Robin Hood II. El Cruzado. (2010) - Plot & Excerpts
Yippee for a wonderful book 2! Blood, guts, a great human non-perfect main character, & of course Robin Hood = my kinda book! :D Top marks to Mr. Angus Donald for such awesome storytelling, graphic violence, interesting characters both "good" and "bad", & historical accuracy. Some writers just can't pull it off, but he sure did.I actually wrote an essay about King Richard the Lionheart and his leadership of the 3rd for my final research paper is high school. I loved the topic and I did a ton of research, so I knew exactly what was going on through out the book, how the battles would go . . . what was going to happen to those poor Muslim prisoners in Acre. :( It was fun (in a dark depressing sort of way, if that makes sense) to read such a good fictionalized version of the events.King Richard was spot on. :D which is great for the historical fiction part of the story, but not so much if you're one of those fans who loves the happy go lucky kings that always show up at the end of the robin hood story and pardon him as a thank you for saving all his poor peasants from the nasty Prince John. if you are , my dear review reader, a die hard Hoodie like me, you know the exact type of fictional King Richard I'm talking about. :DPersonally, I prefer History's blood thirsty, sociopathic King to today's romanticized one. it's more realistic. One doesn't get to be such a great and powerful and warrior king by going around and pardoning robbers for taking his taxes. (even if it does make a nice story.) The Lionheart of the history books and of "Holy Warrior" was a blood thirsty maniac looking for his shot at fame and glory. To be written into the world's memory as the great king who freed Jerusalem from the heathens. (I don't think his "great pilgrimage" was ever really about Christianity. despite whatever tales he spun for his followers; it was about power.) He never actually gets what he wanted but, in the end of the war, he does come pretty damn close. he loved war. and he was nuts. but he was one of those charismatic, inspirational sort of nuts that people love to follow. he's actually one of England's most beloved - and famous - kings. which is probably why he's been romanticized and "niced up" so much in modern culture. Pus he was a great general; he won of A LOT of battles. And like I said before, he was a sociopath. that part about slaughtering 2700 people, including women and children, that's real, dude. as fucked up and horrible as it sounds it's real. go look it up. he even had his men disembowel them to check and see if they'd swallowed any gold. talk about sick and twisted, huh? but that's medieval warfare for you.As I mentioned in my review of "Outlaw" the first book of the series, I love the author's writing style. it's so beautiful and descriptive. :) Angus Donald's your guy if you want well-written battles. bring on the gore! And guts! and blood! Lots of blood. it's like the lord of the rings battles. on steroids. times twenty. >:DSo! Onwards! besides the battles and an awesomely violent King, what else did I like? I loved the dog! XD so cute. & The plot of course. This is the first Robin Hood novel I've read that takes place during the crusade. where Robin joins it AFTER he's pardoned. Most modern stories like to depict him returning from the Holy war and coming back to Prince John's England. And there was the part about York. Well, I can't say that I actually LIKE that part. In fact, the whole mob mentality of the Christians getting all crazy and killy, and think that it's all okay because "God will's it". . . .oh, it pissed me off. But, despite the brutality of it, it was an interesting situation to up Alan and Robin in.I also loved the "who dun it" part about the traitor among Robin's men. I spent the whole book trying to guess who it between two people. it was fun, and I was guessing most the book. which is really good for Mr. Donald, cause honestly, he's not very good with foreshadowing. and my guesses proved right. one did, anyway. but not the reasoning behind why they all that they did. that was a suprise they had a pretty good reason though. but still. even with that good reason and my usual understanding and compassion for bad guys, I couldn't feel the least bit sorry for this one.This book is EPIC! and I totally recommend the series to EVERYONE!But, sadly, there are just a couple little things that annoyed me.Mainly, the horrific behavior of the Christians. I know, I know, as a historical novel there's no way to get around the behavior, but it's still annoy! I mean, these guys march around preaching about the righteousness of Christendom, how their belief is the only True Faith, and how basically everyone who doesn't believe exactly what they believe is a disgusting uncivilized dog. (this coming from people who think it's okay to throw shit right out their windows and ruin the water supply.) It's just so hard to comprehend. God is love and mercy and kindness. Jesus loved everyone. he hung out with a prostitute. and tax collectors. and on the cross he begged God to forgive the people torturing him because "They know not what they do." One of the freakin' ten commandments is "thou shalt not kill." . . . . .and yet the church whipped up all theses hundreds of thousands of people from all across Europe and convinced them to travel half way across the world to slaughter people because "God wills it."No. just not. this is Christianity's worst moment in history. I don't care what the pope and priests told them. it is NOT god's will for you to go freaking MURDER people because you want control over a hole in the ground which may or may not be where Jesus was buried. Come on, let's face it people, it's been over a thousand years since he was buried. can we REALLY be sure that that cave is where they left his body? :/ God said to love, remember? to be kind and caring. slaughtering people is NOT the way to convert them.human stupidity really, really amazes me sometimes.Speaking of human stupidity! this brings me to my 2nd biggest issue with the story. (thankfully it wasn't enough to take away from my enjoyment of the story. or bring down my rating.) . . . .Alan.Don't get me wrong. I absolute adore Alan. he's funny, talented, a great fighter - a prodigy almost, he's human. you know, not a Mary sue/Marty stew main character who can do no wrong. And I use to think he was pretty smart, but now. . . . . .I'm not so sure. :/So, Our gloriously violent Earl of Locksley, Robin Hood does something pretty damned awful about 3/4 of the way through the book. Oh, god, what a surprise! . . . .:/ :/ :/ :/ NOT after 1.75 books of sociopathic behavior, I have come to expect this exact sort of behavior from the "godfather" of Sherwood. The Robin Hood of "the outlaw chronicles" is a really logical guy. he's cold and calculating and self-interested and dangerous. everything he does he does for reason. and in his twisted view of the world it's always a good reason. he wants what he wants. and he'll get it by the fastest and most brutal way necessary. the ends justifies the means. The part about York showed us that. it was written quite clearly. and in blood. Woe to anyone who stands in his way. even old allies. (and some how, among all this barbarity there is still room for him to be likable, charming, & charismatic.)I know this. little john knows it. Mary Anne knows it. Hell, even Friar Tuck knows it! he knows that robin is a murderer and a heretic. and he STILL likes him, and respects him. and has enough damned sense to understand what Robin is Capable of.But young Alan, who's been under his wing for YEARS now -years- is horrified by what Robin orders out there in the desert? After human sacrifices, cutting all but one limb off a man, murdering and sodomizing a priest with a crucifix, the battle in York, allowing his own brother to be murdered by his best friend . . . . .and Alan is STILL Horrified by this?THIS one little scene is what sets Alan off? THIS is what makes the boy question his loyalty? seriously? THAT? I get that it was wrong and awful, pointless and cruel, and all that jazz. but seriously Alan, after all the stuff you've seen, you've silently watched & not stopped, you shouldn't have been that worked up over THIS! Robin's done plenty of other stuff that, in my opinion, is a hell of a lot worse than this. why didn't you get this pissy over the other stuff? because cause you were sick at this point, and the fucking fever caused you to loose your cool.>:( yeah, Alan Dale of Westbury has a lot of fucking room to try and preach to somebody about honor and right & wrong. that self-righteous little speech coming from a thieving little gutter rat outlaw? Towards the man who gave you EVERY-FUCKING-THING you have today? (I don't totally agree with either one during this little feud. but I do understand both. and as bad as it must seem, I honestly was leaning a little more towards Robin's side.:( he had a good point & a good, twisted, reasoning for his awful, deplorable actions) yep. he picked a great time to get all high and might after everything you've helped this man do. because you are SOOOOO perfect. (what about how awfully he treated poor Nur? HUH? after what happened to her? where was the honor n goodness then?!?!?) he needs to take a good long look at himself first, because he's at fault to for going along with all the bad stuff for so long and not saying ANYTHING until he's half mad with a fever.Alan: you knew all along that you were dealing with a sociopath. it's time to grow up and accept that Robin Hood does not think like you do! He's mentally fucked up! He doesn't understand right and wrong like you do! the man doesn't even see grey zones of right and wrong. it's just the whole you're with Robin or Against Robin. one try and you're done. Get that through your thick skull!P.S. I hope this review wasn't to confusing or to ranting. and that I didn't give anything really important away. I try! but I was pretty tried when I wrote this, so my ending part about Alan might not make a lot of sense. But it's true don't you think? like my review or comment me if you agree with or liked my ranting and raving review! I get very few likes and comments and stuff and I'd love to hear from my Goodreads friends. :) now, onward to my next good read. :) lol at myself. A powerful, provocative and thought-provoking read, this is the second installment in Angus Donald's re-interpretation of the Robin Hood myth.Even though you are prepared for this not being your usual Robin Hood story, Angus Donald still keeps you gripped and surprises you at nearly every turn. Mainly, I'd say, because like the first in the series, 'Outlaw', whilst of course headlined as a Robin Hood story, it was in reality more about the tale of Alan Dale, than of Robin Hood.'Holy Warrior' is the same and more so.Angus Donald's Robin Hood is a dark and fairly mysterious presence, often in the background of the story. When taking the lead, he is an interesting enigma; a pragmatic, powerful figure, an idealist, but also a realist. Happily for me though, he is still the pagan Robin from 'Outlaw'. He hasn't a lot of time or patience for Alan's 'new' Christian preaching, preferring I thought, to steer his own course through his own beliefs and ideals. Here, he seems to be what I hope I interpret correctly; a coalescence of the pagan history, legends and folk heroes of old Britain (older than 'England'), an honourable man, of and for the people.It's a harsh book in some ways. The first one I thought, was necessarily harsh in its description of Robin Hood and his earthy, matter-of-fact paganism. Some incidents which, for me, were integral in both separating this Robin Hood from the one we think we knew (thanks to tradition, Hollywood and the Nottingham tourist people) and emphasising the fact that the Robin Hood legend has developed out of a strong, much more ancient British pagan tradition - encompassing, amongst other traditions, the Green Man - was not to everyone's taste. And those who found a certain 'sex' scene too much in book one, will certainly find plenty to enjoy being shocked about here. Better stay indoors with your Mills & Boon 'histories' the rest of your life then, because this is how it was. Not always as nice as Errol Flynn would have you believe.But, as I've said before, this is really the story of - and of course, by - Alan Dale. Alan worships the ground Robin walks on, especially you could say - as Alan is a good God-fearing Christian - when they reach The Holy Land. But, as Robin confuses, insults, disappoints and angers Alan on a regular basis, the hero worship is often also against Alan's better judgement. He cannot leave him, though he sometimes wishes he could.We learn more about Robin and what he believes in, partly because he is taken away from his comfort zone of England and Sherwood. The story roams through the Mediterranean, from the Norman stronghold of Scicily, to Cyprus and on to The Holy Land with The Third Crusade. Robin and his band of men are at the beck and call of King Richard, in repayment of a debt and clearly against his better judgement. But who is using who? It seems that Robin has his own agenda to follow out in The Holy Land. And it is, shall we say, more about pennies, than pennitence.There is no way Robin is the title's 'Holy Warrior'. Maybe Richard is and Alan would probably like to think he is.Whilst the next book in the series is called 'The King's Man', I would say that title actually was more relevant here, as a reference to Alan's relation to Robin. Robin is the 'king' of Alan's world and Alan is, though he might frequently say he wishes it wasn't so, is always going to be his man.Looking forward to the next one. Ooh! I just downloaded it!
What do You think about Robin Hood II. El Cruzado. (2010)?
Looking forward to the final installment of this series.
—Dbabik13
This series just gets better. Loving it.
—Christian
