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A review by fonril
Outlaw by Angus Donald
3.0
The legend of Robin Hood is one I've been fascinated by since childhood. I have a few copies of children's books featuring the inimitable outlaw, the guy who would steal from the rich to give to the poor, expert archer, etc.
This is certainly a different take on the tale. It's told from the viewpoint of Alan Dale, now in his 60's and recalling his younger days when, as a young teenager, he is caught stealing a meat pie and is forced to flee to the woods and is taken in hand by the band of outlaws sworn to follow Robert of Odo, or Robin as he is known.
Robin is almost a secondary character in the book, he appears occasionally but never enough. I would bet that most people choosing this book aren't very interested in the exploits of trainee outlaw and musician Alan Dale, he is merely the support act, we want the headliner of Robin himself.
It is a first novel by the author so perhaps some clemency must be allowed to forgive a sometimes adolescent description of bodily functions that are cringeworthy. Despite my brain bringing images of the spoof Men In Tights film to mind each time Alan described what colour hose he wore, it's certainly not PG, there is violence, pagan ritualistic killing and sexual assault, perhaps more realistic of the time when it was set but certainly not the romantic tale many of us are more familiar with.
I wasn't sure of the book at all in the beginning but once there was some action, in particular a battle scene towards the end, I was glad I had kept going as I did enjoy that sequence.
Overall, the book didn't quite split the arrow on the bullseye but landed somewhere on the outer circle.
This is certainly a different take on the tale. It's told from the viewpoint of Alan Dale, now in his 60's and recalling his younger days when, as a young teenager, he is caught stealing a meat pie and is forced to flee to the woods and is taken in hand by the band of outlaws sworn to follow Robert of Odo, or Robin as he is known.
Robin is almost a secondary character in the book, he appears occasionally but never enough. I would bet that most people choosing this book aren't very interested in the exploits of trainee outlaw and musician Alan Dale, he is merely the support act, we want the headliner of Robin himself.
It is a first novel by the author so perhaps some clemency must be allowed to forgive a sometimes adolescent description of bodily functions that are cringeworthy. Despite my brain bringing images of the spoof Men In Tights film to mind each time Alan described what colour hose he wore, it's certainly not PG, there is violence, pagan ritualistic killing and sexual assault, perhaps more realistic of the time when it was set but certainly not the romantic tale many of us are more familiar with.
I wasn't sure of the book at all in the beginning but once there was some action, in particular a battle scene towards the end, I was glad I had kept going as I did enjoy that sequence.
Overall, the book didn't quite split the arrow on the bullseye but landed somewhere on the outer circle.