Take a photo of a barcode or cover
3.7 AVERAGE
3.7 AVERAGE
adventurous
inspiring
medium-paced
adventurous
challenging
inspiring
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
A bit disappointing. Starts off well, but then loses the story. Hood doesn't get the band of merry men together until the very end and the book just ends at a strange point.
I... am conflicted about this one. On one hand, I want to read everything 'Robin Hood,' because I am obsessed.. but when I started reading this, I just didn't see the similarities. I understand that it's explained at the end how the author came to Wales through the mystery of the legend's origin, sure, but when I want to read Robin Hood, I want to read the legend for the story that we know, not 'what's probably more realistic.'
I love the writing, no doubt. Like, as a fantasy book by itself, it's great! But when you have everyone else even named the same, Merian, John, Tuck, why only change the main name of 'Robin'? Bran means nothing to me, because it's Bran, not 'Robin.' It's not a big deal, but it's a different feeling, I don't know how to explain it. I loved the action parts most, which is strange, because usually in books like this, the action is so hard to understand; but this time, it makes for a bad-ass scene I could get excited about. It's too bad there's only maybe like two or three of those scenes that I can recall, where 'Bran' has to actually fight someone, and I thought, 'man that was freakin' cool.'
It should be fun to watch the gang pull the kind of pranks they're known for, like dressing up as ghosts to scare travellers. But there's this aura around everything that makes it all so serious, and I think that's what I miss most of the legend, the humor. I like the story as a story itself, but to me, 'Bran' just isn't Robin, which is fine, but not what I expected.
I love the writing, no doubt. Like, as a fantasy book by itself, it's great! But when you have everyone else even named the same, Merian, John, Tuck, why only change the main name of 'Robin'? Bran means nothing to me, because it's Bran, not 'Robin.' It's not a big deal, but it's a different feeling, I don't know how to explain it. I loved the action parts most, which is strange, because usually in books like this, the action is so hard to understand; but this time, it makes for a bad-ass scene I could get excited about. It's too bad there's only maybe like two or three of those scenes that I can recall, where 'Bran' has to actually fight someone, and I thought, 'man that was freakin' cool.'
Spoiler
(Where he attacked those soldiers hurting the farm family, when he was fleeing through the forest, and when they were fleeing with Merrian.)It should be fun to watch the gang pull the kind of pranks they're known for, like dressing up as ghosts to scare travellers. But there's this aura around everything that makes it all so serious, and I think that's what I miss most of the legend, the humor. I like the story as a story itself, but to me, 'Bran' just isn't Robin, which is fine, but not what I expected.
adventurous
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
sad
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I found this interpretation of Robin Hood interesting. It didn't really keep me reading though. I had to force myself to keep reading. I especially disliked the portions with Merian. Towards the end I found myself just skimming her scenes.
I'm a sucker for a retelling of a myth or classic story so the new look at Robin Hood caught my attention. There were some parts that lost me a little, mostly because of all the character introductions - it hard to figure out who was actually worth paying attention, but overall an enjoyable read.
adventurous
challenging
dark
informative
mysterious
sad
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I'm not sure if I buy the idea of the Welsh connection, but outside of that everything here feels like "been there, done that". Changing the historical time period was done in Godwin's work, who set it during the Conquest, the Old gods was done in Robin of Sherwood (Lawhead just changed the name and gender). Bran isn't that likable (which is fine) but all characters are just simple ciphers.
Maybe if I hadn't read Godwin's work first.
Maybe if I hadn't read Godwin's work first.