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Wordplay: Hood
Hood gives folk legend gritty revision
By Clarke Reader
creader3@mscd.edu

Hood (King Raven Trilogy, Book 1) By Stephen R. Lawhead $24.99

Robin Hood and his merry band of thieves get an imaginative reworking in Hood, Stephen R. Lawhead’s first installment of the King Raven trilogy.

Not only is the book extremely well-crafted, but it grounds the famous archer in reality and manages to turn him into a believable character. Gone is the plucky hero who steals from the rich to give to the poor. In his place is a selfish, uncouth man who is ultimately more endearing for his human frailties.

The novel takes place in medieval Wales long after the Romans have abandoned the far outpost. In their place, feuding local tribes fight against each other and against Norman invaders for control of the country.

Bran ap Brychan is the carefree prince of the woodland kingdom of Elfael, always chasing women and causing trouble. He doesn’t care much for his duties as a prince, spending his time and energy pursuing his own goals.

Things change when his father and his father’s forces are ruthlessly slain by Normans who have bought the land from King William the Red. This sets Bran on a quest to get his kingdom back and set his people free from the ruthless invaders who have usurped control of the country.

Since this is the first installment of a trilogy, the book ends with a cliffhanger. Still, this first volume shows the roots of the hero and how his band of thieves came to be.

All the characters from the stories are present, but they’re drawn more realistically than usual, and only one familiar with the legends can catch who they are.

Mérian is not a shy maid, but a strong, independent woman whose sole interest isn’t Bran.

Little John is Iwan, a tall soldier who is Bran’s closest friend and all that remains of Elfael’s army.
Friar Tuck is Brother Aethelfrith, a fat, jovial priest who takes up with Bran and his friends when he sees how cruelly the people of Wales are being treated.

Of course, the wicked Sheriff of Nottingham is present as Count Falkes de Broase, a Norseman who will stop at nothing to bring all of Wales under his sway.

The novel’s historical setting lends it an air of credibility that many of the more fantastic versions of the Robin Hood myth lack.

The book’s high degree of political intrigue adds a deeper dimension to the well-trod tale. The characters constantly navigate a sea of shifting alliances and loyalties, never arriving at a safe harbor. This gives the book a cutthroat and pitiless political atmosphere, adding to the tension and drama of the story.

The novel could be considered fantasy or historical fiction, depending on how it is read. Whatever its genre, Hood hits its mark as a compelling and interesting take on a well-known tale.