YA Robin Hood Retelling: The Swindler's Daughter Review and Content Guide
Updated: Aug 31
Looking for a Robin Hood retelling set in a fantasy world? Check out our review of The Swindler's Daughter: Robin Hood Reimagined by Anette K Larsen
Quick Summary
Genre/Topics: Robin Hood, Fantasy,
Recommended Age: 16+
Formats: ebook, paperback, hardcover
Series: Tales of Winberg 3/6 but can be read standalone.
Possibly Concerning Content* (see details below)
🤬 Language: None
❤️ Romance: Kisses only
🛡️Violence: Mild injuries. Death of horse. Death of spouse.
‼️ Heads up: A minor side character mumbles incantations over herbs. Young Widower. Age gap. Parental neglect.
Who is this for?
The Tropes: Rivals to more. Forbidden (ish) romance (brother disapproves). Sibling bonding.
The Vibe: Robin Hood meets fantasy. Fighting for what's right. Is breaking the law okay if it helps people?
For Fans of: Romantasy, fairytale retellings, Robin Hood stories.
Review
A lot of Robin Hood books with romance really irritate me by making the heroine a better shot than Robin. I never understand this. We fell in love with the charming, cocky Robin Hood who was the best shot in all of England. Why try and take that away from him?
Thankfully, this book does not do that.
Instead, we are introduced to Miriam, the daughter of a swindler whose skills with lockpicking and pickpocketing far outstretch anyone else in the gang, making her a valuable member without actually overshadowing the main man we all came to the book for.
Robin is just as charming and confident as he should be in this fantasy version. The Sherriff is appropriately evil and the people in need of help. I really liked how Miriam struggled with the desire to help her people versus the desire to stay on the right side of the law. Let's face it, robbing from the rich to give to the poor is still robbing and I liked that it was given the appropriate weight the decision needed.
I enjoyed all of the characters and will more than likely read the rest of the series based on this book alone. The writing was good, the pace excellent, and the romance, while still remaining kisses only, was swoony.
Possibly Concerning Content Guide*
Click on 'possible spoilers' for details.
🤬 Q: Is there profanity in The Swindler's Daughter?
A: No, there is no profanity.
❤️ Q: Is there a romance in The Swindler's Daughter?
A: There is a romance but it stays kisses only, no groping, no tongue mentioned.
🛡️Q: What kind of violence is there in The Swindler's Daughter?
A: There are mild injuries. A horse is lost. Death of spouse (past).
Possible Spoilers
A man is shot in the leg with an arrow.
A woman is hit in the head by a horse and dies. No body or gore described.
A horse falls off a ravine. No body or gore described.
‼️ Q: Are there any heavy themes, triggering moments, or iffy subjects in The Swindler's Daughter?
A: A minor side character mumbles incantations of herbs. Young windower. Age gap. Parental neglect.
Possible Spoilers
A minor side character is seen muttering to herself and the main character, 'hopes its curses,' and 'hopes it works." Same minor character later tosses talismans and herbs into a bowl and chants something over them.
There's a young widower who struggles with the loss of their spouse. The spouse passed in the past.
Age difference: Rowan (robin) is twenty two (if I did my math right) and Miriam is only seventeen. It was a different time but be aware.)
The main character's father attempts to sell her. She is rescued by her brother. He forced both children to be thieves.
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Official Blurb
"Miriam left her thieving past behind.But now she’s fallen for an outlaw, and the only way to protect those she loves may be to become one herself.
Growing up the daughter of a thief and con man taught Miriam how to steal. But it also convinced her that’s not the lifestyle she wants. Having escaped that life with her brother, she now values her place on the right side of the law. However, when the new magistrate of Murrwood Village starts taxing the people and stealing their goods, Miriam finds herself an unwitting part of Rowan Lockley’s unconventional and illegal form of justice.
He has a tragic past and deadly aim with an arrow, but as Rowan and Miriam fight over the question of right and wrong, Miriam must also fight her growing feelings for him. How can she possibly fall for an outlaw when that’s the life from which she ran? She’ll have to decide whether obeying the law and doing what’s right are always the same thing. And if they’re not, will she have the courage to embrace the thieving skills she’s shunned for so long in order to help those who need it most?
Full of danger and daring, this romantic adventure reframes the classic tale of Robin Hood, as it forces Miriam to choose between loyalty to the brother who saved her and the love of a man who’s given up on the law." - from Amazon
📍*Possibly Concerning Content Disclaimer: I try my best to include all relevant content notes, or possibly concerning content, but I may not catch everything and/or you may feel things are concerning that I do not. Please research individually if you’re sensitive to specific topics/subjects! 📍
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