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. Isabelle of Kirklees has only ever known a quiet life inside the sheltered walls of the convent, where she lives with her mother, Marien. Well done.“You have the blood of kings and rebels within you, love.

The climax was unexpected and sad, but Moke brings everything full-circle and sets the stage for what could be a really cool series. Isabelle, daughter of Robin & Marien, sometimes is a little silly, but Moke successfully portrays her as the sheltered-girl-finding-her-spine.

Moke’s writing is crisp and lively, with memorable characters. There is plenty of action here, featuring both men and women, and some gore which pushes this firmly up into end-of-middle-school category. What I found was not a re-telling or even a re-invention but a freshly drawn sequel answering the question “so what happened to Robin and Marien?” There has been a spate of creative re-imaginings of old stories, so I was curious to see how Moke reinvented Robin Hood. This novel is a must-read for historical-fiction fans, adventure lovers, and reluctant readers alike! In Hood, author Jenny Elder Moke reimagines the world of Robin Hood in lush, historical detail and imbues her story with more breathless action than has ever come out of Sherwood Forest before. 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? 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. 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. 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. You have the blood of kings and rebels within you, love.

Hood jenny elder moke