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shanaqui's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
medium-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
4.0
Brightfall mingles Robin Hood stories with Fae stories, providing a sort of murder mystery where someone is killing Robin Hood's men -- years after their time as a band -- and Marian sets forth to deal with it. She's a witch, long-separated from Robin, who has retreated into a monastery to hide from his sins, and put her aside. Despite the bad blood between them, they have to travel together in order to find out what's happening, and it quickly becomes obvious that Robin's sins and his desperate desire to withdraw from the world are at the heart of what's happening.
This honestly isn't the sort of story you're expecting if you stumble into Robin Hood from the Disney version, for sure. (Though there is a fox: her name is Bridget, and she travels with and helps to protect Marian.) Robin's petulant man-child behaviour reminds me of the Robin of some of the old ballads and stories, though his particular guilt and any entanglement with the Fae is pretty unique to Brightfall (as far as I know; I didn't study Robin Hood-related stories for as long or as in-depth as I did Arthurian legends).
Marian is the narrator, and we see the world through her eyes, learning about her witchcraft, her love for her children, her grief over her lost lovers -- and her determination to put things right. Robin looks pretty small through her eyes, and he proves to have wronged her even more than she originally thought, but there's a glimmer of hope there for him, to my mind. I enjoyed her narration, her intent to do good in the world, her determination to protect the things important to her.
I'm left pretty curious about the Fae lord she names "Bert" -- she gives him that name for an uncle she once had, and he seems to find it terribly appropriate. I guess the implication is that they are related somehow, but I'd love to have heard that story. I'm also curious where things go with Jack, although that can be left to be imagined, and how exactly Robbie came to do certain things in the last couple of chapters.
I really enjoyed this, in any case; it's rare enough lately that I can steam straight through books without taking many breaks. Brightfall captured me with its spell.
This honestly isn't the sort of story you're expecting if you stumble into Robin Hood from the Disney version, for sure. (Though there is a fox: her name is Bridget, and she travels with and helps to protect Marian.) Robin's petulant man-child behaviour reminds me of the Robin of some of the old ballads and stories, though his particular guilt and any entanglement with the Fae is pretty unique to Brightfall (as far as I know; I didn't study Robin Hood-related stories for as long or as in-depth as I did Arthurian legends).
Marian is the narrator, and we see the world through her eyes, learning about her witchcraft, her love for her children, her grief over her lost lovers -- and her determination to put things right. Robin looks pretty small through her eyes, and he proves to have wronged her even more than she originally thought, but there's a glimmer of hope there for him, to my mind. I enjoyed her narration, her intent to do good in the world, her determination to protect the things important to her.
I'm left pretty curious about the Fae lord she names "Bert" -- she gives him that name for an uncle she once had, and he seems to find it terribly appropriate. I guess the implication is that they are related somehow, but I'd love to have heard that story. I'm also curious where things go with Jack, although that can be left to be imagined, and how exactly Robbie came to do certain things in the last couple of chapters.
I really enjoyed this, in any case; it's rare enough lately that I can steam straight through books without taking many breaks. Brightfall captured me with its spell.
emilyofthegreenwood's review against another edition
4.0
This book is good. It's not great, but it's good. Usually when a book or movie claims to be a new interesting Robin Hood story, it doesn't live up to that promise. Brightfall does! It is genuinely different, and I was surprised by outcomes and plot points.
It's missing one star because I found Robin's character to be too distasteful. He's supposed to be in this story. The reader is not meant to like him, and I don't really mind that, but it felt a bit overdone. Or maybe I was just thrown off my well-loved and familiar understanding of the story, and found it to be a little too different.
I'm particular with Robin Hood novels, what can I say? I did genuinely enjoy the fantasy elements here, though! I haven't see too much Robin Hood mixed with fantasy, and this might be the best of what I have seen.
It's missing one star because I found Robin's character to be too distasteful. He's supposed to be in this story. The reader is not meant to like him, and I don't really mind that, but it felt a bit overdone. Or maybe I was just thrown off my well-loved and familiar understanding of the story, and found it to be a little too different.
I'm particular with Robin Hood novels, what can I say? I did genuinely enjoy the fantasy elements here, though! I haven't see too much Robin Hood mixed with fantasy, and this might be the best of what I have seen.
tfrohock's review against another edition
4.0
This is one of the few non-horror/dark fantasy books that I've read this year, but I've always enjoyed Jaime's writing, so I didn't think twice about picking it up.
Jaime's style draws me in with her emotionally centered female characters and Brightfall is no exception to this rule. Told from Marian's point of view, the book puts a neat twist on the Robin tale with lots of references to Celtic magic and Robin Hood lore. The characters and their motivations are solid and believable, yet wrapped in a magical world that is hidden just beneath our own.
One part murder mystery, one part fairy tale, Brightfall will satisfy lovers of high fantasy who are looking for a new twist on the Robin Tale legend.
Highly recommended.
Jaime's style draws me in with her emotionally centered female characters and Brightfall is no exception to this rule. Told from Marian's point of view, the book puts a neat twist on the Robin tale with lots of references to Celtic magic and Robin Hood lore. The characters and their motivations are solid and believable, yet wrapped in a magical world that is hidden just beneath our own.
One part murder mystery, one part fairy tale, Brightfall will satisfy lovers of high fantasy who are looking for a new twist on the Robin Tale legend.
Highly recommended.
aselkiereads's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.75
sarahknowsthestory's review against another edition
4.0
A truly enjoyable and quite wonderful book. I was fully immersed in Marian’s “sequel” world, at once so familiar but also slightly different by way of the addition of old magic to the story. This integration of a well-known Tale with the world of the pagan and Fae was seamless, and I particularly liked the way that the conflict between the old ways and new (the church) was integral to the plot. I was cheering on our heroine throughout and fell in love with the cast of characters, right down to cheeky Bridget the fox. The action sweeps the reader along, building the tension until a satisfying final confrontation. The only criticism I have is that I do not understand the title of the book - I don’t remember the word Brightfall being used anywhere in the text!
king_lefay's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
sadie_slater's review against another edition
3.0
Jaime Lee Moyer's Brightfall is a fantasy novel inspired by Robin Hood. Rather than revisiting the familiar legends, it's set some twelve years later, when the Merry Men have settled back into normal life. Robin has retreated into a monastery, abandoning Marian to bring up their two children without him. Her peaceful life in the forest with her children is interrupted when she receives the news that several of her old friends have died in mysterious circumstances. Abbot Tuck suspects a curse, and asks Marian to use her magical powers and craft to track down the killer.
I liked this a lot; it's an enjoyable new take on a well-known story, with an engaging plot and interesting, likeable characters. (And of course, I'm always predisposed to like fantasy with older female protagonists.) Moyer mixes the Robin Hood legends with fairytale elements; magic, mythical beasts and a Fae Court that reminded me of 'Thomas the Rhymer' to tell a story about love and loss and moving on. I had some minor niggles, both historical (I don't think a 13th-century miller would actually be selling flour, rather than the services of the mill) and geographical (it being two full days' walk from Hucknall, north of Nottingham, to Mansfield, when Google Maps tells me they're only nine miles apart), but they certainly weren't enough to stop me enjoying the novel. I don't think it's necessarily a book that will stay with me for a long time, but I was in the mood for some fluffy, undemanding fantasy after reading The Handmaid's Tale, and this definitely fit the bill.
(I would note that Brightfall does include the death of a child, so may not seem as fluffy to those who are sensitive to that in books.)
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for a free eARC for review.
I liked this a lot; it's an enjoyable new take on a well-known story, with an engaging plot and interesting, likeable characters. (And of course, I'm always predisposed to like fantasy with older female protagonists.) Moyer mixes the Robin Hood legends with fairytale elements; magic, mythical beasts and a Fae Court that reminded me of 'Thomas the Rhymer' to tell a story about love and loss and moving on. I had some minor niggles, both historical (I don't think a 13th-century miller would actually be selling flour, rather than the services of the mill) and geographical (it being two full days' walk from Hucknall, north of Nottingham, to Mansfield, when Google Maps tells me they're only nine miles apart), but they certainly weren't enough to stop me enjoying the novel. I don't think it's necessarily a book that will stay with me for a long time, but I was in the mood for some fluffy, undemanding fantasy after reading The Handmaid's Tale, and this definitely fit the bill.
(I would note that Brightfall does include the death of a child, so may not seem as fluffy to those who are sensitive to that in books.)
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for a free eARC for review.
ecath's review against another edition
4.0
My Robin Hood was always the fox Robin Hood, you know what I'm talking about. I never had a Marian I was in love with, until perhaps this book. Jaime Lee Moyer takes what you know about Robin Hood and turns it on its head. Marian's got murders to solve--and her ex Robin is along for the ride. But it's not going to end how you think it's going to end...
saltnurse's review against another edition
3.0
Brightfall is a really difficult novel for me to rate and review. I thought this was a definite 5 star read for the first third or so of the book, it started out so strongly. Unfortunately, I hardly wanted to pick up the book by the half way point.
Brightfall is a part murder mystery, part Robin Hood retelling told from the perspective of Robin’s ex-wife, Maid Marian. The story is set in the depths of the enchanted Sherwood Forest, which is ruled by Fae and filled to the brim with malicious creatures. When Marin receives news that the Merry Men and their families are being murdered, she is sent on a mission to use her skills as a witch to unravel the mystery. Sounds dark and promising, right? (NB: a child death occurs prior to the start of the story, which is explored in a bit of detail - this may be an issue if this is a trigger you are sensitive to).
The story introduces us to vixens, a talking dragon that guards over the forest, and many different kinds of dark Fae. The beginning of the story sets the stage for a dark and dangerous fantasy with so many unique elements, and for me all of this fell short. Like other reviewers noted, we are told how dangerous these Fae are, and they pose the greatest risk to the characters, yet every time Marian encounters them in the story she hardly breaks a sweat. There is almost no actual danger in this story, I felt no tension or concern for the characters at all. As another example, the dragon who was introduced at the start (who you would assume would then play a role in the story) essentially served no purpose and was only briefly mentioned again at the end. For me, this book introduced so many intriguing elements and then didn’t deliver on the plot at all. I also had issues with the pacing, it was painfully slow and the plot was disjointed and transparent by the half way point.
The descriptive writing in this story is beautiful, and that’s what makes this such a difficult review. It was well written, and the effort the author put into researching the mythology of Robin Hood is evident. I also liked the spin the author put on the characters and her unique take on retelling the well known story. Perhaps if I wasn’t expecting a dark retelling I would feel differently, and maybe this is more of an individual issue. Reviews seem to indicate that a lot of people thoroughly enjoyed this book, so I wouldn’t discourage you from reading it. It just fell flat for me personally, and I suggest not to go into this expecting a dark fantasy, despite the premise.
I am grateful to have received an ARC from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review, all thoughts are my own.
Brightfall is a part murder mystery, part Robin Hood retelling told from the perspective of Robin’s ex-wife, Maid Marian. The story is set in the depths of the enchanted Sherwood Forest, which is ruled by Fae and filled to the brim with malicious creatures. When Marin receives news that the Merry Men and their families are being murdered, she is sent on a mission to use her skills as a witch to unravel the mystery. Sounds dark and promising, right? (NB: a child death occurs prior to the start of the story, which is explored in a bit of detail - this may be an issue if this is a trigger you are sensitive to).
The story introduces us to vixens, a talking dragon that guards over the forest, and many different kinds of dark Fae. The beginning of the story sets the stage for a dark and dangerous fantasy with so many unique elements, and for me all of this fell short. Like other reviewers noted, we are told how dangerous these Fae are, and they pose the greatest risk to the characters, yet every time Marian encounters them in the story she hardly breaks a sweat. There is almost no actual danger in this story, I felt no tension or concern for the characters at all. As another example, the dragon who was introduced at the start (who you would assume would then play a role in the story) essentially served no purpose and was only briefly mentioned again at the end. For me, this book introduced so many intriguing elements and then didn’t deliver on the plot at all. I also had issues with the pacing, it was painfully slow and the plot was disjointed and transparent by the half way point.
The descriptive writing in this story is beautiful, and that’s what makes this such a difficult review. It was well written, and the effort the author put into researching the mythology of Robin Hood is evident. I also liked the spin the author put on the characters and her unique take on retelling the well known story. Perhaps if I wasn’t expecting a dark retelling I would feel differently, and maybe this is more of an individual issue. Reviews seem to indicate that a lot of people thoroughly enjoyed this book, so I wouldn’t discourage you from reading it. It just fell flat for me personally, and I suggest not to go into this expecting a dark fantasy, despite the premise.
I am grateful to have received an ARC from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review, all thoughts are my own.
gracethegraham's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5