Category: Debut Novel

Wench by Erynne Rivers

On By TracyIn Debut Novel, Fairytale Retelling, Historical Paranormal/Fantasy, Movie / Story Retelling, New To Me Author, Paranormal / Fantasy, Romantasy, Standalone Title, Tracy's ReviewsLeave a comment

WenchWench by Erynne Rivers

Tracy’s Rating: 2.5/3 of 5 stars

Series: Standalone (?)

Release Date: July 16, 2026

After her father arranges her marriage to the Sheriff of Nottingham, Marian is sent through Sherwood Forest on the way to her unwanted future. When her carriage is attacked and she is taken by the Merry Men, Marian is forced into the world of the fae she has always been taught to fear. As the Sheriff’s men search for her, the story builds around Marian’s conflict between returning to the life chosen for her by her family and choosing a different path among the fae.

This retelling blends Robin Hood elements with romantasy, fae politics, gendered power dynamics, and a romance that develops while Marian reassesses what she believes about humans, the fae, and herself. Her exposure to Sherwood Forest, the Merry Men, and “Lox” who is the fae version of Robin Hood (with antlers). Marian begins the story resistant and distrustful, while Lox is presented as protective, mysterious, and closely tied to the forest and its people. Marian slowly begins to change her stance on the fae thanks to Lox and his Merry Men and her experience with the magical community, which finally gives her a chance to form her own opinions and make her own choices.

Overall, I thought Wench had an interesting premise and had the potential to be a unique Robin Hood-inspired romantasy, but it did not fully work for me. I struggled with Marian at the beginning because her prejudice toward the fae made her difficult to connect with, and the romance felt too rushed for me to feel fully invested in it. I also didn’t like the present tense limited third person narrative, because it made the storytelling feel more distant and harder to sink into, especially in the first half. While the book was easy to read and had some engaging ideas, I wanted more depth from the characters, more development in the romance, and a stronger resolution to the conflict with the Sheriff. In short, I wanted to be wowed and I wasn’t.

*I am voluntarily leaving a review for an eARC that I requested and was provided to me by the publisher/author. All opinions in this review are my own. *

A Proud Woman by Sarah F. Noel

On By BarbaraIn Audiobook, Barb's Reviews, Debut Novel, Historical Mystery, New To Me Author, Part of a Series, Victorian Era (1837-1901)Leave a comment

A Proud Woman (Tabitha & Wolf Historical Mystery #1)Barbara’s rating: 4 out of 5 Stars
Series: Tabitha & Wolf Historical Mystery #1
Publication Date: 6/1/23
Period: Victorian London – 1897
Number of Pages: 262
Format: Audiobook Narrator: Vicki-Jo Eva

Sarah F. Noel is a new-to-me author, and I’m glad to have discovered her and this series. It was nice to discover that she has added a new series featuring two characters from this current series. I enjoyed this book well enough that I purchased the book and audio for the first thirteen of the seventeen books in the series. I have already gone through the first four books and will be writing successive reviews for those four. This review won’t be as book-specific as I normally do because I want to share more about the series since it is the first book. I will add that the gist of the story is that Mickey D, a crime lord from Wolf’s past, comes to ask for Wolf’s help in solving a crime that he’s afraid will be blamed on a member of his family. Since Wolf is in Mickey D’s debt, he cannot refuse. Tabitha, of course, demands to help as well.

The series features Tabitha Chesterton, the widowed Countess of Pembroke, and Jeremy Chesterton, the new Earl of Pembroke, who is a long-lost cousin to the former Earl. We will follow these two main characters as Jeremy (Wolf) is called upon to solve mysteries (murders) because of his former profession as a thief taker. We will also follow these two characters as their relationship develops. I have looked ahead, and I can tell you the romance is a very slow-burn that has tried my patience through the four books I have already completed. I think the wedding comes somewhere around book eight.

There is a growing coterie of characters who seem to show up in the books. I’m sure some will enter and leave as the storylines require, but it seems most are featured from book to book.

• Dowager Countess of Pembroke: She is one of the most onerous, aggravating, and annoying characters I have ever read. She also seems to be featured prominently in every book, and I cannot fathom why. I’ve tried to view her as the comic relief, but that doesn’t usually work for long before I’m wishing she’d fall into a hole. However, to provoke that strong reaction in me, she must be a very well-written character.

• Bear: Wolf’s best friend and business partner from the thief-taker days. He’s a gentle giant who loves drawing and his mother. He’s large with lots of dark hair, which gave him his name. He’s struggling to find his place in Wolf’s new world.

• Melody and Rat: Four-year-old Melody and eight-year-old Rat (Mat) are brother and sister street urchins who are taken in by Tabitha. Note: The second series, The Continental Capers of Melody Chesterton, features Melody and, I assume, Rat after they are older. I think ALL of the adults in the series kowtow too much to these children. Just another note: all of these nicknames drive me nuts, but I still like the series.

• Other characters are added as the series progresses, but I’ll list those as we go through them.

The narration was good. I enjoyed the narrator’s voice, and the pacing was well done. That said, there wasn’t much differentiation between character voices. I couldn’t always tell whether Tabitha or Wolf was speaking. I could, however, always tell when the Dowager Countess was speaking. Another thing I noticed was the narrator sometimes changed words from what was written – using ‘but’ rather than ‘however’. She also used the word ‘okay’ in the narration when it wasn’t in the text of the book. Still, an enjoyable listen throughout the series.

I enjoyed this book; it was an excellent mystery with a surprise ending. I could have done with less of the Dowager Countess, but I still enjoyed Tabitha, Wolf, Bear, and the children. If you are looking for a longer historical mystery series to try, I can recommend this one. Happy reading and listening!