Reviews

Hood by Stephen R. Lawhead

tatteredpharey1's review against another edition

5.0

The retelling of Robin Hood in a believable manner. Mr. Lawhead has a winner here.

megareads42's review against another edition

3.0

Liked the retelling of this with the setting in Wales. Didn't find Bran all that sympathetic and thought his 'conversion' from self-involved brat to man of the people seemed a little too pat. Enjoyed the Merian sections. Thought the writing overall was good and that there was a reasonable amount of action and intrigue. Will finish the series.

musicalkat16's review against another edition

adventurous dark tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

boogiewoogiesheep's review against another edition

adventurous medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix

3.75

bpacker22's review against another edition

2.0

This was a 500 page book in which 200 pages worth of things happen.

gray5217's review against another edition

adventurous tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.0

catherine_t's review against another edition

adventurous dark medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.0

Hood is a retelling of the Robin Hood legend, set in the late 11th century following the Norman invasion of England, which is about a century earlier than many similar tales, and instead of living in Sherwood Forest, the protagonist is forced into hiding in the thick forests of the Welsh Marches. Bran ap Brychan, heir to the kingdom of Elfael, flees into the greenwood to plot his revenge against the Norman barons who have stolen his lands from him.

It took me a while to wrap my head around a Welsh version of Robin Hood. I've been steeped in the legends of Sherwood Forest since I was a child, when I first watched Errol Flynn swing from a vine in the classic film, The Adventures of Robin Hood. I've watched many versions since, and read several retellings, from the questionable Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves to a modern television production set in an inner-city housing development.

This version is... intriguing, in the end. I'm intrigued enough to go looking for the rest of the trilogy. I want to know how Bran's story will end, and I think that's probably the best sign of a good book. But your mileage may vary, as they say.

rickwren's review against another edition

4.0

I very much enjoyed this new take on the Robin Hood legend. In the mode of Bernard Cornwell, the author takes a common story and researches its origins. Here he places the bold archer in Wales and has him working as the original freedom fighter, a true rebel who was wronged by the crown, beaten and nearly killed, but comes back to champion the rights of his people and for his ancestral lands.

I won't say that it's the best historical fiction I've read either. It's engaging and the characters are well-realized. I will keep reading the series however and have high hopes that the plot can catch up to the characters.

snekmint's review against another edition

Heavily Christianified, including full prayers, references to “the saviour” out of quote/character as if the narrator himself is insisting that the Christian christ is real, etc. 

fairytalelover1990's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional mysterious tense medium-paced

4.0