The sequel in this Robin Hood-series, which is showing me a side of Robin Hood I didn't know. (I have to admit that around my place, it isn't really well known in the first place, other than just 'Stealing from the rich, giving to the poor'). I had won the first book as a preread an thought it to be interesting enough to get myself to the local library and get my hands on this second book as well.

And, it is in line with the first book. Even though Alan looses some of his faith, most of the book is about rough life and fighting. Which can be enjoyable every once in a while. It's a nice and quick read, perfect for between two other (perhaps better) books. It's not your psychologically deep novel, but to be honest, did you expect that after reading the title?

 

Note: I read a Dutch translation of this book

I received a pre-read book of the Dutch translation of Outlaw, a Robin Hood story.

 

My knowledge about Robin Hood was nothing more than 'He steals from the rich and gives to the poor', so everything is this novel was actually quite new to me.

 

Alan Dale is the storyteller after he was forced to join them after he stole something in his early teens. We get a look in the lives of the people living in those woods and also into the history of 12/13th century England, with some political schemes and everything. Overall, I enjoyed reading this first novel in the new Sherwood series, it was a nice and quick read. I've since read the second book as well.

 

Note: I read a Dutch translation of this book.

You know Robin Hood. Splitting an arrow with a bow shot at 50 paces. Robs from the rich and gives to the poor. Battles Little John on a bridge or log with quarterstaves. In love with Maid Marian. Errol Flynn-handsome, a good and just thief. This is probably the Robin Hood you know, popularized by Ernie Pyle's The Merry Adventures of Robin Hood. This is not the Robin Hood of Outlaw. This is a darker, grimmer Robin. Outlaw is a rousing, fun tale. Narrated by Alan-a-Dale, himself a late addition to the Robin Hood legend, Outlaw follows Alan's admission to the band of merry men and his training deep in the heart of Sherwood, and his eventual rise to be one of Robin's key confidants. Along the way, we see a lot of blood. Lots of it. Sword-blood, Arrow-blood, Crushed-by-Siege-Engine-Blood, Human Sacrifice blood. There is lots of armor and swords, and not enough heroics with bow and arrow for my taste - nor is there much "steal from the rich and give to the poor". The story diverges from the traditional telling of Robin Hood in a number of other ways as well. This Robin Hood is far closer to Russell Crowe and Ridley Scott's Robin Hood than to Ernie Pyle or Errol Flynn. For a first novel, the writing is strong and fast-paced - the novel never flags. There are a few anachronisms in the novel, and the occasional awkward writing. A harrowing Druid/Wiccan ceremony is well done but feels out of place (Donald admits as much in the afterward that it's not historically justified). If you are interested in the history of the legend of Robin Hood, and speculations on whether or not there was an historical Robin Hood, J.C. Holt's Robin Hood is enjoyable and accessible. Or, if you just want an enjoyable Medieval romp, just read Outlaw and enjoy. [I received a free copy of Outlaw via LibraryThing's wonderful Early Reviewers program]

http://abitterdraft.blogspot.com/2013/05/review-outlaw-by-angus-donald.htmlAlan Dale is the lowest of the low - essentially a street rat, forced to steal to make a living. Robin Hood, "holding court" in Alan's town of Nottingham. Alan's mother convinces Robin to take Alan under his wing, and so begins the story of Outlaw.Many of Robin's Merry Men are present - Little John, Much, Will Scarlet, Tuck, and of course the man himself. In Outlaw, Robin is no man-in-tights do-gooder, stealing from the rich and giving to the poor. He's a brutal, bloodthirsty bastard ready to kill at the drop of a pin. I haven't read many Robin Hood novels, and I find myself looking for darker, grittier novels to read, so the older children's novels were of little interest. Outlaw is a coming-of-age tale, with our protagonist Alan Dale being around 13 or 14 at the outset of the novel, but it is without question an adult novel. Graphic violence and sex are abundant, and some comedy also finds its way in, even in the darkest of times.Speaking of graphic violence, the battle scenes are exceptionally done and often described in detail, as is a particular torture scene, which I'll not to discuss so as to keep this review spoiler-free. The environments, whether the scene is in summer or winter, are described in detail, but not at all in fluffy, boring detail - Donald did an excellent job painting each scene.Historical accuracy is always a difficult subject to read for one so interested in history as I am. There were no qualms from me going in because, as anyone who has read even a bit about Robin Hood knows, he may not even have existed. The blend of fiction and history was what drew me to Outlaw and eventually the rest of the series was this blend, and Donald could not have done better, down to battle formations and the illness and subsequent death of Henry II, and many other examples.Angus Donald's Outlaw was a fast-paced, gripping read in which I found myself reading most of it in one sitting, eager for more. If you're looking for a fresh new take on Robin Hood, look no further than Outlaw. It takes skill for a writer to tie up the story into a nice knot at the end and still leave readers begging for more, and luckily for me, The Outlaw Chronicles stand at 5 novels with a sixth on its way.

Outlaw - Angus Donald One of the first movies I can remember watching was the Flynn version of Robin Hood. I have loved Robin Hood ever since. I cherished my copy of [b:The Merry Adventures of Robin Hood|93007|The Merry Adventures of Robin Hood|Howard Pyle|http://d.gr-assets.com/books/1348552117s/93007.jpg|1411202]. I read Robin Hood retellings whenever I noticed one, even romance book versions. It just sometimes takes me awhile to get to them - but if you're on this website, you know how that is - books bred like rabbits.So this book, what can I say. I finished it. I didn't put it down in digust. Some of the fight scenes were good. The book is told by Alan Dale as he joins Robin Hood's band. Robin Hood is a godfather figure, until he is not a godfather figure and turns into a nice guy (and respects Marie-Ann's desire not to have intercourse until marriage, but if she's raped, it's still her fault).The problem I had with it was it was so very predcitable. I have no doubt that Donald did research about Robin Hood and the England of the time. He is very clearly letting you know this, which is annoying sometimes but works in others. I also think Donald loves Robin Hood movies, books, and serieses very much - he seems to be borrow from them. All of them.This isn't to say that borrowing is a bad thing. Some of the most popular books are distalltions of things - Harry Potter, Star Wars, Lord of the Rings, tv's the Bachelor. But there is nothing new about the distallition here. - reiligion, paganism, deer, and so on. We've seen it. I have to give Donald credit for not adding the Muslim character that seems to be staple since Nasir in Robin of Sherwood. (I am not knocking Robin of Sherwood or Nasir, I love both. However, why does ever prodcution since feel it necessary to add one?). Of course, the sequel is in the crusades, so who knows.The plot, to be honest, could use some tightening. For instance, at one point Alan ids Will Scarlett as a trusted lietnant of Robin Hood. Something I found surprising because Scarlett was training alongside Alan, and neither ones was with the band for the longest time.It isn't a bad book, and I think if I had read less Robin Hood books, I might have liked this more.