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lesserjoke's review
3.0
I'm of two minds about this book. On the one hand, I love the idea of a lesbian retelling of Robin Hood, and this is a cute story of two girls falling in love in quasi-medieval England. On the other hand, it bears almost no resemblance to any classic Robin Hood tales, to the point where if the characters had had different names I doubt I would have even realized the intended connection. It's a short book and there are some indications that this could just be the opening chapter of a longer narrative about Marian and Robin, so maybe more of those classic details will come if the author turns this into a full series. But don't go into this one expecting a Robin Hood story.
marieintheraw's review
3.0
This feels like a startup to a Robin Hood retelling, but unless you're really paying attention you won't notice. It also the ending makes it kinda feel like it isn't finished.
lesbrary's review
2.0
So... Is this a prequel? When I heard "lesbian Robin Hood", this wasn't what I expected. There aren't really any of the elements that I associate with Robin Hood. If there wasn't a character called Robin Hood, I wouldn't have guessed it was a Robin Hood retelling.
This is also more of a novella: only 135 pages. It feels like the first half of a novel.
I liked the characters, and it's a good story, but it just didn't meet the "lesbian Robin Hood" description for me.
This is also more of a novella: only 135 pages. It feels like the first half of a novel.
I liked the characters, and it's a good story, but it just didn't meet the "lesbian Robin Hood" description for me.
booksandladders's review
2.0
I love the story of Robin Hood and I was really excited for this to be a F/F retelling of the classic story, however, I was really disappointed with this one. I thought that too much happened in too short of time and I could never really connect to any of the characters. I would have enjoyed about 100 or so more pages which would have allowed both the plot, the characters, and the setting to really be fleshed out within the pages. I don't think that this was enough and I am really disappointed with what we were given.
I thought the writing style was fine and that I could really tell where we were, when we were, and the like, but I still wanted more rich descriptions of the characters and the world to fully understand. It was as if Lyons was banking on the reader to have prior knowledge of the story of Robin Hood (or at least the animated movie version) rather than giving us her own version of the story. One complaint on top of this is that the chapters were too long. I love short chapters or at least long chapters that don't feel long, but these chapters felt the 20-30 pages they were.
I didn't fully buy the romance. It was way too quick and nothing was really explained or fleshed out. I wanted sizzle and heat but I barely even got the match lit before the story was over. I am really disappointed with the relationship here and would have liked more time spent on the nuances of how Robin and Marian came together, fell apart, and came back together. It just wasn't enough.
And that was probably my number one complaint: there wasn't enough. This story needed to be double or triple the length and maybe even a duology so that I could feel satisfied with it rather than wholly disappointed like I am. But for a quick read, I did enjoy my reading time and I like the beginnings that the author gave us. I just want more.
I thought the writing style was fine and that I could really tell where we were, when we were, and the like, but I still wanted more rich descriptions of the characters and the world to fully understand. It was as if Lyons was banking on the reader to have prior knowledge of the story of Robin Hood (or at least the animated movie version) rather than giving us her own version of the story. One complaint on top of this is that the chapters were too long. I love short chapters or at least long chapters that don't feel long, but these chapters felt the 20-30 pages they were.
I didn't fully buy the romance. It was way too quick and nothing was really explained or fleshed out. I wanted sizzle and heat but I barely even got the match lit before the story was over. I am really disappointed with the relationship here and would have liked more time spent on the nuances of how Robin and Marian came together, fell apart, and came back together. It just wasn't enough.
And that was probably my number one complaint: there wasn't enough. This story needed to be double or triple the length and maybe even a duology so that I could feel satisfied with it rather than wholly disappointed like I am. But for a quick read, I did enjoy my reading time and I like the beginnings that the author gave us. I just want more.
anam_ali's review
3.0
It was going so bloody well and I was really enjoying the story when all of a sudden the author was all 'that's it, that's all you gonna get, the story is over now, finite my friend, adios amigos' and suddenly in less than a chapter it was The End™. What TF?! (\*^*/)
emijoy15's review against another edition
3.0
(02/2022) Updated and edited review available on my Robin Hood blog
I did it. I read this book. I knew about this book before it came out, and have been skeptical ever since. I've read a very large majority of traditionally published Robin Hood books, and consumed plenty of other media as well. The immediate draw for this book is the idea of a lesbian retelling. "Yes! That's me!" was my initial response. And then... Well, then I realized that I was in for a gender-swap, which (unpopular opinion) I have never enjoyed. It brings back horrifying memories of [b:Scarlet|11983940|Scarlet (Scarlet, #1)|A.C. Gaughen|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1370147602l/11983940._SX50_.jpg|15084403] , which was a complete mistake to read. In short, Robin Hood gender-swaps have never worked for me. In this case, I decided to give it a go.
I would give this book two stars, but I was honestly entertained by it. I liked it. I read it as quickly as I could, although my investment in the story always ended when I took a break.
While I read it, it felt like deja vu. So much deja vu. The first half of the book, Marian and Robin are only fourteen and fifteen, which was a shocker, and brought back long buried memories of [b:Young Marian's Adventures In Sherwood Forest|1222861|Young Marian's Adventures In Sherwood Forest (Girls To The Rescue)|Stephen Mooser|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1331146238l/1222861._SX50_.jpg|1211359]. Then you've got your two medieval fantasy girls, with one red-headed and obviously more butch, which *cough* [b:Of Fire and Stars|25164304|Of Fire and Stars (Of Fire and Stars, #1)|Audrey Coulthurst|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1457102645l/25164304._SX50_.jpg|44868262] *cough*. And then of course, [b:Scarlet|11983940|Scarlet (Scarlet, #1)|A.C. Gaughen|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1370147602l/11983940._SX50_.jpg|15084403] just for the gender-swap.
This book has zero merit as "historical fiction". It is medieval fantasy through and through, but it is not historical fiction. Phrases such as "dear old dad" crop up in the dialogue, which was physically painful. Peasants and serfs are just poor, and can do anything if they only tried hard enough and believed in themselves; they absolutely don't have any obligation other than to themselves. And the poorest of the poor have multiple rooms in their homes and separate bedrooms. Everyone also had a last name? Not even last names that made sense, but characters referred to as "Mrs. Fresle" and "Mr. Bossard". I won't talk about given names, although I easily could.
And finally, if I had to read "God save him" one more time after ANYONE mentioned the king, I would have thrown my Kindle. Stop.
I wanted very much to enjoy this book and take it seriously. I did enjoy it, but only after I made the decision to let my usual standards for Robin Hood fiction fly away.
I couldn't take it seriously, though. Not even a little bit.
I did it. I read this book. I knew about this book before it came out, and have been skeptical ever since. I've read a very large majority of traditionally published Robin Hood books, and consumed plenty of other media as well. The immediate draw for this book is the idea of a lesbian retelling. "Yes! That's me!" was my initial response. And then... Well, then I realized that I was in for a gender-swap, which (unpopular opinion) I have never enjoyed. It brings back horrifying memories of [b:Scarlet|11983940|Scarlet (Scarlet, #1)|A.C. Gaughen|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1370147602l/11983940._SX50_.jpg|15084403] , which was a complete mistake to read. In short, Robin Hood gender-swaps have never worked for me. In this case, I decided to give it a go.
I would give this book two stars, but I was honestly entertained by it. I liked it. I read it as quickly as I could, although my investment in the story always ended when I took a break.
While I read it, it felt like deja vu. So much deja vu. The first half of the book, Marian and Robin are only fourteen and fifteen, which was a shocker, and brought back long buried memories of [b:Young Marian's Adventures In Sherwood Forest|1222861|Young Marian's Adventures In Sherwood Forest (Girls To The Rescue)|Stephen Mooser|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1331146238l/1222861._SX50_.jpg|1211359]. Then you've got your two medieval fantasy girls, with one red-headed and obviously more butch, which *cough* [b:Of Fire and Stars|25164304|Of Fire and Stars (Of Fire and Stars, #1)|Audrey Coulthurst|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1457102645l/25164304._SX50_.jpg|44868262] *cough*. And then of course, [b:Scarlet|11983940|Scarlet (Scarlet, #1)|A.C. Gaughen|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1370147602l/11983940._SX50_.jpg|15084403] just for the gender-swap.
This book has zero merit as "historical fiction". It is medieval fantasy through and through, but it is not historical fiction. Phrases such as "dear old dad" crop up in the dialogue, which was physically painful. Peasants and serfs are just poor, and can do anything if they only tried hard enough and believed in themselves; they absolutely don't have any obligation other than to themselves. And the poorest of the poor have multiple rooms in their homes and separate bedrooms. Everyone also had a last name? Not even last names that made sense, but characters referred to as "Mrs. Fresle" and "Mr. Bossard". I won't talk about given names, although I easily could.
And finally, if I had to read "God save him" one more time after ANYONE mentioned the king, I would have thrown my Kindle. Stop.
I wanted very much to enjoy this book and take it seriously. I did enjoy it, but only after I made the decision to let my usual standards for Robin Hood fiction fly away.
I couldn't take it seriously, though. Not even a little bit.
almostred's review
2.0
Boring for most of it, it ends when the story gets actually interesting. What a pity! A retelling of Robin Hood with a female Robin had so much potential!
namjooningihope5's review
4.0
This was an amazing take on Robin Hood. I was sad how abruptly it ended. It was sweet and short and I would totally read another part of their story if it ever was one.
josb's review
2.0
Rounding down with this one because of the decision to make it a story based on Robin Hood but not trying to match up with the lore at all. It was so far from the original story that I felt like I was like reading one of those bad movie adaptations where certain names are retained but it's a completely different thing.
The biggest issue was how the characters were written, followed by the pacing. The character's we were introduced to had very little depth and spoke in the oddest manner. At times Robin Hood sounded more like a Victorian era child. Phrases were repeated as a way to highlight culture but ended up feeling clunky and excessive the farther you got in the book.
Pacing wise, 50% of this book follows Marian at the age of 14, before she becomes a ward of King John. This was quite a long time to spend on an era of her life that had very little bearing on the second half, which follows her 17 year old self. By the time we get to the last 50% of the book certain plot points resolve so quickly and without a clear understanding of motive.
This was not for me but maybe could work for fans of historical fantasy that are not usually a fan of Robin Hood lore. I will warn there is a scene with unwanted sexual advances that is described in detail. I found it uncomfortable since it came out of the nowhere and that Marian was "not yet a lady" was discussed and disregarded.
The biggest issue was how the characters were written, followed by the pacing. The character's we were introduced to had very little depth and spoke in the oddest manner. At times Robin Hood sounded more like a Victorian era child. Phrases were repeated as a way to highlight culture but ended up feeling clunky and excessive the farther you got in the book.
Pacing wise, 50% of this book follows Marian at the age of 14, before she becomes a ward of King John. This was quite a long time to spend on an era of her life that had very little bearing on the second half, which follows her 17 year old self. By the time we get to the last 50% of the book certain plot points resolve so quickly and without a clear understanding of motive.
This was not for me but maybe could work for fans of historical fantasy that are not usually a fan of Robin Hood lore. I will warn there is a scene with unwanted sexual advances that is described in detail. I found it uncomfortable since it came out of the nowhere and that Marian was "not yet a lady" was discussed and disregarded.