Title: Behooved
Author: M. Stevenson
Type: Fiction
Genre: Adult, Romantasy
Publisher: Bramble
Date published: May 20, 2025
Complimentary physical and digital copies were kindly provided by Bramble in exchange for an honest review.
Bianca knows her duty comes before her heart. So when the threat of war looms, she agrees to marry the neighboring kingdom’s heir. But not all royal weddings are a fairytale, and Prince Aric, Bianca’s betrothed, is cold, aloof, and seems to hate her on sight.
To make matters worse, on their wedding night, an assassination attempt goes awry―leaving Aric magically transformed into a horse. Bianca does what any bride in this situation would do: she mounts her new husband and rides away to safety.
Sunset returns Aric to human form, but they soon discover the assassination attempt is part of a larger plot against the throne. Worse, Bianca has been framed for Aric’s murder, and she’s now saddled with a husband who is a horse by day and a frustratingly attractive man by night.
As an unexpected romance begins galloping away with their hearts, Bianca and Aric must rely on each other to unravel the curse and save the throne.
⤖ My Review ⬻
I didn’t really know how much I needed Behooved in my life until I started reading it. I mean, I knew I needed something to fill the hole left by My Lady Jane (book and TV show—which was rudely cancelled after one season!) and Behooved definitely did the job! From the very first chapter, I was hooked by the witty banter, magic system, and writing style.
Now, having read the book, I really miss the characters and their world. This is a constant struggle for me…I read a book quickly because I enjoy it, then by the end, I’m kicking myself for not savouring it more. The characters—main and supporting—were all really fun to read about, and I found myself genuinely rooting for them.
The world and magic system were both easy to understand (and I think they would be pretty straightforward even for those new to the fantasy genre). The quest aspect of the plot also made my little fantasy veteran heart happy. It had that classic adventure feel, with just enough twists to keep things interesting without ever feeling overcomplicated.
This is definitely an author I’ll be keeping on my radar. Also, did you see the gorgeous cover and lovely sprayed edges?! I’m a sucker for a beautiful edition, and this one looks fantastic. Now I’ll just be over here hoping for more books set in this world (or at least another equally fun standalone from M. Stevenson!).
⤖ Places to Purchase the Book ⬻
⤖ Let's Chat ⬻
Thank you for reading my review! Have you read this book? What did you think? And if you haven’t read it yet, do you plan to? Let me know in the comments!
