What a Scoundrel Wants, by Carrie Lofty.

Unusual Historicals, a subgenre of historical romance tackling seldom explored settings or historical periods, are Ms Lofty’s passion, and she delivers a great example of what can be done with them in her print debut, What a Scoundrel Wants. Set in the England of Robin Hood and Richard Lionheart, it tells the story of Will Scarlett and Meg of Keyworth.

Right off the bat, we are faced with unusual choices for our main characters. Will Scarlett has been a truant, a ne’er-do-well, a troubadour, an outlaw, a traitor. So far, he has never been a hero. And a female alchemist who is also blind—in the late twelfth century? Talk about daring choices!

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