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3.7 AVERAGE
3.7 AVERAGE
I'm having a really hard time figuring out why I did not connect with this book. It was an imaginative retelling on Robin Hood that recasts him as a Welsh freedom fighter. There's even a cute little explanation at the end of the book where the author explains his reasoning for relocating the story in time and space. I usually love that stuff! But the pacing of this book was kinda weird and the characters were kinda flat. I don't know. It's not awful... I just didn't really enjoy reading it.
I have a great idea.
Let's make a Robin Hood book that is set in Wales at the time of the Norman invasion to include yet another contention between races, add a whole lot of medieval political intrigue and medieval details in general, forget now and then that this is historical fiction and have some fantasy/supernatural elements, and--idea of ideas--make it boring.
Yes, that's the catch. It's boring.
I really don't get it. This book should have everything going for it, and yet parts (lots of parts) of it made me want to bang my head against a wall because it was just mind-numbing. Maybe it's just not my thing. But I had a hard time caring about any of the characters (Tuck is the only one I whole-heartedly enjoyed) and most of the political intrigue turned into political blah-blah-blah. I really, really wanted to like Marian. But she seems to be simply a tool for Bran and then baron whatshisface and her father and then, finally, THE AUTHOR that I just couldn't really get her.
350 pages in, and this book was one star.
The remaining 140...it became two stars, as actual interesting stuff started happening and I begrudgingly admitted to small amounts of interesting stuff in the other 350.
And then rawr because it ends on a note that makes me want to read the next one because maybe???
Last time I did this, I ended up throwing Scarlet across the room about ten pages in.
So. We'll see.
Augh.
p.s. It is not always as historically accurate as you have been led to believe. Which I'm okay with, because Robin Hood has a history of not really being historically accurate. But when it's lauded as one of the strong points, it is really, really hard for me to get over the existence of friars in the 11th century.
Let's make a Robin Hood book that is set in Wales at the time of the Norman invasion to include yet another contention between races, add a whole lot of medieval political intrigue and medieval details in general, forget now and then that this is historical fiction and have some fantasy/supernatural elements, and--idea of ideas--make it boring.
Yes, that's the catch. It's boring.
I really don't get it. This book should have everything going for it, and yet parts (lots of parts) of it made me want to bang my head against a wall because it was just mind-numbing. Maybe it's just not my thing. But I had a hard time caring about any of the characters (Tuck is the only one I whole-heartedly enjoyed) and most of the political intrigue turned into political blah-blah-blah. I really, really wanted to like Marian. But she seems to be simply a tool for Bran and then baron whatshisface and her father and then, finally, THE AUTHOR that I just couldn't really get her.
350 pages in, and this book was one star.
The remaining 140...it became two stars, as actual interesting stuff started happening and I begrudgingly admitted to small amounts of interesting stuff in the other 350.
And then rawr because it ends on a note that makes me want to read the next one because maybe???
Last time I did this, I ended up throwing Scarlet across the room about ten pages in.
So. We'll see.
Augh.
p.s. It is not always as historically accurate as you have been led to believe. Which I'm okay with, because Robin Hood has a history of not really being historically accurate. But when it's lauded as one of the strong points, it is really, really hard for me to get over the existence of friars in the 11th century.
A wonderful balance of world building, character, action, setting, and mythic and Celtic history. The pace was right; it never felt bogged-down, I never hit a spot in the story where I thought it dragged, and while there was action, it wasn’t non-stop, unnecessary action. I liked all the characters, even the ones that are cruel - the author does a believable job with the dark aspects of some characters, and their actions. I will add Lawhead to my favorite authors list if the rest of his books are like this.
A somewhat competent, 'gritty' revamp of Robin Hood. It was a struggle to get invested in the characters or the world, and even to get through the book, but origin stories are often like that. I'll probably try the next one.
A refreshing, new, intriguing look into the Robin Hood myth. Resetting it in a more believably historical setting, the legend of Robin Hood has never been more entertaining and interesting. Well, to me at least. Which is why this is my review and not yours.
[b:Hood|73931|Hood (King Raven, #1)|Stephen R. Lawhead|http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1170843498s/73931.jpg|1458314]
I am a sucker for Robin Hood, and often I find both the books and movies leave me disappointed. However, Stephen Lawhead's Hood was a pleasant surprise. I found my self completely enthralled in his Welsh fokelore and his versions of well known characters.
Looking forward to reading Scarlet
I am a sucker for Robin Hood, and often I find both the books and movies leave me disappointed. However, Stephen Lawhead's Hood was a pleasant surprise. I found my self completely enthralled in his Welsh fokelore and his versions of well known characters.
Looking forward to reading Scarlet
adventurous
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
adventurous
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Quick, fun read. Author spoiled it for me at the end though, by having some unnecessary violence against a female character.
adventurous
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes