** Marian, a thieving nobleman's daughter with too big a heart, meets Robin Hood, a daring thief with a huge ego. Will they be able to overcome pain, longing, and, finally the cruel Sheriff of Nottingham? Or will the legend end before it begins? ** "Hope, be it never so faint, bringeth a gleam into darkness, like a little rushlight that costeth but a groat." ― Howard Pyle, The Merry Adventures of Robin Hood - In the heart of Nottinghamshire, the noblewoman Maid Marian has a secret double life as a thief by night. She steals from the chests of embezzlers and distributes her loot to the poor. When she crosses paths with the self-proclaimed King of Thieves, past and present collide, soon forcing her to choose between loyalty to the crown and the law - or rebellion. But it's not only the dangerous raids that swirl her life: soon she is torn between her feelings for the charming Robin Hood and the honourable Guy of Gisborne. Will Marian be able to bring justice to the kingdom? Will she lose her heart to the King of Thieves or will the righteous Guy of Gisborne be able to preserve her honour? In a story of love, courage and resistance, Marian's fate interweaves with the legends of Sherwood Forest. **** Part 1 of the Sherwood-Dilogie **** Wattys2023 GERMAN WINNNER + Special Price for Most Engaging World Cover/Banner by Thinkerling *** 🥇1st Place Literary Book Award - Adventure 🥇1st Place Lavender Awards - Historical Fiction 🥇 1st Place Ambrosia Awards - Best Cover 🥇 1st Place Ambrosia Awards - Historical Fiction 🥇 1st Place Phoenix Award - Best Cover 🥈 2nd Place - Tricolor Triennial Awards - Historical Fiction 🥈 2nd Place - The Wonder Awards - Fanfiction 🥈 2nd Place - The Nebula Awards - Historical Fiction 🥈 2nd Place - The Aster Awards - General Fiction ****

Born with glowing green eyes. Destined for rotten luck. Peasant girl Meya Hild was 'given' the opportunity to become a Lady. At swordpoint. By mercenaries. Engaged to a dying nobleman. Poisoned with one month to live. Tasked to loot a castle. In a kingdom running out of resources. Little did Meya know this shenanigan would lead her across land and over sea, from a mountain made of sapphire to an island shrouded in spiral clouds, with masquerades, heists, kidnappings, shipwrecks, alchemy, romance, and an unexpected 'bump' along the way. Let the misery begin. 🐉 🎯 PROGRESS: Book One (Chpt. 1 - 65): 100% Book Two (Chpt. 66 - 125): 100% Bingers, YOUR TIME HAS COMETH. Playlist: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/7iYf3f78K4QInWwpz6z3Mp?si=35Rt2vgkTryCM3vD9eKVXA&pi=cE-JGby3RgeKW 🎨 Cover: @NamtanTangren / Namtan [糖人] https://www.deviantart.com/tangrennamtan 📋 Content Guidelines: Most chapters are safe for work/school. Chapters containing intimate scenes will be marked with ❣️ Although not depicted explicitly, this story touches on mature subject matter such as depression and suicide, drug addiction and overdose, human trafficking, organ harvesting, abortion and rape. It's also loosely based on medieval times, and some scientific misbeliefs (concerning health and pregnancy, etc.) are present. Young readers are urged to use discretion. ⭐ DOs & DON'Ts ⭐ 💖DO: Add LUMINOUS to your library & follow me so you don't miss any updates! 💖DO: Comment away! I love answering them. Please be polite and respectful! 💖DO: If you enjoyed Meya's adventure, spread the word! 🚫DON'T: SKIP THE PROLOGUE! You have been warned by the dragons that be that you will regret it! Why don't I just rename it "Chapter 1"? BECAUSE PROLOGUE SOUNDS COOLER!