Assassin's Pride [Anime Discussion]

Title in English: Assassin's Pride

DUB or SUB?? Sub definitely!

Episodes: 12! It's a light novel series!

Where to watch it: Crunchyroll


[About the Anime:   Only those from noble families have the mana to be able to fight against monsters. Kufa is a noble born to a duke's family who is sent to tutor a young woman named Melida. If it turns out that Melida has no talent with mana, Kufa is secretly instructed to assassinate her.]


   This anime started off by introducing us to Kufa (....not sure if he's a protagonist or secretly going to kill everyone 😲) that's an unsettling assassin who looks a lot like Kirito from SAO. What's unsettling about him is one second he has a beaming smile and then when someone turns there back he's got a blank face and eyes screaming death at their back.

Kufa then goes on his new mission and meets Melida Angel, who he is supposed to kill if she doesn't prove that she has talent with mana. He is kinda pretending to be a tutor in order to get closer to her. 

You will not believe how much my brother and I screamed at the very end of the first episode, it caused us so much panic. We immediately had to start the next one to find out what had happened!

 
The thing is that Melida is such a cinnamon roll and strong character that you just- you love her! And then right off the bat you think Kufa tried to kill her and you-you just... scream at the TV for a bit....
There's so much worry over this one main character, and then this other main character... you NEVER know if he's just gonna start killing people or what!



So that's kinda a introduction to my thoughts on the anime, but don't worry there's more!

 

There's mystery and action throughout, plot twists and so many times you get to see the characters that are considered weak standing up and being strong!

 

I can't describe how much I love the romance either, at first I wasn't sure what was happening... again one of the characters is kinda hard to read, but as it progressed I found that I really really want them together!


 

My rating:

Have any of you heard of this anime or the light novels? 

What did you think of Kufa or Melida?

Hoping you're all well & having a lovely day!!

~Noel

Ghosted In L.A. Vol. 1 | That's...yeah, that's basically it...

*I received a copy of this from Netgalley in exchange for my honest opinion and thoughts!*

Ghosted in L.A. by Sina Grace


    {About: Daphne Walters moves to Los Angeles and finds that the only ones who can help her find love and live life to the fullest are the ghosts of her new home!

In Los Angeles, finding an apartment is killer—unless you live with the dead. Daphne Walters moves to Los Angeles for her boyfriend Ronnie, ready to live her happily ever after. But when happily ever after turns into happily for a month, she’s stuck in a strange city with no friends, family, or prospects for fun. Desperate to escape the lingering ghost of Ronnie’s presence everywhere, Daphne sets out to explore the city—and ends up encountering ghosts of a more literal kind! Rycroft Manor is abandoned, beautiful, and haunted. Will the dead be able to help Daphne find the life she’s been missing in the big city?}

     This graphic novel was more of a letdown for me but was equally unexpected. The main character has a fall out with her best friend and then as soon as she moves to a state she doesn’t know, enrolls in a college she didn’t really care for, the person she did all this for- dumps her. 

 Talk about sad and realistic.  

I felt for our pitiful main character, and couldn’t help but to keep turning the pages. 

What does she do? WHAT DOES SHE DO?? 

She finds a haunted mansion that everyone is terrified of that’s filled with ghosts, and begs to live with them.  

Questionable decisions, really.  

Especially seeing as some of the ghosts are straight up like demons and try to kill her later, though most of them were awesome side characters that made the story for me. The only highlight of the story. 

It really wasn’t for me, but I can see the enjoyable parts of it that others might really like. 

Our main character wasn’t eaten by ghosts, thankfully, and then… that’s... yeah, that’s basically it. 

I really wished there’d been more to the plot than just that and a lot of backstories, but sadly that was literally it. I understand it’s quick and short and setting up for more, but it didn’t hook me or anything, especially not enough to read the next one.

Have you heard of this? What are your thoughts?

Bonus: If you had the option to live in a mansion with ghosts (that didn't want to kill you), would you?



Thanks for reading!! Also, super curious about your answers to that last question 👀
~Noel

RWBY Vol. 1 | The Official Manga!

Title: RWBY Vol. 1

By: Bunta Kinami

Published: July 21st, 2020

Genre: Manga | Graphic Novels | Fantasy | Comics | YA

AMAZON | GOODREADS


  Synopsis:  Experience the introductory arc of the international smash hit series RWBY in a whole new way—manga!

In the world of Remnant, monsters known as Grimm wreak havoc. They’re kept in check by Huntsmen and Huntresses, highly skilled warriors experienced in monster extermination who utilize their special abilities on the field of battle. Ruby is a ferociously talented young girl who comes to Beacon Academy to hone her skills and serve as a Huntress herself. Alongside her sister Yang Xiao Long, rival Weiss Schnee and newfound friend Blake Belladonna, Ruby leads Team RWBY, the coolest new group at Beacon!

Ruby takes her first step on the road to becoming a Huntress by enrolling at Beacon Academy, eager to take on the battery of tests, challenges and difficulties that follow. Ruby knows her talents will take her to her goal, but is she ready to clash with Weiss Schnee, haughty scion of the Schnee Dust Company?

    *I received a copy of this book from Netgalley in exchange for my honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own!*


So first, I've had friends and family that loved RWBY for a long time before they got me into it. I was very intrigued by the manga when I saw this!

It follows the anime very well, but I liked how it explained more quickly some things about the world!

Personally, I love both manga and anime equally. I know some people find it easier to get hooked on one or the other, and if that's the case then you'll probably have a hard time picking between these two.
The manga is the exact same, except for explaining more. But there's nothing new or anything that wasn't in the anime!


An intriguing world, interesting characters, and a wonderful story!

Have you heard of this anime? What did you think of it??

How have you guys been?!?!


Hoping you're all well & having an awesome day!!
~Noel

Vacation Romances To Read

 

Personally, I can't stand the romantic reads where it's a summer fling kinda thing.
Absolutely not.
No thanks!

 If I want to read a book with a good romance in it, I want one I can root for that is not obviously just a brief thing!

So what Noel means by ''Vacation Romances'' is this: reads where the meeting (usually) takes place on some kind of vacation/trip, but it's not a come-and-go trip, the love interest is someone that they'd be able to be around or see again outside of just however long the vacation was 🙄.

  I understand that there might not be a big difference to most but for me, I love to cheer on a romance that doesn't feel like a fling. And most summer romances seem to be flings...

So on that note...


The vacation romances Noel would absolutely suggest and really enjoyed so much she had to buy a copy!

Alex, Approximately by Jenn Bennett

 *Jenn Bennett writes wonderful romcoms, but this one is a very good one to read during summer with a nice cup of iced sweet tea! It's like You've Got Mail with Tom Hanks and the reverse of Philadelphia Story! *


Classic movie buff Bailey “Mink” Rydell has spent months crushing on a witty film geek she only knows online by “Alex.” Two coasts separate the teens until Bailey moves in with her dad, who lives in the same California surfing town as her online crush.

Faced with doubts (what if he’s a creep in real life—or worse?), Bailey doesn’t tell Alex she’s moved to his hometown. Or that she’s landed a job at the local tourist-trap museum. Or that she’s being heckled daily by the irritatingly hot museum security guard, Porter Roth—a.k.a. her new arch-nemesis. But life is whole lot messier than the movies, especially when Bailey discovers that tricky fine line between hate, love, and whatever-it-is she’s starting to feel for Porter.

And as the summer months go by, Bailey must choose whether to cling to a dreamy online fantasy in Alex or take a risk on an imperfect reality with Porter. The choice is both simpler and more complicated than she realizes, because Porter Roth is hiding a secret of his own: Porter is Alex…Approximately.

GOODREADS | AMAZON

Anna and the French Kiss by Stephanie Perkins

*One of my favorite romantic reads! From the setting in Paris, to the love interest! 😍 It's the first in a series, though I still need to read the next two books!!*


   Anna is looking forward to her senior year in Atlanta, where she has a great job, a loyal best friend, and a crush on the verge of becoming more. Which is why she is less than thrilled about being shipped off to boarding school in Paris--until she meets Étienne St. Clair. Smart, charming, beautiful, Étienne has it all...including a serious girlfriend.

But in the City of Light, wishes have a way of coming true. Will a year of romantic near-misses end with their long-awaited French kiss?

GOODREADS | AMAZON

The Unhoneymooners by Christina Lauren

*Probably my most favorite romcom! I discovered this read after a blogger friend reviewed it, its synopsis and cover caught my attention and I was at the bookstore...and the next thing I knew it was in my hand and I was reading it. The only book that I've bought before reading it or knowing for sure if I would love it or not!*


Olive is always unlucky: in her career, in love, in…well, everything. Her identical twin sister Ami, on the other hand, is probably the luckiest person in the world. Her meet-cute with her fiancé is something out of a romantic comedy (gag) and she’s managed to finance her entire wedding by winning a series of Internet contests (double gag). Worst of all, she’s forcing Olive to spend the day with her sworn enemy, Ethan, who just happens to be the best man.

Olive braces herself to get through 24 hours of wedding hell before she can return to her comfortable, unlucky life. But when the entire wedding party gets food poisoning from eating bad shellfish, the only people who aren’t affected are Olive and Ethan. And now there’s an all-expenses-paid honeymoon in Hawaii up for grabs.

Putting their mutual hatred aside for the sake of a free vacation, Olive and Ethan head for paradise, determined to avoid each other at all costs. But when Olive runs into her future boss, the little white lie she tells him is suddenly at risk to become a whole lot bigger. She and Ethan now have to pretend to be loving newlyweds, and her luck seems worse than ever. But the weird thing is that she doesn’t mind playing pretend. In fact, she feels kind of... lucky.

GOODREADS | AMAZON

Austenland by Shannon Hale

*Any fan of Jane Austen needs to read this over the summer! And then go watch the movie!!*


Jane Hayes is a seemingly normal young New Yorker, but she has a secret. Her obsession with Mr. Darcy, as played by Colin Firth in the BBC adaptation of Pride and Prejudice, is ruining her love life: no real man can compare. But when a wealthy relative bequeaths her a trip to an English resort catering to Austen-crazed women, Jane's fantasies of meeting the perfect Regency-era gentleman suddenly become realer than she ever could have imagined.

Decked out in empire-waist gowns, Jane struggles to master Regency etiquette and flirts with gardeners and gentlemen;or maybe even, she suspects, with the actors who are playing them. It's all a game, Jane knows. And yet the longer she stays, the more her insecurities seem to fall away, and the more she wonders: Is she about to kick the Austen obsession for good, or could all her dreams actually culminate in a Mr. Darcy of her own?

GOODREADS | AMAZON

The Geography of Lost Things by Jessica Brody

*This is on my TBR for this summer actually, it's surprisingly hard to find a copy at my library but I managed and it should be coming soon! (Yes, I still can't afford to buy books often lol, so library it is!) Honestly, I've had my eye on this book for a while on Goodreads because it sounds really good to me: I love road trips, the cover is lovely, and the plot sounds super good too! Now...have any of you read it and what did you think of it??*


In this romantic road trip story perfect for fans of Sarah Dessen and Morgan Matson, a teen girl discovers the value of ordinary objects while learning to forgive her absent father.

After Ali’s father passes away, he leaves his one and only prized possession—a 1968 Firebird convertible—to his daughter. But Ali doesn’t plan on keeping it. Not when it reminds her too much of all her father’s unfulfilled promises. So when she finds a buyer three hundred miles up the Pacific coast willing to pay enough money for the car to save her childhood home, Ali can’t wait to get going. Except Ali has no idea how to drive a stick shift. But guess who does?

Ali’s ex-boyfriend, Nico. And Nico has other plans.

He persuades Ali that instead of selling the car, they should “trade up” the items they collect on their trip to eventually reach the monetary amount Ali needs. Agreeing with Nico’s crazy plan, Ali sets off on a unique adventure that is unlike anything she ever could have expected.

And it’s through Ali’s travels, through the strangers she meets and the things that they value—and why they value them—that Ali eventually comes to understand her father and how his life may not have been as easy and carefree as she previously thought. Because just like the seemingly insignificant objects Ali collects, not everything is exactly as it appears.

GOODREADS | AMAZON

Starry Eyes by Jenn Bennett

*While I have not read this Jenn Bennett book yet (my library hold got delayed so it may be another week or so sadly), everyone has insisted this is a perfect summer romance read. And I personally have not been disappointed by Jenn Bennett's books yet, so I'm still looking forward to reading it soon!*


Ever since last year’s homecoming dance, best friends-turned-best enemies Zorie and Lennon have made an art of avoiding each other. It doesn’t hurt that their families are the modern-day Californian version of the Montagues and Capulets.

But when a group camping trip goes south, Zorie and Lennon find themselves stranded in the wilderness. Alone. Together.

What could go wrong?

With no one but each other for company, Zorie and Lennon have no choice but to hash out their issues via witty jabs and insults as they try to make their way to safety. But fighting each other while also fighting off the forces of nature makes getting out of the woods in one piece less and less likely.

And as the two travel deeper into Northern California’s rugged backcountry, secrets and hidden feelings surface. But can Zorie and Lennon’s rekindled connection survive out in the real world? Or was it just a result of the fresh forest air and the magic of the twinkling stars?

GOODREADS | AMAZON

Beach Read by Emily Henry

*This is very much on my 'Must Read This Summer List/TBR'', I haven't heard a lot about this book but one of my friends suggested it big time to me and insisted I had to read it this summer! And honestly, the description sounds like something I would love!*


A romance writer who no longer believes in love and a literary writer stuck in a rut engage in a summer-long challenge that may just upend everything they believe about happily ever afters.

Augustus Everett is an acclaimed author of literary fiction. January Andrews writes bestselling romance. When she pens a happily ever after, he kills off his entire cast.

They're polar opposites.

In fact, the only thing they have in common is that for the next three months, they're living in neighboring beach houses, broke, and bogged down with writer's block.

Until, one hazy evening, one thing leads to another and they strike a deal designed to force them out of their creative ruts: Augustus will spend the summer writing something happy, and January will pen the next Great American Novel. She'll take him on field trips worthy of any rom-com montage, and he'll take her to interview surviving members of a backwoods death cult (obviously). Everyone will finish a book and no one will fall in love. Really.

GOODREADS | AMAZON

Have you read any of these? What did you think of them??

What's your perfect summer read??



Lots of love & Thank you for reading!!
~Noel

The King's 100 | Sci-Fi Drama with a Secret Identity

Title: The King's 100
By: Karin Biggs

Published: July 21st, 2020

Genre: YA | Fantasy

GOODREADS


  Synopsis:   Sixteen-year-old Piper Parish, princess of the loveless, STEM-only kingdom of Capalon, is a disappointment to her citizens and to her older sister, the queen. When Piper receives an anonymous note stating her mother is still alive and living in the enemy kingdom of Mondaria, Piper chooses to risk death in effort to prove once and for all that she's not just the queen's defective little sister. With the companionship of Chip, a piece of tech embedded in her wrist, Piper flees Capalon and enters a world where love and emotional expression are unrestricted.

Posing as a singer for the enemy king’s court of performers, the King’s 100, Piper risks death if she is revealed to be the Capalon princess, but discovers that living a life without the freedom to love might actually be the most dangerous risk of all.

The King’s 100 is a glittering and mysterious love story woven among the camaraderie singers, drummers and magicians in a future world by debut author, Karin Biggs.

*I received a copy of this book from Netgalley in exchange for my honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own!*


   The cover of this book really caught my attention, so it piqued my interest recently. I requested to review it after reading the synopsis and finding it was a fantasy read which just sealed the deal for me really.
 When it's summertime, I find myself craving fantasy or sci-fi reads more.

Let's see, where to start...

  The novel starts by introducing us to our main character, Piper, who is a princess in a complex and very interesting kingdom (if not also downright pitying, I would NOT want to live there!). It was hard to not have instant compassion for the main character after seeing her life and the people in it that she had to deal with. While still being herself and mourning her parents!
  Goodness.
 Piper's parents died not long ago, and so her older sister became queen. However their kingdom is ignorant of everywhere else in the world really, and instead, its people pride themselves on being oh-so-intelligent and cold. They do not let emotions or sentiments have a place in their lives.

So the fact that Piper, their princess, grieves for her parents still and believes her mother might be alive is a big no-no to them.
 Right after that was all made clear, I was all for Piper to go on an adventure to find her mother and get out of that suffocating kingdom!


  While I use the term ''suffocating kingdom'' it was still intriguing to read about. Their technology in the story and everything had me thinking it was a sci-fi novel and not a fantasy after all. I checked and it is in fact listed and marketed as a fantasy novel, but I digress.
 

 I initially thought the novel was slow, and that it took forever for things to pick-up and get to where things actually happened. But once it did, crud, I was not putting it down!
 Okay, admission: I'm a sucker for romance. So when that was introduced I HAD to finish it in one sitting. But anyway...back to the plot 😂

While it did take a bit for things to start picking up, somethings picked up a little too much towards the end...
 

   Piper finds herself in her enemy's kingdom looking for her mother and evidence she is still alive. To do so she poses as a singer in the king's court. (The King's 100 if you want to be exact.) She changes her name to Paris (which I personally loved, but I also have a All-Things-Paris-Obsession), and I loved some of the side characters in this part of the story.
  Some of them I strongly disliked, and some of them I really could've cared less if they even died in the story (which would explain why I don't remember if they even did die or not...).


 While I liked Piper, she made some very...not quite stupid, but close, decisions. And honestly, that would be because the last half of the book was really just...drama.
  Romance was in the air, which of course I was rooting for because I really liked her love interest, but Piper lost sight of why she even went to the other kingdom. She was so focused on the emotions she was caught up in while telling herself she couldn't have those emotions for these people.
Which lead to some needless things happening in the plot, that while they weren't bad, they just weren't necessary. They were pretty much filler scenes.


I did like some of the friendships that Piper made and the interactions were sometimes so funny!


The ending was very good and made me enjoy it all again. I wished there'd been more to the conclusion, but oh well.
Though...the last two pages or so definitely has some explaining to do. But good news: I heard the author is planning a sequel!


One thing I still have a little bit of a hard time with is rather hard to discuss without spoiling, but I will try. The climax and big reveal/discovery part, that I'd waited for the whole book with anticipation was rather a let down to me.
Yeah, it still is.


What I really enjoyed:

- The romance
- The original plot was intriguing (though the author rather strayed from that a bit sadly)
- The side characters and the main character (if I don't care about the main character, there's a problem)
- the secret identity part, lately I've been on a kick for that in stories and movies so when I find one done well... bravo! 👏


ALSO NOTE: While it is listed as a fantasy novel, I personally did not see many 'fantasy elements', and really I saw more sci-fi than anything else. Though that also wasn't in all the book... so while I'm calling it a sci-fi, Goodreads says different.


My Rating:

Have you heard of this book or read it?? What are your thoughts?

What have you been reading lately??



Thank you for reading, & have a lovely day!
~Noel 💗
P. S. Biscuit and Pugsley say hello! :)

Tempest Tossed | New WonderWoman Graphic Novel!

*I received a copy of this book from DC and Netgalley in exchange for my honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.*

Title: Wonder Woman: Tempest Tossed

Author: Laurie Halse Anderson and Illustrated by: Leila Del Duca

Genre: DC | Teen & YA | Graphic Novels | Comics | Fantasy

Published: June 2nd, 2020

AMAZON | GOODREADS



   Summary: New York Times bestselling author Laurie Halse Anderson (Speak, Shout) and artist Leila del Duca reimagine Wonder Woman's origins in this timely story about the refugee experience, teenage activism, and finding the love and strength to create change.

Princess Diana believes that her 16th birthday will be one of new beginnings--namely acceptance into the warrior tribe of Amazons. The celebrations are cut short, however, when rafts of refugees break through the Themysciran barrier. Diana tries to help them, but she is swept away by the sea--and from her home--thus becoming a refugee herself.

Now Diana must survive in the world outside of Themyscira for the first time; the world that is filled with danger and injustice. She must redefine what it means to belong, to be an Amazon, and to make a difference.

Wonder Woman: Tempest Tossed is a story about growing into your strength, battling for justice, and the power of friendship.

 First, I'm in love with the cover!!😍😍

Amazon Princess Diana once again wins lots of people over in this teen graphic novel!


   In Tempest Tossed our main character is going through a lot of things that teenagers can relate to right off the bat: bodies changing, insecurities, and all the ups and downs. She's trying to find her place in the world she's grown up in.
(Of course for Diana it's a bit different seeing as she's on an island of Amazon warriors.)

It was super fast-paced, everything happened very quickly and there was never a dull moment! 

   This is Wonder Woman's origin story, and it conveyed everything very well- it was hard not to love Diana and her stubbornness (though I couldn't say I loved the rest of it). Though everything happened so quickly, and there was so much of it!


 Later, she faces the refugee experience, immigration, and other powerful obstacles. And it wouldn't be our lovely Diana if she didn't charge at them head-first to deliver justice.

While there were parts of it I did like, I honestly would not read it again and didn't particularly enjoy it either. It wasn't my classic Wonder Woman graphic novel I would want to read.
 Yes, she had her lasso and everything, but she didn't really even use them.
  It was all about her finding herself separated from her home, coming across all these things, and she wasn't really our Wonder Woman (despite how much I liked Diana, it's sadly true). Even at the end when she had come to her conclusion, I wasn't satisfied! Where and what was the plot again?? (I don't even remember what all happened in the last third of it, and that includes the plot!)


Also: the art and illustrations were so lovely! At times they expressed just the lost and overwhelming feelings our main character was going through. DC provided me with some images to share with you guys from the graphic novel!

My rating:

Do you love Wonder Woman? I always liked her, but she wasn't my favorite per se.
Have you heard of this one or read it? What are your thoughts??


Hope you all have a lovely day & if you need prayers please let me know!
~Noel 💕

The Oracle Code | Barbara Gordon, Hackers, & More

Title: The Oracle Code

By: Marieke Mijkamp and illustrated by: Manuel Preitano

Genre: DC | Teen & YA | Graphic Novels | Comics | Mystery | Suspense

Published: March 10th, 2020

AMAZON | GOODREADS


  Synopsis: The #1 New York Times bestselling author Marieke Nijkamp and artist Manuel Preitano unveil a graphic novel that explores the dark corridors of Barbara Gordon's first mystery: herself.
 
 After a gunshot leaves her paralyzed below the waist, Barbara Gordon must undergo physical and mental rehabilitation at Arkham Center for Independence. She must adapt to a new normal, but she cannot shake the feeling that something is dangerously amiss. Strange sounds escape at night while patients start to go missing.
 
 Is this suspicion simply a result of her trauma? Or does Barbara actually hear voices coming from the center's labyrinthine hallways? It's up to Barbara to put the pieces together to solve the mysteries behind the walls.
      In The Oracle Code, universal truths cannot be escaped, and Barbara Gordon must battle the phantoms of her past before they consume her future.

  *I received a copy of this book from DC and Netgalley in exchange for my honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.*


   I really really liked this graphic novel, and... I was a little disappointed about one thing (which I'm kinda ''eh... they did it really well though'' about).

  Our first glimpses of Barbara Gordon is of her hacking with her best friend in the middle of the night and her daring attitude. After a shooting accident though (where she came running to help her father), you only see a few shattered moments of what happened.
The next time we see Barbara she's broken and dealing with being handicapped from the accident.

Its right off the bat got you worried and caring about the protagonist while trying to piece together everything as she moves into a special rehabilitation center specifically for handicapped kids.

And then Barbara starts to notice and come across some odd and concerning things during her stay- things no one else sees as a problem or gives different chilling responses to.


The plot and story were intriguing and had a good mystery and suspense-feel. Which honestly kept me going more than the main character for some of the book.
  We piece things together bit by bit, stakes rise, and I really liked the 'reveal' and climax part the absolute most!!

Some of the side characters I wasn't sure about at first, if they were secretly evil or what, but as I got farther in it became clear and I was rather happy with the outcomes!


 The part that disappointed me at first, but I am actually rather happy with now, is that there was really no mention of Batman or anything. It's strictly about Barbara and her overcoming the biggest obstacle that she thought was never supposed to happen to her.
Going in, I had wanted at least a mention of the superhero we all know but then I honestly am much happier without it taking over Barbara's spotlight story.


Below, I have a few images from the graphic novel to share with you all!~

Definitely one of my favorite DC graphic novels!

My Rating:

Have you read or heard of The Oracle Code? What are your thoughts??

Out of curiosity, what's your favorite DC character (hero, sidekick, or villain!)??
Personally, I used to really love the Flash but nowadays I don't think I have a top favorite anymore 🤔



Thanks for reading loves & have a lovely day!!
Hope you're all doing well! <3
~Noel

Robin Hood & Maid Marian RETELLINGS for BOOK LOVERS

 Does Noel mostly hunt down and obsess over Retellings?
 Does Noel go through book phases, and then have to hunt down books that fit those odd phases?
 Is it hard to find good retellings?


The answer to the first two is rather obvious to some (nods head yes, while saying NOOO...), the last one is tricky. It's not hard to find good retellings, but if you're looking for specific ones?
Heck yes, it is!


Here's a list of the top Robin Hood and Maid Marian Retellings! *You can find links, my personal thoughts about them, and their descriptions in this post!*

The Forest Queen by Betsy Cornwell

   When sixteen-year-old Sylvie’s brother takes over management of their family’s vast estates, Sylvie feels powerless to stop his abuse of the local commoners. Her dearest friend asks her to run away to the woods with him, and soon a host of other villagers join them. Together, they form their own community and fight to right the wrongs perpetrated by the king and his noblemen.

Amazon | Goodreads

While at first, I was very intrigued because of the synopsis, I found out a bit more about the book and honestly rather lost interest in reading The Forest Queen, I'd definitely say decide for yourself though. This is one book where everyone has different feelings, so there are lots of mixed reviews and it varies per person.

Hood by Stephen R. Lawhead

   Steeped in Celtic mythology and the political intrigue of medieval Britain, Stephen R. Lawhead's latest work conjures up an ancient past and holds a mirror to contemporary realities. Prepare yourself for an epic tale that dares to shatter everything you thought you knew about Robin Hood.

Goodreads | Amazon

  Sherwood by Meagan Spooner

Robin of Locksley is dead.
  Maid Marian doesn’t know how she’ll go on, but the people of Locksley town, persecuted by the Sheriff of Nottingham, need a protector. And the dreadful Guy of Gisborne, the Sheriff’s right hand, wishes to step into Robin’s shoes as Lord of Locksley and Marian’s fiancé.
  Who is there to stop them?
  Marian never meant to tread in Robin’s footsteps—never intended to stand as a beacon of hope to those awaiting his triumphant return. But with a sweep of his green cloak and the flash of her sword, Marian makes the choice to become her own hero: Robin Hood. 

Amazon | Goodreads

Maid Marian by Elsa Watson

  An orphan and heiress to a large country estate, Marian Fitzwater is wed at the age of five to an equally young nobleman, Lord Hugh of Sencaster, a union that joins her inheritance to his. But when she is seventeen, Lord Hugh, whom she hasn’t seen in years, dies under mysterious circumstances. 
  Marian is left alone again—a widow who has never been a bride. But now, like all unmarried young ladies of fortune, she is made the ward of King Richard the Lionheart. Since Richard is away on Crusade, Marian’s fate lies in the hands of his mother, the formidable Queen Eleanor of Aquitaine. The bridegroom Eleanor selects will get Marian’s lands and, in return, pledge his loyalty—and silver—to the king. 
  Marian herself is irrelevant and she knows it. Determined not to be sold into another sham marriage, she seeks out the one man who can help uncover the queen’s intentions: Robin Hood, the notorious Saxon outlaw of Sherwood Forest.

Amazon | Goodreads

  This was a very good Maid Marian and Robin Hood retelling, one of the better ones I've read! Marian was surprised to find Robin Hood was a decent man and rather handsome after all the stories she'd heard of him, she enlists his help and stages her death so she'll be free of the Queen's plans for her. And then she begins her new life with the outlaws that pledge to help her regain her fortune and expose her enemies.

 Scarlet by A. C. Gaughen

Will Scarlet is good at two things: stealing from the rich and keeping secrets - skills that are in high demand in Robin Hood's band of thieves, who protect the people of Nottingham from the evil sheriff. Scarlet's biggest secret of all is one only Robin and his men know...that she is posing as a thief; that the slip of a boy who is fast with sharp knives is really a girl.
    
  The terrible events in her past that led Scarlet to hide her real identity are in danger of being exposed when the thief taker Lord Gisbourne arrives in town to rid Nottingham of the Hood and his men once and for all. As Gisbourne closes in and puts innocent lives at risk, Scarlet must decide how much the people of Nottingham mean to her, especially John Little, a flirtatious fellow outlaw, and Robin, whose quick smiles have the rare power to unsettle her. There is real honor among these thieves and so much more - making this a fight worth dying for.


Amazon | Goodreads

This is a YA retelling and a trilogy, where Will Scarlet is secretly a girl in hiding whose name used to be Maid Marian. It came out when love triangles were more popular, so it might seem cliche, but one of my top Robin Hood retelling recs!! (I rated it 5 stars!)

Hawksmaid by Kathryn Lasky


Before she was Maid Marian, she was Matty.... 

   Matty has been raised to dance well, embroider exquisitely, and marry nobly. But when Matty's mother is murdered before her very eyes and her father, a nobleman, is reduced to poverty, Matty's life changes. 

   As the daughter of Nottingham's most famous falconer, she finds a new destiny in the hawks her father keeps. She begins to understand their thoughts and even speak their language. The beautiful merlin Marigold becomes Matty's closest winged companion and her fiercest ally.
   It is a treacherous time in England. The sheriff of Nottingham is rising to power, and a true king has been kidnapped. Determined to fight, Matty's friend Fynn becomes Robin Hood. As Maid Marian, Matty joins Fynn and his Merry Men, famously robbing from the rich to give to the poor.


Amazon | Goodreads

Another top favorite retelling, that I also rated 5 stars! It's technically a middle grade and is a standalone, but I've re-read it countless times! Marian and Robin's romance in this one was not cliche in the least, and was developed throughout the book very nicely!

  Hood by Jenny Edler Moke

You have the blood of kings and rebels within you, love. Let it rise to meet the call.

Isabelle of Kirklees has only ever known a quiet life inside the sheltered walls of the convent, where she lives with her mother, Marien. But after she is arrested by royal soldiers for defending innocent villagers, Isabelle becomes the target of the Wolf, King John's ruthless right hand. Desperate to keep her daughter safe, Marien helps Isabelle escape and sends her on a mission to find the one person who can help: Isabelle's father, Robin Hood.

As Isabelle races to stay out of the Wolf's clutches and find the father she's never known, she is thrust into a world of thieves and mercenaries, handsome young outlaws, new enemies with old grudges, and a king who wants her entire family dead. As she joins forces with Robin and his Merry Men in a final battle against the Wolf, will Isabelle find the strength to defy the crown and save the lives of everyone she holds dear?

Goodreads | Amazon

This retelling is going to be released in June 2020, and this is one of my most anticipated reads this year! I'm so excited to read about Robin and Marian's daughter, if any of you get the chance to read this you MUST let me know what you thought of it!!!

Lady of the Forest by Jennifer Roberson 

   With her king a captive and her coffers drained, England is left in turmoil during the Crusades. After the death of her father in the Holy Land, Lady Marian of Ravenskeep finds herself alone--and at the mercy of men vying for her lands and her beauty. Thrust into games of political intrigue, the sheltered knight's daughter soon learns to trust no one. . .

Afforded a hero's homecoming, Sir Robert of Locksley returns from the Crusades a shattered man. In a country he barely recognizes, one torn apart by treachery and betrayal, he finds in Marian a kindred soul. Their quest for justice will take them into the depths of Sherwood Forest, where the dream of a new England will be born. . .

Goodreads | Amazon

This one was not a personal favorite for me, but I did enjoy most of it. It's an adult version for sure, as Robin is scared from the Crusades and it shows, as well as the fact that the romance is not exactly PG...

The Forestwife by Theresa Tomlinson

   Mary, 15 years old and an orphan, must flee into Sherwood Forest to avoid an arranged marriage. There her life truly begins, for she finds a community of heroic outlaws that includes a woman with seemingly magical healing powers and a young man who is bravely leading the fight against tyranny. This man is Robin Hood, and Mary will soon be known as Maid Marian, the green lady of the woods.

Goodreads | Amazon

This retelling was more on the whimsical side, I didn't enjoy it a whole lot as it was all from Marian's pov and had no action really at all. None of Robin Hood's adventures or anything. Though it was a good and quick read, with romance and family throughout. Word of warning: the ''thees'' and ''thas'' can be annoying and other tones!

The Rescue of Maid Marian by Richard Percy

   The adventures of Robin Hood the teenager and his young outlaws present a fresh and aspirational look at this classic hero. The evil Sheriff has captured Maid Marian to be his wife, how can Robin and his band of outlaws rescue her?

Goodreads | Amazon

A nice, fun and quick read for any fan of Robin Hood & Maid Marian, for younger audiences, as well if they're really interested in Robin Hood!

What are your favorite kind of retellings? Have you read any of these??


Thanks for reading & have a lovely day!!
~Books with Noel