Summary:
After losing everything he owns, forester Will Scarlet embarks on a search for none other than King Raven, whose exploits have already become legendary. After fulfilling his quest–and proving himself a skilled and loyal companion–Will joins the heroic archer and his men.
Now, however, Will is in prison for a crime he did not commit. His sentence is death by hanging–unless he delivers King Raven and his band of cohorts.
That, of course, he will never do.
Wales is slowly falling under the control of the invading Normans, and King William the Red has given his ruthless barons control of the land. In desperation, the people turn to King Raven and his men for justice and survival in the face of the ever-growing onslaught.
From deep in the forest they form a daring plan for deliverance, knowing that failure means death for them all.
Scarlet continues Stephen R. Lawhead’s riveting saga that began with the novel Hood, which relocated the legend of Robin Hood to the Welsh countryside and its dark forests. Steeped in Celtic mythology and the political intrigue of medival Britain, Lawhead’s trilogy conjures up an ancient past and holds a mirror to contemporary realities. Prepare for an epic tale that dares to shatter everything you thought you knew about Robin Hood.
My Review:
William Scatlocke is being held in a dank, dark cell awaiting his own hanging. He’ll be held in that cell for five months and his only company is a surly jailer, who refuses to speak to him, and a monk by the name of Odo, who has been sent by Abbott Hugo to learn as much as he can of Rhi Bran y Hud (Robin Hood).
This is how this book is laid out. It’s the first person account of Will Scarlet’s meeting with Rhi Bran and the subsequent events – all told to a monk who writes down the tales. Mixed into the story are random chapters dealing with the events taking place outside, but the majority of the book is Will’s point of view – and quite the story it is.
Now, it took me a few chapters to really start getting into the story – there are so many details, the politics are confusing and the events not at all familiar so I kept getting lost. Add into this the names and well.. yes, it was hard to get into.
But the story soon picked up and I found myself interested in finding out how things would end – to the point of being unable to set the book down for the last 200 pages.
This was a worthy addition to the trilogy and fun to read and I’m looking forward to reading Tuck for some resolution to the story!
