I have been patiently waiting (and sometimes not so patiently waiting) for this book to release. Julie Daines's books are must-reads for me and I was so excited for this to come out. I was not disappointed. This book has everything. Intrigue, banter, romance, and humor. I was pleasantly surprised with how much I laughed and smiled at Mary. She is so funny, and oh so brave. I loved her journey. Mary had nicknames for those people she lived with or encountered. I thought she was lovely. Robert was also wonderful. Each character was a joy to read. Anne especially. I was also pleased with how some other relationships in Mary's life unfolded. I loved the Shakespeare that came from Robert's theater mother. (She was also very enduring.) My favorite things were the wonderful descriptions of Sherwood Forest. I have always loved Robin Hood stories and it was lovely to have a book that referenced him.