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A review by topdragon
The Outlaws of Sherwood by Robin McKinley
4.0
I have long been a fan of Robin Hood and his friends, admired their noble purpose, and reveled in their narrow escapes from the Sheriff of Nottingham. But it seems that every time I pick up a book about their "real" story, the author is intent upon putting a new spin on the classic tale. Perhaps Robin is really the sheriff's brother, or maybe Robin and Marion are one and the same, or, heaven forbid, Robin is gay, leading to a completely different version. But at last, I have found a fine re-telling of the tale I have known and loved since childhood.
Robin McKinley is known for her re-telling of classic stories and fairy tales. But with this novel, she has not only told the tale, she has breathed life into it. All of our favorite characters are here: Robin, Marion, Little John, Will Scarlet, Much, Friar Tuck, Alan-a Dale, the Sheriff, King Richard, etc. But there are others as well, lesser known members of Robin's outlaw band, but still having important roles to play in the outcome of the story. All of the characters come alive, familiar to us in a comforting way, yet new as well. The result is the author's success at keeping us on the edge of our seat, even though we know the basic plot already. That, my friends, is quite an achievement.
The novel covers the entire spectrum of events in this legend of Robin Hood. We follow Robin and his friends (and enemies) from the pivotal event in young Robin's life that forces him into his outlaw life, through the early struggles of survival as an outlaw, the growing reputation that the group achieves, all the way through the return of King Richard. All the familiar elements of the overall story are here. The bridge scene where Robin first meets John Little and they battle, the archery tournament that the Sheriff organizes as a trap for Robin, etc. But not all is as we remember, for the author does throw in a few twists as well. I won't detail them here lest I spoil the adventure for you, but rest assured, they only add to the realism of the day. The author's note at the end adds a bit of explanation in how she dealt with the anachronistic flaws of the legend; i.e. the fact that longbows weren't used until 150 years after the time of King Richard Lionheart, etc. But those things are minor to the telling of the tale itself.
My only negative comment concerns the ending. It just takes too long. When King Richard returns, and is forced to deal with this band of outlaws, he must find suitable "punishments" for them. This part seemed anticlimactic to me and should have been wrapped up in 2-3 pages. As it was it took more than 20 pages, and still seemed incomplete.
But in spite of this detail, the book was tremendous. It is without a doubt the best novel of Robin Hood that I have yet read and will be tough to beat. Robin McKinley is an elegant writer, witty, humorous, and marvelously descriptive with character interaction. If you are looking for a break from over-the-top fantasy epics or gritty urban drama, you will be pleased to pick up this one. Sometimes, it is simply pure joy to lose yourself in the re-telling of an old classic.
Robin McKinley is known for her re-telling of classic stories and fairy tales. But with this novel, she has not only told the tale, she has breathed life into it. All of our favorite characters are here: Robin, Marion, Little John, Will Scarlet, Much, Friar Tuck, Alan-a Dale, the Sheriff, King Richard, etc. But there are others as well, lesser known members of Robin's outlaw band, but still having important roles to play in the outcome of the story. All of the characters come alive, familiar to us in a comforting way, yet new as well. The result is the author's success at keeping us on the edge of our seat, even though we know the basic plot already. That, my friends, is quite an achievement.
The novel covers the entire spectrum of events in this legend of Robin Hood. We follow Robin and his friends (and enemies) from the pivotal event in young Robin's life that forces him into his outlaw life, through the early struggles of survival as an outlaw, the growing reputation that the group achieves, all the way through the return of King Richard. All the familiar elements of the overall story are here. The bridge scene where Robin first meets John Little and they battle, the archery tournament that the Sheriff organizes as a trap for Robin, etc. But not all is as we remember, for the author does throw in a few twists as well. I won't detail them here lest I spoil the adventure for you, but rest assured, they only add to the realism of the day. The author's note at the end adds a bit of explanation in how she dealt with the anachronistic flaws of the legend; i.e. the fact that longbows weren't used until 150 years after the time of King Richard Lionheart, etc. But those things are minor to the telling of the tale itself.
My only negative comment concerns the ending. It just takes too long. When King Richard returns, and is forced to deal with this band of outlaws, he must find suitable "punishments" for them. This part seemed anticlimactic to me and should have been wrapped up in 2-3 pages. As it was it took more than 20 pages, and still seemed incomplete.
But in spite of this detail, the book was tremendous. It is without a doubt the best novel of Robin Hood that I have yet read and will be tough to beat. Robin McKinley is an elegant writer, witty, humorous, and marvelously descriptive with character interaction. If you are looking for a break from over-the-top fantasy epics or gritty urban drama, you will be pleased to pick up this one. Sometimes, it is simply pure joy to lose yourself in the re-telling of an old classic.