Category: Standalone Title

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. *

Wedded to Her Enemy Knight by Lissa Morgan

On By TracyIn Medieval (1066-1540), Standalone Title, Tracy's ReviewsLeave a comment

Wedded to Her Enemy KnightWedded to Her Enemy Knight by Lissa Morgan

Tracy’s Rating: 4 of 5 stars

Series: Standalone

Release Date: June 18, 2026

Isobel Calvert has been protecting her family and the estate Mistlecote for years, but things are changing, the tide in the War of Roses has turned and the house of York has reclaimed Mistlecote and bestowed it to Sir Edmund Deverell, a warrior whose family originally owned the estate. With her father dead and her brother missing in battle, Isobel is given a choice, marry the elderly Lord Ledwyche or enter a nunnery – nether appeals. But to keep her precious Mistlecote, she proposes another option and asks Edmund to marry her. She is loyal to the house of Lancaster and always will be, but if marrying a Yorkist is the only way to keep her home – so be it. But never in her wildest dreams did she imagine falling for Edmund and having her loyalties tested and pulled in so many different directions. Can there be a HEA in the midst of war?

Edmund Deverell is a great warrior, but his personal life is a mess, his father and brother were lost in war, his mother has retired to a nunnery, and he doesn’t even want to think about his love life! He is attracted to Isobel, but he really doesn’t want to, so when she suggests marriage his first impulse is to reject her, but her plan makes sense. He might want her, but he doesn’t trust her, but the more time he spends with her, the more he wishes he could. Their growing feelings will be tested, and their happiness will be decided by the choices they make – will there be a HEA or just more heartache?

I love a good medieval romance with an enemies to lovers trope, and this story delivers! Edmund is a sigh worthy hero and I loved him immediately, but Isobel took a bit for me to warm up to. Isobel is angry, and her family is on the losing side of the war, so I understood her attitude and hatred, but I felt like it lasted much too long. Overall, this was an enjoyable read and I felt that the author came up with very believable ending for their conflict. If you like a marriage of convenience featuring enemies to lovers and just a little bit of spice – this is the book for you!!

*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. *