Customer Reviews

Maid Marian: A Novel

5 star:		(18)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(8)
2 star:		(3)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

I loved this book, not only for the story but also for the warm, rich voice in which it is told.

I hate books with perfect protagonists who adventure along being better than everyone else. In Marian, Watson has created a lovely and very human spirit--not a bionic uber-heroine. With a cinematic eye, Watson draws the reader into a bright and romantic landscape populated by authentic and interesting characters. Watson's judicious use of historical detail goes a long way toward building the world of the novel without being overbearing or dry. The overall effect is an extremely readable book, appropriate for a broad range of readers, that leaves you with a sense of having vacationed in a green and wonderful spot out of time and having befriended a handful of warm and remarkable individuals there.

"Maid Marian" reminded me a bit of "The Mists of Avalon," which is a good thing. The book itself is beautiful, too, in keeping with the story.

A few years ago, it seemed like everyone was telling the legend of King Arthur from Guinevere's point of view. Now another famous maiden from history and legend tells her own story in MAID MARIAN, a lightly entertaining and romantic tale.

Marian Fitzwater, the orphaned child of noble parents, lives under the watchful, and ruthless, eye of Queen Eleanor. Married at age five to her childhood companion Hugh, Marian grows up in the royal household, quietly learning not only how to be a noblewoman but also how to exploit her noble position for her own gain.

When her teenaged husband is killed before their marriage is ever consummated, Marian slyly negotiates a bargain that grants her some freedom --- at least for a little while. The young woman, who has grown up hearing tales of the dashing Robin Hood, travels with her childhood nurse to find the mysterious outlaw in the hopes that he can help her escape yet another arranged marriage, this time potentially fatal.

Marian expects that Robin Hood and his Merry Men can help her gain information that can secure her liberty. What she doesn't expect is to fall in love with the leader of that merry band. Despite their political differences, which sometimes result in fierce arguments between the sharp-tongued duo, the lovers hatch a plan that will outsmart the conniving nobility once and for all.

First-time novelist Elsa Watson constructs her tale with charm and easy grace, cleverly inserting well-known tales of the Merry Men into her own narrative. Maid Marian's voice is appropriately formal, as befits her noble upbringing. This elevated diction, though, means that Marian's growing feelings of love for Robin are expressed in language that sometimes feels stilted rather than genuine.

It's a pleasure to observe Marian's gradual maturation from a sheltered, innocent girl into a clever, brave young woman who fights with a cudgel and bravely disguises herself. Although the plot sometimes strains credibility, it keeps up the pace right to the very end. MAID MARIAN proves that this unsung companion to the Merry Men rightfully deserves to come out from behind Robin Hood's shadow and have her own story told.

--- Reviewed by Norah Piehl

I loved this book! This story is, in a way, Marian's journey through her discovery of her strengths and weaknesses. She is a strong heroine who is not unreal because of her perfection. She is a real person living in a unique time in history with something to share with all of us! The story was enjoyable and historically based. Watson did a great job describing what life was like during this time period while telling a great story using interesting characters. I loved it and can't wait for Watson's next book!

I enjoy historical novels from time to time and a friend recommended Maid Marian to me. It's a fast read, with lots of neat twists and turns and very snappy dialogue that is still totally in keeping with the period. The author does an excellent job of depicting England during the 1100s, including the deep split between the Saxon and Norman cultures, and the dailylives of both the nobility and the common people. Marian is an engaging and thoughtful character, with a sharp and curious mind and a sense of humor and wonder that doestn't fade as the novel progresses. This is also a very readable light romance, without any of the usual cliches or silliness. My 15 year old daughter also enjoyed this book, and I felt totally comfortable sharing it with her.

A very accomplished first novel, with a terrific medieval setting and truly likeable characters. I highly recommend it.

As the book includes a list of questions for reading groups, I thought I'd compose my own list of more appropriate questions that most anyone having finished this book would be aching to discuss:

1) Why is Maid Marian such a totally unbelievable character? Please draw a pie chart.

2) Oh my gosh, could you BELIEVE that passage where Marian's all, OH DANG I WISH ENGLAND WAS A DEMOCRACY? I literally threw the book across the room. Did you?

3) Discuss how the passage of time is so arbitrary as to give the book's present absolutely no weight.

4) Annie, the queen, and the evil whatever-her-name-was are totally forgettable characters for all their importance. Discuss.

5) Marian's "discoveries" are pretty obvious, and the gravity with which they are revealed is entirely condescending to the reader. Please rank your venom on a scale of one to ten, one being "mildly venomous," ten being "the book actually was eaten away by the hated dripping from my fingertips."

6) Keeping in mind the ancient writing axiom of "Show, Don't Tell," please highlight all the passages in which things are NOT explicitly spelled out for us.  Note that you never got to take off the pen cap.  Do your best not to be consumed by despair.

7) Why is it that grand things seemed to be constantly occurring in the background, but never really MATTER?

8) For that matter, why does the reader not fall for Robin along with Marian? That is the POINT of Robin Hood. Why do you, too, not miss him when he's gone as much as she says does (at explicit, excruciating length)?

9) Banter should be an absolute joy to reader and character alike. Why did the Robin/Marian fill you with vague despair?

10) Apparently, Robin is deeply shaken by the lives he's had to take, but is entirely uneffected in public and private. Bash your head against a hard surface.

BONUS QUESTION: Compose a letter to the author sharing your thoughts. For advanced groups: Use no expletives!

Orphaned and married off at the age of 5, Marian Fitzwater is awakened during the night of her 15th birthday, the day of which she was to move to her husband's castle, to be told that he has just died.

As an unmarried woman with land attached to her name, she is now not only a very desirable catch, but now a pawn in the Queen of England's strategic chess game to supposedly turn all of England to her son, King Richard's favor. The catch is, Marian has no intentions of being married off to the highest bidder.

By seeking out the notorious Robbin Hood of Sherwood Forest to aid her, Marian finds out that she is to be wed to the younger brother of her now late husband, a child several years her junior. However, it is not the man she's worried about, but his power-hungry mother whom she noticed at her first husband's funeral had surprisingly dry eyes...especially considering the mysterious circumstances as to how he died...

Marian pleads to Robbin Hood to help her escape this dreadful marriage contract and save not only herself, but her lands from being snatched up and destroyed.

For as good as it sounded, this book was not all it's cracked up to be. I found the writing style to be tedious at times, and even though I wanted to get to the end of the book to find out what happened, I sort of already knew. The plot was predictable and at times, tiresome. I found it to be a very large "fluff" read, fun but not much substance behind it.

The book is told in first person from Marian's POV, and therefore we get to know surprisingly little about the other characters. Though it was refreshing to hear the story of Robbin Hood from an alternative point of view, it wasn't exceptionally engaging and made me roll my eyes a little at times. It makes me feel like this should have been a kid's book. All you had to do would be to take out the "we made love" sentence and it would have been. Young adults might like it, but adults will get bored quickly.

3 stars.

Charming and well written! Be sent back through time to see how Maid Marian and Robin Hood might have found their way to one another. Watson breathes life into a story so old, its source is untraceable. The tone is intimate, and the plot is clever (as is the book's heroine). In contrast to the frustratingly simplistic portrayal of the "damsel in distress" you find in so many classic love stories, Marian is smart and capable. The nicest part about Watson's take is that for once you can see why Robin and Marian might have fallen for each other. Her characters are not fairy-tale perfect, but their flaws give shape and depth to the story. I read it in a couple of days, I found it so engrossing, and I was sad when the ride ended. Thumbs up!!

A friend who knows I like woman-centered books handed me this, and I couldn't put it down. Maid Marian is one of those women who decides that no one is going to run her life. She and her companion, a woman named Annie, fight the royal family and corruption of the time with the help of Robin Hood, and have the kinds of adventures that most men of the era probably never had.

I really like Marian because she is defiant without being snotty, classy without too much reserve, and strong without being a mean, bullying woman. Good read.

Everyone knows the story of Robin Hood, but until now Maid Marian has been a sidekick and romantic interest. In this book, she becomes a full-fledged part of the story, with Robin as her partner. This is the story of the royal political intrigue that drove Marian to take control of her life and fate, and in doing so involve Robin and his men. There is plenty of lightness and humor, a little romance, and more than a few twists to her story.

Book is appropriate for all ages, language is easily understandable while retaining the elegance that makes this sort of historical fiction so enjoyable. Great fast read.

I LOVED this book!!! Romantic and enjoyable! It was an easy and engaging read!