The Honey Witch

In a world where public attitudes toward queer people and queer representation regularly cycle through times of progress and regression, novels like The Honey Witch offer a vital safe space for the queer community. Queer fantasy literature allows people to envision a space where queerness is not demonized or seen as deviant from the societal standard of straightness.

The fantasy genre as a whole has always been about reshaping worlds, for better or worse, often drawing upon hope and a sense of wonder. This is evident in the way that fantasy worlds often explore egalitarian concepts, like the aspiration toward a virtuous world, a lack of gender disparity, and kindness as a strength. The inclusion of queer characters can often be a way of exploring a fantasy world where queerness is not treated as anomalous and perverse.

The Honey Witch is set in an 1830s society that mirrors the real Romantic Era through the cultural importance placed on artistic talent and the high society balls in Bardshire. The societal values of Bardshire are reflective of this period, with an emphasis on women marrying young and becoming wives and mothers. However, while queer and gay relationships in the 19th century were seen as taboo, The Honey Witch offers a world in which attraction to members of the same sex is an equally valid form of love.