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The Forest Lord #3
Rise of the Wolf
Sir Guy of Gisbourne is back!
Bent on vengeance against Robin Hood and with a turncoat new lieutenant in tow, an unlikely new hero must stand up for herself...
YORKSHIRE, ENGLAND - 1323 AD
The greenwood has been quiet and the outlaws have become complacent, but the harsh reality of life is about to hit the companions with brutal, deadly force thanks to their old foe, Prior John de Monte Martini.
From a meeting with King Edward II himself to the sheriff's tournament with its glittering prize, the final, fatal, showdown fast approaches for the legendary Wolf's Head.
New friends, shattered loyalties, and a hate-fuelled hunter that threatens to wipe out not only Robin's companions but his entire family will all play their part in the RISE OF THE WOLF.
Bent on vengeance against Robin Hood and with a turncoat new lieutenant in tow, an unlikely new hero must stand up for herself...
YORKSHIRE, ENGLAND - 1323 AD
The greenwood has been quiet and the outlaws have become complacent, but the harsh reality of life is about to hit the companions with brutal, deadly force thanks to their old foe, Prior John de Monte Martini.
From a meeting with King Edward II himself to the sheriff's tournament with its glittering prize, the final, fatal, showdown fast approaches for the legendary Wolf's Head.
New friends, shattered loyalties, and a hate-fuelled hunter that threatens to wipe out not only Robin's companions but his entire family will all play their part in the RISE OF THE WOLF.
328 pages, Paperback
First published July 31, 2015
214 people are currently reading
764 people want to read
About the author
Steven A. McKay
52 books446 followersI was born in 1977, near Glasgow in Scotland and live in Old Kilpatrick with my wife and two young children. After obtaining my Bachelor of Arts degree I decided to follow my life-long ambition and write a novel. The Forest Lord series now has four novels, and various short spin-off tales.
My new book "The Heathen Horde" is the first in a brand series following Alfred the Great. It comes out on October 26 2023 so please check it out and pre-order if you can!
I play guitar and write all my books while listening to extreme metal.
In 2022 I started a podcast with fellow historical author Matthew Harffy. You can subscribe to Rock, Paper, Swords! on all the usual podcast outlets and also find the audio on Youtube every fortnight.
My new book "The Heathen Horde" is the first in a brand series following Alfred the Great. It comes out on October 26 2023 so please check it out and pre-order if you can!
I play guitar and write all my books while listening to extreme metal.
In 2022 I started a podcast with fellow historical author Matthew Harffy. You can subscribe to Rock, Paper, Swords! on all the usual podcast outlets and also find the audio on Youtube every fortnight.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 62 reviews
June 13, 2020
This amazing historical adventure is the 3rd volume of the wonderful "Forest Lord" series from the Scottish author, Steven A. McKay.
The historical details concerning this eventful story can be found at the end of the book, where they are very well documented and explained by the author.
Once again story-telling from this author has been superb, all characters, especially Robin Hood and Little John in this tale, come wonderfully to life within this historical adventure, which is set in the year AD 1323, during the reign of King Edward II.
Like I said before this tale starts off in March, AD 1323, with Robin Hood and his band of outlaws enjoying some peace in their home-villages, until news reaches them that Sir Guy of Gisbourne has returned to hunt them down once and for all.
Escaping to Barnsdale Forest and regrouping, Robin Hood and his band of Wolf's Heads will deal Sir Guy of Gisbourne, with in their midst former outlaw but now a turncoat, Matt Groves, so much so that Sir Guy has to return to Nottingham and lick his wounds.
When Allan-a-Dale and Gareth disappear to Nottingham, where Allan-a-Dale wants to enter an archery competition, they will be betrayed by two Franciscans, with the result that Allan-a-Dale will be captured, but Gareth will manage to escape to his friends and explain to them what happened, with the result that an exciting adventure will unfold for Robin Hood and Little John.
What will follow is a fantastic action-packed historical adventure, in which Robin Hood and Little John, and with the help of their fellow outlaws, they will do their utmost to save Allan-a-Dale, but if you want to know if they will succeed or not you will have to read this tremendous tale for yourself to find out.
Very much recommended, for this is an absolute marvellous continuation of this great series, and that's why I want to call this episode: "A Fabulous Eventful Sequel"!
The historical details concerning this eventful story can be found at the end of the book, where they are very well documented and explained by the author.
Once again story-telling from this author has been superb, all characters, especially Robin Hood and Little John in this tale, come wonderfully to life within this historical adventure, which is set in the year AD 1323, during the reign of King Edward II.
Like I said before this tale starts off in March, AD 1323, with Robin Hood and his band of outlaws enjoying some peace in their home-villages, until news reaches them that Sir Guy of Gisbourne has returned to hunt them down once and for all.
Escaping to Barnsdale Forest and regrouping, Robin Hood and his band of Wolf's Heads will deal Sir Guy of Gisbourne, with in their midst former outlaw but now a turncoat, Matt Groves, so much so that Sir Guy has to return to Nottingham and lick his wounds.
When Allan-a-Dale and Gareth disappear to Nottingham, where Allan-a-Dale wants to enter an archery competition, they will be betrayed by two Franciscans, with the result that Allan-a-Dale will be captured, but Gareth will manage to escape to his friends and explain to them what happened, with the result that an exciting adventure will unfold for Robin Hood and Little John.
What will follow is a fantastic action-packed historical adventure, in which Robin Hood and Little John, and with the help of their fellow outlaws, they will do their utmost to save Allan-a-Dale, but if you want to know if they will succeed or not you will have to read this tremendous tale for yourself to find out.
Very much recommended, for this is an absolute marvellous continuation of this great series, and that's why I want to call this episode: "A Fabulous Eventful Sequel"!
April 28, 2020
Excellent book. As always Steven A McKay captures the harsh brutalities of the mediaeval era perfectly. From the harsh background/routine of the people, to the crude language of the people. The thing that impressed me about this book is that, SAMK's maturity as a writer. At the beginning the characters are spread out and are seemingly all going in different directions but they are all cleverly drawn back together. Also he spends a lot of time developing and maturing the side characters.
I also like the nod to the more traditional Robin Hood. It is little touches like thus that separate good books from great books. Robin uses the hood (the accessory not his surname) a few times in the book. Also in the last couple of books Robin main weapon had been the sword, in this he goes back to the Longbow. Perfect for one of the most iconic scenes from the Robin Hood Legond to play out. Also even though to many a villager Robin is the friendly outlaw/wolf's head next door, he is a hard harsh vengeful man to his enemies and those who betray him.
It has been a few months since Robin defeated and maimed Guy of Gisbourne. Leaving the outlaws a relative easy existence. Unfortunately Gisbourne has returned though because of his deformation he is no longer as physical imposing as he was, his rage and his mental trauma of his lose has taken him to another level of crazy making twice as dangerous as he was before. His sole focus is to avenge himself on Robin Hood. Some will find the life of an outlaw no longer suitable, many will not survive. This is the penultimate chapter of the Forest Lord, I can't wait to see what happens next.
I also like the nod to the more traditional Robin Hood. It is little touches like thus that separate good books from great books. Robin uses the hood (the accessory not his surname) a few times in the book. Also in the last couple of books Robin main weapon had been the sword, in this he goes back to the Longbow. Perfect for one of the most iconic scenes from the Robin Hood Legond to play out. Also even though to many a villager Robin is the friendly outlaw/wolf's head next door, he is a hard harsh vengeful man to his enemies and those who betray him.
It has been a few months since Robin defeated and maimed Guy of Gisbourne. Leaving the outlaws a relative easy existence. Unfortunately Gisbourne has returned though because of his deformation he is no longer as physical imposing as he was, his rage and his mental trauma of his lose has taken him to another level of crazy making twice as dangerous as he was before. His sole focus is to avenge himself on Robin Hood. Some will find the life of an outlaw no longer suitable, many will not survive. This is the penultimate chapter of the Forest Lord, I can't wait to see what happens next.
May 16, 2016
Robin and his men once again face the Raven, who due to his injuries has become not only more unhinged but also more determined to stop Robin and with the appearance of an old adversary of the The outlaw gang this time he might just do it!
The classic tale of Robin Hood gets a breath of fresh and original air as the story is told from different perspectives. Fast paced, great action scenes, laugh out loud funny in places and making me cheer out loud in at least one place...this is truly a great read, that gives you not only a real sense of the time period but also of the man behind the legend!
The classic tale of Robin Hood gets a breath of fresh and original air as the story is told from different perspectives. Fast paced, great action scenes, laugh out loud funny in places and making me cheer out loud in at least one place...this is truly a great read, that gives you not only a real sense of the time period but also of the man behind the legend!
July 27, 2015
Rise Of The Wolf is the third in Steven McKay's Forest Lord series, a cycle of Robin Hood stories that place the legendary outlaw in the time frame of King Edward II, a century later than the age of Richard and John when most writers set the story.
I have enjoyed McKay's stories to date, but this one impressed me on a new level. Without getting into spoilers, the storyline is developed out of specific incidents told in several of the old Robin Hood ballads, but McKay has put a clever twist on a number of the familiar incidents. These twists are not gratuitous, but dovetail nicely with the narratives and character development established in the previous novels, and I was left quite impressed and pleased with the manner in which he pulled this off.
McKay's straight-forward style is consistent and well-suited to his story, but I also observed that there was considerable growth in the scope of his writing with this one. For me, the development of several of the characters showed nicely here, and several characters enjoy an interesting arc here, most especially the relatively minor character of Robin's little sister, Marjorie. We continue to explore the motivations of characters as diverse as King Edward II himself, Matt Groves, Guy of Gisbourne, the young outlaw named Gareth and a cleverly-conceived young monk named Osferth. All take on actions which make sense within the context of their characters; yet however reasoned their actions, the development of their characters also makes it clear why these characters are doomed to find their way into conflict with each other, and sometimes, greatly with themselves. This is good stuff.
I particularly appreciated the growth in Robin as a character in this novel. Thinking back to the character as he appeared in the first book, it would be easy to chart the changes as he navigated the rough river he's been tossed into, growing from inexperienced novice thief to outlaw leader to family man to seasoned warrior over just a short couple of years. This story takes him to new levels which I invite other readers to see for themselves.
As ever, McKay has a firm grip on the action. There are fights and chases, robberies and ruses, murders and executions. The pace is kept steady and steaming and the pages flip past quickly.
I certainly am looking forward to the final installment with anticipation and I will also look forward to following McKay into other periods or genres as he continues to spread his wings as a storyteller.
I have enjoyed McKay's stories to date, but this one impressed me on a new level. Without getting into spoilers, the storyline is developed out of specific incidents told in several of the old Robin Hood ballads, but McKay has put a clever twist on a number of the familiar incidents. These twists are not gratuitous, but dovetail nicely with the narratives and character development established in the previous novels, and I was left quite impressed and pleased with the manner in which he pulled this off.
McKay's straight-forward style is consistent and well-suited to his story, but I also observed that there was considerable growth in the scope of his writing with this one. For me, the development of several of the characters showed nicely here, and several characters enjoy an interesting arc here, most especially the relatively minor character of Robin's little sister, Marjorie. We continue to explore the motivations of characters as diverse as King Edward II himself, Matt Groves, Guy of Gisbourne, the young outlaw named Gareth and a cleverly-conceived young monk named Osferth. All take on actions which make sense within the context of their characters; yet however reasoned their actions, the development of their characters also makes it clear why these characters are doomed to find their way into conflict with each other, and sometimes, greatly with themselves. This is good stuff.
I particularly appreciated the growth in Robin as a character in this novel. Thinking back to the character as he appeared in the first book, it would be easy to chart the changes as he navigated the rough river he's been tossed into, growing from inexperienced novice thief to outlaw leader to family man to seasoned warrior over just a short couple of years. This story takes him to new levels which I invite other readers to see for themselves.
As ever, McKay has a firm grip on the action. There are fights and chases, robberies and ruses, murders and executions. The pace is kept steady and steaming and the pages flip past quickly.
I certainly am looking forward to the final installment with anticipation and I will also look forward to following McKay into other periods or genres as he continues to spread his wings as a storyteller.
July 26, 2015
Just when things are such that Robin can spend time with his family, old and dangerous foes combine forces and the Wolf and his band of outlaws find themselves facing their greatest challenge to survive. This is the third volume in The Forest Lord series and it is a continuation of the excellence exhibited in the first two. The author has given us a tale that is hard to put down, filled with riveting action and tense drama. The characters shine throughout, from the ebullient Tuck, the imposing presence of John Little, the unrelenting stare of Will Scarlett, the love and devotion of Matilda (Robin's wife)and the coming of age of Marjorie (Robin's sister). There are also the dramatic twists of plot and fate of some who live and die in a hard and cruel world. I will not engage in spoilers so you'll have to believe me when I say there is some sorrow involved but like I said, it was a hard existence being an outlaw. Well, okay one spoiler, the author has promised a fourth volume. :-) 5 stars
January 1, 2023
Book Three of the Forest Lord series following Robin Hood and his group of outlaws in the forests of Wakefield sees Robin Hood trying to evade both de Faucumberg and Guy of Gisbourne as he tries to survive. There are moments of action and some amazing character development, not only of the outlaws but of more minor characters so far such as Friar Tuck, Marjorie, Matilda and Beth, and it makes for a pleasing read where you can almost visualise a 14th century Britain and everything going on. I don’t want to say too much more and give things away but, a brilliant read once again.
August 19, 2015
As a guy who shoots English Warbows for a hobby and a big fan of HF novels, every novel that has a connection with Robin Hood and medieval archery immediatlely sparks my interest.
Of course Robin Hood is a character that already has truckloads of films and books on his palmares, and Robin and his crew have been (alongside King arthur and his knights) Englands most popular heroes for the last 700 years, but still, a good writer can find enough angles to the Robin Hood legend to avoid the well trodden paths and cliche's.
I like Steven A. Mc Kays refreshing approach to Robin Hood in his Forest lord series
Stevens Robin Hood is not a disgraced earls son, reclaiming his heritage that was unjustly taken from him, and all of the romantic hubub that goes with that. He is Robin Hood back to basics, and the basics of the Earliest Robin Hood balads. Robin is a yeoman. Country bumpkin, farmers class…You know the kind.. the big strong guys from the outback who know the forest, and know how to poach and how to hunt. As a city slicker you don’t want to get into a tavern brawl with those. Following these roots, the author gets him the local village beauty as his wife, not a countess or a rich heiress (in distress).
McKay takes the liberty to put the whole Robin Hood plot into a lancastrian rebellion setting, and thus out of the well trodden paths of evil king John and Richard the Lioheart, but instead we get – a younger- Edward II Longshanks as the king. Excellent choice I think. And, just like in the early balads we’re playing out the legend not in Sherwood, but in Barnsdale forest,
Rise of the wolf is the third novel in the Forest Lord series.
After years, Robin and his gang are still out in the forest as outlaws, and that hard life in the open and the constant pressure of beïng on the edge all of the time slowly is taking its toll. Despite of them being lords of the forest they are not free, and they are still hunted by the Sheriff and Guy of Gisborne. Tuck cannot stand the pressure anymore and breaks free of the band. In the previous novel of the series `The Wolf and the Raven’ Robin and his gang already made a dash at a pardon to lift their outlaw status and return home to their villages, but they backed the wrong side of the Lancastrian rebellion, and ended up even worse.
Will they find a way to be free to live a normal life again in the `Rise of the Wolf? “. It is one of the undercurrents of this novel. Robin isn’t after saving the world or pursuing high ideals. All he just wants is to be happy with his wife and kid. But he is a formidable foe. Cunning and lethal. If you attack him or anyone he holds dear, just like a Wolf, he bites, and he bites hard. To me this makes him a credible hero.
Steven A. Mc Kay is a gifted talespinner Apart from the vivid and lively action and adventure, he also paints his characters with care, goodies as well as baddies. Rise of the Wolf has some very nice individual sideplots to the general storyline that Steven cleverly interlocks into the major events .
And of course there is the stuff of the legend.
We have the early balad of Robin and the Monk here. Steven A. Mc Kay combines that with the fairly late ballad of Robin Hood and the Golden Arrow, and blends it all seamlessly into the rest of the narrative fabric that unfolds before the eyes of reader in that pretty straight-forward style I like in Steven A. Mc Kays writing. The pace is kept steady and steaming and the pages flip past quickly, which made it nigh impossible for me to put down once I started it.
I really devoured `Rise of the Wolf’ to the last crumb, and am already looking forward to the next one l. On the extensive Robin Hood menu chart, the Forest Lord series is a very welcome addition. I think that with this third consecutive superb writing preformance in the series Steven A. Mc Kay has firmly cemented his own ` no nonsense- back to basics Robin Hood’ into position on the board.
As a fellow archer, this Robin Hood is a guy I would rather happily drink a few pints with after a shoot. *which of course he wins*
Of course Robin Hood is a character that already has truckloads of films and books on his palmares, and Robin and his crew have been (alongside King arthur and his knights) Englands most popular heroes for the last 700 years, but still, a good writer can find enough angles to the Robin Hood legend to avoid the well trodden paths and cliche's.
I like Steven A. Mc Kays refreshing approach to Robin Hood in his Forest lord series
Stevens Robin Hood is not a disgraced earls son, reclaiming his heritage that was unjustly taken from him, and all of the romantic hubub that goes with that. He is Robin Hood back to basics, and the basics of the Earliest Robin Hood balads. Robin is a yeoman. Country bumpkin, farmers class…You know the kind.. the big strong guys from the outback who know the forest, and know how to poach and how to hunt. As a city slicker you don’t want to get into a tavern brawl with those. Following these roots, the author gets him the local village beauty as his wife, not a countess or a rich heiress (in distress).
McKay takes the liberty to put the whole Robin Hood plot into a lancastrian rebellion setting, and thus out of the well trodden paths of evil king John and Richard the Lioheart, but instead we get – a younger- Edward II Longshanks as the king. Excellent choice I think. And, just like in the early balads we’re playing out the legend not in Sherwood, but in Barnsdale forest,
Rise of the wolf is the third novel in the Forest Lord series.
After years, Robin and his gang are still out in the forest as outlaws, and that hard life in the open and the constant pressure of beïng on the edge all of the time slowly is taking its toll. Despite of them being lords of the forest they are not free, and they are still hunted by the Sheriff and Guy of Gisborne. Tuck cannot stand the pressure anymore and breaks free of the band. In the previous novel of the series `The Wolf and the Raven’ Robin and his gang already made a dash at a pardon to lift their outlaw status and return home to their villages, but they backed the wrong side of the Lancastrian rebellion, and ended up even worse.
Will they find a way to be free to live a normal life again in the `Rise of the Wolf? “. It is one of the undercurrents of this novel. Robin isn’t after saving the world or pursuing high ideals. All he just wants is to be happy with his wife and kid. But he is a formidable foe. Cunning and lethal. If you attack him or anyone he holds dear, just like a Wolf, he bites, and he bites hard. To me this makes him a credible hero.
Steven A. Mc Kay is a gifted talespinner Apart from the vivid and lively action and adventure, he also paints his characters with care, goodies as well as baddies. Rise of the Wolf has some very nice individual sideplots to the general storyline that Steven cleverly interlocks into the major events .
And of course there is the stuff of the legend.
We have the early balad of Robin and the Monk here. Steven A. Mc Kay combines that with the fairly late ballad of Robin Hood and the Golden Arrow, and blends it all seamlessly into the rest of the narrative fabric that unfolds before the eyes of reader in that pretty straight-forward style I like in Steven A. Mc Kays writing. The pace is kept steady and steaming and the pages flip past quickly, which made it nigh impossible for me to put down once I started it.
I really devoured `Rise of the Wolf’ to the last crumb, and am already looking forward to the next one l. On the extensive Robin Hood menu chart, the Forest Lord series is a very welcome addition. I think that with this third consecutive superb writing preformance in the series Steven A. Mc Kay has firmly cemented his own ` no nonsense- back to basics Robin Hood’ into position on the board.
As a fellow archer, this Robin Hood is a guy I would rather happily drink a few pints with after a shoot. *which of course he wins*
July 25, 2015
I absolutely loved RISE OF THE WOLF.
Robin Hood is wishing he could live a normal life with his wife Matilda and his son Arthur. But he is still a Wolf's Head, an outlaw who still has to return to the forest after visits with his family. Sir Guy of Gisbourne was still pursuing Robin and his men. Gisbourne also known as the Raven had lost an eye and had the side of his face scarred from his last skirmish with Robin and would never give up pursuing Robin. He definitely wanted revenge.
At the same time Tuck decides to return to the monastery for a quieter life. He would take with him a priceless relic which he hoped would make him welcome there.
This book moves at a fast pace and is exciting and fun. Fantastic read!!!
Robin Hood is wishing he could live a normal life with his wife Matilda and his son Arthur. But he is still a Wolf's Head, an outlaw who still has to return to the forest after visits with his family. Sir Guy of Gisbourne was still pursuing Robin and his men. Gisbourne also known as the Raven had lost an eye and had the side of his face scarred from his last skirmish with Robin and would never give up pursuing Robin. He definitely wanted revenge.
At the same time Tuck decides to return to the monastery for a quieter life. He would take with him a priceless relic which he hoped would make him welcome there.
This book moves at a fast pace and is exciting and fun. Fantastic read!!!
December 29, 2023
Another winning entry in the Robin Hood saga. This author managed to really engross me into the story so well that the pages and time flew by. Very atmospheric, well thought out characters - even though some are a real nasty piece of work, and adventures galore.
If you are looking for a totally absorbing tale pick up this series. So glad I discovered this author!
If you are looking for a totally absorbing tale pick up this series. So glad I discovered this author!
July 30, 2015
This is the third book in the series and i can honestly say the books go from strength to strength.
A word that springs to mind about this series is "Growth" Not only has each story line improved on the previous one but Steven has managed to grow his characters superbly throughout the series. You can really tell the author has put a lot of time and energy into his work.
In my previous review for The Wolf and the Raven i commented on how i felt some of the characters only played small parts... not in this book. Steven managed to give a lot of the character the word count they deserved and ended up with a cracking story!
This book draws a line under the fight between Robin and Sir Guy and how the story plays out was brilliant. I even had my mouth open wide as i read as the story was that good i couldn't believe what i was reading
Again Steven took risks as with the previous book, things happened i didn't see coming but everything worked and there was a very interesting tale that developed with Robin's sister that i thought brought something extra to this book. It was nice to have more of a family connection throughout this tale.
If you've read my previous reviews you know i'm not one to give away plot details but for me all the events that Steven portrayed fitted so well together i can't think of anything i didn't like. I can imagine it would have taken quite some time to plan the events of this book and i don't think Steven could improve on it one bit, he has made a story that is by far the best I've read in a long time.
I'll definitely be buying these books as a gift for my dad, they are just brilliant and i think anyone who likes Robin Hood or just even enjoys a good tale would love to read them.
My advice.. buy the books.. and keep an eye out for Steven's next book. I for one can't wait to see what he comes up with next.
A word that springs to mind about this series is "Growth" Not only has each story line improved on the previous one but Steven has managed to grow his characters superbly throughout the series. You can really tell the author has put a lot of time and energy into his work.
In my previous review for The Wolf and the Raven i commented on how i felt some of the characters only played small parts... not in this book. Steven managed to give a lot of the character the word count they deserved and ended up with a cracking story!
This book draws a line under the fight between Robin and Sir Guy and how the story plays out was brilliant. I even had my mouth open wide as i read as the story was that good i couldn't believe what i was reading
Again Steven took risks as with the previous book, things happened i didn't see coming but everything worked and there was a very interesting tale that developed with Robin's sister that i thought brought something extra to this book. It was nice to have more of a family connection throughout this tale.
If you've read my previous reviews you know i'm not one to give away plot details but for me all the events that Steven portrayed fitted so well together i can't think of anything i didn't like. I can imagine it would have taken quite some time to plan the events of this book and i don't think Steven could improve on it one bit, he has made a story that is by far the best I've read in a long time.
I'll definitely be buying these books as a gift for my dad, they are just brilliant and i think anyone who likes Robin Hood or just even enjoys a good tale would love to read them.
My advice.. buy the books.. and keep an eye out for Steven's next book. I for one can't wait to see what he comes up with next.
December 18, 2024
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For more reviews, go to: https://wolfmantula.com/recent-posts/
————————————————————————————————
MY ⭐️ RATING: 4.75/5
FORMAT: Kindle Whispersync
I absolutely love this series, this is easily the best Robin Hood story there is, whether it be film or novel, nothing else compares! McKay does such a great job of building these characters and giving them so much depth. Each book focuses on certain characters growth more than others, and Rise of the Wolf focuses on Robin’s sister, Marjorie, as well as the outlaws, Allan-a-Dale & Gareth. Continuing to get to know all of these characters and seeing all the things they have to go through, is truly remarkable and exciting.
While McKay does a fantastic job of character depth, the best thing about what he does is his story-telling and how much he truly tries to stick to the original ballads, while also leaving his mark to make this his own work. It’s a remarkable story that finishes with an amazing payoff at the end. While this story was so good and full of excitement, it was also both brutal and sad. Reading the authors notes at the end, I’m kinda sad he toned down some of the brutality lol.
One thing I’ll never, ever complain about is the great narration by, Nick Ellsworth who just continues to do an incredible job, his voice work of the characters is top notch, the way it feels like he’s just as much into the story as I am, made it even better, you could feel the emotion of the scenes vividly with how he emoted it. There was one part where he had to speak like someone that was drunk and it actually had me giggling from just how good the slurring was. He just does such a phenomenal job of every aspect and makes a good story with good characters, even better.
The more I read this story, the more I love Robin Hood, this is truly the best Robin Hood story that I’ve read. Seeing his adventures play out with John Little, Will Scarlet & Friar Tuck, while trying to make a new life for all the outlaws and to come home to help raise his family with Matilda, while simultaneously having to deal with the despicable, Guy of Gisbourne and his former outlaw friend, Matt Groves. This is the type of story I can read over and over again, and what’s makes this even better is that it felt like a series finale, yet it’s the penultimate book of the series, so I can’t wait to find out what happens next after this somewhat, happy ending.
Follow me on X: Twitter.com/wolfmantula
For more reviews, go to: https://wolfmantula.com/recent-posts/
————————————————————————————————
MY ⭐️ RATING: 4.75/5
FORMAT: Kindle Whispersync
I absolutely love this series, this is easily the best Robin Hood story there is, whether it be film or novel, nothing else compares! McKay does such a great job of building these characters and giving them so much depth. Each book focuses on certain characters growth more than others, and Rise of the Wolf focuses on Robin’s sister, Marjorie, as well as the outlaws, Allan-a-Dale & Gareth. Continuing to get to know all of these characters and seeing all the things they have to go through, is truly remarkable and exciting.
While McKay does a fantastic job of character depth, the best thing about what he does is his story-telling and how much he truly tries to stick to the original ballads, while also leaving his mark to make this his own work. It’s a remarkable story that finishes with an amazing payoff at the end. While this story was so good and full of excitement, it was also both brutal and sad. Reading the authors notes at the end, I’m kinda sad he toned down some of the brutality lol.
One thing I’ll never, ever complain about is the great narration by, Nick Ellsworth who just continues to do an incredible job, his voice work of the characters is top notch, the way it feels like he’s just as much into the story as I am, made it even better, you could feel the emotion of the scenes vividly with how he emoted it. There was one part where he had to speak like someone that was drunk and it actually had me giggling from just how good the slurring was. He just does such a phenomenal job of every aspect and makes a good story with good characters, even better.
The more I read this story, the more I love Robin Hood, this is truly the best Robin Hood story that I’ve read. Seeing his adventures play out with John Little, Will Scarlet & Friar Tuck, while trying to make a new life for all the outlaws and to come home to help raise his family with Matilda, while simultaneously having to deal with the despicable, Guy of Gisbourne and his former outlaw friend, Matt Groves. This is the type of story I can read over and over again, and what’s makes this even better is that it felt like a series finale, yet it’s the penultimate book of the series, so I can’t wait to find out what happens next after this somewhat, happy ending.
February 27, 2024
very good adventure continued to a dazzling conclusion
I love these Robin Hood books. There’s lots of brotherhood, treachery, greed, love, and vengance to make a reader happy.
I was satisfied with many of the characters’ arcs. I wonder where it goes from here.
I love these Robin Hood books. There’s lots of brotherhood, treachery, greed, love, and vengance to make a reader happy.
I was satisfied with many of the characters’ arcs. I wonder where it goes from here.
April 30, 2019
Dontcha just love it when a series gets progressively better and better?! Looking forward to the final instalment!
November 27, 2015
While I had already read the print edition of this novel, I also enjoy revisiting some of my favourite tales as audiobooks. I will include my review of the story below, but I wanted to take the opportunity to praise Nick Ellsworth's reading of the novel as well. Ellsworth has narrated all of McKay's novels to date, and his familiarity with the series characters gives him the advantage as he narrates the stories as his voice easily adapts to each of his characters giving each a unique sound. His Friar Tuck and Little John are particularly well trademarked and recognizable and listening to Ellsworth read their lines is like listening to some old friends talking. Keep up the good work, Nick!
Here is the review I gave of the story in its print edition:
Rise Of The Wolf is the third in Steven McKay's Forest Lord series, a cycle of Robin Hood stories that place the legendary outlaw in the time frame of King Edward II, a century later than the age of Richard and John when most writers set the story.
I have enjoyed McKay's stories to date, but this one impressed me on a new level. Without getting into spoilers, the storyline is developed out of specific incidents told in several of the old Robin Hood ballads, but McKay has put a clever twist on a number of the familiar incidents. These twists are not gratuitous, but dovetail nicely with the narratives and character development established in the previous novels, and I was left quite impressed and pleased with the manner in which he pulled this off.
McKay's straight-forward style is consistent and well-suited to his story, but I also observed that there was considerable growth in the scope of his writing with this one. For me, the development of several of the characters showed nicely here, and several characters enjoy an interesting arc here, most especially the relatively minor character of Robin's little sister, Marjorie. We continue to explore the motivations of characters as diverse as King Edward II himself, Matt Groves, Guy of Gisbourne, the young outlaw named Gareth and a cleverly-conceived young monk named Osferth. All take on actions which make sense within the context of their characters; yet however reasoned their actions, the development of their characters also makes it clear why these characters are doomed to find their way into conflict with each other, and sometimes, greatly with themselves. This is good stuff.
I particularly appreciated the growth in Robin as a character in this novel. Thinking back to the character as he appeared in the first book, it would be easy to chart the changes as he navigated the rough river he's been tossed into, growing from inexperienced novice thief to outlaw leader to family man to seasoned warrior over just a short couple of years. This story takes him to new levels which I invite other readers to see for themselves.
As ever, McKay has a firm grip on the action. There are fights and chases, robberies and ruses, murders and executions. The pace is kept steady and steaming and the pages flip past quickly.
I certainly am looking forward to the final installment with anticipation and I will also look forward to following McKay into other periods or genres as he continues to spread his wings as a storyteller.
Here is the review I gave of the story in its print edition:
Rise Of The Wolf is the third in Steven McKay's Forest Lord series, a cycle of Robin Hood stories that place the legendary outlaw in the time frame of King Edward II, a century later than the age of Richard and John when most writers set the story.
I have enjoyed McKay's stories to date, but this one impressed me on a new level. Without getting into spoilers, the storyline is developed out of specific incidents told in several of the old Robin Hood ballads, but McKay has put a clever twist on a number of the familiar incidents. These twists are not gratuitous, but dovetail nicely with the narratives and character development established in the previous novels, and I was left quite impressed and pleased with the manner in which he pulled this off.
McKay's straight-forward style is consistent and well-suited to his story, but I also observed that there was considerable growth in the scope of his writing with this one. For me, the development of several of the characters showed nicely here, and several characters enjoy an interesting arc here, most especially the relatively minor character of Robin's little sister, Marjorie. We continue to explore the motivations of characters as diverse as King Edward II himself, Matt Groves, Guy of Gisbourne, the young outlaw named Gareth and a cleverly-conceived young monk named Osferth. All take on actions which make sense within the context of their characters; yet however reasoned their actions, the development of their characters also makes it clear why these characters are doomed to find their way into conflict with each other, and sometimes, greatly with themselves. This is good stuff.
I particularly appreciated the growth in Robin as a character in this novel. Thinking back to the character as he appeared in the first book, it would be easy to chart the changes as he navigated the rough river he's been tossed into, growing from inexperienced novice thief to outlaw leader to family man to seasoned warrior over just a short couple of years. This story takes him to new levels which I invite other readers to see for themselves.
As ever, McKay has a firm grip on the action. There are fights and chases, robberies and ruses, murders and executions. The pace is kept steady and steaming and the pages flip past quickly.
I certainly am looking forward to the final installment with anticipation and I will also look forward to following McKay into other periods or genres as he continues to spread his wings as a storyteller.
April 16, 2025
What to say about this novel? This is the third in the series and this time it deals, not just with the tale of Sir Guy of Gisbourne, but also with the legendary archery contest for the Silver Arrow – albeit both with some serious and interesting twists to them. Basically it is a good book but ...
I write historical fiction myself and, like most other authors, I write short background stories about the characters, sometime just a line, sometimes a page – none of this gets into the book as it is background. This helps when the action starts to get you inside the person’s head. McKay, rather than doing this, actually includes the back stories, something I am sure a good editor would have discouraged. Indeed, at times I found myself speed reading, something I later regretted as I had missed some salient points and had to backtrack.
The action is fast paced and creditable and the author’s grasp of outlaw life is far more realistic than that of most who write a Robin Hood tale. I have the fourth and final book in the series and I will read it and, no doubt, enjoy it.
There are some historical errors which, perhaps, those who are not students of the period would have missed: a bastard sword is not a two handed weapon – it is called a bastard because it is a hand and a half sword and thus neither purely single, not two handed. The term “heater shield” is Victorian: in period it was just a shield. Heretics were not burnt until Henry IV usurped the throne and wanted to curry favour with the Pope after arranging his cousin Richard II’s death. Last is the split arrow in the archer contest: no, you cannot split a wooden arrow – if you do hit a wooden arrow that is already in the target directly in the nock, it will shatter or shear the shaft. In the ballad “A Lytell Geste of Robyn Hode” it is a wand that is split – the wand being a slim willow branch that was used as a more difficult target than the roundel: the splitting of an arrow, rather than a wand first appeared in a 17thC story.
One final thing: I had hoped to pass these books onto my 11 year old grandson who is a big reader as well, like me, a traditional English archer, but the excessive use of the “f” word means that is not going to happen and it is so unnecessary.
03/032025: Well I have now actually seen an arrow split a wooden arrow - well jammed in its nock actually and presenting a double length arrow. The receiving arrow had a natural nock and the incoming arrow a small "bullet" target head. I doubt a normal target point, let alone a general purpose leaf arrow head, would have jammed itself in the nock but, there it is, I, and all in my re-enactment Household have seen something we never thought could be done.
I write historical fiction myself and, like most other authors, I write short background stories about the characters, sometime just a line, sometimes a page – none of this gets into the book as it is background. This helps when the action starts to get you inside the person’s head. McKay, rather than doing this, actually includes the back stories, something I am sure a good editor would have discouraged. Indeed, at times I found myself speed reading, something I later regretted as I had missed some salient points and had to backtrack.
The action is fast paced and creditable and the author’s grasp of outlaw life is far more realistic than that of most who write a Robin Hood tale. I have the fourth and final book in the series and I will read it and, no doubt, enjoy it.
There are some historical errors which, perhaps, those who are not students of the period would have missed: a bastard sword is not a two handed weapon – it is called a bastard because it is a hand and a half sword and thus neither purely single, not two handed. The term “heater shield” is Victorian: in period it was just a shield. Heretics were not burnt until Henry IV usurped the throne and wanted to curry favour with the Pope after arranging his cousin Richard II’s death. Last is the split arrow in the archer contest: no, you cannot split a wooden arrow – if you do hit a wooden arrow that is already in the target directly in the nock, it will shatter or shear the shaft. In the ballad “A Lytell Geste of Robyn Hode” it is a wand that is split – the wand being a slim willow branch that was used as a more difficult target than the roundel: the splitting of an arrow, rather than a wand first appeared in a 17thC story.
One final thing: I had hoped to pass these books onto my 11 year old grandson who is a big reader as well, like me, a traditional English archer, but the excessive use of the “f” word means that is not going to happen and it is so unnecessary.
03/032025: Well I have now actually seen an arrow split a wooden arrow - well jammed in its nock actually and presenting a double length arrow. The receiving arrow had a natural nock and the incoming arrow a small "bullet" target head. I doubt a normal target point, let alone a general purpose leaf arrow head, would have jammed itself in the nock but, there it is, I, and all in my re-enactment Household have seen something we never thought could be done.
July 30, 2015
So we now have a trilogy of Robin Hood stories and Rise Of The Wolf "being the third book" in the Forest Lord Series will not be the last. I'm pleased to hear we will have one more final book, but lets not get ahead of ourselves here!
What about Rise Of The Wolf? Well firstly I would like to add that not only has Robin Hood grown as a character but so has Steven A. McKay with his writing.
Robin Hood & friends are ever tested throughout the book, the relentless Sir Guy Of Gisbourne has recovered from his horrendous injuries inflicted on him by Robin and Sir Guy will do everything in his power to destroy not only Robin Hood but also Hoods family.
I loved the development of several characters in the book, there are to many to name here but whether the characters are good or evil makes no difference, they are all likeable in their own way.
The action moves at a steady pace and there are multiple story lines to keep you interested. At times I couldn't turn the pages quick enough in my excitement to find out what was happening to my favourite characters. There are fights, frantic chases across meadows, fields & woodlands, murders, double crossing and
an execution to round it all off!
I wait with excitement and anticipation for the fourth and final book in the series.
What about Rise Of The Wolf? Well firstly I would like to add that not only has Robin Hood grown as a character but so has Steven A. McKay with his writing.
Robin Hood & friends are ever tested throughout the book, the relentless Sir Guy Of Gisbourne has recovered from his horrendous injuries inflicted on him by Robin and Sir Guy will do everything in his power to destroy not only Robin Hood but also Hoods family.
I loved the development of several characters in the book, there are to many to name here but whether the characters are good or evil makes no difference, they are all likeable in their own way.
The action moves at a steady pace and there are multiple story lines to keep you interested. At times I couldn't turn the pages quick enough in my excitement to find out what was happening to my favourite characters. There are fights, frantic chases across meadows, fields & woodlands, murders, double crossing and
an execution to round it all off!
I wait with excitement and anticipation for the fourth and final book in the series.
August 5, 2015
There are three books so far in the Forest Lord Series - Wolf's Head, The Wolf and the Raven and Rise of the Wolf. I first found this series in 2014 and have waited patiently as each book was published. I was always interested in Robin Hood stories, starting when I was a child, so it was natural when I found these books to want to read them as well.
It is great to see Robin, Little John, Friar Tuck and all the other familiar characters come alive in these books. There is never a dull moment from the beginning of the book to the very end. Sir Guy of Gisbourne as the King's man, trying to apprehend the outlaws, always keeps you wondering what will happen next.
I was delighted that the third book in this series Rise of the Wolf was published on July 31, 2015. It was a great companion as I travelled home from a holiday. Time passed very quickly, following Robin and his merry men and their adventures.
I would definitely recommend these books by Steven A. McKay and was delighted to find that there will be one more book in the future!!
It is great to see Robin, Little John, Friar Tuck and all the other familiar characters come alive in these books. There is never a dull moment from the beginning of the book to the very end. Sir Guy of Gisbourne as the King's man, trying to apprehend the outlaws, always keeps you wondering what will happen next.
I was delighted that the third book in this series Rise of the Wolf was published on July 31, 2015. It was a great companion as I travelled home from a holiday. Time passed very quickly, following Robin and his merry men and their adventures.
I would definitely recommend these books by Steven A. McKay and was delighted to find that there will be one more book in the future!!
September 17, 2015
Review
So… always a tough review to write; when the author has been crazy …sorry kind enough to ask you to be part of the shaping of a book and beta read and feedback your thoughts on the book i find it quite difficult to write a review because i have more than one version swimming around in my head. I think Steven possibly deep down regretted asking me this time, i took the gloves off because it was book 3 in the series and book 4 over all and i think by the time i was done he felt like he had gone a few rounds with Gisbourne himself (sorry Steven).
For anyone who is ever lucky enough to be asked to get involved in something like this i highly recommend doing this because its very interesting and highly rewarding, especially when the author listens. I never think you can take credit for anything in the final draft, but you can feel some joy in little snippets you can see your quill dipped in.
read the rest of the review https://parmenionbooks.wordpress.com/...
So… always a tough review to write; when the author has been crazy …sorry kind enough to ask you to be part of the shaping of a book and beta read and feedback your thoughts on the book i find it quite difficult to write a review because i have more than one version swimming around in my head. I think Steven possibly deep down regretted asking me this time, i took the gloves off because it was book 3 in the series and book 4 over all and i think by the time i was done he felt like he had gone a few rounds with Gisbourne himself (sorry Steven).
For anyone who is ever lucky enough to be asked to get involved in something like this i highly recommend doing this because its very interesting and highly rewarding, especially when the author listens. I never think you can take credit for anything in the final draft, but you can feel some joy in little snippets you can see your quill dipped in.
read the rest of the review https://parmenionbooks.wordpress.com/...
August 20, 2015
Ein würdiger, dritter Teil
Robin Hood und seine Männer glauben nun ein Leben in Frieden und Freiheit führen zu können. doch dann kehrt ihr Erzfeind zurück: Guy of Gisborne. Und er hat Rache geschworen an den Wolf's Heads.
Wie bereits in den ersten beiden Bänden orientiert sich der Autor Steven A. McKay an den klassischen Geschichten über Robin Hood. Allerdings bekommen sie bei ihm einen realistischen Rahmen. Das Leben der Gesetzlosen ist geprägt von Gewalt, Armut und Furcht. In einem von Krieg und Hungersnöten zerrütteten Land kämpfen die Männer für Gerechtigkeit und ihr Überleben.
Der Schreibstil ist flüssig und auch im Original gut verständlich. Die Story ist temporeich und voller Action. Ich habe diesem Buch entgegengefiebert und konnte sein Erscheinen kaum erwarten. Der Autor hat es geschafft, sein Niveau zu halten und eine wunderbare, historische Serie geschaffen. Leider ist die Reihe nun beendet. Schade, aber schön war's.
Robin Hood und seine Männer glauben nun ein Leben in Frieden und Freiheit führen zu können. doch dann kehrt ihr Erzfeind zurück: Guy of Gisborne. Und er hat Rache geschworen an den Wolf's Heads.
Wie bereits in den ersten beiden Bänden orientiert sich der Autor Steven A. McKay an den klassischen Geschichten über Robin Hood. Allerdings bekommen sie bei ihm einen realistischen Rahmen. Das Leben der Gesetzlosen ist geprägt von Gewalt, Armut und Furcht. In einem von Krieg und Hungersnöten zerrütteten Land kämpfen die Männer für Gerechtigkeit und ihr Überleben.
Der Schreibstil ist flüssig und auch im Original gut verständlich. Die Story ist temporeich und voller Action. Ich habe diesem Buch entgegengefiebert und konnte sein Erscheinen kaum erwarten. Der Autor hat es geschafft, sein Niveau zu halten und eine wunderbare, historische Serie geschaffen. Leider ist die Reihe nun beendet. Schade, aber schön war's.
August 3, 2015
I was quite pleasantly surprised to find the author remembered that I had asked for more "family time" for the characters. I likely meant more character depth and I happily felt that was the case in book 3. Series often are like that, the readers grow and the characters grow.
The last chapter had a bit more violent deaths than I like but that was the times for sure. The book ended on a good and hopeful note for the family groups.
I will be expecting the sequel and perhaps the book about Friar Tuck.
Great job!
The last chapter had a bit more violent deaths than I like but that was the times for sure. The book ended on a good and hopeful note for the family groups.
I will be expecting the sequel and perhaps the book about Friar Tuck.
Great job!
July 26, 2015
Robin and his trusty friends must face the Raven once more, but this time Gisbourne thinks he's got the upper hand despite the injuries he previously suffered at the outlaw's hand.
McKay expands on our relationship with some key characters in this book, brings previously background players to the fore, and does it all with his engaging writing style and winning protagonists. I'm hopeful this won't be the last we hear of these intriguing almost-real people, especially after the events towards the end of the book. Keep up the excellent work, man!
McKay expands on our relationship with some key characters in this book, brings previously background players to the fore, and does it all with his engaging writing style and winning protagonists. I'm hopeful this won't be the last we hear of these intriguing almost-real people, especially after the events towards the end of the book. Keep up the excellent work, man!
July 30, 2015
FANTASTIC
Yet another tremendous read by Mr Steven A McKay, gripped from the 1st page to the last page, non stop action with well told story, intriguing plot with some very good informative chapters of other untouched characters who bring their own to this superb read, as the proud owner of the whole forest lord series to date i can hand on heart say that, this was the best to date, and that says a lot after my high opinions of the previous 2, this book as the rest of the collection is a must read for all fans of historical fiction.
Yet another tremendous read by Mr Steven A McKay, gripped from the 1st page to the last page, non stop action with well told story, intriguing plot with some very good informative chapters of other untouched characters who bring their own to this superb read, as the proud owner of the whole forest lord series to date i can hand on heart say that, this was the best to date, and that says a lot after my high opinions of the previous 2, this book as the rest of the collection is a must read for all fans of historical fiction.
October 23, 2015
Steven McKay does it again. The third book in the Forest Lord series is the best and I can't wait for the fourth and final book. The author takes the familiar Robin Hood stories and characters and then fleshes everything out. It is set during the reign of Edward II rather than Richard I. What is so great about this series but especially this third book is that the Steven McKay is giving all our main characters back stories and side stories which help us to understand their motives and actions. Three cheers for Robin Hood.
August 9, 2015
This is the third novel of the Forest Lord series. As before, it is a marvellous piece of writing with an engaging plot and outstanding characters. The story kept me on the edge of my seat right to the end. The author was able to keep up suspense and action. I especially enjoyed meeting all the characters again because they are so lifelike, and its like meeting old friends. Really an excellent novel!
January 10, 2016
The best yet of the already stellar Forest Lord series.
August 10, 2015
Good read but didn't manage to get into it as well as the previous books
July 18, 2025
I wrote an ordinary review for the first Forest Lord book, then a shorter rant about the second one. This time, let's try bullet points. Here are some takeaways from Rise of the Wolf:
Positives
- Steven A. McKay is a great storyteller. Even when he made decisions I found frustrating, he knows how to tell an engrossing story that captures the atmosphere of a medieval folk tale. Much like the first two books, there are numerous side quests that draw from Robin Hood's lore while adding a few neat twists to keep readers on their toes. It just goes to show that there are a few self-published gems out there. The storytelling is further strengthened by Nick Ellsworth's excellent audiobook narration.
- I like learning about the backstories of each of the outlaws, and I think spreading them out over the course of the series (ex. Will and Tuck in the first book, Little John in the second, Allan and Matt in the third) was a smart decision.
- The most controversial part of this book was clearly the decision to kill off Allan-a-Dale. Personally, I think this was a brave decision that added some realism and emotional weight to the story. I particularly liked how, after three books of the outlaws constantly complaining about Matt, we learn that Allan actually liked his old comrade, and was hurt by his betrayal. Similarly, I appreciated how the author came up with a creative way to finally off Guy of Gisbourne, making it a team effort between Robin, Matilda, and Marjorie. That said. . .
Negatives
- The Guy of the second book was arguably the best character in the story so far, but he clearly overstayed his welcome. Guy is a much less complex villain in the third book, and he strangely feels less threatening because of it. Nothing he does is any more malevolent than what the outlaws themselves do regularly, save his decision to target Robin's son in his last act, which feels like it was thrown in specifically for the purpose of making Robin and the outlaws look heroic by comparison.
- As with the first two novels, the framing of Robin and his gang as heroes doesn't sit well with me. It would be one thing if we were supposed to see the outlaws as anti-heroes, or as criminals starring in a crime drama, but we're not. We're told over and over again how honorable Robin is and how the good people of Wakefield and beyond view him and his gang as guardian angels, despite them being every bit as violent and amoral as most of the series' designated villains (if not quite as excessively as in the last book). One scene in the previous book that stuck with me (two, technically) involved one of the outlaws brutally murdering a woman who led him on so she could steal from him (remember, this is a story where the heroes are all thieves). You would think this would have had some lasting effect on the character, but no, it's never even mentioned. Instead we're told multiple times how honorable this man is. Throughout the series, McKay has men threaten women with violence as a means of emphasizing their villainy. Yet when one man chooses to act on it, it's brushed under the rug because, hey, he's one of Robin's friends, and she was a lying slut anyway.
- This book comes to a nice, definitive close. Which is why it's so baffling that there's a fourth book after this.
In Between
- The women in this story are . . . okay, I guess. Not the worst I've read, but certainly not the best either.
- Not all of the deaths worked as well as Allan's or Guy's. Osferth's felt unnecessarily cruel, and Gareth's just felt random.
Positives
- Steven A. McKay is a great storyteller. Even when he made decisions I found frustrating, he knows how to tell an engrossing story that captures the atmosphere of a medieval folk tale. Much like the first two books, there are numerous side quests that draw from Robin Hood's lore while adding a few neat twists to keep readers on their toes. It just goes to show that there are a few self-published gems out there. The storytelling is further strengthened by Nick Ellsworth's excellent audiobook narration.
- I like learning about the backstories of each of the outlaws, and I think spreading them out over the course of the series (ex. Will and Tuck in the first book, Little John in the second, Allan and Matt in the third) was a smart decision.
- The most controversial part of this book was clearly the decision to kill off Allan-a-Dale. Personally, I think this was a brave decision that added some realism and emotional weight to the story. I particularly liked how, after three books of the outlaws constantly complaining about Matt, we learn that Allan actually liked his old comrade, and was hurt by his betrayal. Similarly, I appreciated how the author came up with a creative way to finally off Guy of Gisbourne, making it a team effort between Robin, Matilda, and Marjorie. That said. . .
Negatives
- The Guy of the second book was arguably the best character in the story so far, but he clearly overstayed his welcome. Guy is a much less complex villain in the third book, and he strangely feels less threatening because of it. Nothing he does is any more malevolent than what the outlaws themselves do regularly, save his decision to target Robin's son in his last act, which feels like it was thrown in specifically for the purpose of making Robin and the outlaws look heroic by comparison.
- As with the first two novels, the framing of Robin and his gang as heroes doesn't sit well with me. It would be one thing if we were supposed to see the outlaws as anti-heroes, or as criminals starring in a crime drama, but we're not. We're told over and over again how honorable Robin is and how the good people of Wakefield and beyond view him and his gang as guardian angels, despite them being every bit as violent and amoral as most of the series' designated villains (if not quite as excessively as in the last book). One scene in the previous book that stuck with me (two, technically) involved one of the outlaws brutally murdering a woman who led him on so she could steal from him (remember, this is a story where the heroes are all thieves). You would think this would have had some lasting effect on the character, but no, it's never even mentioned. Instead we're told multiple times how honorable this man is. Throughout the series, McKay has men threaten women with violence as a means of emphasizing their villainy. Yet when one man chooses to act on it, it's brushed under the rug because, hey, he's one of Robin's friends, and she was a lying slut anyway.
- This book comes to a nice, definitive close. Which is why it's so baffling that there's a fourth book after this.
In Between
- The women in this story are . . . okay, I guess. Not the worst I've read, but certainly not the best either.
- Not all of the deaths worked as well as Allan's or Guy's. Osferth's felt unnecessarily cruel, and Gareth's just felt random.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 27, 2017
I think that in these days of writers being 'brave' and taking Robin Hood and changing him, it’s actually brave(r) to have a writer incorporating so many of the traditional legends into their story. Angus Donald took his Robin Hood very much away from the traditional, and thereby created his own legend. Steven, at least on the face of it, sticks more to the well-trodden forest paths of Robin and Sherwood (though, Yorkshire?). Which, as I said above, as we all 'know' what Robin Hood did and why, it's surely easier to pick holes in a story that doesn't quite serve up what we know, rather than one that goes a whole different way? Which is why, I think anyway, Steve's choice is perhaps the braver. But he's far from just up-dating the traditional tales for a 21st Century market. He's having a good look at what made Robin into Robin Hood. If you remember the recent version of Casino Royale, James Bond spends the film going through the process of becoming James Bond. Only at the very end, when he says to Mr White 'Bond, James Bond' is he Bond. So it is here.
Robin is a young lad, from a strong family background, maturing into the role of outlaw leader, and father figure. For the family he's come from, for the family of his own he is creating and for the family of outlaws he has assumed leadership of. Family, that's the word. He's maybe not trying to re-create what he had as a boy, or didn't have, but to forge his own, with Matilda, with the other outlaws. With family of course come responsibilities. Which Robin has learned over time to shoulder. The bonds between family members also need work, need to be unbreakable - and that's where his relationship with the outlaws is heading. It was started last time out with The Wolf and the Raven, here he warms to the task, challenged by old enemies and new problems.
As with the family theme, this isn't just about Robin Hood and no one else. The rest of the characters defy their 'minor' role. They're not just here to make up the numbers, or be beamed down with red shirts on... Especially the women. Those who were expected to stay home and mind the house, the farm, the cattle, the sheep, the harvest the food, while the men ran off into Sherwood and played outlaw. There needed to be very strong women characters in the Fourteenth Century, and Steven gives them to us. Giving Rise of the Wolf a whole new special edge for me.
It's a very open and accessible Robin Hood. No, I'm not entirely sure what that means either. Maybe that the story telling style makes it easy to get involved in the story and get close to the characters. Understand them, their problems, their reasoning, their situation and their motives All in all, very easy to get all caught up in, caring way too much and fist-pumping at the 'right' result. Great stuff!
The only book blog on the web: Speesh Reads
Robin is a young lad, from a strong family background, maturing into the role of outlaw leader, and father figure. For the family he's come from, for the family of his own he is creating and for the family of outlaws he has assumed leadership of. Family, that's the word. He's maybe not trying to re-create what he had as a boy, or didn't have, but to forge his own, with Matilda, with the other outlaws. With family of course come responsibilities. Which Robin has learned over time to shoulder. The bonds between family members also need work, need to be unbreakable - and that's where his relationship with the outlaws is heading. It was started last time out with The Wolf and the Raven, here he warms to the task, challenged by old enemies and new problems.
As with the family theme, this isn't just about Robin Hood and no one else. The rest of the characters defy their 'minor' role. They're not just here to make up the numbers, or be beamed down with red shirts on... Especially the women. Those who were expected to stay home and mind the house, the farm, the cattle, the sheep, the harvest the food, while the men ran off into Sherwood and played outlaw. There needed to be very strong women characters in the Fourteenth Century, and Steven gives them to us. Giving Rise of the Wolf a whole new special edge for me.
It's a very open and accessible Robin Hood. No, I'm not entirely sure what that means either. Maybe that the story telling style makes it easy to get involved in the story and get close to the characters. Understand them, their problems, their reasoning, their situation and their motives All in all, very easy to get all caught up in, caring way too much and fist-pumping at the 'right' result. Great stuff!
The only book blog on the web: Speesh Reads
August 31, 2021
The Most Human of the Robin Hood Stories
This was a very goodHandling of Robin Hood and the story there of. Overall it was quite engaging, very enthralling and in many respects, much more believable than any of the other and ways the Legend of a Robin Hood has been handled.
Especially if you know anything at all about the period of the 11th through 14th century, you can understand why the peasantry were crushed under the boot heels of the authoritarian and dictatorial dictates of the rich and powerful. It has amazing parallels to today’s society.
I won’t quibble too much with the a bit unbelievable lack of perceptions of what was coming during various scenarios, particularly by the men in the story.
Thank the lord the women could save the male parts when they fumbled into an ambush or dilemma. I do think, however, the families of the outlaws would’ve never been spared by the scurrilous bad guys as they blithely lived their lives out in the open of Wakefield.
One thing, though, at least I shan’t be reading the odious term “wolf’s heads” again in my foreseeable future.
This was a very goodHandling of Robin Hood and the story there of. Overall it was quite engaging, very enthralling and in many respects, much more believable than any of the other and ways the Legend of a Robin Hood has been handled.
Especially if you know anything at all about the period of the 11th through 14th century, you can understand why the peasantry were crushed under the boot heels of the authoritarian and dictatorial dictates of the rich and powerful. It has amazing parallels to today’s society.
I won’t quibble too much with the a bit unbelievable lack of perceptions of what was coming during various scenarios, particularly by the men in the story.
Thank the lord the women could save the male parts when they fumbled into an ambush or dilemma. I do think, however, the families of the outlaws would’ve never been spared by the scurrilous bad guys as they blithely lived their lives out in the open of Wakefield.
One thing, though, at least I shan’t be reading the odious term “wolf’s heads” again in my foreseeable future.
July 15, 2017
And the Robin Hood saga continues through this book which sees - sadly - the death of more of Robin's men, and the ultimate demise of the dastardly Guy of Gisbourne.
This should have been the final volume with Robin and his men all being pardoned and Robin - unbelievably - becoming a member of the Sheriff of Nottingham's troops. Yes, a member of the Sheriff's men! Never saw that one coming. It's almost like he sells out in the end once he has his pardon, but really, what's he going to do, settle down with Matilda and young Arthur and become a farmer? So, it does make sense.
Onward now, to the 4th and final installment, but first a short side trip to the novella "Friar Tuck's Christmas" and a couple of short stories, "The Rescue" and "The Prisoner."
This should have been the final volume with Robin and his men all being pardoned and Robin - unbelievably - becoming a member of the Sheriff of Nottingham's troops. Yes, a member of the Sheriff's men! Never saw that one coming. It's almost like he sells out in the end once he has his pardon, but really, what's he going to do, settle down with Matilda and young Arthur and become a farmer? So, it does make sense.
Onward now, to the 4th and final installment, but first a short side trip to the novella "Friar Tuck's Christmas" and a couple of short stories, "The Rescue" and "The Prisoner."
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
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