The Bibliophile's Bookshelf

Title: Gilded Locks

Series: All That Glitters #10

Author: Julene Johnson

Genre: Young Adult, Clean Romance, Fantasy, Retelling

Rating: 4.5 stars

Review:

A Rogue returned in need of unmasking. A dangerous magic in need of containing. Her town and her heart hang in the balance.

Grace Robbins knows the truth about the Rogue, Fidara’s dead rebel, and she’d planned for years to take up the fallen green mantle. Mayor Nautin’s taxes have devastated lives and laid waste to an already struggling town. But life, and legends, have taught Grace that even if she could survive rebellion on her own, such blatant defiance would put at risk secrets she must keep. Secrets she must protect.

When Grace glimpses a figure in green dashing into Sherwood Forest, the past collides with the present. Someone has revived the legend she’d abandoned. Grace sees an opportunity to prove herself a true unmask the rebel and convince him to hang up the cloak. But the identity of this new Rogue isn’t as obvious as Grace hoped.

The mysterious man has no intention of ending his rebellion, and the more Grace tries to change his mind, the more she remembers how it felt to desire to fight for the people, and how it felt to truly be seen by someone who believes in her.

How can Grace defend Fidara and its people against mystic treasure if she joins the new Rogue? But how can she stand by while her people suffer unjustly?

Can she trust a man who guards his identity so jealously? Grace doesn’t know if her heart will survive the choices she must make. – summary from Goodreads

This was such a fun and interesting take on Robin Hood!

I have never read a retelling singularly focused on Robin Hood, and to be honest, am not super familiar with his story.

This book was super good, and I was immediately hooked!

I loved Grace. She was stubborn, determined, and spunky! She was a wonderful heroine and protagonist!

Garrick! I loved him so much! I wish there was more of a dual POV- I wanted much more of him. He was stubborn, but also super kind. I love characters who are just kind, especially when you don’t expect them to be.

The Rogue was a character in it of itself. I thought this idea was fascinating. When you really think about it doesn’t make sense that Robin Hood was only one person. The idea that there are multiple people all of which are the Rogue is so intriguing. They touch on the relationship between all these people and how Grace wants to belong to a team of Rogues, but I thought it could go much deeper!

I also really liked Willa. I thought she was a fun character and a nice match for Grace. However, I wanted more from Johnathan. He played such an important role for many characters, and I wish there was a little bit more closure on his storyline.

I was a little confused on the magical situation of this book. The Zerudorn gold didn’t make much sense to me, and I think the story could have done without it. Especially since it played such a big role in the story, I wished it made a little more sense.

I loved all the side characters. They were so much fun, and I wish I got to visit this little town!

I also adored the romance. It was definitely slow burn, with a hint of a love triangle, but I loved it!

Gilded Locks is a gender bent retelling of Robin Hood with interesting twists and a wonderful heroine!