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_katie_bug's Reviews (149)

Rose in Chains

Julie Soto

4.0

challenging dark emotional tense medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Plot

Strong character development: No

Loveable characters: Complicated

Diverse cast of characters: N/A

Flaws of characters a main focus: No

Practice Makes Perfect

Sarah Adams

3.75

emotional hopeful lighthearted reflective medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: No

Flaws of characters a main focus: No

Angels Fall

Nora Roberts

4.25

challenging dark emotional mysterious tense fast-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: No

Flaws of characters a main focus: Complicated

When in Rome

Sarah Adams

3.75

emotional hopeful medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: No

Flaws of characters a main focus: No

Deep End

Ali Hazelwood

4.5

challenging reflective medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: No

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

The Witness

Nora Roberts

4.0

adventurous challenging tense fast-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: No

Flaws of characters a main focus: No

The Outlaw Witch of Sherwood

Brittany Hansen

3.75

adventurous challenging tense medium-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

This book was a ride. We are immediately taken into the world of Loxley and Sherwood Forest - a Robin Hood retelling steeped in magic. Ren is the Queen to be, waiting for the ritual to take place that will allow her to ascend her throne. But she is hiding from the public the fact that her blood is one that is hunted across the city and country - she is a Witch. Those closest to her know, and she believes are aligned with her goal to keep it a secret. But when the ritual reveals that she is a witch, her entire life changes when she's forced to flee into the dangerous Sherwood Forest. But it's there that she is able to embrace her true self, and with the other outlaws, fight against the corruption in Loxley.

I enjoyed this book overall. The first 20% I did feel like I was flailing, like I was thrust into this world where I was just expected to kind of know what was happening and why. I'm not sure if it's because I don't actually know the original Robin Hood story incredibly well, or if it's because a lot of the magic is based on already existing Nordic/Slavic folklore, but it just took me some time to get a grasp on what was happening. Once Ren was in Sherwood though, I felt like things started to come together and I understood more of the world. But still throughout the book would feel like something was thrown in there that I was expected to kind of know what it was or meant, like there was a backstory to it that I just wasn't sure of, and those times would take me out of the plot.

I really loved Ren and the other outlaws. I feel like the middle part of the book did an incredible job of walking alongside Ren as her world views were constantly challenged and changed. The space that was taken to give Ren time to process her life was perfect, and my favorite part of the book. The fact that familiars existed and were cute foxes definitely helped.

This book has a subplot of romance, which I feel like the description for the book set it up to be bigger than it was. And as a reader, I actually prefer subplots of romance so I really liked it, but did want to mention it since we don't really get much for maybe 65% of the book. Again, I liked that. Their romance was sweet and understanding and they held space for each other.

Overall, I liked the book and often wanted to know what happened next. It made me sit down and focus and read through each part, and that is always a good book in my mind. I am definitely interested in book #2!

Thank you The Nerd Fam for providing an eARC to review.