Greenwode
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Product Details
| ISBN-13: | 9781632164377 |
|---|---|
| Publisher: | Dreamspinner Press |
| Publication date: | 10/28/2014 |
| Series: | Wode , #1 |
| Pages: | 370 |
| Sales rank: | 869,456 |
| Product dimensions: | 6.00(w) x 9.00(h) x 0.77(d) |
Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
Greenwode
4.3 out of 5
based on
0 ratings.
3 reviews.
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There is so much good about this book I'm not even sure where to start. First, I'm an old fantasy nerd, and Robin Hood hits it hard. This retelling is fantastic, in both the original meaning of the word and in the awesome meaning of the word.
Let's start with the basics: the language. A minor pet peeve of mine is historical novels where everyone speaks modern English. It just sort of hinders my willing suspension of disbelief. Hennig crafts a world where I can hear the accents in the voices--the variety between the low and high born. There are touches of French, Latin and Gaelic (I think, may be Welsh, I don't remember that it's specifically named), but their use is historically accurate and lends such depth to the world.
The myth maintained: I actually took a class that focused 1/3 of the semester on Robin Hood, so reading this story, seeing where the author has pulled from some of the oldest ballads and woven in all of the key components and characteristics of Robin Hood, yet, making them into a story that I haven't quite read was thrilling. The author did her research and it shows. Both in her weaving of the traditional tale and in her historic details.
The original take: One thing the original myths don't really focus much on is religion. It is present, but not a focus. So, Greenwode has a unique and creative--yet logical--twist on the Robin Hood myth, placing not only the rich against the poor but Christianity against the native pagan religion.
"The old gods aren't dead... we forget that at our peril..."
--Brother Dolfin
The mysticism and magic of the old religion, and honestly, just the information about and portrayal of the old religion, is completely fascinating.
And then, we have the characterization. The characters, the heart of the story and my ultimate draw-- They're the icing on the cake for this one. Rob and Marion are spectacular as brother and sister and Rob's developing relationship with the the near monastery-bound Gamelyn is portrayed wonderfully. The two are magnetic. I can't think of a character that isn't well crafted and defined--from Rob, to his parents, Gamelyn's family and the Horned God himself. All I could think at the end was "Wait, that's it?!"
No. Fortunately, it's the first in a duology... the second just doesn't come out until late this month. Where Greenwode explores mostly pre-myth Rob, the sequel promises to give us more of the Robin Hood--or Hode--myth that we know and love. Honestly, I can't wait for it.
This one is a highly recommended read. Just read it. It blew me away.
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Wow! I've been reading this book for days and forcing myself to put it down because my eyes were getting so tired everything was blurry.
If you liked The Mists of Avalon you will most likely love this as well. Greenwode has all of the Pre-Christian magic to it as well as some of the darkness that Christianity in it's early years and it could easily become menacing.
The characters Hob-Robyn, Marion and Gamelyn are richly written with layer upon layer of new things to discover throughout the book.
I LOVED this book and look forward to reading the sequel and more books by J. Tullos Hennig
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