Take a photo of a barcode or cover
3.7 AVERAGE
3.7 AVERAGE
adventurous
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Robin Hood relocated to Wales? An odd approach but well thought out. The history rings true while still embracing the overarching legend of the hood and bow.
Interesting resetting of the story we think we know. Made me want to learn more about the various peoples and conquerors of Britain.
3.5 stars
Full review can be found at Books Take You Places
Hood is a novel that I have been meaning to read for a very long time. In fact, I attempted to read it quite a few years ago and despite my love of Robin Hood, I just couldn’t become immersed in the story. Being that I have owned the novel for years, the Classics Retold project seemed like the perfect excuse for me to give it another try.
Rhi Bran’s (see what he did there, Rhi Bran = Robin) father is killed and he is left as the would-be heir to his father’s castle and lands. Unfortunately Bran is injured severely by Normans and he is found near death by a mysterious old woman. After many trials she succeeds in nursing him back to health and assisting him in realizing his truth worth as a leader to his people.
I did enjoy the characters for the most part, Bran was pigheaded and a rather different type of hero. It was interesting to watch his growth throughout the novel and I thoroughly enjoyed his characterization of King Raven. The two most descriptive secondary characters in Hood are Merian, and Friar Tuck, who goes by the name Aethelfrith. I did not like the portrayal of Merian, I found her to be somewhat silly in her dual nature. On one hand she was strong headed and stubborn, but then she seemed rather silly and naïve in her actions. Tuck, however, was incredibly loveable. He assisted Bran in keeping a cool head in many situations and was incredibly keen and fun to read.
Hood is a very different retelling than the original tale of Robin Hood, and it reads more like a historical fiction novel than anything else. Lawhead in no way romanticizes Robin Hood’s tale, in fact it is a darker retelling than I have ever read and to be honest there is not much happiness through the novel, despite the fact that things do move forward little by little for our hero.
While reading, I wasn’t completely enthralled with the tale, and I had hoped for some more action. Much of the story is Bran finding his potential, and background on the different Barons who are fighting for control of the land. There was one particular scene that took place in the “haunted forest” that I thoroughly enjoyed, the atmosphere was absolutely chilling. It is obvious while reading that this is only one part to the Robin Hood tale and it is hard to judge the novel on its own as it really is a piece to a much bigger puzzle. That said, as a whole I found the novel to be an interesting new beginning to the Robin Hood legend, I will definitely be continuing on with the story.
Full review can be found at Books Take You Places
Hood is a novel that I have been meaning to read for a very long time. In fact, I attempted to read it quite a few years ago and despite my love of Robin Hood, I just couldn’t become immersed in the story. Being that I have owned the novel for years, the Classics Retold project seemed like the perfect excuse for me to give it another try.
Rhi Bran’s (see what he did there, Rhi Bran = Robin) father is killed and he is left as the would-be heir to his father’s castle and lands. Unfortunately Bran is injured severely by Normans and he is found near death by a mysterious old woman. After many trials she succeeds in nursing him back to health and assisting him in realizing his truth worth as a leader to his people.
I did enjoy the characters for the most part, Bran was pigheaded and a rather different type of hero. It was interesting to watch his growth throughout the novel and I thoroughly enjoyed his characterization of King Raven. The two most descriptive secondary characters in Hood are Merian, and Friar Tuck, who goes by the name Aethelfrith. I did not like the portrayal of Merian, I found her to be somewhat silly in her dual nature. On one hand she was strong headed and stubborn, but then she seemed rather silly and naïve in her actions. Tuck, however, was incredibly loveable. He assisted Bran in keeping a cool head in many situations and was incredibly keen and fun to read.
Hood is a very different retelling than the original tale of Robin Hood, and it reads more like a historical fiction novel than anything else. Lawhead in no way romanticizes Robin Hood’s tale, in fact it is a darker retelling than I have ever read and to be honest there is not much happiness through the novel, despite the fact that things do move forward little by little for our hero.
While reading, I wasn’t completely enthralled with the tale, and I had hoped for some more action. Much of the story is Bran finding his potential, and background on the different Barons who are fighting for control of the land. There was one particular scene that took place in the “haunted forest” that I thoroughly enjoyed, the atmosphere was absolutely chilling. It is obvious while reading that this is only one part to the Robin Hood tale and it is hard to judge the novel on its own as it really is a piece to a much bigger puzzle. That said, as a whole I found the novel to be an interesting new beginning to the Robin Hood legend, I will definitely be continuing on with the story.
adventurous
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
The year is 1093. The King of England is William II, aka William the Red, and the Normans are plotting their further control over English territories. And Wales becomes the screwed battleground. Thus starts our adventures with Bran ap Brychan and his "merrymen."
Hood a tale that re-imagines the lore of Robin Hood not as English but as Welsh. If you're like me, the only thing you know about Robin Hood is from the Looney Toons or Disney's anthropomorphic version, i.e., limited. There's also Errol Flynn and Kevin Costner's interpretation of Robin Hood of which I've never seen. And there's Russell Crowe's Robin Hood which I suppose is forgetful because I recall nothing of it, but I digress.
Going into this with limited knowledge of Robin Hood, I was pleasantly surprised by how much I enjoyed this. The character development of our protagonist was great; slow building but by the end of the novel a fist pump is in order, especially be the end of the epilogue. The characterisations of the antagonist are grand; you hate them with varying degrees of odiousness. However, as much as I loved the protagonist, Bran, I found myself having more affection towards the supporting characters behind Bran. If one of those characters gets written off, I may or may not become emo-devastated.
By the end of Book One, the tone has been set, the intrigue established leading into Book Two.
With an open mind and open to genres, I don't think you can do wrong with Hood . There's a certain realism with the setting and environments presented to the reader. The fantasy portion seems to be steeped in Albion folklore/fairy tales and not necessarily, "I cast magic missle on your ass." I wouldn't necessarily call this a "must read" book, but something to add to the queue should the genre fit your mood.
Hood a tale that re-imagines the lore of Robin Hood not as English but as Welsh. If you're like me, the only thing you know about Robin Hood is from the Looney Toons or Disney's anthropomorphic version, i.e., limited. There's also Errol Flynn and Kevin Costner's interpretation of Robin Hood of which I've never seen. And there's Russell Crowe's Robin Hood which I suppose is forgetful because I recall nothing of it, but I digress.
Going into this with limited knowledge of Robin Hood, I was pleasantly surprised by how much I enjoyed this. The character development of our protagonist was great; slow building but by the end of the novel a fist pump is in order, especially be the end of the epilogue. The characterisations of the antagonist are grand; you hate them with varying degrees of odiousness. However, as much as I loved the protagonist, Bran, I found myself having more affection towards the supporting characters behind Bran. If one of those characters gets written off, I may or may not become emo-devastated.
By the end of Book One, the tone has been set, the intrigue established leading into Book Two.
With an open mind and open to genres, I don't think you can do wrong with Hood . There's a certain realism with the setting and environments presented to the reader. The fantasy portion seems to be steeped in Albion folklore/fairy tales and not necessarily, "I cast magic missle on your ass." I wouldn't necessarily call this a "must read" book, but something to add to the queue should the genre fit your mood.
adventurous
funny
inspiring
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Given up at almost exactly 50%
I think this will not only be my first - but also my last Lawhead...
The writing style is at fault to 60% of my dislike. It read way too easy. Like the essay of a 14 year old, not like a published novel. The only other books I had a problem like this with was "50 shades" and books by the German author duo "Iny Lorentz". I am not a book snob. I openly admit to liking twilight and some chick lit. But this just felt forced to me.
I couldn't really click well with any of the characters. I didn't dislike them - but I also didn't care for them. I was simply uninterested in what would happen to them next.
Another BIG problem for me personally was the feels. Oh the feels in her poor tender heart! *rolls eyes* I just can't stand whiny emotional types in my fantasy/historical fiction. It is ok in YA books - but in adult books it makes me want to strangle them, and tell them to suck it up and get on with their lives like other grown-ups... I am EXTREMELY sensitive to that, so it might not deter other readers at all. But for me it was the last nail hammered into the coffin of this book.
I think this will not only be my first - but also my last Lawhead...
The writing style is at fault to 60% of my dislike. It read way too easy. Like the essay of a 14 year old, not like a published novel. The only other books I had a problem like this with was "50 shades" and books by the German author duo "Iny Lorentz". I am not a book snob. I openly admit to liking twilight and some chick lit. But this just felt forced to me.
I couldn't really click well with any of the characters. I didn't dislike them - but I also didn't care for them. I was simply uninterested in what would happen to them next.
Another BIG problem for me personally was the feels. Oh the feels in her poor tender heart! *rolls eyes* I just can't stand whiny emotional types in my fantasy/historical fiction. It is ok in YA books - but in adult books it makes me want to strangle them, and tell them to suck it up and get on with their lives like other grown-ups... I am EXTREMELY sensitive to that, so it might not deter other readers at all. But for me it was the last nail hammered into the coffin of this book.
It may seem like it is just another Robin Hood rendition; however, there are some changes. I especially liked at the end where they author explains why certain changes to the story were made. I encourage everyone to continue to listen through this explanation.
This is such a fantastic take on the Robin Hood mythos. None of the Disney treatment here. And while it may seem strange for some the names are all welsh (well, and french), and the fact there's no Sherwood Forest, Nottingham, or any familiar regions from the "modern" idea of Robin Hood, Lawhead has his reasons and historical context on why he's written it as such.
Absolutely worth a read. The whole trilogy is great (I read it before several years back).
Absolutely worth a read. The whole trilogy is great (I read it before several years back).