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- E-books - Romance |
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Prince of Shadows: A Novel of Robin in The Hood |
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| Prince of Shadows: A Novel of Robin in The Hood by C. Anne Williams LTD Books 181 pages, 2000 ISBN 1553160193 Reviewed by Lisa Eagleson-Roever NOTE: The manuscript reviewed was an Advance Reviewer's Copy (ARC). Changes may be made to the manuscript before publication. C. Anne Williams romantically written Prince Of Shadows: A Novel of Robin in The Hood is not for those seeking fairy-tale style gallantry. Although bravery and courage are well represented, the tale is also full of greed, political maneuvering, sordid sexual proclivities, and violence. In other words, C. Anne Williams has tried to paint a picture of 12th Century life as it might have been, without losing the aspirations which drove Robert of Locksley to break from court society and become a "wolf's head" - a wanted man. No graphic details are spared in the killings, maimings, or terror. The Sheriff of Nottingham is as nasty as possible, with virtually no redeeming qualities except that he's not without fear. Twisted Abbess Helene embodies all that was wrong with the Church during the Crusades and Friar Tuck embodies all that was right. Robert of Locksley is a fine rebel, balancing idealism, impetuousness, and battle-gained knowledge. Prince John is gloriously pathetic. Marian's character, usually drawn as either frail and helpless or cunning and skillful, shifts between the two in this version. As with the movie version of the Robin Hood saga which starred Kevin Costner and Morgan Freeman, a Muslim character is brought into the mix. He acts as a teacher as well as a cunning warrior, instructing the characters casually in the contrasts between Eastern and Western civilizations. It's never explained why he chose to help Robert of Locksley escape Saladin's prison, nor why he then followed him to England. For those new to the sagas and interested in the unchivalrous details behind 12th Century politics, the romantic Prince Of Shadows: A Novel of Robin in The Hood is worth checking out. |
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