First and foremost, thank you NetGalley for the ARC!

this book gave me all the warm and fuzzies and i had such a fun time falling in love with these characters! The way that Stevenson effortlessly gives each character such depth and personality made it that much easier to connect with the story overall.

i love how Aric starts out as your typical standoffish, “i’m doing this because i have to, not because i want to” type. and Bianca “it is my duty” Liliana, just for you to end up finding out that they both yearned for each other the whole time in secret. ugh, i just eat this trope up every time.

i absolutely loved how anxiety and insecurity is so prevalent in this story because it just helped me connect and relate to the characters.

if you’re looking for sweet romantic comedy vibes with a splash of magical accidents, this read is perfect for you!

Cozy, cute, and well paced. Though I wanted a little more depth to the characters I enjoyed Behooved.
I especially love that the story is similar to others and the tropes have been used in similar ways in other books I've recently read M. Stevenson used them to the absolute best of their ability.
Excited to have this one in store, I think its going to be a fast favorite!

Thank you NetGalley and Tor and Bramble for this ARC!

This ones for the 'My Lady Jane' girlies...

First of all, the cover is absolutely amazing—I need this on my shelf as a trophy asap.

I love a marriage of convenience, and Stevenson did an excellent job at this. It also has an intriguing magic system, killer banter, horse puns, and the one bed trope for my fellow readers who love that.

It's a shame I didn't really feel connected to the characters, and at the beginning Bianca and Aric just didn't communicate at all (my least favourite trope) (these characters are 26+, you should know how to communicate by now).

But shoving that aside, this book doesn't take itself too seriously, and I feel like you shouldn't either if you dive into this book. This book was a really fun time; lighthearted, fast-paced, fun, and whimsical!

I thought it was a cute book but it reminded me a little too much of My Lady Jane. I would recommend this to readers of light-hearted fantasy/romance.

As I read the synopsis for this, I immediately knew that I needed to read this. Bramble made my dreams come true and approved me for an early copy of this book, and please let me tell you that this book did not disappoint - it was everything I didn’t know I needed in a book.

The tropes are f**king excellent -
💒arranged marriage
👑Royalty
☕️cozy
🛏️only one bed
👸🏻terrific MFC - I adored Bianca
🍞MFC with chronic illness
🤴wonderful (and dreamy) MMC

It’s only February 8 and I already know that this book is one of my most enjoyed of 2025 - I loved this and can’t wait to read more by the author!

Absolute and utter recommendation - I hope you love it as much as I did.



Many thanks to Bramble and NetGalley for the DRC

Thank you to Bramble and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest reivew

I would recommend if you're looking for (SPOILERS

-m/f fantasy romance
-marriage of convenience
-chornic illness rep
- a curse
- roadtrip
-slow burn

This was a lot of fun. Lady Jane vibes, two people who resigned themselves to never falling in love and whoops is that what this is. A curse that turns her marriage of convenience husband into a horse. I love how she has to protect and save him throughout the book, and these two fall for each other in the softest of ways even with everything up against them. A cozy and fun world. I'm excited to see what M. Stevenson writes next.

An unconventional romance, a thrilling adventure and a curse gone awry. I absolutely adored this book! Through a set of misunderstandings, a duty bound marriage, an assasination attempt and a protection spell gone bad, Biancas new husband Aric gets turned into a horse, but without Aric the man, everyone believes that hes been killed and that Bianca herself did the killing. And so the newlyweds are on the run together in a race to reverse the spell and stop a deeper plot to take the throne, all the while learning more about each other. Loved, loved, loved it!

Thanks to NetGalley and Tor/Bramble for an advanced copy!

The cover of this book is so beautiful! That's what first caught my attention. The premise also sounded very interesting, and it also sounded different and unique compared to lots of romantasy books I've read.

Overall, it was a fun read. The idea was fun, and executed well enough. I didn't really feel like I connected with any of the characters, though, and Bianca got on my nerves sometimes. Also, I feel like Bianca's "condition" was too mysterious--I know it was supposed to be unexplained, but there should have been a little bit more information for how big of a deal it was. The tension between Bianca and Aric was good, but once they decided they liked each other, it felt a little like insta-love. I did like the sibling relationship between Tatiana and Bianca. If you love romantasy that isn't too heavy on the magic/worldbuilding but still has enough magic to make things fun, this is a great read for you!

Behooved was SUCH a good time! I absolutely love so many things about this story, but none more than the fact that it never takes itself too seriously. The premise is admittedly a bit ridiculous—An arranged marriage between two people who absolutely CANNOT stand each other—one of whom just so happens to turn into a horse when the sun comes up—and that’s exactly what makes it so much fun. The author fully owns the absurdity and runs with it, packing the plot with humor, heart, and so many horse puns, you might need a saddle just to keep up. Chef’s kiss.

This book is cozy and whimsical— it reminded me of the uniquely wonderful, offbeat charm that packs such a huge punch in The Princess Bride as well as the regrettably axed My Lady Jane series on Prime (though I’m sure that particular comparison is a bit obvious, and perhaps a touch on the nose).

It’s the kind of story where you’re in on the joke from the start, and the absurdity is just part of the fun. It’s whimsical, witty, and doesn’t take itself too seriously—and honestly, that’s what makes it such a delightful read

I can’t recommend this one enough! It’s a delightful, lighthearted read that also manages to shine a well-deserved spotlight on communities too often sidelined in the fantasy genre. Enter Bianca—our bisexual, chronically-ill heroine who tackles challenges like it's her damn day job, all while defending her adorably nonviolent, bookworm husband like the absolute champion that she is.

The perfect blend of humor, heart, and representation makes this a must-read. If you love witty, fun stories that don’t take themselves too seriously but still have something to say, Behooved is your next literary adventure, trust me.

Behooved by M. Stevenson is a breath of fresh air in the fantasy genre, and I can truly say it blew me away. The story follows Bianca and her arranged marriage to Aric. Bianca is a strong-willed woman who suffers from a chronic illness that she has been told makes her weak. Despite what she has been led to believe about herself, she accepts the proposal and enters an unknown court, only to find that her soon-to-be husband is nothing like she imagined. After some dancing, a failed assassination attempt, and a spell gone wrong, Bianca and Aric are on the run. What follows is a hilarious, heartbreaking, and swoon-worthy tale - all things I want from a light fantasy book.

If you love stories like Ella Enchanted and My Lady Jane, chronic illness representation, the one-bed trope, and a good time then this book is for you!


Thank you to Netgalley, M. Stevenson, and Tor Publishing for the eARC!

OK so LOVE the chronic illness rep, unique magic system and detailed intricate world building, I felt fully immersed and invested in the story and characters, was a quick read because I couldn't put it down!

Behooved by M Stevenson follows Bianca, Duchess of Damaria, known for her sense of duty as she accepts a betrothal to Prince Aric, the heir of Gildenheim, to solidify a treaty and stave off war. A failed assassination attempt on their wedding night leaves Prince Aric transformed into a white stallion. Bianca will need to find a way to break the spell before Prince Aric’s coronation and somewhere along the way their arranged marriage becomes one of love.

This was a unique story with nonstop action, an intriguing magic system, and beautifully flawed characters. M Stevenson does a wonderful job of creating a world and characters that draws you in. I loved how much both Bianca and Aric grow and learn throughout the story and their budding romance felt very real. I would highly recommend this to readers who enjoy fantasy and romance.

BEHOOVED takes a time-worn trope - arranged marriage with a mysterious foreign king - and sparks it with new life by turning that man into a horse. This is a book that's fully aware of its (somewhat ridiculous) premise, going all in on the horse jokes, and it's fabulously fun. The banter was a delight. I loved seeing Bianca as an openly and unapologetically bisexual woman, as well as chronic illness rep that was an essential part of her character from page one. And of course, I'm endlessly weak for a soft boi male love interest, who'd rather cozy up with a book while his wife does the stabbing.

A fantasy book with sort of celiac rep? It's not diagnosed/specified in the novel, but the author explains in the author's note that is what the portrayal is intended to be! I had a similar journey as the main character with my gluten intolerance/symptoms so I really loved and connected with this one. The romance is also cute and funny. tw for one scene of slight horse abuse ): (I just felt bad but the horse is totally OKAY at the end!)

What an easy read and what an entertaining one. I don't normally love romance but I really do adore this book. More review to come!

Bianca is our FMC who must follow her duty; meaning marrying the neighboring kingdom's prince to prevent you know, a war. However, what perfect thing to happen on the wedding day other than an assassination attempt and not only that, a curse causing him to become a horse? What a total night-mare. And so the novel follows the journey of dragging the horsely prince around to break a curse and uncover a coup.

All in all, cozy read for me with a lot of good things about it (humor, heartfelt moments, action-packed scenes amongst others) but I mostly struggled to read because it felt a bit too cozy. Nothing wrong with it, but I don't think it was "the right time, the right read" for me.

3.25/5

Would still recommend it for readers who want a cozy fantasy read and are interested in Swan Lake with a twist. There are more adult themes, spice, and open-door romance.

Thank you NetGalley, Bramble & Tor Publishing for the e-arc for an honest review!

A fast-paced escape into a world where magic means power over all things… all things except love.

BEHOOVED is magical—and not just by definition. The world is rich and immersive: I experienced the sea air, the damp dew of the night, the flicker of the green-gilded fire. I rode along with Bianca and Aric, very much as if I was a part of their entourage.

The characters are vibrant and whole, each entangled in their own desires and motivated by them. I related very strongly to Bianca, to her idea of who she should be instead of being who she really is in order to please others. I admired Bianca’s quiet strength. With her condition that ails her, as well as her perceived worth tied to the fulfilment of her duty, she has a veritable burden of challenges. (To say nothing of turning Aric into a horse…!) But that’s the thing with Bianca’s strength, it’s a whole lot more potent than she thinks it is. And, to that point (without any spoilers), the ending was highly satisfying for me.

Even the side characters felt real and whole, specifically Marya and Tatiana. They also provided a touch of levity in situations where things trended darker.

The story unfolds at a perfect pace so the relationship between Bianca and Aric blossomed naturally, and does so without bogging down the plot. They complement each other beautifully. They shift and adapt to situations and each other, even when nothing goes according to plan.

BEHOOVED is indeed magical. Each thread of the story weaves together into a bright and complex tapestry of magic, mystery, intrigue—and most important of all—love.

My thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for giving me the opportunity to read an advance review copy of this story for free. My opinions are honest, and given freely.

Behooved is a really cute fairy tale fantasy reminiscent of childhood favorites like Ella Enchanted, Once Upon a Marigold, and Shrek. I loved the main and side characters and the only reason this isn't a full 4 star book for me is that I would have liked to spend more time with them all. I would have really enjoyed seeing more of the characters' relationships develop and more of Bianca coming to terms with her parents and their roles in her life. I would have loved to spend more time in this world and especially delve deeper into the side characters, as well as the magic system in Gildenheim.

That said, the book was really sweet and funny, highlighted chronic illness and LGBTQ+ representation, and I'd definitely recommend it to anyone who loves fairy tales and slightly higher stakes in their cozy fantasies.

3.5 stars (rounded to 4)
Thank you to NetGalley and Tor for the ARC!

Filling the immense void left behind by the My Lady Jane cancellation, this was a delight! I always love a good arranged-political-marriage-but-oh-no-we-actually-like-each-other PLUS a “my husband is a horse????” trope? Impeccable. I loved Bianca as a protagonist and narrator and Arin was great. Really enjoyed their relationship and how well they complimented each other. Wasn't suuuper interested in the whole political/magical scheming aspects of the plot, but still had a good time!

This book this is sweet…cloyingly so, even.

It is cozy and feels like a warm hug; a tale full of self-love, breaking toxic familial expectations, reconciling and healing from negative self talk, sex positivity, and queer characters.

It was so healthy that it made me…honestly roll my eyes a bit; some of the dialogue was a tad on the nose for me with all the consent and self acceptance; but hey there’s plenty of toxic love stories I can read to cleanse from this healthy sweetness.

I myself did not know about “the horse thing” when I received the ARC- I just liked the cover so I picked it up! When the “horse thing” happened I was delighted. The plot really picks up from there, and the adventure of our reluctant lovers is a delight. And their banter and dialogue is often quite funny.

Ooooone thing to note: I did feel these characters were being deliberately thick and I myself saw the “twists” coming miles away- there just aren’t enough characters or red herrings to distract from the blatant clues. So the ending comes as very little surprise, but that’s fine. It was happy and fairly satisfying a conclusion. O and it’s A STAND ALONE FANTASY NOVEL one of my favorite rarities.