Status
Available
Call number
Series
Collection
Publication
Atom (2007), Edition: New edition, Paperback, 448 pages
Description
Fantasy. Fiction. Historical Fiction. HTML: For centuries, the legend of Robin Hood and his band of thieves has captivated the imagination. Now the familiar tale takes on new life, fresh meaning, and an unexpected setting. Hunted like an animal by Norman invaders, Bran ap Brychan, heir to the throne Elfael, has abandoned his father's kingdom and fled to the greenwood. There, in the primeval forest of the Welsh borders, danger surrounds him - for this woodland is a living, breathing entity with mysterious powers and secrets, and Bran must find a way to make it his own if he is to survive. Like the forest itself, Hood is deep, dark, and at times savagely brutal - yet full of enchantment and hope. Internationally-acclaimed author Stephen R. Lawhead has created a lyrical rendering of a time-honored story that will lead you down strange pathways into another time and place..… (more)
User reviews
LibraryThing member cherryblossommj
This book was really enjoyable. It was my first Lawhead book and I think I will look for the sequels and possible other series of his as well. Every once in a while there was a monologue of a character's thoughts on their past and I hated it and love it at the same time. Part of me would just want
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to get past it so I could get back to the action and events in the story, while at the same time it was interesting and fairly important to understanding the character, the events, and to find empathy. This is a more realistic version of the fantasy Robin Hood than most others you find and I love it. I really enjoyed how it was not dumbed down to perfection and happily ever after. There is strife, and religion, and ignorance, and love, and family, and happiness goals. I was taken aback at the setting at first because it does not have many of the places and names that I'm familiar with, but in the end of the book, after the novel, it has his explanation of why, and it is fabulous. I'm a history buff and to get this short history lesson on the true tales of Robin Hood was fascinating to me. I really enjoyed this book. Show Less
LibraryThing member PardaMustang
I bought this book because I love the Robin Hood legends. Lawhead does a great job in bringing the story to life in a more realistic way. I especially love the Welsh spin on things. Definitely worth the reading!
LibraryThing member atimco
I don't know what it is, but I have never been able to enjoy Stephen Lawhead's books. And I really want to. He writes fantasy and historical fiction, two of my favorite genres. I'm fairly certain he professes to be a Christian. He is a commercially successful author whose works are enjoyed by
I tried. I really tried. I read 87 pages of Hood before the writing got me. I noticed a woodenness to Lawhead's style years ago and was turned off enough to not pursue any more of his books. But I always wondered if I was a bit hasty in that judgment. I've been on a Robin Hood kick lately, so I thought I would use that momentum to give Lawhead another try. With a cool cover and interesting premise (Robin Hood, Welshified), it would surely be an improvement on former titles. Unfortunately, no.
What really decided me was the contrast between Hood and the last book I finished, Robin McKinley's superb and utterly believable Outlaws of Sherwood. By comparison, Lawhead's characters are boring and his narrative tells rather than shows. And I couldn't get over the feeling that my precious reading time could be much better spent. I'm glad others can enjoy Lawhead's novels, but apparently they aren't for me.
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readers with tastes similar to mine. Why can't I like his novels? I tried. I really tried. I read 87 pages of Hood before the writing got me. I noticed a woodenness to Lawhead's style years ago and was turned off enough to not pursue any more of his books. But I always wondered if I was a bit hasty in that judgment. I've been on a Robin Hood kick lately, so I thought I would use that momentum to give Lawhead another try. With a cool cover and interesting premise (Robin Hood, Welshified), it would surely be an improvement on former titles. Unfortunately, no.
What really decided me was the contrast between Hood and the last book I finished, Robin McKinley's superb and utterly believable Outlaws of Sherwood. By comparison, Lawhead's characters are boring and his narrative tells rather than shows. And I couldn't get over the feeling that my precious reading time could be much better spent. I'm glad others can enjoy Lawhead's novels, but apparently they aren't for me.
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LibraryThing member richardsonmichelle
I love the way Lawhead weaves a tale, and with each page he knits you in closer and closer. I can't wait to read the rest of the series!
LibraryThing member LeHack
Lawhead has taken the traditional Robin Hood story and set it in Wales during the Norman conquest. The prologue is about Bran ap Brychan, Prince of Elfael, and heir to the throne.
His father, the King and Elfael's army are slaughtered on their way to pledge fealty to the king of the Ffreinc. The
Bran must stay clear of the Norman army, and King William's army as he has a price on his head. He has escaped death and taken refuge in the thick forest where he will build his band to fight for the people of Elfael.
This is a refreshing departure from Sherwood Forest, but the familiar characters are there - Merian, Little John and others. Hood is the first in the Raven King trilogy. Scarlet is the second. The third book, Tuck, has not yet been released.
His father, the King and Elfael's army are slaughtered on their way to pledge fealty to the king of the Ffreinc. The
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only thing that saved Bran was his willfulness and his chronic tardiness. They had left Elfael without him. Bran must stay clear of the Norman army, and King William's army as he has a price on his head. He has escaped death and taken refuge in the thick forest where he will build his band to fight for the people of Elfael.
This is a refreshing departure from Sherwood Forest, but the familiar characters are there - Merian, Little John and others. Hood is the first in the Raven King trilogy. Scarlet is the second. The third book, Tuck, has not yet been released.
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LibraryThing member mynurse
Read by someone who, by the sounds of it, is used to reading to little children.
Good story though.
Good story though.
LibraryThing member ErasmusRob
A very enjoyable Robin Hood tale. Moving this classic tale from Sherwood Forest to Wales is a novel approach, but one that works well for Lawhead.
I tried to read one of his books (I think it was his Arthurian cycle), but was put off by his introduction of Atlantis, so I'm a little surprised I even
Fortunately, I did. I thoroughly enjoyed this, and am really looking forward to the subsequent novels. Much time is spent on underlying characters and the social fabric of the times, which helps greatly in bringing the setting alive in the reader's mind. The characters are pretty fully fleshed out, and while there's a hint of mysticism in there, it's not even as significant as in Mary Stewart's Arthurian adaptation.
Overall, strongly recommended.
I tried to read one of his books (I think it was his Arthurian cycle), but was put off by his introduction of Atlantis, so I'm a little surprised I even
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picked up this book. Add to that my general inclination not to start "series" novels until the series is finished (Wheel of Time and Gerrold's War Against the Chtorr are notable exceptions), and it's a wonder I ever picked this up.Fortunately, I did. I thoroughly enjoyed this, and am really looking forward to the subsequent novels. Much time is spent on underlying characters and the social fabric of the times, which helps greatly in bringing the setting alive in the reader's mind. The characters are pretty fully fleshed out, and while there's a hint of mysticism in there, it's not even as significant as in Mary Stewart's Arthurian adaptation.
Overall, strongly recommended.
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LibraryThing member Mooose
While I found this book to be an interesting beginning to the oft seen Robin Hood tale I only gave it two stars because 1) it was a bit too long; 2) I grew tired of the altered states the mc found himself in, it better mean something in a later book or I'll be even more irritated by them; 3) bec.
That being said, I plan on reading the next one and, if that holds my attention, I'll find the third when it comes out.
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he slapped Merien -- he could have just tossed her on the horse which he did anyway, no reason to hit her. That being said, I plan on reading the next one and, if that holds my attention, I'll find the third when it comes out.
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LibraryThing member 30oddyearsofzan
A little slow, but a very absorbing re-telling of the Robin Hood legend, re-locating everybody's favourite wealth-redistributor from 12th century Sherwood Forest to 11th century Wales, where Robin becomes Bran, heir to a small Welsh kingdom which has been usurped by the conquering Normans. Hood
All the same, I wasn't pawing at the ground ready for King Raven Book Two...Then I made the mistake of looking it up on LibraryThing and discovering it's devoted to my beloved Will Scarlett, so that's another series bulking out my To Be Read pile, damn you, Lawhead...
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definitely reads like the first in a series - by the end of the book only a handful of the key characters - Robin, Little John, Marian, Guy of Gisbourne, Friar Tuck - are in play. But Lawhead uses this long set up to ground the legend in a viscerally real political reality, with a network of delicate alliances between various Welsh and Norman factions. I also love his more mystical side of the story , which comes here in the shape of Angharad the wily hudolion, or sorceress.All the same, I wasn't pawing at the ground ready for King Raven Book Two...Then I made the mistake of looking it up on LibraryThing and discovering it's devoted to my beloved Will Scarlett, so that's another series bulking out my To Be Read pile, damn you, Lawhead...
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LibraryThing member DaddyPupcake
I ran across “Hood” in the library, having never heard of Stephen Lawhead before. Now I am a fan. This book puts a new spin on the “Robin Hood” character. Very enjoyable book. I can’t wait for the third book to come out to finish off the story.
LibraryThing member tuxable
Setting Robin Hood in Wales is a neat take on the legend. I really strongly disliked Marian and wasn't overly fond of the language. It's edging towards over-the-top fantasy speak. Lots of elements of the story are interesting and I'm still debating whether I should give the rest of the book a
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chance. Did I mention I really disliked how he's writing Marian? Show Less
LibraryThing member VaBookworm87
Bran ap Brychan is the heir to the throne of Elfael, a small kingdom in Wales. Unfortunately, it’s a time in history when the Ffreincs are expanding their territories, defeating and dividing new lands among barons who have proclaimed fealty to the king, Red William. Bran’s father held out
Bran and a couple of close friends travel to Lundein to express their outrage at the attack and demand their lands are returned. Unfortunately, the greedy Ffreincs will not help them, and Bran is forced to return home empty handed. Upon returning home, Bran is forced into hiding after Falkes de Braose, the leader of the invasion, discovers that he is the heir. While in hiding, Bran gains a mentor in the storyteller Angharad, who helps develop him into the leader that his defeated people need. The land and people of Elfael, under Ffreinc rule, are being brutally mistreated, left to starve and work as slave labor for the Ffreincs. Bran finds a small band of people who had retreated to the woods for protection from the Ffreincs, and together they begin planning the liberation of Elfael.
Hood is the first part in a trilogy based on the legends of Robin Hood. Personally, I enjoyed the different perspective on the story. Lawhead pulls you out of Sherwood Forest and Nottingham, and places you in what is likely the more accurate origin of the tale. Historically, no one has ever been able to identify the true Robin Hood or where the story began. It was a tale told by wandering minstrels, evolving and changing into today’s popular rendition as the story spread over time. At first the change in scenery seems unusual and almost offensive (who is Robin Hood without the Sheriff of Nottingham??), however he is kind enough to give his reasoning for the change in time and location at the end of the book. When one reads the evidence he provides, it is clear that his version may in fact be more historically accurate.
This story will take you deep within the forests of the Marches of Wales, and introduce you to various characters, some new and some old (Guy of Gysburne, Friar Tuck, and Little John). The characters were interesting and well developed. I look forward to learning more about them and seeing how they develop in the next two books. I think Lawhead takes an interesting perspective on Bran, who unlike Robin Hood, is not immediately keen on the idea of leading a small rebellion against the oppressive government. It is only after a great deal of persuasion that he decides he needs to help free his people.
One thing I really enjoyed about this book was the use of multiple points of view. You gain the perspectives of almost every character, including Marion, de Braose, Tuck, Angharad, and more! The various accounts of events allow the reader to experience many events that are occurring simultaneously such as Bran’s time in hiding and de Broase’s enslavement of the people of Elfael. It helps to kept the story rolling at points where it would otherwise drag on for a bit.
That being said, the writing is rather lengthy, and at times almost too detailed. You spend many chapters simply sitting in a cave with an injured Bran, being nursed back to health by Angharad. Granted, Angharad spends that time telling stories and trying to convince Bran to save his people, but it still starts to drag on after a bit. There were a few points where I had trouble staying engaged with the story because it became overly focused on details, but all in all I still feel that it was a good book. I enjoyed reading the classic tale of Robin Hood from a different perspective, and will definitely finish the trilogy.
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against the authority of William for a time, but it became clear that there was no alternative. The king and his best men travel to Lundein to offer their fealty when they are attacked on the road by a Ffreinc battalion. Fortunately for Bran and the people of Elfael, he had been delayed from departing with the king and therefore the heir to the throne survives the massacre.Bran and a couple of close friends travel to Lundein to express their outrage at the attack and demand their lands are returned. Unfortunately, the greedy Ffreincs will not help them, and Bran is forced to return home empty handed. Upon returning home, Bran is forced into hiding after Falkes de Braose, the leader of the invasion, discovers that he is the heir. While in hiding, Bran gains a mentor in the storyteller Angharad, who helps develop him into the leader that his defeated people need. The land and people of Elfael, under Ffreinc rule, are being brutally mistreated, left to starve and work as slave labor for the Ffreincs. Bran finds a small band of people who had retreated to the woods for protection from the Ffreincs, and together they begin planning the liberation of Elfael.
Hood is the first part in a trilogy based on the legends of Robin Hood. Personally, I enjoyed the different perspective on the story. Lawhead pulls you out of Sherwood Forest and Nottingham, and places you in what is likely the more accurate origin of the tale. Historically, no one has ever been able to identify the true Robin Hood or where the story began. It was a tale told by wandering minstrels, evolving and changing into today’s popular rendition as the story spread over time. At first the change in scenery seems unusual and almost offensive (who is Robin Hood without the Sheriff of Nottingham??), however he is kind enough to give his reasoning for the change in time and location at the end of the book. When one reads the evidence he provides, it is clear that his version may in fact be more historically accurate.
This story will take you deep within the forests of the Marches of Wales, and introduce you to various characters, some new and some old (Guy of Gysburne, Friar Tuck, and Little John). The characters were interesting and well developed. I look forward to learning more about them and seeing how they develop in the next two books. I think Lawhead takes an interesting perspective on Bran, who unlike Robin Hood, is not immediately keen on the idea of leading a small rebellion against the oppressive government. It is only after a great deal of persuasion that he decides he needs to help free his people.
One thing I really enjoyed about this book was the use of multiple points of view. You gain the perspectives of almost every character, including Marion, de Braose, Tuck, Angharad, and more! The various accounts of events allow the reader to experience many events that are occurring simultaneously such as Bran’s time in hiding and de Broase’s enslavement of the people of Elfael. It helps to kept the story rolling at points where it would otherwise drag on for a bit.
That being said, the writing is rather lengthy, and at times almost too detailed. You spend many chapters simply sitting in a cave with an injured Bran, being nursed back to health by Angharad. Granted, Angharad spends that time telling stories and trying to convince Bran to save his people, but it still starts to drag on after a bit. There were a few points where I had trouble staying engaged with the story because it became overly focused on details, but all in all I still feel that it was a good book. I enjoyed reading the classic tale of Robin Hood from a different perspective, and will definitely finish the trilogy.
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LibraryThing member nimoloth
I wasn't very impressed. I love the Robin Hood legend, and I was hoping for an awesome re-telling set it 1100s Wales/England. I expected it to be a bit dark, very powerful, and very evocative. Unforunately, it was none of these. It had so much potential, but failed to live up to it.
It wasn't that
As a side point - the cover. I appreciate that the author may not have had any input to the image selected, but if you're going to have a picture of an archer on the cover, at least have him pull the bowstring correctly. One does not curl ones fingers around the string. Thus this book failed before I had even opened the cover.
It wasn't that
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it was bad, but it just wasn't very well written. The characters were shallow - never really fleshed out at all, and also rather annoying (which is never a good thing in the lead character especially). The writing style was slightly erratic, and sometimes veered over into too informal. The point of view didn't exactly jump about, but occassional sentences would creep in that were more like the thoughts or opinions of particular non-central characters, but were written as descriptive sentences by the author while the plot remained primarily from the point of view of a different character, which really didn't work. The sense of place was not strongly protrayed at all, and the geography was confusing. The general storytelling and prose was rather flighty and lightweight, for want of a better description. A lot more of a list of things that happened, without much depth or detail.As a side point - the cover. I appreciate that the author may not have had any input to the image selected, but if you're going to have a picture of an archer on the cover, at least have him pull the bowstring correctly. One does not curl ones fingers around the string. Thus this book failed before I had even opened the cover.
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LibraryThing member foxysteph
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
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credibility. Personally, I felt the book was a bit dry and slow, just not my style preference; still a good read and story, however. Show Less
LibraryThing member dk_phoenix
This was the first in Lawhead's new trilogy about Robin Hood, but it was far from being the 'traditional' tale as we know it today. Lawhead did an extensive amount of research concerning the beginnings of the 'Robin Hood' folklore (the first appearance of the legendary thief was in the 1200s!), and
I thought it was exceedingly well done, and I'm very much looking forward to the next book, Scarlet, where Will Scarlet - who else? - makes his first appearance.
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wove this tale from what he believes was the beginning of the Robin Hood myth. Thus, we have a hero whose story is set in Wales, away from Sherwood Forest, and a little more gritty and realistic than simply a tale of 'merry men'. It's set in the historical past, with real and fictional characters interwoven - similar to what Lawhead did with his Pendragon Cycle - so that you can truly begin to believe that this was something that literally occurred in history, but perhaps wasn't retained as part of the period's 'official' historical record.I thought it was exceedingly well done, and I'm very much looking forward to the next book, Scarlet, where Will Scarlet - who else? - makes his first appearance.
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LibraryThing member wings2291
A re-imagined tale of the famous thief and 'rob from the rich, give to the poor' Robin Hood set in Wales instead of the more common England.
If you're looking for a more realistic point of view of the classic Robin Hood story versus the Disney portrayal this book definitely delivers. I really do
If you're looking for a more realistic point of view of the classic Robin Hood story versus the Disney portrayal this book definitely delivers. I really do
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believe the author put some time and effort into getting at least a general idea of the time period he portrays the story in, even adding a pronunciation guide to the back of the book for us non-Welsh speakers. A down side to this book is that it is definitely a build up to events to come later on in the series as well as an introduction to the many characters involved in the various plots within the book, not a quick page turner full of action and cliff hangers after every chapter. I also wasn't very happy with the sudden change in Bran's, aka Robin Hood, attitude towards his ultimate destiny of leading the people of Elfael, where he is the residing prince, first shunning all responsibility, then doubting his lack of empathy, then doing a complete 180 vowing to save his people and take back his land... only to go through the entire cycle yet again. Could this series turn out to be a great series? Sure. Does it need to pick up the pace a little and add in some more action to keep the reader going? Definitely. I'll be picking up the next in the series, though certainly without as much anticipation as I did picking up the first. Show Less
LibraryThing member cherryblossommj
This book was really enjoyable. It was my first Lawhead book and I think I will look for the sequels and possible other series of his as well. Every once in a while there was a monologue of a character's thoughts on their past and I hated it and love it at the same time. Part of me would just want
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to get past it so I could get back to the action and events in the story, while at the same time it was interesting and fairly important to understanding the character, the events, and to find empathy. This is a more realistic version of the fantasy Robin Hood than most others you find and I love it. I really enjoyed how it was not dumbed down to perfection and happily ever after. There is strife, and religion, and ignorance, and love, and family, and happiness goals. I was taken aback at the setting at first because it does not have many of the places and names that I'm familiar with, but in the end of the book, after the novel, it has his explanation of why, and it is fabulous. I'm a history buff and to get this short history lesson on the true tales of Robin Hood was fascinating to me. I really enjoyed this book. Show Less
LibraryThing member Paroxysm10
I can't say I liked this book especially and it is hard for me to put my finger on why. I think it was because I found myself dragging my way through too much stuff that was descriptive but I thought had nothing really to do with the plot. Paragraph after paragraph could have been removed and the
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book would have been none the worse off. So, I would inevitably skip bits until I reach a part where I could enjoy following the exploits of Bran and co. The bits about the main characters I enjoyed. So I will probably read the others in the series but will just as likely continue to skip bit in order to ensure finishing the series doesn't become a chore. Show Less
LibraryThing member ashooles
Whilst I enjoyed the story of this book, I found it a bit difficult to understand in some places. I found it jumped around a bit too much and took me to almost the end of the book to work out who all the characters were and then even more ones would be introduced. However, the twist in the Robin
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Hood legend is good. Show Less
LibraryThing member taterzngravy
This book is an entertaining view of medieval life in Britain during the Norman Conquest as seen through the telling of the story of Rhi Bran the Hud who reluctantly decides to defend his father's kingdom against the invading Ffreinc. The story is slow towards the middle of the book when Bran
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struggles with his decision, but it is certainly not slow whenever the arrows fly! I am looking forward to reading the second volume. Show Less
LibraryThing member Bduke
This started out really well, but slowed down a lot towards the end. I have already checked out Scarlet, so I must have liked it enough to do that.
LibraryThing member swanroad
In this variant of the Robin Hood story, Lawhead's character is of The March, a primeval forest in Wales, instead of Sherwood.
Robbed of his throne and lands by William Rufus (son of William the Conqueror), he becomes a longbow-wielding freedom fighter using the peoples' legends and superstitions
Robbed of his throne and lands by William Rufus (son of William the Conqueror), he becomes a longbow-wielding freedom fighter using the peoples' legends and superstitions
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surrounding King Raven to enhance his guerrilla warfare tactics. Show Less
LibraryThing member maggie1944
Delightful! A re-telling of the Robin Hood tale, set this time on the border between England and Wales. Welsh are depicted as proud, fierce, and willing to go to war to maintain their independence. First to invent and use a long bow. And the deep, virgin primeval forests are their home base for a
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guerrilla war against the invaders. I appreciated the obvious research done to give the description of the times, the conflicts, and the environment the feel of the real. I could almost think that Mr. Lawhead was a descendant of Robin Hood's and that he had family papers to consult. I am thinking I must buy the next two books in the trilogy. Show Less
LibraryThing member creighley
Another good, fast-paced tale of Robin Hood only this time the author feels that research led him to believe that he was from Wales. The names are slightly changed but the overall effect is the same: a good reading romp in the forest.
LibraryThing member JeremyPreacher
I am usually quite fond of Lawhead's work - his Pendragon Cycle is probably my very favorite treatment of the Matter of Britain - but I was nothing if not underwhelmed by this attempt at moving Robin Hood to Wales. The first half of the book is feckless-hero-avoids-responsibility, which I find
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tedious at best, and the second half Bran (Hood) disappears entirely as a viewpoint character. The villains are moustache-twirling caricatures that are really too stupid to live, and Lawhead clearly struggles to make his British witch an appropriately good Christian through oblique references. I picked up all three at once, and will read the next two - there's clearly potential here for a good yarn - but Hood by itself was a mess. Show Less
Subjects
Language
Original publication date
2006
Physical description
448 p.; 4.96 inches
ISBN
1904233716 / 9781904233718
Local notes
The story of an alternative Robin Hood, a rebel in the deep forests of Wales in 1093. (Lawhead's extensive research convinced him of this premise.) Son of a king, a young man named Bran is made homeless when his father is killed and the kingdom of Elfael becomes a pawn to squabbling Norman factions. A long and fascinating time in the wilderness, in which Bran's faith and health are restored by an old woman of mystical origins, brings him at last to his destiny: leading a band of dauntless archers against the kingdom's usurpers.