Hood
Author: Jenny Elder Moke
Publisher: Disney-Hyperion
Release Date: June 9th 2020
Genre: Young Adult, Historical Fiction, Retellings, Fantasy
You have the blood of kings and rebels within you, love. Let it rise to meet the call.
Isabelle of Kirklees has only ever known a quiet life inside the sheltered walls of the convent, where she lives with her mother, Marien. But after she is arrested by royal soldiers for defending innocent villagers, Isabelle becomes the target of the Wolf, King John's ruthless right hand. Desperate to keep her daughter safe, Marien helps Isabelle escape and sends her on a mission to find the one person who can help: Isabelle's father, Robin Hood.
As Isabelle races to stay out of the Wolf's clutches and find the father she's never known, she is thrust into a world of thieves and mercenaries, handsome young outlaws, new enemies with old grudges, and a king who wants her entire family dead. As she joins forces with Robin and his Merry Men in a final battle against the Wolf, will Isabelle find the strength to defy the crown and save the lives of everyone she holds dear?
Hood turned out to be a really cute story. I love that it’s not re-telling of Robin Hood as much as a continuation of the story. We get to glimpse some of things we are familiar with from the legend but also a whole new story.
Isabelle is an interesting character. I could tell if i always like her or not. She struggles with a lot of self-doubt and kind little miny pity parties. She is also sixteen though and figuring out that her father and mother are not exactly who she thought they were. When she overcomes her challenges she really overcomes them. Throwing herself into the fray to help people. She can show great strength at times.
I really enjoyed the plot. It’s an easy flowing story that is a fun quick read. Very fast paced and of course brings together elements from the Robin Hood tale. Lie Sherwood Forest and the Merry Men. I really loved the design of Sherwood Forest. It makes so much more sense in Hood. Ha ha. I also like how no element is too overpowering. There is a little dabble in romance but it doesn’t take over the story. There is definitely adventure but the root of the story is family. I think the things that were meant to shine through did and didn’t get lost in the story somewhere.
It would definitely be interesting to see more from this world. Even maybe with some of the characters that were particularly close to Isabelle. Maybe Adam, Helena, Little or Patrick could get some more spotlight.
I really enjoyed Hood and it’s a nice read when you need a break. Of course I really like Robin Hood tales in general though and I think this does justice in the vein.
Jenny Elder Moke writes young adult fiction in an attempt to recapture the shining infinity of youth. She was a finalist in the 2017 Austin Film Festival Podcast Competition, and studied children’s writing with Liz Garton Scanlon.
When she is not writing, she’s gathering story ideas from her daily adventures with her two irredeemable rapscallions and honing her ninja skills as a black belt in Tae Kwon Do. Jenny lives in Austin, TX with her husband and two children.
Her debut novel, HOOD, about the daughter of Robin Hood and Maid Marien, will release from Disney/Hyperion in Spring 2020. She is represented by Elizabeth Bewley of Sterling Lord Literistic.
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