The Maid of Sherwood Forest by Sian Ann Bessey - ADVISABLE

The Maid of Sherwood Forest (A McQuivey’s Costume Shop Romance #2) by Sian Ann Bessey, 296 pages. Shadow Mountain Publishing, 2025. $19.

Language: G (0 swears, 0 “f”); Mature Content: PG; Violence: PG

BUYING ADVISORY: HS, ADULT - ADVISABLE

APPEALS TO: SEVERAL

Mariah (23yo) walks into a costume shop dressing room and exits into a kitchen from medieval times—exactly the time period where her costume allows Mariah to fit in. The door she came from does not return her to the twenty-first century, and Mariah must continue to work in the kitchen or else have no roof over her head, no family, no job, and nowhere else to turn.

The second in this series, Mariah’s story is a standalone, though I recommend reading the first one as well because I love Bessey’s historical fiction-take by using time travel as the reason for unexplained historical people and events. Mariah’s story is focused on the legends of Robin Hood, and I enjoyed learning some new parts of his tales that I haven’t heard before. With humor and wit, life-or-death situations, figuring out what’s really important in life, and, of course, romance, Bessey includes a little bit of everything for her readers.

All of the characters are English. The mature content rating is for alcohol use, kissing, and illegal activity. The violence rating is for assault, battle scenes, and attempted murder.

Reviewer: Carolina Johnson

Rapunzel and the Sea Witch by Kim Bussing - ADVISABLE

Rapunzel and the Sea Witch (or, The Little Mermaid and the Tower) (Princess Swap #3) by Kim Bussing, 311 pages. Random House, 2025. $10.

Language: G (0 swears, 0 “f”); Mature Content: PG; Violence: PG

BUYING ADVISORY: EL, MS - ADVISABLE

APPEALS TO: SEVERAL

Making a deal with the Sea Witch is said to be foolish, but if Hana (13yo) steals a contract and makes a deal with herself to stop the Storm and a war with the humans, that can’t be as bad, right? Until she ends up with legs in a tower. Meanwhile, Rapunzel is found by the Sea Witch and trades her voice to get rid of her Curse. But if Rapunzel can’t find a way to break her Curse permanently, she’ll never get her voice back.

Bussing creatively mashes fairy tales together in this series beyond the advertised “princess swap,” and, though the first two books are referenced, reading them is not required to enjoy Hana’s and Rapunzel’s stories. I love the references to the familiar stories we know—like when the price to enjoy a lagoon symphony is to “kiss the girl”—and that Bussing adds her own new spins to the tales—like how this little mermaid has singing ocean magic! Fairy tales like Hana’s and Rapunzel’s remind us that we have yet to fulfill our grand potential, regardless of how others try to stifle our growth.

Rapunzel is depicted on the cover to have light skin, and Hana is depicted to have tanner skin. Lady Grimm is described as having “fair” skin, Melusine has “pale” skin, and Oliver has “slightly tan” skin. The mature content rating is for kissing, and the violence rating is for mild fantasy violence and assault.

Reviewer: Carolina Johnson