Behooved had a lot of potential, but ultimately didn’t quite deliver for me. Though marketed as an adult novel, the writing style often felt more appropriate for a young adult or even middle grade audience. There was a lot of telling rather than showing, with overexplained character emotions and plot developments that left little room for reader interpretation.

That said, there were some elements I appreciated. The setting, in a universe where gender equality and queernormativity are the norm, was refreshing and welcome. I also enjoyed the dynamic between the main couple—a strong, duty-focused woman with combat skills and a bookish, non-warrior man. The early setup of a slow-burn romance was promising and could have added depth to their relationship. Unfortunately, that slow burn was short-lived. The romance suddenly accelerated without enough development, making it feel unearned.

The magic system and broader world were intriguing, but the world-building felt rushed. Key elements were introduced and then quickly glossed over, giving the impression that shortcuts were taken to move the plot along.

Overall, while Behooved had some original and thoughtful ideas, the execution left me wanting more depth, consistency, and trust in the reader’s ability to follow the story without constant explanation.

Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for the audio ARC in exchange for an honest review.