Rogue carves new inroads into Sherwood Forrest with a different Robin Hood story.
A young knight, Sir Robert, is trying to make his mark in the world. He was born of humble origins, and as he was a boy during King Richard's reign, he didn't have the opportunity to distinguish himself during the Crusades. Through dedicated training and an innate skill, he has managed to earn his spurs and now serves the Sheriff of Nottingham. But he has a secret that the sherif must never uncover. His long-absent father is Robin (Hood), a trusted knight of the late King Richard and a threat to King John.
Robert has a complicated relationship with his father. He hasn't forgiven him for the years of absence, when he didn't even know who his father was, and he and his mother had to fend for themselves. And yet he can't turn his back on the man. But when his father's closest friend, Alan a Dale, the leader of the band of outlaws known as the Hood, is captured by the sheriff, Robert's loyalties are tested and his very life is at risk should the sheriff discover his familial connections.
I loved Rogue especially since the author is not afraid to improvise and give us a new take on the Robin Hood tale. Robert is a character we can all understand—he’s at the crossroads between family duty and his own ambitions. The relationship with his father is expertly drawn, and the choices that he had to make drew him further into danger. And there is a lovely romance between Robert and Joanna (Much the Miller’s daughter) that further raises the stakes. Joanna is a fabulous character—she’s smart and plucky and has fathoms of courage.
Rogue has everything that I have come to expect from the author--a tightly plotted, page-turning story that takes us back to the politically fraught 13th century. Sherwood Forest comes alive under Newcomb's quill. Highly recommended.