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Until Lambs Become Lions #1

Lambs Can Always Become Lions

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Robin Hood, along with her group of friends, has been aiding the poor of Nottingham for four years. They have become an hindrance to the Sheriff of Nottingham, terrorising the rich lords and ladies and robbing gold right from under the Sheriff's nose.

Helping Robin from inside, and proving her most useful ally, is Lady Marian Fitzwalter.

After hearing about a special shipment coming through Sherwood - filled with gold, jewels and weapons - Marian agrees to help Robin gather information so she can ambush it. It is risky and dangerous on both sides but Marian would do anything for Robin. And Robin would do anything to feed her people.

But as the shipment draws closer and tensions rise, Robin finds herself having to decide which is more important: love or duty.

96 pages, Kindle Edition

First published May 15, 2017

2 people are currently reading
291 people want to read

About the author

Charlotte Anne Hamilton

6 books74 followers
Charlotte Anne Hamilton is a blue-haired mermaid-wannabe who lives in Ayrshire, Scotland with her two fur-children, Izzy (chocolate lab) and Smudge (queen cat). She is currently studying Astronomy and Planetary Science and in her spare time she enjoys reading and gaming, as well as dabbling in all forms of art and her craft as an eclectic witch. Her main source of inspiration in writing and in life is the popular phrase: "but make it gay".

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5 stars
28 (29%)
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34 (36%)
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24 (25%)
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 53 reviews
Profile Image for Elle (ellexamines on TT & Substack).
1,164 reviews19.3k followers
July 17, 2019
This book had one major problem, and it's one I hate to point out because it's such a stereotype of self-pubbed work. But this was not written well. The writing clearly needed at least five more rounds of editing. It felt fake-deep and pretentious, it felt shoddy, and it annoyed me to no end.

And it's sad, because without my writing issues, this could be an easy three. Other than that one downside, Lambs Can Always Become Lions was fairly entertaining. I was more than fine with the characters and the plot and the romance in this.

Although to be quite honest, I really didn't expect an established relationship. If you're going to write a romance story, why make them an established couple? Why not write their development? I felt like I was watching season eight of a television show where the leads got together in season five. Plot points often felt like manufactured drama, and I didn't feel that Marian and Robin had their drama worked out.

Honestly, I'm pretty disappointed. Iwas really here for that gay retelling of Robin Hood; that's my version of wish fulfillment. But where was the slow burn? Where was the writing talent I've come to expect from some of the self-pubbed books I've picked up recently? Self-pubbed f/f doesn't equal unedited. What about the fabulous enemies-to-lovers trope presented by J.C. Lillis' underrated A&B? What about the fantastically-written scifi of Arden Ellis' In Ageless Sleep? The clever character dynamic and interesting retelling aspect of Sarah Diemer's The Dark Wife? There are so many better self-pubbed f/f books out there. And I'm really sad to say it, but this did nothing for me.

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Profile Image for alice.
270 reviews378 followers
July 14, 2017
Super quick read with lots of diverse characters, a f/f relationship, and an action-filled plot. Very much anticipating the sequel!
Profile Image for Norah Una Sumner.
880 reviews518 followers
July 8, 2017
My heart is on fire.

I absolutely loved this novella. I've read it in one sitting and honestly, I regret nothing. The chararacters are extremely well-written and easy to relate to, the story is fast-paced and action-packed, the romance is too sweet for words and that ending left me craving for more. I really can't wait for the sequel!
Profile Image for Shirin.
84 reviews26 followers
May 30, 2017
Pure™ and Wholesome™ so I'm really glad we're getting a sequel. This diverse book is short & the pace is easy to follow so I recommend it greatly! Also like Charlotte is the best so why not right??
Profile Image for Fadwa.
604 reviews3,588 followers
June 20, 2017
Actual rating: 4.5 stars

Full review originally posted on my blog: Word Wonders

You know, I think this is one of those books I’ll keep yelling about until the end of time because IT’S SO GOOD. REAL GOOD. I’ve been eyeing it for MONTHS before it came out, the premise had me super excited, I mean who wouldn’t be. A robin hood retelling? An F/F romance? GIMME, and to be completely honest, it didn’t disappoint at all.

The writing has sort of a whimsical vibe to it that I thought fit the time period perfectly and is easy to follow, which with the fact that this is a novella makes Lambs Can Always Become Lions a very fast read. It’s written in dual POV from both Robin and Marian’s perspectives which gives the reader a more wholesome look at thing and works very well with the plot and how the story is weaved, especially since both spend most of their time apart.

The story starts with a steady pace and picks up very fast to leave you gapping at all the events happening in front of you and YOU CAN’T HELP YOUR PRECIOUS BABIES WHO ARE SUFFERING (If you didn’t notice, writing this review rekindles all the feels). I was deceaved, even though I had a clear idea of the main events from the synopsis/the start of the book, I had no idea Charlotte was going to play my feelings like that. For how short it is, LCABL is action packed, it really is, with amazingly well written high stress fight scenes (some of my favorites ever) and I must admit, this book has a bunch of kickass characters to whom I got attached very quickly.

Robin is fierce and sassy with a soft side to her that cares deeply about her friends and Marian. I LOVED HER SO MUCH. She made me laugh more times than I can remember, made me swoon but most importantly got me cheering for her and rooting for her life and safety, which were put in harm’s way one too many times *glares at Charlotte*. To me, she’s one of those characters who are impossible to dislike because of the witts as well as her kindness.

Marian is a lady, and has more to offer than what meets the eye. She’s brave, loyal and resourceful, ready to do whatever it takes for the people she loves. I was invested in her fate as much as I was in Robin’s because both of them are well rounded, genuine characters. And I love love love girls who kiss and save each other. Let me just tell you about their relationship, IT’S THE MOST ADORABLE THING EVER. I knew I’d love this book early on, why? Because where the books starts, Robin and Marian are in an already established relationship and that’s one of my favorite things ever because there’s no newness to it and it’s just 100% sweet tender love. AAAAH. I CAN’T STOP GUSHING!

I really appreciated the fact that Robin’s crew was made diverse. Little John is asexual (the word isn’t used but it’s very heavily hinted), Edda is a black Muslim woman and Will is non-binary. That being said, I wish we had more of them. I think we see them enough to get a sense of who they are but I wanted more of them and I hope that happens in the next installment. I really loved the family vibe their banter gave off and how easy it was to see how much they care about each other.

All in all, this is a book that you should read. YES YOU. GO BUY IT !! It’s fast paced, engaging, and even has its cute times in the midst of all the chaos. So what’s not to love about that? I am REALLY excited for what comes next considering how things were left off at the end and I can’t to see what adventures the characters embark in next.
Profile Image for Sonja.
662 reviews526 followers
November 30, 2017
❝If you think Robin is going to be beaten by your foolish man, you do not know her at all. She is wiser, stronger and quicker than you and your men. Everyone always underestimates her, and it always ends in their tears.❞
Lambs Can Always Become Lions is a f/f Robin Hood retelling. In this retelling Robin Hood is a woman who is in an already established relationship with Lady Marian Fitzwalter.

I love Robin Hood! She is a very skilled archer and a good leader. She is also kind and good, and I love the way she interacted with her merry gang and her love interest Marian. I got really invested in the characters! They are very fleshed out.

The plot is quite fast-paced and immersive; there isn't a dull moment in the story. I finished reading the novella in one sitting because I simply couldn't put the ebook away. The novella ended beautifully. The ending is very uplifting, and it slightly hints at the next instalment in the series.

Overall, the characterisation and the plot are the book's strongest aspects. The world building was alright, though I would have liked to see more of the the book's world and its inner workings. The writing has room for improvement.

Lambs Can Always Become Lions is a promising start to the Until Lambs Become Lions series. I'm looking forward to seeing where Robin and Marian's story will take them in the sequel!
Rise and rise until lambs become lions.❞ {...} As one, they exclaimed, ❝Rise!❞
Profile Image for Romie.
1,197 reviews8 followers
June 4, 2018
I have some little thoughts on this retelling of Robin Hood.

Okay, first thing first, I liked that it was a f/f retelling, I was instantly sold. I think it was very clever to put Robin and Marian in an established relationship, because otherwise it would have taken too much space and we wouldn't have been able to focus on the plot.

Even though I wasn't that overwhelmed by the plot because apart from Robin being a woman and Marian and her already being in a relationship, I could have been reading a novelisation of the movie with Kevin Costner. This story had a lot of potential, and I'm excited to see where the sequel is going, I'm counting on it to differ from the original story, at least a bit.

I liked Robin, she was an interesting morally grey character, but I didn't really like Marian. I was underwhelmed by her. I was expecting something else. I just felt like she was always waiting for Robin to save her. In a way, she was the perfect damsel in distress, but I wanted more from her.

So, it was okay. It wasn't bad, but it wasn't wow. I'm still planning on reading the sequel because I have great hopes, I think it can be really good. I know my rating may sound harsh, but it's a hopeful 3.5, I would definitely recommend reading it, it's super quick and the romance is cute.

3.5
Profile Image for Marta :}.
455 reviews482 followers
August 25, 2018
This one is one of my favourites because it’s a retelling of Robin Hood, where Robin is a girl and a badass one too! We also have an already established relationship between Robin and Marian, who were the cutest (really!). There were fighting scenes, there was a lot of diversity, including a Muslim character. I adored it with all my being and I can’t wait for the sequel, I mean it, the way it ends – it makes you wonder what’s to come. What will happen next, I know that I’m very curious about how this one will continue!
Profile Image for Rea.
39 reviews37 followers
May 27, 2017
I loved this wayyy more than I was expecting. Review to come later today as I catch up with everything else
Profile Image for Charlotte Anne Hamilton.
Author 6 books74 followers
January 14, 2018
UPDATE 13/5/2017: Final version now uploaded ready for publication on Monday. I'm super scared and nervous about this but I'm so proud of this and I hope you all enjoy it!!

UPDATE 11/3/2017: Pushed back the release date from 1st May 2017 to the 15th May 2017, just so I have more time to ensure it's perfect for you all <3

UPDATE 11/2/2017: WE NOW HAVE A COVER!! HOPE YOU ENJOY IT!! now... I've got to get back to writing this thing...

this is my very first venture into publishing. It is a short story & very dear to me
Profile Image for Maf (Bookworm Wanders).
287 reviews76 followers
July 2, 2017
I have to be honest, i was so so so excited when i first got this book but became a little worried when I saw how short it is, however it was so amazingly written, it didn't feel undeveloped or rushed and i loved it SO much.
*full review to come*
Profile Image for Aurora.
49 reviews84 followers
June 4, 2017
This is a fun, fast-paced and highly entertaining f/f retelling of Robin Hood.

And it's free on kindle right now! Y'all should read it.
Profile Image for Kate (Reading Through Infinity).
925 reviews439 followers
May 17, 2017
'Her heart was beating against her chest; her ribs were the anvil, her heart the hammer.'

If you're looking for a gentle, compassionate f/f romance story with a little action and drama to boot, you've found the right book.

Lambs Can Always Become Lions is a short novella re-telling of Robin Hood as a woman. She's still the leader of outlaws and still in love with Marion, but she's a woman rather than a man. Although by no means an original concept, I've always found gender-bending to be a great way of exploring gender constructs and sexuality, so I was wholly on board with this premise. And, honestly, I prefer Robin Hood as a woman. She's confident, witty, and sarcastic in equal measures and she never once considers herself inferior to men.

I actually think the story would have benefited more from having other characters as women too, or even the entire band of outlaws. It would be like Sailor Moon meets Sherwood Forest. But as Robin takes front and centre stage, I can understand why she's the only one.

Her relationship with Marion is tender, full of warmth, and was perhaps my favourite aspect of the novella. Their fierce protectiveness of each other was understandable, but constantly hindered their ability to carry a plan to fruition. I did, however, really enjoy the scene when they fought together against guards who were presumably all men. Power to the women.

It would also have been great to see the other outlaws developed further, as we don't get much detail about their characters. This is likely due to the brevity of the story, but Little John, Much, Edda and the rest end up being sidelined by Robin and Marion for much of the plot. The Sheriff, too, was rudimentary as a villain for me, and didn't feel like enough of a threat until the very end.

The end of the story, though, was definitely the apex; the showdown between Robin and the Sheriff and the outlaws' desperate escape from the castle was as dramatic as it was tense. Up until this point, the chapters had been reasonably slow-paced, but this sequence really changed gears. Hamilton's strength seems to lie in writing fight scenes, as they were engaging, vigorous, and bold.

The true strength of this novella lies in its diversity; Edda is a Muslim, Will is gender-fluid/non-binary, Marion and Robin are lesbians, and it's hinted that Little John is asexual. The characters accept each other for who they are, and no-one is judged on their orientations. In a current climate where prejudice against marginalised people persists in every-day life, this was refreshing and powerful to read. Despite being set in historical England, it has hints of a society we should strongly aspire to.

Overall, this was a fun adventure of a story, full of diversity and action. I hope we get to see more of the secondary characters in the next book, and I'm curious to see where Robin and Marion's relationship heads next.
Profile Image for Chelsea SWATCHSEA.
294 reviews488 followers
July 10, 2017
review also posted on Wordpress! spoiler-free review!

I'm not familiar with Robin Hood. I know the name, that he steals to help the poor... but that's probably where my knowledge ends. Thankfully, that wasn't a problem while reading Lambs Can Always Become Lions. This retelling got me hooked right from the start!

I absolutely love that Lambs Can Always Become Lions featured an established F/F relationship. It's hard enough to find books with established relationships, let alone F/F ones. Furthermore, the relationship between Robin and Marian is so adorable. This isn't a New Adult novella, so is appropriate for anyone to read.

Besides the queer main characters, there is also diversity among the side characters. Little John appears to be asexual, Edda wears a hijab and is black, Will is referred to as they/them, etc. I know this author is often involved in discussion on diversity because I follow her on several social media, so it's very nice to see that's noticeable in her work.

Furthermore, I loved the writing style. I tend to enjoy dual point-of-views and third person perspective most of the time, and Lambs Can Always Become Lions is no exception. The writing seemed so mature, yet not dense or difficult to understand. Therefore I'm sure we can expect many more great things from this author!

Unfortunately, it did take me very long to read this short novella. It's not the book's fault, however. I've been in a reading slump for MONTHS. Once I get back into my reading mood, I definitely plan on re-reading Lambs Can Always Become Lions in one sitting. Having said that, I remembered everything clearly even though I didn't pick this up for weeks at a time. There are novels I have finished and can't even remember the protagonists' names of anymore, so that's a good sign.

conclusion: I would recommend Lambs Can Always Become Lions to everyone. It's a very enjoyable, well-written novella and on top of that diverse. I will definitely continue this series and plan on reading whatever Hamilton writes next!

✿ You can also find me on Twitter, Instagram, Tumblr, Pinterest and Wordpress! ✿
Profile Image for evelyn hugo’s #1 fan.
78 reviews78 followers
February 5, 2017
Hi, this is a beta reader of the crimson rose, I can confirm without reading this that Charlotte's writing will change your life, NOW GO FREAKING PREORDER YOUR COPY WHAT YOU WAITING FOR BEESHES
Profile Image for Lucille.
1,466 reviews276 followers
August 31, 2017
[3,5/5]
This was a very nice novella retelling a part of Robin Hood's story where Robin and Marian are young women in love! The merry gang also became a very nice and diverse groupe of character.
I had a good time reading this, but I thought that at times there was a bit of unnecessary drama between the two of them, when they end up telling shitty things to each other when they actually don't think it for real and admit it a minute later?
Still, I liked that their relationship was already established when this started.
I'm glad I grabbed this when it was available for free on kindle! Looking forward to the sequel novella :)
Profile Image for Luce.
507 reviews39 followers
April 23, 2018
-Robin and Marian are gay and Little John is asexual, although they don’t use our words
-Will Scarlet uses they pronouns
-Edda is black and Muslim and wears a hijab
Profile Image for rin.
421 reviews467 followers
July 13, 2017
this is a female!robin hood retelling with an established f/f relationship
also it has really diverse merry band 👌👌

good content right here
Profile Image for Tori.
32 reviews18 followers
June 29, 2017
YES X1000!! Such a quick and fast-paced read which I'm so glad to have read in Pride Month, go pick this up while you still can!
798 reviews123 followers
March 13, 2018
We all know the story of Robin Hood and Maid Marian, now here’s a sweet and romantic story which reimagines Robin as a lesbian and still madly in love with Maid Marian. Bringing the couple along in the fight against the Sheriff of Nottingham is a diverse band of Merry folx.

I was charmed by this novella, the established romance was paired with a subtle touch of homage for hardcore Robin Hood fans.

My only wish was that we had gotten more on the page development of the villains, because the Sheriff and Guy of Gisborne both seemed a little eager without fully understanding their motivation, considering they weren’t introduced early on in the story, and I think Guy was even new to the region.

But then again, the romance was so warm and well balanced between the question posed (not gonna spoil it!) and the well-rounded desires of the two women.

All in all this indie is recommended! And perhaps we'll learn more in the sequel...
Profile Image for Arlena.
3,480 reviews1 follower
September 18, 2018
Title: Lambs Can Always Become Lions
Author: Charlotte Anne Hamilton
Publisher: C.A.H.
Reviewed By: Arlena Dean
Rating: Four
Review:

"Lambs Can Always Become Lions" by Charlotte Anne Hamilton

My Thoughts...

This was a exciting read about Robin Hood and her groups of friends who had been helping the poor in Nottingham. Yes, this is a F/F ROBIN HOOD RETELLING story "being full of romance, adventure and fights."

They presented a lots of terror for the Nottingham Sheriff. We find that Robin had help from the inside from 'Lady Marian Fitzwalter.' Would Marian be able to help Robin Hood and this group of friends get this special shipment that was fill of 'gold, weapons and jewels' that was coming through Sherwood that would greatly help the poor? How much danger would this place Marian in as she would do anything for Robin? What and how will this all come out as we find Robin having to 'decide which is more important: love or duty?' Well, to find out how this will all play out you will have to pick up "Lambs Can Always Become Lions." to see for now as the story will continue. This will definitely not be a boring read but one that will keep your attention as you are turning the pages to see what was coming next for these two: Robin and Marian.
91 reviews24 followers
February 7, 2018
Rise and rise until lambs become lions.

This was a good book. Like, I-wish-I-could-write-like-that good.

Robin Hood, Marian, Allan, Edda, Will, Little John ... the protagonists of this story are all well fleshed-out characters who I couldn't help but love. Their relationships (especially between Robin and Marian AH) were both a joy and a pain to read - in a good way.

I adored the writing style, especially the descriptive language. This was flowery, and just the right amount for someone like me -who often skips descriptions because I'm lazy that way and might skim through. As well, the author used just the right amount of exposition. Altogether, her style was very much to my taste.

There's not much else I can say other than try it for yourself. If you like sarcasm, girl gangs, (queer!) forbidden love, and Robin Hood, then I say give this story a shot (with a bow and arrow). The ebook is not expensive, after all ;)
Profile Image for Clémence.
191 reviews40 followers
July 3, 2017
A Robin Hood retelling with a F/F romance and a cast of diverse character. This is like a dream come true. Brilliant. I can't wait for the sequel!

Update:

I can’t even begin to tell you how amazed I was at the diversity in this book. First we get a F/F romance at the center of the story. But quickly we find out more about Robin’s friends, and discover that Will Scarlet is non-binary (which has officially become a headcanon, I will never see them as anything else from now on) and that one of the other members of the group is a Muslim girl called Edda who basically embushes rich people while wearing a hijab, and if that’s not awesome then I don’t know what is. It is also strongly implied that Little John is asexual. This book was so refreshing. I was literally squealing half the time while reading it. I need more books like this.

Lambs Can Always Become Lions follows the main lines of Robin’s Hood story as we know it, with Robin as an excellent archer, the merry gang living in the woods, the rivalry with the Sheriff of Nottingham, and of course, the romance with Lady Marian. I’m a huge fan of retellings, but I had never read a Robin Hood retelling before, though I really love the story. The closest that came to it was my binge watching Once Upon A Time two years ago. So if you have any great Robin Hood retelling to recommed, feel free to leave them in the comments, I am up for that!

I don’t know what else to say. I guess my only regret is that it was too short (96 pages). A sequel is coming in 2018 I believe, and I can’t wait to read it. I really hope you check out this book, and are as excited by the premise as I was. Please let me know your thoughts if you have read it, I would love to talk about it!

Full review: https://clemisbookishworld.wordpress....
Profile Image for Elke.
429 reviews
December 21, 2017
A cute, diverse, and quick retelling. I love the idea of an f/f robin hood, but this wasn't completely my thing. The writing made me stumble on several occasions. I loved the sarcasm and the fact that I could read about an established relationship for a chance! There are lots of great things in this short book, like a diverse merry gang with a black girl wearing a hijab, a character referred to as they/them and implications that someone is ace.
So really, you should try this, because this, probably, is a "it's not you, it's me" case
Profile Image for McKinlay.
1,152 reviews44 followers
August 1, 2017
This was so good! It might be my favorite Robin Hood that I've read/seen!!! I do wish the characters were a wee more fleshed out, but all in all, it's super queer, super diverse, and super fun. Highly recommend!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 53 reviews

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