The Honey Witch

Marigold Claude is forced to attend a ball with her wealthy family, as her two younger siblings, Aster and Frankie, are performing. Marigold is 21 and is feeling the pressure to find someone to marry. The moon is full, and Marigold would rather be frolicking in the meadow and basking in the moonlight. Marigold’s mother, Lady Claude, encourages her to find someone to settle down with that night. Marigold doesn’t want company other than her own. Marigold’s mother has made many failed attempts to set Marigold up, but her only relationship left Marigold heartbroken. Marigold worries she’ll see her ex-lover at the ball.

Marigold recalls good times at her grandmother’s cottage in Innisfree, enjoying the wonderful nature and the company of her grandmother and another little boy her age. Marigold hasn’t visited since she was a child, after witnessing a storm sweeping away her grandmother and her friend. Her memory of the event is fuzzy. Her mother refuses to talk about that day or why they haven’t returned to Innisfree.

Marigold’s mother introduces Marigold to Thomas Notley. Mr. Notley is handsome and charming, but Marigold is only concerned with escaping the ball in time to catch the moon at its peak. Marigold and Mr. Notley enjoy the table of sweets. Marigold loves honey cakes, and she sneaks one into her purse. Marigold considers what life with Mr. Notley would look like, but she feels it would be too safe and suffocating.

During a dance intermission, Marigold’s ex-lover, George Tennyson, makes a grand show of proposing to his girlfriend, Priya. Marigold recalls her relationship with George, who is significantly older than her and made her feel special at first. However, he eventually tried to force her into being the person he wanted her to be. Marigold still feels the wounds of that heartbreak, but she knows better than to let someone treat her that way. She worries for Priya.

Marigold attempts to leave the ball, but Mr. Notley chases after her, wondering if he’s done something wrong. Marigold confesses that she plans to strip off her shoes and run barefoot in the meadow, ruining her dress in the mud and rain. Mr. Notley lets her go.

Marigold visits a familiar meadow. She kicks off her shoes and frolics in the fresh mud. Marigold never grew out of her belief in magic, because every full moon, she’s visited by a giant, glowing blue butterfly.

Marigold shares the honey cake with the butterfly, Lunasia. Marigold has always felt the pull of the full moon and the call of nature. Marigold interprets Lunasia’s erratic movements as an indication of a new era or new love. She worries this means that she’ll end up marrying Mr. Notley after all. Marrying would mean living up to others’ expectations, and she would no longer feel the freedom to be a wild woman if she were a wife and mother. Marigold dances in the rain until it’s time to return home. The sky above her house burns red—another sign of something changing. Marigold hurries home, worried about the disturbance.

Inside, Marigold’s mother, Raina, argues with Marigold’s grandmother, Althea. Marigold learns that the eldest women in her family line are Honey Witches, filled with magic power. Marigold’s mother has been trying to hide this from Marigold for her entire life. The Honey Witches in Marigold’s family were cursed long ago to never have both power and love. Raina chose to give up her power to have love. Althea wants Marigold to choose for herself, but Raina is upset that Althea has come to disturb the life of safety Raina has built for Marigold.

Many kinds of witches exist, and every witch has an opposite. The opposite of a Honey Witch is an Ash Witch. Innisfree is a very magical isle, and Althea has kept it safe from an Ash Witch named Versa, who wants to use Innisfree’s magic to achieve immortality. Althea thinks this is a selfish pursuit and seeks to protect Innisfree from Versa. Versa is the one who cursed their family line, hoping to end the Honey Witches of Innisfree so no one would stand in her way. The storm Marigold remembers the last time she visited was an attack from Versa, attempting to end their family line.

Althea explains she is dying. Versa is too. Althea has seen the omens of Versa’s last attempt to take the isle before her death. Althea needs Marigold to help save Innisfree once and for all. Althea is no longer strong enough to do it herself. Marigold weighs the consequences of forsaking love to accept her role as the Honey Witch of Innisfree. She worries what her mother would think and what might happen if she abandons her life in Bardshire. Althea stresses that it is Marigold’s choice alone. Marigold decides to accept her magic.

Marigold and Althea sneak back to the meadow to complete a ritual that unlocks Marigold’s full power. Marigold’s father and siblings distract Raina long enough for the ritual to be completed. Althea feeds Marigold a honey potion. Marigold feels it awakening her power within. When Marigold opens her eyes again, she can see Lunasia and many other large, glowing spirit creatures. Althea explains that they are called “landvættir.” The landvættir are spirit guardians who protect nature. They are always there, but now Marigold can see all of them. Marigold feels whole for the first time in her life.

Althea tells Marigold about the landvættir of Innisfree, whom Marigold is responsible for. She must keep Innisfree healthy, and the landvættir will provide her with protection and divination. Marigold is sad to say goodbye to Lunasia, who belongs in the meadow.

Raina is distraught that Marigold chose magic over the life Raina has worked to give her. Raina and Althea exchange tense words. Althea reveals the protection runes painted on the back of every painting hanging in the Claude family estate, showing that she has kept the family protected all these years using magic. She wants Raina to acknowledge that Marigold can protect herself with magic now, but Raina is too hurt by Marigold’s decision.

Marigold packs the rest of her things and says goodbye to her siblings. Althea warns Raina that she will not visit again. Raina says she loves Althea and Marigold, but she excuses herself, still feeling betrayed. Marigold’s father sends her off with one of his paintings to remind her of home.

The trip to Innisfree requires a carriage ride to the docks, a long ride on a ship, another carriage ride to the lakeside, and finally a boat ride to the isle of Innisfree. Marigold and Althea sleep on the ship, exhausted from their emotional day. At the docks, they are picked up by Althea’s long-time friend, Mr. Benny. Mr. Benny owns the farm across the lake from Innisfree and has known Althea for many years. Marigold notices Mr. Benny’s fondness of Althea and quietly mentions it. Althea clarifies that Mr. Benny is just a friend, and that Marigold should not get her hopes up about the curse and the love that she gave up. Althea has investigated it for years and believes the curse is unbreakable. Marigold begins to feel the weight of the curse.

Mr. Benny stops the carriage for Althea to gather bellflowers for her spells. Bellflowers are Althea’s favorite. Althea introduces Marigold to Dovelyn, a landvættir in the shape of a bird. Althea feeds honey to Dovelyn, and the bellflowers glow with magic. Bellflowers are helpful with love spells. Marigold expresses contempt for love, believing magic is better. The Honey Witch’s magic can help people find love, but it cannot force them together. Marigold believes she’ll come to enjoy everything as Althea does. She has no desire for her own love. Althea explains that soulmates are real—Marigold’s parents are soulmates. Althea used magic to help Raina find Lord Claude. Marigold is happy to learn her parents are soulmates. Marigold asks if Honey Witches have soulmates. Althea explains that they have power instead. Marigold would choose power over marriage any time.

Mr. Benny stops the carriage for them several more times along the way so Althea can collect ingredients for various spells and potions. She explains each one to Marigold, and tells Marigold about various omens, like crows, starless nights, and six-pointed ivy leaves. Althea has a large grimoire—a textbook of magic—at the cottage, full of many generations of Honey Witch knowledge.

They arrive in Lennox, the neighboring town to Innisfree. Althea reintroduces Marigold to August, her childhood friend. Their friendship comes back easily. August introduces Marigold to his best friend, Lottie, a beautiful red-haired woman wearing a long-sleeved dress despite the summer weather. August also introduces his partner Edmund, a young poet who reminds Marigold of the stuffy artists and poets of Bardshire. She can tell Lottie doesn’t like Edmund, and Lottie’s bitter attitude extends to Marigold.

A man and woman, Ronan and Caoimhe, interrupt the conversation. Caoimhe is pregnant, but the pregnancy threatens to kill her. She is in a lot of pain. Althea promises Caoimhe that she will not die. Althea, Marigold, Ronan, and Caoimhe board Mr. Benny’s carriage and take off for Innisfree.

Caoimhe is in pain the entire ride. Ronan struggles with the stress of potentially losing Caoimhe. Marigold comforts Ronan while Althea sees to Caoimhe’s ailment. When they arrive in Innisfree, Marigold is taken aback by its natural beauty. While Althea works on Caoimhe inside the cottage, Marigold distracts Ronan with a foraging hike, familiarizing herself with the lay of the land as she goes. They talk about Ronan and Caoimhe’s history.

Mr. Benny retrieves them. Althea has cured Caoimhe. Ronan helps Caoimhe into the boat, relieved that his love is saved. Althea explains to Marigold how their magic is meant for saving people the way Althea just saved Caoimhe. Althea doesn’t travel much, because of how many people rely on her to be there in case of an emergency. It’s part of her responsibility as the Honey Witch of Innisfree.

Inside the cottage, Althea reassures Marigold that she will strengthen her power and learn to use it soon enough, but tonight they must rest. Marigold’s room is cozy and she falls asleep quickly.

The next morning, Althea takes Marigold to the apiary and introduces her to the bees, the hives, and the kinds of honey they make. Althea shows Marigold how to communicate with the bees, who sense her feelings and desires. Marigold will be responsible for harvesting the hives so they do not become honey-bound, which would force the bees to relocate. Althea admits it’s more work than she’s capable of. There’s a lot of work left undone these days.

Althea has Marigold assemble the ingredients to renew the protection spell across Innisfree. Marigold is fascinated by the uncountable pages of the grimoire. Marigold asks Althea about several spells, including a soulmate spell, which will not work on them. Marigold asks how Althea deals with loneliness. Althea has a very old cat named Cindershine. Innisfree’s magic is so powerful that all its residents live a long time. Versa wants to control Innisfree so she can try to live forever.

Marigold and Althea use honey to paint a protection rune all over the cottage and across Innisfree. Marigold must repaint the runes three times a year. Althea and Marigold channel their magic through the runes to complete the spell. Althea is happy Innisfree is safe again, and happy to have Marigold’s help.

Marigold spends her days familiarizing herself with the isle and the landvættir that guard different areas. She can use the landvættirs’ health to determine if any areas of Innisfree need attention. Marigold also observes all of Althea’s interactions with customers. Althea seems to be a source of emotional support as much as a source of magic and healing for the people that seek her. Many customers are women seeking a cure, refuge, or fertility treatment. Marigold likes knowing that part of her job includes helping women escape the same life she left behind in Bardshire.

Althea shows Marigold the enfleurage, a room filled with flowers hanging from the ceiling and covering the wall in flowering vines. Althea shows Marigold how to make the flowers grow. Marigold tries to heal a spot of dead vines and exhausts herself using magic. Althea rejuvenates her with honey. It will get easier for Marigold the more she practices.

Marigold’s first month as a witch passes, with her absorbing as much information as she can from Althea. After a full moon swim in the lake, Marigold notices a faint, flickering light in the woods across the lake. She has a bad feeling about this light and fetches Althea, but Althea doesn’t see it and assures her it’s nothing.

Marigold harvests the beehives while Althea instructs her and tells her stories and important information about their craft. It’s hard work, but Marigold enjoys every moment with Althea, knowing her time is quickly approaching.

A customer, a young woman, arrives. She buys lip color from Althea to woo a man in town. When she leaves, Marigold expresses contempt for women who seek love as desperately as the customer. Althea warns Marigold not to judge those who have chosen a different path from her. Marigold thinks a woman should want more than to get a boy’s attention; Althea replies that it’s most important that every woman decides for herself what she wants.

Once the season’s honey has been harvested, Althea rests. Marigold brings her food in bed most days. One day, Althea has the energy to move to the couch. Mr. Benny visits. Althea tells him that she is tired, so Marigold will help him now. Mr. Benny and Althea joke around with each other. Before leaving, Mr. Benny asks if there’s anything he can do. Althea says she needs him to come back tomorrow morning, and they exchange knowing glances. Althea stops Mr. Benny on the way out the door to tell him that she’s been reminiscing, and many of her happiest memories contain him.

Marigold helps Althea to bed and reads to her. Althea briefly drifts off. When she wakes up, she talks about seeing all her friends again, the ones waiting for her on the other side. Althea will be waiting on the other side for Marigold one day, too. She wants Marigold to look for her in the yellow flowers. Althea is proud of Marigold. Marigold goes to bed wondering what it will feel like when Althea departs.

In the morning, Althea has passed. Marigold breaks down, screaming and crying. Mr. Benny arrives and comforts her. They cry together. Mr. Benny sends Marigold away so he can take care of Althea, as she wanted. She’s prepared him for what he must do after her passing.

Marigold visits the apiary, where she worries about filling Althea’s shoes. The bees comfort Marigold until the wind picks up and yellow flowers bloom around her. Marigold calls out to Althea that she will not let her down. The flowers at her feet glow.

Mr. Benny retrieves Marigold and shows her Althea’s final resting place, which is already blooming with yellow flowers. Marigold appreciates Mr. Benny’s support. Mr. Benny gives Marigold an emerald ring that Althea wanted her to have. He departs, apologizing if he takes a while to return, as he needs to grieve as well. Marigold weeps at Althea’s grave.