“Honeysuckle,” the debut novel by Bar Fridman-Tell, was released on March 24, 2026. It tells the story of Rory, a boy coming of age, and Daye, a Blodeuwedd. (A Blodeuwedd is a being made out of flowers and other plants and resembles a human.) Blodeuwedds are a character in Welsh mythology, and this novel is a loose retelling of the myth.
Trigger warnings for the book: Rape, consent in sexual relationships, animal cruelty, body horror, cursing, and emotional abuse.
While I had never heard of Blodeuwedd before reading this
book, I did look up the myth to get a basic understanding of what it was. The myth is in a collection of Welsh myths called
the Mabinogion. I wish I had read that before reading this book, but I
downloaded it to my e-reader so I can read it.
This book was beautifully written. Through the whole book, I
had a clear picture of the world of the novel as well as the characters within
the book. I looked forward to coming here, and when I got to read, I was
transported.
Though the novel is based on Welsh mythology, the themes
brought up are critically timely. There are heavy topics brought up, such as
consent within sexual relationships, rape, and love, that may be triggering for
some. However, the debates throughout the novel are important in today’s world,
as I am sure they were when the original myth was written.
“Honeysuckle” is considered to be a horror book. There are
certainly elements that resemble “Frankenstein” sprinkled throughout, and the
commentary on the horrors of being a woman in terms of consent can be horrific
to think about, especially for female readers. At times, the imagery the book
provokes can be a bit eerie, and there are moments throughout where there is a
lingering sense of tension. Like any good horror book, there is commentary on
social issues that are relevant currently.
Overall, this is one of the best books I have read this
year. It is dark, even though it does not seem like it will be at the
beginning. It is important for people to check the triggers before reading the
book, as the content may be upsetting for some. I was engaged with the book the
whole time and was wholly immersed in the world. I look forward to future works
by Fridman-Tell.
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-Book Review: "The Importance of Being Earnest" by Oscar Wilde: https://kiltedowl.blogspot.com/2025/09/book-review-importance-of-being-earnest-oscar-wilde.html