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    Hood: The Legend Begins Anew
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    Hood: The Legend Begins Anew
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    Hood: The Legend Begins Anew
    Audiobook12 hours

    Hood: The Legend Begins Anew

    Written by Stephen Lawhead

    Narrated by Adam Verner

    4/5

    ()

    Currently unavailable

    Currently unavailable

    About this audiobook

    For centuries, the legend of Robin Hood and his band of thieves has captivated the imagination. Now the familiar tale takes on new life, fresh meaning, and an unexpected setting.  Hunted like an animal by Norman invaders, Bran ap Brychan, heir to the throne Elfael, has abandoned his father's kingdom and fled to the greenwood.  There, in the primeval forest of the Welsh borders, danger surrounds him - for this woodland is a living, breathing entity with mysterious powers and secrets, and Bran must find a way to make it his own if he is to survive.  Like the forest itself, Hood is deep, dark, and at times savagely brutal - yet full of enchantment and hope.  Internationally-acclaimed author Stephen R. Lawhead has created a lyrical rendering of a time-honored story that will lead you down strange pathways into another time and place.
    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherOasis Audio
    Release dateSep 1, 2006
    ISBN9781608142385
    Unavailable
    Hood: The Legend Begins Anew
    Author

    Stephen Lawhead

    Stephen R. Lawhead is an internationally acclaimed author of mythic history and imaginative fiction. His works include Byzantium and the series The Pendragon Cycle, The Celtic Crusades, and The Song of Albion. Lawhead makes his home in Austria with his wife.

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    Reviews for Hood

    4/5

    510 ratings49 reviews

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    • 5/5
      The first book of the King Raven Trilogy, Hood is fast paced, interesting and creative. Rather than just retell the story in a new setting, Lawhead tweaks the plot enough that it is not wholly recognizable as Robin Hood. It is in fact, a new story, fresh and inventive. Although many character's names are similar, they take on a fresh feel. Marian becomes Merien and Friar Tuck's real Saxon name of Aethelfrith is revealed. Although this nod to the original story is obvious, it does not detract at all from the originality of Lawhead's telling.Full Review at Grasping for the Wind
    • 2/5
      Do not pick this up unless you are committed to reading all three in the series. I assumed this first book would be the origin story and then some ass-kicking. But it was like reading a Spiderman novel where Peter is awkward for a while, he gets bitten by a radioactive spider, Uncle Ben dies, Peter spends months moping, and then he starts shooting some webs around. The end.The writing is pretty stiff at the beginning. The author also assumes you have a working knowledge of medieval England, Wales, France, and their relationships; plus what the Welsh call each of the others. Overall, I was not thrilled by this book.
    • 1/5
      I don't know what it is, but I have never been able to enjoy Stephen Lawhead's books. And I really want to. He writes fantasy and historical fiction, two of my favorite genres. I'm fairly certain he professes to be a Christian. He is a commercially successful author whose works are enjoyed by readers with tastes similar to mine. Why can't I like his novels? I tried. I really tried. I read 87 pages of Hood before the writing got me. I noticed a woodenness to Lawhead's style years ago and was turned off enough to not pursue any more of his books. But I always wondered if I was a bit hasty in that judgment. I've been on a Robin Hood kick lately, so I thought I would use that momentum to give Lawhead another try. With a cool cover and interesting premise (Robin Hood, Welshified), it would surely be an improvement on former titles. Unfortunately, no. What really decided me was the contrast between Hood and the last book I finished, Robin McKinley's superb and utterly believable Outlaws of Sherwood. By comparison, Lawhead's characters are boring and his narrative tells rather than shows. And I couldn't get over the feeling that my precious reading time could be much better spent. I'm glad others can enjoy Lawhead's novels, but apparently they aren't for me.
    • 4/5
      Really liked his take on robin hood
    • 1/5
      I am usually quite fond of Lawhead's work - his Pendragon Cycle is probably my very favorite treatment of the Matter of Britain - but I was nothing if not underwhelmed by this attempt at moving Robin Hood to Wales. The first half of the book is feckless-hero-avoids-responsibility, which I find tedious at best, and the second half Bran (Hood) disappears entirely as a viewpoint character. The villains are moustache-twirling caricatures that are really too stupid to live, and Lawhead clearly struggles to make his British witch an appropriately good Christian through oblique references. I picked up all three at once, and will read the next two - there's clearly potential here for a good yarn - but Hood by itself was a mess.
    • 3/5
      This started out really well, but slowed down a lot towards the end. I have already checked out Scarlet, so I must have liked it enough to do that.
    • 5/5
      My curiosity was piqued when I discovered this was set in the Welsh borderlands and in an earlier time period than we are accustomed to, but Lawhead's notes make perfect sense of his choice. The people in the book are wonderfully characterized, particularly Robin/Bran, who starts out as a spoiled, spineless annoyance. The book moved along at a good pace most of the time, and I was not put off by the slower parts. I found the details surrounding who was in charge (William Rufus) and what was going on (the Franks in Wales) a little confusing, as though it was assumed that this was information everyone automatically knows. While the author's notes at the end clarified, I wish I'd read them first. Even so, I already bought 'Scarlet,' the second book in the series.
    • 2/5
      I wasn't very impressed. I love the Robin Hood legend, and I was hoping for an awesome re-telling set it 1100s Wales/England. I expected it to be a bit dark, very powerful, and very evocative. Unforunately, it was none of these. It had so much potential, but failed to live up to it. It wasn't that it was bad, but it just wasn't very well written. The characters were shallow - never really fleshed out at all, and also rather annoying (which is never a good thing in the lead character especially). The writing style was slightly erratic, and sometimes veered over into too informal. The point of view didn't exactly jump about, but occassional sentences would creep in that were more like the thoughts or opinions of particular non-central characters, but were written as descriptive sentences by the author while the plot remained primarily from the point of view of a different character, which really didn't work. The sense of place was not strongly protrayed at all, and the geography was confusing. The general storytelling and prose was rather flighty and lightweight, for want of a better description. A lot more of a list of things that happened, without much depth or detail.As a side point - the cover. I appreciate that the author may not have had any input to the image selected, but if you're going to have a picture of an archer on the cover, at least have him pull the bowstring correctly. One does not curl ones fingers around the string. Thus this book failed before I had even opened the cover.
    • 4/5
      In this variant of the Robin Hood story, Lawhead's character is of The March, a primeval forest in Wales, instead of Sherwood. Robbed of his throne and lands by William Rufus (son of William the Conqueror), he becomes a longbow-wielding freedom fighter using the peoples' legends and superstitions surrounding King Raven to enhance his guerrilla warfare tactics.
    • 3/5
      Whilst I enjoyed the story of this book, I found it a bit difficult to understand in some places. I found it jumped around a bit too much and took me to almost the end of the book to work out who all the characters were and then even more ones would be introduced. However, the twist in the Robin Hood legend is good.
    • 3/5
      I can't say I liked this book especially and it is hard for me to put my finger on why. I think it was because I found myself dragging my way through too much stuff that was descriptive but I thought had nothing really to do with the plot. Paragraph after paragraph could have been removed and the book would have been none the worse off. So, I would inevitably skip bits until I reach a part where I could enjoy following the exploits of Bran and co. The bits about the main characters I enjoyed. So I will probably read the others in the series but will just as likely continue to skip bit in order to ensure finishing the series doesn't become a chore.
    • 5/5
      Lawhead takes a fresh look at Robin Hood and the myth behind the man. King Bran is robbed of his kingdom and seeks refuge in the woods with his scattered countrymen to take revenge on King William the Red and those who have stolen his lands. This book was addicting from the very first page. I read through the whole series almost non-stop and each book was better than the last. There's plenty of action, and a lot of feeling too, as this book is primarily from Bran's perspective. He's a very strong character, and with each wrong done to him, I found myself more enraged at his enemies and more sympathetic to his plight. This is definitely not going to be the only series by Lawhead that I read.
    • 5/5
      This book was really enjoyable. It was my first Lawhead book and I think I will look for the sequels and possible other series of his as well. Every once in a while there was a monologue of a character's thoughts on their past and I hated it and love it at the same time. Part of me would just want to get past it so I could get back to the action and events in the story, while at the same time it was interesting and fairly important to understanding the character, the events, and to find empathy. This is a more realistic version of the fantasy Robin Hood than most others you find and I love it. I really enjoyed how it was not dumbed down to perfection and happily ever after. There is strife, and religion, and ignorance, and love, and family, and happiness goals. I was taken aback at the setting at first because it does not have many of the places and names that I'm familiar with, but in the end of the book, after the novel, it has his explanation of why, and it is fabulous. I'm a history buff and to get this short history lesson on the true tales of Robin Hood was fascinating to me. I really enjoyed this book.
    • 3/5
      A re-imagined tale of the famous thief and 'rob from the rich, give to the poor' Robin Hood set in Wales instead of the more common England.If you're looking for a more realistic point of view of the classic Robin Hood story versus the Disney portrayal this book definitely delivers. I really do believe the author put some time and effort into getting at least a general idea of the time period he portrays the story in, even adding a pronunciation guide to the back of the book for us non-Welsh speakers. A down side to this book is that it is definitely a build up to events to come later on in the series as well as an introduction to the many characters involved in the various plots within the book, not a quick page turner full of action and cliff hangers after every chapter. I also wasn't very happy with the sudden change in Bran's, aka Robin Hood, attitude towards his ultimate destiny of leading the people of Elfael, where he is the residing prince, first shunning all responsibility, then doubting his lack of empathy, then doing a complete 180 vowing to save his people and take back his land... only to go through the entire cycle yet again. Could this series turn out to be a great series? Sure. Does it need to pick up the pace a little and add in some more action to keep the reader going? Definitely. I'll be picking up the next in the series, though certainly without as much anticipation as I did picking up the first.
    • 4/5
      This was the first in Lawhead's new trilogy about Robin Hood, but it was far from being the 'traditional' tale as we know it today. Lawhead did an extensive amount of research concerning the beginnings of the 'Robin Hood' folklore (the first appearance of the legendary thief was in the 1200s!), and wove this tale from what he believes was the beginning of the Robin Hood myth. Thus, we have a hero whose story is set in Wales, away from Sherwood Forest, and a little more gritty and realistic than simply a tale of 'merry men'. It's set in the historical past, with real and fictional characters interwoven - similar to what Lawhead did with his Pendragon Cycle - so that you can truly begin to believe that this was something that literally occurred in history, but perhaps wasn't retained as part of the period's 'official' historical record.I thought it was exceedingly well done, and I'm very much looking forward to the next book, Scarlet, where Will Scarlet - who else? - makes his first appearance.
    • 3/5
      An interesting take on the classic Robin Hood tale. This was hard to get used to, the time frame seems more appropriate to an Arthurian tale than Robin Hood, so, it was easy to forget which legend I was reading. However, the explanation Lawhead gives is very convincing and lends a certain credibility. Personally, I felt the book was a bit dry and slow, just not my style preference; still a good read and story, however.
    • 5/5
      I've been wanting to read this book since it came out three or four years ago. But since it was subtitled "The King Raven Trilogy, Book 1" I knew that if I read it then, I would feel compelled to re-read it again when book 2 came out...And again when book 3 came out. Book 3 is set to come out on February 10th, so I felt safe enough to finally read it. And lemme tell ya - it was absolutely worth the wait.I'm in love with the Robin Hood stories as it is, but Lawhead finally managed to satisfy my love for the possible historical aspect, too. A Welsh setting is just what the stories needed to set them aflame. I can't wait to read Scarlet! (Book 2)
    • 5/5
      I bought this book because I love the Robin Hood legends. Lawhead does a great job in bringing the story to life in a more realistic way. I especially love the Welsh spin on things. Definitely worth the reading!
    • 3/5
      Setting Robin Hood in Wales is a neat take on the legend. I really strongly disliked Marian and wasn't overly fond of the language. It's edging towards over-the-top fantasy speak. Lots of elements of the story are interesting and I'm still debating whether I should give the rest of the book a chance. Did I mention I really disliked how he's writing Marian?
    • 5/5
      Lawhead has taken the traditional Robin Hood story and set it in Wales during the Norman conquest. The prologue is about Bran ap Brychan, Prince of Elfael, and heir to the throne. His father, the King and Elfael's army are slaughtered on their way to pledge fealty to the king of the Ffreinc. The only thing that saved Bran was his willfulness and his chronic tardiness. They had left Elfael without him. Bran must stay clear of the Norman army, and King William's army as he has a price on his head. He has escaped death and taken refuge in the thick forest where he will build his band to fight for the people of Elfael. This is a refreshing departure from Sherwood Forest, but the familiar characters are there - Merian, Little John and others. Hood is the first in the Raven King trilogy. Scarlet is the second. The third book, Tuck, has not yet been released.
    • 5/5
      I love the way Lawhead weaves a tale, and with each page he knits you in closer and closer. I can't wait to read the rest of the series!
    • 4/5
      A little slow, but a very absorbing re-telling of the Robin Hood legend, re-locating everybody's favourite wealth-redistributor from 12th century Sherwood Forest to 11th century Wales, where Robin becomes Bran, heir to a small Welsh kingdom which has been usurped by the conquering Normans. Hood definitely reads like the first in a series - by the end of the book only a handful of the key characters - Robin, Little John, Marian, Guy of Gisbourne, Friar Tuck - are in play. But Lawhead uses this long set up to ground the legend in a viscerally real political reality, with a network of delicate alliances between various Welsh and Norman factions. I also love his more mystical side of the story , which comes here in the shape of Angharad the wily hudolion, or sorceress.All the same, I wasn't pawing at the ground ready for King Raven Book Two...Then I made the mistake of looking it up on LibraryThing and discovering it's devoted to my beloved Will Scarlett, so that's another series bulking out my To Be Read pile, damn you, Lawhead...
    • 3/5
      A very enjoyable Robin Hood tale. Moving this classic tale from Sherwood Forest to Wales is a novel approach, but one that works well for Lawhead. I tried to read one of his books (I think it was his Arthurian cycle), but was put off by his introduction of Atlantis, so I'm a little surprised I even picked up this book. Add to that my general inclination not to start "series" novels until the series is finished (Wheel of Time and Gerrold's War Against the Chtorr are notable exceptions), and it's a wonder I ever picked this up.Fortunately, I did. I thoroughly enjoyed this, and am really looking forward to the subsequent novels. Much time is spent on underlying characters and the social fabric of the times, which helps greatly in bringing the setting alive in the reader's mind. The characters are pretty fully fleshed out, and while there's a hint of mysticism in there, it's not even as significant as in Mary Stewart's Arthurian adaptation. Overall, strongly recommended.
    • 4/5
      This book is an entertaining view of medieval life in Britain during the Norman Conquest as seen through the telling of the story of Rhi Bran the Hud who reluctantly decides to defend his father's kingdom against the invading Ffreinc. The story is slow towards the middle of the book when Bran struggles with his decision, but it is certainly not slow whenever the arrows fly! I am looking forward to reading the second volume.
    • 5/5
      We all know the familiar legend of Robin Hood who hangs out in Sherwood forest and steals from the rich to give to the poor. But what if the legends of Robin Hood were really based on a Welsh king who was deposed from his throne by the Norman conquest in the early 1100's? That's the premise behind Hood, and the author's ability to capture the time period and its myth and lore make this adaptation outstanding. Our hero doesn't start out as such--Bran ap Brychan is a son of royalty who hates his father and isn't interested in the responsiblities of being king. Even the cruel death of his father at the hand of the Normans doesn't convince him that he should stay and fight for his people. Bran's gradual--almost too gradual at times-- transformation into what we know as Robin Hood is a pleasure to read. It's one of those stories where suddenly you recognize a familiar character and think, "Ah, this must be Friar Tuck". Yes, most all of the familiar Robin Hood characters are here, including Maid Marian, but in this different setting and time period they might not be quite the people we are used to, which is was all part of the enjoyment to me. Lawhead creates vivid characters, for example through the musings of the "villians" we see how the doctrine of "divine right" is used to justify their brutal conquests--but not always without some misgivings. For me this was the almost perfect blend of heart racing suspense, intriguing characters, and thought provoking prose. It also ends somewhat abrubtly with a doozy of cliffhanger, and of course we now have to wait for the second book of the trilogy to come out. It can't get here soon enough.
    • 4/5
      the book was great, although to many confusing priests names.
    • 1/5
      Narrator trying to hard. Let your natural voice take over you don’t need to add the extra pompous
    • 1/5
      Barely 10 chapters dragged into 47 with overly wordy nonsense. The audio version might make this barely bearable. Unfortunately though the narrator Adam Verner has some of the worst pronunciation. Maybe he is attempting his own idea of a medieval English accent. His attempts at French are even more mangled.
    • 3/5
      I liked it, but I couldn't get past Lawrence converting robin hood from an Anglo to a Celt. Just felt wrong.
    • 4/5
      Enjoying so far. The pronunciation of some of the Welsh locations is laughable at points.