The Forestwife

by Theresa Tomlinson

Book Overview

Mary, 15 years old & an orphan, must flee into Sherwood Forest to avoid an arranged marriage. There her life truly begins, for she finds a community of heroic outlaws that includes a woman with seemingly magical healing powers & a young man who is bravely leading the fight against tyranny. This man is Robin Hood, & Mary will soon be known as Maid Marian, the green lady of the woods.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0440913101
• ISBN13: 9780440913108
• Release Date: January 1997
• Publisher: Bantam Doubleday Dell Publishing Group
• Length: 176 Pages
• Weight: 0.30 lbs.
• Age Range: 4 to 12 years
• Grade Range: Preschool to Grade 7

Customer Reviews

It's Enchanting, But Realistic!

I really loved this book. I just finished it. It's about the 15 year old Mary de Holt. She's sentenced to a married life to an old, ugly, man, whom she knows she could never be happy with. When she runs away, she runs into her nurse from birth, Agnes. They set of for the house of the Forestwife, but finde her to be lying dead. So Agnes becomes the new Forestwife, and Mary her helper, Marian or the Green Lady. There are many suprises in store and a few parts that you wish-why, why, this, this isn't what I wanted to happen. But it's also an enchanting, yet realistic book, not all that "and they lived happily ever after" stuff. Although a few of those parts I wish would have been more the "happily ever after" stuff, I'm that sorta person, who kinda wants everything to come out the way I want it. But is still was a wonderful book. I really liked the legend twist, concentrating on the enchanting Maid Marian. I love fairytale twist books, I read ones in the similar twist form on Cinderella and Beauty, from Beauty and the Beast. I also saw there is a sequel to this. Although I'm sure to read it eventually, I rather hesitate, knowing it won't include much of Maid Marian and Robert's(Robin Hood) romance and friendship, or the fact that they wouldn't be the main characters. I guess I sorta wish it'd stay just where it has ended now, leaving you to your imagination. You can give it any sort of end, even change the turn out of Marian and Robert's romance and a few other suprises you might want to change to your way. But all in all I highly recommend this book to anyone interested in the Robin Hood tales, medevil times, or twisted legend/fairytales. Enjoy!

I love It!!!!!!

The lyrical and medieval tongue takes you back into the past where females were trade objects and tights and gowns were an everyday matter...not to mention the black magic. This has to be the ONLY Robin Hood book out in print with Maid Marian telling the tale...such an original and never before tried idea! I can't wait to read the sequel CHILD OF MAY.If you enjoyed this book, another one quite similar and just as enchanting would have to me MIST OF THE AVALONS (if you haven't heard of it before) and also COURT DUEL...you just gotta read them!

Factors of a great read: action, romance, intensity

I happen to love fantasy books , though I only truely enjoy the ones that allow the characters to seep into you and you become them. For me this was one of those books that take you away and into the story Marian was a wonderful character that you never hear anything personal about but this told it from her . With this book, I have learned to see Marian more as Robin Hood's mate, not annoying female pest. Love the romance, intensity, and action.

Blossoming Love between Marian and Robin

Twists and turns, hate into romance, hardness into humor, a novella with all the key characterisitics to draw a hungry reader in. Especially with Maid Marian as a lead character, you wish there'd be a sequel. But no, this book stands on it's own pretty well, pretty darn well.