crtsjffrsn's review against another edition
4.0
The story of Robyn, Marion, and Gamelyn has not been easy. They've suffered ups and downs, and beyond their personal tragedies they have almost been torn apart several times. But now they've found a bit of peace...or so they think. When the three are summoned to the siege of Nottingham by the Queen, none are exactly pleased or excited. But she has promised Gamelyn that he may reclaim his family's noble title while Robyn and Marion will receive royal pardons. And while none of them exactly trust the royals, the Queen has proven to be unlike the others. But King Richard has returned, and it turns out he may have some suspect motives of his own...
I so love this series. It is one of my favorites that I've read--ever. And I am definitely looking forward to book five and its epic conclusion. I've you've not experienced this series, you are missing out. Run, don't walk.
I so love this series. It is one of my favorites that I've read--ever. And I am definitely looking forward to book five and its epic conclusion. I've you've not experienced this series, you are missing out. Run, don't walk.
sethxo's review
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.25
alisonalisonalison's review against another edition
5.0
Utterly captivating. This is the fourth book in an amazing historical epic fantasy series re-telling the Robin Hood myths and it definitely does not stand alone. This series is so special to me and my high expectations for this book were most definitely met, and exceeded. What a wonderful, satisfying book. I absolutely loved it and savoured every minute.
While the third book, [b:Winterwode|26138445|Winterwode (The Wode, #3)|J. Tullos Hennig|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1440137978s/26138445.jpg|46091116], was Marion's, and the final book, Wyldingwode, is to be Robyn's, this book is centred around Gamelyn. Throughout this series, Gamelyn, who grew up a devout Christian intending a life in the church and is now a Knight Templar, has struggled with his destiny: that he is the Summerlord of the heathen Old Religion and holds potent magic within him. The powerful love he and Robyn Hood share and his wish to commit to the pagan ways of the Wode war with his Templar loyalties and his nobleman's upbringing, and, all the while, fear and uncertainty and denial are keeping him captive and holding him back. The internal conflicts and passive indecision of the past years are tearing him apart and are making those he loves suffer almost as much as he himself. The time has come for him to make a decision or lose everything that matters. Emotional turmoil and enormous frustrations dog each of our heroes in this instalment.
Robyn and Marion and the others, along with brooding Gamelyn, have plenty of other complications to contend with this time around, including King Richard, Queen Mother Eleanor, a pack of Templars, a heap of bickering noblemen, the fae, a siege on Nottingham Castle, a possible pardon for the outlaws, and more. All this adds up to a cracking good read with one hell of a dramatic ending.
This book is completely riveting and so full of depth and layers and adventure and history. It's exciting and intense and emotional and long and thorough and so all-consuming. I've only just finished and I'm already reading it again. These books are immersive and so incredibly satisfying and are among my favourite books ever. I've rarely read characters that have been so meaningful to me. This series makes me laugh and cry and simply feel so much. The story has been building and building over four long books and, with one more book to come, I cannot wait to see how it all finishes!
Also, Serena Yates' review is excellent.
While the third book, [b:Winterwode|26138445|Winterwode (The Wode, #3)|J. Tullos Hennig|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1440137978s/26138445.jpg|46091116], was Marion's, and the final book, Wyldingwode, is to be Robyn's, this book is centred around Gamelyn. Throughout this series, Gamelyn, who grew up a devout Christian intending a life in the church and is now a Knight Templar, has struggled with his destiny: that he is the Summerlord of the heathen Old Religion and holds potent magic within him. The powerful love he and Robyn Hood share and his wish to commit to the pagan ways of the Wode war with his Templar loyalties and his nobleman's upbringing, and, all the while, fear and uncertainty and denial are keeping him captive and holding him back. The internal conflicts and passive indecision of the past years are tearing him apart and are making those he loves suffer almost as much as he himself. The time has come for him to make a decision or lose everything that matters. Emotional turmoil and enormous frustrations dog each of our heroes in this instalment.
Robyn and Marion and the others, along with brooding Gamelyn, have plenty of other complications to contend with this time around, including King Richard, Queen Mother Eleanor, a pack of Templars, a heap of bickering noblemen, the fae, a siege on Nottingham Castle, a possible pardon for the outlaws, and more. All this adds up to a cracking good read with one hell of a dramatic ending.
This book is completely riveting and so full of depth and layers and adventure and history. It's exciting and intense and emotional and long and thorough and so all-consuming. I've only just finished and I'm already reading it again. These books are immersive and so incredibly satisfying and are among my favourite books ever. I've rarely read characters that have been so meaningful to me. This series makes me laugh and cry and simply feel so much. The story has been building and building over four long books and, with one more book to come, I cannot wait to see how it all finishes!
Also, Serena Yates' review is excellent.
angelas_library's review against another edition
2.0
Much as I adored the first two books in the Wode series, the subsequent books haven't worked as well for me. For one thing, I feel like the constant fog and tangle of magic and mysticism and tynged and the like has begun to befuddle me; most of the time I can't make heads or tails of it and end up feeling lost.
Also, there isn't nearly enough Gamelyn-Robyn page time anymore. What I loved most about Greenwode and Shirewode were the scenes of passion between the two men, and these were basically non-existent in Summerwode.
The biggest issue for me, though, was
I confess, part of me wishes this series had simply stopped at a duology. The first books were amazing, but the fact that I haven't enjoyed the follow-ups as much casts a pall over my fond memories of the first stories. :-(
Also, there isn't nearly enough Gamelyn-Robyn page time anymore. What I loved most about Greenwode and Shirewode were the scenes of passion between the two men, and these were basically non-existent in Summerwode.
The biggest issue for me, though, was
Spoiler
the lack of fidelity among the characters. For all Marion's insistence that none of them owned one another, and that sharing and swapping lovers freely was "their people's way," I just couldn't get behind it. In fact, it infuriated and frustrated me to the point where I'm hesitant to continue with the final book in the series. I especially hated the idea of Gamelyn and Marion getting together. The whole thing was so bizarre, and I felt like it undermined the relationship between Gamelyn and Robyn, and Marion and Much. The fact that Robyn and Much not just condoned, but encouraged, the union just made the situation worse, not better.I confess, part of me wishes this series had simply stopped at a duology. The first books were amazing, but the fact that I haven't enjoyed the follow-ups as much casts a pall over my fond memories of the first stories. :-(
darth_aubs's review against another edition
3.0
I liked this entry, but still can't help but feel a little disappointed after my HUGE love for books 1&2. The writing was still lovely (though I could certainly do with fewer mentions of 'verdigris' and 'cinnabar' from here) and the characters still have my heart. Robyn has fast become one of my favourite fantasy characters, and Hennig draws him with such care. I do think that this volume could have used some heavier editing; it was at least 100 pages too long, and this affected the pacing. After the ending I am intrigued about where book 5 will take us, but I'm not sure if this will end up as an all-time favourite (which seemed a given following books 1&2).
bookshelfsos's review against another edition
5.0
Check out my full (spoiler-y) review at my blog: BookshelfSOS. Thanks!
I have feelings. So many feelings.
Summerwode is the fourth book (out of an anticipated five) in the Wode series by J. Tullos Hennig. This story is (I believe) loosely based on The Tale of Gamelyn, which is a Canterbury Tale as well as actual English history from this time period, including a recorded siege of Nottingham Castle in 1194. Richard the Lionheart had been ransomed from Henry VI and is returning to English shores. Our band of outlaws had made some progress toward legitimacy in Winterwode, and now a royal pardon is within their grasp. Meanwhile, old enemies are plotting revenge and the leaders of the Templar Knights have their own agenda and seem to want to seize control of the magic of the Wode.
Why did this book take me almost two full months to read? I read 11 other books in between starting this and finishing it. I think part of it is that this book felt sacred. I didn’t want to rush through it just to get to the end (especially knowing that I’d be waiting for the next one) and I wanted to savor every little detail of the absolutely gorgeous prose. Seriously, the writing in this book absolutely blew me away on every page. How does Hennig - as a modern-day American writer - craft prose as lovely and lyrical as a Medieval ballad? The other reason why this book took me longer to read is that there is a definite shift in the pacing of this story (and Winterwode too, honestly) compared to the first two books in the series. Summerwode is much slower and the plot didn’t really compel me forward with a desperate need to know what would happen next. Rather, it led me through a slowly unfolding scene and asked me to appreciate the interesting details. Which I absolutely did. Think lazy river canoe instead of white water rapids. Both are good, of course. One just gets you to the end a lot faster.
Really though, I really can’t say enough to praise this book, and the series as a whole. I love, love, love the characters, their magical Medieval Wode, the dialects, the interwoven history and mythology: it all hits some really perfect notes and works so beautifully. As a consummate lover of all things achingly sad and painful, these books manage to deliver in spades as well. Are Robyn and Gamelyn constantly getting wounded, either physically or emotionally? Yes, and I truly love it. Not Marion though. Stay away from my queen. Anyone who tries to hurt her will have to go through me.
This series is as close to perfect as I can dream up in my mind. It's long and literary and achingly sad and gay and historical and ROBIN HOOD and... yeah. It's everything. I'm so glad that we're all lucky enough to live in a world where these books exist.
I have feelings. So many feelings.
Summerwode is the fourth book (out of an anticipated five) in the Wode series by J. Tullos Hennig. This story is (I believe) loosely based on The Tale of Gamelyn, which is a Canterbury Tale as well as actual English history from this time period, including a recorded siege of Nottingham Castle in 1194. Richard the Lionheart had been ransomed from Henry VI and is returning to English shores. Our band of outlaws had made some progress toward legitimacy in Winterwode, and now a royal pardon is within their grasp. Meanwhile, old enemies are plotting revenge and the leaders of the Templar Knights have their own agenda and seem to want to seize control of the magic of the Wode.
Why did this book take me almost two full months to read? I read 11 other books in between starting this and finishing it. I think part of it is that this book felt sacred. I didn’t want to rush through it just to get to the end (especially knowing that I’d be waiting for the next one) and I wanted to savor every little detail of the absolutely gorgeous prose. Seriously, the writing in this book absolutely blew me away on every page. How does Hennig - as a modern-day American writer - craft prose as lovely and lyrical as a Medieval ballad? The other reason why this book took me longer to read is that there is a definite shift in the pacing of this story (and Winterwode too, honestly) compared to the first two books in the series. Summerwode is much slower and the plot didn’t really compel me forward with a desperate need to know what would happen next. Rather, it led me through a slowly unfolding scene and asked me to appreciate the interesting details. Which I absolutely did. Think lazy river canoe instead of white water rapids. Both are good, of course. One just gets you to the end a lot faster.
Really though, I really can’t say enough to praise this book, and the series as a whole. I love, love, love the characters, their magical Medieval Wode, the dialects, the interwoven history and mythology: it all hits some really perfect notes and works so beautifully. As a consummate lover of all things achingly sad and painful, these books manage to deliver in spades as well. Are Robyn and Gamelyn constantly getting wounded, either physically or emotionally? Yes, and I truly love it. Not Marion though. Stay away from my queen. Anyone who tries to hurt her will have to go through me.
This series is as close to perfect as I can dream up in my mind. It's long and literary and achingly sad and gay and historical and ROBIN HOOD and... yeah. It's everything. I'm so glad that we're all lucky enough to live in a world where these books exist.
rachela1eaf's review
5.0
Honestly, I don't know what to say that I haven't said about previous books. Incredible from every angle, and in every way. A masterful weaving of plots and conflicts that have been building from book one. I'm dying for the next book.
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