#Review - Hood by Jenny Elder Moke #YA #Historical #Retelling

Series: Standalone
Format: Hardcover, 320 pages
Release Date:  June 9, 2020
Publisher: Disney-Hyperion
Source: Publisher
Genre: Young Adult / Historical / Medieval / Legends, Myths, Fables

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?

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. 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 set during the years of King John Lackland. 16-year old Isabelle has only known the walls of the Priory of Kirklees where her mother Marien who is the Prioress. As a budding sister, she's been treated like a dog or worse by certain sisters. After shooting a knight with her bow and arrow, she lands in serious trouble and finds herself no longer safe any where near Kirkleestown or her mother. Marien frees & sends Isabelle on a journey to find the man she's never known but has heard about; Robin Hood. 

As Isabelle travels through treacherous terrority, she meets new and old members of Robin's Merry Men. She also learns that the Wolf, Sir Roger of Duncaster, wants to get his hands on her very badly. Not as badly as Robin, but if he captures Isabelle, he could have leverage over Robin. He also has access to Marien should he deem Isabelle uncooperative. Isabelle is told that she can not tell anyone who Robin is to her or they could be used against her. This needs to be addressed. Yes, Isabelle keeps this secret for a very long time but I don't see anything wrong with keeping your word.

After some (mis)adventures, she finds that Robin isn't with the group prompting a group of young misfits to join Isabelle in her quest to find him. Isabelle starts off the story not knowing who her father is, and when she finally meets Robin, it's so apparent that he didn't leave her behind nor is he selfless. Robin was quirky and goofy while yet retaining an air of mystery and seriousness. Marian was loving while being stern, and strong when most might consider her weak. 

One could say that Hood is not really a "Robin Hood" story as much as a spin on his daughter learning to become a fighter for justice. Isabelle doesn't automatically become a kick butt heroine who knows everything there is to know. She has a learning curve, in so many things including trusting her new friends not to reveal her secret to anyone. She has to deal with becoming a Merry Men through a target shooting contest. Then later she has to earn the trust of her new friends Adam, Allan, Patrick and Helena who have come to idolize Robin Hood and what he stands for.

I've read so many retellings of Robin Hood that I've had a hard time not comparing other books with each other. I think this is a find standalone but I would not mind if the author wrote another book featuring Isabelle and the Merry Men. This is the first book I believe I've read where King John was in charge and things really are dark. The book even hints at rebel barons trying hard to force John into signing the Magna Carta for which the US Constitution is based on. 

This book is not only a coming of age story, but one with a minor romantic entanglement between Isabelle and Adam. It's not overwhelming nor does it take up large parts of the story which I loved. Isabelle has skills with a bow, and could shoot extraordinarily well. Considering who her parents are, this shouldn't shock anyone.

Isabelle took great pride in herself that she did not cry once during the whole wretched, messy ordeal. Not when the soldiers barked their orders at her to stand down; not when they grabbed her up like a common criminal and threw shackles on her wrists; not when they shoved her in this moldy makeshift prison cell that once served as a potato cellar; not even when the strips of light leaching in from outside grew longer, and thinner, and then disappeared altogether. She held her head high, gritted her teeth, and glared malevolence at the warped wooden boards of the door and the rough voices of the men beyond.

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