From School Library Journal

Gr 7 Up—In Marian's time, women (especially noblewomen) don't have much freedom. Yet with her betrothed, Robin of Locksley, she knows she will have more freedom than most. So when Robin dies during the Crusades, Marian is all the more devastated. And now the Sheriff's charge, Sir Guy of Gisemore, has been given the Locksley estate and has asked for her hand. Meanwhile, all of Nottingham is suffering under the Sheriff and Prince John. Fed up with the way her people are being treated, she dons Robin's hooded cape to seek justice. Spooner's novel is well written and engaging from open to close; readers won't mind the length of this hefty page-turner. It is primarily told from Marian's perspective with an occasional flashback to Robin before the Crusades. There is action, adventure, and just the right amount of romance. VERDICT Perfect for public and school libraries seeking more female-driven adventure stories and retellings of classic tales.—Kristin Joy Anderson, Lewis University, Romeoville, IL

Review

“Spooner masterfully weaves a tale about grief, idealism, and identity. Marian’s Robin Hood proposes ‘the idea that one man could make a difference’—and that one woman can, too.” (Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books)

“A lively adventure featuring a lionhearted heroine... plenty of appeal for readers of Tamora Pierce’s Protector of the Small quartet.” (Booklist)

“Steeped in tradition but infused with feminism and political concerns, a Robin Hood for a new audience.” (Kirkus Reviews)

“I wept, reading it. My heart needed it so badly.” (Amie Kaufman, author of the New York Times bestselling Illuminae series)

Praise for Hunted: “Spooner creates a detailed world populated by complex characters… An elegant, classic, and vivid fairy tale.” (Kirkus Reviews (starred review))

“Unlike the cardboard heroes of fairytales, Yeva is a very human girl who must discover the meaning of the deep yearning that has always been within her. The author’s depictions will keep the reader spellbound.” (Voice of Youth Advocates (VOYA) (starred review))

“A haunting and romantic exploration of love and what sacrifices come with freedom.” (Marie Lu, author of the Legend and The Young Elites trilogies)

“Haunting and graceful, with an edge that draws blood when you least expect it, Hunted is a masterpiece. Spooner deftly weaves together fairytale with fantasy, bringing to life an immersive, unforgettable world, a heart-wrenching romance, and a badass heroine.” (Amie Kaufman, New York Times bestselling author of Illuminae and The Starbound Trilogy)

“Elements of Russian folklore thread through this revision of “Beauty and the Beast,” and the smooth storytelling effectively creates atmosphere and mood as well as relaying the tale. Much time is spent on details… they all work to create a richly immersive and creatively fresh world for a familiar story.” (Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books)

From the Back Cover

Robin of Locksley is dead.

Maid Marian doesn’t know how she’ll go on, but the people of Locksley town, persecuted by the Sheriff of Nottingham, need a protector. And the dreadful Guy of Gisborne, the Sheriff’s right hand, wishes to step into Robin’s shoes as Lord of Locksley and Marian’s fiancé.

Who is there to stop them?

Marian never meant to tread in Robin’s footsteps—never intended to stand as a beacon of hope to those awaiting his triumphant return. But with a sweep of his green cloak and the flash of her sword, Marian makes the choice to become her own hero—Robin Hood.

About the Author

New York Times bestselling author Meagan Spooner grew up reading and writing every spare moment of the day while dreaming about life as an archaeologist, a marine biologist, or an astronaut. She graduated from Hamilton College in New York State with a degree in playwriting. She's traveled all over the world, to places such as Egypt, Australia, South Africa, the Arctic, Greece, Antarctica, and the Galápagos Islands, and there's a bit of every trip in every story she writes. She currently lives and writes in Asheville, North Carolina, but the siren call of travel is hard to resist, and there's no telling how long she'll stay there.

She's the coauthor of the award-winning Starbound Trilogy (These Broken Stars, This Shattered World, Their Fractured Light) and the Unearthed duology, and the author of the Skylark Trilogy (Skylark, Shadowlark, Lark Ascending) as well as two standalone retellings, Hunted (Beauty and the Beast) and Sherwood (Robin Hood).

In her spare time she plays guitar, plays video games, plays with her cats, and reads.