I received an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review. I know this is late, but I wanted to point this out anyway,
Does anyone remember the movie The Princess of Thieves? This book reminds me of a reboot of this movie. But more of what if she did not start with the Merry Men. I love what-if stories and alternate scenarios. This one I enjoyed. I am hoping for a sequel but will be happy with what we got.
Isabelle of Kirklees is the main character of this story. Isabelle could be rounded a little more, but it is not enough to call her a flat character. You see her flaws and how they related to her time growing up in the quiet life inside the sheltered walls of the convent where she lives with her mother, Marien, and her growth when she is with the “new-gen” of Merry Men. What I liked about her is, you can tell whose daughter she is by her personality and she is still her own self. Isabelle is an interesting character and loved how you see who she is throughout the book.
There was a part of this book where it reminded me of The Prince of Thieves movie. The part where we see the Merry Men’s village in Sherwood forest. I could relate to most of this part from the movie how it was the first time Marien saw the village to how it was when Isabelle first saw it. The gathering of the families at the tables, the homes up in trees, and various other things. The way the Merry Men interact with each other and how everyone seems to not care what the backgrounds are as long as you are loyal to Robin and prove your place amongst them.
Adam, Patrick, Little, and Helena are who I like to call the “new-gen” of the Merry Men. I fell in love with these characters. Each one is different, and yet they fight like siblings. I enjoyed learning about them throughout the novel. They were well flushed. The small rivalry between Isabelle and Helena was great to see. How accepted Isabelle into the group was great to see after she proved herself to be amongst them. I would love to see more of these characters.
I enjoyed this book and would recommend this to those who love fun reading and what-if books.
Hood follows Isabelle of Kirkless who lives in a priory with her mother Marien but is forced to flee after defending innocent villagers. Her mother instructs her to find a father she’s never known- the legendary Robin Hood. Isabelle begins her journey away from her mother and the priory, the only home she’s ever known, to ask for help from a father she never knew existed. And she must tell him that the Wolf has returned and has again targeted Robin.
With the help of the Merry Men, Isabelle journeys to find her father and learns that there is so much more to the world than what she experienced under the confines of the priory. Even in the midst of frightening battles, frenzied escapes, death threats against her mother, and violent mercenaries, Isabelle feels a belonging that she’s never felt before, especially with her new band of friends which is led by the handsome Adam.
The next generation of Merry Men (and women) are as sharp, strong, and relentless in pursuit of justice and equality for all. They teach Isabelle what it means to be part of something bigger and how it feels to be accepted.
Though many of the characters, including the protagonist, are new, I love that the author integrated some of the beloved Robin Hood characters into the story. John Little, Robin, Marien, and others have pivotal roles in the story and add to the dynamic character development, which is one of the strengths of the novel.
From budding romances to long-time loves, and from loyal friendships to unique familial bonds, this book explores so many different relationships. I love the budding romance between Isabelle and Adam. It is sweet and charming and often parallels Robin and Marien’s love. The pseudo-family created in the Merry Men is strong and shows Isabelle the meaning of belonging, something she desperately craves.
One of my favorite scenes is a tender moment between Isabelle and Robin in which Robin tells his daughter about his early years with Marien. He regales this story to dispel her nerves when shooting in front of him for the first time. Not only does Isabelle learn more about her parents and their love story, but she also sees how much he loves her. It is a beautiful bonding moment between father and daughter.
I also love the abundance of strong women in this story, especially Isabelle and Marien. It feels like Moke took the original Robin Hood story and re-imagined it into an immersive feminist tale. Marien, for example, is described as “fashioned of the same material as her bow – flexible and smooth on the surface, but unbreakable at her core.” Marien is a complex woman who is calm, resolute, and fiercely protective of those she loves. Isabelle inherited this strength, and though naive, unsure and frightened at the start of the story, she proves her strength and abilities throughout her journey. Her repeated mantra, “Be braver than you feel,” fuels her courage.
Throughout the story, Isabelle is hunted and haunted by the Wolf, a man who holds her mother captive and wants her father dead. Isabelle must make some difficult decisions in the hopes of saving her mother. The Wolf’s threats as well as Isabelle’s journey to find her father and save her mother make for an action-packed adventure.
Hood is a wonderfully written and well-paced coming-of-age story with vivid imagery and dynamically developed characters. I loved that the book made me feel all the feels. I laughed out loud at some of Robin’s antics, and I wept copiously over a particularly tragic moment. That kind of emotional investment in a story is a tribute to the story-telling skill of the author! Thanks to Netgalley and Disney Publishing Worldwide for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Author
victoria
2 years ago
Be Braver Than You Feel
Jenny Elder Moke’s new book “Hood” has all the nostalgia of reading a Robin Hood novel. Adventure, feats of archery, action, and the search for Robin Hood. I enjoyed the clarity of writing, and appreciated the tastefulness of how she addressed violence. There is a lot of emphasis and detail about the living conditions, and politics of the 13th century. For example, the Magna Carta is mentioned in passing. Notedly without making any of the female characters inferior. In fact, Maid Marian, Isabelle, and Helena are strong characters that are admired for their talents. All the characters in this book are well drawn out, and have strengths and weakness. I appreciate that Isabelle is not a perfect, powerful, and astounding girl. Not everything comes easy to her, she is bad at many things, and she does not quite fit in as a nun or a Merry Man. A great story about family secrets, growing up, friendship, and a little bit of romance.
Author
sheena
2 years ago
“Hood” was better a retelling than I was originally expecting and despite some elements being changed around to draw in more of a YA audience with the focus of the story primarily on Robin Hood’s daughter Isabelle instead, this whirlwind adventure about the great legendary heroic outlaw left me wanting more.
If you haven’t already know, this novel based on the world renowned English Folklore that takes readers through a journey of epic proportions as we follow Isabelle, the newly discovered daughter of the notorious outlaw, find the father she’s never known while dealing with wild thieves and mercenaries, handsome young outlaws (and possible romance), new enemies with old grudges, and a king who wants her entire family dead.
It has all the elements you would want in a story like this and would highly recommend it if you’re a fan of the childhood series or want to further explore what made Robin Hood so infamous.
I received an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review. I know this is late, but I wanted to point this out anyway,
Does anyone remember the movie The Princess of Thieves? This book reminds me of a reboot of this movie. But more of what if she did not start with the Merry Men. I love what-if stories and alternate scenarios. This one I enjoyed. I am hoping for a sequel but will be happy with what we got.
Isabelle of Kirklees is the main character of this story. Isabelle could be rounded a little more, but it is not enough to call her a flat character. You see her flaws and how they related to her time growing up in the quiet life inside the sheltered walls of the convent where she lives with her mother, Marien, and her growth when she is with the “new-gen” of Merry Men. What I liked about her is, you can tell whose daughter she is by her personality and she is still her own self. Isabelle is an interesting character and loved how you see who she is throughout the book.
There was a part of this book where it reminded me of The Prince of Thieves movie. The part where we see the Merry Men’s village in Sherwood forest. I could relate to most of this part from the movie how it was the first time Marien saw the village to how it was when Isabelle first saw it. The gathering of the families at the tables, the homes up in trees, and various other things. The way the Merry Men interact with each other and how everyone seems to not care what the backgrounds are as long as you are loyal to Robin and prove your place amongst them.
Adam, Patrick, Little, and Helena are who I like to call the “new-gen” of the Merry Men. I fell in love with these characters. Each one is different, and yet they fight like siblings. I enjoyed learning about them throughout the novel. They were well flushed. The small rivalry between Isabelle and Helena was great to see. How accepted Isabelle into the group was great to see after she proved herself to be amongst them. I would love to see more of these characters.
I enjoyed this book and would recommend this to those who love fun reading and what-if books.
You can find this review on my website:
https://www.charliadamswriter.com
Hood follows Isabelle of Kirkless who lives in a priory with her mother Marien but is forced to flee after defending innocent villagers. Her mother instructs her to find a father she’s never known- the legendary Robin Hood. Isabelle begins her journey away from her mother and the priory, the only home she’s ever known, to ask for help from a father she never knew existed. And she must tell him that the Wolf has returned and has again targeted Robin.
With the help of the Merry Men, Isabelle journeys to find her father and learns that there is so much more to the world than what she experienced under the confines of the priory. Even in the midst of frightening battles, frenzied escapes, death threats against her mother, and violent mercenaries, Isabelle feels a belonging that she’s never felt before, especially with her new band of friends which is led by the handsome Adam.
The next generation of Merry Men (and women) are as sharp, strong, and relentless in pursuit of justice and equality for all. They teach Isabelle what it means to be part of something bigger and how it feels to be accepted.
Though many of the characters, including the protagonist, are new, I love that the author integrated some of the beloved Robin Hood characters into the story. John Little, Robin, Marien, and others have pivotal roles in the story and add to the dynamic character development, which is one of the strengths of the novel.
From budding romances to long-time loves, and from loyal friendships to unique familial bonds, this book explores so many different relationships. I love the budding romance between Isabelle and Adam. It is sweet and charming and often parallels Robin and Marien’s love. The pseudo-family created in the Merry Men is strong and shows Isabelle the meaning of belonging, something she desperately craves.
One of my favorite scenes is a tender moment between Isabelle and Robin in which Robin tells his daughter about his early years with Marien. He regales this story to dispel her nerves when shooting in front of him for the first time. Not only does Isabelle learn more about her parents and their love story, but she also sees how much he loves her. It is a beautiful bonding moment between father and daughter.
I also love the abundance of strong women in this story, especially Isabelle and Marien. It feels like Moke took the original Robin Hood story and re-imagined it into an immersive feminist tale. Marien, for example, is described as “fashioned of the same material as her bow – flexible and smooth on the surface, but unbreakable at her core.” Marien is a complex woman who is calm, resolute, and fiercely protective of those she loves. Isabelle inherited this strength, and though naive, unsure and frightened at the start of the story, she proves her strength and abilities throughout her journey. Her repeated mantra, “Be braver than you feel,” fuels her courage.
Throughout the story, Isabelle is hunted and haunted by the Wolf, a man who holds her mother captive and wants her father dead. Isabelle must make some difficult decisions in the hopes of saving her mother. The Wolf’s threats as well as Isabelle’s journey to find her father and save her mother make for an action-packed adventure.
Hood is a wonderfully written and well-paced coming-of-age story with vivid imagery and dynamically developed characters. I loved that the book made me feel all the feels. I laughed out loud at some of Robin’s antics, and I wept copiously over a particularly tragic moment. That kind of emotional investment in a story is a tribute to the story-telling skill of the author! Thanks to Netgalley and Disney Publishing Worldwide for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Be Braver Than You Feel
Jenny Elder Moke’s new book “Hood” has all the nostalgia of reading a Robin Hood novel. Adventure, feats of archery, action, and the search for Robin Hood. I enjoyed the clarity of writing, and appreciated the tastefulness of how she addressed violence. There is a lot of emphasis and detail about the living conditions, and politics of the 13th century. For example, the Magna Carta is mentioned in passing. Notedly without making any of the female characters inferior. In fact, Maid Marian, Isabelle, and Helena are strong characters that are admired for their talents. All the characters in this book are well drawn out, and have strengths and weakness. I appreciate that Isabelle is not a perfect, powerful, and astounding girl. Not everything comes easy to her, she is bad at many things, and she does not quite fit in as a nun or a Merry Man. A great story about family secrets, growing up, friendship, and a little bit of romance.
“Hood” was better a retelling than I was originally expecting and despite some elements being changed around to draw in more of a YA audience with the focus of the story primarily on Robin Hood’s daughter Isabelle instead, this whirlwind adventure about the great legendary heroic outlaw left me wanting more.
If you haven’t already know, this novel based on the world renowned English Folklore that takes readers through a journey of epic proportions as we follow Isabelle, the newly discovered daughter of the notorious outlaw, find the father she’s never known while dealing with wild thieves and mercenaries, handsome young outlaws (and possible romance), new enemies with old grudges, and a king who wants her entire family dead.
It has all the elements you would want in a story like this and would highly recommend it if you’re a fan of the childhood series or want to further explore what made Robin Hood so infamous.