J Tullos Hennig

Robyn's band is all back together. His sister, Marion, is back at his side. And he's recovered the lost love of his youth, Gamelyn. Except Gamelyn isn't just Gamelyn anymore. Guy of Gisborne, Templar, still resides in there somewhere. It's an identity that can't easily be shed. But Robyn is patient, and Gamelyn sometimes seems willing to try.

When a traveling minstrel informs the Shire Wode outlaws that the Queen Mother is essentially being held prisoner by Prince John, their relatively happy reverie is broken. Despite being branded outlaws, they're too noble to let that stand. Of course, it helps that it's an opportunity to stick it to the tyrannical prince.

There are a few problems, though. Not only do they need to sneak in and break out the Queen Mother. They will need to take her to Temple Hirst, thrusting Gamelyn/Guy right back into the Templar order. And to complicate matters even more, someone with knowledge of the Wode's magic is on their trail. And he may just be a force to be reckoned with.

Can they pull off the rescue? And if Gamelyn rejoins his fellow knights, will he fall back into the life of Guy? Will Robyn lose him forever? And what would that mean for the Lady's prophecy?

---

I'm such a fan of this series, and I'm so glad there are some additional books coming. It's such a well-written retelling of the Robin Hood story. This history, the imagery, and the fantasy combine to create such a rich, dynamic world. And I've honestly devoured every page since I started the first book in the series.

There are some wonderful twists and turns in this book that certainly serve to keep readers on the edge of their seats. And the tension that exists throughout creates an incredible thread to pull you along. Writing of this caliber is a rare find.… (meer)

His family gone and his home destroyed, Rob was left for dead and that should have been his fate. Except fate decided it wasn't his time. So he takes to the Wode, taking up the mantle of the Horned Lord, and doing his best to defend the few of his people left and the surrounding villages from the corrupt government and the church. Thinking Rob was lost, Gamelyn complied with forced exile by his brother and joined the Knights Templar. But now he has returned on a very specific mission, and he won't let much stand in his way. Even when the two find each other again, their past may not be enough to break down the walls of pain that have built up between them. Except there is one thing that might be able to bring them back together--Marion is alive...

I can't even begin to express how much I absolutely love this series. Not only do we get a thrilling and well-written take on the Robin Hood legends, but things seem so real, so well-researched, and just amazingly presented. The familiarity of the story, the fantasy elements, and the relationships just make for an incredible combination. The characters are so gritty and real--there are no soft edges here. I found it very difficult to put this one down; each little twist in the story just drew me in even further.

I am extremely excited to know that there is more to the story...… (meer)

I'm going to simply start off by saying this was incredible! This refreshing and unique take on the tale of Robin Hood had me gripped to every single page. I love when an author can take a time-honored tale and truly make it her own, telling it in a way that hearkens enough to the original legend but has enough new layers to tell a new story. The layers that J. Tullos Hennig has added here are indeed many, but they also feel very natural to the story. There's almost an air of realism to this fantasy and even an element of historical fiction through the portrayal of religion and the quest of zealous Christians to stamp out anything they view as "pagan" or "evil". It's also a true coming-of-age tale for both Robyn and Gamelyn (and, of course, Marion, too, though we don't quite see as much of her here). The only disappointments I have are that I let this sit on my shelf for so long before reading it and the fact that I don't have the sequel at hand to pick it up and start in on it immediately. Definitely one of the best fantasy novels I've read in some time and certainly one of the better books I've read recently overall. Very highly recommended!… (meer)