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A review by emijoy15
Marian by Ella Lyons
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.