I’m new to Lex Croucher’s books but when I saw that this was a sapphic Robin Hood story, then I had to dive right in and it was honestly such a wonderfully delightful read! We follow Mariel who is the granddaughter of Robin Hood and Clem, a sweet healer who is kidnapped by the Merry Men. I adored the opposites attract nature of their dynamic with how soft, sunshiney and optimistic Clem was, while Mariel was hard-headed, stubborn and bold. The sapphic spin on a classic tale was so fun to read, especially with all of the familiar nods to Robin Hood but with a band of fun new characters we got to fall in love with and grow with— especially Mariel and Clem. The book confirmed that I need more sapphic historical in my life!

This hurt to leave a less than wonderful review for. I loved all of Lex's previous, but this just felt like it tried too hard to be funny all of the time. It felt forced and over the top, and none of the characters (except Kit) were particularly likeable

Not for the Faint of Heart follows Mariel, newly appointed captain of the Merry Men and granddaughter of the famed robin hood, and Clem, an assistant healer kidnapped by Mariel's crew, as they prepare to fight for their lives in the war for the wood. Clem's consistent optimism and light-heartedness is a direct opposite to Mariel's stubborn and serious nature, leading to enjoyable interactions between them both. These interactions were also improved with the help of a loveable cohort of side characters in the form of Mariel's crew, propelling the story forward and providing heart-warming, funny moments in between the scenes of conflict. As the story progresses Mariel's internal conflict forms as her interactions with the people of the wood lead her to question whether or not the Merry Men are on the right side of history, which leads to a satisfying character arc over the length of the book. The main romance between Clem and Mariel was set up well and was my favourite part of the story. I would recommend Not for the Faint of Heart for anyone wanting a fun, light-hearted, queer historical romp.

Thank you to NetGalley and Bloomsbury Publishing Plc for approving my request to read an arc of this book.

After devouring Gwen And Art Are Not In Love, I have been very eagerly awaiting this book, so when I saw it was available to request an arc, I didn’t even hesitate!

Not For The Faint Of Heart is a sapphic romance that follows the story of Robin Hood’s descent and a very gifted healer as they learn that the story you’ve been told, isn’t always what happened and that fighting for what’s right doesn’t always mean you need a weapon.

I really enjoyed the characters, especially Kit and Morgan. I think that this will be a book that will be beloved by many readers to come.