not solve problems in the usually way! I would call this story a simple tale (because it is so easy to guess the villain as there are only a few people introduced), but it is entertaining with lots of jokes (and hilarious bird messengers!) learning to communicate instead of basing everything on rumors you hear, and breaking with tradition to help people and keep safe places for the magical creatures (instead of chopping all the trees down for lumber and expansion). Aric and Bianca do make a good couple, once everything gets straightened out and I do hope they can turn their kingdom into a happy magical safe place (and good riddance to her parents! Bianca is definitely not a weak link and deserves better than she had with them).

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the chance to read this book.

I am weak. I am truly weak. I saw this cover and it was love at first sight. I didn't even check what this book was about. I just knew I had to have it. I was therefore really happy when I discovered it on Netgalley. I requested a digital review copy and Hodderscape granted me one.

This book is really cute and endearing. I think it's almost impossible to read this book and to not have a smile on your face when you close it. This book is not meant to be deep or heartbreaking or life changing. It's simply an entertaining read with lovely main characters set in a magical world. That means that the book is slightly predictable, but that was not an issue. The book wasn't trying to be shocking or to surprise readers with a twist in the end.

I also loved the disability representation. The author did an amazing job embedding the disability into the world. There wasn't much of an explanation in the beginning, since the heroine herself doesn't understand what is going on, but during the story we get some explanations and can link her symptoms to illnesses we know in this world. However, a lot of her struggles, her lot of her inner monologues, a lot of her fears, worries and insecurities, are universal.

And then there is the hero of the story. I really don't mind the strong heroes knowing how to fight, but it's nice that once in a while we also get a hero who's not focussed on swords and training. It's nice to see a hero who prefers to hide away in a library with a good book, who's not a smooth talker, who's not charming an entire kingdom. Throughout the story I fell in love with him and now I'm sad the story is over. Hopefully the author will find some more stories to tell set in this world!

An adventure of equine proportions. This was one of my most anticipated steeds of 2025 and it really did deliver. I laughed. I gasped. I thumbed through in anticipation as Aric and Bianca ran amok. He hoofed and he poofed and he turned into a horse. M. Stevenson was not horsing around with this one and I honestly had a ball.

4 stars
Content warning: attempted assassination, kidnapping, injury detail, political coup, chronic illness
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for a digital copy. All thoughts are my own.

As soon as I read the synopsis, I knew I needed to read this. I loved the TV show My Lady Jane, and Behooved was giving off similar vibes. And it didn't disappoint! Bianca and her newly betrothed Aric start in quite a frustrating and carefully guarded relationship, and when she accidentally turns him into a horse whilst protecting his life, it doesn't put them on the right foot (hoof?) forward. But their journey together to save their kingdoms is an absolute delight. I loved the level of whimsy and humour infused into a politically charged environment of trying to find out who the enemy was within their circles. The wholesome way the pair become reluctant allies to genuine friends with romance blossoming was fun to read, and I was greatly invested in this story from start to finish. I enjoyed the characters being different from what they were initially led to believe, and the way they approached their differences and common interests. I also appreciated the addition of Bianca and her chronic illness. The way she was conditioned to see this as such a weakness, but is allowed to view herself differently, thanks to Aric's guidance, is very well done. The slowburn pace of the romance is a reward, especially when it culminates in something more. I did find their insecurities rather repetitive and exhausting, however, I did appreciate that they spoke them aloud to one another.

Admittedly, towards the end, the story turned a little more nonsensical as revelations and accusations ramped up, but I was here for the entire ride, and would love to read more set in this world. I had a really good time, and this was a great palate cleanser between some heavier fantasy reads for me.

This was a sweet, albeit, somewhat confusing romantasy by author M. Stevenson. It kind of has Swan Princess energy with a twist. In this instance, the Prince turns into a horse. I found a lot of the quirky points to be fun, but it isn't a very believable fantasy. I think it had promise, but probably should have been edited to YA, as it would fit better in that genre.

Remember that tucked-in feeling while someone tells you a story? That’s absolutely how I felt when reading BEHOOVED.

Fresh into her arranged, political marriage, Bianca’s husband/prince Aric gets turned into a horse (!) because of a spell gone wrong. Cue their adventurous ride to figure out how to reverse the spell and save his kingdom in the process.

This book is so perfectly cozy, featuring a tender love story I fell head over hooves (sorry, I couldn’t not!!) for, with themes of duty, legacy, and chronic illness, all blended into an atmospheric, political fantasy setting. Five out of five, and I can’t wait to see what the author will come up with next.

P.S. If you’ve loved MY LADY JANE and are as enraged as I am that it wasn’t renewed for a second season, look no further and get yourself this book. It’s out May 22nd.

4.5 stars

Behooved was a great standalone romantic fantasy read.

Bianca is an enjoyable character, I appreciated her chronic disease representation, I felt her focus on duty and doing the right thing for her family (and she wasn't even an eldest daughter), I liked that she persevered through every situation that she encountered even though she felt like she wasn't strong enough, even as she was telling herself that she couldn't do it, she did. It felt very authentic.
I loved Aric, why is a grumpy MMC so much fun? I liked that he was focused on the best for his kingdom, he talks a lot about things he wants to make better or change he is resistant to for the good of his land / people. He helps Bianca see herself in a new light.
This story had really easy to follow world building and the way the setting was described contributed to a cozy feel. It was nice to read something a bit lighter, though it still had some great twists in the last chapters.
I really liked this story and I would not hesitate to pick up another book by this author.

This was a fun read but although I found the beginning very good it did drag a little for me towards the end.
- one bed at the inn
- enemies to lovers
- forced proximity
- arranged marriage
- betrayal
Your husband turning into a horse on your wedding night was certainly a funny and original idea! We follow our fmc who agrees to marry the prince from the other kingdom so they can negotiate new trade deals etc, but when she arrives all is not what it seems. After an assassination attempt, our fmc and mmc find themselves on a journey to find out who orchestrated it and tried to frame the fmc - and be back in time for the coronation!
There was fun twists and turns at the end, I liked the characters, although I would have liked a better build up to their relationship as they just suddenly confessed that they’d loved each other since they’d met and it felt a bit out of nowhere. Other than that this was a fun, light-hearted read.

Thank you to NetGalley for proving me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

2.5 stars rounded down.

Very disappointing. The author leaned too hard on the premise and popular tropes without putting in the work to make the characters and their relationship actually interesting. There is nothing here, apart from the horse stuff, to make the book stand out from any other recent romantasy.

The romance is built on nothing except mutual attraction and the two characters just being nice to each other a few times. It also progresses way too fast - the main plot of the entire book covers like three days. The sister, who only appears briefly, had more personality and more chemistry with the love interest than the main character.

The plot is paper thin with a villain you can spot immediately.

Ultimately I think this was just too simplistic and lighthearted for me to really enjoy. I didn't find anything incredibly wrong with it, there was just nothing I really liked either. If you are looking for a sweet and simple romantasy read and you like horses then I'm sure you will enjoy Behooved.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the digital ARC.

𝑨𝑹𝑪 𝑹𝒆𝒗𝒊𝒆𝒘: 𝑩𝒆𝒉𝒐𝒐𝒗𝒆𝒅 𝒃𝒚 𝑴. 𝑺𝒕𝒆𝒗𝒆𝒏𝒔𝒐𝒏

𝘉𝘦𝘩𝘰𝘰𝘷𝘦𝘥 is comfort in book form—the kind that wraps around you like a blanket and lingers. Think hot chocolate by the fire, candlelight on the walls, and Darcy walking out of the mist again because you’re never tired of it.

I’d heard this book described as cozy, and it absolutely is. But it’s also sharp, funny, and full of heart. It took me straight back to hiding under the covers with a flashlight and 𝘌𝘭𝘭𝘢 𝘌𝘯𝘤𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘵𝘦𝘥—but with adult banter, the perfect amount of spice, and emotional depth that lands.

As a loyal 𝘔𝘺 𝘓𝘢𝘥𝘺 𝘑𝘢𝘯𝘦 fan still in mourning over the show cancellation, this plot scratched an itch I didn’t know I had. After an assassination attempt upends their arranged marriage, Bianca and Aric literally ride off into the horizon—Bianca on the back of her newly-equine husband. Their journey to break Aric’s curse has them galloping through danger and right into each other’s blind spots—misunderstandings and buried shame slowly giving way to trust, reassurance, and something that feels a lot like love.

The romance is earned and deeply satisfying—vulnerable, funny, and tender in all the right places.

And the rep here? Top-tier. The LGBTQ+ inclusion is affirming and seamlessly woven into the world, and Bianca’s chronic illness is written with rare care. Her strength doesn’t come from being cured—it comes from how fiercely herself she becomes.

𝑶𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒓 𝒉𝒊𝒈𝒉𝒍𝒊𝒈𝒉𝒕𝒔:

🐴 Banter with just the right mix of horse humor

💚 “There’s only one” x3 – stall, bed, horse

🐎 Plot twists breadcrumbed to perfection

📖 A soft book boyfriend who’d rather be reading than stabbing

💜 Withering looks

💙 Scene-stealing side characters

Also? I get to say it again—2025 is truly the year of the blonde MMC. I didn’t clock Aric’s golden locks until the end, and when I did? I was kicking. My. Feet. Blonde book boyfriends everywhere, and the Dramione surge hasn’t even hit yet? Say less.

𝑻𝑳;𝑫𝑹: 𝘉𝘦𝘩𝘰𝘰𝘷𝘦𝘥 is a warm, affirming fantasy with sharp humor, earned emotion, and a magical road trip full of heart. Come for the horse curse, stay for the slow-burn tenderness, stellar rep, and a bookish blonde MMC you’ll want to keep.

THANK YOU!!! to Hodder & Stoughton for approving me to read this eARC on NetGalley!! Opinions entirely, genuinely my own. ✨🐴