Reviews - Not for the Faint of Heart

1.88k reviews for:

Not for the Faint of Heart

Lex Croucher

4.05 AVERAGE

harpharpss's review against another edition

4.0

adventurous funny lighthearted medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Plot

Strong character development: N/A

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

ande_reads's review against another edition

2.75

adventurous emotional slow-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: Complicated

Loveable characters: Complicated

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

This one was a struggle for me, with parts that I liked and parts that really did not work for me.

Like Lex Croucher’s King Arthur story, this Robin Hood story is set generations after the legend we know. This spin on the established tale is what I found most engaging about the book. That and the supporting cast.

Unfortunately, I could not stand Mariel for so many reasons not worth piling on here. I kept waiting to see why her crew would want to stick around her (or why Clem would fall in love with her), but it never happened.

I wish I liked this book more, because I like what the author is doing with these well established settings.

hickorynut's review against another edition

5.0

adventurous funny medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

This was a delightful Sherwood adventure featuring easy inclusion and acceptance of diverse relationships, body types, pronouns, genders, and ethnicities. All are accepted and included with no fuss or bigotry. The conflict is solely focused on the generational struggles of a war that has weakened and wearied an entire region.

Clem is a healer who is known for her experimental methods and unique ideas that save lives, apprenticed under the woman who raised her after her parents died. When kidnappers arrive to take Rosie for her healing skills, Clem volunteers to go in her place to protect the older woman. So begins Clem's adventures with the Merry Men. She has been taken by them as instructed by the Commander, the son-in-law of the now-retired notorious Robin Hood. Her kidnappers include the Commander's daughter, an upright, closed-off Captain named Mariel, and her band of men: Baxter, Kit, Morgan, and Josey.

Clem is swept into a fast paced adventure in which she becomes companions with the close crew, eventually becoming more their team member than a hostage. They discover that the war between the Sheriff and the Merry Men is not what it had seemed, and fight for their own lives, the lives of innocents, and ultimately, bring a new era of peace and potential unity.

Clem is sarcastic and witty with a kind heart and easy-going attitude which kept the story very light and fun, even amidst some of the most somber moments. The writing drew me in and kept me engaged, and threw a few twists along the way. With a cast of lovable, diverse characters with no focus on queer bigotry and a storyline focused on taking time to evaluate true, ethical priorities for the benefit of all, it was in a way, a cozy read for me, despite the violence. It spoke to the work we should all be doing in our communities, even if the wars waged have been generations long.