Thomas Nelson (February 17, 2009)
Lawhead thrusts us back once more into the world of medieval Wales and the British isles through his variation of the well-known myths about Robin Hood and his band in the ancient forests of a besieged region of the isles. Many lost their holdings to greedy monarchs and nobles from outside the region and few were equipped or had the motivation to fight back. The myths of Robin Hood tell of one who had the courage to trust God when the odds were nearly a thousand to one (sounds a bit like Gideon and his 300 men in the book of Judges – though perhaps these odds were even less in favor of the party in Gideon’s place).
Lawhead’s descriptions and prose take the reader who is already familiar with his world quickly back to a beloved people and land from the earlier tomes Hood and Scarlet. This epic series of adventure, history, myth and romance will satisfy a variety of literary appetites though I must insist you read them in order as you will miss out on many key details that could not be revisited in the latter books. Bran, Tuck, Will, Merian, and their companions continue the quest to return Bran to his ancestral seat at Caer Cadarn in the land of Elfael and to relieve the inhabitants of the land from the heavy handed rule of those appointed to manage this cantref instead of the one destined to lead his people through love instead of subduing them with cruelty and greed. Will William the Red win out and keep his minions installed in this minor province or will Bran and the native Welsh families find escape from the Norman domination of their homeland? (ISBN#9781595540874, 464pp, $26.99)
Codicil:
Read the first chapter in my FIRST WildCard post tomorrow and find other bloggers who have shared their thoughts on this book by using the member links at the WildCard blog. Drop into Stephen’s website and blog for a chat. Click the bookcover above to purchase your own copy as well as read more about the book.
