"Sherwood Untold: The Journey" is the first book in a trilogy written by newcomer Ekaterina Crawford. Inspired by BBC's "Robin Hood" television series, the story is about a talented female London attorney who is transported to Sherwood Forest - and back in time to the age of Robin Hood. After being mistaken for someone else, she is taken to Nottingham to complete a mission. She must use her intelligence and wit to stay alive, and find a way to return home.
The original characters in the story are well-written, and there is enough back story for each of them to give the reader the information needed without it becoming to overwhelming. The heroine, Christine, is smart, clever, and independent. She knows how to take care of herself. The other minor characters are written in such a way as to provide Christine's history and motivation without getting in the way of the main storyline.
The historical characters are easily recognizable, and fans of the show will appreciate their descriptions and quirks. There are some callbacks to the series that make for fun little Easter eggs, but it is not necessary to have watched the show to appreciate the story. The Sheriff is sufficiently wicked in his scheming. Allan A'Dale is a henchman in this story. Robin, Maid Marian, Friar Tuck, and Little John all make appearances, as well. After all, it is Sherwood Forest.
The unexpected male lead - and potential love interest - in the story is Sir Guy of Gisborne. In the show, he was a complex character that had the most growth over the course of the series, and that complexity is carried over into this original story. Ms. Crawford has done a wonderful job of continuing the journey of the character (as portrayed by Richard Armitage) while giving the reader an insight into what drives him, and why he does what he does for the Sheriff.
There were a few grammatical errors, misspellings, and such, but they were few and far between, and did not detract from the flow. The story moves quickly, and the reader wants to know what happens next. It could easily have been a storyline for another season as it has the same feel as the original show. It has its dark moments, but, overall, it is a fun, light-hearted read. By the time I got to the end, I was ready for book two.
I highly recommend this book to anyone who enjoys historical fiction, romance, BBC's "Robin Hood," or to someone who is looking for something fast and fun to read. It is a book that I will read again and again.
**I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.**