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3.7 AVERAGE
3.7 AVERAGE
Could not get into this one. It felt like nothing was happening.
Great, well-researched Story. Love that Robin Hood is set in Wales.
This is back when Lawhead was with Thomas Nelson Publishers, so the “Christian” elements are more forced than I would prefer. It’s fun re-reading this series.
This is back when Lawhead was with Thomas Nelson Publishers, so the “Christian” elements are more forced than I would prefer. It’s fun re-reading this series.
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Content Warnings
Moderate: Injury/Injury detail
My review is posted on my blog.
http://ibeeeg.blogspot.com/2009/02/hood-by-stephen-lawhead.html
http://ibeeeg.blogspot.com/2009/02/hood-by-stephen-lawhead.html
Overall not bad - the Alternate History version of this (with the Epilogue and Explanation) make this an interesting point of view for the Robin Hood myth beginnings. The story comes across as more History than Action Adventure, and that is where it falls flat for me. There is no excitement to me, only the story and I am being told everything. It is done Quite well, just not enough for me to continue this series.
adventurous
funny
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
N/A
adventurous
challenging
dark
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
This novel came to me from a used bookstore. The cover was not particularly attention-grabbing, but what made me instantly put the book in my basket without a second thought was the blurb which classified this as an imaginative retelling of the Robin Hood legend. I absolutely love a good reinvention that adds depth and perspective to an otherwise diluted story.
What really made me enjoy this book was how the author transposed the familiar story into a different time and place entirely – the ancient Welsh setting and historical context enhanced the flavor of the narrative and rooted the story with a splash of realism.
However, I will not lie: this book was slooow out the gate. I would take the not-particularly-long chapters one day at a time, and I felt like I was absolutely crawling through it. There was little action to hold my attention span, but what ultimately kept me around was the interesting main character of Bran ap Brychan (both his development and plot journey) and the author's rich prose. Some people find overly descriptive writing to be mud through which the reader must trudge, but I disagree. I am of the opinion that there is a stark difference between a novelist and a writer. A good novelist knows how to whet the appetite, throw curveballs, and leave you pawing for the next page and begging for a sequel. A good author, alternatively, knows how to paint with words, craft passages, and leave you rereading a sentence just because you enjoyed how it sounded and lingered in the air.
This being my first time reading a Stephen Lawhead novel, I believe he is a good author: No, this novel was not exceptionally riveting (it is but the first of three, which introduces Bran's revenge, sets the stage for later conflict, and assembles the cast of characters) - But YES, I enjoyed the writing and the development. Don't get me wrong, it wasn't boring by any means! There were absolutely entertaining bits left and right, and I very much enjoyed Lawhead's commitment to descriptions of war violence (which brings that much more weight and grit). However, I struggled with and grew weary from trying to follow the French political angles; who had conquered whom, and who was lord over which faction, and which ruler had more power than others, etc.
At the end of the day, YES I picked up the sequel. I can't not find out what happens!
What really made me enjoy this book was how the author transposed the familiar story into a different time and place entirely – the ancient Welsh setting and historical context enhanced the flavor of the narrative and rooted the story with a splash of realism.
However, I will not lie: this book was slooow out the gate. I would take the not-particularly-long chapters one day at a time, and I felt like I was absolutely crawling through it. There was little action to hold my attention span, but what ultimately kept me around was the interesting main character of Bran ap Brychan (both his development and plot journey) and the author's rich prose. Some people find overly descriptive writing to be mud through which the reader must trudge, but I disagree. I am of the opinion that there is a stark difference between a novelist and a writer. A good novelist knows how to whet the appetite, throw curveballs, and leave you pawing for the next page and begging for a sequel. A good author, alternatively, knows how to paint with words, craft passages, and leave you rereading a sentence just because you enjoyed how it sounded and lingered in the air.
This being my first time reading a Stephen Lawhead novel, I believe he is a good author: No, this novel was not exceptionally riveting (it is but the first of three, which introduces Bran's revenge, sets the stage for later conflict, and assembles the cast of characters) - But YES, I enjoyed the writing and the development. Don't get me wrong, it wasn't boring by any means! There were absolutely entertaining bits left and right, and I very much enjoyed Lawhead's commitment to descriptions of war violence (which brings that much more weight and grit). However, I struggled with and grew weary from trying to follow the French political angles; who had conquered whom, and who was lord over which faction, and which ruler had more power than others, etc.
At the end of the day, YES I picked up the sequel. I can't not find out what happens!
This book is better written and conceived than the 3 star rating suggests. However, its pacing is a problem. The whole book reads like the first act of a book, and by the end of it it feels like the real action is only beginning.
That wouldn't be too bad (it is a trilogy after all) but the amount of story that takes place in the length of this book is far too low.
That said, the book is very finely crafted. The characters are well drawn for the most part, with only one character of any significance feeling flat. The setting is vibrant, and the Robin Hood story fits quite well in the days of Norman expansion into Wales. Absent king, grasping nobles, impoverished peasants (Welsh farmers and herdsmen in this case) and a dispossessed noble.
The various stock characters from Robin Hood make interesting appearances:
* Robin Hood becomes Bran ap Brychan, heir of the cantref of Elfael
* Little John becomes Iwan, the old king's champion and last survivor of Elfael's warband (so nicknamed by Friar Tuck)
* Friar Tuck is Aethelfrith, a mendicant friar, nicknamed in turn by Iwan.
* Marian is the daughter of the king of the neighboring cantref, and the object of Bran's affections before everything collapses
There are one or two other familiar faces, and a host of new ones. It's recognizably Robin Hood, but different enough to keep you guessing.
That wouldn't be too bad (it is a trilogy after all) but the amount of story that takes place in the length of this book is far too low.
That said, the book is very finely crafted. The characters are well drawn for the most part, with only one character of any significance feeling flat. The setting is vibrant, and the Robin Hood story fits quite well in the days of Norman expansion into Wales. Absent king, grasping nobles, impoverished peasants (Welsh farmers and herdsmen in this case) and a dispossessed noble.
The various stock characters from Robin Hood make interesting appearances:
* Robin Hood becomes Bran ap Brychan, heir of the cantref of Elfael
* Little John becomes Iwan, the old king's champion and last survivor of Elfael's warband (so nicknamed by Friar Tuck)
* Friar Tuck is Aethelfrith, a mendicant friar, nicknamed in turn by Iwan.
* Marian is the daughter of the king of the neighboring cantref, and the object of Bran's affections before everything collapses
There are one or two other familiar faces, and a host of new ones. It's recognizably Robin Hood, but different enough to keep you guessing.
we all know the familiar legend of robin hood who hangs out in sherwood forest and steals from the rich to give to the poor. but what if the legends of robin hood were really based on a welsh king who was deposed from his throne by the norman conquest in the early 1100's? that's the premise behind hood, and the author's ability to capture the time period and its myth and lore make this adaptation outstanding. [return]our hero doesn't start out as such--bran ap brychan is a son of royalty who hates his father and isn't interested in the responsiblities of being king. even the cruel death of his father at the hand of the normans doesn't convince him that he should stay and fight for his people. bran's gradual--almost too gradual at times-- transformation into what we know as robin hood is a pleasure to read. it's one of those stories where suddenly you recognize a familiar character and think, "ah, this must be friar tuck". yes, most all of the familiar robin hood characters are here, including maid marian, but in this different setting and time period they might not be quite the people we are used to, which is was all part of the enjoyment to me. lawhead creates vivid characters, for example through the musings of the "villians" we see how the doctrine of "divine right" is used to justify their brutal conquests--but not always without some misgivings. for me this was the almost perfect blend of heart racing suspense, intriguing characters, and thought provoking prose. it also ends somewhat abrubtly with a doozy of cliffhanger, and of course we now have to wait for the second book of the trilogy to come out. it can't get here soon enough.