Hood Review

 

Title:  Hood

 

Author:  Jenny Elder Moke

 

Ch: 35

 

Pg:  320

 

Genre:  Teen Historical, Retelling

 

Rating:5 Stars

 

Publisher:  Disney Hyperion

 

I have to say the 90s kid in me loved this book and it’s been a book that I’ve been waiting on since I watched Princess or Thieves as a kid. I’ve always wanted a book about Robin Hood and Maid Marion’s daughter.

 

In Hood I finally got that Isabelle is as beautiful as her mother and as a good a shot as her father. This has been one of my favorite Robin Hood retellings in a while though it’s more a sequel retelling. I loved how for the most part it follow most of the myth and story-lines to most of the movies we’ve.

 

It’s a look at what happens after the credits roll. That while the book wraps up nicely it still leaves room for a sequel in my opinion.

Notthingham review

Title:  Nottingham

Author:  Nathan Makaryk

Pages: 496

Genre: retellings

Rating: 2 stars

I wanted to love this one. I've been a Robin Hood fan since childhood. (thanks dad)  I've since every movie with the newest one being my favorite  with the Disney cartoon being a close second. I'm working my way through the BBC series right now. So I picked Nottingham up to see what new twist could be added to the Robin Hood legend. I will admit I loved some of the background on the characters and I loved that we got chapters from each. But to me there were just too many character point of views.  From characters to me felt like secondary characters.  There were parts of Marian's characters that  I loved that she was strong and determined and not a damsel in distress and spoiler: with the outlaws from the beginning. But there were parts like the choice that she made at the end that didn't seem like the Marian from the beginning.  This Robin wasn't my favorite but he was realistic he was a solider hardened  and scared  by war. 

However,  Gisbourne  was  pretty much the same way he always is and I loved that. I think that's what made him my favorite never thought I say that in this book.  I thought the ending was a little rushed  and even though I didn't like the way it ended, The ending fit the way that the story was going.  I don't think at that point it could have ended any other way.  I'm still on the look for a Robin Hood retelling that I love, but I am willing to give this author another try and will read any future books by this author.   But just because I didn't like it doesn't mean that another reader won't love it. Their view of the Robin Hood legend could be different than mine and this book is what they've always wanted. 

I received a copy of this book from the publisher through netgalley. I was not required to write a positive review. All opinions expressed are mine alone.

Review of Lion Heart

Title: Lion Heart

 

Author: A.C. Gaughen

Series: Scarlet book 3

 

Chapters: 33

Pages: 346

Genre: teen retelling

Rating: 4 stars

Lion Heart is the third and final book in the Scarlet series.   In which everything Scarlet and Rob have been working towards come to a head.  Scarlet gets news from her father through her grandmother that will change both her life and Rob's as well.  This news will allow them to better help the people of Nottingham.

I enjoyed Lion Heart, it was my favorite of the series.  Things happened in this book that I was waiting to happen since book one. I have to say that I was happy with the ending. After the stress and cliff hangers of the first and second book. The only thing that kept me from giving this book five stars was the language and a few scenes.   This series was my first Robin Hood retelling and I hope to read more Robin Hood retelling.  I am also looking forward to more books by this author. 

Review of Lady Thief

Title: Lady Thief

Author: A.C. Gaughen

Series: Scarlet book 2

 

Chapters: 25

Pages: 308

Genre: teen retelling slight romance 

Rating: 4 stars

Lady Thief is the second book in the Scarlet series. In this second book one of the characters has to live with the conquences of a choice they made in order to save another character. Who may or not may be the love of their lives. This book picks up almost where the first book left off. All the same characters come back in the second book. As well as some new, such as Allan A Dale and Eleanor and the queen mother.  In this second book we see Scarlet in a different light and we get more of her back story of how she became Scarlet.  Overall it pretty good second book. I can't wait to read the third and final book of the trilogy.