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The Wicked Prince
*See all of the books in the Once Upon a Prince Series HERE.*
A righteous outlaw. A wicked tyrant. A marriage to save their crumbling kingdom.
As regent, Prince John has a never-ending list of problems, including his brother’s expensive war and his subjects’ utter hatred of him. But the biggest thorn in his side? The outlaw Robin Hood.
With an ultimatum from his brother—deal with the outlaw once and for all or be sent to the frontlines to die—Prince John needs a solution and fast. Upon discovering everything they thought they knew about the criminal was wrong—most surprising, Robin Hood is a woman—Prince John’s brilliant scheme is born.
Marry the outlaw. Secure his safety… even if he condemns himself to a wife that despises him and fascinates him in equal measures.
Robin has never come across a trap she couldn’t escape, but when Prince John proves himself as her equal, it’s time to put that to the test. She’d made a vow to fight his tyranny, and the ring on her finger won’t change that.
As long as she believes he is every wicked thing the world says he is, her heart is safe, and even though she might be the greatest thief in the world, it isn’t like he has a heart for her to steal…
The Wicked Prince, a retelling of Robin Hood, is book 4 of Once Upon A Prince , a multi-author series of clean fairy tale retellings. Each standalone story features a swoony prince fighting for his happily ever after.
A righteous outlaw. A wicked tyrant. A marriage to save their crumbling kingdom.
As regent, Prince John has a never-ending list of problems, including his brother’s expensive war and his subjects’ utter hatred of him. But the biggest thorn in his side? The outlaw Robin Hood.
With an ultimatum from his brother—deal with the outlaw once and for all or be sent to the frontlines to die—Prince John needs a solution and fast. Upon discovering everything they thought they knew about the criminal was wrong—most surprising, Robin Hood is a woman—Prince John’s brilliant scheme is born.
Marry the outlaw. Secure his safety… even if he condemns himself to a wife that despises him and fascinates him in equal measures.
Robin has never come across a trap she couldn’t escape, but when Prince John proves himself as her equal, it’s time to put that to the test. She’d made a vow to fight his tyranny, and the ring on her finger won’t change that.
As long as she believes he is every wicked thing the world says he is, her heart is safe, and even though she might be the greatest thief in the world, it isn’t like he has a heart for her to steal…
The Wicked Prince, a retelling of Robin Hood, is book 4 of Once Upon A Prince , a multi-author series of clean fairy tale retellings. Each standalone story features a swoony prince fighting for his happily ever after.
254 pages, Kindle Edition
Published October 20, 2023
258 people are currently reading
1613 people want to read
About the author
Celeste Baxendell
23 books1,028 followersCeleste Baxendell has always read anything she could get her hands on, but once she read her first fantasy novel, she was hooked and hasn’t looked back since.
Her love of magic, adventure, and romance hasn’t waned with age, and she endeavors to write nail-biting stories with compelling, complex characters, and finding light in dark times.
She is incredibly blessed to spend her time writing from her favorite chair with her legs curled up under her as she fights the southern heat. When she isn’t writing, she’s either reading, drawing, or sewing, in that order, and most likely thinking about writing as she does.
Her love of magic, adventure, and romance hasn’t waned with age, and she endeavors to write nail-biting stories with compelling, complex characters, and finding light in dark times.
She is incredibly blessed to spend her time writing from her favorite chair with her legs curled up under her as she fights the southern heat. When she isn’t writing, she’s either reading, drawing, or sewing, in that order, and most likely thinking about writing as she does.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 243 reviews
November 6, 2024
4.25 stars ✨ (the hype for this one is real 🫶🏻)
Oh my goodness, this was so much fun. 🤩
Just the opening chapter had me laughing and reminded of Flynn Rider but way more arrogant 🤣 I was honestly kicking my feet in delight for the majority of this book and grinning like a ninny while reading. It was such a joy!
It could be so easy to dislike Prince John, but oh the character growth! It was fantastic and played out like a movie in my head. That final scene?? *chef’s kiss 😘*
I’m always nervous about reading a book with a married couple because that usually has suggestive content, but this book was pretty clean in that regard! There’s a couple kisses that last a while or a whole page, but there not really any actual details of the actions/kiss, if that makes sense? A few comments from others about Robin and John, but nothing major that made me scowl. 😂
Overall super fun, I have to get a copy for my shelves, and my new favorite Robin Hood retelling! 💗
(Bonus: If you liked “Assassin of Fire and Sacrifice” by Mary Mecham you should like this book too or vice versa!)
Main Content-
No magic content at all, but there is a comment about someone finding a witch to break a spell on another that is acting out of character for them; A mention of a young girl thinking a man is a troll and going to eat her; A mention of John praying to “the stars above” for something.
Robin is chained up, threatened, and held hostage and in a prison at the beginning of the book because she is a criminal; Being attacked/fighting, being bitten, injuries, & blood/bleeding (up to a couple sentences); Robin has a moment of hyperventilating; Robin believes that Prince John wants to manipulate her; Some villagers ask Robin if Prince John is beating her and spread rumors/gossip about it.
Many, many mentions of criminals, crimes, stealing, thieves, & a war with deaths; Mentions of a fire & deaths (including of a young girl’s parents and her feeling guilt over it); Mentions of prisons, prisoners, & possible executions; Mentions of a broken bone & horrible pain; Mentions of hunting & animals for food; Mentions of lies & lying; A few mentions of throwing up; A few mentions of alcohol & drinking (including John having a glass of wine).
An incredible amount of sass, sarcasm, & eye rolling (which worked well for the characters); No major language but a few mentions of curses being said (including Robin possibly starting Prince John’s name being used as a curse) and phrases like “thank the stars”, “stars above”, “what in all the stars’ light” are said a few times in total.
Around ten kisses with little-to-no details,
2 kisses lasting a couple-to-a-few sentences,
4 kisses that last a while (one to three paragraphs/full pages) but little actual details (one mentions swollen lips at the most);
Wanting to touch, embrace, & kiss (up to a few sentences); Touches, Embraces, Dancing, Hand holding, Staring, Noticing, Nearness, & Blushes (up to a few sentences).
Prince John makes a comment on their first night together (nothing sexual happened but those listening in could think otherwise) & that she enjoys him touching her every night (which is when he massages her leg); Robin’s band of Merry Men are protective of her especially towards Prince John and are concerned that he will do something to her; Robin accuses John of getting handsy with her a few times and he promises but thinks that he never promised not to look; Robin gets up on a horse by herself and ends up showing a lot of her leg, which causes John to stare at her legs and smirk (and she thinks he’s looking at her like a piece of meat); Prince John makes a few comments on maybe he likes it when Robin bites him (taunting someone); Prince John finds himself staring and appealed by Robin in her (very modest) nightgown; When training/fighting, Robin and John straddle the other a couple times; Robin & John fall asleep in his bed together (nothing sexual happens); John tries to be physically close to Robin without being too amorous”; A few villagers make comments on Robin warming John’s bed & probably already being pregnant (neither is the case).
Mentions of kisses & kissing; A few mentions of flirting; A mention of puberty.
Oh my goodness, this was so much fun. 🤩
Just the opening chapter had me laughing and reminded of Flynn Rider but way more arrogant 🤣 I was honestly kicking my feet in delight for the majority of this book and grinning like a ninny while reading. It was such a joy!
It could be so easy to dislike Prince John, but oh the character growth! It was fantastic and played out like a movie in my head. That final scene?? *chef’s kiss 😘*
I’m always nervous about reading a book with a married couple because that usually has suggestive content, but this book was pretty clean in that regard! There’s a couple kisses that last a while or a whole page, but there not really any actual details of the actions/kiss, if that makes sense? A few comments from others about Robin and John, but nothing major that made me scowl. 😂
Overall super fun, I have to get a copy for my shelves, and my new favorite Robin Hood retelling! 💗
(Bonus: If you liked “Assassin of Fire and Sacrifice” by Mary Mecham you should like this book too or vice versa!)
Main Content-
No magic content at all, but there is a comment about someone finding a witch to break a spell on another that is acting out of character for them; A mention of a young girl thinking a man is a troll and going to eat her; A mention of John praying to “the stars above” for something.
Robin is chained up, threatened, and held hostage and in a prison at the beginning of the book because she is a criminal; Being attacked/fighting, being bitten, injuries, & blood/bleeding (up to a couple sentences); Robin has a moment of hyperventilating; Robin believes that Prince John wants to manipulate her; Some villagers ask Robin if Prince John is beating her and spread rumors/gossip about it.
Many, many mentions of criminals, crimes, stealing, thieves, & a war with deaths; Mentions of a fire & deaths (including of a young girl’s parents and her feeling guilt over it); Mentions of prisons, prisoners, & possible executions; Mentions of a broken bone & horrible pain; Mentions of hunting & animals for food; Mentions of lies & lying; A few mentions of throwing up; A few mentions of alcohol & drinking (including John having a glass of wine).
An incredible amount of sass, sarcasm, & eye rolling (which worked well for the characters); No major language but a few mentions of curses being said (including Robin possibly starting Prince John’s name being used as a curse) and phrases like “thank the stars”, “stars above”, “what in all the stars’ light” are said a few times in total.
Around ten kisses with little-to-no details,
2 kisses lasting a couple-to-a-few sentences,
4 kisses that last a while (one to three paragraphs/full pages) but little actual details (one mentions swollen lips at the most);
Wanting to touch, embrace, & kiss (up to a few sentences); Touches, Embraces, Dancing, Hand holding, Staring, Noticing, Nearness, & Blushes (up to a few sentences).
Prince John makes a comment on their first night together (nothing sexual happened but those listening in could think otherwise) & that she enjoys him touching her every night (which is when he massages her leg); Robin’s band of Merry Men are protective of her especially towards Prince John and are concerned that he will do something to her; Robin accuses John of getting handsy with her a few times and he promises but thinks that he never promised not to look; Robin gets up on a horse by herself and ends up showing a lot of her leg, which causes John to stare at her legs and smirk (and she thinks he’s looking at her like a piece of meat); Prince John makes a few comments on maybe he likes it when Robin bites him (taunting someone); Prince John finds himself staring and appealed by Robin in her (very modest) nightgown; When training/fighting, Robin and John straddle the other a couple times; Robin & John fall asleep in his bed together (nothing sexual happens); John tries to be physically close to Robin without being too amorous”; A few villagers make comments on Robin warming John’s bed & probably already being pregnant (neither is the case).
Mentions of kisses & kissing; A few mentions of flirting; A mention of puberty.
October 12, 2025
My second time reading this and I still love it!!!!
~~~~~~
I LOVED THIS SO MUCH. Prince John was fabulous and had me laughing many times. There's a fine line when it comes to making someone so arrogant still likeable, and this author pulled it off perfectly. Such a cute romance. Definitely a new favorite book and I look forward to reading more from this author.
~~~~~~
I LOVED THIS SO MUCH. Prince John was fabulous and had me laughing many times. There's a fine line when it comes to making someone so arrogant still likeable, and this author pulled it off perfectly. Such a cute romance. Definitely a new favorite book and I look forward to reading more from this author.
![Profile Image for Jacquelyn 💐 {This Rapunzel Reads} [Jesus Christ, my Living Hope].](/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fi.gr-assets.com%2Fimages%2FS%2Fcompressed.photo.goodreads.com%2Fusers%2F1766269624i%2F169222098._UX200_CR0%2C0%2C200%2C200_.jpg&w=128&q=75)
October 14, 2025
Reread October 14, 2025: IT GETS BETTER AND BETTER EVERY TIME I READ IT!! I love it so much!! 💜💜💜
Reread April 25, 2025: This is just as DELIGHTFUL as the first time I read it!! Oh my goodness!! I LOVE IT SO MUCH!! John is AMAZING! Absolutely worth every single star!! BEST ROBIN HOOD RETELLING EVER!! I HAVE NO WORDS! I highly recommend this book!! You have to read it if you haven’t! One of my absolute favorites books ever!! Not to mention that the cover is STUNNING!! 💜💜💜
Oh my goodness!! This lived up to its hype! I absolutely love this book! It is delightful! It made me smile, laugh, snort, smirk, and cry from page one! It is one of my all time favorites! I have no words! I just LOVED it! I especially loved John! Amazing! Just amazing! 5 stars, no question about it!! Hands down, one of the best Christmas gifts I’ve gotten this year! 💜💜💜
Reread April 25, 2025: This is just as DELIGHTFUL as the first time I read it!! Oh my goodness!! I LOVE IT SO MUCH!! John is AMAZING! Absolutely worth every single star!! BEST ROBIN HOOD RETELLING EVER!! I HAVE NO WORDS! I highly recommend this book!! You have to read it if you haven’t! One of my absolute favorites books ever!! Not to mention that the cover is STUNNING!! 💜💜💜
Oh my goodness!! This lived up to its hype! I absolutely love this book! It is delightful! It made me smile, laugh, snort, smirk, and cry from page one! It is one of my all time favorites! I have no words! I just LOVED it! I especially loved John! Amazing! Just amazing! 5 stars, no question about it!! Hands down, one of the best Christmas gifts I’ve gotten this year! 💜💜💜
February 5, 2025
Loved it! The characters were young but didn't feel like YA to me:)
December 22, 2024
This was AMAZING!!!!!! 😍😍😍😍
Honestly I was a bit skeptical when I read the premise at first, like how is this situation going to make me like the infamous Prince John who we’ve all been taught since seeing the animated Disney movie to utterly despise and laugh at? Well, dear reader of this review, this story manages it.
From page one.
Yes, illustrious reader, I snort-laughed about twice in the opening 2% of this book and didn’t stop laughing or smiling or loving these two idiots for the rest of it. Prince John is such an arrogant fop who honestly deserves all the credit he heaps upon his own head and yet retains enough good charm and vulnerability that I fell in love with him as slowly and surely as Robin does. The scene that made me really love him was the destroyed sketches scene—I felt so sad and bad for him then realized how much I adored this idiot and never stopped.
Robin is the best female Robin Hood character I’ve ever had the pleasure of reading in that she’s tough but soft and when she snarled at or opened up to John I was over here in a puddle of feels while wanting to shake them and tell them they were idiots for not noticing they loved each other! (yes, I know I sound deranged, work with me here, people!) And John calling her feral had me in stitches of delight (yes, that’s a thing) and them falling in love—utter. Perfection. It couldn’t have been done any better.
This book is a riot yet also deep and raw, and I loved it soooo much I actually ordered a physical copy before I even finished the ebook, it’s that good! I love it and these ridiculous idiots so much, and I will never look at Prince John the same way ever again, lol!
‼️Content‼️
Violence: a girl knocks a guy down and threatens him with a knife; a girl bites a guy’s hand; practice fighting (not detailed); injuries and blood (not detailed); talk of a far off war and fighting on the frontlines; a character’s house was lit on fire and their parents died in it (not shown or detailed)
Sexual: mild suggestive comments/hints; a husband and wife notice each other’s physical appearance (all stays in innocent territory); kissing (not detailed); talk about being “handsy”
Other: a character was an outlaw and was chained up and thrown in a dungeon; past death and present grief
Honestly I was a bit skeptical when I read the premise at first, like how is this situation going to make me like the infamous Prince John who we’ve all been taught since seeing the animated Disney movie to utterly despise and laugh at? Well, dear reader of this review, this story manages it.
From page one.
Yes, illustrious reader, I snort-laughed about twice in the opening 2% of this book and didn’t stop laughing or smiling or loving these two idiots for the rest of it. Prince John is such an arrogant fop who honestly deserves all the credit he heaps upon his own head and yet retains enough good charm and vulnerability that I fell in love with him as slowly and surely as Robin does. The scene that made me really love him was the destroyed sketches scene—I felt so sad and bad for him then realized how much I adored this idiot and never stopped.
Robin is the best female Robin Hood character I’ve ever had the pleasure of reading in that she’s tough but soft and when she snarled at or opened up to John I was over here in a puddle of feels while wanting to shake them and tell them they were idiots for not noticing they loved each other! (yes, I know I sound deranged, work with me here, people!) And John calling her feral had me in stitches of delight (yes, that’s a thing) and them falling in love—utter. Perfection. It couldn’t have been done any better.
This book is a riot yet also deep and raw, and I loved it soooo much I actually ordered a physical copy before I even finished the ebook, it’s that good! I love it and these ridiculous idiots so much, and I will never look at Prince John the same way ever again, lol!
‼️Content‼️
Violence: a girl knocks a guy down and threatens him with a knife; a girl bites a guy’s hand; practice fighting (not detailed); injuries and blood (not detailed); talk of a far off war and fighting on the frontlines; a character’s house was lit on fire and their parents died in it (not shown or detailed)
Sexual: mild suggestive comments/hints; a husband and wife notice each other’s physical appearance (all stays in innocent territory); kissing (not detailed); talk about being “handsy”
Other: a character was an outlaw and was chained up and thrown in a dungeon; past death and present grief
January 2, 2024
I LOVE Robin Hood retellings, especially genderswapped retellings, so I already knew I was going to love this one. But I didn't realize HOW much I would ADORE this one! I read it in a single evening, and IT WAS SO GOOD!
I was also impressed by how Prince John was still very much Prince John that we know, but that was twisted around in a very unexpected way! Secret squishy cinnamon roll is my FAVORITE!
I also loved how this was NOT historical (very much in a fantasy kingdom) so it gave the author wiggle room. Yet she still stuck to a lot of the familiar legends, so it still felt very much like Robin Hood without having to contend with pesky historical details.
I was also impressed by how Prince John was still very much Prince John that we know, but that was twisted around in a very unexpected way! Secret squishy cinnamon roll is my FAVORITE!
I also loved how this was NOT historical (very much in a fantasy kingdom) so it gave the author wiggle room. Yet she still stuck to a lot of the familiar legends, so it still felt very much like Robin Hood without having to contend with pesky historical details.
January 17, 2024
Wow!
This one came to my attention through the Swoony Awards, it did very well throughout the contest and I just knew I had to give it a try to see what all the fuss was about. And now I know! So good! I hadn't read much about it, I like going in blind to books now and after the first chapter I was dying to know how she was going to not only make us like these two characters of Prince John and Robin Hood, but how she would make them come to like each other. Impossible, right?!? We all know John is the villain in the Robin Hood story, and he doesnt start off very likable in this version either. And this Robin Hood is a woman who is filled with anger and thoughts of revenge with no signs of softening. Ms. Baxendell did an amazing job of slowly brining these two together in a very believable way. I adore books where characters "fall in like" and that's just what happened here. Not only do they fall in love along the way, but they come to really like and respect each other too. I love when that happens.
This takes the traditional Robin Hood story and places it in a fictional world, shakes things up a bit, and we're given a whole new version. I really enjoyed the familiar elements, but love the changes she made to the story. A really great retelling. This was the first book I've read of Ms. Baxendell's and I am now eagerly looking forward to reading the rest of her books.
Content Rated G
Clean romance, kissing. No language and very very mild violence
Other Robin Hood Retellings
This one came to my attention through the Swoony Awards, it did very well throughout the contest and I just knew I had to give it a try to see what all the fuss was about. And now I know! So good! I hadn't read much about it, I like going in blind to books now and after the first chapter I was dying to know how she was going to not only make us like these two characters of Prince John and Robin Hood, but how she would make them come to like each other. Impossible, right?!? We all know John is the villain in the Robin Hood story, and he doesnt start off very likable in this version either. And this Robin Hood is a woman who is filled with anger and thoughts of revenge with no signs of softening. Ms. Baxendell did an amazing job of slowly brining these two together in a very believable way. I adore books where characters "fall in like" and that's just what happened here. Not only do they fall in love along the way, but they come to really like and respect each other too. I love when that happens.
This takes the traditional Robin Hood story and places it in a fictional world, shakes things up a bit, and we're given a whole new version. I really enjoyed the familiar elements, but love the changes she made to the story. A really great retelling. This was the first book I've read of Ms. Baxendell's and I am now eagerly looking forward to reading the rest of her books.
Content Rated G
Clean romance, kissing. No language and very very mild violence
Other Robin Hood Retellings
July 26, 2025
Ahhh so cute!!!! That deserved all the stars in the world!!! I didn’t want it to end!! At first I was a little weary in the beginning but by the middle I was sold and to the end it pulled out such a moral and ahh I can’t explain it. The message was beautiful and super deep. I enjoyed every minute of it and loved the story. This author is so talented. I’m so sad it ended tho I think I’m definitely going to try another by this author. Tot recommend 10/10!!! Eek! Thank you all for all the hype it was real! <333 😁
January 28, 2025
A fun gender-swapped, non-magical retelling of Robin Hood!
I enjoyed seeing this couple grow together over time, working together to try to help the people of their kingdom.
Personally, I didn't like John's character much as the love interest but that's just my personal preference--many of my friends loved him and the romance.
It's a solid recommendation of a good Robin Hood retelling.
Content: slight innuendo
Christian faith rating: 0/3 clean fiction
I enjoyed seeing this couple grow together over time, working together to try to help the people of their kingdom.
Personally, I didn't like John's character much as the love interest but that's just my personal preference--many of my friends loved him and the romance.
It's a solid recommendation of a good Robin Hood retelling.
Content: slight innuendo
Christian faith rating: 0/3 clean fiction
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February 25, 2025C-minus; I never connected with either of the characters, I actually hate John and didn’t love Robin either.
October 19, 2023
Brief description of my thoughts after reading the Once Upon a Prince books so far:
The Crownless Prince: Ooooh! This was pretty good! I could read 11 more books like this!
The Unlucky Prince: Wow! This book was amazing! I’m not sure how any of the other books in the series can top it!
The Golden Prince: Okay, clearly my last thought was wrong! These keep getting better and better!
The Wicked Prince: OMG!!! THIS BOOK WAS EVERYTHING, AND I’M NEVER GOING TO GET OVER THIS BOOK HANGOVER!!!
I literally messaged Celeste Baxendell while reading this book to let her know that she was disrupting my sleep patterns, and I was not mad about it! Haha! Ugh, I don’t even know where to start. I cried. I laughed. I nearly threw my phone across the room. I sat with a big dopey grin on my face. This book convinced me to do a giveaway on my Instagram page for one of the books in the series, and a part of me (unfairly since I haven’t read all the books yet) thinks that anyone who chooses any other book is just wrong.
The first thing you need to know is that this book is not only a gender-swapped Robin Hood retelling but also a villain romance! One thing I often struggle with when I read romances is that they don’t always feel compelling. I usually don’t read spice because I feel like it is sometimes used in lieu of crafting a compelling romance, but clean romances often fall flat for me, too. I want my emotions to be so intertwined with the characters that I feel like my own heart is being ripped out and then stitched back together. The Wicked Prince did that in the best way possible!
This book was the epitome of swoony romance without being cliché. The details throughout the book were absolute perfection. For instance, Prince John wonders if Robin would notice if he replaced the dining table with one that was one inch shorter every night, just so he could be closer to her. AND THEN HE ACTUALLY DID!!! If that isn’t the cutest thing, then I don’t know what is!
Furthermore, the characters were wonderfully written. I appreciated that John had some traits that are rarely seen in your stereotypical prince. He likes drawing and designing clothes. One of his biggest flaws is that he is a coward, something that was developed through his character arc perfectly. I loved the way that he was a villain, but also not really. Even his more villainous traits, like his slight obsession with Robin, were endearing. I particularly admired the way Baxendell kept John from becoming creepy or misogynistic. I know some readers like those kinds of romances, which is totally fine, but for me, that is a line that I don’t want my romances to cross.
Finally, Robin was a fantastically complex character, too. I liked that she was pretty oblivious yet also very strong. She was funny and innovative, and I felt like those traits gave her more depth. At one point, she tears up her wedding dress to make breeches she can train in, which captured her character excellently.
This is the first book I’ve read by Baxendell, and part of me wants to binge all of her books to see if they are equally captivating. Sadly, I don’t have the time to continue staying up until 4-6am reading, although I will admit that I convinced my parents to pitch in for an early birthday present, buying signed copies of all twelve of Celeste’s books (which are available at https://celestebaxendell.myshopify.com/ until October 31st). Another part of me feels like bawling my eyes out and screaming at the top of my lungs, “I WILL NEVER READ A BOOK THIS MAGNIFICENT AGAIN!!!” So, please read this book so we can be miserable together! I will just spend the rest of my life trying to relive the high of experiencing this book for the first time!
Disclaimer: I received an ARC of this book, and I’m sharing my review voluntarily.
The Crownless Prince: Ooooh! This was pretty good! I could read 11 more books like this!
The Unlucky Prince: Wow! This book was amazing! I’m not sure how any of the other books in the series can top it!
The Golden Prince: Okay, clearly my last thought was wrong! These keep getting better and better!
The Wicked Prince: OMG!!! THIS BOOK WAS EVERYTHING, AND I’M NEVER GOING TO GET OVER THIS BOOK HANGOVER!!!
I literally messaged Celeste Baxendell while reading this book to let her know that she was disrupting my sleep patterns, and I was not mad about it! Haha! Ugh, I don’t even know where to start. I cried. I laughed. I nearly threw my phone across the room. I sat with a big dopey grin on my face. This book convinced me to do a giveaway on my Instagram page for one of the books in the series, and a part of me (unfairly since I haven’t read all the books yet) thinks that anyone who chooses any other book is just wrong.
The first thing you need to know is that this book is not only a gender-swapped Robin Hood retelling but also a villain romance! One thing I often struggle with when I read romances is that they don’t always feel compelling. I usually don’t read spice because I feel like it is sometimes used in lieu of crafting a compelling romance, but clean romances often fall flat for me, too. I want my emotions to be so intertwined with the characters that I feel like my own heart is being ripped out and then stitched back together. The Wicked Prince did that in the best way possible!
This book was the epitome of swoony romance without being cliché. The details throughout the book were absolute perfection. For instance, Prince John wonders if Robin would notice if he replaced the dining table with one that was one inch shorter every night, just so he could be closer to her. AND THEN HE ACTUALLY DID!!! If that isn’t the cutest thing, then I don’t know what is!
Furthermore, the characters were wonderfully written. I appreciated that John had some traits that are rarely seen in your stereotypical prince. He likes drawing and designing clothes. One of his biggest flaws is that he is a coward, something that was developed through his character arc perfectly. I loved the way that he was a villain, but also not really. Even his more villainous traits, like his slight obsession with Robin, were endearing. I particularly admired the way Baxendell kept John from becoming creepy or misogynistic. I know some readers like those kinds of romances, which is totally fine, but for me, that is a line that I don’t want my romances to cross.
Finally, Robin was a fantastically complex character, too. I liked that she was pretty oblivious yet also very strong. She was funny and innovative, and I felt like those traits gave her more depth. At one point, she tears up her wedding dress to make breeches she can train in, which captured her character excellently.
This is the first book I’ve read by Baxendell, and part of me wants to binge all of her books to see if they are equally captivating. Sadly, I don’t have the time to continue staying up until 4-6am reading, although I will admit that I convinced my parents to pitch in for an early birthday present, buying signed copies of all twelve of Celeste’s books (which are available at https://celestebaxendell.myshopify.com/ until October 31st). Another part of me feels like bawling my eyes out and screaming at the top of my lungs, “I WILL NEVER READ A BOOK THIS MAGNIFICENT AGAIN!!!” So, please read this book so we can be miserable together! I will just spend the rest of my life trying to relive the high of experiencing this book for the first time!
Disclaimer: I received an ARC of this book, and I’m sharing my review voluntarily.
October 20, 2023
A fun Robin Hood retelling with Prince John not nearly as awful as everyone thinks – and Robin Hood not nearly as courageous as reported.
I liked how John and Robin grew together and became better people because of each other. I also liked how John treated Robin as an equal in all matters – and how chivalrous he is (especially when someone insults her).
And that final show of love…! Swoonworthy. It almost made Richard and the Merry Men look like villains. LOL.
A great story to get lost in.
*I received an ARC from the author and this is my honest opinion.
I liked how John and Robin grew together and became better people because of each other. I also liked how John treated Robin as an equal in all matters – and how chivalrous he is (especially when someone insults her).
And that final show of love…! Swoonworthy. It almost made Richard and the Merry Men look like villains. LOL.
A great story to get lost in.
*I received an ARC from the author and this is my honest opinion.
February 27, 2025
Unfortunately I did not love this as much as most of my friends. The tale of Robin Hood has always been interesting to me, and since this was a retelling of that story, I was excited. I was nervous about the fact that this followed Prince John, and knew it could either be I liked him or I would not. I don’t want to give this book a bad review because it was written really well and the writing style immediately drew me in. There was never a time where I felt like it dragged or I was bored, but unfortunately I just didn’t care about the two main characters and was more invested in the side characters. I would’ve loved to see Marian’s and Guy’s story and more about Little John and King Richard. Those characters were super intriguing to me and I loved each time they were included.
Unfortunately John made me uncomfortable and I did not like reading about him. Robin was okay, she was a little annoying.
This book was a miss for me, but I know that a lot of people really loved it and it was a clean novel.
Content:
Kissing and some suggestive comments
Unfortunately John made me uncomfortable and I did not like reading about him. Robin was okay, she was a little annoying.
This book was a miss for me, but I know that a lot of people really loved it and it was a clean novel.
Content:
Kissing and some suggestive comments
September 8, 2023
I was hooked on the premise of this story from the first. Marriage of convenience AND enemies-to-lovers? AND the fact that Robin Hood is a woman and said marriage of convenience is to Prince John? Pop some popcorns and get cozy, folks. This is book that will keep you glued from the first page.
If you’ve read any of Celeste Baxendell’s books, you already know she is a master of creating multi-faceted, believable characters with depth and layers. Prince John and Robin are both complex and flawed, and watching their relationship progress elicits every reaction from nail biting to gasps of surprise to laughter to swooning and back again. This is no quick “we used to hate each other but now we’re in love” situation. The characters WORK for their happy ending, and I am here for it.
This is such a fun exploration of the Robin Hood legend, and I wholeheartedly recommend it.
If you’ve read any of Celeste Baxendell’s books, you already know she is a master of creating multi-faceted, believable characters with depth and layers. Prince John and Robin are both complex and flawed, and watching their relationship progress elicits every reaction from nail biting to gasps of surprise to laughter to swooning and back again. This is no quick “we used to hate each other but now we’re in love” situation. The characters WORK for their happy ending, and I am here for it.
This is such a fun exploration of the Robin Hood legend, and I wholeheartedly recommend it.
February 17, 2024
Whoa! Okay, wow! Talk about enemies to lovers! Talk about twists on a classic! Talk about ideas that could have been handled so badly but ended up so good!!!
First off, I loved the transposition to a fantasy setting where we could have shades of the characters we know but tweak the geography and the history and the behind-the-scenes things going on everywhere it's needed. Brilliant choice! And I loved the way Robin discovered how difficult running the country really was, and how impossible it was to please everyone, and how even some of the things she'd railed against might have an importance she'd never considered. And also the way that she didn't stop there but kept on finding ways to work for the people's ultimate good, even if that didn't look like she'd first envisioned it.
Okay, characters. You want a shocker? I was rooting for John from his first chapter. Let me say that again. I was rooting for *John* from his first chapter. While he was still smug and scheming and basking in the glory of how he'd finally trapped the people's hero. Why? Because somehow even in that moment, there was something there--just the tiniest glimmer of more hidden beneath that self-satisfied facade. Also...he was hilarious! No, seriously, I mean it! *Prince John* was hilarious! I don't know the last time I laughed so hard over a book. It wasn't all John, but...a very large portion of it was. Who would've thought?
Robin's perspective was also very interesting and sometimes humorous, although she naturally had more to work through, being forced into a situation she'd never wanted. However, the marriage angle (you know, the one that could go extremely bad in an enemies-to-lovers, arranged/coerced marriage story) was handled extremely well, in my opinion. Their deal basically comes down to "you don't attack me, I won't touch you," which is not only entirely reasonable when you're a prince marrying an outlaw but also cuts out any worries of things getting icky right away. And then of course, any touching or, dare I imply kissing, that comes after that is appropriate because they're married (along with not being terribly descriptive, which I appreciated). The only parts that gave me even a slight feeling of creepiness were the scene where he's holding her face to propose to her (to be fair, she probably wouldn't have looked at him otherwise) and the scene where he kisses her after the wedding to put on a show for the people. But after that, I never had an issue with her treatment.
I loved digging down into the layers of what made both of them tick--finding some surprising good hidden in the "villain" and some unacknowledged flaws that needed to be worked at in the "hero". I loved seeing them find ways to work together for the good of everyone. I loved the message of courage that hit them both between the eyes. And I loved that their flaws weren't sugarcoated even as we came to understand them better--there was misunderstanding and prejudice, yes, but there were also real flaws that had to be acknowledged and overcome.
The Merry Men and Marian were all rather fun, and part of me wants to say we needed more of them, but another part of me says that the core of the story between Robin and John was just perfect, and I wouldn't sacrifice that for anything. When I picked up this book, I had the feeling it was either going to be brilliant or a disaster. Brilliant it is. Incredible job!
First off, I loved the transposition to a fantasy setting where we could have shades of the characters we know but tweak the geography and the history and the behind-the-scenes things going on everywhere it's needed. Brilliant choice! And I loved the way Robin discovered how difficult running the country really was, and how impossible it was to please everyone, and how even some of the things she'd railed against might have an importance she'd never considered. And also the way that she didn't stop there but kept on finding ways to work for the people's ultimate good, even if that didn't look like she'd first envisioned it.
Okay, characters. You want a shocker? I was rooting for John from his first chapter. Let me say that again. I was rooting for *John* from his first chapter. While he was still smug and scheming and basking in the glory of how he'd finally trapped the people's hero. Why? Because somehow even in that moment, there was something there--just the tiniest glimmer of more hidden beneath that self-satisfied facade. Also...he was hilarious! No, seriously, I mean it! *Prince John* was hilarious! I don't know the last time I laughed so hard over a book. It wasn't all John, but...a very large portion of it was. Who would've thought?
Robin's perspective was also very interesting and sometimes humorous, although she naturally had more to work through, being forced into a situation she'd never wanted. However, the marriage angle (you know, the one that could go extremely bad in an enemies-to-lovers, arranged/coerced marriage story) was handled extremely well, in my opinion. Their deal basically comes down to "you don't attack me, I won't touch you," which is not only entirely reasonable when you're a prince marrying an outlaw but also cuts out any worries of things getting icky right away. And then of course, any touching or, dare I imply kissing, that comes after that is appropriate because they're married (along with not being terribly descriptive, which I appreciated). The only parts that gave me even a slight feeling of creepiness were the scene where he's holding her face to propose to her (to be fair, she probably wouldn't have looked at him otherwise) and the scene where he kisses her after the wedding to put on a show for the people. But after that, I never had an issue with her treatment.
I loved digging down into the layers of what made both of them tick--finding some surprising good hidden in the "villain" and some unacknowledged flaws that needed to be worked at in the "hero". I loved seeing them find ways to work together for the good of everyone. I loved the message of courage that hit them both between the eyes. And I loved that their flaws weren't sugarcoated even as we came to understand them better--there was misunderstanding and prejudice, yes, but there were also real flaws that had to be acknowledged and overcome.
The Merry Men and Marian were all rather fun, and part of me wants to say we needed more of them, but another part of me says that the core of the story between Robin and John was just perfect, and I wouldn't sacrifice that for anything. When I picked up this book, I had the feeling it was either going to be brilliant or a disaster. Brilliant it is. Incredible job!
October 28, 2023
“From the moment I first saw you under that hood, I knew I would either kill you or marry you.”
While King Richard is off fighting a war he has left Prince John to reign in his stead. When his brother sends him an ultimatum to deal with the outlaw Robin Hood or change places with him at the frontline, Prince John begins to scheme. When he discovers that the people's hero is a woman his plan is set: he's going to trap her into marrying him.
This is the fourth book in the Once Upon a Prince series, a series of 12 books by 12 different authors. Each book is a stand-alone and a retelling of a classic fairy tale. "The Wicked Prince" is a gender-swapped retelling of Robin Hood, with a Prince John that might not be the tyrant everyone thinks he is...
Perhaps it took a while to get to know the characters, to see their personalities beneath the surface, but then I had a great time following Robin's and John's dialogues and actions. How they slowly get to know each other, their bickering and banter. And how they discover that prejudice can be hard to get past, and that you can be a coward in many ways. Another greatly entertaining read from Celeste Baxendell!
* I received an ARC from the author and I'm giving my honest review. *
While King Richard is off fighting a war he has left Prince John to reign in his stead. When his brother sends him an ultimatum to deal with the outlaw Robin Hood or change places with him at the frontline, Prince John begins to scheme. When he discovers that the people's hero is a woman his plan is set: he's going to trap her into marrying him.
This is the fourth book in the Once Upon a Prince series, a series of 12 books by 12 different authors. Each book is a stand-alone and a retelling of a classic fairy tale. "The Wicked Prince" is a gender-swapped retelling of Robin Hood, with a Prince John that might not be the tyrant everyone thinks he is...
Perhaps it took a while to get to know the characters, to see their personalities beneath the surface, but then I had a great time following Robin's and John's dialogues and actions. How they slowly get to know each other, their bickering and banter. And how they discover that prejudice can be hard to get past, and that you can be a coward in many ways. Another greatly entertaining read from Celeste Baxendell!
* I received an ARC from the author and I'm giving my honest review. *
December 17, 2025
Some books are just the right fit, and that’s what this one was for me. From the beginning I was hooked. I loved John’s character and how complex and clever he was! I was a little worried the romance would go a little too far/insinuate things since they are married for most of the book, but nope! This was just the right amount of romance for me, swoony, but oh so sweet. John was my favorite, but I loved seeing Robin come to terms with her feelings, and once she was all in, she was all in! Overall a very satisfying, very entertaining read that I hope to revisit again and again!
May 28, 2025
˚₊· ͟͟͞͞➳❥˚₊· ͟͟͞͞➳❥˚₊· ͟͟͞͞➳❥˚₊· ͟͟͞͞➳❥˚₊· ͟͟͞͞➳❥˚₊· ͟͟͞͞➳❥˚₊· ͟͟͞͞
👑~Genres~👑
Marriage of convenience/Enemies to lovers/Retelling/Fantasy/Romance/clean
A righteous outlaw. A wicked tyrant. A marriage to save their crumbling kingdom.
🏹~Characters~🏹
(John) MMC he was great I liked him.
(Robin) FMC I really liked her too.
(Marian) ROBIN'S COUSIN she was ok.
(Guy) MARIAN'S HUSBAND he was so annoying .
(King Richard) JOHN'S OLDER BROTHER I didn't like him.
THE MERRY MEN
(Will Scarlet) He was Annoying sometimes.
(Little Jon) He was ok.
(Alan-a-dale) He was really annoying.
Robin Hood was absolutely feral. The doors slammed shut. And Prince John was just getting started.
⚔️~Quotes~⚔️
“From the moment I first saw you under that hood, I knew I would either kill you or marry you.”
Robin Hood was a young woman. And John? John had a much better idea than an archery competition. Robin could have the golden arrow. John was going to have Robin.
“My righteous outlaw, my brave princess, my hateful wife, save your people from their greedy, wicked tyrant.”
“Besides, if I ever looked at you the way some of those men look at any beautiful woman, much less touch you any way you didn’t want me to, you’d kill me.”
The light that radiated out of her smile and her eyes went straight into the heart that seemed to beat only for her. It took root there and started to grow. Hope. If he loved her enough without saying it, maybe she could love him in return.
💍~What I liked~💍
The cover, The map, The epilogue, the writing style
Prince John might think he held all the cards, but Robin always kept a few up her sleeve.
🖌️~What I disliked~🖌️
That she kept biting him.
🎨~Content/Trigger warnings~🎨
Death of parents, war, house fire, starvation, poverty,
Even better than the day Prince John caught Robin Hood was the day Robin Hood chose Prince John.
💐~Language~💐
None.
👑~Genres~👑
Marriage of convenience/Enemies to lovers/Retelling/Fantasy/Romance/clean
A righteous outlaw. A wicked tyrant. A marriage to save their crumbling kingdom.
🏹~Characters~🏹
(John) MMC he was great I liked him.
(Robin) FMC I really liked her too.
(Marian) ROBIN'S COUSIN she was ok.
(Guy) MARIAN'S HUSBAND he was so annoying .
(King Richard) JOHN'S OLDER BROTHER I didn't like him.
THE MERRY MEN
(Will Scarlet) He was Annoying sometimes.
(Little Jon) He was ok.
(Alan-a-dale) He was really annoying.
Robin Hood was absolutely feral. The doors slammed shut. And Prince John was just getting started.
⚔️~Quotes~⚔️
“From the moment I first saw you under that hood, I knew I would either kill you or marry you.”
Robin Hood was a young woman. And John? John had a much better idea than an archery competition. Robin could have the golden arrow. John was going to have Robin.
“My righteous outlaw, my brave princess, my hateful wife, save your people from their greedy, wicked tyrant.”
“Besides, if I ever looked at you the way some of those men look at any beautiful woman, much less touch you any way you didn’t want me to, you’d kill me.”
The light that radiated out of her smile and her eyes went straight into the heart that seemed to beat only for her. It took root there and started to grow. Hope. If he loved her enough without saying it, maybe she could love him in return.
💍~What I liked~💍
The cover, The map, The epilogue, the writing style
Prince John might think he held all the cards, but Robin always kept a few up her sleeve.
🖌️~What I disliked~🖌️
That she kept biting him.
🎨~Content/Trigger warnings~🎨
Death of parents, war, house fire, starvation, poverty,
Even better than the day Prince John caught Robin Hood was the day Robin Hood chose Prince John.
💐~Language~💐
None.
Read
October 25, 2023A very unique and original take on the Robin Hood framework with complex and interesting characters and twisty reveals. I loved that Prince John is an artist and intellectual who is into interior design and fashion rather than a warrior; it was a different and interesting choice for a male lead, and his gifts to Robin were thoughtful. He also had a good arc of finding his courage to love and fight for things that matter to him, like the woman he loves. Robin herself was feisty and determined with complex motivations and backstory.
August 11, 2025
Content:
Language: None.
Violence: Mild. Almost nothing, just sparring and some minor fighting. Only blood depicted was from a finger wound.
Sexual: Mild. There are instances of the male and female protagonists admiring each other at different points (his arms, her legs, her smile, etc.) A few heated kisses, but not described to the point I would call them steamy.
I have mixed feelings about this book.
My rating rounded up because my hang-ups with the book are mostly my opinion and preferences weren't exactly happy with how it all went down.
Having Prince John as the protagonist drew me in immediately. It was a unique twist I hadn't seen before, and I immediately got the gist that he's a smart little cookie. I struggled, however, with the obsessiveness displayed by both John and Robin. It made them a good match, but it was unsettling as a romantic stepping stone. I did appreciate that Robin called John out on his behavior and didn't find it at ALL flattering. And that Richard .
John was incredibly well-written and believable. I enjoyed his character arc and seeing how his past informed a lot of his present circumstances. Robin, on the other hand, was less defined and seemed to have more of a forced 'tragic backstory' and character. It didn't flow as well as John's and she was harder to connect to for me as a result. She was also touted to be just as smart as John, but was incredibly slow when it came to John. Which, I can justify, but it came across as forced as well to create romantic tension.
Also, I had to wonder at the believability of John's reputation among those close to him. I can get behind the general populace twisting things and such but the people who are actually with him and around him like castle servants, Lords and Ladies, and the other nobles? I find it difficult to think they were all that unobservant. But again, I can justify this choice, so maybe it's just me.
I enjoyed reading the book, mostly because of John and not because of the romance. I think I actually would've enjoyed seeing a book centered around John figuring out how to navigate the slander and decide that he's not going to put up with the lies anymore instead of a romance. His was heartbreaking and courageous all at once. Seeing him transform into a guy that knows he deserves more would've been vastly more satisfying for me than focusing on the love story.
Language: None.
Violence: Mild. Almost nothing, just sparring and some minor fighting. Only blood depicted was from a finger wound.
Sexual: Mild. There are instances of the male and female protagonists admiring each other at different points (his arms, her legs, her smile, etc.) A few heated kisses, but not described to the point I would call them steamy.
I have mixed feelings about this book.
My rating rounded up because my hang-ups with the book are mostly my opinion and preferences weren't exactly happy with how it all went down.
Having Prince John as the protagonist drew me in immediately. It was a unique twist I hadn't seen before, and I immediately got the gist that he's a smart little cookie. I struggled, however, with the obsessiveness displayed by both John and Robin. It made them a good match, but it was unsettling as a romantic stepping stone. I did appreciate that Robin called John out on his behavior and didn't find it at ALL flattering. And that Richard .
John was incredibly well-written and believable. I enjoyed his character arc and seeing how his past informed a lot of his present circumstances. Robin, on the other hand, was less defined and seemed to have more of a forced 'tragic backstory' and character. It didn't flow as well as John's and she was harder to connect to for me as a result. She was also touted to be just as smart as John, but was incredibly slow when it came to John. Which, I can justify, but it came across as forced as well to create romantic tension.
Also, I had to wonder at the believability of John's reputation among those close to him. I can get behind the general populace twisting things and such but the people who are actually with him and around him like castle servants, Lords and Ladies, and the other nobles? I find it difficult to think they were all that unobservant. But again, I can justify this choice, so maybe it's just me.
I enjoyed reading the book, mostly because of John and not because of the romance. I think I actually would've enjoyed seeing a book centered around John figuring out how to navigate the slander and decide that he's not going to put up with the lies anymore instead of a romance. His was heartbreaking and courageous all at once. Seeing him transform into a guy that knows he deserves more would've been vastly more satisfying for me than focusing on the love story.
January 19, 2024
I can't believe how much I liked this. It reminded me of K.M Shea. The writing was simple and easy to read. I would easily give this to a 12 year old to read and I think for the most part they would get it. The cool thing is I enjoyed it too! The love story was so well done! Just tugged all my heart and soul strings! I can't believe I actually grew to like Prince John! I really didn't give him much of a chance he was such a whinner.
This is a squeaky clean book but there are so many swwonny moments! There are some kisses.
This is a squeaky clean book but there are so many swwonny moments! There are some kisses.
October 4, 2023
This story was fun.
I love a good retelling, and Robin Hood is one of my favourite legends so I was thrilled to have it retold by Celeste.
The characters were fleshed out and interesting, and I loved Prince John so much. I’ve always been irked by the fact that he’s painted as such a bad guy when really he was simply trying to hold England together while Richard was away…
Anyways, this was another fun retelling in the Once Upon a Prince series!
CONTENT
The reason I removed a star, is because, as the rest of Celeste’s recent book, the romantic content gets a little too passionate compared to what I’m comfortable with. Characters kiss “passionately”, can get a little handsy, though nothing inappropriate (the mention of it can be innuendo) and there might be some more innuendo here and there. I’m kinda sad about it because I liked her level of romance before better, but aside from that the book was gripping.
I love a good retelling, and Robin Hood is one of my favourite legends so I was thrilled to have it retold by Celeste.
The characters were fleshed out and interesting, and I loved Prince John so much. I’ve always been irked by the fact that he’s painted as such a bad guy when really he was simply trying to hold England together while Richard was away…
Anyways, this was another fun retelling in the Once Upon a Prince series!
CONTENT
The reason I removed a star, is because, as the rest of Celeste’s recent book, the romantic content gets a little too passionate compared to what I’m comfortable with. Characters kiss “passionately”, can get a little handsy, though nothing inappropriate (the mention of it can be innuendo) and there might be some more innuendo here and there. I’m kinda sad about it because I liked her level of romance before better, but aside from that the book was gripping.
November 11, 2023
5 stars!
I really loved this take on Robin Hood, especially the gender swap... and that her name is "Roberta." 😄 I love their banter and chemistry. She makes him brave, and he reels her in and tames her a bit. Definitely enemy to lovers trope. Definitely a page Turner! I love Celestes' work! 💓
I really loved this take on Robin Hood, especially the gender swap... and that her name is "Roberta." 😄 I love their banter and chemistry. She makes him brave, and he reels her in and tames her a bit. Definitely enemy to lovers trope. Definitely a page Turner! I love Celestes' work! 💓
October 31, 2023
Whaaat!!! Ahhhh. ALL the FEELINGS!! Prince John!!!!! I can't even believe this book is a stand alone. It felt so full! I loved it! I couldn't stop reading. My favorite in this series so far! All the banter! and the MOMENTS! ack. SO GREAT! :D enemies to lovers, he falls first...and hard! everything i'm looking for.
February 18, 2025
Edit: Alright, I have not stopped thinking about this book for nearly a week. I am changing my rating to five stars... I can't get the story out of my mind! 😭😂
If I were to rate this on how much I enjoyed it? 6 stars. Easily. 😂
But I tend to be critical with my reviews, so four stars in general. (I only say this because when I give a book 5-6 stars from a critical standpoint, it means it changed my life. 😂)
I adored this book far more than I thought I would. I never get into books when I read them as e-books, but this one? I absolutely did. I couldn't put it down. John and Robin were wonderful main characters, and some of the quotes!? They tore my heart out because I REALLY cared for these characters. 😭 It was incredible. It's been ages since I've been so sucked into a story, but this one, man! It was funny, heartfelt, and that perfect mix of sort-of-enemies to lovers.
Overall, I loved this story and finally got out of a harsh reading slump with it.
If I were to rate this on how much I enjoyed it? 6 stars. Easily. 😂
But I tend to be critical with my reviews, so four stars in general. (I only say this because when I give a book 5-6 stars from a critical standpoint, it means it changed my life. 😂)
I adored this book far more than I thought I would. I never get into books when I read them as e-books, but this one? I absolutely did. I couldn't put it down. John and Robin were wonderful main characters, and some of the quotes!? They tore my heart out because I REALLY cared for these characters. 😭 It was incredible. It's been ages since I've been so sucked into a story, but this one, man! It was funny, heartfelt, and that perfect mix of sort-of-enemies to lovers.
Overall, I loved this story and finally got out of a harsh reading slump with it.
January 2, 2024
I enjoyed this one! Why not five stars?? Because it’s just too wordy for me at times. However I loved the pacing of this book and I loved seeing how it was all going to unfold. It felt natural and it made me sigh and smile multiple times. I believed in this couple! I believed that they could be real and that their reactions to life could be real.
March 9, 2024
3 stars just because this book has the same problem as the rest of Baxendell's book, it stretches plot points to a long and tedious point before picking up the pace at the end. However, it wasn't as extreme as other books.
I really liked the originality and creativity that was employed with this retelling. It kept the familiar aspects of the original tale that everyone recognizes, but changed them to a new angle. The only thing I wasn't a huge fan of was the romance. Unfortunately, John is too much of a creep at the beginning of the book to forgive him when he has his change of heart. Even if he had explicitly apologized to Robin for how he acted at the beginning, that would've let me buy in to the romance way more. I do think that later-John has some great points about love, he says that not everyone shows love by saying it but rather showing it in the little things they do for the other. But by the time he says that, he's already been a creepy jackass. That being said, I think he did undergo a great character arc. Robin did too, I just felt meh about her.
I really liked the originality and creativity that was employed with this retelling. It kept the familiar aspects of the original tale that everyone recognizes, but changed them to a new angle. The only thing I wasn't a huge fan of was the romance. Unfortunately, John is too much of a creep at the beginning of the book to forgive him when he has his change of heart. Even if he had explicitly apologized to Robin for how he acted at the beginning, that would've let me buy in to the romance way more. I do think that later-John has some great points about love, he says that not everyone shows love by saying it but rather showing it in the little things they do for the other. But by the time he says that, he's already been a creepy jackass. That being said, I think he did undergo a great character arc. Robin did too, I just felt meh about her.
December 23, 2024
Overall I’m disappointed. John was awesome 😎. I don’t understand why everyone hated him, he was actually pretty sweet and sincere ( for the most part). Robin was okay. I got kind of annoyed with her for always being so distrusting of John after all the time they spent together. She always wanted to believe the worst about him even once she got to know him. Also she didn’t really seem to be falling in love with him that much ? Sometimes the romance seemed very one sided. But those were minor issues I had. My big problem was when the Merry Men helped her escape. I hated everything after that.
February 22, 2024
Genre: YA Fantasy
Format: eBook
Cautions: none
Main themes: bravery, perception, respect, unexpected friendships
Main characters: Robin Hood (Roberta of Locksley), Prince John, Little Jon, Alan, Will Scarlet, King Richard, and Marian
Favorite quote: "They were a noble tragedy, not a love story."
Review:
I have no idea what I expected when I picked up The Wicked Prince, but whatever it was, Celeste Baxendell blew those expectations out of the water. A friend on Goodreads mentioned what how fun this read was, and I was looking for something lighthearted, and I ended up here. Of course, I got exactly what I wanted: This gender-bent Robin Hood retelling had me smiling and laughing throughout. But it was so much more than that.
Celeste dug into the stories we tell ourselves versus reality, showing through both characters how what we think of ourselves, and others isn't always accurate. We have to dig deeper to find out who we are, and who they are. We have to give up our preconceived notions and sit with what the evidence says, even when it's hard. Even when we have to let go of the picture we've held in our minds for so long.
In Prince John, we saw a man wrestling with the truth that he wasn't quite what everyone said he was, but he wasn't the man he wanted to be either. Celeste gave us a glimpse into a soft-hearted male hero, which I absolutely loved. John is a strong, intelligent, and witty schemer who feels and loves deeply. He stays even when running would be easier. But Robin is a runner. She's running from her past, who she has become, and maybe even from her heart. Both of them have to admit who they really are before they can find what's best for them and for their country. Robin's character kept getting stuck in this cycle of trusting and doubting John. I guess it makes sense, but I didn't feel like I got to see her character grow until the end. Though, to be fair, she does grow before that, she just also falls back into old patterns—which is an accurate representation of the human experience.
Celeste had the fun, flirty banter down to a science, and the relationships between Robin and her men and Robin and her cousin were on point. It's always refreshing to see strong male-female family-type relationships. Plus, the found family vibes are strong with this one. And Celeste's idea to have Robin be a woman was also a super fun spin on an old story. She also brought a fresh dose of morality and forgiveness to the legend through the way she led the characters to work together.
Lovely setting. Fun vibes. Fairytale retelling. Clean. Sweet romance. What better way to relax into your evening than picking up a book like this?
Format: eBook
Cautions: none
Main themes: bravery, perception, respect, unexpected friendships
Main characters: Robin Hood (Roberta of Locksley), Prince John, Little Jon, Alan, Will Scarlet, King Richard, and Marian
Favorite quote: "They were a noble tragedy, not a love story."
Review:
I have no idea what I expected when I picked up The Wicked Prince, but whatever it was, Celeste Baxendell blew those expectations out of the water. A friend on Goodreads mentioned what how fun this read was, and I was looking for something lighthearted, and I ended up here. Of course, I got exactly what I wanted: This gender-bent Robin Hood retelling had me smiling and laughing throughout. But it was so much more than that.
Celeste dug into the stories we tell ourselves versus reality, showing through both characters how what we think of ourselves, and others isn't always accurate. We have to dig deeper to find out who we are, and who they are. We have to give up our preconceived notions and sit with what the evidence says, even when it's hard. Even when we have to let go of the picture we've held in our minds for so long.
In Prince John, we saw a man wrestling with the truth that he wasn't quite what everyone said he was, but he wasn't the man he wanted to be either. Celeste gave us a glimpse into a soft-hearted male hero, which I absolutely loved. John is a strong, intelligent, and witty schemer who feels and loves deeply. He stays even when running would be easier. But Robin is a runner. She's running from her past, who she has become, and maybe even from her heart. Both of them have to admit who they really are before they can find what's best for them and for their country. Robin's character kept getting stuck in this cycle of trusting and doubting John. I guess it makes sense, but I didn't feel like I got to see her character grow until the end. Though, to be fair, she does grow before that, she just also falls back into old patterns—which is an accurate representation of the human experience.
Celeste had the fun, flirty banter down to a science, and the relationships between Robin and her men and Robin and her cousin were on point. It's always refreshing to see strong male-female family-type relationships. Plus, the found family vibes are strong with this one. And Celeste's idea to have Robin be a woman was also a super fun spin on an old story. She also brought a fresh dose of morality and forgiveness to the legend through the way she led the characters to work together.
Lovely setting. Fun vibes. Fairytale retelling. Clean. Sweet romance. What better way to relax into your evening than picking up a book like this?
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