What do you think?
Brightfall
Someone is murdering the Merry Men - and if Marian doesn't stop them, her children will be the next to die: a wonderful re-imagining of Robin Hood and Maid Marian, perfect for fans of Katherine Arden, Naomi Novik and Christina Henry.
It's been a mostly quiet life since Robin Hood denounced Marian, his pregnant wife, and his former life and retreated to a monastery to repent his sins . . . although no one knows what he did that was so heinous he would leave behind Sherwood Forest and those he loved most.
But when friends from their outlaw days start dying, Father Tuck, now the Abbott of St. Mary's, suspects a curse and begs Marian to use her magic to break it. A grieving Marian bargains for protection for her children before she sets out with a soldier who's lost his faith, a trickster Fey lord and a sullen Robin Hood, angry at being drawn back into the real world.
Marian soon finds herself enmeshed in a maze of betrayals, tangled relationships and a vicious struggle for the Fey throne . . . and if she can't find and stop the spell-caster, no protection in Sherwood Forest will be enough to save her children.
It's been a mostly quiet life since Robin Hood denounced Marian, his pregnant wife, and his former life and retreated to a monastery to repent his sins . . . although no one knows what he did that was so heinous he would leave behind Sherwood Forest and those he loved most.
But when friends from their outlaw days start dying, Father Tuck, now the Abbott of St. Mary's, suspects a curse and begs Marian to use her magic to break it. A grieving Marian bargains for protection for her children before she sets out with a soldier who's lost his faith, a trickster Fey lord and a sullen Robin Hood, angry at being drawn back into the real world.
Marian soon finds herself enmeshed in a maze of betrayals, tangled relationships and a vicious struggle for the Fey throne . . . and if she can't find and stop the spell-caster, no protection in Sherwood Forest will be enough to save her children.
320 pages, Hardcover
First published September 5, 2019
About the author
Jaime Lee Moyer
24 books207 followersJaime Lee Moyer writes fantasy and science fiction, herds cats, is an occasional poet, and maker of tangible things. Her first novel, Delia's Shadow, was published by Tor Books, and won the 2009 Literary Award for Fiction, administrated by Thurber House and funded by the Columbus Arts Council. Two sequels, A Barricade In Hell and Against A Brightening Sky, were also published by Tor. Her new novel, Brightfall, will be out from Jo Fletcher Books on September 5, 2019.
She writes a lot. She reads as much as she can.
You can find Jaime on Twitter:
Follow
@jaimeleemoyer
She writes a lot. She reads as much as she can.
You can find Jaime on Twitter:
Follow
@jaimeleemoyer
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 94 reviews
July 2, 2019
Set some twelve years after the adventure tales we're all familiar with, Brightfall takes the elements of the Robin Hood mythos and turns them on their head. Robin is no longer the joyful, daring adventurer of his Sherwood Forest days, but rather a bitter and often petty man who abandoned his family to retreat into a monastery. Most importantly, Marian is neither the damsel in distress nor a badass female version of Robin himself, but rather a forest wise woman who relies on her magic, intellect, and determination to investigate the murders of the former Merry Men.
It's that dichotomy that makes Brightfall so unique – never pandering to our expectations of a "Robin Hood Story™" but rather taking us down a path that's part mystery, part fairy tale, and rich in nuance and complications. I've never read a fantasy novel in which the characters were so internally conflicted. Nothing is easy, no decision obvious. It's rather like real life in that way. In fact, that's the sense I had throughout most of the book, that for good or ill, in a world of magic and fae beings, this is probably what it would feel like to be on Marian's quest.
This same aspect of Brightfall also keeps me from describing it as a joyous romp. It's not fun, particularly. There are lots of fun elements, but there's a melancholy quality to the novel that's entirely in tune with the book's heroine. Marian isn't on this journey for the adventure of it. She wants to be home with her children, given the chance to grieve for lost loved ones, but with more of her old friends being killed by this mysterious force, she has no choice but to seek out this hidden enemy.
Brightfall masters its subject's tone and voice, blending fairy tale elements seamlessly into a more realist narrative, held together by the honesty of its main character. Watching Marian's inner candour juxtaposed with Robin's isolating self-hatred is quite remarkable, and I think Jaime Lee Moyer has shown herself to be a fabulous writer.
It's that dichotomy that makes Brightfall so unique – never pandering to our expectations of a "Robin Hood Story™" but rather taking us down a path that's part mystery, part fairy tale, and rich in nuance and complications. I've never read a fantasy novel in which the characters were so internally conflicted. Nothing is easy, no decision obvious. It's rather like real life in that way. In fact, that's the sense I had throughout most of the book, that for good or ill, in a world of magic and fae beings, this is probably what it would feel like to be on Marian's quest.
This same aspect of Brightfall also keeps me from describing it as a joyous romp. It's not fun, particularly. There are lots of fun elements, but there's a melancholy quality to the novel that's entirely in tune with the book's heroine. Marian isn't on this journey for the adventure of it. She wants to be home with her children, given the chance to grieve for lost loved ones, but with more of her old friends being killed by this mysterious force, she has no choice but to seek out this hidden enemy.
Brightfall masters its subject's tone and voice, blending fairy tale elements seamlessly into a more realist narrative, held together by the honesty of its main character. Watching Marian's inner candour juxtaposed with Robin's isolating self-hatred is quite remarkable, and I think Jaime Lee Moyer has shown herself to be a fabulous writer.
September 5, 2019
Brightfall is a retelling of the story of Robin Hood and Maid Marian, and what a spectacular historical fantasy it was. I adored the fact that Marian was the central character and with her personality traits it's difficult not to admire her; strong, independent and opinionated protagonists always grab my attention. The weaving together of the fantasy and real worlds is done seamlessly and Moyer's prose is nothing less than mesmerising making this a pure pleasure to read. Right from the beginning, I was drawn into an immersive world of myth and legend; it's very entertaining as well as having an intense, exciting plot and relatable characters.
Where the book lacks in pace it makes up for in action, intrigue and a cast of diverse people. This is basically a thrilling murder mystery set primarily in the world of the Fae and has that wonderful fairy-tale vibe to it. There are twists upon twists upon twists and they just keep on blindsiding you every time; I don't quite know how Moyer did it! There are often times when authors either neglect the plot in order to focus on character development or vice versa, but not here; I found the attention to detail was excellent for almost everything. I was genuinely depressed when I came to the end as I wanted to inhabit this crazy, cosy world for longer. Highly recommended. Many thanks to Jo Fletcher for an ARC.
Where the book lacks in pace it makes up for in action, intrigue and a cast of diverse people. This is basically a thrilling murder mystery set primarily in the world of the Fae and has that wonderful fairy-tale vibe to it. There are twists upon twists upon twists and they just keep on blindsiding you every time; I don't quite know how Moyer did it! There are often times when authors either neglect the plot in order to focus on character development or vice versa, but not here; I found the attention to detail was excellent for almost everything. I was genuinely depressed when I came to the end as I wanted to inhabit this crazy, cosy world for longer. Highly recommended. Many thanks to Jo Fletcher for an ARC.
October 9, 2019
I received this book from Jo Fletcher Books in exchange for an honest review.
12 years on from being abandoned by Robin Hood, Maid Marion is happy raising her children, and helping the people of Sherwood Forest in the ways she can with her special powers of magic and relationship with the Fae. When Friar Tuck comes to Marion with terrible news of the deaths of several of their friends in mysterious circumstances, Marion ends up on a journey with her ex-husband, a tricksy Fae lord and a sullen warrior to discover what is happening and to stop the killer coming for her children.
I really loved a lot of things about this book from a new and interesting look at the character of Maid Marion - who I feel is often an underused character in Robin Hood stories, and can at other times fall into any kind of category from damsel in distress to badass warrior princess. I loved this magical version of Marion and it felt really natural that she would be a hedgewitch, helping people with their ailments and with a special relationship with the fae and the dragon of Sherwood Forest. Yes, dragon!!
Some of the descriptive writing in this about the fae, the different kinds of magical creatures and just the general description of the nature and surroundings were so beautiful, I really loved it. I really loved the magic used in this book too - it wasn't flashy by any means, but quite subtle and in a way, it felt more real and authentic. I think people who love the fae in The Cruel Prince, would like the fae in this book. I wish we saw more of Underhill, the fae world, in this book as we only got descriptions but never saw what it was like ourselves so that would have been cool.
The villain in this book, despite doing some scary things wasn't actually that scary for me, and I felt the reveal seemed a bit obvious. The ending with the villain also felt a bit anti-climatic - I know there was suppose to be a sadness there as well over it all, which is true, there was, but I wanted more of a fight I think.
One of the things in this book however, that I just can't get over is how Robin Hood is portrayed. I hated seeing what a vile, bitter person he was. The Robin Hood I grew up watching and being told stories about would never become the Robin in this book, and the way he treated Marion and how he talked to her was truly unforgivable. For readers who love the tale and figure of Robin Hood, prepare to have your hearts broken in this book!
12 years on from being abandoned by Robin Hood, Maid Marion is happy raising her children, and helping the people of Sherwood Forest in the ways she can with her special powers of magic and relationship with the Fae. When Friar Tuck comes to Marion with terrible news of the deaths of several of their friends in mysterious circumstances, Marion ends up on a journey with her ex-husband, a tricksy Fae lord and a sullen warrior to discover what is happening and to stop the killer coming for her children.
I really loved a lot of things about this book from a new and interesting look at the character of Maid Marion - who I feel is often an underused character in Robin Hood stories, and can at other times fall into any kind of category from damsel in distress to badass warrior princess. I loved this magical version of Marion and it felt really natural that she would be a hedgewitch, helping people with their ailments and with a special relationship with the fae and the dragon of Sherwood Forest. Yes, dragon!!
Some of the descriptive writing in this about the fae, the different kinds of magical creatures and just the general description of the nature and surroundings were so beautiful, I really loved it. I really loved the magic used in this book too - it wasn't flashy by any means, but quite subtle and in a way, it felt more real and authentic. I think people who love the fae in The Cruel Prince, would like the fae in this book. I wish we saw more of Underhill, the fae world, in this book as we only got descriptions but never saw what it was like ourselves so that would have been cool.
The villain in this book, despite doing some scary things wasn't actually that scary for me, and I felt the reveal seemed a bit obvious. The ending with the villain also felt a bit anti-climatic - I know there was suppose to be a sadness there as well over it all, which is true, there was, but I wanted more of a fight I think.
One of the things in this book however, that I just can't get over is how Robin Hood is portrayed. I hated seeing what a vile, bitter person he was. The Robin Hood I grew up watching and being told stories about would never become the Robin in this book, and the way he treated Marion and how he talked to her was truly unforgivable. For readers who love the tale and figure of Robin Hood, prepare to have your hearts broken in this book!
August 17, 2019
I received an advance ebook through NetGalley.
The mythology of Robin Hood is twisted in delightfully fresh ways in Moyer's Brightfall. Picking up about a decade after the disbanding of the Merry Men, the book finds Maid Marian as a mother of twins and a competent witch. (Let me emphasis the competent bit, as that was one of the joys of this book--she's darn good with magic and a savvy lady. This isn't a book with a Too Stupid to Live lead character.) Robin Hood is her children's father, but he is not involved in their lives. Instead, he has abandoned them--and the larger world--to live in a monastery, an embittered man who hides behind his excessive piety.
This version of Robin Hood is a jolt, no denying that. I think Robin, I think fun, charismatic, jovial. But this Robin feels realistic, sadly so, and Marian is as jolted by what has happened to Robin as the reader is. She never stops mourning the change in the man she once loved.
When word comes to Marian that the Merry Men and their families are being murdered, she must act. She's forced to partner up with Robin, neither of them happy about the arrangement, as she searches for clues about the killer's identity. As Robin has become a supreme jerk, I was concerned that the book might rekindle the romance with Robin--not so! The book wonderfully subverts that trope, as it does so many during the course of the the plot. Also, I loved that a fox character brings brightness to the novel; I'm not sure if that was intended as a nod to Disney's animated Robin Hood, but I relished it nevertheless.
This is truly a fun mash-up of historical fantasy and murder mystery. The familiar is made new and different, and the story brings constant surprises. I read through this incredibly fast--about half the book in a single setting--and I was sorry to see it end. There's a cozy feel to this world that left me yearning to settle into a cottage next door to Marian's and watch the fae frolic about Sherwood Forest.
The mythology of Robin Hood is twisted in delightfully fresh ways in Moyer's Brightfall. Picking up about a decade after the disbanding of the Merry Men, the book finds Maid Marian as a mother of twins and a competent witch. (Let me emphasis the competent bit, as that was one of the joys of this book--she's darn good with magic and a savvy lady. This isn't a book with a Too Stupid to Live lead character.) Robin Hood is her children's father, but he is not involved in their lives. Instead, he has abandoned them--and the larger world--to live in a monastery, an embittered man who hides behind his excessive piety.
This version of Robin Hood is a jolt, no denying that. I think Robin, I think fun, charismatic, jovial. But this Robin feels realistic, sadly so, and Marian is as jolted by what has happened to Robin as the reader is. She never stops mourning the change in the man she once loved.
When word comes to Marian that the Merry Men and their families are being murdered, she must act. She's forced to partner up with Robin, neither of them happy about the arrangement, as she searches for clues about the killer's identity. As Robin has become a supreme jerk, I was concerned that the book might rekindle the romance with Robin--not so! The book wonderfully subverts that trope, as it does so many during the course of the the plot. Also, I loved that a fox character brings brightness to the novel; I'm not sure if that was intended as a nod to Disney's animated Robin Hood, but I relished it nevertheless.
This is truly a fun mash-up of historical fantasy and murder mystery. The familiar is made new and different, and the story brings constant surprises. I read through this incredibly fast--about half the book in a single setting--and I was sorry to see it end. There's a cozy feel to this world that left me yearning to settle into a cottage next door to Marian's and watch the fae frolic about Sherwood Forest.
August 31, 2019
Marian is an independent woman of magic - yes, okay, a witch - and her Fae allies are steeped in glamour and treachery. Robin has fled the greenwood for the abbey, and is called back unwilling to be her protector as she tries to solve the mystery of the Merry Men's murders. The stage is set for a bickering road trip where faith and sin will clash with magic as the couple's past comes back to the haunt them.
In spite of the magical trappings, the book is at its best when it focuses on the commonplace; the down to earth details of parenting, contrasting sibling bonds, tensions between estranged lovers, the twin arrows of guilt and grief. And for me, the two sides of the narrative didn't quite gel. While I was initially delighted to discover this was a novel of the Fae (and loved the depiction of the Court), I would have liked rather more of the Court or considerably less of the Fae full stop (the Trickster, in particular, is a brilliant character but so powerful I was left wondering why Marian's quest was required at all). I preferred Marian's exhausting, bounded hedgewitchery to the Trickster's near-unlimited ability to drain the threat from a situation with a glamour or a wave of the hand.
I recommend it for lovers of retellings and tales of the Fae, but I provide a warning to lovers of Robin Hood: this is not the usual Robin; his transformation here into a man warring with his faith and his self-deceit, dodging his responsibilities and hiding from his sins was one of my favourite aspects, but will not make lovers of the Prince of Thieves happy.
The threads of romance - love abandoned, love lost, love planting its first seeds - are handled well, interwoven with themes of responsibility and redemption (along with regular outrage at Robin bloody Hood). But for me it skims a little too lightly, never quite peeling back the layers implied by the narrative.
But this is Marian's story, first and foremost - and with her tale, at least, I was well satisfied.
3.5 stars
In spite of the magical trappings, the book is at its best when it focuses on the commonplace; the down to earth details of parenting, contrasting sibling bonds, tensions between estranged lovers, the twin arrows of guilt and grief. And for me, the two sides of the narrative didn't quite gel. While I was initially delighted to discover this was a novel of the Fae (and loved the depiction of the Court), I would have liked rather more of the Court or considerably less of the Fae full stop (the Trickster, in particular, is a brilliant character but so powerful I was left wondering why Marian's quest was required at all). I preferred Marian's exhausting, bounded hedgewitchery to the Trickster's near-unlimited ability to drain the threat from a situation with a glamour or a wave of the hand.
I recommend it for lovers of retellings and tales of the Fae, but I provide a warning to lovers of Robin Hood: this is not the usual Robin; his transformation here into a man warring with his faith and his self-deceit, dodging his responsibilities and hiding from his sins was one of my favourite aspects, but will not make lovers of the Prince of Thieves happy.
The threads of romance - love abandoned, love lost, love planting its first seeds - are handled well, interwoven with themes of responsibility and redemption (along with regular outrage at Robin bloody Hood). But for me it skims a little too lightly, never quite peeling back the layers implied by the narrative.
But this is Marian's story, first and foremost - and with her tale, at least, I was well satisfied.
3.5 stars
August 2, 2019
I can't believe I am saying this, but Robin was such an asshat! Ugh, I wanted to kick him in the nuts! But luckily this is not his book.
It is not your usual kind of Robin Hood. There is magic, dragons and Fae. But the Church is winning ground, men are turning to logic and magic is dying and will be forgotten. So maybe this is what really happened then.
Marian is a witch, she lives with her twins in Sherwood since Robin annulled their marriage 12 years ago and went to live in a monastery. Luckily she does have Will who came into her life more and more to help out. Grr Robin! Asshat! And I liked this Marian, sure she had Will, but she does not need a man, she does fine on her own. She is strong, she knows her craft and she takes no bs.
But someone is killing the merry men and Tuck asks Marian to investigate as dark magic is a foot.
The Fae show up, I liked it without saying more, there was a fool that amused me.
Robin is being more asshattery than usual (swift nutkick). He was a zealot.
Dark magic, death, Fae, a dragon! Two new nice sidekicks too, without saying more.
I enjoyed this continuation of the story you thought you new. As the story progressed I did understand why Robin turned into a zealot too, still, I can not forgive him. All I wanted was Marian's happiness and that I got.
It is not your usual kind of Robin Hood. There is magic, dragons and Fae. But the Church is winning ground, men are turning to logic and magic is dying and will be forgotten. So maybe this is what really happened then.
Marian is a witch, she lives with her twins in Sherwood since Robin annulled their marriage 12 years ago and went to live in a monastery. Luckily she does have Will who came into her life more and more to help out. Grr Robin! Asshat! And I liked this Marian, sure she had Will, but she does not need a man, she does fine on her own. She is strong, she knows her craft and she takes no bs.
But someone is killing the merry men and Tuck asks Marian to investigate as dark magic is a foot.
The Fae show up, I liked it without saying more, there was a fool that amused me.
Robin is being more asshattery than usual (swift nutkick). He was a zealot.
Dark magic, death, Fae, a dragon! Two new nice sidekicks too, without saying more.
I enjoyed this continuation of the story you thought you new. As the story progressed I did understand why Robin turned into a zealot too, still, I can not forgive him. All I wanted was Marian's happiness and that I got.
April 3, 2019
*4.5 stars*
Set many years after King Richard's return to England - and 12 years after Robin Hood left his family to retreat into a monastery - this story is told from Marian's point of view, and it really is deliciously fun, magical and absorbing. (It even has a fabulous dragon in Sherwood Forest!) I had a couple of very tiny nitpicks along the way, but honestly, by the time I sat down to write this review, I couldn't bear to even write any of them out because they're SO small by comparison to the huge enjoyment I got from this book - I just devoured it! And I can't wait for the next book from Jaime Lee Moyer.
This is the blurb I sent off for the book the moment I finished it, which really says everything important:
"Brightfall is beautiful inside and out, gorgeously written and filled with bittersweet magic. A lush, immersive read, perfect for readers of Juliet Marillier. I loved it."
Set many years after King Richard's return to England - and 12 years after Robin Hood left his family to retreat into a monastery - this story is told from Marian's point of view, and it really is deliciously fun, magical and absorbing. (It even has a fabulous dragon in Sherwood Forest!) I had a couple of very tiny nitpicks along the way, but honestly, by the time I sat down to write this review, I couldn't bear to even write any of them out because they're SO small by comparison to the huge enjoyment I got from this book - I just devoured it! And I can't wait for the next book from Jaime Lee Moyer.
This is the blurb I sent off for the book the moment I finished it, which really says everything important:
"Brightfall is beautiful inside and out, gorgeously written and filled with bittersweet magic. A lush, immersive read, perfect for readers of Juliet Marillier. I loved it."
July 27, 2019
This is one of the few non-horror/dark fantasy books that I've read this year, but I've always enjoyed Jaime's writing, so I didn't think twice about picking it up.
Jaime's style draws me in with her emotionally centered female characters and Brightfall is no exception to this rule. Told from Marian's point of view, the book puts a neat twist on the Robin tale with lots of references to Celtic magic and Robin Hood lore. The characters and their motivations are solid and believable, yet wrapped in a magical world that is hidden just beneath our own.
One part murder mystery, one part fairy tale, Brightfall will satisfy lovers of high fantasy who are looking for a new twist on the Robin Tale legend.
Highly recommended.
Jaime's style draws me in with her emotionally centered female characters and Brightfall is no exception to this rule. Told from Marian's point of view, the book puts a neat twist on the Robin tale with lots of references to Celtic magic and Robin Hood lore. The characters and their motivations are solid and believable, yet wrapped in a magical world that is hidden just beneath our own.
One part murder mystery, one part fairy tale, Brightfall will satisfy lovers of high fantasy who are looking for a new twist on the Robin Tale legend.
Highly recommended.
September 25, 2019
I actually didnt mind the concept of the murder mystery fantasy style story. My issue was with the characters and plot. The characters were just annoying. The plot pretty uninteresting and slow. Ive never been the biggest fan of the fairy tale fantasy, so that probably didn't help. Some of the fae just seemed weird. At times they seemed all powerful but then Marian could just summon some at will etc. This all just confused me.
July 6, 2019
What happens after a legend is over?
Twelve years ago, after their days with the Merry Men, Robin renounced Marian leaving her to fend for herself and their unborn twins, to go into a monastery. It had been her magic had kept them safe from the Sheriff of Nottingham as they hid in Sherwood Forest. But now something is killing their friends. Tuck asks Marian to find out who is weaving the murderous curse before anyone else dies. Marian knows the ways of the fae and the other creatures of magic, but once she begins to understand what is going on, she is far from certain her magic is strong enough to undo what has been done and stop more of those she cares for being killed.
What I really enjoyed:
The setting. Everyone knows of Robin Hood and Maid Marian and the many different tales told about them and the Merry Men who steal from the rich and protect the poor. It is a legend that is quintessentially English. The author takes that known foundation as a launch pad into a fantasy world setting that is still, recognisably, medieval England. The magic is woven into the fabric of the world with seamless skill and seems to simply belong.
The characters. These are familiar friends about whom the reader already knows so much. That could have been a huge issue as reader expectations are already established. But the development of the characters flows naturally from their legends. It is as if they each step into view on the stage of this story from the shadows of their legend and become real and vivid as they do so. Marian is a strong heroine, not with weapons of war but with her mind and her magic. It is through her perceptive eyes we see the others.
The story. From the first, I found it drew me in. Those who we learn had been killed were characters I already knew and that meant I was quickly bound with Marian to want to find who and why. The journey to find out is one of character growth and discovery as well as mystery solving and action scenes. The denouement is very fitting for the story, but the afterword, for me lacked something of natural justice.
What I struggled with:
Fantasy tropes. Here and there in the story, I began to feel that there were fantasy elements being added in for the sake of, well, fantasy. Dragon? Check. Merfolk? Check. Griffin? Check. Sometimes it seemed more as if such things were there to fill out the fantasy feel than because they provided anything specific and vital to the plot.
Emotional depth. Whilst the majority of the writing is emotionally powerful, the responses to one or two key events seemed out of kilter with the impact of those events. Whilst it is true people respond differently to such things, a couple of times that seemed to drift a tiny bit out of plausibility for me.
Overall thoughts:
I really loved this book, for all its minor flaws. It is a well-written whodunit/fantasy/thriller. If, like me, you were raised on tales of Robin Hood and you still enjoy fantasy novels, then take a look inside. You’ll be drawn into taking one more journey beneath the greenwood tree.
Twelve years ago, after their days with the Merry Men, Robin renounced Marian leaving her to fend for herself and their unborn twins, to go into a monastery. It had been her magic had kept them safe from the Sheriff of Nottingham as they hid in Sherwood Forest. But now something is killing their friends. Tuck asks Marian to find out who is weaving the murderous curse before anyone else dies. Marian knows the ways of the fae and the other creatures of magic, but once she begins to understand what is going on, she is far from certain her magic is strong enough to undo what has been done and stop more of those she cares for being killed.
What I really enjoyed:
The setting. Everyone knows of Robin Hood and Maid Marian and the many different tales told about them and the Merry Men who steal from the rich and protect the poor. It is a legend that is quintessentially English. The author takes that known foundation as a launch pad into a fantasy world setting that is still, recognisably, medieval England. The magic is woven into the fabric of the world with seamless skill and seems to simply belong.
The characters. These are familiar friends about whom the reader already knows so much. That could have been a huge issue as reader expectations are already established. But the development of the characters flows naturally from their legends. It is as if they each step into view on the stage of this story from the shadows of their legend and become real and vivid as they do so. Marian is a strong heroine, not with weapons of war but with her mind and her magic. It is through her perceptive eyes we see the others.
The story. From the first, I found it drew me in. Those who we learn had been killed were characters I already knew and that meant I was quickly bound with Marian to want to find who and why. The journey to find out is one of character growth and discovery as well as mystery solving and action scenes. The denouement is very fitting for the story, but the afterword, for me lacked something of natural justice.
What I struggled with:
Fantasy tropes. Here and there in the story, I began to feel that there were fantasy elements being added in for the sake of, well, fantasy. Dragon? Check. Merfolk? Check. Griffin? Check. Sometimes it seemed more as if such things were there to fill out the fantasy feel than because they provided anything specific and vital to the plot.
Emotional depth. Whilst the majority of the writing is emotionally powerful, the responses to one or two key events seemed out of kilter with the impact of those events. Whilst it is true people respond differently to such things, a couple of times that seemed to drift a tiny bit out of plausibility for me.
Overall thoughts:
I really loved this book, for all its minor flaws. It is a well-written whodunit/fantasy/thriller. If, like me, you were raised on tales of Robin Hood and you still enjoy fantasy novels, then take a look inside. You’ll be drawn into taking one more journey beneath the greenwood tree.
May 11, 2020
4🌟
I loved this. I loved the characters, the magic, the premise, the writing. Niggles that stopped it being a 5🌟 read - we seemed to be on the road just that little bit too long and the denouement came about too easily and quickly after all that travelling build up. But anyway, this book really suited my current mood and I found it an enjoyable read.
I loved this. I loved the characters, the magic, the premise, the writing. Niggles that stopped it being a 5🌟 read - we seemed to be on the road just that little bit too long and the denouement came about too easily and quickly after all that travelling build up. But anyway, this book really suited my current mood and I found it an enjoyable read.
February 5, 2020
Short reviews at the moment because I have way too many books due for return to the library.
One thing I feel, is that the best way to read this novel is to release all expectations and holds to the Robin Hood story that you may have in your heart and enjoy it for its own unique story. The Robin Hood in these pages is not the Merry Man of his Sherwood days and he has issues (some of them would make any feminist and even faintest pro choice supporter gnash their teeth) . It is not however his story but that of Marian, an accomplished hedgewitch. She, with companions (and Robin), is out to find out who or what is killing their former friends and make sure her children stay safe.
Even the story itself is not the action adventure that immediately may leap to mind with something Robin Hood inspired. It is more melancholy, more subtle in a way, and its central core revolves around solving a mystery, while at the same time it allows for meditation on loss and love and friendship and the impact of the more 'iron' bent aspects of humanity on the magic in the land. And finally there is the fey and these are the types of fey that were called the 'kindly ones' out of caution and some may help but there are also those who do escape unbroken.
So with all this in mind Brightfall was beautifully written, a bit slower paced and less fantasy adventure than I looked for but with a well executed mystery that tied in very well with the characters' portrayals.
One thing I feel, is that the best way to read this novel is to release all expectations and holds to the Robin Hood story that you may have in your heart and enjoy it for its own unique story. The Robin Hood in these pages is not the Merry Man of his Sherwood days and he has issues (some of them would make any feminist and even faintest pro choice supporter gnash their teeth) . It is not however his story but that of Marian, an accomplished hedgewitch. She, with companions (and Robin), is out to find out who or what is killing their former friends and make sure her children stay safe.
Even the story itself is not the action adventure that immediately may leap to mind with something Robin Hood inspired. It is more melancholy, more subtle in a way, and its central core revolves around solving a mystery, while at the same time it allows for meditation on loss and love and friendship and the impact of the more 'iron' bent aspects of humanity on the magic in the land. And finally there is the fey and these are the types of fey that were called the 'kindly ones' out of caution and some may help but there are also those who do escape unbroken.
So with all this in mind Brightfall was beautifully written, a bit slower paced and less fantasy adventure than I looked for but with a well executed mystery that tied in very well with the characters' portrayals.
February 12, 2021
Marian is grieving the death of her husband, Will Scarlet, when Brother Tuck advises that the Merry Men are dying one by one. She realises that the Fae have cursed the humans of Sherwood and only she can save them.
Moyer's narrative has the beginnings of a good idea and the struggle between light and darkness is tackled seriously, but readers are ultimately left cold as to the fates of the characters.
Moyer's narrative has the beginnings of a good idea and the struggle between light and darkness is tackled seriously, but readers are ultimately left cold as to the fates of the characters.
June 4, 2022
2.5/5. I liked Marian’s character and the forest setting but there was absolutely no sense of suspense or narrative tension in the story, and Robin could have been removed entirely without it making a lick of difference to the plot. I’m not sure how you make a tale about former outlaws dull, but here we are.
July 27, 2019
My thanks to Quercus Books/Jo Fletcher Books for an eARC via NetGalley of Jaime Lee Moyer’s ‘Brightfall’ in exchange for an honest review.
I immediately fell in love with this historical fantasy inspired by the legends of Robin Hood. Its green cover design showing a map of Sherwood and the surrounding environs was beautiful and enticed me to enter Moyer’s rich reimagining of how Robin, Marian and their companions lives turned out.
Twelve years before the events of ‘Brightfall’, Robin had his marriage to Maid Marian annulled and entered a monastery. Marian now lives deep inside Sherwood with her twin children, born after Robin’s abandonment. Marian was raised in the old ways and is a powerful healer and hedgewitch.
Abbot Tuck sends news to Marian about the mysterious deaths of a number of the former Merry Men, including the most recent victim Will Scarlet, who has been Marian’s partner for the past seven years. Tuck suspects witchcraft is involved and feels that “we need a witch to unravel it all.”
Although in mourning, Marian agrees to his request especially as she realises that her children are also in danger. Tuck orders a sullen and reluctant Robin to accompany her. The Lady of the Fae is also concerned when Marian seeks her counsel and assigns a Fae Lord to join the quest. He is something of a trickster figure and assumes the guise of a peddler for the journey taking the rather amusing name of Bert.
Also joining the group is Jack, a disillusioned soldier whose sister, Meg, is the widow of Midge the Miller, another victim of the curse. Bert dubs Jack as the Warrior and Robin as the Archer.
Of the reasons for Robin’s withdrawal from the world and the mystery behind the deaths I will say no more aside from the fact that Moyer addresses both within the narrative.
Marian is the novel’s narrator and I welcomed her powerful voice. She is devoted to her children and also very much in touch with the energies of the Greenwood and respectful of the Otherworld, hence Bert’s assignment to the party.
Moyer’s Sherwood is a place of magic populated by various creatures and beings, including many kinds of Fae from the lesser goblins and piskies to the powerful Lordly Ones. There is also a wise dragon who serves as the secret Guardian of Sherwood.
I love historical fiction and felt Moyer seamlessly blended realistic aspects of life in medieval England with its rich folklore and mythology. I hadn’t expected such a strong fantasy element but welcomed it; especially Moyer’s powerful portrayal of Faerie expressing the sense of their otherness and often inimical attitude towards humankind.
‘Brightfall’ proved a highly engaging and entertaining novel, tragic and bittersweet in places but also hopeful and uplifting. There is humour as well, much of it provided by ‘Bert’, who after Marian was my favourite character. I was also very fond of their animal companions: Julian, Jack’s enthusiastic dog always eager to chase after lesser woodland fae, and Bridget, a vixen loyal to Marian and her children.
Each chapter began with a short extract of poetry, ballads, and the like that reflected the themes of the novel. It was a small yet much appreciated detail.
I was sad for this wonderful novel to end and certainly will be interested in reading more of her work.
I have been a long time fan of the ‘Robin of Sherwood’ series created by the late Richard Carpenter. Many of my friends are also very drawn to the tales of Robin Hood and I will be looking forward to having them read this when published and discussing.
Given Moyer’s beautiful and lyrical language and ‘Brightfall’s’ rich imagery I am hoping that her publishers will be releasing this novel in audiobook format.
Very highly recommended.
I immediately fell in love with this historical fantasy inspired by the legends of Robin Hood. Its green cover design showing a map of Sherwood and the surrounding environs was beautiful and enticed me to enter Moyer’s rich reimagining of how Robin, Marian and their companions lives turned out.
Twelve years before the events of ‘Brightfall’, Robin had his marriage to Maid Marian annulled and entered a monastery. Marian now lives deep inside Sherwood with her twin children, born after Robin’s abandonment. Marian was raised in the old ways and is a powerful healer and hedgewitch.
Abbot Tuck sends news to Marian about the mysterious deaths of a number of the former Merry Men, including the most recent victim Will Scarlet, who has been Marian’s partner for the past seven years. Tuck suspects witchcraft is involved and feels that “we need a witch to unravel it all.”
Although in mourning, Marian agrees to his request especially as she realises that her children are also in danger. Tuck orders a sullen and reluctant Robin to accompany her. The Lady of the Fae is also concerned when Marian seeks her counsel and assigns a Fae Lord to join the quest. He is something of a trickster figure and assumes the guise of a peddler for the journey taking the rather amusing name of Bert.
Also joining the group is Jack, a disillusioned soldier whose sister, Meg, is the widow of Midge the Miller, another victim of the curse. Bert dubs Jack as the Warrior and Robin as the Archer.
Of the reasons for Robin’s withdrawal from the world and the mystery behind the deaths I will say no more aside from the fact that Moyer addresses both within the narrative.
Marian is the novel’s narrator and I welcomed her powerful voice. She is devoted to her children and also very much in touch with the energies of the Greenwood and respectful of the Otherworld, hence Bert’s assignment to the party.
Moyer’s Sherwood is a place of magic populated by various creatures and beings, including many kinds of Fae from the lesser goblins and piskies to the powerful Lordly Ones. There is also a wise dragon who serves as the secret Guardian of Sherwood.
I love historical fiction and felt Moyer seamlessly blended realistic aspects of life in medieval England with its rich folklore and mythology. I hadn’t expected such a strong fantasy element but welcomed it; especially Moyer’s powerful portrayal of Faerie expressing the sense of their otherness and often inimical attitude towards humankind.
‘Brightfall’ proved a highly engaging and entertaining novel, tragic and bittersweet in places but also hopeful and uplifting. There is humour as well, much of it provided by ‘Bert’, who after Marian was my favourite character. I was also very fond of their animal companions: Julian, Jack’s enthusiastic dog always eager to chase after lesser woodland fae, and Bridget, a vixen loyal to Marian and her children.
Each chapter began with a short extract of poetry, ballads, and the like that reflected the themes of the novel. It was a small yet much appreciated detail.
I was sad for this wonderful novel to end and certainly will be interested in reading more of her work.
I have been a long time fan of the ‘Robin of Sherwood’ series created by the late Richard Carpenter. Many of my friends are also very drawn to the tales of Robin Hood and I will be looking forward to having them read this when published and discussing.
Given Moyer’s beautiful and lyrical language and ‘Brightfall’s’ rich imagery I am hoping that her publishers will be releasing this novel in audiobook format.
Very highly recommended.
September 28, 2019
I can imagine the pitch for this book. What if… Maid Marian was a witch, and Robin Hood had fairies? It sounds like it shouldn’t really work on paper, but it really does. In this alternate universe, the Merry Men have disbanded. Ten years later, Marian has two children by Robin, but Robin ran off and left her a few months before they were born.
Now, the Merry Men are dying, and Marian wants to get to the bottom of it, before her own children come into danger. It’s time to find Robin again- even if he doesn’t want to speak to her- and dive into the world of the fae.
This is definitely a fun take on the Robin Hood myth. Setting the whole thing ten years after the Merry Men have disbanded gives the whole book a weight that it probably wouldn’t otherwise have. All the characters have baggage, which makes their exchanges a lot more fun to read about, as you try and unpick a relationship ten years in the making.
That relationship becomes a lot more complicated when it comes to Robin. My only (slight) quibble is that in this version of events he’s a bitter old man who despises Marian and everything she stands for. For the first half of the book, this is fun. But for the rest, it gets tired, and it stretches credulity. Why would Marian have been with him in the first place if he hated her so much? And though Moyer attempts to redeem Robin towards the end of the book, it comes too little, too late. It would have been fun to poke some more chinks in his armour earlier on, so he and Marian could develop their relationship a little more.
That aside, I loved everything else about the novel. Moyer seamlessly blends medieval England with the world of the fae: Nottingham is invaded by malicious faeries, Marian must navigate the complex world of court alliances, and they are joined on their quest by a mysterious fae Lord who takes pleasure in teasing Robin. And while the ending is a tad predictable, it’s still a good read.
Now, the Merry Men are dying, and Marian wants to get to the bottom of it, before her own children come into danger. It’s time to find Robin again- even if he doesn’t want to speak to her- and dive into the world of the fae.
This is definitely a fun take on the Robin Hood myth. Setting the whole thing ten years after the Merry Men have disbanded gives the whole book a weight that it probably wouldn’t otherwise have. All the characters have baggage, which makes their exchanges a lot more fun to read about, as you try and unpick a relationship ten years in the making.
That relationship becomes a lot more complicated when it comes to Robin. My only (slight) quibble is that in this version of events he’s a bitter old man who despises Marian and everything she stands for. For the first half of the book, this is fun. But for the rest, it gets tired, and it stretches credulity. Why would Marian have been with him in the first place if he hated her so much? And though Moyer attempts to redeem Robin towards the end of the book, it comes too little, too late. It would have been fun to poke some more chinks in his armour earlier on, so he and Marian could develop their relationship a little more.
That aside, I loved everything else about the novel. Moyer seamlessly blends medieval England with the world of the fae: Nottingham is invaded by malicious faeries, Marian must navigate the complex world of court alliances, and they are joined on their quest by a mysterious fae Lord who takes pleasure in teasing Robin. And while the ending is a tad predictable, it’s still a good read.
August 5, 2019
Brightfall, Jaime Lee Moyer
Review from Jeannie Zelos book reviews
ction
Genre: Sci-fi and Fantasy
As a child I adored Robin hood and the merry men, so when I saw this I was keen to read. I'm really conflicted though, TBH if it wasn't about Robin and co I'd have enjoyed it far more but for me its Robin and Marion and a HEA and its hard to see them apart.
Even harder is the ar se Robin has become. He's like a spoiled child, afraid of his own shadow, sullen, rude to everyone and with a really Entitled sense of self. I just didn't recognise him from the Robin I remembered. That spoiled the whole book for me sadly :-(
Its a really well written novel, fabulous characters, human, Fae and otherwise. I loved Marion, a strong lady, devoted to her twins, always ready to help others, doesn't need a man but enjoys being part of a couple. I liked seeing her skill at Craft, the stuff that's kept Robin and his crew alive for so long, and now he sees it as Devils work. It just seemed so wrong the way he saw Marion, when from my memories he respected and adored her. Likewise he didn't seem to have any respect for the men who he lived with, the band that were such a close knit group, who valued each other, had each others backs always.
The story took turns I didn't expect, and was full of surprises, especially the culprit and the reasons. That came as a real shock. There were criticisms by another reviewer over the types of Fae brought in that served no real purpose and I wouldn't disagree with that. The story didn't need those additions, they simply detracted IMO. Likewise the Fae – all powerful and yet Marion, skilled in craft though she was, seemed to be able to work round them pretty easily. Sometimes it was made clear it had taken effort but others it was just too easy for her...again, that's just how it felt to me.
Stars: Three, if it hadn't been Robin and the gang I think I'd rate it higher, probably a five. Its a great read, but for me Robin being such a drag, so surly and rude really brought the story went down.
ARC via netgalley and publishers
Review from Jeannie Zelos book reviews
ction
Genre: Sci-fi and Fantasy
As a child I adored Robin hood and the merry men, so when I saw this I was keen to read. I'm really conflicted though, TBH if it wasn't about Robin and co I'd have enjoyed it far more but for me its Robin and Marion and a HEA and its hard to see them apart.
Even harder is the ar se Robin has become. He's like a spoiled child, afraid of his own shadow, sullen, rude to everyone and with a really Entitled sense of self. I just didn't recognise him from the Robin I remembered. That spoiled the whole book for me sadly :-(
Its a really well written novel, fabulous characters, human, Fae and otherwise. I loved Marion, a strong lady, devoted to her twins, always ready to help others, doesn't need a man but enjoys being part of a couple. I liked seeing her skill at Craft, the stuff that's kept Robin and his crew alive for so long, and now he sees it as Devils work. It just seemed so wrong the way he saw Marion, when from my memories he respected and adored her. Likewise he didn't seem to have any respect for the men who he lived with, the band that were such a close knit group, who valued each other, had each others backs always.
The story took turns I didn't expect, and was full of surprises, especially the culprit and the reasons. That came as a real shock. There were criticisms by another reviewer over the types of Fae brought in that served no real purpose and I wouldn't disagree with that. The story didn't need those additions, they simply detracted IMO. Likewise the Fae – all powerful and yet Marion, skilled in craft though she was, seemed to be able to work round them pretty easily. Sometimes it was made clear it had taken effort but others it was just too easy for her...again, that's just how it felt to me.
Stars: Three, if it hadn't been Robin and the gang I think I'd rate it higher, probably a five. Its a great read, but for me Robin being such a drag, so surly and rude really brought the story went down.
ARC via netgalley and publishers
July 29, 2025
I really don't understand why this used Robin Hood at all. In fact, I'm completely baffled by it. Change the names and this would easily be its own fantasy world, and perhaps would be a better novel for it than trying to fill in the blanks myself on what elements from the Robin Hood stories were being kept and what were being thrown away.
The characters and plot were threadbare, the exposition somehow painfully obvious and simultaneously not enough (what are the magic rules of this universe?? would someone coming to this novel who didn't know the bare basics of Robin Hood be able to keep up with such simple moments like Robin being referred to singularly and without explanation as Locksley? what on earth was the point of the dragon?!!) but ultimately I did race through it in a day out of a curiosity to see where the plot was going, and that's always commendable!
The characters and plot were threadbare, the exposition somehow painfully obvious and simultaneously not enough (what are the magic rules of this universe?? would someone coming to this novel who didn't know the bare basics of Robin Hood be able to keep up with such simple moments like Robin being referred to singularly and without explanation as Locksley? what on earth was the point of the dragon?!!) but ultimately I did race through it in a day out of a curiosity to see where the plot was going, and that's always commendable!
August 6, 2019
I love this so so much. It blew me off my socks with it's lovable characters. Besides all your standard Robin Hood/Maid Marian characters we got an adorable vixen called Bridget, a hound named Julian, Marlowe the dragon and even Marian's children. All the sidekicks gave the story this extra magic to it.
It reads like a re-telling/fairytale paired with adventure and a bit of thriller.
I flew through this and at some point I'll re-read it, which is the highest rating I personally can give a book.
5 stars and re-read-worthy.
Thank you Netgalley for providing me with an eARC.
All opinions expressed are entirely my own.
It reads like a re-telling/fairytale paired with adventure and a bit of thriller.
I flew through this and at some point I'll re-read it, which is the highest rating I personally can give a book.
5 stars and re-read-worthy.
Thank you Netgalley for providing me with an eARC.
All opinions expressed are entirely my own.
September 5, 2019
I loved this story. You know how in some books you know the characters and the world live on even when you’ve finished the book? Brightfall is like that. The world and characters are so strong and beautifully drawn that I could imagine them going about their lives after the last page of the book, continuing to feel, to sorrow, to heal, and perhaps to love again. This is a lovely book. Highly recommend for fans of fantasy, Robin Hood myths, and the old ballads. This book goes on my keeper shelf.
October 18, 2022
Such an interesting story, mixing fantasy, murder mystery, and historical myth together and then wrapping it all in Moyer's melancholy, lyrical writing style. This stories sets aside the legends of Robin Hood, and instead make him a flawed man. A deeply, annoying, asshole of a flawed man.
The bastard.
Marian is the lead of this book. A hedgewitch or maybe a cottage witch (I always get those two confused), she weaves subtle magic, sees the Fae world, and speaks with a dragon. She is a fierce mother, but careful, cautious, and introspective.
Highly recommend for Robin McKinley fans.
The bastard.
Marian is the lead of this book. A hedgewitch or maybe a cottage witch (I always get those two confused), she weaves subtle magic, sees the Fae world, and speaks with a dragon. She is a fierce mother, but careful, cautious, and introspective.
Highly recommend for Robin McKinley fans.
September 5, 2019
Even experienced writers are setting themselves a high bar when it comes to finding an original and unexpected perspective on a myth as well-known and as oft-told as Robin Hood. Moyer more than succeeds in this, and does a whole lot of other interesting things with this story as well. Highly recommended as an entertaining and exciting read, that will leave you looking at the nature of heroism from some very different angles.
May 31, 2022
One of the few books written in the 1st person which I didn't find extremely cringe worthy.
I enjoyed the writing, which was very good, but the story wasn't my cup of tea. A bit too much relationship drama and not enough mystery solving/adventuring for my taste. The blurb is mostly to blame for my expectations. I also felt that the biggest 'reveal' happened a little out of nowhere and was skimmed over a bit too quickly.
I enjoyed the writing, which was very good, but the story wasn't my cup of tea. A bit too much relationship drama and not enough mystery solving/adventuring for my taste. The blurb is mostly to blame for my expectations. I also felt that the biggest 'reveal' happened a little out of nowhere and was skimmed over a bit too quickly.
Read
June 14, 2019This is so much fun! A gorgeous concept, beautifully rendered by my friend Jaime Lee Moyer.
June 30, 2019
The story starts roughly 12 years after the 'Robin Hood' tale we all know and love. When Marion found out she was pregnant, Robin left her, got their marriage annulled and joined the church. Now Father Tuck brings bad tidings to Marions doorstep. Will Scarlet, and many more of the Merry Men have died under suspicious circumstances. Knowing Tuck would only bring this to her if he suspected magic, Marion sets off to find the reason behind these mysterious deaths before any more of her friends meet their end, and on the way she will meet a mysterious Fae lord, and possibly the one man who can heal her broken heart.
Wow! This book was everything I love in a good retelling. Mythical, magical and mysterious, I found myself flying through the pages, following Marion on her journey to save her friends. I loved how Moyer managed to mix the original story line with the magical world of Sherwood forest she weaves. Mixing well loved characters with new ones that enter our hearts just as fully.
Marion is such a strong heroine. I thoroughly enjoyed reading the story from her perspective, hearing about her blind love for Robin, without knowing much about the man underneath the myth. Having not seen him since their children had been born, being thrust together on this mission makes her truly look at the man she once blindly adored and realise that she might not have truly known him at all. She shows her strength through her resilience to Robins barbs about her magic, her willingness to thrust herself into danger to save the ones she loves and her absolute faith that she will find the perpetrator before any more of their friends or family die.
Marion is by far the main character, though she does travel with a trio of men, a fox and a dog. Robin is not the lovable rogue we remember him to be. Sure that Marion will rot in hell for her use of witchcraft, his blind loyalty to god and the secrets her carries make for a shocking ending to the book. Uncle Burt as we know him is the Fae lord sent to ensure Marion finds the cause of these deaths, Jack is someone who is unwittingly roped into the scheme. Having the 'sight' makes him an invaluable asset and Marion may depend on him more than she realises. Finally Beatrice the fox and Julian the dog, both blessed with the sight and serve as warning beacons to any approaching danger. Marion would never have been able to complete the quest without her own band of 'merry men.' Each having an important part to play in the plot.
The writing in this book is sublime. Wonderfully lyrical, the authors descriptions had me travelling right alongside the group. At points the book was increasingly intense and I found myself at the edge of my seat unsure whether I would get the outcome I wanted. With plenty of twists and turns to keep you guessing, you're never quite sure who is behind the attacks until bam! The author drops the bomb and you look back at the whole book realising it was pretty much in front of your face the whole time.
This was an easy 5/5 for me. Perfect for fans of Naomi Novik or Katherine Arden. This is a truly magical retelling of a treasured story we all know and love. I will definitely be picking up more of the authors books after finishing this.
Wow! This book was everything I love in a good retelling. Mythical, magical and mysterious, I found myself flying through the pages, following Marion on her journey to save her friends. I loved how Moyer managed to mix the original story line with the magical world of Sherwood forest she weaves. Mixing well loved characters with new ones that enter our hearts just as fully.
Marion is such a strong heroine. I thoroughly enjoyed reading the story from her perspective, hearing about her blind love for Robin, without knowing much about the man underneath the myth. Having not seen him since their children had been born, being thrust together on this mission makes her truly look at the man she once blindly adored and realise that she might not have truly known him at all. She shows her strength through her resilience to Robins barbs about her magic, her willingness to thrust herself into danger to save the ones she loves and her absolute faith that she will find the perpetrator before any more of their friends or family die.
Marion is by far the main character, though she does travel with a trio of men, a fox and a dog. Robin is not the lovable rogue we remember him to be. Sure that Marion will rot in hell for her use of witchcraft, his blind loyalty to god and the secrets her carries make for a shocking ending to the book. Uncle Burt as we know him is the Fae lord sent to ensure Marion finds the cause of these deaths, Jack is someone who is unwittingly roped into the scheme. Having the 'sight' makes him an invaluable asset and Marion may depend on him more than she realises. Finally Beatrice the fox and Julian the dog, both blessed with the sight and serve as warning beacons to any approaching danger. Marion would never have been able to complete the quest without her own band of 'merry men.' Each having an important part to play in the plot.
The writing in this book is sublime. Wonderfully lyrical, the authors descriptions had me travelling right alongside the group. At points the book was increasingly intense and I found myself at the edge of my seat unsure whether I would get the outcome I wanted. With plenty of twists and turns to keep you guessing, you're never quite sure who is behind the attacks until bam! The author drops the bomb and you look back at the whole book realising it was pretty much in front of your face the whole time.
This was an easy 5/5 for me. Perfect for fans of Naomi Novik or Katherine Arden. This is a truly magical retelling of a treasured story we all know and love. I will definitely be picking up more of the authors books after finishing this.
May 23, 2021
Borrowed from my Recently Read podcast/blog post:
In the middle of the greenwood stood an oak, broad as it was tall, with roots the Fae believed wrapped around the heart of the world. People on the farms outside Sherwood still told tales abut that tree; most called it Robin’s Oak. Few spinning takes about Robin and Marian’s adventures knew I shared a cottage there with my children. Much as it pained Robin to claim Kate and Robbie, they were his children too. Only a few close friends and the monks in St Mary’s knew he’d left us on our own almost twelve years ago.
That’s the first paragraph of Brightfall by Jaime Lee Moyer.
Having loved Jaime Lee Moyer’s Delia Martin series, which starts with Delia’s Shadow, I was excited to pick up this new novel, even though it’s not remotely related to the events in that series.
This book is a poignant take on the aftermath of the Robin Hood myth, told from Marian’s point of view. It’s roughly 18 years since the events popularized in story and song, and, as you may have gathered from the first paragraph, it’s been 12 years since Robin left Marian and their two unborn children, had the marriage annulled, and retired to Friar Tuck’s abbey.
Yeah. Bit of a twist right off the bat there.
Also, Marian is a witch. She knows magic, can contact the Fae, and even has a Great Dragon for a friend. I love every one of these elements.
The action in the book gets started when Abbot Tuck comes to visit to ask for Marian’s help. Several of their friends of old have died in mysterious circumstances — including, most recently, Will Scarlet, who is Marian’s lover and has raised her children with her for more than a decade.
She’s heartbroken at losing her love and partner, and equally appalled when she learns that Little John’s 11-year old son Ethan is one of the poor souls to die from what Tuck believes must be a curse. And because it’s a curse, Marian is the only one who can figure out who cast it and how to stop them. He begs her to journey to the scenes of the crimes and pull the threads to solve the mystery and — more importantly — stop the killings.
So Marian sets out to try to save the day. Unfortunately, Tuck has set Robin of Sherwood himself the task of protecting her on the journey. Neither of them are pleased about the situation, though they do gain a few colourful, and truly fantastic, companions along the way.
That’s the setup, and I won’t say much more about the plot, but I will leave you with a word of caution. If you’re looking for a swashbuckling Robin Hood story with a lot of lighthearted fun and banter, this is definitely not that. Brightfall is a fairly dark story about wrestling with grief, making tough choices, doing what must be done because nobody else can do it, and coming to terms with loss and change.
And it deals with these things very well. So if you’re in a place for a serious examination of life and loss through the lens of a strong but tired middle-aged woman of power, this is absolutely the story for you.
And, like I said, it’s got faeries and dragons, which for me is always a win.
In the middle of the greenwood stood an oak, broad as it was tall, with roots the Fae believed wrapped around the heart of the world. People on the farms outside Sherwood still told tales abut that tree; most called it Robin’s Oak. Few spinning takes about Robin and Marian’s adventures knew I shared a cottage there with my children. Much as it pained Robin to claim Kate and Robbie, they were his children too. Only a few close friends and the monks in St Mary’s knew he’d left us on our own almost twelve years ago.
That’s the first paragraph of Brightfall by Jaime Lee Moyer.
Having loved Jaime Lee Moyer’s Delia Martin series, which starts with Delia’s Shadow, I was excited to pick up this new novel, even though it’s not remotely related to the events in that series.
This book is a poignant take on the aftermath of the Robin Hood myth, told from Marian’s point of view. It’s roughly 18 years since the events popularized in story and song, and, as you may have gathered from the first paragraph, it’s been 12 years since Robin left Marian and their two unborn children, had the marriage annulled, and retired to Friar Tuck’s abbey.
Yeah. Bit of a twist right off the bat there.
Also, Marian is a witch. She knows magic, can contact the Fae, and even has a Great Dragon for a friend. I love every one of these elements.
The action in the book gets started when Abbot Tuck comes to visit to ask for Marian’s help. Several of their friends of old have died in mysterious circumstances — including, most recently, Will Scarlet, who is Marian’s lover and has raised her children with her for more than a decade.
She’s heartbroken at losing her love and partner, and equally appalled when she learns that Little John’s 11-year old son Ethan is one of the poor souls to die from what Tuck believes must be a curse. And because it’s a curse, Marian is the only one who can figure out who cast it and how to stop them. He begs her to journey to the scenes of the crimes and pull the threads to solve the mystery and — more importantly — stop the killings.
So Marian sets out to try to save the day. Unfortunately, Tuck has set Robin of Sherwood himself the task of protecting her on the journey. Neither of them are pleased about the situation, though they do gain a few colourful, and truly fantastic, companions along the way.
That’s the setup, and I won’t say much more about the plot, but I will leave you with a word of caution. If you’re looking for a swashbuckling Robin Hood story with a lot of lighthearted fun and banter, this is definitely not that. Brightfall is a fairly dark story about wrestling with grief, making tough choices, doing what must be done because nobody else can do it, and coming to terms with loss and change.
And it deals with these things very well. So if you’re in a place for a serious examination of life and loss through the lens of a strong but tired middle-aged woman of power, this is absolutely the story for you.
And, like I said, it’s got faeries and dragons, which for me is always a win.
July 27, 2019
I found Brightfall an immensely fun and entertaining read. It's not a retelling per se, as all the events from standard Robin Hood stories have taken place prior to those in this story, but it does take familiar characters and show them in a new light. Marian is very much the central figure here, and I enjoyed Moyer's portrayal of her as a strong, independent woman. My favourite character was Bert, though I do wish Marian had given him a nobler-sounding name. Every time she addressed him I wanted to laugh at the thought of a Fae lord being called Bert! The fantasy elements were central to the story and worked well within the historical setting, the prose was engaging, and the action nicely paced. I would definitely read more from this author in the future. 4.5 stars.
I received this book as a free eBook ARC via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
I received this book as a free eBook ARC via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
June 26, 2019
(Content Note: there is offscreen child death in this novel.)
I absolutely loved this.
I've long been a fan of Jaime Lee Moyer's work, because her characters are so well rounded that they feel like people you're sitting and having tea with. This novel does that with characters that we think we already know.
If you ever wondered what happened to Maid Marian and Robin Hood after their happily ever after, this is a murder mystery set in Sherwood from Marian's point of view, roughly 10 years after the stories we are familiar with take place.
The Merry Men have all settled down into their lives and livelihoods. And now they and some of their family members have been murdered, and it's up to Marian to solve the mystery. Faerie is very plausibly involved, which makes things even more complicated.
Stories are tidy; people are messy. This is a gorgeously written, well-paced exploration of a bunch of messy people trying to make sense of -- and the best of -- an "adventure" they never signed up for, and Marian's voice is particularly resonant for this reader. Marian's older, wiser, and has been through significant heartbreak.
This is a novel about resilience, about the costs of doing what must be done, relationships that get broken, repaired, and find a way forward, and about how your story doesn't necessarily end just because other people assume it has.
Highly, highly recommended.
I absolutely loved this.
I've long been a fan of Jaime Lee Moyer's work, because her characters are so well rounded that they feel like people you're sitting and having tea with. This novel does that with characters that we think we already know.
If you ever wondered what happened to Maid Marian and Robin Hood after their happily ever after, this is a murder mystery set in Sherwood from Marian's point of view, roughly 10 years after the stories we are familiar with take place.
The Merry Men have all settled down into their lives and livelihoods. And now they and some of their family members have been murdered, and it's up to Marian to solve the mystery. Faerie is very plausibly involved, which makes things even more complicated.
Stories are tidy; people are messy. This is a gorgeously written, well-paced exploration of a bunch of messy people trying to make sense of -- and the best of -- an "adventure" they never signed up for, and Marian's voice is particularly resonant for this reader. Marian's older, wiser, and has been through significant heartbreak.
This is a novel about resilience, about the costs of doing what must be done, relationships that get broken, repaired, and find a way forward, and about how your story doesn't necessarily end just because other people assume it has.
Highly, highly recommended.
August 31, 2019
Marian put Robin of Locksley behind her years ago when he deserted her for the Church. Now the Merry Men are dying and Friar Tuck is convinced only Marian’s Craft can solve the mystery. The estranged pair must join forces to avenge their friends, but Robin’s fervent beliefs are as poisonous as his long-kept secrets…
Jaime Lee Moyer folds in familiar characters as she sets up her tale. We meet Tuck and Little John; Marian mourns Will Scarlet (whose death instigates her quest); there’s even a sly nod to Alan-a-Dale’s role in making Robin more a myth than a man. This is a story that takes a flamboyant myth and allows at least a grain of truth to it. And then it says fuck it, stirs in magic (for Marian is a witch) and the Fae to give us a greenwood that's perhaps more Robin of Sherwood than Prince of Thieves.
The joy for me here is that it puts Marian at the heart of the story, a middle-aged mother who goes on a mission to save her friends. While I loved the magical elements (Moyer gives me my kind of Fae, glittering, dangerous and untrustworthy), Brightfall is at its best when it focuses on the commonplace: the down to earth details of parenting, contrasting sibling bonds, tensions between estranged lovers, the twin arrows of guilt and grief. Worth a look.
Full review
3.5 stars
I received a free copy from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
Jaime Lee Moyer folds in familiar characters as she sets up her tale. We meet Tuck and Little John; Marian mourns Will Scarlet (whose death instigates her quest); there’s even a sly nod to Alan-a-Dale’s role in making Robin more a myth than a man. This is a story that takes a flamboyant myth and allows at least a grain of truth to it. And then it says fuck it, stirs in magic (for Marian is a witch) and the Fae to give us a greenwood that's perhaps more Robin of Sherwood than Prince of Thieves.
The joy for me here is that it puts Marian at the heart of the story, a middle-aged mother who goes on a mission to save her friends. While I loved the magical elements (Moyer gives me my kind of Fae, glittering, dangerous and untrustworthy), Brightfall is at its best when it focuses on the commonplace: the down to earth details of parenting, contrasting sibling bonds, tensions between estranged lovers, the twin arrows of guilt and grief. Worth a look.
Full review
3.5 stars
I received a free copy from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
July 26, 2019
** DISCLAIMER: I was provided with an advanced reading copy of this book by the publisher (via Amazon Vine) in return for an honest review. **
I’m not going to lie, I really wasn’t impressed with this book. It’s got so many faults and flaws that the few shining moments it does have don’t really raise it above a two-star rating, in my opinion. And honestly, this is a hell of a shame, because the basic premise has so much promise and so much to offer.
Robin Hood and his Merry Men have broken up and gone their separate ways. Robin himself has retreated to a monastery to seek forgiveness for his sins, Tuck has become Abbott of St Mary’s Abbey in Nottingham, Little John’s got married and started a farm, and Marian has settled down to a simple life as the local witch of Sherwood with her two children and a seriously smart vixen. One day, Marian is visited by Timothy, one of Tuck’s junior monks, who brings bad news – apparently someone seems to be going around killing her old friends in mysterious ways, with Will (presumably Scarlet) being the most recent.
After pressing the monk for as much information as he can provide, Marian agrees to meet up with Tuck three days later at a tavern in Nottingham, giving her time to wander off to the local stone circle where she summons up a fae Lady and her retinue to find out if they can shed some light on what’s going on. There’s a run-in with an obnoxious brat of a fae girl and the fae Lady gives Marian a promise of protection, and then suddenly Marian’s off to see the local guardian of Sherwood, who just happens to be a dragon.
See, this is one of the many problems I have with this book. The fae are initially introduced as these powerful, dangerous spirits who shouldn’t be treated lightly, and yet at several points throughout the narrative Marian barely raises a sweat dealing with them. She even ends up with a fae Lord accompanying her on her journey. The dragon (whose name is Marlow) shows up briefly in the beginning, with Marian tending to an injured wing, and then turns up again at the end of the story but doesn’t seem to serve any purpose other than to tick a trope box. The same goes for the brief appearance of the wholly unthreatening griffin, the slightly out-of-place mermaids who’ve made their home in the River Sheaf, and old mother Grindylow and her children that the heroes encounter on the outskirts of Sheffield market. None of these encounters seem to offer more than a cursory challenge to the protagonists and then they’re gone.
Another problem I have is the historical and geographical accuracy. Now, it may just be because I grew up in this area and spent a fair bit of my life studying the local history and geography, but the author gets so many things wrong in this book. I’m not saying there wasn’t a stone circle in Sherwood back at the start of the Thirteenth Century, but if there was it’s not one I’ve heard of. The nearest one I can think of is Nine Ladies, which is about thirty miles from Nottingham on Stanton Moor. Then there’s Tuck’s Abbey, St Mary’s in Nottingham. Unfortunately, according to folklore the St Mary’s Abbey connected with Tuck was all the way up in York, and while there is a St. Mary’s in Nottingham it’s never been an Abbey.
The author also seems to have a problem with geography. It takes Marian and her entourage a few days to get from Hucknall (where Little John lives) to Mansfield. That’s a massive hike of all of nine miles for those who don’t want to break out Google maps, and even allowing for the fact the land was covered in greenwood at the time that still wouldn’t take most people more than half a day to walk. There are other confusing geographical problems, such as the cliffs and waterfalls they pass as they follow the River Sheaf, but for me the worst part is the very inclusion of Sheffield in the first place.
Look, back in the thirteenth century Sheffield was pretty much nothing more than a wooden castle sitting on the confluence of the Don and Sheaf, with a small hamlet of huts and taverns clustered nearby for the protection the castle afforded. But in this book Sheffield is described as a bustling metropolis with busy streets and a thriving market economy, and absolutely no mention whatsoever of the castle. Now, call me a pedant, but this was the last straw in a book full of particularly troubling straws. My disbelief has been far from suspended by this book.
I’m not saying it’s all bad. There are some nice touches in the background detail and it’s clear the author has tried very hard to make this at least somewhat historically accurate, but for me it could have done with much deeper research and much better exploration of the local geography. The character of Marian is well written and presents us with a strong female heroine that’s far more than just the usual kick-ass woman with a sword, and the interplay between her, Jack and Bert is engaging. This is why I’m giving this two stars, and not the one star I was leaning towards when I initially turned the last page in the book. I can kind of see why so many other readers have fallen in love with this book, but for me the lack of accuracy was enough to make me less than interested in further adventures of Maid Marian at this time.
I’m not going to lie, I really wasn’t impressed with this book. It’s got so many faults and flaws that the few shining moments it does have don’t really raise it above a two-star rating, in my opinion. And honestly, this is a hell of a shame, because the basic premise has so much promise and so much to offer.
Robin Hood and his Merry Men have broken up and gone their separate ways. Robin himself has retreated to a monastery to seek forgiveness for his sins, Tuck has become Abbott of St Mary’s Abbey in Nottingham, Little John’s got married and started a farm, and Marian has settled down to a simple life as the local witch of Sherwood with her two children and a seriously smart vixen. One day, Marian is visited by Timothy, one of Tuck’s junior monks, who brings bad news – apparently someone seems to be going around killing her old friends in mysterious ways, with Will (presumably Scarlet) being the most recent.
After pressing the monk for as much information as he can provide, Marian agrees to meet up with Tuck three days later at a tavern in Nottingham, giving her time to wander off to the local stone circle where she summons up a fae Lady and her retinue to find out if they can shed some light on what’s going on. There’s a run-in with an obnoxious brat of a fae girl and the fae Lady gives Marian a promise of protection, and then suddenly Marian’s off to see the local guardian of Sherwood, who just happens to be a dragon.
See, this is one of the many problems I have with this book. The fae are initially introduced as these powerful, dangerous spirits who shouldn’t be treated lightly, and yet at several points throughout the narrative Marian barely raises a sweat dealing with them. She even ends up with a fae Lord accompanying her on her journey. The dragon (whose name is Marlow) shows up briefly in the beginning, with Marian tending to an injured wing, and then turns up again at the end of the story but doesn’t seem to serve any purpose other than to tick a trope box. The same goes for the brief appearance of the wholly unthreatening griffin, the slightly out-of-place mermaids who’ve made their home in the River Sheaf, and old mother Grindylow and her children that the heroes encounter on the outskirts of Sheffield market. None of these encounters seem to offer more than a cursory challenge to the protagonists and then they’re gone.
Another problem I have is the historical and geographical accuracy. Now, it may just be because I grew up in this area and spent a fair bit of my life studying the local history and geography, but the author gets so many things wrong in this book. I’m not saying there wasn’t a stone circle in Sherwood back at the start of the Thirteenth Century, but if there was it’s not one I’ve heard of. The nearest one I can think of is Nine Ladies, which is about thirty miles from Nottingham on Stanton Moor. Then there’s Tuck’s Abbey, St Mary’s in Nottingham. Unfortunately, according to folklore the St Mary’s Abbey connected with Tuck was all the way up in York, and while there is a St. Mary’s in Nottingham it’s never been an Abbey.
The author also seems to have a problem with geography. It takes Marian and her entourage a few days to get from Hucknall (where Little John lives) to Mansfield. That’s a massive hike of all of nine miles for those who don’t want to break out Google maps, and even allowing for the fact the land was covered in greenwood at the time that still wouldn’t take most people more than half a day to walk. There are other confusing geographical problems, such as the cliffs and waterfalls they pass as they follow the River Sheaf, but for me the worst part is the very inclusion of Sheffield in the first place.
Look, back in the thirteenth century Sheffield was pretty much nothing more than a wooden castle sitting on the confluence of the Don and Sheaf, with a small hamlet of huts and taverns clustered nearby for the protection the castle afforded. But in this book Sheffield is described as a bustling metropolis with busy streets and a thriving market economy, and absolutely no mention whatsoever of the castle. Now, call me a pedant, but this was the last straw in a book full of particularly troubling straws. My disbelief has been far from suspended by this book.
I’m not saying it’s all bad. There are some nice touches in the background detail and it’s clear the author has tried very hard to make this at least somewhat historically accurate, but for me it could have done with much deeper research and much better exploration of the local geography. The character of Marian is well written and presents us with a strong female heroine that’s far more than just the usual kick-ass woman with a sword, and the interplay between her, Jack and Bert is engaging. This is why I’m giving this two stars, and not the one star I was leaning towards when I initially turned the last page in the book. I can kind of see why so many other readers have fallen in love with this book, but for me the lack of accuracy was enough to make me less than interested in further adventures of Maid Marian at this time.
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