Thank you NetGalley, Michelle Cassandra Johnson, Amy Burtaine, and Sounds True for this ARC!
On a whim, I decided to take a break from reading fiction. I had began to think I hated reading, because I wasn't finding joy or fulfillment anymore, so I decided to possibly switch it up and read a nonfiction book (something rare to me). While deciding a book, I reached down and felt my bee necklace that I wear on a daily basis and remembered that I was granted access to this ARC. I think the bees were calling to me to read this (they ARE psychopomps, like you say!). This book made me 1. rediscover my love of reading and the fulfillment I always used to get from it and 2. fall in love with the complexities AND the simplicities of one of our most important insects. I've never been one to be frightened of bees, in fact, I've loved them since I was little (hence my necklace), but if I were to have apiphobia, this book would've helped me if not healed me from that. The way Cassandra and Amy write this piece and share their experiences and knowledge is such a breath of fresh air. There is no superiority. There is no overuse of complicated, scientific terms in the attempt to appear intelligent. These women talk to you like they're talking to a new friend who asked what got them into their love of bees. This book is written in a way that you not only feel their incredible knowledge on the subjects they've dedicated their time to but also all the passion they have for these sweet living things. Thank you, thank you, thank you so much for writing this beautiful piece of art and emotion. This will be a staple of my hand-selling for the rest of my time as a bookseller. The honeybees are here to save us, and we are the students of the honeybee hive. <3

I'm into honeybees. That makes this title especially grabbing to me. Very few authors can use a metaphor these. authors do and have such a great effect.

Well done.