I’ve never been good at being a princess, but when my father chooses me as his rightful heir over my brother, I hold my head high and prepare myself for what is to come.
Only it is far more deadly than I had anticipated.
My brother is a puppet at my grandmother's mercy. Which leaves us pitted against one another in a fight to rule IronHaven.
He has stolen the throne and tried to steal my life along with it.
With my royal guard, Dominic, Callum, Greyson, and Tristan by my side, I must fight to stay alive for the sake of our Kingdom.
In a war of good and evil, the fate of IronHaven lies with Robyn and her men.
This is a dark, twisted, retelling. Pretty Little Thief is a part of the fairytales with a twist collection and can be read in any order. The FMC will have multiple love interests and will NOT choose. Reader discretion is advised. Mature dark themes.
Loose Robinhood retelling and why choose romance with a cliffhanger...
Princess Robyn and her guards - Greyson, Callum, Dominic, and Tristan - have been chosen by her father to protect her when she needs it most. The prophesy that links her and her twin brother shall come to pass and Robyn and her men will need all their strength and wit to come out alive.
Robyn was a good character with enough backbone to stand on her own and her men were alpha and possessive. This didn't have all that much steam in my opinion and the cliffhanger really soured the whole experience for me but overall not a bad read.
What the heck did I just read? This is the book of the month for my book club. A lot of those who read it raved that it was awesome. I thought ‘why not go for it?’ Boy, had I wished I didn’t. The protagonist, Princess Robyn---because all royals except the Mother Queen’s name starts with an R---was thrust into chaos---something we could see coming from a mile away---when her father died, and her brother took the crown.
While reading this story, I was stuck between being bored and annoyed. First and foremost, I blame the King and Queen for what the female protagonist faced. They failed as parents. How the hell would you have a parent whom you knew was a manipulative witch and entrusted her with your child? What kind of monster does something like that? If I know my mom is a bitch, I’m not going to want to leave my kid with her. Full stop. Period. Any caring parents would feel this way. And yet we have royals who had zero brain cells to care about their son's wellbeing. This rubbed me the wrong way.
Then there was the prophecy. Yes, the same King and Queen knew of the prophecy of the twins and yet did nothing but let their son be manipulated and misled to believe he would rule, knowing damn well he wouldn’t. What the heck did they think would happen? Of course, it would cause anger and resentment. Were we not born with common sense? To be frank, I hated this. I ended up having more sympathy for the prince than I did for the female lead. And I doubt the author wanted that.
But I guess, the story must go on. We had to have a villain, even if it was one that deserved far more than shitty parents, a manipulative grandmother, and a sister that never cared about her brother enough to notice he had changed. Because to be honest, she didn’t care. Actions spoke volumes and hers were non-existent. She talked a big talk, but I failed to see how things could have turned out the way they did if she actually did what she spoke of. Because while we were out throwing stones, we neglected to pick the beam out of our eyes first. The Kingdom was about to be in ruins and yet we were in secretive passageways begging to be ravished. How did that make us different from brother dearest? And by 'we', I mean 'she'.
And in all truth, I don’t think it’s the book, I think this is a me problem. I thought too indebted about the circumstances and gave too much sympathy to a fictional character. But if you like reverse harems and royal chaos, this is the book for you. The book was fast-paced with a little romance and a little spice. It wasn’t as dark-themed as I thought but some scenes could be considered as such. Will I read book two? Hell no. If you have noticed, I haven't even spoken of the princess and her guards because that was just...okay.
As usual I loved the characters, spice, and progressive pace in this fairy tale-fantasy vibe adventure. A hint of forbidden as Greyson, Greyson, Dominick, Callum, Tristan aligned with Robyn in this suspense thriller. An entertaining read as I await book two.
As usual I was sucked right into this world! The world building was amazing and the characters were easy to love.
I really loved Robyn and her men. Robyn was tough and could definitely stand on her own, even though her dad thought she needed protection she was no damsel, her men were possessive and alpha just the way I like them.
This series ends on one heck of a cliffy, and I can’t wait for the next!
For Pretty Little Thief we have Robin Hood with a twist. Princess Robyn and her twin brother are the children of the King, the King is currently away and has left Robyn's brother mostly in charge while the Princess is being taught by the guards how to fight. A prophecy was told when the children were born but it is one that they seem unaware of, at least for Robyn until it becomes vital that she knows it. There is a lot of betrayal in the story and secrets that have been kept from Robyn which make her life so much harder when things finally come to head.
It's a good story that kept me turning the pages, and as it is part of a duet we still have book two to come.
"Tell me to stop, little bird... I'm weak when it comes to you. In this dark place, I could have you in all the ways I've dreamed of, and no one would ever know."
"Pretty Little Thief" is an interesting RH fairytale retelling of Robin Hood. I enjoyed the storyline, with princess Robyn living a wonderful life, until everything slowly starts crumbling down. I like the differences between her four guards; they have their own personalities, strengths and weaknesses. But together, it is clear they are a force to be reckoned with. And that feeling only increases from the moment they give in to their desires for the princess they are supposed to protect. This first book only gives a taste of their characters, and I believe there will be a lot more to discover in the second book.
One thing that didn't entirely work out for me, and resulted in a four star rating instead of five, was the way the story was built up. The jump from protectors and guards to lovers feels a little rushed for me, but that's probably more of a me-thing than a real issue. It just felt like going from a very tiny flame barely noticable, to a raging inferno within the blink of an eye. But I admit it created some fiery scenes.
I simply loved this book! The story is a twist on the classic, Robin Hood, and a great one at that. Robyn is a fantastic FMC, I love her strength and personality, and the guys are amazing too! Each one is perfect for Robyn in their own way.
This is a slow burn romance, so don’t expect a lot of steamy times, but the “S” tension between Robyn and the guys is so worth it. The flow of the story is perfect. I loved the writing, the intrigue, the unpredictability, the character and relationship development, as well as the world building.
If you love dark, twisted fairytale retellings with mature themes, then I would definitely recommend this book. It is an incredible start to Robyn’s story. There are trigger warnings for this novel that I would strongly advise checking out. I did skip one scene due to my personal triggers. I am very excited to see what happens next for Robin!
Wow! Princess Robyn has an exciting life in more ways than one. This is amazing. Ashlee gave us lots of action and lots of spice in this forbidden love. I was pulled in from the very beginning. Her world building and character development made it easy to picture what I was reading. I can’t wait to read to read the next book to see what she has in store for Robyn and her guards.
Hopefully the next book in the duet has actual events. The book takes a short period of time and makes it tedious. Nothing really happens until the very end, and to be honest for not a lot happening we don't get smut or character development to make up for it.
Also TW, But did we really just get her rape out of nowhere? No warning no thought to it and right at the end? No thanks.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
***GRAPE SCENE*** Goodreads won’t let me give it zero stars, I wish I could go back and unread this absolute garbage. But unfortunately I read every single page. So I have to count it - but honestly the author shouldn’t get the credit of having another “review.”
I have been ALL about retellings and this one is no exception. The FMC is strong and it puts a unique twist on the story. You get multiple villains as well as 4 hot as sin guards. Than add in the plot, that slow burn spice, and the prophecy ?! Than also throw some twists turns and suspense as well?! AHHH!! This was such a good read and it kept me totally captivated the whole time !
Wow this was such an amazing first book. This story was intense and definitely intriguing. Robyn is such an amazing character and I enjoyed reading her journey so far. As for the men Tristan, Dom, Grey, and Cal hot damn these men are dangerous for any women. I’m looking forward to seeing how things play out especially with the cliffy.
This is a great darker spinoff of Robin-hood. I fell in love with Princess Robyn’s 4 guards, Dom, Cal, Tris and Grey! I loved that this was a why-choose. This story was well written and the twist and turns throughout the whole book are great. I love that the princess has such a kind and loving heart. You definitely feel for her when she interacts with her brother and grandmother.
I am giving 4 stars because it ends in a huge cliff hanger and now I have to wait until June 2023 until I get my answers.
Definitely need to read the trigger warnings before reading.
This book is EPIC! This is the best Robin Hood retelling I have ever read. It has everything you could want, strong FMC, 4 hot guards, multiple villians, spice, and an amazing plot. I cannot wait for book 2 of this duet.
When I saw "fairytale with a twist" I was honestly NOT expecting these twists! Nor was I expecting a steamy why choose but I couldn't put it down! Thankfully I started reading it in the afternoon so I was able to inhale it in one sitting! It started off nicely intriguing, a Princess who's strong, opinionated and pretty much care free. Not that she's ditsy or obnoxious or anything, no, she's really instantly likeable. She has 4 dedicated guards issued to protect her and a loving father. But lurking everywhere is a danger in the form of her nearest and supposed dearest. Except they aren't. They're so hell bent on power they will do anything to attain it, and they do....
And here we veer away from any normal fairytale, we enter into a whole new world, one of desire, love and why choose. This wonderfully paced book had my tummy in knots, waiting for the inevitable and when it came, I was shocked! You know, when you think something might happen but can't believe it will happen moment when it does, yeah, shocked! There was a rawness to the plot which was refreshing. Even though I knew Robyn's likely fate, I was so caught up in the telling, it caught me off guard.
Robyn's relationship with her guards was so heavenly in how it unfolded, I could almost hear a harp in the background. And it was hot, very hot... I love how diverse the guards are, how their brotherhood and vow keep them rallying round Robyn, not allowing themselves to succumb, well, until they do. And boy does that happen with panache! So now we find Robyn and her guards in a most tenuous situation, her life and theirs in danger, her entire life as she knew it crumbling around her and no way out but to flee. I enjoyed reading this immensely and am dying to follow Robyn, Cal, Tristan, Grey and Dom to see where their adventure leads them
I'm a huge fan of retellings and can confidently say that I have never read one of Robin Hood, especially with a female lead. I really enjoyed how this book gave us the true beginning of Robyn's story and how the whole (I'm assuming) stealing from the rich and giving to the needy theme blossomed from. There are clear villains in this story but I will say that it is a little hard to determine if one or the other is worse and who is really playing who. The thing about power is that many people will do whatever necessary to gain it. I'm interested to see who the true villain of the story is.
The idea of prophecy and the possibility of magic in this story definitely added a twist that I wasn't expecting as it almost felt like an old time contemporary piece, but the little bit of fantasy that was introduced has me hoping there will be even more of it as the story continues. I am also dying to know what the full prophecy entails!
As for Robyn and her guys, I had a hard time liking them at first and that is partially because Robyn comes off a bit immature at times and the guys are so hot and cold in their actions. Being a princess I can understand some immaturity and naivety, but I am hoping with the change in her future and environment that she will get a bit less whiny and become more determined in her actions. You do see it as the story goes on, so that is why I have high hopes for her character in the next book. The whole relationship with her guards is considered taboo, so the hot and cold from the guys is also something that I can recognize, but it wasn't just being standoffish; they were sometimes pretty awful in how they spoke to her and treated her. Again, it wasn't this way the whole book, so I know that I have plenty of different moments and connections between Robyn and her guys to look forward to.
Im always so hesitant on retelling because I love books with surprises and I find retellings I know what’s going to happen right off the hop so I don’t enjoy it as much. HOWEVER, Ashlee surprised me with this Robin Hood retelling. My jaw was hitting the floor on numerous occasions! I did not see these twists and turns coming and the cliffhanger at the end !! (I have a bone to pick with you now Ashlee, I NEED book two asap 😂)
This is a beautiful story filled with Father daughter love, women empowerment, loyalty and love. All running along side a twisted evil twin, back stabbing Grandmother and a ruthless King. Poor Robyn my heart breaks for her but even in the darkest of moments she is brave and leans on the ones she knows she can trust above all else! This story is based in a medieval era with knights, Kings & Queens and realms that are dying for the support of their monarchy!
If you enjoy: 🗡️ why choose 🗡️ dark Robin Hood retelling 🗡️ suspense & cliffhanger 🗡️ arranged marriage 🗡️ age gap 🗡️ forbidden love 🗡️ badass FMC 🗡️ possessive MMCs 🗡️ touch her & ☠️ vibes 🗡️ deception 🗡️ father daughter love
Please be mindful there is some potential trigger moments. Please ALWAYS read trigger warning before reading any novel. If you do choose to read this book I can only hope you will love it as much as I did 💓
The good: The characters and story drew me in immediately. I was invested in Robyn's impending showdown and the relationships she was developing with her guards. The tension that grows as the story progresses had me feeling all the anxiety for her.
The not so good: It had enough typos/spelling errors to be a bit distracting.
I had no idea this was going to be a duet. There's no mention of a second book on the Amazon page for this book. It just talks about the series as standalones. My TBR list is pretty long so I usually wait to read books that have a follow up coming. Otherwise the storyline gets muddled in with other stories I read in the mean time. Now I'm sitting here dying over this cliffhanger (dramatic, I know but it WAS a doozy) and the second book isn't scheduled to release until the end of June. The purchase page should state it is part of a duet and link to second book (ideally). The page for Pretty Little Queen says it is book 1 in the series, and it doesn't link to the first book either.
Finally, I did not see the content warning prior to reading...my kindle reader opened straight up to the prologue. (If there's a way to change that I can't find it.) I should've checked for one, I realize this and will make a point to from now on. However, I feel the author should also consider putting more of a heads up on the zon than "mature dark themes." That could mean any number of things. I've read quite a few dark themed books that did not include a SA on page. You want to write a SA into your story, cool cool. But mention it on the purchase page. Or at least add "check content warning" so people know to look for it. Knowing it was there would not have changed my decision to read this book. But it would give readers who are triggered by such the ability to make an informed choice. Read it? Skip it? Read the book but skip that particular part?
All this to say: excellent character building and plot. I recommend it, but advise readers be sure to check that cw at the front first.
Robyn is a Princess whose fate has put her on the path to becoming heir to the throne. However, with her brother and grandmother scheming against the king and country, she may not survive to fulfill her destiny. Can her guards keep her safe and help her take the crown, or will all be lost?
The story was so much fun to read. Robyn is an intriguing character. She isn't what one would expect of a princess. However, her innocence is refreshing. The story is a slow burn as she and her guards attempt to fight their feelings for one another. However, once the seal is broken, it's almost like she's fair game. Robyn is my favorite type of hero, overlooked and underrated. The vivid characters breathe life into this tale. This is a story of action, intrigue, fate, and betrayal. Loyalties are tested as they struggle to override the patriarchal system of rulers and allow Robyn to fulfill her destiny. As she comes into her own, both in the throne room and on the battlefield, she becomes a force to be feared.
I rated Pretty Little Thief 5 out of 5 stars. I anticipate reading the rest of the story and seeing how things progress with her men and how her brother and grandmother choose to deal with her. This story is mildly spicy and has some items many may find triggering. Please read the content warning if you need more information. If you like retellings of fairytales where the heroine discovers her potential with the help of some handsome men that love her wholeheartedly, this dark and twisted tale will fulfill your desire.
A.m.E have written such Amazing books i loved her book pretty little theif . I love following Robyn in her journey and i loved to read her growth as a character…. I just really love the Way this author writes… i love this book she have written it was soo good and it kept me on my toes… the Way she writes is soo intresting.. I’m sure I’m going to love future books by her and I loved everything she have written so far…… i loved Robyn’s story and i love watching her realstionships grow stronger and stronger…. i really loved the twist and turn…This really Kept my interest the whole Way and i really loves this book…this book was freaking good.. I’m exicted to see What the author comes up with in the next book in in the 2nd book of the story and I’m exicted to read What adventure the author bring us on
I highly recommed that people read her book pretty little theif and if you haven’t read this book yet Then What are you waiting for you are really missing out on something … pretty little theif is such good book and you wil def not regret giving this book a chance
This is a why choose Robin hood retelling, except it’s nothing like you expected so throw all preconceived notions out the window. This is a strong female Robyn with 4 of her “Merry Men”. This has adventure, suspense and spice. Once you start this masterpiece, you won’t be able to put it down.
Robyn was chosen by her father, the king, to become the new ruler upon his untimely demise. However, her treacherous witch Grandmother and spineless twin brother have other plans. They knew of the Kings wishes and have taken all of those down who would be able to announce Robyn as Queen and Ruler.
Robyn and her appointed guards now find themselves fighting for their lives. The main purpose is to protect the Princess at all costs.
The Princess and the guards find themselves in steamy situations so don’t worry about the spice.
This was great! Though I was lied to (or maybe I wasn't told about this), why is this book a duet? I thought all the books in the Fairytales with a Twist series were standalone? So now, I need to wait until the end of June to know how the story ends. (crying....)
So, this was a Robyn Hood retelling with quite a number of twists, and I liked all of them! The chemistry between Robyn and her guards was everything and those spicy scenes! We didn't get the actual actual spicy scenes (just some excellent foreplay and even a group scene, which I loved so much).
The story development was great, and even though there are so many secrets I want to know the answers to, hopefully, we get answers to all of them in the second book. A warning, that there is a trigger in chapter 25, so do check your trigger warnings! It's a quick read and is quite fast-paced and I liked it a lot!
I received an ARC for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Pretty Little Thief is part of the Fairytales with a twist. It’s an RH fairytale retelling. Robyn is a princess, but she is also a warrior. She is strong and determined to be rid of the archaic decrees for women. Robyn has a guard of loyal men, all hand picked to protect her by her father, the King. On his death bed, he warns Robyn of the evil efforts of her brother and grandmother and tells of her of a prophecy of the true heir, Princess Robyn herself. Not her brother. This is a great story, full of action, secrets and betrayals at every corner. The characters are so interesting and plot keeps you guessing as to what happens next. Robyn and her men, who are so devoted to her in every way and have you rooting for their HEA. And the evil characters are so rotten, I wish for their demise. Pretty Little Thief ends on an exciting cliffhanger, which leaves you wondering the fate of Robyn and her men. This is an exciting thrill ride and I can’t wait to read where this all will take them!
Loved this book so much! Robyn is a princess who recently started training with her personal guard. They all want her and she wants them all.. which makes for a very interesting story. 🥵
It had so many amazing elements in it.. reverse harem, prophecies, sorceress, warrior princess, evil family, etc. I love dark fairytales and this one definitely delivered.
However, my only complaint is that it ends on a cliffhanger! 🥺 I didn't realize it was only part one, so I was caught off guard as I realized I was nearing the ending and so many things were still unfinished. Ughhh! I will definitely be impatiently waiting to read the next book, because I need all of the answers!
Overall, it was a good book that I would recommend. I do love reverse harem books and this one actually has a plot with it, which is something I really appreciate. Loved it so much!
*I did receive a free arc copy for an honest review.
This book is a dark, reverse harem, fairytale retelling. Hopefully you can figure out which one. But if not, I won't ruin for you. Honestly, this book is fantastic. It is set to be book 1 of a duet, so of course I am now anxiously awaiting book #2!
This story is a slow burn to a very dramatic explosion of chaos! Our FMC is a little bit of everything. She is a lady but strong and fierce. Her men, and I DO MEAN MEN, are the guards that not only guard her physical self but her heart as well. Who knew her father would be so intuitive. Each having their own skill and place in her world. Her family is absolutely wretched, and her people deserve better. If you like a slow burn into a fiery climax (pun intended) I highly suggest diving into this fantastic retelling. I will warn there are TW's in here. PLEASE check the warnings prior to reading.
Ashlee M. Edmonds’ most recent novel within the Fairytales with a Twist collection is certainly not one of your Brothers Grimm fairytales. This is a Robin Hood retelling where the fair maiden is also a Robin Hoodesque character. Robyn, the main female character, has a paternal twin brother that has become more dark as the years go by whereas Robyn is light and carefree. Her father has now tasked her with learning how to fight and defend herself because he knows of a prophecy he has kept secret from her. He has assigned four of his special hand picked royal guards to protect, train and guide her. And boy are they sizzling hot! So hot that she sometimes has trouble focusing. This book has plenty of exciting adventure, mystery, suspense, steamy situations that are so riveting I couldn’t put it down until the very last page. I can’t wait to see what this author has planned next especially since it ended on a cliffy. Highly recommended and definitely a MUST read!
Im always so hesitant on retelling because I love books with surprises and I find retellings I know what’s going to happen right off the hop so I don’t enjoy it as much. HOWEVER, Ashlee surprised me with this Robin Hood retelling. My jaw was hitting the floor on numerous occasions! I did not see these twists and turns coming and the cliffhanger at the end !! (I have a bone to pick with you now Ashlee, I NEED book two asap 😂)
This is a beautiful story filled with Father daughter love, women empowerment, loyalty and love. All running along side a twisted evil twin, back stabbing Grandmother and a ruthless King. Poor Robyn my heart breaks for her but even in the darkest of moments she is brave and leans on the ones she knows she can trust above all else! This story is based in a medieval era with knights, Kings & Queens and realms that are dying for the support of their monarchy!
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.5 Pretty Little Thief is a gritty, seductive twist on a classic fairytale—sharp-edged, high-stakes, and brimming with dark allure. Robyn is a fierce, no-nonsense heroine who refuses to bow to expectations, even when her royal blood paints a target on her back. The political intrigue in IronHaven is intense, with betrayal lurking in every shadow, especially from her own family. But what really elevates this story is the unwavering loyalty—and heat—shared between Robyn and her four royal guards: Dominic, Callum, Greyson, and Tristan. Their bond is emotionally rich and undeniably steamy, grounding the darker moments in intimacy and strength. This retelling doesn’t shy away from morally gray decisions or raw emotional depths, making it both captivating and intense. For fans of reverse harem with a heavy dose of power plays and vengeance, Pretty Little Thief delivers a thrilling ride through a kingdom built on secrets and survival.
Loosely based Robin Hood retelling *reverse harem *paranormal *multi-pov *fairtytale re-telling *triggers *virgin FMC *established harem (4) *mid burn *1/2 An interesting story line here! There’s a mixture of prophecy, righteousness and magic in this first half of a duet 😀 Robyn and her twin are Rami are holding the throne in their fathers stead whilst he’s off fighting battles….yet her twin seems to be under the impression that it’s his crown and going against their fathers fair and just ruling! Has Rami really let the power go to his head or is the dowager Queen whispering in his ear? The Queen has no love for Robyn and is quite happy to pit Rami against her.. things get worse when her father passes under strange circumstances and Robyn is essentially excluded! Thankfully she has her Royal Guard: Dom the stoic leader, Greyson the strict rule follower; Tristan the mercurial one who gives in first; and Callum the joker who’s the most open! She’s definitely gonna need these guys support as she learns of her prophecy and all that’s been placed on her! The flow was a little uneven but still Interesting to see how this goes in the next one!
Princess Robyn and her guards...wow!!! I'm always hesistant when I see that stories are retellings and I'm not sure why but this story did not disappoint! Pretty Little Thief is a Robin Hood retelling story. Princess Robyn is no damsel in distress, so let her being a princess fool you. She is loved by her father but her twin brother and grandmother seem to feel differently and hold ill intnetions. Her guard was handpicked by her father to protect her but over the years feels have developed. The feelings are beyond forbidden but it doesn't seem like they can control those feelings any longer. Dom and Greyson seem to be her brooding guards while Callum and Tristian to seem to be more easy going. This story was unpredicable and a real page turner. There is some good spice, drama, suspense that keeps this story interesting. This story does end on a mild cliffhanger but it's enough to be wanting the next book!