The legend of Robin Hood is one of those stories we’ve all known since childhood. Even if you haven’t read any books about him, I’m pretty sure you’ve at least seen Disney’s famous animation. I personally loved the idea of Robin being a cute, sly fox. It was a unique perspective on the familiar story. Now imagine if Robin Hood were not a human or a fox but a…fae! Actually, you don’t have to imagine, as the book we’re going to talk about today has that covered.
Wench is the debut novel of Erynne River. It’s a spicy romantasy that reimagines the famous outlaw, with Robin and his Merry Men as fae. However, the story is told from the point of view of Marian, a human who has yet to join her future allies on their adventures. Want to know more about the book? Then let’s dive into the plot, as well as the key aspects of the novel.
Synopsis
Humans and fae once lived side by side peacefully. But one thing led to another, and soon they became enemies. For centuries, they’ve been fighting, each considering their opponent a monster. That’s what Marian Hallomere thinks about fae as well. She lives in a castle with her father—a cruel man who lost the last piece of kindness after his wife’s death. Marian’s only consolations in this world are her maid, Tilda, and Sherwood’s forest. Though full of danger, it is the only place she feels at ease. And if Marian’s life has already been no pleasure, life has another surprise in store for her.
His father, Lord Hallomere, decides to betroth his daughter to the Sheriff to win his favor. Even though Marian is against the marriage to the most evil man in Nottingham, she has no power to object or fight for her future. On the way to her husband-to-be, however, her carriage is attacked by the Merry Men, and soon Marian becomes a captive in Elswyth, the land of the fae. While waiting for her father or the Sheriff to rescue her, she decides to collect as much information about the enemy as possible. Perhaps, with good leverage, it will be enough to buy her freedom and avoid the dreadful marriage.
But as Marian spends days in the village, she slowly realizes that faes are not the dangerous monsters she once thought they were. The more time passes, the more she understands and feels compassionate toward them. Developing contradictory feelings for Robin of Loxleigh, aka Robin Hood—who, by the way, despises that name, so everyone just calls him Lox—makes the situation even worse for Marian. Now she has to decide whose side she’s on. And, more importantly, what kind of future she wants for herself: to become the obedient daughter and wife again, or take a risk and choose wild freedom.
From Enemies to Destined Lovers
Loathing rises in her like a tide. Yet, beneath it, something treacherous uncoils and stretches. “Attraction” is too tidy a word, too human.
—Erynne Rivers, Wench
The relationship between Lox and Marian plays a central role in the book. They start off as enemies, with neither trusting the other for obvious reasons. Yet there’s tension and restricted feelings from both sides. As they spend more time together, they start seeing the good in one another. After a couple of dangerous adventures, they slowly win each other’s trust and realize they can be allies instead of enemies. And trust me, once they finally let their emotions take over their prejudices, you’ll get to witness the perfect heartwarming and passionate relationship. So, the wait for the slow-burn is totally worth it.
The Lore of Faes
Lanterns begin to brighten high in the canopy, one by one. Around her, fae string garlands of ash-grey blossoms, their petals falling like thin flakes of snow.
—Erynne Rivers, Wench
For me, a fantasy is only as good as its lore. And sometimes I stumble across books where the story’s engaging, but the fictional world isn’t really well-written. That was definitely not the case in Wench. In fact, its detailed and beautifully described scenery and traditions were the first thing that captured my attention and let me fully immerse myself in the story.
Elswyth and Sherwood themselves are wrapped in magic and mystery. They’re one of those places that make you feel bummed about them not existing in real life. But what I found even more fascinating was Greenwake—a long celebration of the equinox. It isn’t merely a fun holiday to explore. Faes from different places gather in Elswyth to pay respect to their ancestors, let go of the old, bond with each other and nature, and celebrate. Each festivity is filled with fae tradition, letting you understand their mindset and lifestyle.
Destiny is Made by Choice
Marian begins to believe she might someday wield her body like something that belongs to her. Not a thing shaped by fear, but a blade honed by choice.
—Erynne Rivers, Wench
One of the strongest points of the book, if you ask me, is Marian’s character development. Throughout the story we get to see how she’s growing and becoming her true self, leaving all the fears and biases she grew up with behind. In the beginning, she was the obedient daughter of a tyrant and did everything her father told her to do. Including creating designs for dangerous weapons to use in war. There was fire within her, but it was easily extinguished. Basically, all words, no action.
But as she steps out of her comfort zone and gets to see a new kind of life in Elswyth, she slowly starts to change. Instead of putting out her inner fire, Marian learns to master and control it. She lets herself be free and realizes there is more than one way of living. She becomes the architect of her own fate. Sure, she makes mistakes, but that’s just a way of growing, as she also learns how to deal with the consequences of her actions.
The Legend of Robin Hood
It’s not battle. Nor is it war. It’s play. They’re toying with them. The fae are striking to kill. They nick belts, slice reins, snap bowstrings with precision.
—Erynne Rivers, Wench
Now, I want to be completely fair here: this was the part I was slightly disappointed by. When I learned about a fae Robin Hood, I was actually expecting to see lots of fun heists, just like in the original legends, but even better. I thought that faes would be like tricksters, using their magic to manipulate and rob their enemies. And while we do get to see a couple of “hunting” scenes, I was still craving more.
The story, however, takes a different turn and focuses more on the world of the fae and Marian’s relationship with Lox and her character arc. And don’t get me wrong, those storylines were no less engaging. I especially liked Marian’s interactions with Allen, Will, and Little John I simply hoped to see how Robin Hood would use his powers to outsmart humans. Perhaps that’s something we’ll see in the sequels, if there are any. I truly hope there will be.
Final Thoughts
There are quite a lot of books about faes and elves, and sometimes it feels like there’s nothing left to tell. But Wench sure proved me wrong. It presented them from a new fascinating angle, giving them interesting background, myths, and features. So, if you enjoy exploring magical worlds of these mythical creatures, this is definitely a book to read.
You’ll love Wench if you enjoyed these titles:
- Steelborn by Taylor J. LaRue
- A Court of Thorns and Roses by Sarah J. Maas
- The Knight and the Moth by Rachel Gillig
- The Cruel Prince by Holly Black
- The Merry Adventures of Robin Hood by Howard Pyle
Bookstr’s Wench Dream Cast:
- India Amarteifio as Marian Hallomere
- Daryl McCormack as Robin of Loxleigh
- Lucien Laviscount as Allen
- Michael Ward as Will
- Winston Duke as Little John
Final Score: 3.5/5
Spice Level: 4/5
You can find Wench on Bookshop, Barnes & Noble, and Amazon! Thank you to Avon Books for providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
For another Bookstr starred review, click here!
To find more romantasy books, make sure to check out Bookstr’s Captivating Romantasy Titles You Won’t be Able to Put Down shelf on Bookshop!
