(https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/20925651-the-house-of-the-wulfings)
...So what’s this
book about?
This
is a short story (25 pages) set in the Anglo-Saxon period of British history
about Robin Hood. Our story takes place sometime after Robin and Marion have
married and are living together, with the rest of Robin’s band of outlaws, in
Sherwood Forest.
...So, what did I
like about it?
The
premise for this story is brilliant! The opening chapter plunges us straight
into the action. This story wouldn’t look out of place among those books containing
old English fairy stories and folk tales. The way this story was told felt like
those I have read in “British Folktales” by Katherine Briggs. Ms Reedman’s
historical knowledge shines through in not only the names of her characters but
their behaviours and her descriptions of the places in which her story takes
place. The story’s style and language being from a past era rather than a
modern creation making it feel an authentic part of our English history.
...So, ummm, was
there anything I disliked about it?
I
must confess to getting a bit lost in the old style descriptive language and at
times it distracted me from the flow of the story, (something that I’ve
experienced before when reading classic literature so I think this is more
about my aptitude than the story itself). I do wish that the story had been
longer though, to give me more insight into J.P. Reedman’s version of Robin,
Marion and the rest of the outlaws as I didn’t feel as though I knew them at
all from her point of view, instead I had to bring with me my existing pre-conceived
versions of them all into the story.
...So, basically what
I’m saying is...
I
loved the premise of this story – I enjoyed the originality, but I wish it had
been longer. Perhaps Ms Reedman will write some more Robin Hood based
stories... I think fans of folk tales, historical fiction and historical
fantasy would enjoy it too.
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