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The Thief's Mistress
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The Thief's Mistress offers a new vision of the legend of Robin Hood and his lady love. Here is a warrior Marian, both valiant and vengeful. She has destroyed Simon of Vitry for his terrible crimes against her family, but his death has left her empty of purpose, her heart cold as a stone. Now, Eleanor of Aquitaine, mother of the imprisoned King Richard the Lion Heart, persuades her to go to Nottingham to spy on Prince John and the conniving Sheriff. Marian can cope with their nefarious schemes, but she finds herself torn between the seductive outlaw Robin who waylays her in Sherwood Forest, and the dark, brooding Guy of Guisborne.
From the beginning: Marian woke before dawn, her nerves strung with terror. The dream had vanished, but the aura of blood tainted her senses, an odor, a taste, an invisible color staining the darkness. Whispers came, a sinister rustling. "No, not whispers," she said, her own voice scarcely louder. "Leaves. Leaves stirring in the breeze." Sitting higher on the wide bough of the oak, she pressed her back against its solid trunk, drawing deep, even breaths until her racketing heart was quieted, the chaos in her mind contained. Deliberately, she sharpened fear to anticipation, willed anticipation to a cold, detached calm. At the first light she buckled on her sword and climbed down to the ground. After relieving herself she stretched, exercising muscles cramped from sleeping wedged between branches in her chain mail. Her body limber, she climbed back to her weapons cache in the oak and placed her quiver and short bow ready to hand. She had chosen her tree carefully, looking for leafy cover that still allowed a clear line of vision across the forest pool, and for branches set wide enough for her to draw her bow and let her arrows fly true. Then she waited with enforced detachment, watching the leisurely progress of the warm sun through the bright early green of the leaves. It was mid-morning when she heard the first faint drumming of horse's hooves. Slinging the quiver over her shoulder, she straddled the bough and tested her bowstring. Simon of Vitry was coming, as Marian had known he would. The lure of the white stag was too tempting to resist -- just as she had surmised when she heard the legend and plotted her trap.
Comments about the book: "A great book from a top talent who works pure
magic with a beloved legendary romance." "Gayle Feyrer's writing has it all -- adventure,
emotion and plenty of sizzle. Marian is a true character for the 90's, a
warrior woman who makes no apologies. Balanced against her are a golden,
magical Robin, a darkly fascinating Guy of Guisborne and a satisfyingly
repugnant Sheriff of Nottingham. All the old characters are here, but
given a new depth and richness that makes the story shine more brightly
than ever. You will love The Thief's Mistress." "From the powerful violence of the prolog to the
heated passion of the love scenes, Feyrer's elegant prose,
well-developed characters (Marian is a masterpiece), and creative
plotting will keep readers enthralled." "Ms. Feyrer writes with a clarity of purpose and
strength of prose seldom seen these days. The Thief's Mistress
will sweep readers away." "Feyrer gives us the Robin Hood legend for
grown-ups; her telling is imaginative and lush with historical detail.
As is apropos in a subversive book ... Robin and Marian's romance
becomes complex and difficult in Feyrer's hands. Marian is not Maid
Marian, but a woman who commands her sexuality as she does every other
aspect of her life. The Thief's Mistress Dell Publishing, New York, NY Published October 1996 ISBN: 0-440-21778-4 423 pages
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While
talking with friends about powerful female characters, the question kept
arising, "Don’t you wish someone would write a really strong
Marian?" And so The Thief's Mistress was inspired.