I love the chapters in this book, and really like the author and what he is doing, but I had a hard time following a full story. It was easier with the first book because there was at least some idea of what the Robinhood story was; this time I was just plain lost. But I am glad to see that others are loving the book.

I did not finish - I have tried reading this book on multiple occasions and just could not get into it.

Content Warning: Pretty much everything but the kitchen sink. Profanity (so much profanity), violence, murder, rape (mention of and offscreen), necrophilia (mention of), theft. Aside from bestialities, this book has it all.

Many thanks to Netgalley and the author for providing Lionhearts for review!

The story of Robin Hood and his band of outlaws is one that has become so ingrained that one often forgets that at least some of it is based on truth. King Richard really was captured and held for ransom and in order to pay his ransom every English lord raised taxes much to the people’s dismay. And while bandits and outlaws likely did roam Sherwood Forest at the time, that is where truth and fiction diverge.

First of all, I did not realize Lionhearts was a sequel. Because it was not described as such on Netgalley’s website, I went in thinking it was either a standalone book or the first book in a possible series. That it is the second book and the book Nottingham comes before it could possibly make a difference when reading.

Secondly, this book is violent and some parts are not for the squeamish. A trigger or content warning of some kind would have been welcome. While I am not the most squeamish of readers, there were a few scenes that even I found difficult to stomach. Readers who are familiar with the content of Game of Thrones will have an idea of the kind of sometimes over the top violence that Lionhearts contains.

In many ways it is obvious that Makaryk was influenced by the wildly popular Game of Thrones series when writing Lionhearts. Each chapter is dedicated solely to an individual character and their actions at a specific time and place. At the beginning of each chapter we are given the name of who we are following and exactly where they are. We then follow them as they negotiate the countless plots and subplots as well as the very real danger that surrounds each person.

To sum things up, Lionhearts is not for everyone. The story is dark and violent, the characters are often cruel. At over 500 pages it can be a bit much for even the most stalwart of readers. Readers who are looking for a retelling of the Robin Hood myth should be careful because this is not an easy read.

Super late giving feedback on that one!!

I was intrigued by the topic (maybe because I love the Disney version of Robin Hood so much?) and the beginning didn't disappoint. I really enjoyed the different points of view, the language (cussing abounds!), and the plot. At 1/3 I didn't know where the book was going and I lost a bit of interest but overall I enjoyed the tone, the characters, and the plot.

It was enjoyable overall.

My husband was looking forward to reading this one. Unfortunately, what we did not realize is that it was not the first in a series and he hadn’t read the previous books. Maybe at some point, he will start the series from the beginning.

I loved the first book in the series and I had such high expectations for this one. I was unfortunately disappointed. I felt that this book had such drastic changes in the personalities of the characters that weren't explained clearly. I also felt that the plot steered off course from the first one to the point where it felt like more of a companion novel than a sequel. I wasn't expecting the huge increase in the use of profanity. I'm not a huge fan of an overload of cursing but as that is more of a personal preference, it didn't really impact my rating
I did enjoy the political intrigue in the book and the world building was really good.

Nathan Makaryk’s sophomore novel picks up some months after the shocking conclusion of his first, Nottingham. In this Game-of-Thrones-like treatment of the Robin Hood myth, Makaryk shakes everything we thought we knew about the characters of legend and scatters those preconceptions like dice rolling across a scarred betting table.

Will Scarlet, Arthur à Bland, and David of Doncaster leave the Sherwood Forest to sneak back into Nottingham in an effort to strengthen Robin Hood’s band. Meanwhile, Marion and Little John also abandon the forest, leading a bedraggled group of peasants across England in search of safe harbor.

Neither team finds exactly what they want, encountering instead complications that are bloody, convoluted, and, mostly, entertaining. The Red Lion gang in Nottingham is led by an old friend of Will’s and his merciless lover. Marion’s safe harbor proves to be both more frivolous and more treacherous than she had imagined. All this while, England strains under the weight of the chancellor’s demand that every person provide a quarter of his or her wealth to pay the kidnapped King Richard’s ransom.

This isn’t a book for sticklers of historical accuracy: The characters swear with modern words, the women are unusually conscious of their gendered state, and history has been tweaked. But for readers looking for a memorable story, characters to both love and hate, and ethical quandaries, this is an enjoyable read.

As appeared in: The Historical Novel Society Review https://historicalnovelsociety.org/reviews/lionhearts-nottingham-2/

A worthy sequel to the first book by Mr. Makaryk. I have to say, there were a ton more surprises in store (even more than the first book probably). I love a good Robin Hood retelling, and this series delves into the supporting characters of the legend. It's a fascinating look into the time period and just how brutal it actually was.

Well, what can I say? I had been looking forward to reading Lionheart as I enjoy reading historical books. I enjoy immersing myself fully in another time period resplendent in the common vernacular, the customs, attitudes, etc. of the times. This book does not really do that. I see that many have compared it to Game of Thrones (or as a wanna-be). It did seem to me better suited as a "HBO vehicle". While I am sure such profanity may have used in the time period, I really dont see the need to wallow in it. I am sure that some women may have wished for more, may have blamed misogyny, they would have done so with that word. I was unable to lose myself in the book because the world the author created didn't exist in that way. Friar Tuck would not have had a bible, let alone had it in the woods for example. There are many people who will enjoy this book as written but it is not for me. Too many inconsistencies with the time period. It has modern attitudes and behaviors and that is what ruined the reading experience for me. I look for an escape from the modern world when I read and found I was still there!

There have been many retellings of the Robin Hood legend. This one is very different from the others I've experienced. It continues the story that began with "Nottingham" and follows the difficulties in England following the imprisonment of Richard the Lionheart and the death of Robin of Locksley. The story uses familiar characters - Lady Marian, John Little, Friar Tuck, etc - and introduces a host of new characters. It is quite violent and bloody which, I'm sure, is true to the time period. For the people of England, rich or poor, life is hard. There are people of all types who are willing to fight (literally or figuratively) for what is right and good. This was an interesting story, not at all what I expected.

Thank you to NetGalley and Forge-McMillan books for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you to Netgalley for the opportunity to read and review this book. DNF. In fact barely started. The story of Robin Hood here is much different than what I remembered. Too many other new characters to keep straight. Did not seem worth the bother.

Absolutely obsessed with this series. It was an amazing read and a wonderful reworking of the Robin Hood myth. Wow!

I love historical fiction and was immediately drawn to Lionhearts when it was available to review, but it is hard to figure out where to start. The setting is the 13th century (you have to keep this in mind) after Robin Hood dies and King Richard is captured. The characters are all there - Marion, Richard, Will, Little John, and the other Merry Men as are Nottingham and the Sherwood Forest. So far, so good.

The book is billed as one for fans of the Game of Thrones series. The author even tries to imitate the organization, with chapters named by characters and locations. This is not even original and doesn’t make me enjoy it any better because I am supposed to be reading something like the great fantasy literature.

The problem is the author’s use of profanity. It seemed that every other word was a four-letter word, which: (1) gets old after a while; and (2) we don’t even know if people spoke this way in the 13th century. I wonder if the author did any research to find out if the profound use of profanity was 13th-century vernacular.

I couldn’t take it after a while. My experience of the book was that the profanity overshadowed the plot, character development, pace, and thematic conclusion. Yet, I congratulate anyone who could write a 546 page book, so I rate the book one star.

I would like to thank the author, Tor/Forge MacMillan, and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this book. I am voluntarily leaving this review.

I think some books should come with explanations of what is in them.

1. Foul language should be a warning. Is it for a younger crowd? As an old, cranky person I just find it offensive and really lazy on the author's part. It's so much easier to write Fxxx you than to express those feelings in another manner. Really in the Sherwood Forest in the 1500's?

2. That it is really a fantasy novel. I never would have picked it up. Definitely not my genre.

3. That is aspired to be a Game of Thrones book. Again, had I known I wouldn't have picked it up.

This was not a meeting of marriage and mind and I literally could not finish it. I am embarrassed to say that as I like to finish what I start and I can count only a handful of books I could not finish. This unfortunately is one of them.

I was given a free copy of Lionhearts by Nathan Makaryk (Author), MacMillan-Tor/Forge (Publisher), and Netgalley.

Lionhearts is the first novel that I have read by Mr. Makaryk. I would characterize this novel as historical fiction.
This novel is a sequel to Nottingham which I did not read. In the beginning of Lionhearts, there is a brief synopsis of what happened in the previous novel, and I found it to be helpful.
This review will not contain any spoilers.

Lionhearts is about the characters that are known due to their connections to Robin Hood. I enjoy novels and books about Robin Hood and his merry band. Lionhearts is a novel about Robin Hood’s merry band.
Another aspect of Lionhearts that caught my fancy is the novel has a criminal element to the story along with showing how tough lift could be in Sherwood Forest and Nottingham while King Richard was being held for ransom by Austria.

Mr. Makaryk depicts the daily life of people who live hand-to-mouth while searching for food, people who are looking for fresh starts in a part of England that is rough, tough, and difficult. In the beginning of the novel, I was very intrigued by how each of the characters are doing in Sherwood Forest and Nottingham and Mr. Makaryk’s world-building. Sherwood Forest and Nottingham both come to life with dirt, grime, and grit.

The problem that I had with Lionhearts are the characters. Characters like Marian, Will Scarlett, Arthur, and others in the Merry Band that I have enjoyed reading in other Robin Hood-inspired novels and books is not the case with this novel. The characters are flat. The characters are not interesting, not engaging, and not hopeful nor optimistic. I did not get attached to any of the characters.

Another problem I had is while reading this novel, the story moved at a crawl or got bogged down too long in a chapter. There is a chapter where a character talks to a room full of people who are on staff for several nobles about what they could do if they do not pay the ransom for King Richard. The next chapter is about how another character is reacting to what the character, from the previous chapter, discussed.

It is understood that Robin Hood and his Merry Band have been around for centuries, and there have been countless versions of his story. The stories about Robin Hood and his Merry Band that I gravitated toward are stories that are swashbuckling, optimistic, exciting while Robin appears to be an anti-hero by stealing from the rich to give to the poor. Lionheart does not feature any character that is swashbuckling, optimistic, or exciting. The characters are bitter, almost cynical, filled with despair, distraught, and lacking hope.

As I continued to read the novel, I found Mr. Makaryk’s depiction of Nottingham, Sherwood Forest, and the surrounding environs to be bleak, depressing, dire, and the like.

I stopped reading Lionhearts at forty-one percent.

The book is technically well-written and does not have any obvious spelling or grammatical errors.

I will rate Lionhearts 2 stars.

I would like to thank Mr. Makaryk, MacMillan-Tor/Forge, and Netgalley for the free ARC.

In concept I like the idea, but I'm not a huge fan of his writing style. I read alot of action, adventure, and historical fiction books and get through them really quickly (not because they're short but because I'm so eager to know what happens next). His book really didn't hook me to keep reading, the action wasn't super exciting, etc.

Nathan Makaryk has slaughtered this book. It's language is unbelievable. Every other word is f***.
That alone is not my cup of tea. I thought this book would be a look at King Richard's exile in Austria. Instead, what I got was just ridiculous.

I think he tried to write a book along the lines of Games of Thrones or Hunger Games. He failed miserably. This story picked up after the death of Robin Hood. You know it, with King Richard, Maid Madeline and Little John.

There is no concept or flow to this book. It seems it's just a lot of mismash to me. Of course, I only read 1/3 of the book, it's all I could handle. I think I need to go take a bath, just to get the filth off of me.

This is just my opinion and everyone reads the same book differently. I would not waste my time or money on it, if I were you.

Thanks to Netgalley for the Kindle version of the book for my honest opinion and thoughts.

Lionhearts quickly envelopes you and keeps you from accomplishing anything but finishing this book! Each chapter ends with you needing to read just one more chapter no matter how late. Lionhearts is so well written you love every character even if they were your least favorite character in the previous chapter! I recommend you start this book on a long vacation because you won’t be able to put it down once you pick it up.

5 STARS!!!!!

This was my most anticipated read of the year!

Thank you NetGalley, for letting me out of NetGalley jail for not reviewing books (I couldn't download) and allowing me this advanced reader copy. Thank you Forge Books and Tor/McMillan Publishing for trusting me to read and review! Finally, thank you Nathan Makaryk for writing this book and bringing a favorite childhood character back to life!

The continuation of Nottingham may be compared to Game of Thrones (without the Dragons) or Outlander (without the time travel). This is a new and imagined version of Robin Hood and Maid Marion's men. However, this is not a child's adaptation!

King Richard is being held for ransom in Austria. The Chancellor is taxing England into devastation. Maid Marion is trying to save her people from starvation and dying. Robin Hood is dead, or is he? There is anarchy and misplaced power...grudges, revenge and betrayal. Who will help? Who will revolt? Who to trust?

This book is lengthy but lacks no suspense. It's page turning tension, full of emotion and energy! Just you think you know what's around the next corner...SURPRISE! This author completely does a 180!

I couldn't recommend a more heart pounding, gut wrenching story to keep the reader enthralled! This will be one to be reread over time. These books have a permanent place on my book shelf!

Also posted to Instagram @lisalovesliterature

Now that everything’s gone down the drain, the remaining crew try to fix Nottingham and—hopefully—England.

Well. This was my other most anticipated book of the year (here’s the other one). So much for it being worth the wait.
This book fails on three fronts: the plot, the women, and the men.
The plot is needlessly detailed and drawn out. The book’s timeline could’ve started later without losing much. Instead I chewed on this tough jerky for a month. This cumbersome journey is further shipwrecked by an intolerable cast.
The guilty parties:
In my Nottingham review I mentioned how all the women are modern. Nothing has changed. In fact, it’s gotten worse. They attribute many of their failings to…wait for it…misogyny. (A word not invented for another five hundred years, but I digress.) What about failures being the result of recklessness, disorganization, miscalculations, bad friends, no common sense, no leadership skills, a bland personality, failure to communicate, oversleeping, skipping breakfast, or just anything personal? By blaming everything on misogyny they’re saying that nothing is their fault, and everyone else is to blame. Accountability is for all, even those “strong and independent” women.
[Marion] did not hate learning to become a lady at all, she simply hated that she was not simultaneously learning how to become everything else. Who in their right mind would ever think they could—or should—learn “everything else”? That has to be it: Marion is just talented enough to hide her clinical insanity. I mean, she literally has no practical skills and barely passes for a lady and yet she thinks she has the brain power to do all? What kind of arrogance must you have to imagine you could reach omniscience? If she truly thinks she could learn “everything else,” why hasn’t she? Could it be that she has limitations in body and mind? *gasp* Positively shocking.
Marion in a nutshell:
1. She doesn’t know what she’s doing
2. No one likes her overbearing attitude
3. Everything she does ends as an inferno
4. Her reputation is merrily in flames
5. She’s more trouble than she’s worth
But of course it’s not her fault. It’s ye olde misogyny, like it always is.
Caitlin parades her ugly attitude and foolishly doesn’t consider the consequences. Her dearth of sound leadership destroys any chance of respect. And how is she fat? She’s had to survive off stolen goods for years. Does no one find her girth suspicious? I’d wonder if she hasn’t got a secret stash and I’d demand an investigation.
Zinn is awful. A twelve-year-old who thinks she deserves leadership status over adults, degrades people who don’t know what she knows, employs crude humor and insults, and thinks her feisty attitude covers her worthless personality, is beyond saving.
Arable is in her thirties?! That’s alarming. I thought she was sixteen. She acts like it. The concept of teenagers wasn’t invented until the ‘40s so she should be very mature. But no.
I know the author has willfully set aside historical accuracies but this feminist choice is garbage and spits on real women. NOT ALL WOMEN CRAVE POWER. STOP WRITING THEM AS IF THEY DO. Where are the women who don’t try to imitate men? Where are the women who don’t give a flying chip about politics? Where are the women who will gladly command the home? Where are the women who aren’t desperate for head honcho-ness? Where are the women who realize they can’t go it alone? (Looking at you, Arable.) Where are the women who are content to let the men make the choices and take the fallout? Where is Thomas Cromwell when you need him?!
I just read The Mirror & the Light (my review) and I was refreshed to see those women portrayed in an accurate light. It’s infinitely more interesting and inspiring to see women accomplishing things from the shadows while still maintaining their household and womanliness. Why must other historical fiction make women toilet fodder? How about writers stretch a little and get creative? Power-hungry woman are massively overused.
Women hating men and then turning around to complain about misogyny is hypocritical in the extreme and it’s sad they don’t realize that.
Unfortunately, the men aren’t much better. None are worthy of praise because they’re all dirtbags, worthless, unstable, weak, villainous, unchivalrous, or in general, unlikable. I said this book would need “a wise, logical and levelheaded man…” who, sadly, never appeared. I do still kinda like Prince John, but he’s only the best of the worst. I just don’t understand how every character could suck. People can be bad and still likable (The Lies of Locke Lamora comes to mind) but this book can’t manage it. I think the root problems are the rife stupidity, greed, thoughtlessness, and poor leadership. Basically, the men aren’t MEN.
Why is Tuck criticized for his faith? Back then the church was hugely important and powerful. No Englishman would’ve professed atheism, and yet it’s a common thing here. And where did Tuck get his Bible? It would’ve been handwritten (in Latin), ginormous, and rare or not even available outside churches, and yet he has one in the forest. No.
I vaguely recall liking the writing style in the previous book, but now I’m not seeing much to applaud. It’s fine, but whatever made Nottingham special to me is now missing. And enough with the modern swearing! When characters swear in every conversation, they sound like an idiot.
No one is capable of prolonged intelligence, logic, diplomacy, charisma, manners or levelheadedness. The combined folly should result in everyone who didn’t die in this book, dying in the next one. And it would be a better world.
Now that I’ve said my piece, you may be wondering why I even stuck with the book in the first place. Part of it is obligation. I was unable to get an ARC from Netgalley, but since I really wanted to read it, I contacted the publisher and surprisingly they sent me the link. So I figured after the trouble I went through to get it, I should finish it. The other part is I kept hoping something amazing would happen, some last minute twist to make it all worthwhile. Regrettably, nothing made me wish I could have the next book right now.
What could’ve been a great sequel resulted in a loose plot and a cast of characters who fail in every regard. It’s also made me question the goodness of the first one. I’m definitely not anticipating the final book.

One quote for the road:

“Outlaw implies they live outside the law, suggesting there’s a place where rules don’t matter.”