Robin Hood and the Castle of Bones

The Outlaw Chronicles #10

by Angus Donald

Spring, 1192 Robin Hood and his band of men, travelling home from the Third Crusade, find themselves in the lush, wine-rich Duchy of Burgundy. When they are captured by a renegade knight, and taken across the River Saone to the rival County of Burgundy, they are plunged into a nightmarish world of treachery, deceit and cold-blooded murder. While the cunning Earl of Locksley plots and schemes to advance King Richard’s cause in the two Burgundies, Alan Dale, his loyal lieutenant and personal trouvère, embarks on a private quest to rescue a damsel in distress and falls foul of the monstrous guardian of the Castle of Bones. Praise for The Outlaw "A glorious, gritty, violent, fast-moving re-creation of a legend" – The Times (London) "Joyous writing full of verve and control" – Conn Iggulden "Excellent, well-researched and full of detail" – Ben Kane "A master of adventure" – Robyn Young

Genres: Historical Fiction

246 pages, Kindle Edition

Published November 29, 2020

Reviews

[Nick Brett · Rating 4 out of 5]

A ray of sunshine in an awful year as we are given another Robin Hood tale from the talented Angus Donald.
On their way back from the third Crusade Robin, Alan Dale and the Merry Gang find themselves in Burgundy and Robin sets about doing what he does best, seeking opportunity and causing trouble. Alan, sadly, spends a fair bit of time being a bit stupid. We readers tend to forget how young he actually is, in this he is seventeen and acts like...a seventeen year old. Drinking too much, falling in love and thinking he knows best. So while Robin does his usual in terms of the bigger picture and a cunning plan, Alan spends too much time thinking with a different part of his body.
So some different threads here, what is Robin up to, how much of a mess will Alan get himself into and who are the good guys and bad guys?
Obviously a rollicking good adventure but the time and setting is fascinating too......Burgundy was more important than you might think in 1192.
Another winner in a great series.

[Richard West · Rating 4 out of 5]

Well, I wanted to give this a 5-star rating since Angus Donald is one of my favorite authors and always tells a good yarn......and this one is certainly that. However, I had to deduct a star for the poor editing and proofreading which resulted in numerous errors, words being repeated, words left out, the sex of an individual being changed in one instance, and countless other mistakes which cry out "DIDN'T ANYONE PROOFREAD THIS BOOK?"

If you don't mind mentally correcting the errors as you go along, you have an excellent addition to Donald's Robin Hood series and there's always the hope there are more coming. This time around we find Robin and Alan Dale, his faithful sidekick being taken prisoner while passing through France on their way home from the Crusades. (They had made a previous stop in the preceding book, The Caliph's Gold and as a result of those adventures, the rest of Robin's Merrye Band of Men were a few days behind, but they show up eventually.) Their adventures in getting their freedom make up the bulk of the novel and its a lot of fun.

Lots of action, and a rip-snorting good time and a fun read - if you can get past all those mistakes! If you're a Donald fan, there's another - non-Robin Hood - novel on it's way in early 2021, "The Last Berserker" which starts a new series for this prolific writer. But, you may rest assured, he has more Robin tales to spin as well.

[Cindy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love any of Angus Donald’s tales of Robin Hood! This story is mostly about Alan Dale’s obsession with a serving girl he met in Dijon. Robin is there to further King Richard’s cause and to stir up a little mischief between the Duchy of Burgundy and the rival County of Burgundy. Lies, deceit, and treachery abound in this story that shows Robin Hood and his band of men in the middle of it all.

[David · Rating 3 out of 5]

The newest entry (at the time of reviewing) in Angus Donald's 'Robin Hood' series, set between Robin Hood and the Caliph's Gold and King's Man, which should really be called 'Alan Dale and the Castle of Bones' (although I understand why it is not), as it is more concerned with the trials and tribulations of the (here) 17 year old Alan Dale, still travelling home to England from the Holy Land in the company of Robin, Little John, Hanno and other members of Robin's entourage.

And Alan deserves a slap around the head more than once throughout this.

Robin, of course, has his own agenda, sowing chaos and seeking opportunity in Burgundy on behalf of (or so he says) King Richard.

[Samantha · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.75!
👏👏👏👏
I will not assassinate anyone said Robin. But I shall do what I have done my whole life. I shall make trouble.
- Robin Hood💜💜💜

Excellent! It was nice to have an Outlaw Chronicles story that i was not fully focused on a historical siege, has the last several novels have been.
This plot is packed with assassin's, mystery, creepy forest myths and humor!

We also had an Arthurian legend references with the stories own play on "the green knight"! This Sir Gawain however, was one that was definitely 😈😈😈 an excellent counter too to tradition while still keeping some elements of the classic tale!

This is definitely a story my fellow deer hunters will enjoy as well

Alan made me laugh out loud several times! He behaves like a right twat in this book several times- and it is fantastic!
😈😈
That being said, Alan, you NEVER leave your war horse behind! 🤦‍♀️🤦‍♀️

[The Bauchler · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fair sprinkling of modern terminology, but after ten books I’m inured to these now.

I think I remember that the author mentions about his love of the 80’s Robin Hood TV series.

So, I still find myself thinking of Michael Praed and Phil Rose when imagining the Robin and Tuck in these novels.

But oddly not so for Little John and Marion.

The storyline had a couple of obvious twists which in guessed and a couple that I didn’t and there was plenty action to keep the story going.

It’s a 3* but because it’s great to re-visit this milieu one more time.

I hope more packets are discovered and handed to Mr Donald. I will read them readily.

[Tom · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another fantastical outing with Alan Dale and The Earl of Locksley, but please God Angus Donald get a proof reader. The 2 books you've published via Amazon are riddled with poor grammar, poor spelling, random unconnected words mid sentence. Improve the quality of your own work to reflect your true value as an author.

[Jules Chance · Rating 5 out of 5]

Never Disappointed

Angus Donald's Robin Hood series is my favourite version of the hero ever.
Bold, richly drawn and engrossing, every single book is packed with excitement. Nice little twist as well is that he incorporates real history into these yarns.

Do not miss this series..

[Paul · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh how I love these Robin Hood books. I just can’t get enough of them. Another well-paced tale of Robin and Alan’s adventures, this time in Burgundy.

[Alan · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book 9 in the robin hood chronicles by Angus donald if you have not read any of them i think you should they are all well worth reading

[Keith Warren · Rating 3 out of 5]

Another enjoyable entry to the series, I think it would work better rereading all these in chronological order though.

[Mark Donald · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good read lots of scheming and action worth reading

[mike crow · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great series

I would recommend everyone to get involved with Alan Dale and his adventures. Rollicking good reads....but read them in order!

[Jeremy Jl · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another outstanding prequel to Angus Donald's series about my boyhood hero.

[William Cartier · Rating 4 out of 5]

A joy to read another in this excellent series.

[Snakeman · Rating 3 out of 5]

Another enjoyable tale of the Outlaw Chronicles.

Come on Angus dig out some more Robin Hood tales !