Hello everyone!
Yup, you read that one right, we're going to rob from the rich and give to the poor, though maybe not quite in the way you'd be expecting to.
See every once in a while I run into some sort of retelling that I actually genuinely like, which means that I'm enjoying myself way too much while reading the book itself.
And because a lot of the books come from BookSirens, I can't help it okay!
They're all wonderful ARCs and all I have to do in return for reading them is review them.
I mean, what kind of awesome system is that, right?!
But anyway, I digress.
I was talking about heists and Robin Hood. So I suppose we should have a look at the book Of Heists and Hexes, by S. L. Prater.
Links to my other Robin Hood-related blog posts can be found at the bottom of the page!
Now, onwards.
Our story begins in a land that's a little bit different from the usual setting, which is medieval England, but is some sort of kingdom that's surrounded by an Empire, wherein you can use motorcars and guns and the like, but most people still use medieval methods of bow and arrow and horse transportation.
And oh also, there's witches.
And there's a fair number of them, they can be wed to the clergy of the land who are the only ones sort of ALLOWED to do magic (it's a weird sort of thing, like it's a religion and that's the only RIGHT way, just ... Church stuff really) so as to keep the magic within family lines, etc.
Ironically enough, we don't follow the perspective of Robin Hood in this book - we follow the Sheriff of Nottingham, Noah.
Called the Red Sheriff, you'd think because of his red hair, but actually because he follows the law an eye for an eye, Noah gets invited out to Arm, a village on the other side of the forest, where a poacher wants to give themselves up to him.
Turns out, the poacher is none other than "Robin Hood", the alias the witch uses while she's out and about on her poachy business. She and Noah have lots to talk about, including their mutual attraction, get attacked by other watchmen, Noah fights them off, and then go separate ways when she pays for her crimes and disappears.
But they start a sort of correspondence that lasts throughout the book on enchanted papers, and they both draw one another, etc.
And also, Noah attempts to catch her a couple of times, but in the end gives up because the attraction is too much, and then we can get to the real story in the book, which is the deteriorating conditions in the country.
As in, King Richard has sort of fled, and his son John is now looking for a way to break the kingdom from the empire so that they could control witches better - and oh also, Robin just so happens to be the emperor's daughter, by the way.
And she made herself into Marian's friend (Marian being Noah's younger sister).
More importantly in all this, when John makes a move to take Noah's sister and grandmother into custody to get the Red Sheriff on his side to do his bidding (first job would have been to hang the magistrate who's been his friend all their lives), Noah finally realizes the laws are way beyond corrupt with people like John behind them, so he hangs JOHN instead.
Then he and "Robin" go to the Empire where they marry and start a home of their own, Marian and Grandma included.
Because everyone deserves their happily ever after!
The story is actually really fun to read: by-the-book Sheriff trying to figure out loopholes so that the law is upheld BUT he can still help those who need it most has a run-in with a notorious outlaw who turns out to be someone much, much more complicated than just that! Add in that she's a practicing witch and he's an extremely rare one with his gifts, their magic seems to bond right off the bat, and he has a younger sister Marian whom he dotes upon, well, you've got yourself a winner.
Robin and Noah (the Sheriff) stand out on the page because both have characteristics that distinguish them and help them stand on their own. Robin is an outlaw, yes, but she's noble at heart and is only trying to help the witches in the kingdom, which isn't that different from what Noah's up to, though he at least seems to be obeying the law.
Up to a point.
See they don't call him Red Sheriff for nothing.
Together, once they stop trying to one up each other, the two are a force to be reckoned with, and they actually end up helping King Richard while they're at it, in an interesting spiel on the tale we all know and love.
Fair warning, however, there are mentions of abuse in this book which is mentioned right at the beginning, so just keep your eyes peeled in case you don't want to read about it.
The storyline itself is fairly faithful to the original legend other than the obvious differences, but the world building is certainly unique. It's a bit more steampunk-y than you'd think!
I only have a quibble or two which is that it would have been nice to see the reaction of Robin's parents when all is said and done, and I thought that the situation with Jack (if you read the book, you'll understand) was definitely resolved much too easily. Given just how protective and caring over Marian Noah is, to find out such a huge breach of his confidence and NOT react appropriately struck me as a bit out-of-character, but really if that's my only complaint, then you know the book was good!
The writing is lovely, the pacing is on point, the character stand out, and hopefully there's a second book at some moment in time, somewhere, about someone in this universe.
Robin and Noah (the Sheriff) stand out on the page because both have characteristics that distinguish them and help them stand on their own. Robin is an outlaw, yes, but she's noble at heart and is only trying to help the witches in the kingdom, which isn't that different from what Noah's up to, though he at least seems to be obeying the law.
Up to a point.
See they don't call him Red Sheriff for nothing.
Together, once they stop trying to one up each other, the two are a force to be reckoned with, and they actually end up helping King Richard while they're at it, in an interesting spiel on the tale we all know and love.
Fair warning, however, there are mentions of abuse in this book which is mentioned right at the beginning, so just keep your eyes peeled in case you don't want to read about it.
The storyline itself is fairly faithful to the original legend other than the obvious differences, but the world building is certainly unique. It's a bit more steampunk-y than you'd think!
I only have a quibble or two which is that it would have been nice to see the reaction of Robin's parents when all is said and done, and I thought that the situation with Jack (if you read the book, you'll understand) was definitely resolved much too easily. Given just how protective and caring over Marian Noah is, to find out such a huge breach of his confidence and NOT react appropriately struck me as a bit out-of-character, but really if that's my only complaint, then you know the book was good!
The writing is lovely, the pacing is on point, the character stand out, and hopefully there's a second book at some moment in time, somewhere, about someone in this universe.
Definitely recommend!
xx
*image not mine
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