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kwmcm25's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
dasha_jesus_reading's review against another edition
fast-paced
5.0
This is the first book I read of Melanie Dickerson and it will always be my favorite by her. This one exceeds all of her other books. You have to read it.
rr_author's review against another edition
4.0
I really enjoyed this book! It was exciting, funny, and sweet.
Odette was so strong, and courageous. I liked her a lot. She had a strong sense of compassion, and was living for others. Even though she was a bit of a criminal, I thought she was a great role model.
The only thing I did not like, was that every time she was anywhere near Jorgan, her heart would start pounding. I could understand if it was only everyone in a while, but it seemed like any time they were together, even if was while teaching poor children her heart would race. To me that just doesn't seem very realistic.
Jorgen was also a great character. I love how Melanie portrayed the struggle between compassion and justice in the book.
I think one of my favourite characters in the book was the Margrave. He was amazing. Even though he had a questionable reputation, I thought he was really funny and awesome.
Odette was so strong, and courageous. I liked her a lot. She had a strong sense of compassion, and was living for others. Even though she was a bit of a criminal, I thought she was a great role model.
The only thing I did not like, was that every time she was anywhere near Jorgan, her heart would start pounding. I could understand if it was only everyone in a while, but it seemed like any time they were together, even if was while teaching poor children her heart would race. To me that just doesn't seem very realistic.
Jorgen was also a great character. I love how Melanie portrayed the struggle between compassion and justice in the book.
I think one of my favourite characters in the book was the Margrave. He was amazing. Even though he had a questionable reputation, I thought he was really funny and awesome.
english_lady03's review against another edition
4.0
The first in Melanie Dickerson's new series of Adult fairy-tale retellings did good homage to the Robin Hood stories. I for one think that a historical story which casts a woman in a traditionally male role can be problematic, and can end up being clichéd or contrived, or the character possessing various unpleasant characteristics, treating everyone else as stupid or inferior.
Such was not the case here. The story was perhaps a tad simplistic, and some other reviewers have called out the lack of action- but I do not think a good story needs to be action-packed, if it is well told and tightly plotted.I think I enjoyed this one for the story's sake, and that of some of characters- as as it the Romance element taking the back foot- at least in the first half, before some of the kissing at really inappropriate moments, and other Romance tropes.
The Internal monologues of some of the characters were- a little on the repetitive side and I would have liked to have seen a little more of Swan Lake, which this novel was meant to be based partly on- which is a great story. Yet the Romance was (mostly) not too mushy, and many of the characters dilemmas believeable enough - even if their responses to them seemed annoyingly double minded at times. Yet what 20 something isn't a little irresponsible at times?
My only other gripes were some language was too modern, and a few Americanisms, though the book seemed generally historically authentic and evoking the spirit of the time (aside from a couple of hiccups- a reference to Tarpaulin which I'm fairly sure they did not have in the Middle Ages for instance). That said, some of the details about the hunting didn't strike me as entirely realistic.
For instance an entire hunting party was not able to find a single deer in hours- yet Odette almost always finds one every night- and usually more than one. Also, though I don't remember exactly whether the type of Deer being hunted was bought up, but I recall it somewhere being mentioned that they were European Red Deer. (Though I may be wrong). The stags of this species can grow to huge sizes and weigh up to 500 pounds- sometimes more- so killing one would yield enough meat to feed a lot of people for quite a while- certainly a few dozen people (mostly children) for more than a day- otherwise they’d have to be eating several pounds each at a single sitting.
Overall though- The Huntress of Thornbeck Forest is a good and enjoyable story that does not demand too much from the reader, and has a sound Christian theme without being too preachy. Worth reading more than one. I personally look forward to the next one, which is about the Margrave of Thornbeck Castle- a character I rather warmed to, even though he was the potential enemy of the heroine and may have a 'Dark Side'.
I received an Ebook version of this novel free from Thomas Nelson via Booklook Bloggers for review. I was not required to write a positive and all opinions expressed are my own.
Such was not the case here. The story was perhaps a tad simplistic, and some other reviewers have called out the lack of action- but I do not think a good story needs to be action-packed, if it is well told and tightly plotted.I think I enjoyed this one for the story's sake, and that of some of characters- as as it the Romance element taking the back foot- at least in the first half, before some of the kissing at really inappropriate moments, and other Romance tropes.
The Internal monologues of some of the characters were- a little on the repetitive side and I would have liked to have seen a little more of Swan Lake, which this novel was meant to be based partly on- which is a great story. Yet the Romance was (mostly) not too mushy, and many of the characters dilemmas believeable enough - even if their responses to them seemed annoyingly double minded at times. Yet what 20 something isn't a little irresponsible at times?
My only other gripes were some language was too modern, and a few Americanisms, though the book seemed generally historically authentic and evoking the spirit of the time (aside from a couple of hiccups- a reference to Tarpaulin which I'm fairly sure they did not have in the Middle Ages for instance). That said, some of the details about the hunting didn't strike me as entirely realistic.
For instance an entire hunting party was not able to find a single deer in hours- yet Odette almost always finds one every night- and usually more than one. Also, though I don't remember exactly whether the type of Deer being hunted was bought up, but I recall it somewhere being mentioned that they were European Red Deer. (Though I may be wrong). The stags of this species can grow to huge sizes and weigh up to 500 pounds- sometimes more- so killing one would yield enough meat to feed a lot of people for quite a while- certainly a few dozen people (mostly children) for more than a day- otherwise they’d have to be eating several pounds each at a single sitting.
Overall though- The Huntress of Thornbeck Forest is a good and enjoyable story that does not demand too much from the reader, and has a sound Christian theme without being too preachy. Worth reading more than one. I personally look forward to the next one, which is about the Margrave of Thornbeck Castle- a character I rather warmed to, even though he was the potential enemy of the heroine and may have a 'Dark Side'.
I received an Ebook version of this novel free from Thomas Nelson via Booklook Bloggers for review. I was not required to write a positive and all opinions expressed are my own.
harleyrae's review against another edition
2.0
This was by no means a bad book, it was though a very boring and unexciting book.
The story was very predictable, it ended exactly how I had expected it to. The story also didn’t feel like a fairy tale. When a book is marketed as an medical fairy tale, that’s what I expected to read.
The story felt like it was continuously repeating the same thing over and over again. Frankly there wasn’t much to draw me in. I felt tired reading this book.
While I was not a huge fan of this book, I still don’t think it was a bad book. It just wasn’t the book for me.
The story was very predictable, it ended exactly how I had expected it to. The story also didn’t feel like a fairy tale. When a book is marketed as an medical fairy tale, that’s what I expected to read.
The story felt like it was continuously repeating the same thing over and over again. Frankly there wasn’t much to draw me in. I felt tired reading this book.
While I was not a huge fan of this book, I still don’t think it was a bad book. It just wasn’t the book for me.
littlehouse88's review against another edition
4.0
I really enjoyed The Huntress Of Thornbeck Forest. It was a well written fun book. The Historical setting seemed a little lacking, as if the story could have been set at any time. (The hunger Games with a girl who was good with a bow and arrow and poached in the forest was set in the future.)
This is the second of Melanie Dickerson’s books that I have read and while they seemed very similar I am looking forward to the next series of hers that I have on hold at the library. They are fun and easy books, and everyone needs a few “candy” books in their life.
This is the second of Melanie Dickerson’s books that I have read and while they seemed very similar I am looking forward to the next series of hers that I have on hold at the library. They are fun and easy books, and everyone needs a few “candy” books in their life.
amanda_lind84's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
mandey1's review against another edition
4.0
so good. seemed a little stilted in the writing, not as well written perhaps as her previous books, but I loved it. kept me on the edge of my seat, "who's doing that? what's going to happen next? will she end up marrying him?"
thethriftingmama's review against another edition
4.0
Great summer book, clean romance. Quick read, interesting characters and a captivating story. Can't wait to read more from this author.
loki728's review against another edition
hopeful
lighthearted
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75