You need to sign in or sign up before continuing.
Take a photo of a barcode or cover
3.7 AVERAGE
3.7 AVERAGE
Den Ursprung der Legende Robin Hoods zugunsten einer historisch korrekteren Annäherung in das Wales des 11 Jahrhunderts zu versetzen ist eine interessante Idee. Das Buch ist gut geschrieben, man kommt leicht in die Handlung. Einige walisische Begriffe und unaussprechliche Namen (die "Anmerkungen zur Aussprache" finden sich erst ganz am Ende) stören auch kaum beim Lesen. Es gibt ein paar Highlights, allerdings hat mich das Buch leider nicht wirklich gefesselt. Die Folgebände werde ich wohl nicht lesen.
adventurous
mysterious
tense
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:
No
I found the main character to be unlikable and the narrative to needlessly long winded. It's just good enough to persuade me into reading the next in the series to see if it improves. Great support characters and enjoyable action sequences.
An interesting take on the classic Robin Hood tale. This was hard to get used to, the time frame seems more appropriate to an Arthurian tale than Robin Hood, so, it was easy to forget which legend I was reading. However, the explanation Lawhead gives is very convincing and lends a certain credibility. Personally, I felt the book was a bit dry and slow, just not my style preference; still a good read and story, however.
Hood is about a welsh Robin who is a tad bit of a snob who ends up having to try to reclaim his lands. The story is skillfully written and you can tell that the author actually spent time researching the time period in which the story is written. I give it a thumbs up.
Despite some very descriptive, beautiful writing, the characters and plot bring this book down. Too many plot lines, none of which are resolved by the end, characters you feel almost no sympathy with. There was some nice development for Bran, but he's still annoying. The whole book was a little dense, and I felt like it made simple things unrealistically complex.
If you think you know the true story of Robin Hood you are sadly mistaken. In this trilogy Stephen R. Lawhead sets the record straight. Robin Hood gets his name from the ancient King Raven and protector of the people. Though the cast of characters remains the same: Little John, Friar Tuck and Maid Marion all in attendance; The story takes on a much more convoluted twist.
Robin is actually, Bran ap Brychan, son of a regional king in England during the time of the Norman invasion. Bran witnesses the murder of his father and all the King's warriors, as well as, the subsequent poor treatment of his people. To regain his throne Bran must swear allegiance to the king, son of William the Conqueror. When he arrives he is told that he must also pay an exorbitant fee. In his rage Bran wreaks havoc, and becomes an enemy of the state.
Upon his return to his land he creates the persona of King Raven to scare the knights and Normans. This is where he steals from the Normans to help and feed his people. Soon he is joined in his forest stronghold by many who would help his cause. It is a rough existence,because now the Normans are searching for him in earnest.
These books are an amazing blend of actually historical evidence of the time period and the myth that surrounds Robin Hood. An excellent read!
Robin is actually, Bran ap Brychan, son of a regional king in England during the time of the Norman invasion. Bran witnesses the murder of his father and all the King's warriors, as well as, the subsequent poor treatment of his people. To regain his throne Bran must swear allegiance to the king, son of William the Conqueror. When he arrives he is told that he must also pay an exorbitant fee. In his rage Bran wreaks havoc, and becomes an enemy of the state.
Upon his return to his land he creates the persona of King Raven to scare the knights and Normans. This is where he steals from the Normans to help and feed his people. Soon he is joined in his forest stronghold by many who would help his cause. It is a rough existence,because now the Normans are searching for him in earnest.
These books are an amazing blend of actually historical evidence of the time period and the myth that surrounds Robin Hood. An excellent read!
.
2.5
Unfortunately this book fell victim to a me-problem. I think Robin Hood is boring and always have. I was hoping this book could pull me out of that mindset but instead the opposite happened and I ended up liking it less because it was Robin Hood. So for the most part, the rating I gave is not the book's fault.
There is one thing that definitely is not a me issue though, which dropped it from a 3 to a 2.5, and that would be Bran slapping Merian in the face and then when she told him not to, he said, 'Then don't give me a reason to', as if it's her fault he suddenly became an abusive ass. After that, I can't root for the guy. The rest of the story will likely be about him trying to get his kingdom back but like.... he's not a good guy anymore. What's to root for? If that one scene hadn't been there, it'd be different, but that's a hard line for me.
2.5
Unfortunately this book fell victim to a me-problem. I think Robin Hood is boring and always have. I was hoping this book could pull me out of that mindset but instead the opposite happened and I ended up liking it less because it was Robin Hood. So for the most part, the rating I gave is not the book's fault.
There is one thing that definitely is not a me issue though, which dropped it from a 3 to a 2.5, and that would be Bran slapping Merian in the face and then when she told him not to, he said, 'Then don't give me a reason to', as if it's her fault he suddenly became an abusive ass. After that, I can't root for the guy. The rest of the story will likely be about him trying to get his kingdom back but like.... he's not a good guy anymore. What's to root for? If that one scene hadn't been there, it'd be different, but that's a hard line for me.
4.5 stars
This is the start of a phenomenal trilogy, I can tell already. This was my first Lawhead book, and I can't wait to read more. Robin Hood has been one of my favorite legends since I was little and first saw this version:
That fox was sexy.
Ahem, anyway -- I LOVED seeing these characters reimagined closer to how they would have been, were they real. The story itself is timeless, but it always feels most at home in medieval times. And setting them down in Wales rather than England was an inspired choice; I haven't read much of Welsh history, but everything was handled fantastically and although I missed the forest being that of Sherwood, it was still the epic story we've all come to know. I've read a bit about why Lawhead decided to change the setting and I agree with all of his points. (I would love to list them if I could find them again, but sadly they elude me.)
I don't really recall the story ever dragging as I listened to the audiobook -- Adam Verner did an excellent job of reading and voicing all of the different characters, and Lawhead kicked off the action early on with a few notable deaths that served to set everything else in motion. I do want to get hold of a hard copy of the book just so I can see how all these names are spelled -- the old woman who mentors Bran in particular. Anglerod, it sounded like? Anyway, she reminded me of Tanana from Brother Bear:
One review that I found on Amazon said that the reader could plausibly imagine everything except the raven costume Bran had going; he said he just couldn't see it being realistic, and that if Bran was actually transforming instead of using a costume, it should have been labeled a fantasy rather than histfic. To that, I say this: remember, this book is set in medieval times. People believed in witchcraft and all manner of superstitious things back in that day, and an enormous raven would most likely fit with the other nightmares they conjured up for themselves. I felt like it was more of the peoples' imaginations running away with them rather than anything in particular that may have been done on Bran's part. Although that costume did sound hella kickass.
And the ending has definitely set things up for the sequel, which I can't wait to get my hands on. Come on, library!
This is the start of a phenomenal trilogy, I can tell already. This was my first Lawhead book, and I can't wait to read more. Robin Hood has been one of my favorite legends since I was little and first saw this version:
That fox was sexy.
Ahem, anyway -- I LOVED seeing these characters reimagined closer to how they would have been, were they real. The story itself is timeless, but it always feels most at home in medieval times. And setting them down in Wales rather than England was an inspired choice; I haven't read much of Welsh history, but everything was handled fantastically and although I missed the forest being that of Sherwood, it was still the epic story we've all come to know. I've read a bit about why Lawhead decided to change the setting and I agree with all of his points. (I would love to list them if I could find them again, but sadly they elude me.)
I don't really recall the story ever dragging as I listened to the audiobook -- Adam Verner did an excellent job of reading and voicing all of the different characters, and Lawhead kicked off the action early on with a few notable deaths that served to set everything else in motion. I do want to get hold of a hard copy of the book just so I can see how all these names are spelled -- the old woman who mentors Bran in particular. Anglerod, it sounded like? Anyway, she reminded me of Tanana from Brother Bear:
One review that I found on Amazon said that the reader could plausibly imagine everything except the raven costume Bran had going; he said he just couldn't see it being realistic, and that if Bran was actually transforming instead of using a costume, it should have been labeled a fantasy rather than histfic. To that, I say this: remember, this book is set in medieval times. People believed in witchcraft and all manner of superstitious things back in that day, and an enormous raven would most likely fit with the other nightmares they conjured up for themselves. I felt like it was more of the peoples' imaginations running away with them rather than anything in particular that may have been done on Bran's part. Although that costume did sound hella kickass.
And the ending has definitely set things up for the sequel, which I can't wait to get my hands on. Come on, library!
Well written and interesting, the only thing that bugged me was that Robin Hood was moved out of Sherwood Forest and put into the forests of Wales.