Behooved

by M. Stevenson

Read Dates: 5/20/25 to 5/21/25

Review

I don’t usually read blurbs—honestly, I skip them more often than not—but this one caught my eye, and I’m so glad it did. The idea of a prince turning into a horse? Instantly intriguing. I couldn’t wait to see how that kind of magical twist would play into the story, especially in terms of the character relationships. It ended up being a fun challenge for them, but I really appreciated that it didn’t become a huge dramatic obstacle. The emotional connections stayed strong, which gave the story a solid, grounded feel even with all the fantasy elements in play.

What did leave me feeling a bit disappointed, though, was the unresolved plotline around the main character’s illness. Since this isn’t the first book in the series, I expected more development or at least some kind of reveal. The way her symptoms and those constant tonics were described had me convinced there was a deeper, magical explanation—like some hidden power trying to break through. But in the end, there was no closure. Her husband was clearly trying to help and understand what she was going through, but the mystery never unraveled, and it felt like a missed opportunity in an otherwise creative and compelling story.