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ainsley's review against another edition
3.0
I loved this book when I was younger, but I can't say that it has aged well. My standards for both writing and feminism are much higher now.
This feels very 1990s feminism, and was recced to me in 1993 by someone who also recced The Mists of Avalon, and while I hated the latter I can see similarities. It feels like the first half-plus of the book is entirely men scheming to get Marian in bed, consent be damned, which is kind of...not at all fun. Richard the Lionheart is 100% gay in this, so this was honestly probably the first book I ever read with queer rep.
Which is all to say, I can't say that I would recommend this to anyone without massive caveats, but I also regretted not taking it to work to read at lunch.
This feels very 1990s feminism, and was recced to me in 1993 by someone who also recced The Mists of Avalon, and while I hated the latter I can see similarities. It feels like the first half-plus of the book is entirely men scheming to get Marian in bed, consent be damned, which is kind of...not at all fun. Richard the Lionheart is 100% gay in this, so this was honestly probably the first book I ever read with queer rep.
Which is all to say, I can't say that I would recommend this to anyone without massive caveats, but I also regretted not taking it to work to read at lunch.
allison_r's review against another edition
2.0
Be warned, this is probably going to be more of a rant than a review.
Well, that was disappointing. Don't get me wrong-- Roberson's prose is full and poetic. Unfortunately, this story also has hyper-sexualized women, toxic masculinity, homophobia, and a whole slew of other problematic elements. And I get that the Middle Ages had all of these things, but it was still more nuanced than the extremely sexualized world of Lady of the Forest. I've heard Roberson's Marian touted a lot as a feminist heroine, and she certainly had some really delightful agency, but why, oh why, did I need detailed descriptions of how every person in the book wanted to sleep with her? After reading over half of this book, I feel gross. DNF.
Well, that was disappointing. Don't get me wrong-- Roberson's prose is full and poetic. Unfortunately, this story also has hyper-sexualized women, toxic masculinity, homophobia, and a whole slew of other problematic elements. And I get that the Middle Ages had all of these things, but it was still more nuanced than the extremely sexualized world of Lady of the Forest. I've heard Roberson's Marian touted a lot as a feminist heroine, and she certainly had some really delightful agency, but why, oh why, did I need detailed descriptions of how every person in the book wanted to sleep with her? After reading over half of this book, I feel gross. DNF.
rgreatreader's review against another edition
4.0
I liked that much of it was from the perspective of Marian, but it was frustrating that she was the focus of every male character simply because of their desire for her.
Not great writing, but a good adaptation, and the Robin Hood story is good enough to come through anyway.
Not great writing, but a good adaptation, and the Robin Hood story is good enough to come through anyway.
vvaanneessssaa's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.25
friendofhayley's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
ecoyne's review against another edition
5.0
I loved this book! Ilove the idea of what Robin and Marion were like outside of the traditional stories!
courtsbooknook's review against another edition
2.0
I'm honestly not even sure why I kept reading rather than DNFing. This was so character heavy with minimal plot and so many of the characters were unlikeable. This is definitely reflective of the time period and there were a lot of harsh references towards the Jews which made me uncomfortable. It was way too long and drawn out and I don't understand why the story went on for almost 600 pages. It took me forever to get into it and there were only a few points in the story where I was actually inclined to keep reading. It was slow, drawn out, misogynistic, and generally boring. I usually love a retelling, especially a longer one but this was repetitive and unexciting.
hjmo's review against another edition
2.0
DNF at 10%. There is some quality and promising aspects to this story and the writing. I wasn't a fan of the prologue, for me it seemed to give things away instead of generating interest in what was to come. I mean it's Robin Hood retelling, we kind of know the roles of the major characters without her spelling it out. The setting was well drawn out and the cast of characters well sketched to begin with. Honestly I bet this could be a great read there were just two things I couldn't get past.
First the head hopping. In the Sheriff's head for three paragraphs, then in Robin's head for two, then back to the Sheriff for a some dialgue before jumping to a third/fourth/fifth POV. What was worse they hops aren't well signposted with breaks or in the text itself. So it often took a sentence or two to orient myself-perhaps this is an issue with the Kindle edition? Second, it's just really long, too long for me to endure confusing POV switching plus the potential of struggling through two more books just to get the full story. It was an exhausting prospect. I still want to read a Robin Hood retelling but I'm not going to make it this one.
First the head hopping. In the Sheriff's head for three paragraphs, then in Robin's head for two, then back to the Sheriff for a some dialgue before jumping to a third/fourth/fifth POV. What was worse they hops aren't well signposted with breaks or in the text itself. So it often took a sentence or two to orient myself-perhaps this is an issue with the Kindle edition? Second, it's just really long, too long for me to endure confusing POV switching plus the potential of struggling through two more books just to get the full story. It was an exhausting prospect. I still want to read a Robin Hood retelling but I'm not going to make it this one.
booksonthebrain20's review against another edition
4.0
I first read this book years ago and instantly fell in love. There's something very compelling about a tortured Robin Hood and innocent Marian who is thrust into an unfamiliar and unsafe world quite abruptly. The tension between Robin and Marian and the entire build up to their relationship is so incredibly good.
However, the more times I read the book (and I've read it many, many times), the less patience I have for all the political intrigue surrounding Marian and Robin. Everyone in power is so bad and so corrupt and they never change. They never learn. And there's so much time devoted to them. I found this read through much more enjoyable but just skipping anything not to do with Robin and Marian.
However, the more times I read the book (and I've read it many, many times), the less patience I have for all the political intrigue surrounding Marian and Robin. Everyone in power is so bad and so corrupt and they never change. They never learn. And there's so much time devoted to them. I found this read through much more enjoyable but just skipping anything not to do with Robin and Marian.