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A Noble Past
A Lord Marshal with a secret. An outlaw with a hidden past. A chance encounter that will change everything.
With the evil sheriff overthrown and Robin Hood now the Lord Protector of Nottingham, Little John finds himself of a Lord Marshal—protector of Nottingham and Sherwood and seeker of mercy and justice. But John has a secret, one not even his best friend Robin knows and one he can never tell him. To lie to Robin Hood is to court death.
Wren of Sherwood has been an outlaw for years, ever since her brother up and left their family. Hiding in Sherwood with her ‘siblings’, they all have one goal—to rid Nottingham of Robin Hood.
But when a lord marshal appears, asking to join their little band, Wren is conflicted. The more time she spends with this gentle giant of a man, the softer her heart becomes. Despite the bitterness and anger so deeply rooted in her heart, Wren can’t help but question everything she’s believed about Providence, Robin, and even her own self.
When danger arrives for them, Wren must decide—is she willing to let go of her past to embrace a future worth living? Or is she going to remain rooted in the bitterness of her past?
A Noble Past is a NA Christian fantasy that follows after the events of Robin Hood and His Merry Men.
Book #9 in Cornerstone Series
With the evil sheriff overthrown and Robin Hood now the Lord Protector of Nottingham, Little John finds himself of a Lord Marshal—protector of Nottingham and Sherwood and seeker of mercy and justice. But John has a secret, one not even his best friend Robin knows and one he can never tell him. To lie to Robin Hood is to court death.
Wren of Sherwood has been an outlaw for years, ever since her brother up and left their family. Hiding in Sherwood with her ‘siblings’, they all have one goal—to rid Nottingham of Robin Hood.
But when a lord marshal appears, asking to join their little band, Wren is conflicted. The more time she spends with this gentle giant of a man, the softer her heart becomes. Despite the bitterness and anger so deeply rooted in her heart, Wren can’t help but question everything she’s believed about Providence, Robin, and even her own self.
When danger arrives for them, Wren must decide—is she willing to let go of her past to embrace a future worth living? Or is she going to remain rooted in the bitterness of her past?
A Noble Past is a NA Christian fantasy that follows after the events of Robin Hood and His Merry Men.
Book #9 in Cornerstone Series
153 pages, Kindle Edition
Published December 10, 2024
About the author
Anna Augustine
20 books328 followersAnna Augustine has always loved telling stories that speak truth into the lives of her readers. She lives in a small town in the midwest with her crazy family. When she's not busy writing, she's either trying to put a dent in her massive collection of books or working on graphics for her social media.
Anna is the author of two novella collections--When You Found Me and A Love Like Ours. She's been in a number of anthologies as well. In 2023, Anna will have a novella and a novel releasing in Quill & Flame Publishing House.
Anna is the author of two novella collections--When You Found Me and A Love Like Ours. She's been in a number of anthologies as well. In 2023, Anna will have a novella and a novel releasing in Quill & Flame Publishing House.
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
February 6, 2025
3.5 stars, personally ✨ Christian Fiction - Fairytale Retelling
About this book:
“A Lord Marshal with a secret. An outlaw with a hidden past. A chance encounter that will change everything.
With the evil sheriff overthrown and Robin Hood now the Lord Protector of Nottingham, Little John finds himself of a Lord Marshal—protector of Nottingham and Sherwood and seeker of mercy and justice. But John has a secret, one not even his best friend Robin knows and one he can never tell him. To lie to Robin Hood is to court death.
Wren of Sherwood has been an outlaw for years, ever since her brother up and left their family. Hiding in Sherwood with her ‘siblings’, they all have one goal—to rid Nottingham of Robin Hood.
But when a lord marshal appears, asking to join their little band, Wren is conflicted. The more time she spends with this gentle giant of a man, the softer her heart becomes. Despite the bitterness and anger so deeply rooted in her heart, Wren can’t help but question everything she’s believed about Providence, Robin, and even her own self.
When danger arrives for them, Wren must decide—is she willing to let go of her past to embrace a future worth living? Or is she going to remain rooted in the bitterness of her past?”
Series: Book #9 in the multi-author series, “Cornerstone”. It does not seem to be connected to any other books, however. A stand-alone novel. Click on the books to be taken to that review: Book #1, Book #2, Book #3, Book #4, Book #5, Book #6, Book #7, and Book #8!
Spiritual Content- A Scripture is quoted & remembered; Prayers; Throughout the book, God speaks to both Wren and John through thoughts in their minds; Singing a hymn (John); Talks about God, Providence, trusting Him, people being called home, sins, & our reactions to bad things happening; Most 'H's are capital when referring to God; Wren recalls how she used to go to Mass and listen to a friar “drone on and on about God’s justice, hellfire, and eternal damnation for those who refused to submit to Him”; Wren no longer wants anything to do with Providence as she believes He hasn’t showed her mercy with what she’s gone through & thinks that Providence cares little for her; Despite this, Wren asks where God is, but feels fear at her prior comments and thinks that God won’t bother to do anything for her anyway; Though John knows that Providence has redeemed him and given him mercy, he thinks there’s a darkness dogging his heels; John and Wren discuss about bad things happening and why God would allow it to happen; John struggles to believe the things he preaches to others can be applied to him; *Spoilers* ; Mentions of God, Providence, trusting Him, & a calling; Mentions of Mass, going to Mass, & friars; A couple mentions of thanking God; A couple mentions of the Ten Commandments;
*Note: ‘Good heavens’ and ‘Heaven above’ are both said once; Wren thinks that perhaps kissing someone is “the evidence [she needs] that Providence does exist” and wonders if God is really out there and cares for her in that moment; Wren comments that she’s shocked Robin Hood allows his men to be religious as she views him as a thief and a liar; Wren curses chance, Providence, or “whatever cosmic being” is nipping at her heels; A man says for the Devil to wreck havoc on someone’s life (meant as a curse); Mentions of chance; Mentions of people looking like they saw a ghost; A couple mentions of a young man seeing evil and it corrupting him.
Negative Content- Minor cussing including: a ‘blasted’ and nine forms of ‘idiot’; The phrase “I kicked his—“ is cut-off; A few mentions of curses and slurs (said, not written); Eye rolling & Sarcasm; Lying; Fighting, Being attacked, Being held at knife-point, Pain, Injuries, & Blood/Bleeding (up to semi-detailed); Killing someone (stabbing) & seeing the person’s death (*Spoiler* , up to semi-detailed); John fights the urge to beat a man senseless & imagines killing him (barely-above-not-detailed); Wren notices that John talks about killing an evil man as if it would please him and would be as “simple as slaughtering a pig or cow”; Wren hunts and kills a stag (border-line barely-above-not-detailed // semi-detailed on the animal being shot and the noise it makes; She hates killing it, but it is for food for her and the others) & John kills a rabbit (barely-above-not-detailed); John drinks wine at a dinner; Mentions of killing, deaths (from fevers and an allergic reaction), seeing a loved one’s death, guilt, grief (including for a mother and sisters), & murderers; Mentions of children being abandoned & abused (including one flinching and agreeing that he is an idiot when someone who is stronger than him says so); Mentions of an abusive father (Wren’s father who also threw a goblet of wine at her, barely-above-not-detailed); Mentions of fights/fighting, injuries, pain, & blood/bleeding (up to semi-detailed); Mentions of robbing others, thieves/bandits, & stealing; Mentions of crimes, criminals, arrests, treason, & prisons; Mentions of deceit, lies, lying, & liars; Mentions of gossip & rumors; Mentions of hatred; Mentions of alcohol (wine and ale), drinking, & a mean drunk; Mentions of hunting, hunters, preparing the animals, & poachers; A few mentions of a war & assassination attempt that resulted in the death of a guard; A few mentions of possible torture; A few mentions of children being over worked; A few mentions of a death in a bar fight; A couple mentions of a group of children being found next to their dead mother (barely-above-not-detailed); A couple mentions of the dead bodies of a man’s enemies (and how it doesn’t matter the person’s age, gender, or crime to be killed by the man); A couple mentions of a woman being slapped by a man; A couple mentions of Robin Hood shooting a man with arrows for lying to him (barely-above-not-detailed); A mention of an almost execution;
*Note: Wren tells herself that she doesn’t matter and that she never will; John recalls the negative words of his father including calling him a failure (*Spoiler* ); Wren has a couple moments of anxiety attacks/panic attacks (up to semi-detailed); John believes Robin and Wren will look at him differently and hate him due to events in his past and keeping it a secret (*Spoilers* ).
Sexual Content- Two forehead/head kisses, two barely-above-not-detailed kisses, three border-line barely-above-not-detailed // semi-detailed kisses, and a semi-detailed kiss; Wanting to kiss (not-detailed); Staring at lips; Touches, Embraces, Hand holding, Butterflies, Shivers, & Nearness (including sitting on a man’s lap, up to semi-detailed); Noticing (up to semi-detailed); A bit of flirting, winks, & blushes; When kissing, Wren thinks that perhaps it is “the evidence [she needs] that Providence does exist”; An older young man wears a shirt that shows “too much of his chest”, is called a predator, gets into Wren’s space and holds her tight, & says that Wren is his to “wed, bed, torture, destroy. Whatever [he sees] fit.” if she fails a promise; John is concerned another man may have used Wren for “his own whims, whether monetarily or bodily” and gets angry at the thought; One of the young men in Wren’s group likes her as “a man sees a woman” and she does not reciprocate the feeling; A few mentions of kisses & kissing; A few mentions of flirting & winks; A couple mentions of a newly married couple touching, holding hands, & kissing; Love, falling in love, & the emotions;
*Note: John teases a newly married couple about them not being able to visit until after the noon hour.
-Wren, age 22
-John, age 25
1st person P.O.V. switches between them
153 pages
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Pre Teens- One Star
New Teens- One Star
Early High School Teens- Two Stars
Older High School Teens- Three Stars (and a half)
My personal Rating- Three Stars (and a half)
I’ve decided that the reason why I like Robin Hood retellings is because they usually always have the found family trope and that is one I always like reading. This retelling wasn’t necessary a straight retelling, however, as it’s set after the events of the classic Robin Hood story. Robin has married Maid Marian and the Merry Men have broken apart. “What happens next for Little John?” is what this book covers and I really liked that angle.
At first, I thought Wren wasn’t very smart with how she dealt with John at their first meeting and then how he follows her. For being on her own for six years, I was expecting more from her in that area. She did grow on me, though, and I quite liked the twist of the book.
The emotions in this book felt a bit like sucker-punches at times. Both Wren and John are hurting and while he can believe in God’s mercy for others, he has a hard time believing it for himself. He reminded me of Marcus from “This Life of Mine” by Victorian Lynn in that way. Wren feels abandoned by God and struggles with her past. They both have to learn about truly trusting God and it happened pretty naturally for a book that’s only 150 pages.
I will note that I obviously didn’t like the villain and his comments towards Wren. Those parts and the hunting details made the suggested age ratings and my own personal rating lower. I do think if you’re okay with or maybe even enjoy more gritty storylines this probably be no problem as there's the Hope of having a relationship with God as a main topic. But, just as a note for sensitive readers, this book might be harder to read at times.
Link to review:
https://booksforchristiangirls.blogsp...
*BFCG may (Read the review to see) recommend this book by this author. It does not mean I recommend all the books by this author.
About this book:
“A Lord Marshal with a secret. An outlaw with a hidden past. A chance encounter that will change everything.
With the evil sheriff overthrown and Robin Hood now the Lord Protector of Nottingham, Little John finds himself of a Lord Marshal—protector of Nottingham and Sherwood and seeker of mercy and justice. But John has a secret, one not even his best friend Robin knows and one he can never tell him. To lie to Robin Hood is to court death.
Wren of Sherwood has been an outlaw for years, ever since her brother up and left their family. Hiding in Sherwood with her ‘siblings’, they all have one goal—to rid Nottingham of Robin Hood.
But when a lord marshal appears, asking to join their little band, Wren is conflicted. The more time she spends with this gentle giant of a man, the softer her heart becomes. Despite the bitterness and anger so deeply rooted in her heart, Wren can’t help but question everything she’s believed about Providence, Robin, and even her own self.
When danger arrives for them, Wren must decide—is she willing to let go of her past to embrace a future worth living? Or is she going to remain rooted in the bitterness of her past?”
Series: Book #9 in the multi-author series, “Cornerstone”. It does not seem to be connected to any other books, however. A stand-alone novel. Click on the books to be taken to that review: Book #1, Book #2, Book #3, Book #4, Book #5, Book #6, Book #7, and Book #8!
Spiritual Content- A Scripture is quoted & remembered; Prayers; Throughout the book, God speaks to both Wren and John through thoughts in their minds; Singing a hymn (John); Talks about God, Providence, trusting Him, people being called home, sins, & our reactions to bad things happening; Most 'H's are capital when referring to God; Wren recalls how she used to go to Mass and listen to a friar “drone on and on about God’s justice, hellfire, and eternal damnation for those who refused to submit to Him”; Wren no longer wants anything to do with Providence as she believes He hasn’t showed her mercy with what she’s gone through & thinks that Providence cares little for her; Despite this, Wren asks where God is, but feels fear at her prior comments and thinks that God won’t bother to do anything for her anyway; Though John knows that Providence has redeemed him and given him mercy, he thinks there’s a darkness dogging his heels; John and Wren discuss about bad things happening and why God would allow it to happen; John struggles to believe the things he preaches to others can be applied to him; *Spoilers* ; Mentions of God, Providence, trusting Him, & a calling; Mentions of Mass, going to Mass, & friars; A couple mentions of thanking God; A couple mentions of the Ten Commandments;
*Note: ‘Good heavens’ and ‘Heaven above’ are both said once; Wren thinks that perhaps kissing someone is “the evidence [she needs] that Providence does exist” and wonders if God is really out there and cares for her in that moment; Wren comments that she’s shocked Robin Hood allows his men to be religious as she views him as a thief and a liar; Wren curses chance, Providence, or “whatever cosmic being” is nipping at her heels; A man says for the Devil to wreck havoc on someone’s life (meant as a curse); Mentions of chance; Mentions of people looking like they saw a ghost; A couple mentions of a young man seeing evil and it corrupting him.
Negative Content- Minor cussing including: a ‘blasted’ and nine forms of ‘idiot’; The phrase “I kicked his—“ is cut-off; A few mentions of curses and slurs (said, not written); Eye rolling & Sarcasm; Lying; Fighting, Being attacked, Being held at knife-point, Pain, Injuries, & Blood/Bleeding (up to semi-detailed); Killing someone (stabbing) & seeing the person’s death (*Spoiler* , up to semi-detailed); John fights the urge to beat a man senseless & imagines killing him (barely-above-not-detailed); Wren notices that John talks about killing an evil man as if it would please him and would be as “simple as slaughtering a pig or cow”; Wren hunts and kills a stag (border-line barely-above-not-detailed // semi-detailed on the animal being shot and the noise it makes; She hates killing it, but it is for food for her and the others) & John kills a rabbit (barely-above-not-detailed); John drinks wine at a dinner; Mentions of killing, deaths (from fevers and an allergic reaction), seeing a loved one’s death, guilt, grief (including for a mother and sisters), & murderers; Mentions of children being abandoned & abused (including one flinching and agreeing that he is an idiot when someone who is stronger than him says so); Mentions of an abusive father (Wren’s father who also threw a goblet of wine at her, barely-above-not-detailed); Mentions of fights/fighting, injuries, pain, & blood/bleeding (up to semi-detailed); Mentions of robbing others, thieves/bandits, & stealing; Mentions of crimes, criminals, arrests, treason, & prisons; Mentions of deceit, lies, lying, & liars; Mentions of gossip & rumors; Mentions of hatred; Mentions of alcohol (wine and ale), drinking, & a mean drunk; Mentions of hunting, hunters, preparing the animals, & poachers; A few mentions of a war & assassination attempt that resulted in the death of a guard; A few mentions of possible torture; A few mentions of children being over worked; A few mentions of a death in a bar fight; A couple mentions of a group of children being found next to their dead mother (barely-above-not-detailed); A couple mentions of the dead bodies of a man’s enemies (and how it doesn’t matter the person’s age, gender, or crime to be killed by the man); A couple mentions of a woman being slapped by a man; A couple mentions of Robin Hood shooting a man with arrows for lying to him (barely-above-not-detailed); A mention of an almost execution;
*Note: Wren tells herself that she doesn’t matter and that she never will; John recalls the negative words of his father including calling him a failure (*Spoiler* ); Wren has a couple moments of anxiety attacks/panic attacks (up to semi-detailed); John believes Robin and Wren will look at him differently and hate him due to events in his past and keeping it a secret (*Spoilers* ).
Sexual Content- Two forehead/head kisses, two barely-above-not-detailed kisses, three border-line barely-above-not-detailed // semi-detailed kisses, and a semi-detailed kiss; Wanting to kiss (not-detailed); Staring at lips; Touches, Embraces, Hand holding, Butterflies, Shivers, & Nearness (including sitting on a man’s lap, up to semi-detailed); Noticing (up to semi-detailed); A bit of flirting, winks, & blushes; When kissing, Wren thinks that perhaps it is “the evidence [she needs] that Providence does exist”; An older young man wears a shirt that shows “too much of his chest”, is called a predator, gets into Wren’s space and holds her tight, & says that Wren is his to “wed, bed, torture, destroy. Whatever [he sees] fit.” if she fails a promise; John is concerned another man may have used Wren for “his own whims, whether monetarily or bodily” and gets angry at the thought; One of the young men in Wren’s group likes her as “a man sees a woman” and she does not reciprocate the feeling; A few mentions of kisses & kissing; A few mentions of flirting & winks; A couple mentions of a newly married couple touching, holding hands, & kissing; Love, falling in love, & the emotions;
*Note: John teases a newly married couple about them not being able to visit until after the noon hour.
-Wren, age 22
-John, age 25
1st person P.O.V. switches between them
153 pages
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Pre Teens- One Star
New Teens- One Star
Early High School Teens- Two Stars
Older High School Teens- Three Stars (and a half)
My personal Rating- Three Stars (and a half)
I’ve decided that the reason why I like Robin Hood retellings is because they usually always have the found family trope and that is one I always like reading. This retelling wasn’t necessary a straight retelling, however, as it’s set after the events of the classic Robin Hood story. Robin has married Maid Marian and the Merry Men have broken apart. “What happens next for Little John?” is what this book covers and I really liked that angle.
At first, I thought Wren wasn’t very smart with how she dealt with John at their first meeting and then how he follows her. For being on her own for six years, I was expecting more from her in that area. She did grow on me, though, and I quite liked the twist of the book.
The emotions in this book felt a bit like sucker-punches at times. Both Wren and John are hurting and while he can believe in God’s mercy for others, he has a hard time believing it for himself. He reminded me of Marcus from “This Life of Mine” by Victorian Lynn in that way. Wren feels abandoned by God and struggles with her past. They both have to learn about truly trusting God and it happened pretty naturally for a book that’s only 150 pages.
I will note that I obviously didn’t like the villain and his comments towards Wren. Those parts and the hunting details made the suggested age ratings and my own personal rating lower. I do think if you’re okay with or maybe even enjoy more gritty storylines this probably be no problem as there's the Hope of having a relationship with God as a main topic. But, just as a note for sensitive readers, this book might be harder to read at times.
Link to review:
https://booksforchristiangirls.blogsp...
*BFCG may (Read the review to see) recommend this book by this author. It does not mean I recommend all the books by this author.
June 14, 2026
✧. 🏹 .✧
𝄞 𝒜 𝒩𝑜𝒷𝓁𝑒 𝒫𝒶𝓈𝓉... 𝄭
✧. 🏹 .✧
RATING: 3/5 ⭐️ (A wonderfully grounded retelling!)
📜 THE PLOT:
With the tyrannical Sheriff of Nottingham finally overthrown, Robin Hood has stepped into a peaceful new role as the Lord Protector of the realm. However, his loyal newly appointed Lord Marshal, Little John, is harboring a heavy, dark secret that he can never reveal. When John crosses paths in Sherwood Forest with a bitter group of outlaws led by a fierce young woman named Wren—whose explicit goal is to rid Nottingham of Robin Hood completely—shifting alliances and hidden pasts threaten to upend everything.
✧. 🌱 .✧
𓍢ִ໋🌿 𝐻𝑜𝓃𝑒𝓈𝓉 𝒯𝒽𝑜𝓊𝑔𝒽𝓉𝓈...
✧. 🌱 .✧
I liked the story overall! It had a sort of really creative, refreshing retelling structure. I hadn't imagined that the main focus and central characters wouldn't be Robin Hood or Maid Marian. Shifting the spotlight over to Little John and introducing Wren gave it a sort of interesting perspective. It was a perfectly alright, steady read, though some things felt a bit unrealistic.
✧. 🧭 .✧
𓍢ִ໋🏰 The OG vs this Retelling
✧. 🧭 .✧
Little John as the Hero: Shifting completely away from standard folklore where Robin is the central focus, this story places Little John as the primary protagonist dealing with his own duties, burdens, and secrets.
Robin as an Established Ruler: Robin Hood isn't actively robbing wealthy travelers in the trees anymore; the Sheriff has already been taken down and Robin is managing the political realities of ruling Nottingham.
Flipped Outlaw Goals: The rogue faction left hiding out in Sherwood Forest isn't a cheerful band of heroes—Wren and her "siblings" feel abandoned by the system and are actively plotting against Robin Hood's leadership.
No Magic or Whimsy: True to the series format, the story strips away over-the-top folklore tropes to build a realistic, character-driven narrative about overcoming family trauma, bitterness, and finding restoration.
✧. 🧼 .✧
𓍢ִ໋⚔️ Content warnings:
✧. 🧼 .✧
Romance/Spice: 0/5 spice. A completely clean, wholesome, slow-burn romance centered on mutual trust and comforting hugs, with just sweet, gentle kisses.
Violence/Peril: Standard fantasy action including archery skirmishes, close-quarters dagger standoffs, swordplay, and tense ambush situations.
Themes: Explores heavy internal bitterness, emotional baggage stemming from historical family abandonment, and the weight of keeping high-stakes secrets from loved ones.
✧. 📜 .✧
𝄞 Final Verdict
✧. 📜 .✧
If you want a grounded, unique take on the Robin Hood legends that highlights secondary characters and focuses on emotional growth and clean romance, this is a great addition to your reading list!
𝄞 𝒜 𝒩𝑜𝒷𝓁𝑒 𝒫𝒶𝓈𝓉... 𝄭
✧. 🏹 .✧
RATING: 3/5 ⭐️ (A wonderfully grounded retelling!)
📜 THE PLOT:
With the tyrannical Sheriff of Nottingham finally overthrown, Robin Hood has stepped into a peaceful new role as the Lord Protector of the realm. However, his loyal newly appointed Lord Marshal, Little John, is harboring a heavy, dark secret that he can never reveal. When John crosses paths in Sherwood Forest with a bitter group of outlaws led by a fierce young woman named Wren—whose explicit goal is to rid Nottingham of Robin Hood completely—shifting alliances and hidden pasts threaten to upend everything.
✧. 🌱 .✧
𓍢ִ໋🌿 𝐻𝑜𝓃𝑒𝓈𝓉 𝒯𝒽𝑜𝓊𝑔𝒽𝓉𝓈...
✧. 🌱 .✧
I liked the story overall! It had a sort of really creative, refreshing retelling structure. I hadn't imagined that the main focus and central characters wouldn't be Robin Hood or Maid Marian. Shifting the spotlight over to Little John and introducing Wren gave it a sort of interesting perspective. It was a perfectly alright, steady read, though some things felt a bit unrealistic.
✧. 🧭 .✧
𓍢ִ໋🏰 The OG vs this Retelling
✧. 🧭 .✧
Little John as the Hero: Shifting completely away from standard folklore where Robin is the central focus, this story places Little John as the primary protagonist dealing with his own duties, burdens, and secrets.
Robin as an Established Ruler: Robin Hood isn't actively robbing wealthy travelers in the trees anymore; the Sheriff has already been taken down and Robin is managing the political realities of ruling Nottingham.
Flipped Outlaw Goals: The rogue faction left hiding out in Sherwood Forest isn't a cheerful band of heroes—Wren and her "siblings" feel abandoned by the system and are actively plotting against Robin Hood's leadership.
No Magic or Whimsy: True to the series format, the story strips away over-the-top folklore tropes to build a realistic, character-driven narrative about overcoming family trauma, bitterness, and finding restoration.
✧. 🧼 .✧
𓍢ִ໋⚔️ Content warnings:
✧. 🧼 .✧
Romance/Spice: 0/5 spice. A completely clean, wholesome, slow-burn romance centered on mutual trust and comforting hugs, with just sweet, gentle kisses.
Violence/Peril: Standard fantasy action including archery skirmishes, close-quarters dagger standoffs, swordplay, and tense ambush situations.
Themes: Explores heavy internal bitterness, emotional baggage stemming from historical family abandonment, and the weight of keeping high-stakes secrets from loved ones.
✧. 📜 .✧
𝄞 Final Verdict
✧. 📜 .✧
If you want a grounded, unique take on the Robin Hood legends that highlights secondary characters and focuses on emotional growth and clean romance, this is a great addition to your reading list!
April 23, 2025
5+ stars (7/10 hearts). When I first saw this novella was about Little John and the after events of Robin Hood's pardon, I knew I'd love it. And I was totally right. I adored every moment.
The premise is delightful. Robin, now Lord Loxley and Protector of Nottingham, disbands the Merry Men and sets some up as Lord Marshals to watch over Sherwood Forest. Little John accepts, but he's haunted by the fear of Robin discovering his past... Meanwhile, Wren is just trying to keep her little ragtag family of adopted siblings alive, while keeping a deeply hateful eye on Robin Hood's movements... And thus an adorable little romance is kickstarted. Ahh! It was epic! Such a delightful plot with deep revelations, a gripping climax, and plenty of action + sweetness! (And of course I also loved the autumnal forest setting!) A lovely 5/5 for me.
Next, the characters. Little John didn't feel very Little Johnish to me, but I honestly didn't care. I loved his backstory, and I loved his sweetness and nobleness. As for Wren, I didn't guess her identity for a good while but when I finally figured it out I literally screamed and it was the PERFECT plot twist, making for the absolutely best ending ever. The villain was satisfactorily hateful, Robin & Marian were awesome, the kids were cute... another solid 5/5.
The writing style was the only thing that drops my enjoyment a wee bit. It does read like a very contemporary modern romance. Just the expressions, the plot, the attitudes, and especially the language (right down to "okay"). I did have a bit of trouble reminding myself this was supposed to be like 1100s England. But honestly I enjoyed everything else so much I didn't very care much about this. Especially once we got to the thematic moments.
Because the theme was definitely 5/5. The way the different pasts of Wren and John were woven into the story was awesome. I also really loved how the theme of nobility was worked in as well. And the themes of trust and redemption were just excellent. I may have cried.
So yes. If you're a fellow Robin Hood lover, you'll either hate or adore this. But I throughly loved it.
Content: No fantasy elements at all. A scene where someone seems to have something of a vision of Christ. Two what may be salvation scenes, but it's not very clear. Mild violence & mentions of abuse. The villain mentions he will have Wren to “wed, bed, torture, destroy. Whatever I see fit” as a stipulation on a deal; it's mentioned he may have used her for “his own whims, whether monetarily or bodily.”
The premise is delightful. Robin, now Lord Loxley and Protector of Nottingham, disbands the Merry Men and sets some up as Lord Marshals to watch over Sherwood Forest. Little John accepts, but he's haunted by the fear of Robin discovering his past... Meanwhile, Wren is just trying to keep her little ragtag family of adopted siblings alive, while keeping a deeply hateful eye on Robin Hood's movements... And thus an adorable little romance is kickstarted. Ahh! It was epic! Such a delightful plot with deep revelations, a gripping climax, and plenty of action + sweetness! (And of course I also loved the autumnal forest setting!) A lovely 5/5 for me.
Next, the characters. Little John didn't feel very Little Johnish to me, but I honestly didn't care. I loved his backstory, and I loved his sweetness and nobleness. As for Wren, I didn't guess her identity for a good while but when I finally figured it out I literally screamed and it was the PERFECT plot twist, making for the absolutely best ending ever. The villain was satisfactorily hateful, Robin & Marian were awesome, the kids were cute... another solid 5/5.
The writing style was the only thing that drops my enjoyment a wee bit. It does read like a very contemporary modern romance. Just the expressions, the plot, the attitudes, and especially the language (right down to "okay"). I did have a bit of trouble reminding myself this was supposed to be like 1100s England. But honestly I enjoyed everything else so much I didn't very care much about this. Especially once we got to the thematic moments.
Because the theme was definitely 5/5. The way the different pasts of Wren and John were woven into the story was awesome. I also really loved how the theme of nobility was worked in as well. And the themes of trust and redemption were just excellent. I may have cried.
So yes. If you're a fellow Robin Hood lover, you'll either hate or adore this. But I throughly loved it.
Content: No fantasy elements at all. A scene where someone seems to have something of a vision of Christ. Two what may be salvation scenes, but it's not very clear. Mild violence & mentions of abuse. The villain mentions he will have Wren to “wed, bed, torture, destroy. Whatever I see fit” as a stipulation on a deal; it's mentioned he may have used her for “his own whims, whether monetarily or bodily.”
January 17, 2025
I was sucked right into the premise of this one and very intrigued by the characters. Of course it helps that I have a soft spot for the Robin Hood story, and the fact that this was framed as not so much a retelling as a "what came after" had me invested from the very beginning. The relationships were probably my favorite thing--both Wren and her little band of orphans and John and the remnants of the Merry Men. I did feel like the character development happened pretty fast--I get it, word limits--and once the secrets in the characters' pasts were revealed, it was a little hard for me to credit some of the results they'd caused. But that was all kind of wrapped into the exciting ending and only made me go "huh?" after the fact, so it didn't affect my enjoyment much. (: The only other thing that bugged me a little was how most of the lessons came in God speaking directly (not out loud) to the characters with exactly what they needed to learn. Don't get me wrong; I definitely have had experiences where I believe God spoke something I needed directly to my spirit. But having it happen in paragraphs, multiple times, and for basically all the important lessons that needed to be learned did feel a little unrealistic to me. Grr--that sounds like a lot of complaints, but it really wasn't. Even with those things niggling in the background, the story definitely sucked me in and held my interest, and I enjoyed it a lot. Solid four stars!
July 23, 2025
Content:
Profanity: None.
Violence: High mild. There is threat throughout from a character, and one death at the end with blood depicted. Bullying/abuse briefly described toward a child. Specifically: He is verbally abused, then shoved toward a fire, but doesn't fall in it.
Sexual: Mild. There is hand-holding, and a few kisses between married couple, and chaste ones between others.
Triggers: Deals with child endangerment/abuse. Alcoholic parent physically abusive. Mostly stated, with one flashback to a goblet thrown at child, resulting in a cut face and bruise. Nothing else stated. This is a Christian focused retelling, so if that's not your thing, you can skip it.
About a 3.75, but rounded up.
Robin Hood was a story I grew up loving. Between the Disney version that my brother and I watched on repeat, Prince of Thieves (with the best soundtrack ever), then the BBC series with Jonas Armstrong, as well as the iffy Russell Crowe movie, I've seen almost every version available (Sorry Taron Egerton, I skipped yours on purpose).
This book takes place after King Richard returns, pardons Robin and the Merry Men, and Robin marries Maid Marian. It follows Little John, and surprise surprise, Robin's younger sister. We get dual perspectives from John and Wren (apparently the Loxley's had a bird motif going on), and it's apparent right away that each of them has a past pain they are running from and yet are desperate to heal.
The secrets that slowly get revealed is what kept me reading, because the 'need to know' was strong. But I appreciated the message of redemption and trusting God that was a main theme throughout the book. John was a solid believer in 'Providence', but struggled to accept help and healing for himself (can anybody say relatable?) while Wren was so hurt by the past, she fought against trusting Providence until the very end (also relatable).
This being a Christian centric series of books by different authors, I have found it interesting to see how each author has tackled religion in the books. This one was more present, and had God actually speaking to the characters in their minds through both scripture, hymns, memory, and actual words. I enjoyed that aspect, up until I don't know, it was the one thing that had me raising a bit of a skeptical eyebrow. I'd have liked that sort of thing to happen in a quiet moment, or even a dream. It felt like a stretch the way it played out. Spiritual moments, of course, aren't limited to quiet moments, they come in desperate need moments too, but typically, they do come with the 'still small voice'.
All in all, I enjoyed John and Wren's stories. It's not a book I'll likely read again, but I enjoyed the journey.
Profanity: None.
Violence: High mild. There is threat throughout from a character, and one death at the end with blood depicted. Bullying/abuse briefly described toward a child. Specifically: He is verbally abused, then shoved toward a fire, but doesn't fall in it.
Sexual: Mild. There is hand-holding, and a few kisses between married couple, and chaste ones between others.
Triggers: Deals with child endangerment/abuse. Alcoholic parent physically abusive. Mostly stated, with one flashback to a goblet thrown at child, resulting in a cut face and bruise. Nothing else stated. This is a Christian focused retelling, so if that's not your thing, you can skip it.
About a 3.75, but rounded up.
Robin Hood was a story I grew up loving. Between the Disney version that my brother and I watched on repeat, Prince of Thieves (with the best soundtrack ever), then the BBC series with Jonas Armstrong, as well as the iffy Russell Crowe movie, I've seen almost every version available (Sorry Taron Egerton, I skipped yours on purpose).
This book takes place after King Richard returns, pardons Robin and the Merry Men, and Robin marries Maid Marian. It follows Little John, and surprise surprise, Robin's younger sister. We get dual perspectives from John and Wren (apparently the Loxley's had a bird motif going on), and it's apparent right away that each of them has a past pain they are running from and yet are desperate to heal.
The secrets that slowly get revealed is what kept me reading, because the 'need to know' was strong. But I appreciated the message of redemption and trusting God that was a main theme throughout the book. John was a solid believer in 'Providence', but struggled to accept help and healing for himself (can anybody say relatable?) while Wren was so hurt by the past, she fought against trusting Providence until the very end (also relatable).
This being a Christian centric series of books by different authors, I have found it interesting to see how each author has tackled religion in the books. This one was more present, and had God actually speaking to the characters in their minds through both scripture, hymns, memory, and actual words. I enjoyed that aspect, up until I don't know, it was the one thing that had me raising a bit of a skeptical eyebrow. I'd have liked that sort of thing to happen in a quiet moment, or even a dream. It felt like a stretch the way it played out. Spiritual moments, of course, aren't limited to quiet moments, they come in desperate need moments too, but typically, they do come with the 'still small voice'.
All in all, I enjoyed John and Wren's stories. It's not a book I'll likely read again, but I enjoyed the journey.
December 17, 2025
Okay, I'm a sucker for all things Robin Hood, and this book did not disappoint.
The author can literally paint pictures with her words. I loved the forest, and the characters were so fleshed out.
Of course, I knew that Robin was "merry," but I didn't expect him to be downright funny and more lovable than he already was. And when Wren comes to him... oh, it was so touching and sweet!
I will mention that the romance level was a little higher than I would have liked. I wish the attraction and thoughts and kisses had been toned down, but I love John and Wren and how Providence helped them realize together that their past didn't define them ❤️.
John's heart was the sweetest. and he was so kind to the children, and that made me love him even more.
I also loved how this sweet little tale helped me to realize that we can't live in or change our past, but we can change the future into one of nobility with the Lord's help. And that most often means we have to let go of our plans to trust His own 🤍.
*I will mention that I don't think Jesus appearing would have happened, nor was it Biblical. God doesn't tend to work that way after this side of the cross. But I did understand the point the author was trying to get across.*
CW: Semi-described kiss, sitting in his lap, gripping his shirt, how thoughts and touches felt, nose brushing her cheek, blood, Muderous intentions, beatings, abuse, Ale (I can't remember if it was always mentioned in a negative light 🤔), guy with ill marriage attentions, imbecile (2 or 3), idiot (I think once at least)
My rating/ Age Recommendation:
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (5 out of 5)/ 18+
Robin Hood enthusiasts prepare to be amazed and delighted if you pick up this book.
The author can literally paint pictures with her words. I loved the forest, and the characters were so fleshed out.
Of course, I knew that Robin was "merry," but I didn't expect him to be downright funny and more lovable than he already was. And when Wren comes to him... oh, it was so touching and sweet!
I will mention that the romance level was a little higher than I would have liked. I wish the attraction and thoughts and kisses had been toned down, but I love John and Wren and how Providence helped them realize together that their past didn't define them ❤️.
John's heart was the sweetest. and he was so kind to the children, and that made me love him even more.
I also loved how this sweet little tale helped me to realize that we can't live in or change our past, but we can change the future into one of nobility with the Lord's help. And that most often means we have to let go of our plans to trust His own 🤍.
*I will mention that I don't think Jesus appearing would have happened, nor was it Biblical. God doesn't tend to work that way after this side of the cross. But I did understand the point the author was trying to get across.*
CW: Semi-described kiss, sitting in his lap, gripping his shirt, how thoughts and touches felt, nose brushing her cheek, blood, Muderous intentions, beatings, abuse, Ale (I can't remember if it was always mentioned in a negative light 🤔), guy with ill marriage attentions, imbecile (2 or 3), idiot (I think once at least)
My rating/ Age Recommendation:
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (5 out of 5)/ 18+
Robin Hood enthusiasts prepare to be amazed and delighted if you pick up this book.
June 6, 2025
I don't necessarily think that Robin Hood is a fairytale. But I loved this retelling/continuation story!!
Little John was always one of my favorite characters, and it's so nice to see him get a little more spotlight. :D
I love the fact that I get a good character dynamic between him and Wren, and that the whole narrative got my interest from the start. The best of the Robin Hood things I loved (the adventuring and the woods), along with some spy action and soundly trouncing some wicked, abusive guys made this something I could definitely see happening. I also like that it shows that all heroes have flaws, but that those flaws are not what make them. Even if they come to light and are the thing they fear most. It's the trust in the Lord that makes a hero.
Little John was always one of my favorite characters, and it's so nice to see him get a little more spotlight. :D
I love the fact that I get a good character dynamic between him and Wren, and that the whole narrative got my interest from the start. The best of the Robin Hood things I loved (the adventuring and the woods), along with some spy action and soundly trouncing some wicked, abusive guys made this something I could definitely see happening. I also like that it shows that all heroes have flaws, but that those flaws are not what make them. Even if they come to light and are the thing they fear most. It's the trust in the Lord that makes a hero.
February 9, 2026
3.5 stars
This was a super sweet story about Robin Hood's sister and Little John. It took me all day to read it. Guess being sick isn't conducive to reading lots of books in a day. I'm glad I savored this one though. My first read from Anna, it was very enjoyable!
This was a super sweet story about Robin Hood's sister and Little John. It took me all day to read it. Guess being sick isn't conducive to reading lots of books in a day. I'm glad I savored this one though. My first read from Anna, it was very enjoyable!
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