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Behooved

by M. Stevenson

Narrator Natalie Naudus

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Length 10 hours 27 minutes

Language English

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Bookseller recommendation

“A darling journey from start to finish. We love a chronic illness girlie matched with nerdy hero. Perfect cozy romantasy for a weekend in your mind palace.”
— Julia • Four Seasons Books

Bookseller recommendation

“I loved this romance fantasy book! The arranged marriage trope is done so right. I could empathize with both characters and enjoyed their dynamic. The world Stevenson’s builds is incredible and I hope one day we get a sequel, follow up, some sort of continuation. ”
— Veronica • Powell's Books

Bookseller recommendation

“In a strange and roundabout way, this title is perfect for Shrek fans. Arranged marriage, transformations linked to the Sun, and an almost talking animal. Jokes aside, this was a delightful read. The dynamic between Aric and Liliana was hilarious at times, while being adorable at others. I enjoyed putting the pieces together as I read along, figuring out who was behind the coup. The narration was also beautifully done, crisp, and easy to understand. ”
— Eden • Cavalier House Books

Summary
About the author

A charming slow-burn romantasy featuring 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

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.

"Behooved is bewitchingly charming, a romantic fairy-tale adventure that will sweep you off your feet (or hooves)!"—Sarah Beth Durst, New York Times bestselling author of The Spellshop

This program is read by Audie and Earphones Award–winning narrator Natalie Naudus.

A Macmillan Audio production from Bramble Books.

Fiction Romance Fantasy

M. Stevenson 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.

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Audiobook details

Author:
M. Stevenson

Narrator:
Natalie Naudus

ISBN:
9781250401663

Length:
10 hours 27 minutes

Language:
English

Publisher:
Macmillan Audio

Publication date:
May 20, 2025

Edition:
Unabridged

Libro.fm rank:
#24,226 Overall

Genre rank:
#3,658 in Romance

Reviews

"Behooved is bewitchingly charming, a romantic fairy-tale adventure that will sweep you off your feet (or hooves)!"—Sarah Beth Durst, New York Times bestselling author of The Spellshop

"Arranged marriages, mischievous magic, and families lost and found. This quirky, charming fantasy romp is so much fun. A cozy fantasy romance to cuddle up with. A delightful debut—I’ll be looking forward to what Stevenson does next!"—T. Kingfisher, New York Times bestselling author of Nettle & Bone

“Cinematic and engaging, sparkling and joyous. You’ll fall in love just like I did. This was a ridiculous amount of fun.”—Seanan McGuire, New York Times bestselling author of Every Heart a Doorway

“Wildly fun and completely charming, this story hits all the high notes of humor, sincerity, and a beautiful romance.”—Everina Maxwell, bestselling author of Winter’s Orbit

"Behooved is a refreshing, enchanting journey of self-discovery—but also, for the horse girls in all of us, a witty romp of a fairy tale romance that will have readers chomping at the bit."—Julie Leong, author of The Teller of Small Fortunes

“Stevenson’s wonderfully whimsical romantasy debut takes readers on an entertaining ride… This confectionary romp delights.”—Publishers Weekly, starred review

"It's impossible to rein in my enthusiasm for Behooved. This romantic fairy-tale adventure—full of meddling magic, witty banter, and my new favorite stubborn, stabby heroine—captured my heart from the start."—Lenora Woods, author of Roll for Romance

“Sprawlingly adventurous and packed with heartwarming romance and magic, Behooved is a captivating tale of duty, love, and breaking free—a book for everyone who's ever been told they're not enough. I devoured it with unbridled delight!”—Jules Arbeaux, author of Lord of the Empty Isles

“Behooved is a whimsical subverted fairytale that throws reluctant allies-to-lovers together in an action-packed journey across a magical landscape. I absolutely loved watching Bianca and Aric battling their perceived shortcomings, and finding strength in each other—and themselves. Full of charm, romance, and swashbuckling adventure, this debut is so much fun!”—Keshe Chow, author of The Girl with No Reflection