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King Raven #1
Hood
Robin Hood
The Legend Begins Anew
For centuries, the legend of Robin Hood and his band of thieves has captivated the imagination. Now the familiar tale takes on new life, fresh meaning, and an unexpected setting.
Steeped in Celtic mythology and the political intrigue of medieval Britain, Stephen R. Lawhead's latest work conjures up an ancient past and holds a mirror to contemporary realities. Prepare yourself for an epic tale that dares to shatter everything you thought you knew about Robin Hood.
The Legend Begins Anew
For centuries, the legend of Robin Hood and his band of thieves has captivated the imagination. Now the familiar tale takes on new life, fresh meaning, and an unexpected setting.
Steeped in Celtic mythology and the political intrigue of medieval Britain, Stephen R. Lawhead's latest work conjures up an ancient past and holds a mirror to contemporary realities. Prepare yourself for an epic tale that dares to shatter everything you thought you knew about Robin Hood.
490 pages, Hardcover
First published September 15, 2006
665 people are currently reading
12.9k people want to read
About the author
Stephen R. Lawhead
114Ìýbooks2,652ÌýfollowersStephen R. Lawhead is an internationally acclaimed author of mythic history and imaginative fiction. His works include Byzantium, Patrick, and the series The Pendragon Cycle, The Celtic Crusades, and The Song of Albion.
Also see his fanpage at Myspace:
Stephen was born in 1950, in Nebraska in the USA. Most of his early life was spent in America where he earned a university degree in Fine Arts and attended theological college for two years. His first professional writing was done at Campus Life magazine in Chicago, where he was an editor and staff writer. During his five years at Campus Life he wrote hundreds of articles and several non-fiction books.
After a brief foray into the music business—as president of his own record company—he began full-time freelance writing in 1981. He moved to England in order to research Celtic legend and history. His first novel, In the Hall of the Dragon King, became the first in a series of three books (The Dragon King Trilogy) and was followed by the two-volume Empyrion saga, Dream Thief and then the Pendragon Cycle, now in five volumes: Taliesin, Merlin, Arthur, Pendragon, and Grail. This was followed by the award-winning Song of Albion series which consists of The Paradise War, The Silver Hand, and The Endless Knot.
He has written nine children's books, many of them originally offered to his two sons, Drake and Ross. He is married to Alice Slaikeu Lawhead, also a writer, with whom he has collaborated on some books and articles. They make their home in Oxford, England.
Stephen's non-fiction, fiction and children's titles have been published in twenty-one foreign languages. All of his novels have remained continuously in print in the United States and Britain since they were first published. He has won numereous industry awards for his novels and children's books, and in 2003 was awarded an Honorary Doctorate of Humane Letters by the University of Nebraska.
also write under the name Steve Lawhead
Also see his fanpage at Myspace:
Stephen was born in 1950, in Nebraska in the USA. Most of his early life was spent in America where he earned a university degree in Fine Arts and attended theological college for two years. His first professional writing was done at Campus Life magazine in Chicago, where he was an editor and staff writer. During his five years at Campus Life he wrote hundreds of articles and several non-fiction books.
After a brief foray into the music business—as president of his own record company—he began full-time freelance writing in 1981. He moved to England in order to research Celtic legend and history. His first novel, In the Hall of the Dragon King, became the first in a series of three books (The Dragon King Trilogy) and was followed by the two-volume Empyrion saga, Dream Thief and then the Pendragon Cycle, now in five volumes: Taliesin, Merlin, Arthur, Pendragon, and Grail. This was followed by the award-winning Song of Albion series which consists of The Paradise War, The Silver Hand, and The Endless Knot.
He has written nine children's books, many of them originally offered to his two sons, Drake and Ross. He is married to Alice Slaikeu Lawhead, also a writer, with whom he has collaborated on some books and articles. They make their home in Oxford, England.
Stephen's non-fiction, fiction and children's titles have been published in twenty-one foreign languages. All of his novels have remained continuously in print in the United States and Britain since they were first published. He has won numereous industry awards for his novels and children's books, and in 2003 was awarded an Honorary Doctorate of Humane Letters by the University of Nebraska.
also write under the name Steve Lawhead
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 1,559 reviews
August 28, 2011
Robin Hood and Friar Tuck together once again...but not quite as all of us remember them:
Never fear HOODites...Sir Daffy’s “oscar worthy� portrayal notwithstanding, Stephen Lawhead’s re-imagining of the Robin Hood legend is among the best I’ve come across and is praise-deserving for both its realism and its fresh, unique interpretation of the familiar tale. For the most part, I found this version very effective.
Rather than England’s well trodden Sherwood Forest, Lawhead has transported his story to the dense, primeval forests of Wales and set the tale during the late 11th century, immediately following the Norman conquest of England under William the Conqueror. Yep, the French have landed in England and they are tossing farm animals and farting in everyone's general direction.
While consolidating his rule in England, William has turned his hungry eyes toward Wales and has begun confiscating (a governmental euphemism for stealing) Welsh lands and bestowing them on his most loyal followers. This extreme redistribution of wealth causes quite a bit of WTF in Bran ap Brychan, heir to the throne of Elfael, especially after his poppa is rendered life-impaired by a group of vile Frenchies on their way to take possession of Bran’s home.
Later, after being rendered “mostly dead� himself (i.e., “slightly alive�), Bran manages to pull a Houdini and escapes deep into the heart of the ancient Welsh woods. There he meets a mysterious healer/sage/poetess who nurses Bran back to health while simultaneously educating/indoctrinating him in the lore of the mythical Raven King. And after much anecdoting, some events, some mythical yarn-spinning and some more events, including the creation of the trademark bow, the avenging angel known as “the Hood� is born.
I don’t want to spill specific spoilage about Bran’s transformation because part of the charm of the story to watch the becoming slowly unfold. While I think it went on a little longer than I would have liked, Lawhead’s depiction of Bran growing in his new role was very well done...I see eerie similarities between Bruce Wayne’s transformation into the Dark Knight in Batman Begins. Yes, I went there and I stand by it.
Lawhead plays the story as straight historical fiction but provides enough mystery that some elements lend themselves to “fantastic� interpretation. I think Lawhead straddles this line deftly without losing his balance. Additionally, his use of Welsh/Irish/English myth and legend is polished and seamlessly woven into the story of the Raven King (at least in my limited knowledge) and I give him full marks for his use of these elements in the narrative.
All this begs the question...WHY oh WHY only 3 stars?
The short answer is, I’m not entirely sure and may revisit this after reading the next two books which I intend to do. I certainly enjoyed it and think the background, the characters and the story were very good. There were some slow plot spots and a few times when I found my attention doing a bit of wandering and in the end there was not enough “cracking of Norman nuts� to give me a full dose of the satisfieds. Still, I liked it. I just wasn’t quite smitten enough to grant the 4th star. I feel a bit stingy because of it, but there you go.
3.5 stars.....oh so close to 4. Highly Recommended!!
Never fear HOODites...Sir Daffy’s “oscar worthy� portrayal notwithstanding, Stephen Lawhead’s re-imagining of the Robin Hood legend is among the best I’ve come across and is praise-deserving for both its realism and its fresh, unique interpretation of the familiar tale. For the most part, I found this version very effective.
Rather than England’s well trodden Sherwood Forest, Lawhead has transported his story to the dense, primeval forests of Wales and set the tale during the late 11th century, immediately following the Norman conquest of England under William the Conqueror. Yep, the French have landed in England and they are tossing farm animals and farting in everyone's general direction.
While consolidating his rule in England, William has turned his hungry eyes toward Wales and has begun confiscating (a governmental euphemism for stealing) Welsh lands and bestowing them on his most loyal followers. This extreme redistribution of wealth causes quite a bit of WTF in Bran ap Brychan, heir to the throne of Elfael, especially after his poppa is rendered life-impaired by a group of vile Frenchies on their way to take possession of Bran’s home.
Later, after being rendered “mostly dead� himself (i.e., “slightly alive�), Bran manages to pull a Houdini and escapes deep into the heart of the ancient Welsh woods. There he meets a mysterious healer/sage/poetess who nurses Bran back to health while simultaneously educating/indoctrinating him in the lore of the mythical Raven King. And after much anecdoting, some events, some mythical yarn-spinning and some more events, including the creation of the trademark bow, the avenging angel known as “the Hood� is born.
I don’t want to spill specific spoilage about Bran’s transformation because part of the charm of the story to watch the becoming slowly unfold. While I think it went on a little longer than I would have liked, Lawhead’s depiction of Bran growing in his new role was very well done...I see eerie similarities between Bruce Wayne’s transformation into the Dark Knight in Batman Begins. Yes, I went there and I stand by it.
Lawhead plays the story as straight historical fiction but provides enough mystery that some elements lend themselves to “fantastic� interpretation. I think Lawhead straddles this line deftly without losing his balance. Additionally, his use of Welsh/Irish/English myth and legend is polished and seamlessly woven into the story of the Raven King (at least in my limited knowledge) and I give him full marks for his use of these elements in the narrative.
All this begs the question...WHY oh WHY only 3 stars?
The short answer is, I’m not entirely sure and may revisit this after reading the next two books which I intend to do. I certainly enjoyed it and think the background, the characters and the story were very good. There were some slow plot spots and a few times when I found my attention doing a bit of wandering and in the end there was not enough “cracking of Norman nuts� to give me a full dose of the satisfieds. Still, I liked it. I just wasn’t quite smitten enough to grant the 4th star. I feel a bit stingy because of it, but there you go.
3.5 stars.....oh so close to 4. Highly Recommended!!
December 27, 2015
DNF'd at 35%. I'm just not feeling this. The story is decent enough and I love the idea of a gritty, realistic, Welsh Robin Hood. The execution is just falling flat, and there's too much out there I want to read to continue reading a book I don't care about.
There's something off about this writing. While I wouldn't necessarily call it bad, it feels forced. Like the author is making a conscious effort to "dumb down" his narrative to make it YA. It ends up reading about as flat as a poorly done translation from a foreign language.
So yeah, I don't think this fails because it is YA. I think it fails because the author isn't writing YA well. I have no idea how his writing is for his "adult" books, but this didn't give me a lot of incentive to try any.
There's something off about this writing. While I wouldn't necessarily call it bad, it feels forced. Like the author is making a conscious effort to "dumb down" his narrative to make it YA. It ends up reading about as flat as a poorly done translation from a foreign language.
So yeah, I don't think this fails because it is YA. I think it fails because the author isn't writing YA well. I have no idea how his writing is for his "adult" books, but this didn't give me a lot of incentive to try any.
October 17, 2022
I have been a great fan of the Robin Hood legend since I was seven.
Stephen Lawhead breathes new life into the legend with this historical thriller which had me hooked from the start and which I finished in three
Robin Hood (Bran ap Brychan,) is Welsh ands not English and the main action takes place not in Sherwood Forest but the primeval Welsh greenwood. It is also set not during the reign of King John but a century earlier in the reign of William II (Rufus)
Bran , Prince of the Welsh kingdom of Elfael , is turned into a fugitive after his father, the king, is killed and his land seized by the Norman French invaders
His efforts to secure his kingdom are cruelly rebuffed, and Elfael's people are enslaved by the evil Count De Braose, Bran, together with Iwan and a Saxon monk, build a settlement of destitute Welsh refugees, and harry the French commerce in Elfael
Marion is Merian, a stunningly beautiful and intelligent Welsh princess, and is there as Bran's young lover from the beginning. mong Bran's retinue is an ancient sorceress and healer who nurses Bran back to helath when he is wounded and fleeing the French.
Lawhead uses his brilliant penmanship to craft a thrilling, well grounded and smooth flowing story, while keeping the sence of Robin Hood, as the champion of the poor and arch enemy of the Norman elites. robin Hood as the Welsh patriot Bran still retains the sence of what Robin Hood stands for
At one stage on the way to London to petition his case he even humiliates two Norman knights who are harassing two little English girls, and rescues the children.
Stephen Lawhead breathes new life into the legend with this historical thriller which had me hooked from the start and which I finished in three
Robin Hood (Bran ap Brychan,) is Welsh ands not English and the main action takes place not in Sherwood Forest but the primeval Welsh greenwood. It is also set not during the reign of King John but a century earlier in the reign of William II (Rufus)
Bran , Prince of the Welsh kingdom of Elfael , is turned into a fugitive after his father, the king, is killed and his land seized by the Norman French invaders
His efforts to secure his kingdom are cruelly rebuffed, and Elfael's people are enslaved by the evil Count De Braose, Bran, together with Iwan and a Saxon monk, build a settlement of destitute Welsh refugees, and harry the French commerce in Elfael
Marion is Merian, a stunningly beautiful and intelligent Welsh princess, and is there as Bran's young lover from the beginning. mong Bran's retinue is an ancient sorceress and healer who nurses Bran back to helath when he is wounded and fleeing the French.
Lawhead uses his brilliant penmanship to craft a thrilling, well grounded and smooth flowing story, while keeping the sence of Robin Hood, as the champion of the poor and arch enemy of the Norman elites. robin Hood as the Welsh patriot Bran still retains the sence of what Robin Hood stands for
At one stage on the way to London to petition his case he even humiliates two Norman knights who are harassing two little English girls, and rescues the children.
September 8, 2010
Lawhead is one of my favorite authors, so I had a built-in interest in his King Raven trilogy as soon as I heard about it. (This first volume didn't disappoint!) Unlike the author's Dragon King and Song of Albion fantasy trilogies, this one is a work of historical fiction; like Parke Godwin in Sherwood, he's set himself to re-imagine what the actual roots of the Robin Hood legend might have been like, and like the latter he locates Robin in the 11th century, not the 12th. Lawhead, though, places the doughty outlaw later than Godwin, in the reign of William II --and locates him in the Welsh marches, as a Celtic Briton fighting for his land and people in the face of creeping Norman conquest. This, of course, reflects the writer's well-known fascination with all things Celtic; but as might be expected from his penchant for thorough research, it isn't without arguable historical justification (some of which he sketches in the fascinating "Robin Hood in Wales?" historical note that follows the novel proper).
While Hood isn't a fantasy per se, though, it has its roots in legend and lore, a forest setting that's certainly a place of mystery and secrets, and (as in, for instance, Hawthorne's The Scarlet Letter) the occasional ambiguous hint of something that might --or might not!-- be truly supernatural. Lawhead's knowledge of Welsh history and folktales is in evidence (although the story Angharad tells Bran about his namesake is altered considerably from the known version). More importantly, his ability to spin an involving story is front and center. This is a story of cruel injustice and, ultimately, of brave and creative response to injustice; but though it has violent action in places (not as grisly-gory as in some Lawhead novels), it's not solely about fighting with swords and bows. Robin (here named Bran) doesn't come to his liberating mission as a full-blown hero like Minerva leaping from the brain of Jove; he's an older teen in most of the book, a human being with realistic psychological baggage, and he has to grow into his calling. Watching him do that is as fascinating as the action scenes!
A lot more could be written (favorably) about this book; but suffice it to say that it's a worthy addition to literature's Robin Hood canon. It also ably sets the stage for the next volume, Scarlet --and now, for me, it's on to that one!
While Hood isn't a fantasy per se, though, it has its roots in legend and lore, a forest setting that's certainly a place of mystery and secrets, and (as in, for instance, Hawthorne's The Scarlet Letter) the occasional ambiguous hint of something that might --or might not!-- be truly supernatural. Lawhead's knowledge of Welsh history and folktales is in evidence (although the story Angharad tells Bran about his namesake is altered considerably from the known version). More importantly, his ability to spin an involving story is front and center. This is a story of cruel injustice and, ultimately, of brave and creative response to injustice; but though it has violent action in places (not as grisly-gory as in some Lawhead novels), it's not solely about fighting with swords and bows. Robin (here named Bran) doesn't come to his liberating mission as a full-blown hero like Minerva leaping from the brain of Jove; he's an older teen in most of the book, a human being with realistic psychological baggage, and he has to grow into his calling. Watching him do that is as fascinating as the action scenes!
A lot more could be written (favorably) about this book; but suffice it to say that it's a worthy addition to literature's Robin Hood canon. It also ably sets the stage for the next volume, Scarlet --and now, for me, it's on to that one!
October 8, 2015
10/8/2015 Addendum:
I just got an email that someone liked this review and it took me a moment to even remember that I had read it. Usually I don't have a problem remember a book I've read, even years later. With this one, however, I cannot even remember anything about the plot. Could be relevant...
--------------
Original review:
I'm not any sadder for reading this book, but I'm certainly not any more enriched or anything. His historical spin on the Robin Hood legend is well-conceived but poorly executed. It's got plenty of action and the dialogue isn't awful, but there was just something missing for me. I didn't care about the protagonist and I didn't love or hate anyone else in the story. It was just one of those books that I had no problem finishing, but when I was done just sort of shrugged, scratched my nose and took it back to the library. Didn't really make a mark at all. Fairly predictable plot lines, characters that aren't awful but that don't really evoke any kind of emotional response either way. If you really really really like Robin Hood then it's probably something you'll enjoy at least a little bit, but beyond that I have nothing to say.
I just got an email that someone liked this review and it took me a moment to even remember that I had read it. Usually I don't have a problem remember a book I've read, even years later. With this one, however, I cannot even remember anything about the plot. Could be relevant...
--------------
Original review:
I'm not any sadder for reading this book, but I'm certainly not any more enriched or anything. His historical spin on the Robin Hood legend is well-conceived but poorly executed. It's got plenty of action and the dialogue isn't awful, but there was just something missing for me. I didn't care about the protagonist and I didn't love or hate anyone else in the story. It was just one of those books that I had no problem finishing, but when I was done just sort of shrugged, scratched my nose and took it back to the library. Didn't really make a mark at all. Fairly predictable plot lines, characters that aren't awful but that don't really evoke any kind of emotional response either way. If you really really really like Robin Hood then it's probably something you'll enjoy at least a little bit, but beyond that I have nothing to say.
February 3, 2019
*Time read does not indicate I didn't love the book again, just that real life had me too tired to read the way I want to lately*
I don't remember where I first heard of this to be honest... but I do remember tearing through this and the other two books very quickly, utterly enchanted by the characters and the world the author plopped them into. (Also bought the soundtrack hehe and its beautiful but digressing again)
This is just a rich and compelling world. It takes the time setting up the tale and the circumstances that start to learn Bran into the man of legend that we've become familiar with. I love this version better than the one we all grew up (even though that is still a good story on its own in its own right). This version has meat in it and seems more... plausible.
I read this the first time before I knew (via my uncle) we were descended from William the Conqueror. Afterwards, it was a kick to see my ancestors mentioned while at the same time wanting to go back and time to give them a GibbsSmack and a nice swift kick. We don't see them "in person" here but their presence and influence is made known.
There are a few characters you will love to hate. One starts off as a sniveling brat but turns into a sniveling brat who is trying to appear tough and goes to some extremes to prove his authority.
The other, for me at least, I hate within moments of his arrival on scene... and that has not changed.
A certain one is someone you might like a little at first and roll yours eyes at, but he is no fool.
My one friend commented she feared for my book because of how angry I got at some of these people... which is a high compliment to Mr. Lawhead. Fascinated by them and yet I wouldn't mind if they fell off a cliff.
Maid Marian: not just a pretty face.
Angharad: still one of my favorites and a very intriguing lady with an interesting history behind her.
Bran: a brat at first and takes him awhile to come around but it is well worth the patience and effort. I love how he grows over the series.
Tuck: he's awesome and I want to adopt him :)
The Wood: a character all by itself. Menacing to some, secretive, majestic, ageless. I would love to explore that place and just wander among the trees.. listening to the forest.
Not much of a review but all I can say is I would highly recommend this series. Take your time and savor it :).
I don't remember where I first heard of this to be honest... but I do remember tearing through this and the other two books very quickly, utterly enchanted by the characters and the world the author plopped them into. (Also bought the soundtrack hehe and its beautiful but digressing again)
This is just a rich and compelling world. It takes the time setting up the tale and the circumstances that start to learn Bran into the man of legend that we've become familiar with. I love this version better than the one we all grew up (even though that is still a good story on its own in its own right). This version has meat in it and seems more... plausible.
I read this the first time before I knew (via my uncle) we were descended from William the Conqueror. Afterwards, it was a kick to see my ancestors mentioned while at the same time wanting to go back and time to give them a GibbsSmack and a nice swift kick. We don't see them "in person" here but their presence and influence is made known.
There are a few characters you will love to hate. One starts off as a sniveling brat but turns into a sniveling brat who is trying to appear tough and goes to some extremes to prove his authority.
The other, for me at least, I hate within moments of his arrival on scene... and that has not changed.
A certain one is someone you might like a little at first and roll yours eyes at, but he is no fool.
My one friend commented she feared for my book because of how angry I got at some of these people... which is a high compliment to Mr. Lawhead. Fascinated by them and yet I wouldn't mind if they fell off a cliff.
Maid Marian: not just a pretty face.
Angharad: still one of my favorites and a very intriguing lady with an interesting history behind her.
Bran: a brat at first and takes him awhile to come around but it is well worth the patience and effort. I love how he grows over the series.
Tuck: he's awesome and I want to adopt him :)
The Wood: a character all by itself. Menacing to some, secretive, majestic, ageless. I would love to explore that place and just wander among the trees.. listening to the forest.
Not much of a review but all I can say is I would highly recommend this series. Take your time and savor it :).
June 5, 2011
Stephen Lawhead's new trilogy about Robin Hood, the King Raven trilogy, is pretty unusual in its portrayal of Robin Hood as a Welsh prince in the time of William II rather than a dispossessed aristocrat during Richard the Lionheart's crusades. Stephen Lawhead includes an epilogue, 'Robin Hood in Wales', in which he explains his reasoning.
It will seem strange to many readers, and perhaps even perverse, to take Robin Hood out of Sherwood Forest and relocate him in Wales; worse still, to remove all trace of Englishness, set his story in the eleventh century, and recast the honourable outlaw as an early British freedom fighter. My contention is that although in Nottingham, the Robin Hood legends found good soil in which to grow -- they must surely have originated elsewhere.
As far as I can tell, Lawhead's hypothesis is reasonable. I kind of wish he'd included a list of sources, maybe referenced some other writers, as I know nothing else about this. It's kind of appropriate that I read this now: I go to a Welsh university where I'm going to be studying the Robin Hood tradition next semester! If anyone knows where to find research related to this, I'd be really happy.
It doesn't seem so implausible that the stories could have originated in Wales, for a start. At heart, the tactics of Robin Hood seem similar to the tactics adopted by the Welsh. Ultimately unsuccessful tactics, obviously. And the Robin Hood stories were originally just a collection of oral folklore, probably appreciated most in places where people most felt that someone needed to be sticking it to the man. Minstrels would apparently attach local place names to the tales, to make them more interesting to the listeners. It'd probably be impossible now to figure out exactly where the stories originated from, really.
It's interesting that two key, quintessentially English heroes were, to differing degrees of verifiability, actually appropriated from the Welsh.
As for the English Robin Hood with whom we are all so familiar... just as Arthur, a Briton, was later Anglicised -- made into the quintessential English king and hero by the same enemy Saxons he fought against -- a similar makeover must have happened to Robin.
I imagine that the 'makeover' for Robin was less conscious than with Arthur, but it's still interesting that if you dig, the two main English heroes might not be so English at all. Note that Briton refers to the indigenous population of the British Isles, before the Angles, Saxons and Normans.
Reading reviews of this book all over the internet makes me feel a little sick when they declare that of course Robin could never be Welsh -- and I seriously quote: "Nothing good ever came out of Wales." And others who were just uncomfortable with a Welsh Robin. Which doesn't surprise me, knowing how English people have reacted in the past to me pointing out that the first Arthur stories were Welsh. If the Robin Hood legends are somehow holy for you, then don't try this trilogy -- you won't like it.
Saying that, despite the unusual choice of setting, the story isn't all that different. Even though Stephen Lawhead acknowledges that Maid Marian was a sixteenth century addition to the legend, one of the characters does indeed go by the name Mérian. There's also John (Iwan), Tuck (Aethelfrith), Guy... They don't all join the story in the traditional way, but the plot remains pretty close. Robin himself is actually called Bran, in this story: Rhi Bran.
There's a lot that could be very, very interesting about this book. It definitely makes me grin that the Welsh are so positively portrayed and their opponents rather negatively portrayed, and the idea of a Welsh Robin is, as far as I can tell, pretty bold and new. The bias and setting are new, the drawing on Celtic myth is interesting. I did recognise some bits that seemed to come right out of Lawhead's earlier research and invention for The Paradise War.
One thing that definitely impressed me was the sensitivity to language. There were Welsh names scattered through it, for people and for places, and the Normans used French phrases and words. The Welsh didn't call themselves Welsh, which of course, they wouldn't have done. The word "Welsh" originates from the Saxon "wealas", which means foreigner. I smiled a little to read the Welsh calling themselves Cymry. Definitely appropriate.
I have to say that it didn't come together into a whole very well for me, unfortunately. Robin himself isn't terribly likeable -- he thinks he's God's gift to women, he wants to please himself, almost abandons his people... He does eventually return to his duty, and take up his burden, but then he's a rather distant character, I found, and I still didn't connect with him. Which is awkward, given that traditionally he is one of the most sympathetic characters. Most of the characters weren't really fleshed out, and I kept getting flashbacks to the recent BBC adaptation of Robin Hood to fill in the gaps... It doesn't help that the portrayals are quite one-sided -- the Normans are grasping, greedy, the Welsh are the beleaguered peasants. We all know who is Right and who is Wrong -- there's very little blurring of that, which could've made it richer and more interesting.
The story itself moves slowly, and by the end of the book the adventure we all know so well is only just kicking off. In a way, that's good, because we now have a good and solid background, with the different political situation laid out for us. The players are in place, hopefully the next books will be less about set up.
Lawhead's writing is pretty readable, and not purple prose like his early stuff, but in itself this first book doesn't draw me into the trilogy very well. It may pick up from here, but either way, I'm reading it mostly because I'm interested in the underlying ideas.
Edit: Having done a module on it, and read around on the subject, I have to say that Lawhead's idea of Robin being originally a Welsh story doesn't work. Perhaps aspects of the tale might have come out of Wales, but the Robin Hood ballads didn't spread to Wales much. You'd expect something to have survived, even if only in fragments.
Still a very interesting interpretation, though, and I'd still like to see Lawhead's sources.
It will seem strange to many readers, and perhaps even perverse, to take Robin Hood out of Sherwood Forest and relocate him in Wales; worse still, to remove all trace of Englishness, set his story in the eleventh century, and recast the honourable outlaw as an early British freedom fighter. My contention is that although in Nottingham, the Robin Hood legends found good soil in which to grow -- they must surely have originated elsewhere.
As far as I can tell, Lawhead's hypothesis is reasonable. I kind of wish he'd included a list of sources, maybe referenced some other writers, as I know nothing else about this. It's kind of appropriate that I read this now: I go to a Welsh university where I'm going to be studying the Robin Hood tradition next semester! If anyone knows where to find research related to this, I'd be really happy.
It doesn't seem so implausible that the stories could have originated in Wales, for a start. At heart, the tactics of Robin Hood seem similar to the tactics adopted by the Welsh. Ultimately unsuccessful tactics, obviously. And the Robin Hood stories were originally just a collection of oral folklore, probably appreciated most in places where people most felt that someone needed to be sticking it to the man. Minstrels would apparently attach local place names to the tales, to make them more interesting to the listeners. It'd probably be impossible now to figure out exactly where the stories originated from, really.
It's interesting that two key, quintessentially English heroes were, to differing degrees of verifiability, actually appropriated from the Welsh.
As for the English Robin Hood with whom we are all so familiar... just as Arthur, a Briton, was later Anglicised -- made into the quintessential English king and hero by the same enemy Saxons he fought against -- a similar makeover must have happened to Robin.
I imagine that the 'makeover' for Robin was less conscious than with Arthur, but it's still interesting that if you dig, the two main English heroes might not be so English at all. Note that Briton refers to the indigenous population of the British Isles, before the Angles, Saxons and Normans.
Reading reviews of this book all over the internet makes me feel a little sick when they declare that of course Robin could never be Welsh -- and I seriously quote: "Nothing good ever came out of Wales." And others who were just uncomfortable with a Welsh Robin. Which doesn't surprise me, knowing how English people have reacted in the past to me pointing out that the first Arthur stories were Welsh. If the Robin Hood legends are somehow holy for you, then don't try this trilogy -- you won't like it.
Saying that, despite the unusual choice of setting, the story isn't all that different. Even though Stephen Lawhead acknowledges that Maid Marian was a sixteenth century addition to the legend, one of the characters does indeed go by the name Mérian. There's also John (Iwan), Tuck (Aethelfrith), Guy... They don't all join the story in the traditional way, but the plot remains pretty close. Robin himself is actually called Bran, in this story: Rhi Bran.
There's a lot that could be very, very interesting about this book. It definitely makes me grin that the Welsh are so positively portrayed and their opponents rather negatively portrayed, and the idea of a Welsh Robin is, as far as I can tell, pretty bold and new. The bias and setting are new, the drawing on Celtic myth is interesting. I did recognise some bits that seemed to come right out of Lawhead's earlier research and invention for The Paradise War.
One thing that definitely impressed me was the sensitivity to language. There were Welsh names scattered through it, for people and for places, and the Normans used French phrases and words. The Welsh didn't call themselves Welsh, which of course, they wouldn't have done. The word "Welsh" originates from the Saxon "wealas", which means foreigner. I smiled a little to read the Welsh calling themselves Cymry. Definitely appropriate.
I have to say that it didn't come together into a whole very well for me, unfortunately. Robin himself isn't terribly likeable -- he thinks he's God's gift to women, he wants to please himself, almost abandons his people... He does eventually return to his duty, and take up his burden, but then he's a rather distant character, I found, and I still didn't connect with him. Which is awkward, given that traditionally he is one of the most sympathetic characters. Most of the characters weren't really fleshed out, and I kept getting flashbacks to the recent BBC adaptation of Robin Hood to fill in the gaps... It doesn't help that the portrayals are quite one-sided -- the Normans are grasping, greedy, the Welsh are the beleaguered peasants. We all know who is Right and who is Wrong -- there's very little blurring of that, which could've made it richer and more interesting.
The story itself moves slowly, and by the end of the book the adventure we all know so well is only just kicking off. In a way, that's good, because we now have a good and solid background, with the different political situation laid out for us. The players are in place, hopefully the next books will be less about set up.
Lawhead's writing is pretty readable, and not purple prose like his early stuff, but in itself this first book doesn't draw me into the trilogy very well. It may pick up from here, but either way, I'm reading it mostly because I'm interested in the underlying ideas.
Edit: Having done a module on it, and read around on the subject, I have to say that Lawhead's idea of Robin being originally a Welsh story doesn't work. Perhaps aspects of the tale might have come out of Wales, but the Robin Hood ballads didn't spread to Wales much. You'd expect something to have survived, even if only in fragments.
Still a very interesting interpretation, though, and I'd still like to see Lawhead's sources.
March 27, 2009
When I discovered a relatively new series of books based on the Robin Hood legend, I was immediately interested. It began when I saw an ad here on Å·±¦ÓéÀÖ.com for Tuck, the recently published last installment of the trilogy. It was one of those flashing ads that for the most part are simply annoying, but advertising works and I finally clicked on it…and discovered a treasure. Stephen Lawhead is an internationally-known Christian writer who, I am somewhat ashamed to say, I had not heard of until recently. I have, though, become a dedicated fan. His books are usually classified as fantasy, which almost put me off, but reading some of the reviews on Amazon and Å·±¦ÓéÀÖ convinced me to give it a try. I am so glad I did!
Hood is the first book in the trilogy. Lawhead has taken the story and placed it a couple of centuries earlier than that of Richard the Lionheart, specifically in the late eleventh century following the rise of William the Conqueror and taken it out of Sherwood Forest and placed it in the forest of the March in Wales. Bran ap Brychan is the young, selfish headstrong son of King Brychan ap Tewdwr of Elfael. The Normans under William’s son William the Red are taking every parcel of land from the native Britons and enslaving the people as their laborers. When King Brychan and his men are murdered and Elfael falls under the rule of the weak but abusive Count de Braose, Bran’s only concern is his own escape. It isn’t until after his own near-death experience and the influence of the bard/sorceress Angharad that he ever so slowly becomes the leader his people need to help them resist the Normans.
This book had me from the beginning. The writing is excellent, the characters are interesting and the story, while stamped with the author’s own twists, is familiar so I never became lost. The only difficult aspect of the book I found was the Celtic/Welsh names. I’m just anal enough that I like to know how to pronounce what I’m reading. Thankfully, there is a pronunciation guide to help as well as a map of Wales and the southern part of England. It takes several chapters before Lawhead’s characters begin to resemble those we know…Little John, Friar Tuck, Sir Guy, etc., but the story stands so well on its own that someone who has never heard of Robin Hood (if such a person exists) would still thoroughly enjoy every chapter. For those like me who are not usually fantasy fans, this is more historical fiction than fantasy so don’t let the classification stop you from trying it.
Lawhead is a gifted writer, a fact made even more apparent by his lack of the use of profanity, illicit sex or unnecessary violence. It was refreshing to read an author who doesn’t need any of those in order to make an exciting realistic story. There are obviously some battle scenes, but they are not violent simple for violence’s sake. All in all, this story is so well written and so clean that I have recommended it to my daughters and to some of their friends.
Hood is the first book in the trilogy. Lawhead has taken the story and placed it a couple of centuries earlier than that of Richard the Lionheart, specifically in the late eleventh century following the rise of William the Conqueror and taken it out of Sherwood Forest and placed it in the forest of the March in Wales. Bran ap Brychan is the young, selfish headstrong son of King Brychan ap Tewdwr of Elfael. The Normans under William’s son William the Red are taking every parcel of land from the native Britons and enslaving the people as their laborers. When King Brychan and his men are murdered and Elfael falls under the rule of the weak but abusive Count de Braose, Bran’s only concern is his own escape. It isn’t until after his own near-death experience and the influence of the bard/sorceress Angharad that he ever so slowly becomes the leader his people need to help them resist the Normans.
This book had me from the beginning. The writing is excellent, the characters are interesting and the story, while stamped with the author’s own twists, is familiar so I never became lost. The only difficult aspect of the book I found was the Celtic/Welsh names. I’m just anal enough that I like to know how to pronounce what I’m reading. Thankfully, there is a pronunciation guide to help as well as a map of Wales and the southern part of England. It takes several chapters before Lawhead’s characters begin to resemble those we know…Little John, Friar Tuck, Sir Guy, etc., but the story stands so well on its own that someone who has never heard of Robin Hood (if such a person exists) would still thoroughly enjoy every chapter. For those like me who are not usually fantasy fans, this is more historical fiction than fantasy so don’t let the classification stop you from trying it.
Lawhead is a gifted writer, a fact made even more apparent by his lack of the use of profanity, illicit sex or unnecessary violence. It was refreshing to read an author who doesn’t need any of those in order to make an exciting realistic story. There are obviously some battle scenes, but they are not violent simple for violence’s sake. All in all, this story is so well written and so clean that I have recommended it to my daughters and to some of their friends.
April 13, 2015
4.5 stars
This is the start of a phenomenal trilogy, I can tell already. This was my first Lawhead book, and I can't wait to read more. Robin Hood has been one of my favorite legends since I was little and first saw this version:
That fox was sexy.
Ahem, anyway -- I LOVED seeing these characters reimagined closer to how they would have been, were they real. The story itself is timeless, but it always feels most at home in medieval times. And setting them down in Wales rather than England was an inspired choice; I haven't read much of Welsh history, but everything was handled fantastically and although I missed the forest being that of Sherwood, it was still the epic story we've all come to know. I've read a bit about why Lawhead decided to change the setting and I agree with all of his points. (I would love to list them if I could find them again, but sadly they elude me.)
I don't really recall the story ever dragging as I listened to the audiobook -- Adam Verner did an excellent job of reading and voicing all of the different characters, and Lawhead kicked off the action early on with a few notable deaths that served to set everything else in motion. I do want to get hold of a hard copy of the book just so I can see how all these names are spelled -- the old woman who mentors Bran in particular. Anglerod, it sounded like? Anyway, she reminded me of Tanana from Brother Bear:
One review that I found on Amazon said that the reader could plausibly imagine everything except the raven costume Bran had going; he said he just couldn't see it being realistic, and that if Bran was actually transforming instead of using a costume, it should have been labeled a fantasy rather than histfic. To that, I say this: remember, this book is set in medieval times. People believed in witchcraft and all manner of superstitious things back in that day, and an enormous raven would most likely fit with the other nightmares they conjured up for themselves. I felt like it was more of the peoples' imaginations running away with them rather than anything in particular that may have been done on Bran's part. Although that costume did sound hella kickass.
And the ending has definitely set things up for the sequel, which I can't wait to get my hands on. Come on, library!
This is the start of a phenomenal trilogy, I can tell already. This was my first Lawhead book, and I can't wait to read more. Robin Hood has been one of my favorite legends since I was little and first saw this version:
That fox was sexy.
Ahem, anyway -- I LOVED seeing these characters reimagined closer to how they would have been, were they real. The story itself is timeless, but it always feels most at home in medieval times. And setting them down in Wales rather than England was an inspired choice; I haven't read much of Welsh history, but everything was handled fantastically and although I missed the forest being that of Sherwood, it was still the epic story we've all come to know. I've read a bit about why Lawhead decided to change the setting and I agree with all of his points. (I would love to list them if I could find them again, but sadly they elude me.)
I don't really recall the story ever dragging as I listened to the audiobook -- Adam Verner did an excellent job of reading and voicing all of the different characters, and Lawhead kicked off the action early on with a few notable deaths that served to set everything else in motion. I do want to get hold of a hard copy of the book just so I can see how all these names are spelled -- the old woman who mentors Bran in particular. Anglerod, it sounded like? Anyway, she reminded me of Tanana from Brother Bear:
One review that I found on Amazon said that the reader could plausibly imagine everything except the raven costume Bran had going; he said he just couldn't see it being realistic, and that if Bran was actually transforming instead of using a costume, it should have been labeled a fantasy rather than histfic. To that, I say this: remember, this book is set in medieval times. People believed in witchcraft and all manner of superstitious things back in that day, and an enormous raven would most likely fit with the other nightmares they conjured up for themselves. I felt like it was more of the peoples' imaginations running away with them rather than anything in particular that may have been done on Bran's part. Although that costume did sound hella kickass.
And the ending has definitely set things up for the sequel, which I can't wait to get my hands on. Come on, library!
September 8, 2019
Not bad, at the start I really couldn’t be bothered reading this (hence the amount of time it took to read) but as it progressed and there was more fantasy and more interesting stuff I began to like and read it more and more. The ending was positively enjoyable!!
The characters could have had some more detail and back story but I still liked most of them and found the storyline fun at bits.
Not bad!
The characters could have had some more detail and back story but I still liked most of them and found the storyline fun at bits.
Not bad!
March 22, 2016
I'm DNFing this particular edition because the narrator is absolutely atrocious. Mispronunciations of British words by an american actor truly annoyed me but then he started mispronouncing american English words.
But I must must must actually read the book! It's set somewhere between 1066 (post-Norman Conquest) and 1154 (founding of the Angevins) and features Normans, Franks, Saxons, Welsh history, and post-conquest events! This is very very very exciting! Very! Okay, so I'm kind of a nut for this time period and the history of the British island. So the story is exciting but the narrator totally freaking sucks. I'm dreading the narration so DNFing is my only option for saving the possibility of thoroughly enjoying this book. Did I mention it's set shortly after the Norman Conquest?
But I must must must actually read the book! It's set somewhere between 1066 (post-Norman Conquest) and 1154 (founding of the Angevins) and features Normans, Franks, Saxons, Welsh history, and post-conquest events! This is very very very exciting! Very! Okay, so I'm kind of a nut for this time period and the history of the British island. So the story is exciting but the narrator totally freaking sucks. I'm dreading the narration so DNFing is my only option for saving the possibility of thoroughly enjoying this book. Did I mention it's set shortly after the Norman Conquest?
November 16, 2010
This book falls just a little short of the 5 star mark. I enjoyed it greatly...have the next volume in the series () on my shelf waiting and hope to get to it fairly quickly (I have hundreds of books on my shelves I'm hoping to get to rather quickly LOL).
Why 4 stars? There was (for me) a little "dragging" or "draggy-ness" in the story just past the midpoint. I also was a little less than impressed with the "modern writer writing an epic from the past" chapter. I found myself skimming a little to move past some of the verbiage.
Still, small gripe and I really liked this book. The placing of Robin (of the) Hood in the "Welsh" conflict makes a bit of sense (which Lawhead touched on after the novel proper) and the story is well told with villains you'll hate and a hero who takes his time becoming a hero. I'd say get this one and give it a read. I hope the series holds up to the standard set here.
Why 4 stars? There was (for me) a little "dragging" or "draggy-ness" in the story just past the midpoint. I also was a little less than impressed with the "modern writer writing an epic from the past" chapter. I found myself skimming a little to move past some of the verbiage.
Still, small gripe and I really liked this book. The placing of Robin (of the) Hood in the "Welsh" conflict makes a bit of sense (which Lawhead touched on after the novel proper) and the story is well told with villains you'll hate and a hero who takes his time becoming a hero. I'd say get this one and give it a read. I hope the series holds up to the standard set here.
April 16, 2009
ORIGINALLY POSTED AT .
Hood is the first novel in Stephen Lawhead's latest series, the King Raven Trilogy, which is a historical fantasy based on the Robin Hood legend. Lawhead places his story in Wales after the conquest of Britain by the Normans and during the reign of William the Red. (If that sounds a bit odd, Mr. Lawhead gives several convincing reasons for this at the end of the book -- you might want to read that first.)
The Normans are encroaching into Wales, confiscating land, and generally mistreating the Welsh. Bran, a prince of one of the Welsh districts whose father was just killed by the Normans, has been driven from his castle. His people think him dead and have no hope for regaining their former way of life. Not that Bran, an irresponsible womanizing rogue, would have been considered a potential savior anyway, but after the Normans injure him severely, Bran is rescued and nursed back to health by a strange spiritual leader who recognizes his potential. Bran comes a long way (without losing his personality), but things are still unsettled at the end of the book.
Stephen Lawhead's writing and story-telling abilities have steadily improved over the years. I found his Pendragon series tough to stick with (although that was partly due to having read too much Arthurian legend, perhaps), but the Albion series was quite good. This latest book, however, shows that Mr. Lawhead has been steadily honing his story-telling skills to perfection. The writing was perfectly clear and lively, the descriptions aptly set the scenes, the plot was quick and entertaining, and the dialogue was rich and realistic. Lawhead is well-known for performing extensive research before he writes, and it shows in this novel. I really felt like I was back in 11th century Wales!
I've always enjoyed Lawhead's complex characters. In Hood, Bran is the "reluctant hero," but somehow he doesn't come across as a stereotype -- perhaps because we clearly see his flaws as he flies into rages, remorselessly kills people who get in his way, and forgets to pine over the woman he said he loves. Some of the most intriguing characters are the several religious leaders who represent the Catholic Church. Some are devout, some are corrupt, and Lawhead deftly uses their points of view to show us that being religious does not make a person good. There are good religious people, and there are bad people who use religious institutions to bring glory (and riches) to themselves instead of to God. Furthermore, through the points of view of the religious people, we see that there are many gray moral areas. For example, God loves truth, but is it right to tell a lie when the truth would cause innocent people to be harmed? God loves justice and mercy, so should we obey or disobey an unjust ruler? Lawhead never asks us these questions directly, and he certainly never answers them for us, but they are there for the discerning reader to contemplate.
I listened to Hood in audiobook format. Despite some unconvincing accents and a few mispronunciations, the reading was good. The reader was enthusiastic, well-paced, and had a generally pleasant voice. This was a good format for this novel, and I recommend it.
Read more
Hood is the first novel in Stephen Lawhead's latest series, the King Raven Trilogy, which is a historical fantasy based on the Robin Hood legend. Lawhead places his story in Wales after the conquest of Britain by the Normans and during the reign of William the Red. (If that sounds a bit odd, Mr. Lawhead gives several convincing reasons for this at the end of the book -- you might want to read that first.)
The Normans are encroaching into Wales, confiscating land, and generally mistreating the Welsh. Bran, a prince of one of the Welsh districts whose father was just killed by the Normans, has been driven from his castle. His people think him dead and have no hope for regaining their former way of life. Not that Bran, an irresponsible womanizing rogue, would have been considered a potential savior anyway, but after the Normans injure him severely, Bran is rescued and nursed back to health by a strange spiritual leader who recognizes his potential. Bran comes a long way (without losing his personality), but things are still unsettled at the end of the book.
Stephen Lawhead's writing and story-telling abilities have steadily improved over the years. I found his Pendragon series tough to stick with (although that was partly due to having read too much Arthurian legend, perhaps), but the Albion series was quite good. This latest book, however, shows that Mr. Lawhead has been steadily honing his story-telling skills to perfection. The writing was perfectly clear and lively, the descriptions aptly set the scenes, the plot was quick and entertaining, and the dialogue was rich and realistic. Lawhead is well-known for performing extensive research before he writes, and it shows in this novel. I really felt like I was back in 11th century Wales!
I've always enjoyed Lawhead's complex characters. In Hood, Bran is the "reluctant hero," but somehow he doesn't come across as a stereotype -- perhaps because we clearly see his flaws as he flies into rages, remorselessly kills people who get in his way, and forgets to pine over the woman he said he loves. Some of the most intriguing characters are the several religious leaders who represent the Catholic Church. Some are devout, some are corrupt, and Lawhead deftly uses their points of view to show us that being religious does not make a person good. There are good religious people, and there are bad people who use religious institutions to bring glory (and riches) to themselves instead of to God. Furthermore, through the points of view of the religious people, we see that there are many gray moral areas. For example, God loves truth, but is it right to tell a lie when the truth would cause innocent people to be harmed? God loves justice and mercy, so should we obey or disobey an unjust ruler? Lawhead never asks us these questions directly, and he certainly never answers them for us, but they are there for the discerning reader to contemplate.
I listened to Hood in audiobook format. Despite some unconvincing accents and a few mispronunciations, the reading was good. The reader was enthusiastic, well-paced, and had a generally pleasant voice. This was a good format for this novel, and I recommend it.
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August 6, 2008
This version of the Robin Hood story is taken from the stand point that puts most of it happening on the welsh side not the English like the story is usually set in. Just one of the reasons I liked the book. The part of Hood is played by a man named Bran and how he started becoming the "Robin Hood" figure starts in this book as well the introduction of some of the characters we know. Bran, "the Robin Hood" character, is not the good guy at first but a womanizing, duty shirking prince. Kinda puts a different spin on the character. The way some of the characters is introduced is good, not all at once but as they come into the story in each their own way.
The only drawback I saw was that the names and some of the story lines like that with some of the barons was a bit much to handle but expected when using language we don't normally use. I found myself shortening names automatically as I read or just skipping over them.
The section(s) that captured my interest the most is is time in the forest with the old hag.
Overall a good read even with the length and trouble with the names.
The only drawback I saw was that the names and some of the story lines like that with some of the barons was a bit much to handle but expected when using language we don't normally use. I found myself shortening names automatically as I read or just skipping over them.
The section(s) that captured my interest the most is is time in the forest with the old hag.
Overall a good read even with the length and trouble with the names.
July 4, 2017
'How about this pitch; everybody knows the story of Robin Hood right?'
'Sure.'
'Popular character, popular story. But done a million times.'
'Go on.'
'So what if we take the basic Robin Hood structure; Little John, Maid Marian, Rob from the rich and give to the poor, all that stuff. And then we transport it from England to an exotic location, put a new twist on an old story.'
'Interesting, where were you thinking of?'
'Wales.'
'Wales?'
'Yes!'
'Isn't that basically part of England?'
'What? No! I mean, they're culturally quite distinct that they stopped all attempts at English conquest for over a hundred years. During the time the story would be set they're fighting a fierce resistance.'
'Look, look, I'm sure Wales is a magical place and all but it's not the most enticing bullet-point for a jacket cover; "The story you know, but set 10 miles over!"'
'Closer to 100 actually.'
'You get my point.'
'OK, OK, fine. Well how about this then? People love The Wire right? Classic TV show set in your hometown of Baltimore. What if we update it and move the setting to Philadelphia? We wouldn't have to change the plot very much since there's no difference between the two cities.'
'Now hold on-'
'Or maybe a period piece about the War of 1812. But we'll have to set the famous bombardment of Ft. McHenry in New York harbor. Same place basically but more famous so it'll make more sense to the masses.'
'Enough! Go ahead and do your Wales story. I wasn't even going to stop you but for Pete's sake no more blasphemies. Let's just hope no one in England minds you moving their myth.'
'Thank you. But really I'm going with a whole new character and just using the idea of Robin-'
'Just get out of here.'
Actual review; solid writing, plot is a little bland.
'Sure.'
'Popular character, popular story. But done a million times.'
'Go on.'
'So what if we take the basic Robin Hood structure; Little John, Maid Marian, Rob from the rich and give to the poor, all that stuff. And then we transport it from England to an exotic location, put a new twist on an old story.'
'Interesting, where were you thinking of?'
'Wales.'
'Wales?'
'Yes!'
'Isn't that basically part of England?'
'What? No! I mean, they're culturally quite distinct that they stopped all attempts at English conquest for over a hundred years. During the time the story would be set they're fighting a fierce resistance.'
'Look, look, I'm sure Wales is a magical place and all but it's not the most enticing bullet-point for a jacket cover; "The story you know, but set 10 miles over!"'
'Closer to 100 actually.'
'You get my point.'
'OK, OK, fine. Well how about this then? People love The Wire right? Classic TV show set in your hometown of Baltimore. What if we update it and move the setting to Philadelphia? We wouldn't have to change the plot very much since there's no difference between the two cities.'
'Now hold on-'
'Or maybe a period piece about the War of 1812. But we'll have to set the famous bombardment of Ft. McHenry in New York harbor. Same place basically but more famous so it'll make more sense to the masses.'
'Enough! Go ahead and do your Wales story. I wasn't even going to stop you but for Pete's sake no more blasphemies. Let's just hope no one in England minds you moving their myth.'
'Thank you. But really I'm going with a whole new character and just using the idea of Robin-'
'Just get out of here.'
Actual review; solid writing, plot is a little bland.
July 22, 2015
I have a great idea.
Let's make a Robin Hood book that is set in Wales at the time of the Norman invasion to include yet another contention between races, add a whole lot of medieval political intrigue and medieval details in general, forget now and then that this is historical fiction and have some fantasy/supernatural elements, and--idea of ideas--make it boring.
Yes, that's the catch. It's boring.
I really don't get it. This book should have everything going for it, and yet parts (lots of parts) of it made me want to bang my head against a wall because it was just mind-numbing. Maybe it's just not my thing. But I had a hard time caring about any of the characters (Tuck is the only one I whole-heartedly enjoyed) and most of the political intrigue turned into political blah-blah-blah. I really, really wanted to like Marian. But she seems to be simply a tool for Bran and then baron whatshisface and her father and then, finally, THE AUTHOR that I just couldn't really get her.
350 pages in, and this book was one star.
The remaining 140...it became two stars, as actual interesting stuff started happening and I begrudgingly admitted to small amounts of interesting stuff in the other 350.
And then rawr because it ends on a note that makes me want to read the next one because maybe???
Last time I did this, I ended up throwing Scarlet across the room about ten pages in.
So. We'll see.
Augh.
p.s. It is not always as historically accurate as you have been led to believe. Which I'm okay with, because Robin Hood has a history of not really being historically accurate. But when it's lauded as one of the strong points, it is really, really hard for me to get over the existence of friars in the 11th century.
Let's make a Robin Hood book that is set in Wales at the time of the Norman invasion to include yet another contention between races, add a whole lot of medieval political intrigue and medieval details in general, forget now and then that this is historical fiction and have some fantasy/supernatural elements, and--idea of ideas--make it boring.
Yes, that's the catch. It's boring.
I really don't get it. This book should have everything going for it, and yet parts (lots of parts) of it made me want to bang my head against a wall because it was just mind-numbing. Maybe it's just not my thing. But I had a hard time caring about any of the characters (Tuck is the only one I whole-heartedly enjoyed) and most of the political intrigue turned into political blah-blah-blah. I really, really wanted to like Marian. But she seems to be simply a tool for Bran and then baron whatshisface and her father and then, finally, THE AUTHOR that I just couldn't really get her.
350 pages in, and this book was one star.
The remaining 140...it became two stars, as actual interesting stuff started happening and I begrudgingly admitted to small amounts of interesting stuff in the other 350.
And then rawr because it ends on a note that makes me want to read the next one because maybe???
Last time I did this, I ended up throwing Scarlet across the room about ten pages in.
So. We'll see.
Augh.
p.s. It is not always as historically accurate as you have been led to believe. Which I'm okay with, because Robin Hood has a history of not really being historically accurate. But when it's lauded as one of the strong points, it is really, really hard for me to get over the existence of friars in the 11th century.
February 18, 2020
This book was really enjoyable. It was my first Lawhead book and I think I will look for the sequels and possible other series of his as well. Every once in a while there was a monologue of a character's thoughts on their past and I hated it and love it at the same time. Part of me would just want to get past it so I could get back to the action and events in the story, while at the same time it was interesting and fairly important to understanding the character, the events, and to find empathy. This is a more realistic version of the fantasy Robin Hood than most others you find and I love it. I really enjoyed how it was not dumbed down to perfection and happily ever after. There is strife, and religion, and ignorance, and love, and family, and happiness goals. I was taken aback at the setting at first because it does not have many of the places and names that I'm familiar with, but in the end of the book, after the novel, it has his explanation of why, and it is fabulous. I'm a history buff and to get this short history lesson on the true tales of Robin Hood was fascinating to me. I really enjoyed this book.
August 8, 2018
Extremely epic.
Much Robin Hood.
Love the characters.
Tons of fun.
Thumbs up.
Not for everyone.
But I loved.
Much Robin Hood.
Love the characters.
Tons of fun.
Thumbs up.
Not for everyone.
But I loved.
Shelved as 'tried-not-for-me'
October 28, 2017This just did not interest me at all. I kept skimming and skimming, waiting to get sucked in and it just wasn't happening. Then I thought I'd try something else for a while and come back to it, but I don't have any interest in returning to it at all. It could completely just be me and my mood at the moment, but I feel no regret leaving it. Glad I only borrowed it from the library!
September 6, 2017
DNF (due back to library is my main reason). I really hate giving books 1 star. :( especially when I didn't even finish it.
Anyway, this book just didn't do it for me... Maybe a more in depth review to come. (Key word: maybe... If I get around to it :p)
Anyway, this book just didn't do it for me... Maybe a more in depth review to come. (Key word: maybe... If I get around to it :p)
August 30, 2012
"The Welsh are extreme in all they do, so that if you never meet anyone worse than a bad Welshman, you will never meet anyone better than a good one." Thus writes Gerald of Wales, quoted at the back of this novel as part of Lawhead's fascinating defense for his choice to set the Robin Hood legend among the Cymry—the eleventh-century Welsh. The quote continues with: "Above all, they are passionately devoted to liberty, and almost excessively warlike."
Lawhead's "Rhi Bran"�'King Raven'—starts off rather indolent and dispassionate, thanks perhaps to a privileged but abusive upbringing, but events and destiny waken the outlaw we all know and love. He's at least as much angry freedom fighter as playful robber, however, and his character development and exploits are neatly interlaced with a portrayal of historic Wales under Norman invasion.
Bran himself is a generally well-built character forced to undergo an arduous hero's journey, but Lawhead plays freely with reader affections and allows moments of flat dislike for the protagonist. Not only that, he creates a certain amount of sympathy—not approval, but understanding and pity—for Bran's enemies at times, alternated with horror. Sympathizing with 'the bad guys' is always an uncomfortable experience, but realistic in light of the humanity of the villains, and admittedly well suited to a tale of good-hearted thieves.
While the story is historical fiction first, it reads like fantasy, with several loosely supernatural occurrences to bolster that sense. The character development, action, and world-building so crucial to the success of the fantasy genre are all present, though I've met both worlds and characters with more powerful emotional resonance.
As for the writing, Lawhead is a serviceable if sometimes mildly annoying prosist with a good strong grasp of story structure. Comparing his Hood to Robin McKinley's Outlaws of Sherwood, the former cannot match the latter's beautiful phrasing and quick, powerful emotional connections, but is decidedly structurally superior. Hood may prove difficult for readers to get into on account of that, but the intriguing history and suspense win out eventually.
The portrayal of the medieval Church contains the standard grasping, worldly bishops and cardinals, but also holy, humble, and sincere churchmen—the latter including the ever-amusing Tuck, here in a role of lovable cornball heroism. The lot of them are blessedly free of anachronistic evangelical Protestant thought patterns—which sometimes appear in historical fiction from categorically Christian publishing lines (Thomas Nelson, in this case)—though Angharad has her suspicious moments. Lawhead treats history with deep respect, and publishing house aside, this book is simply fiction without the need for the word Christian preceding it.
The situation among the oppressed Cymry gives the Robin Hood legend a firm and unique placement, setting this novel apart from other retellings. It also raises the stakes enough to make its sequels seem not only like probably reasonable developments, but important and desirable ones.
Lawhead's "Rhi Bran"�'King Raven'—starts off rather indolent and dispassionate, thanks perhaps to a privileged but abusive upbringing, but events and destiny waken the outlaw we all know and love. He's at least as much angry freedom fighter as playful robber, however, and his character development and exploits are neatly interlaced with a portrayal of historic Wales under Norman invasion.
Bran himself is a generally well-built character forced to undergo an arduous hero's journey, but Lawhead plays freely with reader affections and allows moments of flat dislike for the protagonist. Not only that, he creates a certain amount of sympathy—not approval, but understanding and pity—for Bran's enemies at times, alternated with horror. Sympathizing with 'the bad guys' is always an uncomfortable experience, but realistic in light of the humanity of the villains, and admittedly well suited to a tale of good-hearted thieves.
While the story is historical fiction first, it reads like fantasy, with several loosely supernatural occurrences to bolster that sense. The character development, action, and world-building so crucial to the success of the fantasy genre are all present, though I've met both worlds and characters with more powerful emotional resonance.
As for the writing, Lawhead is a serviceable if sometimes mildly annoying prosist with a good strong grasp of story structure. Comparing his Hood to Robin McKinley's Outlaws of Sherwood, the former cannot match the latter's beautiful phrasing and quick, powerful emotional connections, but is decidedly structurally superior. Hood may prove difficult for readers to get into on account of that, but the intriguing history and suspense win out eventually.
The portrayal of the medieval Church contains the standard grasping, worldly bishops and cardinals, but also holy, humble, and sincere churchmen—the latter including the ever-amusing Tuck, here in a role of lovable cornball heroism. The lot of them are blessedly free of anachronistic evangelical Protestant thought patterns—which sometimes appear in historical fiction from categorically Christian publishing lines (Thomas Nelson, in this case)—though Angharad has her suspicious moments. Lawhead treats history with deep respect, and publishing house aside, this book is simply fiction without the need for the word Christian preceding it.
The situation among the oppressed Cymry gives the Robin Hood legend a firm and unique placement, setting this novel apart from other retellings. It also raises the stakes enough to make its sequels seem not only like probably reasonable developments, but important and desirable ones.
January 2, 2009
This is the first book of "THE KING RAVEN TRILOGY" by Stephen R. Lawhead.
Most of us know the tale of Robin Hood who spent a lot of time in Sherwood Forest.
For more information please look at:
When I think of Robin Hood I always see the picture of Errol Flynn. This is my Robin Hood:
"Robin Hood: The Legend Begins Anew
For centuries, the legend of Robin Hood and his band of thieves has captivated the imagination. Now the familiar tale takes on new life, fresh meaning, and an unexpected setting.
Hunted like an animal by Norman invaders, Bran ap Brychan, heir to the throne Elfael, has abandoned his father's kingdom and fled to the greenwood. There, in the primeval forest of the Welsh borders, danger surrounds him—for this woodland is a living, breathing entity with mysterious powers and secrets, and Bran must find a way to make it his own if he is to survive.
Like the forest itself, Hood is deep, dark, and at times savagely brutal—yet full of enchantment and hope. Internationally-acclaimed author Stephen R. Lawhead has created a lyrical rendering of a time-honored story that will lead you down strange pathways into another time and place."
Source:
Based on a lot of historical source Lawhead changed the location to Wales and the name of our hero is now Bran ap Brychan.
You get to know a lot about former life in Wales. The story has its on pace and rythm. Don't expect epic bloody battle scenes.
I liked it very much and will definitely read the follow ups SCARLET and TUCK.
Most of us know the tale of Robin Hood who spent a lot of time in Sherwood Forest.
For more information please look at:
When I think of Robin Hood I always see the picture of Errol Flynn. This is my Robin Hood:
"Robin Hood: The Legend Begins Anew
For centuries, the legend of Robin Hood and his band of thieves has captivated the imagination. Now the familiar tale takes on new life, fresh meaning, and an unexpected setting.
Hunted like an animal by Norman invaders, Bran ap Brychan, heir to the throne Elfael, has abandoned his father's kingdom and fled to the greenwood. There, in the primeval forest of the Welsh borders, danger surrounds him—for this woodland is a living, breathing entity with mysterious powers and secrets, and Bran must find a way to make it his own if he is to survive.
Like the forest itself, Hood is deep, dark, and at times savagely brutal—yet full of enchantment and hope. Internationally-acclaimed author Stephen R. Lawhead has created a lyrical rendering of a time-honored story that will lead you down strange pathways into another time and place."
Source:
Based on a lot of historical source Lawhead changed the location to Wales and the name of our hero is now Bran ap Brychan.
You get to know a lot about former life in Wales. The story has its on pace and rythm. Don't expect epic bloody battle scenes.
I liked it very much and will definitely read the follow ups SCARLET and TUCK.
June 19, 2011
Bran's father is killed and his land of Elfael taken by Ffreinc invaders, he escapes barely with his life, while recovering a minstrel/healer tells/sings him the story of the King Raven, the story instills life into his broken body and over time it becomes a part of him, once healed he vows to help his people and gain back what was stolen from the lands of Elfael.
I like the research Lawhead does into the history and lore of the characters he chooses, like Merlin, Hood, King Arthur and so on. I had no idea of the time period the Robin Hood stories originated or that he probably originated in Wales, the shift to this time period and location in the King Raven trilogy was exciting to read. The Welsh names such as Rhi Bran (Robin Hood) were very interesting and how they got their nicknames, Aethilfrith being a "fat little bag of vittles that he is, I will call him Tuck," and Iwan's Welsh name translating to English makes him John, "So, overgrown infant that he is, I will call him Little John."
I won't lie, the first 50 pages were rough, the story a bit dry, it took me some time to start seriously reading it, but once I broke the 100 page mark it started taking of and I kept wanting to see what happens. The end was great, with the introduction of Guy of Gisbourne. I look forward to seeing who some of the politicians/religious figures in the book turn out to be and how some of the warring/rival Lords get on in the next book "Scarlet."
I like the research Lawhead does into the history and lore of the characters he chooses, like Merlin, Hood, King Arthur and so on. I had no idea of the time period the Robin Hood stories originated or that he probably originated in Wales, the shift to this time period and location in the King Raven trilogy was exciting to read. The Welsh names such as Rhi Bran (Robin Hood) were very interesting and how they got their nicknames, Aethilfrith being a "fat little bag of vittles that he is, I will call him Tuck," and Iwan's Welsh name translating to English makes him John, "So, overgrown infant that he is, I will call him Little John."
I won't lie, the first 50 pages were rough, the story a bit dry, it took me some time to start seriously reading it, but once I broke the 100 page mark it started taking of and I kept wanting to see what happens. The end was great, with the introduction of Guy of Gisbourne. I look forward to seeing who some of the politicians/religious figures in the book turn out to be and how some of the warring/rival Lords get on in the next book "Scarlet."
September 5, 2010
Hood sets the King Raven trilogy off to a great start. I enjoyed the way Lawhead places Hood in Wales, circa 1093, and completely reinvents the legend from what I've known before. Brilliant, captivating and left me eager for more. Most impressive is Lawhead didn't leave me with a cliffhanger; he didn't so much as end this first part of the trilogy as pause it. I appreciate that difference.
December 1, 2015
4.5 stars
It's no secret that I love all things Welsh or should I say British? Wales is a land of enchantment and resetting the Robin Hood myth there is nothing short of brilliant. Lawhead always writes a good tale and this one was one of his better ones. The characters are well drawn and the plot moved along nicely. I now have access to the entire trilogy so I am excited to read on.
It's no secret that I love all things Welsh or should I say British? Wales is a land of enchantment and resetting the Robin Hood myth there is nothing short of brilliant. Lawhead always writes a good tale and this one was one of his better ones. The characters are well drawn and the plot moved along nicely. I now have access to the entire trilogy so I am excited to read on.
September 30, 2020
Characteristics to NOT give your Robin Hood character:
-An idiot
-Completely self-centered
-Moody and glum
-Abusive towards women
Characteristics Hood gives Robin Hood:
-All of the above
Things to not make your Robin Hood retelling:
-Boring
-A weird mix of dry historical fiction and poorly-written mythology
Things this Robin Hood retelling was:
-A weird mix, etc, but also SO, SO BORING
-oh and we're not even going to mention that scene with the dead people. we're just. not going to mention it.
{seriously, what was that scene with the dead people?????}
{and how dare you mess up my precious Robin Hood. how dare you, sir.}
-An idiot
-Completely self-centered
-Moody and glum
-Abusive towards women
Characteristics Hood gives Robin Hood:
-All of the above
Things to not make your Robin Hood retelling:
-Boring
-A weird mix of dry historical fiction and poorly-written mythology
Things this Robin Hood retelling was:
-A weird mix, etc, but also SO, SO BORING
-oh and we're not even going to mention that scene with the dead people. we're just. not going to mention it.
{seriously, what was that scene with the dead people?????}
{and how dare you mess up my precious Robin Hood. how dare you, sir.}
March 11, 2019
Probably more like 2.5 rounded up. I wanted to get connected but I really struggled. Not sure why. Maybe "knowing" the story tainted the way I wanted to see it unfold.
September 21, 2024
There's an addendum at the end where the author explains why he made Robin Hood Welsh. What he should be explaining is why he made him boring. I was drawn in by the dashing 'HOOD' emblazoned on the front cover and the arrow slashing through underneath, both promising adventure and derring-do, but by far the majority of this book consists of young Rhi Bran soul-searching in the forest about whether he wants to be a hero or not. Somewhere around page 400 he has taken to wandering the trees in a disturbed raven costume and there is finally some forest ambush action, but by then the book is essentially over.
Nobody wants Robin Hood to be Batman. Also, nobody wants Robin Hood to slap Maid Merien, which he does (I think that was frowned on even in 2006 when this was published). Add to that the fact that all of the women in this book are either mystics or twits (I guess thus the slapping), and you've got yourself a 2-star rating.
Nobody wants Robin Hood to be Batman. Also, nobody wants Robin Hood to slap Maid Merien, which he does (I think that was frowned on even in 2006 when this was published). Add to that the fact that all of the women in this book are either mystics or twits (I guess thus the slapping), and you've got yourself a 2-star rating.
February 18, 2009
I really liked this. But it only gets 4 stars because of my expectations. And, I blame the publisher for that. I read the description on the back and thought - this is totally the kind of thing I like - re-imagining of classic tales. But I expected magic and things that made it belong in the Sci-Fi section (where it was, and still remains). But, after reading it, I am not sure the publisher read the same book I did. It's a great re-telling of Robin Hood, but not really Sci-Fi. I bought and read Scarlett too - and am waiting to get Tuck. So, they were worth the $$ spent on the books, because I will re-read them at some point - although I may wait for Tuck in paperback. And I would suggest that the publisher be more careful with the description - and Borders might want to reconsider where they put the book in the store!
July 24, 2020
I really enjoyed this take on Robin Hood. As someone who loves Welsh history and culture, the very story idea intrigued me. And that part of the story did not disappoint. The only critique I have on this book is that Angharad never really made sense to me? This might just be personal taste, but I found it really difficult to understand and appreciate her character and I think that even as this old bard that is a mentor to Bran, she could have been better portrayed and still maintained her mysteriousness while still being liked by the reader. I tolerated her but I couldn't love her because she felt so distant in comparison with all the other characters.
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