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A catch up with the band of outlaws from Sherwood Forest fame although this series seeks to redress a lot of the folklore surrounding this legend portraying a more reasoned historical version which ive come to very much enjoy.

We start as most books with an aged Alan Dale writing his memoirs of tales of adventures with Robin “Hood�� the Earl of Loxley��. We pick up directly after the last entry in the series with King Richard safe in England after his captivity at the hands of the Holy Roman Emperor who was in cahoots with King Philip of France who has incurred into English territories on the continent whilst he was absent fully intent on making it part of the French kingdom.

We ride with Alan from the start, he now a fully fledged & armoured knight of the realm as his advanced force go to relieve a siege from the French army ahead of the Lionheart himself with the main force. It’s a full on & bloody opening, the panoply of war splendid in it’s regale as the knights do battle through the French camp trying to enter the castle. The battle scenes around the siege are indeed bloody & without quarter, they certainly didn’t fanny around with them swords & battle-axes in them days as they cleaved bodies apart when in their blood lust.

We find out some history of Dale’s father too through a monk he comes across in the castle, which was by Alan’s design too as we find out & this is a plot thread that is weaved centrally throughout the book, in fact it should be said come journeys end that it is the equal theme of the book with The Lionheart's campaigning.

The early main thrust of the story is about King Richards attempts to successfully put down the rebellion & incursion into his lands of Normandy, The County of Perche & Aquitaine which happened whilst he was in captivity. The action is full on, the violence medieval & we are a far ways from Sherwood Forest with Robin Hood & his “merry�� band of outlaws, a proper ruthless Lord, although generous it could be said to his friends, he be. But��. Don’t get on the wrong side of the Earl of Loxley!

The story as always follows through (Sir) Alan Dale with his ever-faithful man Hanno & his squire Thomas at his side seemingly where ever he goes. The story shifts between battle scenes & the mystery surrounding Alan Dale’s father, always engaging & well paced with enough twists along the way to keep you guessing at the identity of the man that Alan Dale seeks, “the man who can not be refused�� being his moniker.

The historical history element is excellent, be it the warfare, the church or the ways of the small folk & I must add that the descriptions of Paris are vivid & bring a bustling medieval city to life, the author does a grand job of giving us a picture of life in these times through various scenes.

The book contains historical notes at the back which depict the fiction from the reality.

Ive enjoyed all of this series too date, 4.25 stars, rounded to a four for me.