Hi friends! I’ve uh…been gone for a while. That was due to a huge blogging/reading slump that also combined with school and left me drowning like a fish out of water. But I’m here today to share my reviews on two books I SHOULD have released months ago so go me!
Thank you to HarperTeen and Freeform for e-ARCS through Edelweiss in exchange for honest reviews!
One sentence summary: Feminist Robin Hood retelling where Robin Hood dies and Maid Marian must take his place. I absolutely adored Meagan Spooner’s writing style! It’s effortlessly atmospheric, yet isn’t filled with needless descriptions. Also, Marian’s character was fantastic! She had her struggles, flaws, and dreams. Her grief after Robin’s death was done so well in my opinion. It fleshed-out her character in the first few chapters which I really liked. However, I thought the romantic aspects were completely unnecessary? EVERY YA BOOK DOESN’T NEED ROMANCE. Also, I enjoyed the main points of the plot but found it to be a little bit filler-y in the middle. And finally, I know the whole point is that, ya know, Robin dies but I WANTED HIM. I really shipped him and Marian despite not really knowing him but whatever. So overall, I’d give this 4 stars!
recommended:
This is the sequel to the The Belles by Dhonielle Clayton, and I actually really enjoyed it! It didn’t have all the royal, political intrigue I enjoyed in the first book but rather explored the world more deeply. So there’s finally a use for that pretty map in the beginning lol. The magic system is based on beauty, of course, and the amount of racial diversity in this book is amazing! Also I got more of my ship so YASSSS. But also on that note, the ship kinda came out of nowhere. The way the relationships were at the start of this book didn’t quite correlate to how they ended at the end of the first. I also found the writing, while gorgeous, to be a little much at times. And Camille is just…I don’t dislike her but she’s not a favorite character of mine. So I gave this 4/5 stars!
And that’s it! Have you read any of these???
Fab reviews! I love Robin Hood retellings, and I’ve heard very nice things about The Belles. And I feel you on how every YA novel seems to have romance in it nowadays! It really is very unnecessary, and I feel like poorly executed romances are what usually ruins a book for me. *sighs* Ah well, what’s new haha.
Excellent post! I’m glad you were able to knock your ARC reviews off the list! 🤗
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Thank you so much!💜 IKR it’s so very annoying. If I find a good one without romance, I’ll be sure to recommend it your way haha!
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Ready to catch! 👏❤️
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It’s so good to have you back!!! And I’ve been in a reading/blogging slump as well lately, school is definitely getting the best of me! And OMG Sherwood sounds sooo great! Robin Hood dies and Maid Marian takes his place, that’ soooo awesome! I really have to read that!
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Aww thank you!!💜💜 School is just crazy rn😅 and ooh yes, I’d love to hear your thoughts!
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You’re welcome 😍😍😍
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“EVERY YA BOOK DOESN’T NEED ROMANCE.”
Totes agree, even as a romance fan! Sometimes the romances just feel shoehorned in there, let the story breathe and do its thing!
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Yes exactly!! I love romance but sometimes it overwhelmed the main plot too much🤣
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