Hood

Lawhead has taken the legend of Robin Hood, and turned it on its head, setting it in the time of William Rufus and Sherwood Forest has become the Welsh marches! Bran is the heir to the Welsh kingdom of Elfael, a wastrel, unloved by his widowed father. The Normans arrive, killing the King and all his warriors and nearly murdering Bran. But he is rescued by Angharad, a woman with healing ways, and she, by various means, persuades him that like the Raven of legend, he should rescue his people from the Norman yoke. At first reluctantly and then wholeheartedly he resolves to get his kingdom back and this first book ends as he is thwarted by William’s Chancellor, but finds a good use for the money he has plundered.

The author has written of Celtic mythology before and this large book is very readable once the reader puts his own picture of Robin Hood aside! There is a good feel for the period, although some of the place names would be unfamiliar to most and the use of the term Briton to describe the Welsh is confusing. A glossary of place names and terms used would have been very helpful and a map, so essential in any historical novel, is a grave omission. The place of belief in God and the central role and influence of the Church at that time is well portrayed. Merian is a little too modern for a girl of her time but does not feature overmuch in this volume. A note at the end lays out the rather flimsy premise for moving the time and place and giving a new slant to the legend. Readers of fantasy will probably read it just as that and enjoy a page-turner.