Title: The Huntress of Thornbeck Forest

Author: Melanie Dickerson

Series: Medieval Fairy Tale Romance book 1

Chapters: 32

Pages: 306

Genre: Christian fairy tale Christian teen historical fiction Christian teen historical romance

Rating: 5 stars

The Huntress of Thornbeck Forest is another great fairy tale retelling by Melanie Dickerson. This one is a cross between Swan Lake(Swan Princess) and Robin Hood. And I loved it. As a child The Swan Princess and Robin Hood were in my top ten movies. So I love the fact that Melanie combined the two into one novel. Also the heroine is not a damsel in distress she can hold her own. Odette worries about the orphan children of her village. She wants to do as much as she can to help them. She becomes the Robin Hood of her people. Jorgen is the forester for the leader of their country. Who is charged with finding the person who his killing deer in the forest.
Melanie's books keep getting better. While The Merchant's Daughter will always be my favorite of hers because it's a retelling of Beauty and Beast. The Huntress of Thornbeck Forest is tied with The Princess Spy for second. Odette is a strong heroine in her own right but not so strong that she doesn't need a hero. I loved Melanie's twist on the Robin Hood story.

I received a copy of this book from the publisher through netgalley. I was not required to write a positive review. All opinions expressed are mine alone.

Orphaned at a young age and taken in my her merchant uncle, Odette has always had soft spot in her heart for the orphans. So at night she poaches the Margrave's forest for meat to feed the poor.



Jorgen Hartman has inherited his father's position as the Margrave's Forester entrusted with protecting the forest from poachers like the one that killed his father.



A mix of Robin Hood and the Swan Princess, Odette is a compassionate and generous hearted heroine. But I personally thought that at times she was a bit misguided in the way that she went about helping others.



Jorgen has more in common with Odette than it would appear at first. He is innovative and conscious of the means at his disposal. I admired his straightforward approach to things and how he found ways to help others as well. Jorgen was easily my favorite character in this book.



A bit slow to start, this wasn't my favorite book of the series. It did all come together in the end, but it took a while to get there. I would agree with some other reviews in that in some ways this book seemed less complex, but also it did touch on some more adult themes as well. It was enjoyable read, nonetheless, and sets the stage for the sequel/companion book.





I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

A feisty girl with the heart of gold. A sensitive young forester with a task. And a moral dilemma to solve.

A fast-reading YA novel about the heart of our decisions. Do we follow God when we think that the end justifies the means.
At least Odette thinks that - the forest is full of deers and the children are hungry. Her poaching is to feed them and there is no one else to help. But not everyone else has such a heart...
Jorgen, the new forester, is set to find the poacher. It is his duty and even, a poacher sith the same arrows had killed his father 4 years ago. But who would think that the beautiful maiden can be behind it?
And might be there more things happening?

I liked this book, but not loved it. The historical realities are not true to the reality always, but this is not a history textbook, so I don't care that much. But somehow I wish for more swashbuckling hero and a bit fresher plot.
The moral dilemma, on the other hand, is the saving grace here. Truly interesting angle! And the local ruler is what a ruler should be, a good leader.