Gayle Feyrer – Marian | Maggie Blackbird

Today, author Gayle Feyrer is guesting. She’s talking about her latest release Marian, a historical romance. Be sure to read my review. And don’t forget to enter the Rafflecopter giveaway.

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Why Gayle chose to write a retelling of Robin Hood:

Of course, I’d always loved the Robin Hood legend. As a child, maybe six, I had a Robin Hood record narrated by Basil Rathbone that was very dramatic. I played it over and over. Plus, if I’m remembering right, someone sang Greensleeves on it, which stayed a favorite song forever. But for the book, it was more Marian who was the inspiration. I wanted a fierce warrior rather than a damsel in distress. When Marian was first published by Dell (as The Thief’s Mistress—a title I hated because it diminished her), tough heroines were few and far between. I knew who I wanted her to be, a woman who takes control. A woman who fears anyone trying to take it from her, even as she does everything she can to reclaim it. I wonder now if my Marian hadn’t had such a deep connection to her grandparents, if her life had been ripped apart even more when she was young, would she have become as ruthless as Guy de Guisbourne. Guy does have his own code of honor, but he’ll take his desire for vengeance much further.

For this Marian, I needed a Robin who had more emotional depth than we usually see. My Robin isn’t just the dispossessed knight, the avenging rebel. He needed to have something warm and nuturing about him. His men love him not only because they delight in his cleverness and daring, but because they feel loved. Marian has that capacity, but it’s deeply buried when we meet her. And I’ve always loved having a touch of the paranormal, so I made Sherwood itself have magical elements, not everywhere or easily found, but Robin shares in that magic and through it he can take Marian beyond the pain that isolates her.

I always cast my books, and often recast them since I keep the fantasy of a movie or TV series of my book alive.

Gynnis Barber starred as Soolin in Blakes 7. She was my original inspiration for Marian. https://www.bing.com/images/search?q=soolin+blake%27s+7&form=HDRSC4&first=1

I haven’t found a contemporary actress who could do the exquisite/icy/action heroine thing. Any suggestions? Jennifer Lawrence could have done dynamic action, but might be too old now.

There’s an actor named Alex Pettyfer who looks like he’d be a good Robin. I’ve never seen him act except in YouTube bits, but he has a nice presence, a good enough voice. Could he be magical enough, like a forest spirit? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KpjXcy-lLgQ

If I was casting Guy, he’d need a seductive presence of course, and a seductive voice. I’m very sensitive to voices. Maybe Richard Madden? Handsome and brooding. The only actor of about the right age I can find.

Clip from Cinderella? It does show he can do an English accent. Loved his intensity in Bodyguard but could barely understand that Scottish brogue. He’s certainly got the sort of knightly physical prowess down. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vN_S3teQzqY&t=20s

James Norton? A favorite but he has more of a warm, earthy Robin feel. But my Robin has a special sort of physical grace, an unconcious animal grace that I can’t imagine from Norton, handsome as he is. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4ZW_Y_92WOY

Cillian Murphy (my favorite actor since I saw him in the Batman movie—beating out the Peaky and the Oppie fans) is a little too old now, and I’m having trouble imaging him weilding a sword, but he does sinister beautifully and has a gorgeous voice. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9OwturaZvkE

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Title: Marian
Series: N/A
Author: Gayle Feyrer
Genre: Historical Romance
Length: 472 pages
Release Date: September 1, 2023
Publisher: Tygerbright Press

Blurb: Warrior. Spy. Marian Montrose dons silk or chain mail with equal aplomb. Sent by Queen Eleanor on a mission to Nottingham, Marian is waylaid in Sherwood Forest by the infamous Robin Hood. Her companions are stripped of their riches, but from her, Robin steals only one brazen kiss.

Seething with anger at the thief’s presumption and the haunting memory of his searing embrace, Marian arrives at the castle to find the sophisticated and seductive Sir Guy of Guisbourne a welcome distraction. Guisbourne would be the perfect ally against the Sheriff and Prince John but he believes he’s already picked the winning side. Deft at games of intrigue, Marian discovers Guisbourne’s involved in plans to steal the ransom meant to free King Richard the Lionheart.

Conquering her misgivings, Marian returns to Sherwood and recruits Robin with the promise of a pardon for him and his men. Now they are allies in the fight to return the king, but Robin wants far more from Marian. First she resists his almost magical allure, then succumbs, then resists again, distrusting the elemental power he has over her. Guisbourne may be lethally dangerous, but Robin threatens to consume both her body and her soul.

Danger surrounds them. Betrayal separates them. But desire—and fate—will not be denied.

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Almost before she saw him move, Robin Hood had grasped her arms and pulled her against him, locking her within his embrace. His eyes met hers in flaring challenge. Then he kissed her, full on the mouth, a slow, hard, relishing kiss. Stunned, Marian felt every sense inundated. She inhaled the scent of him, the pungent spice of male inextricably woven with vibrant forest scents. She felt the ruthless grip of his hands and thighs, the hard tension of his chest against her breasts, and the moist, seductive movement of his lips against her own. Most shocking of all, though her gaze encompassed only the blurred lineaments of his face, she envisioned his nakedness and her own pressed close, as if the leather, silk, and linen that covered them had vanished at his touch.

A rush of heat swept through her, terrifying in its sweetness, as though all her blood blossomed into flame, red upon red unfolding, blurring her senses. A soft gasp escaped her, but that faint parting of her lips against his was all the betrayal of her own flesh Marian would endure. Freezing that melting warmth, she willed herself to utter stillness. He might have held a statue carved of ice.

Her coldness must have penetrated his heat, for instantly he released her and stepped back. For a second he watched her intently, his eyes revealing their misted green, his expression strangely pained and hungry all in one. Then he smiled again, flashing with willful insolence, and turning strolled back toward the head of the caravan.

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I’ve said in many reviews that I love historical romance. It’s my fave romance sub-genre. So when this came up to read and review, I was in, especially since this is Marian’s story in the lore of Robin Hood.

The novel opens with plenty of action. We get a taste of what’s to come with the Marian the author created, and I must say I adored Marian from the start. She’s a strong, passionate, and even scheming woman caught up in a plan to save the King of England. She also has a great backstory of why she became the fiery swordwoman that she is. I say “passionate” because her need for Robin and Sir Guy runs deep, and although her lust is great for them, she is intelligent enough to use this to her advantage, something I liked. Manipulative? No. She seizes each opportunity when it presents itself, all in the name of serving the queen and seeing the return of King Richard. Remember, she’s a spy.

Then there is Robin of Locksley aka Robin Hood, who also has a deep backstory, forced to become an outlaw in Sherwood forest. His demons haunt him from the Crusades to his father’s death. When he first meets Marian, she intrigues him, and he can’t help stealing a kiss that will haunt him for the rest of the novel.

The most interesting character and the one I thought stole the show is Sir Guy of Guisbourne. He also has a complex backstory, a man determined not to lose what he already has (remember, land and allies were everything in those days), but desires more in case he does lose it all. This made him so real. Is he good or bad? That’s up to the reader to decide.

Besides the complex love triangle between Robin, Marian, and Guy, there is also a great cast of secondary characters, such as the queen, Claire (wife of the Sherrif), Bogo, Alan, etc. They don’t steal the show but add to the many plot twists for Robin, Marian, and Guy.

I found in this novel the sheriff isn’t as prominent as he is in movies and books. And I enjoyed this. The author, instead, never loses focus on Marian, Robin, and Guy. The sheriff, well portrayed, is present to further the plot. I thought this was a great idea by the author, because of the complexity of the three main characters. To add in the sheriff would have diluted the character arcs for Marian, Robin, and Guy.

The novel is rich in strong female characters such as Queen Elenor, Agatha (Marian’s lady in waiting), Claire, and Allix (I think I spelled her name right, so forgive me since there are so many characters to remember). Don’t let this dissuade you, though, because each individual stands out. There are no cookie-cutter side characters.

The writing is excellent, and perfect for the time period. The same for the beautiful descriptions that give the novel a real look into England at that time. The same can be said for the characters’ actions and dialogue. As for the research, it is impeccable. Even better, the author weaves it into the story without it becoming a history lesson.

Now, the novel does get very heavy on internalizing, which I thought at times a tad too much. I also wished for some closure for Allix. She seemed to fade into oblivion. Still, with those two quibbles aside, Marian is an enjoyable read, focusing on a woman caught up in circumstances beyond her control, that she manages to control with her wit, beauty, and strength.

When I closed the book, I thought, and I rarely think this, “What a great movie this would make. I’d sure watch it.” Yes, the novel is long, and yes, as I said there are heavy movements of internalizing, but it’s well worth the read. Do yourself a favour and get a copy. The author put together a great portrait of romance, war, and duty.

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Gayle Feyrer began drawing as soon as she could hold a crayon and writing when she was twelve. She holds a Bachelor’s in Pictorial Arts from UCLA, and a MFA from the University of Oregon in Creative Writing. In her varied career, she has been a tie dye artist, go-go dancer, baker, creator of ceramic beasties, illustrator, fiction teacher, and finally, novelist. A Libra with Scorpio Rising, Gayle’s romantic nature takes on a darker edge. She hopes these shadows bring depth to her romances.

A world traveler, Gayle has visited Paris, England and Italy numerous times. She lived for two years in Jakarta, Indonesia, with many trips around Asia. She currently resides across the bridge from San Francisco, with her husband and their two rescue cats, Charlotte and Emily, the Flying Bronte sisters, half Siamese and half tabby.

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