King Raven: The Complete Trilogy

King Raven #1-3

by Stephen R. Lawhead

A completely re-imagined epic of the man known as Robin Hood--available in one volume for the first time.

For centuries, the legend of Robin Hood and his band of thieves has captivated the imagination. Now the familiar tale takes on new life as it boldly relocates the setting to the Welsh countryside and its dark forests.

Hunted like an animal by Norman invaders, Bran ap Brychan, heir to the throne of Elfael, has abandoned his father's kingdom and fled to the greenwood. There, in the primeval forest of the Welsh borders, danger surrounds him--for this woodland is a living, breathing entity with mysterious powers and secrets. Bran must find a way to make it his own if he is to survive and become King Raven.

From deep in the forest, Bran, Will Scarlet, and Friar Tuck form a daring plan for deliverance, knowing that failure means death for them all--and the dreams of the oppressed people of Wales.

This acclaimed trilogy ("Hood, Scarlet, Tuck") conjures up an ancient past and holds a mirror to contemporary realities. Prepare yourself for an epic tale that dares to shatter everything you thought you knew about Robin Hood.

Genres: Fantasy, Fiction, Historical Fiction, Audiobook, Christian Fiction, Retellings, Christian

1378 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2009

About the author

Stephen R. Lawhead is an internationally acclaimed author of mythic history and imaginative fiction. His works include Byzantium, Patrick, and the series The Pendragon Cycle, The Celtic Crusades, and The Song of Albion.

Also see his fanpage at Myspace:
http://www.myspace.com/stephenlawhead...

Stephen was born in 1950, in Nebraska in the USA. Most of his early life was spent in America where he earned a university degree in Fine Arts and attended theological college for two years. His first professional writing was done at Campus Life magazine in Chicago, where he was an editor and staff writer. During his five years at Campus Life he wrote hundreds of articles and several non-fiction books.

After a brief foray into the music business—as president of his own record company—he began full-time freelance writing in 1981. He moved to England in order to research Celtic legend and history. His first novel, In the Hall of the Dragon King, became the first in a series of three books (The Dragon King Trilogy) and was followed by the two-volume Empyrion saga, Dream Thief and then the Pendragon Cycle, now in five volumes: Taliesin, Merlin, Arthur, Pendragon, and Grail. This was followed by the award-winning Song of Albion series which consists of The Paradise War, The Silver Hand, and The Endless Knot.

He has written nine children's books, many of them originally offered to his two sons, Drake and Ross. He is married to Alice Slaikeu Lawhead, also a writer, with whom he has collaborated on some books and articles. They make their home in Oxford, England.

Stephen's non-fiction, fiction and children's titles have been published in twenty-one foreign languages. All of his novels have remained continuously in print in the United States and Britain since they were first published. He has won numereous industry awards for his novels and children's books, and in 2003 was awarded an Honorary Doctorate of Humane Letters by the University of Nebraska.

also write under the name Steve Lawhead

Reviews

[Alex Telander · Rating 4 out of 5]

Stephen R. Lawhead’s Robin Hood trilogy – Hood (2006), Scarlet (2007), and Tuck (2009) – received much acclaim and became big bestsellers when they were released, as he presented one of the more complete and superior epic tales of this forest hero and his band of merry men. In 2011, for those looking to read the trilogy for the first time, or for those hardcore fans, Thomas Nelson released all three books in a single mighty volume, allowing readers to put it up on their shelf next to their copies of The Once and Future King and The Lord of the Rings.

Bran ap Brychan doesn’t really know if he ever wants to be king, but his father is a poor king who doesn’t treat his subjects of Elfael as well as he should perhaps, but Bran doesn’t really know what he wants to be. Then all that changes when a group of Normans invade the Welsh kingdom and his father is killed, making Bran the automatic heir. Except the Normans seize the kingdom, awarding it to a bishop and care little for Bran and his supposed claim to this throne. And so begins Bran’s adventure, as he brings together a band of merry men to go see King William and wrest back his kingdom. Thwarted in London, he is told he can have his kingdom back for a ridiculously high amount of money. So Bran sets about getting the money the only way he knows how: from those cursed Normans who stole his land, as well as making sure his people are treated right and well.

Stephen Lawhead presents the first of his impressive trilogy on Robin Hood in Hood, explaining his detailed research in the afterword, and pointing out the unlikelihood of this character living in the thirteenth century in Sherwood Forest and going against King John. Lawhead posits Robin Hood living in the late eleventh century in the time of William the Conqueror and his overtaking of Britain with his Normans. Bran is a Welshman, and the Normans cared little for this distant part of Britain, except when they wanted to make it their own. It makes perfect sense that a man out of legend would rise up to help the people against these dastardly Normans. Lawhead also pulls from Celtic mythology to blend this story that might well have been, seamlessly. He also does a great job of playing on the many fabled stories and clichés everyone knows about Robin Hood, though tweaking them a little to make them all the more entertaining. Hood is a great and riveting work of historical fiction that will have any fan of the genre hooked.

In Scarlet, the book opens with the framing tale of Scarlet, who is in prison and sentenced to be hanged. In the brief time before his execution, Scarlet tells his story of losing everything and becoming a forester when he meets this King Raven. At first challenged to an archery contest, he reveals his extreme skill, rivaling that of King Raven, better known as Bran, and soon becomes a valuable member of his “merry men.” But Bran needs a skilled warrior like Scarlet to fight back against these Normans steadily taking control of Wales, as William the Red doles out more land to his cutthroat barons. The book comes to its climax as Scarlet must choose whether to be executed, or to give up the secret location of King Raven and his men.

In the conclusion to the trilogy, Tuck, told from the viewpoint of the redoubtable friar, it seems the Normans simply won’t give up, and King Raven, also known as Rhi Bran Hood to the people of Wales, must muster not only his skilled foresters, but incite an entire revolt from his people, based mainly in his kingdom of Elfael. With the treacherous Abbot Hugo and the evil and bloodthirsty Sheriff de Glanville, it will take everyone working together to bring these Normans to their knees once and for all and send the firm message to King William the Red that King Raven and his Welshmen will not be crushed.

Lawhead rounds out the trilogy in a great way, bringing it all to a satisfying close, but still with plenty of action and subplots and complex goings on. Again blending the history with the Welsh mythology, it is a very enjoyable read seen through the eyes of a new character. And the King Raven tome allows readers to enjoy the complete saga in one big book and perhaps one very long sitting (though I wouldn’t recommend it), as well as featuring a sample of one of Lawhead’s other books, The Skin Map.

Originally written on March 13, 2012 ©Alex C. Telander.

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[Gary · Rating 5 out of 5]

Every once in a while a book comes along that doesn't quite fit in a five star rating system. King Raven is one of those.... six stars at least. It is a retelling of an age-old story, but what a retelling.

I didn't realize that I was reading a re-imagining of Robin Hood, so I missed the inference to the first character. But at the introduction of characters two and three I could hardly wait to see how he introduced the main protagonist. Not to be disappointed. In addition to the wonderful story telling, the way Mr. Lawhead interpolated ancient namings with current mythology made for exquisite reading.

[Jared · Rating 5 out of 5]

In this series, fantasy author Stephen R. Lawhead tackles the retelling of one of England’s most famous legends, the legend of Robin Hood, and does not disappoint with his lively take on the story. Most fascinatingly (at least to me) is how he attempts to historicize the story and, in what appears to me to be a very bold move, argues that the “original” folk hero was actually Welsh rather than English. (I am only very superficially acquainted with the fraught history of Welsh-English relations to which Lawhead alludes.)
Lawhead provides at the end of the introductory book an extended (and fascinating) explanation of his reasons for recontextualizing it as a Briton tale set in the days following the Norman Conquest (1066). He notes: “Within two months of the Battle of Hastings (1066), William the Conqueror…had subdued 80 percent of England. Within two years, they had it all under their rule. However…it took them over two hundred years of almost continual conflict to make any lasting impression on Wales.”
This story of “Rhi Bran y Hud” (King Bran the Enchanter) and his fight for the right to his ancestral throne in the cantref of Elfael, was, then, an icon of the Welsh resistance to French (Ffreinc in the book) conquest and control.
The key to this move is brilliant in its simplicity: in all the tellings of the Robin Hood legend, he’s imagined as adept with the longbow. And, in one of history’s more important oversights, the longbow was actually a Welsh invention, adopted by the English. From there, it’s not too great a leap to see the outlaw of Sherwood Forest as originally a fiercely independent Welsh prince, determined to keep his people free.
It would not be too much of stretch to say that, in Lawhead’s retelling, the longbow, like the primeval forest of the March that separated Wales from England, achieves the status of an independent character in the story (insofar as any inanimate object could achieve such status). It is the advantage provided by the longbow that “carries the day” for Welsh freedom. Again, Lawhead graciously provides an historical example to back this claim, the disastrous Battle of Agincourt (1415), where a small and vastly inferior British force (at best, 6,000 men) bested a French army of roughly 20,000 men, mostly knights. The result can only be termed, as Lawhead puts it, a “massacre.” Conservative estimates of French losses include 2,000 counts, barons, and dukes; over 3,000 knights and men-at-arms, and an additional 1,000 common soldiers.
The agreed cause of the rout is this: It is estimated that, within the first minute of the battle, the English longbowmen unleashed a flight of 72,000-plus arrows, shot with such force that they could pierce a knight’s armor. (In another place, Lawhead describes an arrow shot from a longbow with such force that it buries itself in an oaken door to half the length of its shaft.) In many ways, this battle established the longbow as the “superweapon” of the day and initiated a revolution in military tactics and strategy.
I suppose I enjoyed this book precisely because of the balance that Lawhead achieved between “legend” and “history.” He does keep the fantastical element alive, especially with the presence of Rhi Bran’s aged advisor, Angharad the banfáith (a wise woman or prophetess), who nurses a mortally-wounded Bran back to health and provides crucial and uncanny insights at key points in the narrative. But neither element overwhelms or displaces the other.
I also appreciated the pacing, a sometimes fault of fantasy fiction that either gets too caught up in description (destroying any sense of momentum) or too involved in the action (making for a work indistinguishable from a contemporary “thriller”). The story moves well, evokes the magic and mystery of the woodlands of the March, the stout character of the Welsh people, and the complexities of medieval systems of loyalty and honor that governed these actions.
I suppose those more familiar with the actual history of the period and/or the literary roots of the Robin Hood story would no doubt have a number of quibbles to list at this point, whereas I, in my broad ignorance, have only a couple nagging questions (less “problems” with the story than things I now wish to investigate a bit further). As I mentioned above, the presence of the banfáith Angharad, a key figure for Bran’s transformation from entitled royal outlaw to lawful king, in many ways represents Lawhead’s nod to the pervasive Celtic mysticism that undergirds these legends. Yet, it appears to me that Lawhead attempts, sometimes unconvincingly, to almost “Christianize” Angharad and her ancient ways learned from the ancestors. Especially in her interactions with Friar Tuck (Aethelfrith), I could easily imagine him expressing more animosity to her “ancient wisdom” than Lawhead chooses to allow. To be fair, I would have to say his characterization of Angharad rang a little false on this point.
The last point is even less significant to the overall success of the story. Lawhead hangs the resolution of the story (e.g., King William II’s decision to allow Bran to occupy the throne of Elfael with only an oath of fealty) on William the Red’s concern with his responsibility for the souls of those he killed. It doesn’t figure prominently in the story, but in his epilogue to the third book, Lawhead notes the serious extent of the monastic business of “cash for prayers.” While this was certainly a factor that would influence any king’s decision to sue for peace, I’m not sure it is as convincing as Lawhead would like it to be…at least, not very consistent with the devious character of King William in the rest of the story.
But these are all minor quibbles and questions that, in the end, did not detract from my simple enjoyment of a good book. For me, the book scored high marks in all the relevant categories: the plot was intriguing, the characters were well-drawn, the setting is beautifully evoked, and the telling avoided any heavy-handed moralism that has become the bane of modern fiction. True, I would not put on Lawhead the unfair burden of England’s “next Tolkien,” but I would say that he is definitely a unique voice in the realm of fantasy fiction…and a voice worthy of a wider hearing.

[Alysia · Rating 5 out of 5]

A new to me author and I was enthralled from the first page. A medieval tale woven together so beautifully I could picture all that happened in my mind.

[Julia · Rating 2 out of 5]

Being a fervent lover of nearly all things Robin Hood from a young age, as well as a general admirer of Lawhead's works that I've read thus far, I assumed I would quite enjoy his retelling of the Robin Hood story.

I'm sorry to say that he proved me wrong.

While the story itself is not terribly written and I loved the historical context he was able to give it, especially regarding the role of Welsh bowmen in the development of archery, I found his characterization of "Robin Hood" to be deeply unenjoyable, thus making the whole trilogy something of a slog. Gone is the bold, jolly outlaw of Pyle's tale (and other versions), replaced by a dour, churlish young man who, sadly, remains much the same throughout the series. If the story were a masterpiece and the supporting characters stellar, it might have made up for the lack of an enjoyable protagonist, but these areas are insufficient as well.

It's true that several other characters are written enjoyably, with Friar Tuck being perhaps the highlight of this group; but some important ones that I would have expected to get more time, such as "Little John," have very little to do other than be a name associated with the outlaw. Even the very distinct characters of Will Scarlet and Will Stutely are done a disservice by essentially being combined into one for the second book.

As for the story, while I did very much appreciate the aforementioned historical context he was able to give it, it was not enough to mask the fact that it felt rather meandering, touching on people and places that really ended up having little to do with the story itself in the long run.

Overall, I found this a disappointingly colorless addition to the Robin Hood legendarium. I will happily stick with Howard Pyle in future and would say that perhaps Mr. Lawhead would do well to re-read the preface to Pyle's version of the tale also, seeing as how Mr Pyle himself acknowledged that the tale, though based on historical figures was just that -- a tale:
"You who so plod amid serious things that you feel it shame to give yourself up even for a few short moments to mirth and joyousness in the land of Fancy; you who think that life hath nought to do with innocent laughter that can harm no one; these pages are not for you..."

[Maggie K · Rating 4 out of 5]

I've finished part one of the King Raven Trilogy, Hood (I'll add to this review as I read through the other two parts, Scarlet and Tuck). This novel was my first experience with Lawhead's writing - and I found it highly entertaining - his language is vivid yet very intelligent, as if it belongs in a research paper rather than a novel. The whole trilogy tells the tale of Robin Hood (and his merry men) in a specific Welsh setting that matches up with historical figures who would have been living in Wales during the Middle Ages. "Robin Hood" is a prince, who is called Bran ap Brychan. When his father, the king, dies in a border skirmish with the French, he flees his call as heir to the throne and enters the deep forests, not wanting to take responsibility for his people and their kingdom. However, Bran becomes gravely injured by some soldiers wishing to take him home and is left for dead in the heart of the woods. When an old hag stumbles upon the heir, she takes him under her wing and cares for him until he is completely healed after many months. All that time, she was also grooming him to become the king she can sense he must become - "Rhi Bran", or "King Raven". With help from the hag (and some loyal followers), Bran decides he'll take back his father's kingdom and make it even better than it was before. Again, this novel is very interesting and entertaining - full of action, adventure, and realistic, relatable characters, earning a full four stars.

[Debby Taylor-Lane · Rating 4 out of 5]

For those wishing to read an 'alternative' take on Robin Hood, this is the book for you. Brilliantly researched by Lawhead, this places Hood firmly (and convincingly) into Welsh history.
I wish I could give this 5 stars, and would, but for the middle book, (2nd in trilogy) Scarlet.
I loved both Hood and Tuck, the only detrimental comment I have on those is that they can be a little long winded at times but not to the point of detracting from overall enjoyment.
Scarlet on the other hand, is written mainly from 1st person POV and, much as I wanted to like him, I found Will Scarlet to be incredibly annoying. It was only my enjoyment of Hood that prevented me from giving up on book 2. Sad to say, if I had picked up this book first I would never have read the others.

[Tom · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love Lawhead's writing. Here, he re-imagines the Robin Hood legend in a specific Welsh historical setting. The characters are well developed. The plot is interesting. The motivation of Robin Hood is justice, for which he will give his life and in pursuit of which he will never give up. The progress of the books is unflagging and the conclusion highly satisfying.

[Robyn Adams · Rating 5 out of 5]

An interesting and unique take on Robin Hood.

[(Grace) Kentucky Bohemian · Rating 5 out of 5]

Awesome Reimagining
I'm no expert on Robin Hood. Sure, I've read several versions since I was small, and most of them tended to be pretty similar. But this look at the folk legend has a special sense of reality to it. For me, this is the best, most complete, and most satisfying version of them all.

Told in three full-length novels, this trilogy focuses on a different character in each book. "King Raven" features the man who would be king, who was adept at archery and had a heart for his people. The man we know as Robin Hood. The second story, "Scarlett," focuses on the man known as Will Scarlett, and "Tuck" of course, allows the reader a closer glimpse at our favorite friar. While the focus may be on one particular character, each book continues the overall story of the Raven King (i.e.- Robin Hood).

I found this tale wonderfully told, with stellar prose that gave me a sense of being there and knowing these characters. That's especially interesting to note since these beloved characters are very different in some ways than the traditional versions have portrayed them. Yet they were well-developed and remarkably engaging. The storyline in general, and specifically the pacing of such are very well done, keeping the reader mesmerized in this ancient tale while detailing the historical significance of certain events.

Fans of fantasy, folklore, historical fiction, and legends will find a wealth of things to love about this trilogy.

[Linda · Rating 4 out of 5]

This imaginative re-telling of the Robin Hood legend is not set in Nottingham, or Sherwood Forest, or during the reign of King John, called Lackland. It is set in the greenwoods of Wales, during the reign of William Rufus (r. 1087-1100), son of William the Conqueror. All the familiar figures are present: Robin, Marian, Little John, (under slightly different names) as well as Will Scarlet, Friar Tuck, and Alan-a-Dale. The theme of fighting for justice under an oppressive regime is present from the first page.

There were a few problems of spelling and usage in the three books that comprise this trilogy:

Page 59, sovreignty (sovereignty) exacted a heavy price ; 102, the snarling, slavvering (slavering) beast ran ; 1008, Straight (Strait) is the gate and narrow the way ; 1113, been drug (dragged) from his bed ; Londein is used instead of Lundein (what we now call London) repeatedly on pages 1167, 1243 (twice), 1244, 1245, 1268, and 1270.

[Janey Merry · Rating 2 out of 5]

I am not one to shy away from long descriptions, and I can appreciate a full-bodied fantasy story. (Heaven knows I over-share details in my own storytelling. The scenes are thoroughly described, almost to the point of being redundant. Characters’ names, language use, and locations were a bit hard to follow due to the unusual spelling. I understand the author was basing it on old Welsh, but it does slow the reader down wading through Celtic spellings. Lastly, I found the death of the child, Nia, totally unnecessary. It did not further the story nor force a character’s growth. On the contrary, her death was not as grieved as Angharad’s. The focus of a mournful scene is split unequally with Nia’s parents and the protagonist. Emotionally, I wanted to grieve with Bran, but I couldn’t get past my shock and frustration of Nia’s demise.

[Courtney J · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a series I read when I was in my late teens and I remember adoring it. I decided it was time for a re-read. As an obsessive Robin Hood fan, the idea of a more historically accurate depiction really struck my fancy. The only problem I have with this series is the same problem I tend to have with most of Stephen Lawhead's books - the female characters.

For example, Noin is a very flat, one dimensional character who seems to exist solely as a love interest for Scarlet and doesn't appear to have much depth of character beyond her child and marrying him, which she requests to do very soon after some basic, flirtatious meetings. This was a big missed opportunity in my opinion. Though she was overall a minor character, she had a lot of potential to be more than what was written.

Angharad and Miriam are a little better, but I got tired of the male narrator talking about their looks. Angarad is "old and grotesque" and Miriam is "the kind of woman every man would do anything for". Maybe once is alright, but every single time their introduced to a new character? Cringey. That is the extent of females in the book besides crying/dying mothers and small children.

Also, Miriam DEFINITIVELY had Stockholm syndrome. If I was her brother, I probably would have given her a time-out too.

To be fair, this book does host a large cast of characters and we don't necessarily see a lot of development of Ewan or Charles either, but it seemed like a miss on something that could have been filled with a lot more depth.

From a narrative standpoint, sometimes it does get a little slow, but it was very insightful to life in Wales at the time of Red William and how varied the life of a "faithful" christian could be.

[KelticKat · Rating 5 out of 5]

Once again all is well in the wood

Throughly enjoyed re-reading the King Raven Trilogy. Lawhead has a gift for weaving history both fiction and fact together in a tale takes you captive and leaves you in a time long ago.

Even though I’d read this tale before I still found myself wondering who would make it to the end and feeling the loss of those who did not.

Loved the setting of the forests of Wales for this re-telling of the often told story of Robin Hood.

[William · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good, but not as good as the Pendragon Cycle

I enjoyed the book, but was glad I’d already seen his Pendragon Cycle to understand some of the terms and concepts (cymry, bards, etc.) It wasn’t quite as good as some of the other works but I did enjoy learning a little history, and the story certainly adds to the lore of Robin Hood.

[Matthew Webb]

A stirring revision of Robin Hood

Taking the history of the Robin Hood story, Stephen Lawhead writes a historical fictional telling of a favorite English legendary figure Robin Hood. A fun read with a historical possibility of the Welsh origin of the hero who has been made popular by oral tradition, books, and movies.

[Rob Kuefner · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent tales, with interesting research

I read this trilogy when it first came out, and since that was sometime ago, rereading it was a great reminder of how much I love this series. The research that Lawhead includes makes the legend more believable and his story telling even more entertaining,

[Shane Ball · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a seamless 3 part series of wonderful adventure, character building, with broad brush strokes of a wonderful story most of know. Mr. Lawhead did a fabulous job of bring us along grasping for each new page in anticipation of what is to come. I highly recommend this series to readers of young adult to seasoned readers. Bravo, on last note, do enjoy the prologue.

[Amy Coolbeth · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wonderful rendition of Robin Hood. There is even a great epilogue at the end that details the real version of what actually happened with real facts. I am giving this 4 stars because I believe if I read it as a physical book, I would have enjoyed it more. It is not recommendation to read it on Audible.

[Sergio Alonso Méndez · Rating 4 out of 5]

Se supone que es la historia en la que se basó la leyenda de Robin Hood. En el primer libro Bran es el sujeto principal y muestra un carácter impulsivo y fácil de descomponer. El segundo libro habla desde la perspectiva de Will Scarlet que fue capturado por los normandos. El tercer libro toma la perspectiva de Tuck el fraile mesurado y ecuánime. En general, bien la serie.

[Amy · Rating 2 out of 5]

I shouldn’t have read this. I love the legend of Robin Hood, specifically as he is portrayed in the old Errol Flynn movie and this Very Long book is very different than that…. Sentimentality won and killed my enjoyment of this book.

[Andrew Linderer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Solid

Another great read from Stephen Lawhead. The world slows down when I read his stories and I truly feel transported to a different time. Can’t wait to read the next one. This trilogy was fantastic and moved me to tears more times than I can count.

[Bear]

This was three books (Hood, Scarlett, and Tuck). It was a fun read. It was a more gritty version of Robin Hood but set in Wales. It actually was a fun read, but I'd not do the whole trilogy again. I'd tackle the individual books and enjoy them at a more leisurely reading.

[Bil Thompson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really fun re-imagining of the Robin Hood story. Lawhead takes this mythical character and puts him a real historical situation and tries to explain how it could have happened.

[Charles · Rating 4 out of 5]

I thoroughly enjoyed this reimagining of Robin Hood. Without giving anything away I found the conclusion very satisfying.

[Riko · Rating 3 out of 5]

P

[Lisa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Stephen Lawhead does it again! Another marvelous story retold.

[Hannah Lang · Rating 5 out of 5]

I couldn’t tell you which book I loved more! Just an amazing story with characters that felt true to themselves and history! Loved how this Robin Hood retelling was framed in history!

[Erika Shupe · Rating 1 out of 5]

Stopped: political.

[Marc Fleischner · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great reimagining of the Robin Hood myth