Are you back on a Robin Hood streak? Lately I feel like I’ve been seeing so many Robin Hood stories and I am HERE for it! Keep reading my review of Hood to see what I thought about my first of these re-imaginations!
Summary
You have the blood of kings and rebels within you, love. Let it rise to meet the call.
Isabelle of Kirklees has only ever known a quiet life inside the sheltered walls of the convent, where she lives with her mother, Marien. But after she is arrested by royal soldiers for defending innocent villagers, Isabelle becomes the target of the Wolf, King John’s ruthless right hand. Desperate to keep her daughter safe, Marien helps Isabelle escape and sends her on a mission to find the one person who can help: Isabelle’s father, Robin Hood.
As Isabelle races to stay out of the Wolf’s clutches and find the father she’s never known, she is thrust into a world of thieves and mercenaries, handsome young outlaws, new enemies with old grudges, and a king who wants her entire family dead. As she joins forces with Robin and his Merry Men in a final battle against the Wolf, will Isabelle find the strength to defy the crown and save the lives of everyone she holds dear?
Review
(Disclaimer: I received this book from Netgalley. This has not impacted my review which is unbiased and honest.)
Hood feels almost like the continuation of Robin Hood. Telling the story of what if Marien and Robin Hood had a child, Hood is an action packed book about Isabelle finding her father and also a place where she belongs. Largely sheltered, but with a good heart, Isabelle has to second guess some of her beliefs about the world. Just because authority figures are in power does not mean that they will be moved by their duty. At the same time, Isabelle must also question her own family and her parent’s pasts.
Hood is a story that highlights choice. We all can witness the wrong doings and it becomes our choice to stand up and help. While there’s plenty of mystery about her parent’s past, and action as they try to escape the clutches of the wolf, I felt that the character detail was lacking. I found myself missing the little details about Isabelle and all the other side characters I felt lacked depth. While it also seems almost like a sequel to Robin Hood, I found that Hood doesn’t really develop on the story we all know in a satisfying way. In that sense, I’d be much more likely to enjoy a sequel to Hood if there were one, because I think that would set up more of a departure. I appreciated the themes of found family, with the Merry Men, but ultimately wanted more depth to these side characters so I could fall in love with them.
Hood is, by no means, a bad book. If you’re searching for a way to become re-immersed into the Robin Hood world, then this could be a way. I have seen more Robin Hood re-tellings and re-imaginations, but this is the first I’ve picked up so I, sadly, can’t recommend others. I just wish there had been more character depth so I felt more connected to the characters.
About the Author
Jenny Elder Moke writes young adult fiction in an attempt to recapture the shining infinity of youth. She was a finalist in the 2017 Austin Film Festival Podcast Competition, and studied children’s writing with Liz Garton Scanlon.
When she is not writing, she’s gathering story ideas from her daily adventures with her two irredeemable rapscallions and honing her ninja skills as a black belt in Tae Kwon Do. Jenny lives in Austin, TX with her husband and two children.
Her debut novel, HOOD, about the daughter of Robin Hood and Maid Marien, will release from Disney/Hyperion in Spring 2020. She is represented by Elizabeth Bewley of Sterling Lord Literistic.
Giveaway
Prize: Win (1) of (2) copies of HOOD by Jenny Elder Moke (US Only)
Starts: 3rd June 2020
Ends: 17th June 2020
a Rafflecopter giveawayBlog Tour Schedule
June 3rd
The Unofficial Addiction Book Fan Club – Welcome Post
June 4th
Bookish Looks – Guest Post
Moonlight Rendezvous – Review + Favourite Quotes
Write, Read, Repeat – Review
Adele Is Reading – Review + Favourite Quotes
The Clever Reader – Review
June 5th
My Bookish Escapades – Jenny’s Favourite Quotes
L.M.Durand – Review
Foals, Fiction & Filigree – Review + Favourite Quotes
Utopia State of Mind – Review
Sincerely Karen Jo – Review
June 6th
Grownup Fangirl – Guest Post
Library of a Book Witch – Review
Kati’s Bookaholic Rambling Reviews – Review + Favourite Quotes
A Dream Within A Dream – Review
Bookishly Nerdy – Review + Favourite Quotes
June 7th
Captivated Reading – Review
Sometimes Leelynn Reads – Review + Playlist
Popthebutterfly Reads – Review
Willow Writes And Reads – Review + Playlist
Becky’s Book Blog – Review
June 8th
Wishful Endings – Interview
Hauntedbybooks – Review + Favourite Quotes
BiblioJoJo – Review
Vee Reading – Review
Cafeyre – Review
June 9th
Books.Bags.Burgers – Review Gwendalyn’s Books – Review What She Will Read – Review + Favourite Quotes The Bibliophagist – Review Words of Hannah Kay – Review
This book sounds so good and is already on my TBR. Fantasy and retellings are fun to read.
YES! I hope you love it and I’m excited for the sequel!