Arrows Tipped with Honey (Natural Forces Book 2) by Jean Gill – Review by Francis O’Sullivan

Arrows Tipped with Honey by Jean Gill
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Arrows Tipped with Honey is the exciting second book in Jean Gill’s Natural Forces series. It is a fantasy series, with a heroine who has a magical connection with bees and is seeking to overcome a corrupt city that shuns all connections with the natural world.
Following the climactic battle of the previous book, the Citadel believe they are victorious. Sure, the Queen of the Warrior Bees has made some demands of them when they forged their peace treaty, but they have their children back and are able to return to life as normal. But the Queen, Mielitta, is playing a long game. With a spy inside the city, and a generation of children who have seen the forest and tasted the honey, Mielitta hopes she can change things for the better.
Already in the first book, this was a really well developed fantasy world. The rules of the Citadel are clear, and the secrets it hides intriguing. There is a contrast between the strictly ordered Citadel and the wild forest which can seem cliché, but contributes to the power of the story. There is a depth to the characters, particularly coming into the second book as they adapt to their new roles and relationships.
For me, this is a five star book. It’s a great fantasy series for young adults who are concerned about the environment. Readers should start with the first book, Queen of the Warrior Bees, as the story in the second book follows on from the events of the previous book.

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