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A Medieval Fairy Tale #1
The Huntress of Thornbeck Forest
Swan Lakemeets Robin Hood when the beautiful daughter of a wealthy merchant by daybecomes the region’s most notorious poacher by night, and falls in love withthe forester.
Jorgen is the forester for thewealthy margrave, and must find and capture the poacher who has been killingand stealing the margrave’s game. When he meets the lovely and refined Odetteat the festival and shares a connection during a dance, he has no idea she isthe one who has been poaching the margrave’s game.
Odette justifies her crime ofpoaching because she thinks the game is going to feed the poor, who are all butstarving, both in the city and just outside its walls. But will the discoveryof a local poaching ring reveal a terrible secret? Has the meat she thought shewas providing for the poor actually been sold on the black market,profiting no one except the ring of black market sellers?
The one person Odette knows can help her could also findout her own secret and turn her over to the margrave, but she has no choice.Jorgen and Odette will band together to stop the dangerous poaching ring . . . andfall in love. But what will the margrave do when he discovers his forester isprotecting a notorious poacher?
312 pages, Kindle Edition
First published May 1, 2015
417 people are currently reading
11503 people want to read
About the author
Melanie Dickerson
41 books6,531 followersMelanie Dickerson is the New York Times bestselling author of happily-ever-after romance. She believes in love, laughter, afternoon tea, and the power of story.
With a million books sold and numerous awards, including two Christy Awards, two Golden Quills, a National Readers Choice Award, Christian Retailing’s Best, and Book Buyers’ Best Awards, her books have hit #1 in her category on the New York Times bestseller list.
When she’s not writing, Melanie can be found watching Pride and Prejudice for the hundredth time, cozying up to her handsome hero husband, or shaking her head at her slightly unhinged Jack Russell terrier. She lives in the beautiful foothills of the Appalachians near Huntsville, Alabama.
With a million books sold and numerous awards, including two Christy Awards, two Golden Quills, a National Readers Choice Award, Christian Retailing’s Best, and Book Buyers’ Best Awards, her books have hit #1 in her category on the New York Times bestseller list.
When she’s not writing, Melanie can be found watching Pride and Prejudice for the hundredth time, cozying up to her handsome hero husband, or shaking her head at her slightly unhinged Jack Russell terrier. She lives in the beautiful foothills of the Appalachians near Huntsville, Alabama.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 976 reviews
May 24, 2015
I had such high hopes for this book. I love stories that involve female's that don't just stand around. Odette takes her bow and arrow into the woods and slays for food for the town's poor children.
She herself is now rich but was orphaned and had faced poverty before. So she has a heart. She does not enjoy the killing but needs to feed the kiddies.
Then a new forester is appointed to guard the margrave's woods. Jorgen meets Odette at a Midsummer Nights festival and they both are moony eyed over the other.
This book could do well for a younger reader set and at first I liked it then.......after all the boys started chasing Odette's milkshake. I realized this:
I also did not realize when I requested this one that it should be billed as Christian fiction. Now don't get me wrong I don't hate that type of book. One of my all time favorite books is Christian fiction, (Redeeming Love) so that's not it. It just seemed to throw in some preaching at times that did not feel right with the story.
She herself is now rich but was orphaned and had faced poverty before. So she has a heart. She does not enjoy the killing but needs to feed the kiddies.
Then a new forester is appointed to guard the margrave's woods. Jorgen meets Odette at a Midsummer Nights festival and they both are moony eyed over the other.
This book could do well for a younger reader set and at first I liked it then.......after all the boys started chasing Odette's milkshake. I realized this:
I also did not realize when I requested this one that it should be billed as Christian fiction. Now don't get me wrong I don't hate that type of book. One of my all time favorite books is Christian fiction, (Redeeming Love) so that's not it. It just seemed to throw in some preaching at times that did not feel right with the story.
May 1, 2019
Thornbeck fiefdom, Germany, 1363—
Twenty-year-old Odette grew up a poor orphan. These days she lives with her wealthy uncle, and is considered the most eligible single woman in Thornbeck. But the young lady vividly remembers her childhood, and her efforts to help other children in her former situation take up most of her time. Also, some of her methods are illegal. Someone has to feed those kids, and the authorities don’t seem to care about them.
Jorgen is the new warden on the margrave’s lands. He’s an orphan too, whose adoptive father was killed by a poacher in the forest when Jorgen was only a lad. Since then, every time Jorgen patrols the forest, he wonders if that poacher is still out there.
Recently there’s been poaching in the margrave’s forest again.
Jorgen and Odette meet at the village Midsummer’s Festival and hit it off immediately, but as they grow closer, Odette dreads the day that Jorgen finds out her secret. She’s the poacher, and she only does it so the beggar-children of Thornbeck don’t starve. Meanwhile, a spoiled young noblemen tries his best to derail their courtship for selfish reasons…and the trail of sinister activity in the worst parts of town leads back to Odette’s house…
Content Advisory
Violence: A few people get shot with arrows—no fatalities, but the descriptions are still moderately gory. Mentions of a young girl being forced into sex slavery and brutalized .
Sex: Some kissing and very mild innuendo.
Language: Nothing.
Substance Abuse: Drinking occurs at festivals.
Nightmare Fuel: Nothing.
Politics & Religion: As I’ve come to expect with Dickerson, there’s some minor pokes at the Catholic culture of medieval Europe. Odette’s tutor is a passive-aggressive monk who thinks women are evil until proven otherwise, and apparently everyone in town has a secret stash of Scripture books—at least the partial Bibles are in Latin in this story. None of the town clergy take any apparent interest in the welfare of the beggar children, which is interesting, considering that most medieval charity came from nuns and monks.
Conclusions
The Huntress of Thornbeck Forest is a pleasant Christian historical novel that takes plot inspiration from both Robin Hood and Swan Lake. The story is predictable, but still cute, and moves along at a good clip. The atmosphere is evocative.
The main flaw is the same one that all books by this author seem to share: she can’t write characters with actual flaws. They’re all kind young men and women with the purest intentions, who get bamboozled by conniving worldly people. All of them suffer from over-scrupulosity, swamped with guilt for minor sins or things that aren’t sins at all (like Margaraetha feeling guilty for talking too much in The Princess Spy). Just once it would be cool if a denizen of Hagenheim or Thornbeck was a gossip or had a bad temper or something. They could be an actual protagonist with inner struggles instead of the hapless cinnamon roll who keeps getting victimized by the people around them. (For this reason, I'm looking forward to The Piper's Pursuit, because it sounds like the male lead in that, at least, might be something like an antihero).
It’s also aggravating how these characters are written, with their over-scrupulous thoughts and repetitive worries seeping into the narration. We know that Odette’s main goal in life is to help impoverished children; we know that Jorgen is haunted by the idea that the man who shot his father is still skulking in the forest; we know that Odette is terrified of Jorgen scorning her affection once he finds out who’s been poaching those deer, and she worries that he won’t care why she feels the need to poach those deer. The characters tell us these things early on, and their every action points toward these motivations. We don’t need the narrator to swoop in and remind us that “Odette hoped that Jorgen never discovered that she was the poacher” five times on every page.
This is pleasant-enough light reading, especially if you like Dickerson’s other medieval books. I’ve found some of her books enjoyable and others annoying. This one erred more toward annoying, at least for me. I did like the imagery though.
P.S. Masquerade balls were being held in France around the time this story takes place, but they didn’t become popular outside of France and Italy until the 17th century. I understand why Dickerson would be drawn to the image of a masque, and it might have been hard to incorporate the mistaken identity element from Swan Lake any other way. It’s just worth noting.
Twenty-year-old Odette grew up a poor orphan. These days she lives with her wealthy uncle, and is considered the most eligible single woman in Thornbeck. But the young lady vividly remembers her childhood, and her efforts to help other children in her former situation take up most of her time. Also, some of her methods are illegal. Someone has to feed those kids, and the authorities don’t seem to care about them.
Jorgen is the new warden on the margrave’s lands. He’s an orphan too, whose adoptive father was killed by a poacher in the forest when Jorgen was only a lad. Since then, every time Jorgen patrols the forest, he wonders if that poacher is still out there.
Recently there’s been poaching in the margrave’s forest again.
Jorgen and Odette meet at the village Midsummer’s Festival and hit it off immediately, but as they grow closer, Odette dreads the day that Jorgen finds out her secret. She’s the poacher, and she only does it so the beggar-children of Thornbeck don’t starve. Meanwhile, a spoiled young noblemen tries his best to derail their courtship for selfish reasons…and the trail of sinister activity in the worst parts of town leads back to Odette’s house…
Content Advisory
Violence: A few people get shot with arrows—no fatalities, but the descriptions are still moderately gory. Mentions of a young girl being forced into sex slavery and brutalized .
Sex: Some kissing and very mild innuendo.
Language: Nothing.
Substance Abuse: Drinking occurs at festivals.
Nightmare Fuel: Nothing.
Politics & Religion: As I’ve come to expect with Dickerson, there’s some minor pokes at the Catholic culture of medieval Europe. Odette’s tutor is a passive-aggressive monk who thinks women are evil until proven otherwise, and apparently everyone in town has a secret stash of Scripture books—at least the partial Bibles are in Latin in this story. None of the town clergy take any apparent interest in the welfare of the beggar children, which is interesting, considering that most medieval charity came from nuns and monks.
Conclusions
The Huntress of Thornbeck Forest is a pleasant Christian historical novel that takes plot inspiration from both Robin Hood and Swan Lake. The story is predictable, but still cute, and moves along at a good clip. The atmosphere is evocative.
The main flaw is the same one that all books by this author seem to share: she can’t write characters with actual flaws. They’re all kind young men and women with the purest intentions, who get bamboozled by conniving worldly people. All of them suffer from over-scrupulosity, swamped with guilt for minor sins or things that aren’t sins at all (like Margaraetha feeling guilty for talking too much in The Princess Spy). Just once it would be cool if a denizen of Hagenheim or Thornbeck was a gossip or had a bad temper or something. They could be an actual protagonist with inner struggles instead of the hapless cinnamon roll who keeps getting victimized by the people around them. (For this reason, I'm looking forward to The Piper's Pursuit, because it sounds like the male lead in that, at least, might be something like an antihero).
It’s also aggravating how these characters are written, with their over-scrupulous thoughts and repetitive worries seeping into the narration. We know that Odette’s main goal in life is to help impoverished children; we know that Jorgen is haunted by the idea that the man who shot his father is still skulking in the forest; we know that Odette is terrified of Jorgen scorning her affection once he finds out who’s been poaching those deer, and she worries that he won’t care why she feels the need to poach those deer. The characters tell us these things early on, and their every action points toward these motivations. We don’t need the narrator to swoop in and remind us that “Odette hoped that Jorgen never discovered that she was the poacher” five times on every page.
This is pleasant-enough light reading, especially if you like Dickerson’s other medieval books. I’ve found some of her books enjoyable and others annoying. This one erred more toward annoying, at least for me. I did like the imagery though.
P.S. Masquerade balls were being held in France around the time this story takes place, but they didn’t become popular outside of France and Italy until the 17th century. I understand why Dickerson would be drawn to the image of a masque, and it might have been hard to incorporate the mistaken identity element from Swan Lake any other way. It’s just worth noting.
January 11, 2016
Melanie Dickerson's beautiful, romantic fairytales have once again captured my heart! ^_^ Though some of her books I don't enjoy quite as much as others, I always like reading by Melanie! And The Huntress of Thornbeck Forest was definitely a five-star for me!
Mixing Robin Hood and Swan Lake, Melanie creates a lovely, poignant retelling set in the medieval day (non-magical). Odette is a young woman living with her wealthy uncle; yet determined to poach the king's deer in order to feed the poor children of the village. Unfortunately, she starts to fall for Jorgen ... before she realizes he is the forester - intent on capturing the poacher.
Drama. Young love. Dangerous escapades. Beautiful balls. The Huntress of Thornbeck Forest was both swoon-y and sweet, as well as thought-provoking and serious. I just loved it. Fairytales are the best! Not to mention, when they have a Robin Hood like tale tied in! *grins*
Such a cute love story! Geared toward teen/young adults ... but I might say 18 and up. Depends what you normally read I guess. I love this author's books, but I feel a lot of them are a bit too "mature" when it comes to romance for my younger sisters.
As always, I really appreciate the faith themes and lessons woven in. Makes it meaningful and gives you some thoughts to mull over.
All in all, this was a thrilling and adorable tale! Probably one of my favorites from Melanie Dickerson! Can't wait to read The Golden Braid and The Beautiful Pretender! <3
Mixing Robin Hood and Swan Lake, Melanie creates a lovely, poignant retelling set in the medieval day (non-magical). Odette is a young woman living with her wealthy uncle; yet determined to poach the king's deer in order to feed the poor children of the village. Unfortunately, she starts to fall for Jorgen ... before she realizes he is the forester - intent on capturing the poacher.
Drama. Young love. Dangerous escapades. Beautiful balls. The Huntress of Thornbeck Forest was both swoon-y and sweet, as well as thought-provoking and serious. I just loved it. Fairytales are the best! Not to mention, when they have a Robin Hood like tale tied in! *grins*
Such a cute love story! Geared toward teen/young adults ... but I might say 18 and up. Depends what you normally read I guess. I love this author's books, but I feel a lot of them are a bit too "mature" when it comes to romance for my younger sisters.
As always, I really appreciate the faith themes and lessons woven in. Makes it meaningful and gives you some thoughts to mull over.
All in all, this was a thrilling and adorable tale! Probably one of my favorites from Melanie Dickerson! Can't wait to read The Golden Braid and The Beautiful Pretender! <3
August 30, 2017
While perhaps too much of a romance for some readers, the originality the author brought to two familiar and distinct tales (Robin Hood & The Swan Princess) was admirable. The medieval setting was vibrant the plot a perfect mix of suspense, intrigue, and satisfaction. I enjoyed all of the characters, for being just stereotypical enough to picture, but unique enough to hold my attention and keep me wondering at their motives. I look forward to reading more by this author!
September 2, 2016
Incredibly adorable.
did-not-finish
March 25, 2024This is a ‘did not finish’ review. I finished approximately 25% of the book and … I couldn’t go on. Why not?
•I disliked the main characters. I found their romance to be unrealistic (what I read of it, anyway) and didn’t think they were attracted to each other for the right reasons. I also didn’t like how they were gawking at each other all the time. Okay, okay, you’re both the most gorgeous things ever. Who cares? Not I.
•The writing style was immature.
•Odette wasn’t married. We’re in the 1300s, and it doesn’t bother anyone that Odette isn’t married in her twenties? I don’t care if her dear old uncle loves her or not. He would have married her off at fourteen.
•Jorgen couldn’t even talk to Odette. He’s a couple classes below her. There would have been no contact between them. (Partially because she would have been married with three or four children.)
•Odette is a snob. She may be sneaking off to kill pheasants for peasants, but she turned away perfectly good suitors for no reason. Again. And again. Why? Because they’re not good enough for her. Why? Not handsome enough, not rich enough, not young enough. Not great reasons for turning men down back then with looks and youth didn’t matter. She needs to get over herself.
•Despite this, everyone loves Odette. Everyone either wants to marry her or be her friend. She’s gorgeous, she’s a great shot with a bow and arrow, and she feeds the poor and teaches the children. I just can’t deal with this kind of character, y’know?
For those reasons (and a few others), I just didn’t care to finish this book.
•I disliked the main characters. I found their romance to be unrealistic (what I read of it, anyway) and didn’t think they were attracted to each other for the right reasons. I also didn’t like how they were gawking at each other all the time. Okay, okay, you’re both the most gorgeous things ever. Who cares? Not I.
•The writing style was immature.
•Odette wasn’t married. We’re in the 1300s, and it doesn’t bother anyone that Odette isn’t married in her twenties? I don’t care if her dear old uncle loves her or not. He would have married her off at fourteen.
•Jorgen couldn’t even talk to Odette. He’s a couple classes below her. There would have been no contact between them. (Partially because she would have been married with three or four children.)
•Odette is a snob. She may be sneaking off to kill pheasants for peasants, but she turned away perfectly good suitors for no reason. Again. And again. Why? Because they’re not good enough for her. Why? Not handsome enough, not rich enough, not young enough. Not great reasons for turning men down back then with looks and youth didn’t matter. She needs to get over herself.
•Despite this, everyone loves Odette. Everyone either wants to marry her or be her friend. She’s gorgeous, she’s a great shot with a bow and arrow, and she feeds the poor and teaches the children. I just can’t deal with this kind of character, y’know?
For those reasons (and a few others), I just didn’t care to finish this book.
February 6, 2016
About this book:
“A Beautiful Maiden who Poaches to Feed the Poor.
A Handsome Forester on a Mission to Catch Her.
Danger and Love Are About To Unite in Thornbeck Forest.
The margrave owns the finest hunting grounds for miles around—and Odette Menkels spends her nights poaching his deer to feed the hungry orphans of Thornbeck. By day, Odette is a simple maiden who teaches children to read, but by night this young beauty has become the secret lifeline to the poorest of the poor.
For Jorgen Hartman, the margrave’s forester, tracking down a poacher is a duty he is all too willing to perform. Jorgen inherited his post from the man who raised him...a man who was murdered at the hands of a poacher.
When Jorgen and Odette meet as the Midsummer festival and share a connection during a dance, neither has any idea that they are already adversaries.
The one man she wants is bound by duty to capture her; the one woman he loves is his cunning target...What becomes of a forester who protects a notorious poacher? What becomes of a poacher when she is finally discovered?”
Series: Book #1 in the “Medieval Fairy Tale Romance” series. {This is Swan Lake meets Robin Hood.}
Spiritual Content- Praying & Praying at a Cathedral; Going to Church and crossing; Talks about God & discussing Scriptures; Scriptures are quoted & mentioned; ‘H’s are capital when referring to God; Bible reading & mentions of; Mentions of Saints, those in the Bible & stained glass picturing them;
Negative Content- Animals (birds, deer and hares) are shot & killed for food (up to semi-detailed); Blood & a mention of someone who was trampled by horses (barely-above-not-detailed), Blood & fist fighting (semi-detailed); Arrows & Blood (semi-detailed).
Sexual Content- almost hand kisses & hand kisses, a couple not-detailed kisses, Five barely-above-not-detailed kisses, and Four semi-detailed kisses; Remembering kisses (barely-above-not-detailed); A men asks to kiss Odette and she says not tonight (it never happens); Noticing & Staring; Touches, Nearness & Embraces (barely-above-not-detailed to semi-detailed); Dancing & brushing shoulders (barely-above-not-detailed); Wanting to kiss & embrace; Noticing two couples kiss (one not-detailed and the other being barely-above-not-detailed); Rutger teases & says if a wealthy woman won’t marry him, he “shall get her with child and then she will have no choice”; Anna mentions that she heard her parents laughing at night and doesn’t “have ten brothers and sisters for nothing”; Mentions of and going to a brothel (or prostitution house) and saving a young girl there (no mentions of what happens there, only asking if someone is okay and later overhearing men talking about girls there. Nothing sexual); A discussion (between Odette and a monk) on whether it’s women or men’s fault for temptation; Love, falling in love & the emotions.
-Odette Menkels, age 21
-Jorgen Hartman, age 24-25
P.O.V. switches between them
Set in 1363 {Medieval}
306 pages
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Pre Teens- One Star
New Teens- Two Stars
Early High School Teens- Three Stars
Older High School Teens- Four Stars
My personal Rating- Four Stars
{Add ½ to a full star for girls who hunt or live on a farm.}
*happy sigh* Ohhhh, I just adore Melanie Dickerson novels. Even though I am not a hunter (at all) I would still say this is probably my third favorite novel by her. Right after “The Merchant’s Daughter” and first spot being claimed by “The Princess Spy”. What can I say, caring for orphans is near and dear to my heart. Odette was a great heroine and I’m looking forward to all the new books Miss Melanie will be coming out with! (The Fall cannot get here soon enough! So excited for “The Golden Braid” :D)
Link to review:
http://booksforchristiangirls.blogspo...
*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.
*I received this book for free from the Publisher (Thomas Nelson) for this review.
“A Beautiful Maiden who Poaches to Feed the Poor.
A Handsome Forester on a Mission to Catch Her.
Danger and Love Are About To Unite in Thornbeck Forest.
The margrave owns the finest hunting grounds for miles around—and Odette Menkels spends her nights poaching his deer to feed the hungry orphans of Thornbeck. By day, Odette is a simple maiden who teaches children to read, but by night this young beauty has become the secret lifeline to the poorest of the poor.
For Jorgen Hartman, the margrave’s forester, tracking down a poacher is a duty he is all too willing to perform. Jorgen inherited his post from the man who raised him...a man who was murdered at the hands of a poacher.
When Jorgen and Odette meet as the Midsummer festival and share a connection during a dance, neither has any idea that they are already adversaries.
The one man she wants is bound by duty to capture her; the one woman he loves is his cunning target...What becomes of a forester who protects a notorious poacher? What becomes of a poacher when she is finally discovered?”
Series: Book #1 in the “Medieval Fairy Tale Romance” series. {This is Swan Lake meets Robin Hood.}
Spiritual Content- Praying & Praying at a Cathedral; Going to Church and crossing; Talks about God & discussing Scriptures; Scriptures are quoted & mentioned; ‘H’s are capital when referring to God; Bible reading & mentions of; Mentions of Saints, those in the Bible & stained glass picturing them;
Negative Content- Animals (birds, deer and hares) are shot & killed for food (up to semi-detailed); Blood & a mention of someone who was trampled by horses (barely-above-not-detailed), Blood & fist fighting (semi-detailed); Arrows & Blood (semi-detailed).
Sexual Content- almost hand kisses & hand kisses, a couple not-detailed kisses, Five barely-above-not-detailed kisses, and Four semi-detailed kisses; Remembering kisses (barely-above-not-detailed); A men asks to kiss Odette and she says not tonight (it never happens); Noticing & Staring; Touches, Nearness & Embraces (barely-above-not-detailed to semi-detailed); Dancing & brushing shoulders (barely-above-not-detailed); Wanting to kiss & embrace; Noticing two couples kiss (one not-detailed and the other being barely-above-not-detailed); Rutger teases & says if a wealthy woman won’t marry him, he “shall get her with child and then she will have no choice”; Anna mentions that she heard her parents laughing at night and doesn’t “have ten brothers and sisters for nothing”; Mentions of and going to a brothel (or prostitution house) and saving a young girl there (no mentions of what happens there, only asking if someone is okay and later overhearing men talking about girls there. Nothing sexual); A discussion (between Odette and a monk) on whether it’s women or men’s fault for temptation; Love, falling in love & the emotions.
-Odette Menkels, age 21
-Jorgen Hartman, age 24-25
P.O.V. switches between them
Set in 1363 {Medieval}
306 pages
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Pre Teens- One Star
New Teens- Two Stars
Early High School Teens- Three Stars
Older High School Teens- Four Stars
My personal Rating- Four Stars
{Add ½ to a full star for girls who hunt or live on a farm.}
*happy sigh* Ohhhh, I just adore Melanie Dickerson novels. Even though I am not a hunter (at all) I would still say this is probably my third favorite novel by her. Right after “The Merchant’s Daughter” and first spot being claimed by “The Princess Spy”. What can I say, caring for orphans is near and dear to my heart. Odette was a great heroine and I’m looking forward to all the new books Miss Melanie will be coming out with! (The Fall cannot get here soon enough! So excited for “The Golden Braid” :D)
Link to review:
http://booksforchristiangirls.blogspo...
*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.
*I received this book for free from the Publisher (Thomas Nelson) for this review.
June 7, 2015
The Huntress of Thornbeck Forest by Melanie Dickerson.
Genre(s): Christian, Romance.
Favorite Quote: Jorgen kissed her like a man dying of thirst and she was the only source of water.
Age Range: I would recommend this to ages 13+ due to hunting and romance.
POV: Switches between Odette and Jorgen.
Stars: 5/5
I was super impressed by this book. Melanie's other books are YA and she did a fantastic job of transitioning to an adult story. I enjoy Melanie's characters and her writing.
I love Odette's personality. She loves the orphans, and her goal is to care for them because she didn't have anyone to love her when she was younger. When situations get hard she displays patience and kindness instead of anger.
The bickering between Odette and Brother Phillip had me laughing! They both used scripture to argue, and Brother Phillip took offense. It definitely had to be one of my favorite scenes.
I did not see the plot twist coming! It happened, and I was like "Wha-?!" This was great because I hate it when the storyline is predictable.
Thank you, Melanie Dickerson, for another fantastic read!
Read
February 21, 2024I gave it 150 pages but it’s just not for me.
Would still recommend for people who like Robin Hood, medieval settings, and young characters fighting against societal norms.
Lots of mentions of church, prayer, and God.
Would still recommend for people who like Robin Hood, medieval settings, and young characters fighting against societal norms.
Lots of mentions of church, prayer, and God.
June 21, 2016
I LOVE being a book reviewer!
Thomas Nelson has made an excellent choice with Melanie’s newest story and they’ve made this fan a very happy reader!
“I could hardly wait to get my hands on this one and once I did, I couldn’t read it fast enough!”
Melanie Dickerson tells – or I should say retells – fairy tales better than anyone else I’ve ever read!
Once you start reading, you won’t be able to put it down either. Not only are the stories fascinating, the characters are exceptionally crafted and the fairy tale elements are perfectly sprinkled in to make this just as wonderful as anything you will have read by Grimm or Perrault!
In this case, Melanie has taken two stories and woven them together to create a rich tapestry of danger, deception and daring-do!
I refuse to give away even a shred of this magnificent story but I will tell you that Melanie’s talent has taken the extra step required to move from the YA market to a book that will appeal to Adults just as much… maybe even more than Melanie’s young adult audience.
I will say this though… do NOT think you know what’s coming with this story! Melanie will not only have you swooning with her romance, she’ll have you on the edge of your seat with the danger Odette faces. And you will NEVER see the end coming!
© JCMorrows 2015
Thomas Nelson has made an excellent choice with Melanie’s newest story and they’ve made this fan a very happy reader!
“I could hardly wait to get my hands on this one and once I did, I couldn’t read it fast enough!”
Melanie Dickerson tells – or I should say retells – fairy tales better than anyone else I’ve ever read!
Once you start reading, you won’t be able to put it down either. Not only are the stories fascinating, the characters are exceptionally crafted and the fairy tale elements are perfectly sprinkled in to make this just as wonderful as anything you will have read by Grimm or Perrault!
In this case, Melanie has taken two stories and woven them together to create a rich tapestry of danger, deception and daring-do!
I refuse to give away even a shred of this magnificent story but I will tell you that Melanie’s talent has taken the extra step required to move from the YA market to a book that will appeal to Adults just as much… maybe even more than Melanie’s young adult audience.
I will say this though… do NOT think you know what’s coming with this story! Melanie will not only have you swooning with her romance, she’ll have you on the edge of your seat with the danger Odette faces. And you will NEVER see the end coming!
© JCMorrows 2015
January 25, 2018
2.5
Zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz..........
*starts awakes*
What?? Whaddidimiss?!
Answer: pretty much nothing
It took me forever to get through this book.
And by "forever" I mean about a week and a half.
I was so bored most of the time.
It wasn't a terrible premise, but just the way this book was written and the pacing didn't make it enticing for me.
The pacing felt very strange. It was fast enough that I didn't really get a feel for any of the characters but slow enough that I was bored to death. Maybe I was bored because it also lacked detailed descriptions that were more tell than show.
I'm sick of hearing how beautiful Jorgen and Odette are. And how in love they are. ugh
I don't really know how to explain it. It just felt so.......empty. And everything was so conveniently wrapped up in a nice little bow at the end.
Blah.
Zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz..........
*starts awakes*
What?? Whaddidimiss?!
Answer: pretty much nothing
It took me forever to get through this book.
And by "forever" I mean about a week and a half.
I was so bored most of the time.
It wasn't a terrible premise, but just the way this book was written and the pacing didn't make it enticing for me.
The pacing felt very strange. It was fast enough that I didn't really get a feel for any of the characters but slow enough that I was bored to death. Maybe I was bored because it also lacked detailed descriptions that were more tell than show.
I'm sick of hearing how beautiful Jorgen and Odette are. And how in love they are. ugh
I don't really know how to explain it. It just felt so.......empty. And everything was so conveniently wrapped up in a nice little bow at the end.
Blah.
March 29, 2016
I listened to this book but I still really want to READ it! The whole story was amazing but the reader was horrible. She had a monotone voice and her accent was hard to understand. She never took a pause between paragraphs. Because of that I want to read it instead of listen.
Okay, so I finally read this book!! It is AMAZING!!!!!!!!!!!!! Not that it wasn't before!
Okay, so I finally read this book!! It is AMAZING!!!!!!!!!!!!! Not that it wasn't before!
August 23, 2017
*happy sigh* Ahhh, this is such an amazing book – with a delightful and satisfying ending!! :) I had heard a lot of good about Melanie Dickerson's novels, but I hadn't tried one until last month. Everyone was so right! Her books (so far, anyways) are AMAZING. So sweet and lovely!! :D This was my first, I've read one since it, and I can't wait to read more! :)
I think of this book as a sort of different twist on the classic tale of 'Robin Hood'. I haven't read Robin Hood, but I know the general storyline (stealing from the rich and giving to the poor and all that). And with Odette as the talented, girl poacher, it's got a lot of similarities.
Odette and Jorgen were both such amazing characters. They both have such a heart for the orphans of Thornbeck!! <3 <3 Odette is so sweet and charming, a lovable girl-MC. And then Jorgen is just...the best. His backstory brought me to tears...I'm serious. *tissues*
Odette's Uncle Rutger and then this Mathis-Papendorp-dude were two that I didn't particularly care for. I didn't mind Rutger at first, but then....no. (I totally saw *that* coming, by the way... B-)) They were great-bad-characters though. XD
Anna, Jorgen's mother, and Katharine were all awesome characters! I really enjoyed each of their additions to the story. :)
Lastly, I can't think of any warnings to give for this book. There is romance (duh.), but it's all clean, appropriate, and adorable. ^_^
Five stars, all the way!! :D
I think of this book as a sort of different twist on the classic tale of 'Robin Hood'. I haven't read Robin Hood, but I know the general storyline (stealing from the rich and giving to the poor and all that). And with Odette as the talented, girl poacher, it's got a lot of similarities.
Odette and Jorgen were both such amazing characters. They both have such a heart for the orphans of Thornbeck!! <3 <3 Odette is so sweet and charming, a lovable girl-MC. And then Jorgen is just...the best. His backstory brought me to tears...I'm serious. *tissues*
Odette's Uncle Rutger and then this Mathis-Papendorp-dude were two that I didn't particularly care for. I didn't mind Rutger at first, but then....no. (I totally saw *that* coming, by the way... B-)) They were great-bad-characters though. XD
Anna, Jorgen's mother, and Katharine were all awesome characters! I really enjoyed each of their additions to the story. :)
Lastly, I can't think of any warnings to give for this book. There is romance (duh.), but it's all clean, appropriate, and adorable. ^_^
Five stars, all the way!! :D
August 4, 2015
5 Words: Religion, love, family, crime, hunting.
This was a bit of a love-hate read for me. But ultimately I didn't really enjoy it that much. It wasn't bad enough that I wouldn't read more by the author, I'm very likely to pick something she's written in future.
An awful lot of this story felt forced and because of that it wasn't a fluid read. Then there was the fact that I actually studied this time and place in history at college, so I just knew too much. At first this was great, I knew the context of what I was reading. And then it was bad because I knew the context of what I was reading and a lot of the story just didn't fit.
If this had been a medieval inspired fantasy then I would have likely enjoyed it a lot more.
Odette was very naive considering all she'd been through. She was very childish despite her age and experiences and it annoyed me. Something else that annoyed me was how she lived in one of the wealthiest households in the town and instead of paying for food for the poor, starving children, she went out and illegally poached in the king's forest. That just really riled me up.
I received a copy of this for free via NetGalley for review purposes.
This was a bit of a love-hate read for me. But ultimately I didn't really enjoy it that much. It wasn't bad enough that I wouldn't read more by the author, I'm very likely to pick something she's written in future.
An awful lot of this story felt forced and because of that it wasn't a fluid read. Then there was the fact that I actually studied this time and place in history at college, so I just knew too much. At first this was great, I knew the context of what I was reading. And then it was bad because I knew the context of what I was reading and a lot of the story just didn't fit.
If this had been a medieval inspired fantasy then I would have likely enjoyed it a lot more.
Odette was very naive considering all she'd been through. She was very childish despite her age and experiences and it annoyed me. Something else that annoyed me was how she lived in one of the wealthiest households in the town and instead of paying for food for the poor, starving children, she went out and illegally poached in the king's forest. That just really riled me up.
I received a copy of this for free via NetGalley for review purposes.
September 26, 2019
4.5 stars ~
Yes. Just what I needed. A light fluffy romance.
This book matches the rest of Dickerson's work. I feel like the suspense didn't reach the same level as say The Captive Maiden or The Princess Spy, but the romance was perfect.
I loved the characters and their unique names--Melanie always does a fantastic job coming up with names!! Mathis I didn't really hate ..... xD He was just an obstacle.
I really want to read The Beautiful Pretender now. I feel like Lord Thornebeck would be such a fun love interest.
Yes. Just what I needed. A light fluffy romance.
This book matches the rest of Dickerson's work. I feel like the suspense didn't reach the same level as say The Captive Maiden or The Princess Spy, but the romance was perfect.
I loved the characters and their unique names--Melanie always does a fantastic job coming up with names!! Mathis I didn't really hate ..... xD He was just an obstacle.
I really want to read The Beautiful Pretender now. I feel like Lord Thornebeck would be such a fun love interest.
February 2, 2016
And down we go again.
*sigh*
There was nothing particularly bad about The Huntress of Thornbeck Forest. It certainly had a great premise and the incorporation of the Swan Princess was clever. The Christian themes are prevalent but not overwhelming. The characters don't pray/kiss (one of my biggest pet peeves...where characters make out while simultaneously thank God for the attractiveness of their partner...) I also like that the girl is the wealthier/higher person. It was a switch from the usual Prince rescues poor maiden plot.
But otherwise, this book was pretty mediocre.
There is a scene near the beginning where Odette (the sweet, kind, loving, generous, beautiful, etc. etc. etc. merchant's niece who teaches orphans to read in her spare time) tells Jorgen (the hot, kind, loving, generous, attractive, manly...etc. etc. etc. forester who makes up children's stories and poems for the orphans) that he has become the orphans' "ideal man." He responds by telling her that she is their "ideal woman." And that basically...sums up this entire book.
An ideal woman meets an ideal man and they immediately starting mooning after one another. Stuff happens but they still moon. She's stunning. He constantly reminds the reader of that. He's attractive and makes her feel safe. She dwells on that. Every man is after her. Almost every girl falls for the forester. They are in loovveeee but won't admit it because their stations are so different. (Well, that and she is the poacher he is trying to track down. Don't worry. You'll only be reminded of that every paragraph or so)
At first I thought that Melanie Dickerson was breaking off from her traditional plot line of Beautiful Maiden Pursued By Everyone Gains Attention of Evil Guy And Must Be Saved by Hot, Caring Hero. But actually, I think she has just gotten better at hiding the characters. It is the same plot element, but villains don't look quite so much like villains. The thing is, though, it is still the same concept. Take a fairy tale, throw in some lecherous creeps, save the day.
Kabam.
Nothing much new.
Round it off with an extensive about of...
and you get the idea.
*sigh*
There was nothing particularly bad about The Huntress of Thornbeck Forest. It certainly had a great premise and the incorporation of the Swan Princess was clever. The Christian themes are prevalent but not overwhelming. The characters don't pray/kiss (one of my biggest pet peeves...where characters make out while simultaneously thank God for the attractiveness of their partner...) I also like that the girl is the wealthier/higher person. It was a switch from the usual Prince rescues poor maiden plot.
But otherwise, this book was pretty mediocre.
There is a scene near the beginning where Odette (the sweet, kind, loving, generous, beautiful, etc. etc. etc. merchant's niece who teaches orphans to read in her spare time) tells Jorgen (the hot, kind, loving, generous, attractive, manly...etc. etc. etc. forester who makes up children's stories and poems for the orphans) that he has become the orphans' "ideal man." He responds by telling her that she is their "ideal woman." And that basically...sums up this entire book.
An ideal woman meets an ideal man and they immediately starting mooning after one another. Stuff happens but they still moon. She's stunning. He constantly reminds the reader of that. He's attractive and makes her feel safe. She dwells on that. Every man is after her. Almost every girl falls for the forester. They are in loovveeee but won't admit it because their stations are so different. (Well, that and she is the poacher he is trying to track down. Don't worry. You'll only be reminded of that every paragraph or so)
At first I thought that Melanie Dickerson was breaking off from her traditional plot line of Beautiful Maiden Pursued By Everyone Gains Attention of Evil Guy And Must Be Saved by Hot, Caring Hero. But actually, I think she has just gotten better at hiding the characters. It is the same plot element, but villains don't look quite so much like villains. The thing is, though, it is still the same concept. Take a fairy tale, throw in some lecherous creeps, save the day.
Kabam.
Nothing much new.
Round it off with an extensive about of...
and you get the idea.
April 27, 2015
This review was originally posted on The Moonlight Library
An Atheist Reads Christian Medieval Romantic Fiction
First of all, why would an atheist read Christian romance? Apart from the fact that it’s absolutely no one’s business but my own what I read, I do actually have a reason for trying this. I know that Christian fiction is generally clean content-wise, with heat rising from perhaps a forbidden kiss but no sex before marriage. Since I was sexually assaulted as a child and didn’t lose my virginity until I was 22, I’m not interested in reading about teenagers having sex, simply because I can’t relate at all. I’m much more interested in reading a romance with no sex – if I want sex, I’ll read erotica.
That’s not to say that I don’t approve of sex in YA, just that I prefer my reads clean. So that’s my reason, if you needed one, for trying Christian romance.
SUMMARY
The Swan Princess meets Robin Hood as beautiful, kind Odette poaches the king’s deer in Thornbeck Forest to feed the poor, starving children of her village. When the new forester, Jorgen, enters her social circle, she can’t help but be mesmerised by his handsomeness and wholesome personality. But Odette needs to marry a rich man to help feed the poor, and whatever would Jorgen do if he found out his beloved Odette was the one sabotaging his career?
WORLDBUILDING
The book was set in about 1300s Germany, but apart from the very occasional use of Germanic words (although ‘ja’ was used a lot) it was very hard to say there was much other worldbuilding. This is because the writing was exceedingly bland, unpoetic, and not very descriptive. Clothing was only described in detail when it either appeared on Odette or Jorgen, and left up to the imagination to everyone else (‘gaudy’ was used to describe someone’s clothes, once, I believe, but nothing to explain why they were gaudy). I suppose the use of chamber pots and chewing mint leaves and having a servant brush hair is part of worldbuilding, but I suppose this could have been set in any pre-industrial village. There weren’t even very good descriptions of the forest where so much time was set, although there was an awful lot of time dedicated to characters dancing.
CHARACTER
Odette was a pretty special character. Even though she broke the king’s law she believed she was doing the right thing by God by feeding the poor. I would have something cynical to say about the fear of God and Christian superiority but I actually enjoyed the book. I believe if Odette was atheist she’d still be poaching in the forest, but maybe not have her faith in a higher power that she’s doing the right thing even though it’s illegal.
Jorgen was a brilliant character as well. He was just so amazingly handsome and kind and caring and wholesome that I can’t even. Are these characters common in Christian fiction? Absolutely perfect, flawless beings? Seriously, they had no flaws. Not even their poor backgrounds held them back. It was just God making them suffer before he could make them happy, or something.
RELATIONSHIPS
Odette and Jorgen’s clean romance was a delight to read. It certainly wasn’t instalove, although they were both young adults instantly attracted to each other. They took the time to get to know one another through discussion and spending time together, learning to rely on each other and turn to each other for help and guidance. It was actually a nice change to read something different to the usual YA books I read where the guy generally treats the girl like shit and she pants after him like a bitch in heat anyway. The romance wasn’t exactly forbidden, but the two getting together was an impossibility because of Odette’s stature and Jorgen’s lower class. Of course I figured out how it was going to have a happily ever after ending and was pleased to see it come to fruition, for I can’t think of two characters that deserved each other as much was Odette and Jorgen, even if there was a certain level of deceit throughout the courtship.
OVERALL
Apart from the occasional preaching which I believe could have been left out with no detrimental effects, I actually enjoyed my first foray into Christian romance, and despite the unimaginative way the tale was told I am quite looking forward to reading the other Melanie Dickerson books I have in my collection.
I received this book for free from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
An Atheist Reads Christian Medieval Romantic Fiction
First of all, why would an atheist read Christian romance? Apart from the fact that it’s absolutely no one’s business but my own what I read, I do actually have a reason for trying this. I know that Christian fiction is generally clean content-wise, with heat rising from perhaps a forbidden kiss but no sex before marriage. Since I was sexually assaulted as a child and didn’t lose my virginity until I was 22, I’m not interested in reading about teenagers having sex, simply because I can’t relate at all. I’m much more interested in reading a romance with no sex – if I want sex, I’ll read erotica.
That’s not to say that I don’t approve of sex in YA, just that I prefer my reads clean. So that’s my reason, if you needed one, for trying Christian romance.
SUMMARY
The Swan Princess meets Robin Hood as beautiful, kind Odette poaches the king’s deer in Thornbeck Forest to feed the poor, starving children of her village. When the new forester, Jorgen, enters her social circle, she can’t help but be mesmerised by his handsomeness and wholesome personality. But Odette needs to marry a rich man to help feed the poor, and whatever would Jorgen do if he found out his beloved Odette was the one sabotaging his career?
WORLDBUILDING
The book was set in about 1300s Germany, but apart from the very occasional use of Germanic words (although ‘ja’ was used a lot) it was very hard to say there was much other worldbuilding. This is because the writing was exceedingly bland, unpoetic, and not very descriptive. Clothing was only described in detail when it either appeared on Odette or Jorgen, and left up to the imagination to everyone else (‘gaudy’ was used to describe someone’s clothes, once, I believe, but nothing to explain why they were gaudy). I suppose the use of chamber pots and chewing mint leaves and having a servant brush hair is part of worldbuilding, but I suppose this could have been set in any pre-industrial village. There weren’t even very good descriptions of the forest where so much time was set, although there was an awful lot of time dedicated to characters dancing.
CHARACTER
Odette was a pretty special character. Even though she broke the king’s law she believed she was doing the right thing by God by feeding the poor. I would have something cynical to say about the fear of God and Christian superiority but I actually enjoyed the book. I believe if Odette was atheist she’d still be poaching in the forest, but maybe not have her faith in a higher power that she’s doing the right thing even though it’s illegal.
Jorgen was a brilliant character as well. He was just so amazingly handsome and kind and caring and wholesome that I can’t even. Are these characters common in Christian fiction? Absolutely perfect, flawless beings? Seriously, they had no flaws. Not even their poor backgrounds held them back. It was just God making them suffer before he could make them happy, or something.
RELATIONSHIPS
Odette and Jorgen’s clean romance was a delight to read. It certainly wasn’t instalove, although they were both young adults instantly attracted to each other. They took the time to get to know one another through discussion and spending time together, learning to rely on each other and turn to each other for help and guidance. It was actually a nice change to read something different to the usual YA books I read where the guy generally treats the girl like shit and she pants after him like a bitch in heat anyway. The romance wasn’t exactly forbidden, but the two getting together was an impossibility because of Odette’s stature and Jorgen’s lower class. Of course I figured out how it was going to have a happily ever after ending and was pleased to see it come to fruition, for I can’t think of two characters that deserved each other as much was Odette and Jorgen, even if there was a certain level of deceit throughout the courtship.
OVERALL
Apart from the occasional preaching which I believe could have been left out with no detrimental effects, I actually enjoyed my first foray into Christian romance, and despite the unimaginative way the tale was told I am quite looking forward to reading the other Melanie Dickerson books I have in my collection.
I received this book for free from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
April 16, 2015
Let me be clear. This is Melanie’s best book yet.
As you probably know, her books are based off of fairy tales. This one is a reversed Robin Hood story where a female, Odette, is a poacher in the king’s forest. She is only acting as such to provide for the poor. Of course, the man she falls in love with happens to be the forester hired to keep poachers off the land. Ahhh…Thus we have a great story!
What I really love about this book is how faithful the characters are. They seek God and both are mature from the start. Desiring to serve God and help the poor and needy, she is torn over breaking the laws to do so. Jorgan, the hero, is of solid character and also seeks to serve God. If you know me AT ALL, you know that I love a hero that stays true in all circumstances. I will not elaborate, but will only say that he is true.
Well written. It is obvious that this is written for a broader, older audience. Melanie’s previous books have been YA novels and I believe this one is different. The plot moved quickly, without too much description (you know what I mean…I don’t need to know the color of everybody’s shirt and each decoration at the masquerade). The characters were heroes that you could adore from start to finish. 5 Solid Stars.
Thank you, netgalley and Melanie, for this wonderful read! As always, this is my honest opinion. Here’s to many more!!
As you probably know, her books are based off of fairy tales. This one is a reversed Robin Hood story where a female, Odette, is a poacher in the king’s forest. She is only acting as such to provide for the poor. Of course, the man she falls in love with happens to be the forester hired to keep poachers off the land. Ahhh…Thus we have a great story!
What I really love about this book is how faithful the characters are. They seek God and both are mature from the start. Desiring to serve God and help the poor and needy, she is torn over breaking the laws to do so. Jorgan, the hero, is of solid character and also seeks to serve God. If you know me AT ALL, you know that I love a hero that stays true in all circumstances. I will not elaborate, but will only say that he is true.
Well written. It is obvious that this is written for a broader, older audience. Melanie’s previous books have been YA novels and I believe this one is different. The plot moved quickly, without too much description (you know what I mean…I don’t need to know the color of everybody’s shirt and each decoration at the masquerade). The characters were heroes that you could adore from start to finish. 5 Solid Stars.
Thank you, netgalley and Melanie, for this wonderful read! As always, this is my honest opinion. Here’s to many more!!
February 2, 2016
This book was pretty good. I enjoyed the plot and the characters, but it was a little predictable to me... or maybe I've just read too many of Melanie's books. ;) Really enjoyed it, though. For some reason I was thinking that it was a Robin Hood and Cinderella crossover, and I saw a little of that in there, but I'm still not sure...
April 10, 2015
There is a reason that Dickerson continues to be one of the most accessible voices in the current CBA. Her books, well-placed in their time period, offer a unique and historically accurate glimpse of faith. Challenges are woven throughout that force deeper thought and introspection through subtle weaving rather than over italicized prayers. While Dickerson has found a strong audience with her books for Young Adults (gobbled equally by adults!), Huntress is a somewhat more mature read that allows itself to unwind slowly and ponderously and focuses on the different yet equitable strengths of a remarkable young woman and man. Obviously medieval romance with cross-dressing heroines is Rachel catnip-- as is a tale that extols the virtues of women outside of a traditional role. Dickerson plays to her greatest strengths here and the result is a well-realized tapestry of a world so different than ours yet contemporary in its questions on faith, identity and finding God outside of human expectation.
May 18, 2015
*happy sigh* this book was amazing, I will try and have a review up soon! =)
Review:
*warning this review may contain spoilers*
This book is absolutely amazing! I can't wait to see what Melanie comes up with next!
Review:
*warning this review may contain spoilers*
This book is absolutely amazing! I can't wait to see what Melanie comes up with next!
July 12, 2015
I had to wait months to get this from the library because there were so many people ahead of me on the holds. It's well worth the wait! A delightfully pleasant retelling of a fairy tale that left me feeling satisfied and ready to grab the next Dickerson book I have an opportunity to read...very clean and with some excellent points about what true charity really is. Highly recommended for all ages.
March 20, 2016
THE HUNTRESS OF THORNBECK FOREST is quite an enjoyable read, one I accomplished in most of an afternoon. The writing seems at times almost deceptively simple, but perfect for the book, painting a rich tale of a young woman and a young man as they seek love, purpose, and God's will amid mysterious plots against the gorgeous backdrop of medieval Germany.
I loved the main characters, Odette and Jorgen, and their well-written struggles. Odette had a little bit of growing on me to do, but I soon found myself quite fond of her. Jorgen was positively fabulous. His strength, humility, kindness, loyalty, all-around awesomeness... Plus he's something of a writer/poet! That was adorable, despite how little it came into the story. He's reason enough to read this book. ;)
The story itself was great. How Jorgen and Odette were pitted against each other had me quite worried, I can tell you! It was wonderful to watch their story unfold, and I loved how it switched often back-and-forth between both of their viewpoints. The romance is quite well written, sweet, heartfelt, amusing, and at times adorable. The rest of the plot I found to be quite well twined together, with much more going on than at first meets the eye, and a few surprising plot-twists. I was rather on the edge of my seat about how some of it would turn out!
It was a well-paced, quick read, and I enjoyed almost all of it, but the best parts were probably the dancing scenes--so gorgeous--and the final scene with the margrave near the end, which I positively LOVED! That whole scene completely made the book for me (although it was already awesome) and was just perfect. Allow me to just fangirl here for a moment...!
The setting is a well-drawn medieval one, detailed but entirely natural-feeling. I felt quite immersed! The village, the forest, the castle... all the gorgeous "costumes" if you will... and the many side-characters who added so much depth without getting confusing. I really felt as if I was in the community of the Thornbeck village and had known it always, as the heroine had.
As a double retelling, THE HUNTRESS OF THORNBECK FOREST felt at once delightfully retold, and yet original at the same time. The whole weaved together as a new story twined from parts of old ones reborn. The forest, archery, hunting, and helping the poor gave it a very Robin Hood feel, and there were several great nods to the old versions. I loved that both Odette and Jorgen had fairly Robin-Hood-like roles, which only made it more awesome. (Throughout, much of it put me in mind of BBC's Robin Hood TV show--the good parts of it!) The Swan Lake areas were mostly in the second half of the book, and while I don't know that fairytale super well, I think I noticed the key things and found them extremely well done, especially considering the lack of enchantment. The similarities to both old tales were fairly subtle but noticeable. I just loved picking out the retelling aspects and how uniquely they were handled!
Drawbacks? There were hardly any, to be honest. And the ones I found might not apply to most prospective readers... Odette grated on my nerves a few times and occasionally seemed selfish to me, but on the whole I loved her as the heroine. It's set in medieval times, which as a whole I enjoy, but there is a tendency toward more realistic, gritty details, which I could do without, myself. That may just be me, though! It definitely made it feel more "real", I suppose, but I prefer more fantasized medieval settings... I normally read YA, but this book is classified as Adult, and there are reasons for that; for one thing, a subplot I could have done without involving a house of prostitution; tastefully written, not much stated, but implied. As a reader of YA, this book is a tiny bit outside my normal reading zone; just thought I would mention that and say I recommend it for older teens/adults.
Overall, though, there's not much I found to complain about in this book! Aside from my personal preference toward less realistic/gritty, and not reading much adult fiction, this book was otherwise basically flawless in my opinion. So if you don't mind those, then it should be perfect. :)
THE HUNTRESS OF THORNBECK FOREST is a marvelous tale of adventure, mystery, re-tellings, love, and God's amazing hand in life.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher--thanks, Thomas Nelson!--for reviewing purposes, and wasn't required to be positive or anything. These are my personal opinions.
Review originally posted on The Road of a Writer
I loved the main characters, Odette and Jorgen, and their well-written struggles. Odette had a little bit of growing on me to do, but I soon found myself quite fond of her. Jorgen was positively fabulous. His strength, humility, kindness, loyalty, all-around awesomeness... Plus he's something of a writer/poet! That was adorable, despite how little it came into the story. He's reason enough to read this book. ;)
The story itself was great. How Jorgen and Odette were pitted against each other had me quite worried, I can tell you! It was wonderful to watch their story unfold, and I loved how it switched often back-and-forth between both of their viewpoints. The romance is quite well written, sweet, heartfelt, amusing, and at times adorable. The rest of the plot I found to be quite well twined together, with much more going on than at first meets the eye, and a few surprising plot-twists. I was rather on the edge of my seat about how some of it would turn out!
It was a well-paced, quick read, and I enjoyed almost all of it, but the best parts were probably the dancing scenes--so gorgeous--and the final scene with the margrave near the end, which I positively LOVED! That whole scene completely made the book for me (although it was already awesome) and was just perfect. Allow me to just fangirl here for a moment...!
The setting is a well-drawn medieval one, detailed but entirely natural-feeling. I felt quite immersed! The village, the forest, the castle... all the gorgeous "costumes" if you will... and the many side-characters who added so much depth without getting confusing. I really felt as if I was in the community of the Thornbeck village and had known it always, as the heroine had.
As a double retelling, THE HUNTRESS OF THORNBECK FOREST felt at once delightfully retold, and yet original at the same time. The whole weaved together as a new story twined from parts of old ones reborn. The forest, archery, hunting, and helping the poor gave it a very Robin Hood feel, and there were several great nods to the old versions. I loved that both Odette and Jorgen had fairly Robin-Hood-like roles, which only made it more awesome. (Throughout, much of it put me in mind of BBC's Robin Hood TV show--the good parts of it!) The Swan Lake areas were mostly in the second half of the book, and while I don't know that fairytale super well, I think I noticed the key things and found them extremely well done, especially considering the lack of enchantment. The similarities to both old tales were fairly subtle but noticeable. I just loved picking out the retelling aspects and how uniquely they were handled!
Drawbacks? There were hardly any, to be honest. And the ones I found might not apply to most prospective readers... Odette grated on my nerves a few times and occasionally seemed selfish to me, but on the whole I loved her as the heroine. It's set in medieval times, which as a whole I enjoy, but there is a tendency toward more realistic, gritty details, which I could do without, myself. That may just be me, though! It definitely made it feel more "real", I suppose, but I prefer more fantasized medieval settings... I normally read YA, but this book is classified as Adult, and there are reasons for that; for one thing, a subplot I could have done without involving a house of prostitution; tastefully written, not much stated, but implied. As a reader of YA, this book is a tiny bit outside my normal reading zone; just thought I would mention that and say I recommend it for older teens/adults.
Overall, though, there's not much I found to complain about in this book! Aside from my personal preference toward less realistic/gritty, and not reading much adult fiction, this book was otherwise basically flawless in my opinion. So if you don't mind those, then it should be perfect. :)
THE HUNTRESS OF THORNBECK FOREST is a marvelous tale of adventure, mystery, re-tellings, love, and God's amazing hand in life.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher--thanks, Thomas Nelson!--for reviewing purposes, and wasn't required to be positive or anything. These are my personal opinions.
Review originally posted on The Road of a Writer
March 16, 2015
Words cannot describe how amazing this book was. Not to mention the absolutely gorgeous cover. Dickerson hit it on the spot with this wonderful book. *MAY CONTAIN SPOILERS*
First of all, can we please talk about how beautiful the front cover is? I mean all of Dickerson's books have beautiful covers on them, but this perfectly portrays who Odette is. Dickerson is quite the author herself and I hope that one day her books become movies. It truly is such an honor to know an amazing author such as Melanie Dickerson. She loves God with all of her might and is not afraid to tie her beliefs into her stories. This is something that I have always loved about her writing. I don't have to worry about any vulgarity or anything of the sort in her books. She chooses to hold true to her beliefs in God and have them known all throughout her stories, which to me makes all of her stories better.
Odette is one of the main characters of the story. She is the notorious poacher of Thornbeck Forest and her intentions are to help and feed the poor. Though she does know that poaching is against the law, she longs to help people in need, as she once was one. Though she lives with her rich Uncle Rutger, she still has chosen to help the ones in need. But then a handsome forester comes into play and his is name is Jorgen Hartman. Jorgen's job is to protect the wildlife in the king's forest, even if that means he must catch/shoot (with a bow an arrow) a poacher. Odette meets Jorgen and there is an instant spark which leads to them to fall in love with one another. Funny thing is, Jorgen has no idea that Odette is the poacher. As the story goes on, much more happens. There are moments when Odette questions her choices of poaching as she becomes tired of it and turns to God to help her. But she knows that it is helping the poor families who have no food. Or is it? To understand my implied question there, you must read the book when it comes out on May 12th!
The Huntress of Thornbeck Forest is one that you will instantly fall in love with, as are all of Dickerson's books. From the moment I started this book, I was instantly enveloped into the story and I could not stop reading it. We all need a little magic in our lives and that's exactly what you get while you read this story. No matter who you are, Dickerson truly shows through her words that fairy tales aren't just for children, they are for all ages.
All of Dickerson's books are in my top reading list. I would rate this book a ten out of ten. Dickerson's writing is absolutely beautiful. It's as though you become a character in her stories and are truly able to feel the emotions of everyone including the author. I personally think that when you are able to clearly understand the emotions of the characters, that is what makes an author. Thank you for your beautiful writing in all your books Melanie Dickerson. I hope that I continue to receive opportunities to read more of your incredible stories.
First of all, can we please talk about how beautiful the front cover is? I mean all of Dickerson's books have beautiful covers on them, but this perfectly portrays who Odette is. Dickerson is quite the author herself and I hope that one day her books become movies. It truly is such an honor to know an amazing author such as Melanie Dickerson. She loves God with all of her might and is not afraid to tie her beliefs into her stories. This is something that I have always loved about her writing. I don't have to worry about any vulgarity or anything of the sort in her books. She chooses to hold true to her beliefs in God and have them known all throughout her stories, which to me makes all of her stories better.
Odette is one of the main characters of the story. She is the notorious poacher of Thornbeck Forest and her intentions are to help and feed the poor. Though she does know that poaching is against the law, she longs to help people in need, as she once was one. Though she lives with her rich Uncle Rutger, she still has chosen to help the ones in need. But then a handsome forester comes into play and his is name is Jorgen Hartman. Jorgen's job is to protect the wildlife in the king's forest, even if that means he must catch/shoot (with a bow an arrow) a poacher. Odette meets Jorgen and there is an instant spark which leads to them to fall in love with one another. Funny thing is, Jorgen has no idea that Odette is the poacher. As the story goes on, much more happens. There are moments when Odette questions her choices of poaching as she becomes tired of it and turns to God to help her. But she knows that it is helping the poor families who have no food. Or is it? To understand my implied question there, you must read the book when it comes out on May 12th!
The Huntress of Thornbeck Forest is one that you will instantly fall in love with, as are all of Dickerson's books. From the moment I started this book, I was instantly enveloped into the story and I could not stop reading it. We all need a little magic in our lives and that's exactly what you get while you read this story. No matter who you are, Dickerson truly shows through her words that fairy tales aren't just for children, they are for all ages.
All of Dickerson's books are in my top reading list. I would rate this book a ten out of ten. Dickerson's writing is absolutely beautiful. It's as though you become a character in her stories and are truly able to feel the emotions of everyone including the author. I personally think that when you are able to clearly understand the emotions of the characters, that is what makes an author. Thank you for your beautiful writing in all your books Melanie Dickerson. I hope that I continue to receive opportunities to read more of your incredible stories.
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April 23, 2016
As much as i would love to say that i loved the book, i can't really admit to it.
As much as it's against me to rate a book before finishing (i have no idea if this is true or not, i don't have standards), i had to rate this book. I really wanted to like it, but it was impossible for me to even remotely get close to it. Our main character (who's name i will not utter because i don't remember it) is greatly liked by everyone.
•She's rich, yet she cares for the poor. The guy she likes also care for the poor, a perfect match.
•She's 20 and not yet married. -Ok, i know how the past works, but really guys? It's not bad or anything.
•This goes against my last statement, but... She won't accept any guy that sets out to marry her. Then one guy comes, and she falls in love after dancing with him once, because he makes her feel "safe", unlike any other guy.
•She is perfect at everything.
•I'm not giving more reasons, but even after being nice, dancing well, and everything, she also happens to be the most beautiful single girl.
There, the end of my rant.
But for real, why can't any author write a book where the girl/guy falls in love with some one where they aren't angelically beautiful, cute or anything?? Not everyone is a model here.!
As much as it's against me to rate a book before finishing (i have no idea if this is true or not, i don't have standards), i had to rate this book. I really wanted to like it, but it was impossible for me to even remotely get close to it. Our main character (who's name i will not utter because i don't remember it) is greatly liked by everyone.
•She's rich, yet she cares for the poor. The guy she likes also care for the poor, a perfect match.
•She's 20 and not yet married. -Ok, i know how the past works, but really guys? It's not bad or anything.
•This goes against my last statement, but... She won't accept any guy that sets out to marry her. Then one guy comes, and she falls in love after dancing with him once, because he makes her feel "safe", unlike any other guy.
•She is perfect at everything.
•I'm not giving more reasons, but even after being nice, dancing well, and everything, she also happens to be the most beautiful single girl.
There, the end of my rant.
But for real, why can't any author write a book where the girl/guy falls in love with some one where they aren't angelically beautiful, cute or anything?? Not everyone is a model here.!
April 19, 2015
The Huntress of Thornbeck Forest ( A Medieval Fairy Tale )
by: Melanie Dickerson
Wow, What a story, The Huntress of Thornbeck Forest is the best book that I have read in a while . Melanie Dickerson weaves together a Medieval fairy tale based on Swan Lake and Robin Hood. I would say that this book is more for a broader audience and not just for the young. The Huntress grabbed me right at the first and did not let go till the end ,and then was sad to see it end. It seem like I could not read fast enough to see what was going to happen next. At times I felt tears rolling down my face. I loved the characters Odette and Jorgen. Odette is a beautiful young maiden who is very kind. Jorgen is a handsome Margraves Forester. They both have had a hard childhood life. I loved the spiritual parts woven throughout the story. The Huntress of Thornbeck is one book you do not want to miss out on, it is a good clean romance. Melanie Dickerson did not disappoint me and I can’t wait till the next book . I was given an ARC from the author for my honest review, which I have given.
by: Melanie Dickerson
Wow, What a story, The Huntress of Thornbeck Forest is the best book that I have read in a while . Melanie Dickerson weaves together a Medieval fairy tale based on Swan Lake and Robin Hood. I would say that this book is more for a broader audience and not just for the young. The Huntress grabbed me right at the first and did not let go till the end ,and then was sad to see it end. It seem like I could not read fast enough to see what was going to happen next. At times I felt tears rolling down my face. I loved the characters Odette and Jorgen. Odette is a beautiful young maiden who is very kind. Jorgen is a handsome Margraves Forester. They both have had a hard childhood life. I loved the spiritual parts woven throughout the story. The Huntress of Thornbeck is one book you do not want to miss out on, it is a good clean romance. Melanie Dickerson did not disappoint me and I can’t wait till the next book . I was given an ARC from the author for my honest review, which I have given.
dnf
December 29, 2023DNF 3 chapters in. I don't think this kind of fairytale retelling is really for me... I probably would have enjoyed it as a teenager.
July 28, 2022
A sweet and fun read! There were cheesy elements and the writing style, as in the other stories I've read by the author, was almost surprisingly simple and more telling than showing, but I still enjoyed reading it. (Maybe it surprised me yet again because the romance was rather more intense than what you'd expect from that writing style.) The suspense REALLY kicked in when I got to the middle of the book - though I loved how all scenes still served a purpose, built tension, and progressed the story. Fans of classic fairytales, the forbidden love and secret identity trope, and books that simply make you smile will like this!
June 17, 2024
Story enjoyment Rating 7.5/10 Christian faith rating 3/3
The Huntress of Thornbeck Forest by Melanie Dickerson follows Odette, who hunts deer to feed the poor. She meets a handsome forester on a mission to uncover the identity of the poacher targeting the Margrave’s deer. They are attracted to one another but only she knows that if he finds out her secret, she will be in danger and he will never speak to her again.
As with most of Dickerson’s works, I found the action plot engaging and thoroughly enjoyed the majority of the story. However, some of the dialogue felt unnatural, and overly formal, which made the characters seem like stage actors rather than real people. Despite this, the ending was satisfying and packed with action.
The Huntress of Thornbeck Forest by Melanie Dickerson follows Odette, who hunts deer to feed the poor. She meets a handsome forester on a mission to uncover the identity of the poacher targeting the Margrave’s deer. They are attracted to one another but only she knows that if he finds out her secret, she will be in danger and he will never speak to her again.
As with most of Dickerson’s works, I found the action plot engaging and thoroughly enjoyed the majority of the story. However, some of the dialogue felt unnatural, and overly formal, which made the characters seem like stage actors rather than real people. Despite this, the ending was satisfying and packed with action.
May 17, 2015
The Huntress of Thornbeck Forest is an exquisite heart-stirring tale that emerges from a creative fusing of two timeless classics ~ Swan Lake and Robin Hood. Taking place during the year 1363 in the German reaches of the Holy Roman Empire, the ambience is detailed with a castle and its dungeon, the wealthy in stark contrast with the desperately poor, fair maidens with flowers in their hair, the common marktplatz, jugglers, and the joyous midsummer night dance. This is fairy tale escapism with everyday realism at its best… beautifully encompassing human failings and inner turmoil but with the promise of happy ever-after.
The fairest maiden in all of Thornbeck, Odette Menkels, is the graceful niece of a prosperous merchant. Beautiful in spirit as well as body, she spends her nights tirelessly and selflessly hunting in the Margrave’s forest to feed hungry families and orphaned children, and by day, teaches them to read. Aware she is violating forest law, Odette is increasingly fearful of being caught and suffering a terrible punishment.
Jorgen Hartman is the wealthy Margrave’s forester and it is his responsibility to capture the illegal hunters and to bring them to justice. Jorgen’s haunted past provides added incentive to catch this criminal. When he meets the lovely Odette and finds his heart captured by this incomparable beauty with her generous nature, he is unaware that she is the poacher he is seeking.
Odette has always justified her crime but the discovery of a local poaching ring leads her to believe her kills may be benefiting a dangerous black market and not the children. As her affection grows for the handsome forester, Odette begins to wonder about ethics and if she is being righteous in her own eyes instead of God’s. Fighting confliction, danger, and loyalties, all Odette knows is that she must never get caught.
I was completely swept up in this tale that’s cloaked in intrigue and mystery and loathed anytime I had to pause the story! Absolutely loved every minute of this mesmerizing tale that prompted both tears and smiles. I think the reader will also be deeply inspired by the motivational and thought-provoking threads on the issues of forgiveness, integrity, and starting anew. This was a sublime love story that will have everyone wishing for their own fairy-tale!
Thank you NetGalley for a free e-copy of this book; I was not required to give a positive review and all opinions are my own.
The fairest maiden in all of Thornbeck, Odette Menkels, is the graceful niece of a prosperous merchant. Beautiful in spirit as well as body, she spends her nights tirelessly and selflessly hunting in the Margrave’s forest to feed hungry families and orphaned children, and by day, teaches them to read. Aware she is violating forest law, Odette is increasingly fearful of being caught and suffering a terrible punishment.
Jorgen Hartman is the wealthy Margrave’s forester and it is his responsibility to capture the illegal hunters and to bring them to justice. Jorgen’s haunted past provides added incentive to catch this criminal. When he meets the lovely Odette and finds his heart captured by this incomparable beauty with her generous nature, he is unaware that she is the poacher he is seeking.
Odette has always justified her crime but the discovery of a local poaching ring leads her to believe her kills may be benefiting a dangerous black market and not the children. As her affection grows for the handsome forester, Odette begins to wonder about ethics and if she is being righteous in her own eyes instead of God’s. Fighting confliction, danger, and loyalties, all Odette knows is that she must never get caught.
I was completely swept up in this tale that’s cloaked in intrigue and mystery and loathed anytime I had to pause the story! Absolutely loved every minute of this mesmerizing tale that prompted both tears and smiles. I think the reader will also be deeply inspired by the motivational and thought-provoking threads on the issues of forgiveness, integrity, and starting anew. This was a sublime love story that will have everyone wishing for their own fairy-tale!
Thank you NetGalley for a free e-copy of this book; I was not required to give a positive review and all opinions are my own.
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