A duty-bound noblewoman with a chronic illness, a prince who would rather be in a library than on a throne, and a magical ride through a world of cozy enchantment…
We’re thrilled to announce Behooved, a romantic fantasy from author M. Stevenson—available May 2025 from Bramble in the US and from Hodderscape in the UK. This is part of a book deal negotiated by/acquired from Maddy Belton and the Madeleine Milburn Literary Agency in pre-empts on both sides of the pond.
Bianca knows her duty comes before her heart. So when the threat of war looms, she agrees to marry the neighboring kingdom’s heir. But not all royal weddings are a fairytale, and Prince Aric, Bianca’s betrothed, is cold, aloof, and seems to hate her on sight.
To make matters worse, on their wedding night, an assassination attempt goes awry—leaving Aric magically transformed into a horse. Bianca does what any bride in this situation would do: she mounts her new husband and rides away to safety.
Sunset returns Aric to human form, but they soon discover the assassination attempt is part of a larger plot against the throne. Worse, Bianca has been framed for Aric’s murder, and she’s now saddled with a husband who is a horse by day and a frustratingly attractive man by night.
As an unexpected romance begins galloping away with their hearts, Bianca and Aric must rely on each other to unravel the curse and save the throne.
Buy the Book
Behooved
From author M. Stevenson:
Tor and Hodderscape are an absolute dream team, and my books couldn’t be in better hands! Behooved is my love letter to romantic fantasy, fairy tales, and girls with chronic illnesses who deserve to have their own fun magical adventures. I’m beyond thrilled that it will be joining the Tor and Hodderscape herds next summer!
From editor Calah Singleton:
I’m beyond thrilled to be working on such a delightfully original project with Marina and Lindsey! Behooved is an absolute romp: twisty, witty, full of heart and endlessly romantic. Everyone at Hodderscape is so excited to bring UK readers along for the ride.
From editor Lindsey Hall:
Behooved galloped straight into my heart from the first page with its humor, heart, and sincerity. The whole team here at Bramble are chomping at the bit to share this very special story with fans of fantasy and romance alike. Working with Marina and Calah on this one of a kind enemies-to-lovers, slow-burn romantic adventure has been a joy, and we’re delighted to welcome Marina to the Tor/Bramble team.
M. Stevenson (she/her) is a writer, educator, and naturalist with degrees from Brown University (B.A., Geology-Biology) and the University of Idaho (M.Ed., Environmental Education). An avid swing dancer, she’s often found dancing lindy hop or wandering the woods talking to plants and birds. She is a dual US/Irish citizen and is based in the Fingerlakes region of New York.
