DNF at 4%

The prose was meandering, Jane was boring, I wasn't interested in the paragraphs long introspection in the first chapter.

Just wasn't for me but could be for someone else who's into a more discussion type prose.

The Traitor of Sherwood Forest
By Amy S. Kaufman

This is a fascinating look at the Robin Hood story as it was first told in ballads in the 1300s and, as the myth was embellished, during the Middle Ages. As with all stories begun in the oral tradition and retold repeatedly throughout the Ages, this version is a far cry from the gallant hero as portrayed in film by the likes of Sean Connery, Kevin Costner – and even in Disney's animated version.

The Robin of this book was a mercenary who was on the losing side of the War of the Barons and subsequently made his way, together with his loyal comrades, to the Greenwood (Sherwood Forest) where he rules over his band of misfits. Jane, a young woman raised in poverty and abuse (like most of the peasant women of the time), is introduced to Robin to become a spy for him in the Kings Houses (a sort of way-station for nobles). Jane is at first starry-eyed and enchanted by Robin's guile.

But as the story continues and her danger becomes more apparent, Jane realizes she is trapped by Robin like a fly in a spider web. The more she sees of Robin, the more she realizes that he is not a good, kind hero who does what he does only to help the poor in service to the Virgin Mary. Instead she sees a vengeful, often cruel, man who believes his own myth.

I found this book very different from the stories we grew up on. The author's historical note at the end provided much more detail, helping to clear up any confusion that occurred over time. Thanks to the author for a more well-balanced telling of the story.

Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for this ARC.

This plot had so much potential yet was just not done well in my opinion. The story felt like it took forever to finally begin and when it did it somehow felt rushed. I loved the idea of Robin Hood being the villain, however he was just entirely unlikable. We were supposed to believe that everybody was swooning over this manipulative mastermind yet he acted like a rude child. The main character Jane was so naive and her obsession with Robin Hood felt so forced. I immediately didn’t care what happened to any of the characters in this book because they were so- meh.
Thank you to the author, netgalley, and publisher for giving me an ARC in exchange for an honest review!

This was unfortunately a miss for me. I think if the historical note had been included in the beginning of the book I would have been more in tune with the Robin Hood that the author was portraying. As it was I was confused for most of the book.

There seemed to be very little meaningful relationship development between characters. To the point that I couldn’t understand why any of them were loyal to Robin or each other. Jane didn’t seem to owe Robin anything, and I couldn’t figure out why she liked him enough to stay. He was anything but endearing and did not seem to behave in a romantic manner at all.

I’ll say the writing for this book was very good or I probably wouldn’t have finished it. It will surely find its correct audience of readers that are looking for a historically accurate Robin Hood retelling.

Thank you Penguin and NetGalley for sending me this ARC!

This was on me for not fully reading the description. I saw sultry and Robin Hood and thought it would be a dark romantic retelling of Robin Hood. The writing is excellent, but the story made me dislike Robin, an all-time favorite character of mine. I ultimately stopped halfway through because it was too dark and gruesome for me.

Jane Crowe is an ordinary peasant girl who never dreamed she would work for the infamous Lord of the Greenwood. But when she’s forced out of her home, she has no choice but to turn to Robin Hood for help—and he makes her an irresistible offer. He needs a pair of eyes in the King’s Houses, and quiet, unassuming Jane—who has spent her whole life going unnoticed—will be the perfect spy.

At first, Jane’s work for Robin seems straightforward. She whispers to him about the nobles at King’s Houses and all their secrets, including the new Sheriff of Nottingham, who would like nothing more than to see Robin Hood’s head on a spike. But the more Jane is drawn into Robin’s world, the more she’s drawn to Robin himself—a man as charismatic as he is cunning, capable of plucking at her heart as easily as he notches an arrow. As Robin’s tricks grow increasingly dangerous, and shockingly violent, Jane starts to suspect that her hero cares more about his own legacy than helping the common people—and that despite his declarations of affection, he sees her as just another object to be stolen.

I absolutely loved the premise of this one. The execution was just okay, though. The writing was mediocre for me and the ending felt .. incomplete. I had higher hopes for this. But if you like reading Robin Hood fiction, this might be for you. I truly believe that every book is meant for someone - this one might be for you! 3.25⭐

I received an advanced complimentary digital copy of this book from Netgalley. Opinions expressed are my own.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me an advance copy of this book in exchange for an honest review!

"The Traitor of Sherwood Forest" by Amy S. Kaufman is a historical fiction book based on one of the Medieval-era tales of Robin Hood. The setting for the book is evocative, lush, and dark; it was my favorite aspect of the story. The author does a great job placing you in the main character's world and making you feel her emotions. The cast of characters is quite fleshed out but I had a little trouble following the underlying motivations of the "villains," which lowered my enjoyment level. Overall, this was a very unique and intriguing story.

What if Robin Hood wasn’t the hero? In The Traitor of Sherwood Forest, a peasant girl gets recruited to spy for the OG forest himbo himself... only to realize he might be less “steal from the rich” and more “emotionally manipulate the help.” Dark, immersive, and morally messy, this is a story of Robin’s merry little cult that flips the familiar tale on its head.

I wasn’t sure what to expect going in but I really enjoyed this book, especially after reading the author’s notes. The plot took some turns I saw coming, but I was still eager to see how it all played out and the ending was rather satisfying. Overall, it’s a nice addition to the lore and it feels underrated on GoodReads.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!

This was a decent retelling of Robin Hood, It had a lot of the original characters, the plot surrounded thievery, and it was really interesting to compare it to the original tale. I like Jane as a character, because she just wanted to do what she had to do for a better chance instead of potentially following in her mother's footsteps, Now this book wasn't perfect, but it did hold my attention for most of the action scenes and the main plot.

This one wasn't for me through no fault of the author or the book itself. The writing is lovely and this is an interesting story, but I prefer my Robin Hood stories to be fun and lighthearted, which this definitely is not.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the arc! Opinions are my own.

Read this if you like retellings, medieval settings, and heists with con men.

I knew this was going to be a treat when I saw the author was also a medieval scholar. The setting was so captivating, and I loved how all the details tied it all together. The descriptions of the forest and the churches were particularly well done, putting you right in those places.

The characters were incredibly well-developed, even the side characters. They all added something unique to the story, and directly influenced the plot or the main characters.

The pacing was a bit slow in the beginning, but the last half was a run. It was hard to put down once things got going. I was very pleased with the end, I think it was a very compelling resolution. I don’t know much about the original myths and ballads, but I appreciated the author’s note at the end about changes she had made, or stories she had pulled from.

Thank you to Amy S. Kaufman, Viking Penguin, and NetGalley for the eARC!

I started this book, however I barely got into it before I dnfd it. It wasn’t that the writing was bad or that the story idea was bad, I just wasn’t feeling it. I have become quite the mood reader and since then, it has been hard for me to get into some books.

I’m hoping that I can pick this book back up one day and actually enjoy it!

"The Traitor of Sherwood Forest" by Amy S. Kaufman is a reimagining of the Robin Hood legend through the perspective of a peasant girl named Jane Crowe. What Kaufman did with the characters was very interesting and unique. Fans of Raven Kennedy’s "Guild" will likely enjoy this reimagining. Although I had trouble with the pacing and some directions with the story, many readers will enjoy this new take on an old legend.
Thank you to NetGallery and Penguin Group Viking for an advanced copy of this ebook in exchange for my honest review.

*The Traitor of Sherwood Forest* offers an interesting take on the Robin Hood legend, with a blend of political intrigue and complex character dynamics. Amy S. Kaufman’s writing style is engaging, and she brings a fresh perspective to the familiar world of Sherwood Forest. The characters are well-crafted.

While the book provides a solid read, I found the pacing to be a bit uneven at times, and some of the developments felt predictable. However, the atmosphere of the story is well-done, and I appreciate the world Kaufman created.

Overall, it's an enjoyable read, especially for those who love reimagined classics, but it didn’t fully capture my attention as I hoped. Thank you to NetGalley and Penguin Books for the ARC!

"An immersive, sultry, heart-pounding historical reimagining of the Robin Hood ballads, told through the piercing eyes of one of his spies.

Jane Crowe is an ordinary peasant girl who never dreamed she would work for the infamous Lord of the Greenwood. But when she's forced out of her home, she has no choice but to turn to Robin Hood for help - and he makes her an irresistible offer. He needs a pair of eyes in the King's Houses, and quiet, unassuming Jane - who has spent her whole life going unnoticed - will be the perfect spy.

At first, Jane's work for Robin seems straightforward. She whispers to him about the nobles at King's Houses and all their secrets, including the new Sheriff of Nottingham, who would like nothing more than to see Robin Hood's head on a spike. But the more Jane is drawn into Robin's world, the more she's drawn to Robin himself - a man as charismatic as he is cunning, capable of plucking at her heart as easily as he notches an arrow. As Robin's tricks grow increasingly dangerous, and shockingly violent, Jane starts to suspect that her hero cares more about his own legacy than helping the common people - and that despite his declarations of affection, he sees her as just another object to be stolen.

When Robin's schemes implicate Jane in a brutal murder, she must decide: is she prize to be won, a pawn to be used and discarded - or is she an equal player in the game between nobles and thieves?"

Ever since I first watched Disney's Robin Hood I am here for ALL THING Robin Hood.

I really wanted to like this book, but I couldn't get into it. Not sure why. I think I couldn't decide if it was an adult book, or YA? (Not that I'm against YA, I just didn't know where things were going.)

Great premise—the story of Robin Hood based on the original gritty medieval lore—but lackluster execution. The protagonist, Jane, is so tiresome; despite what we're told of her insightfulness, we don't see much of it, or much of any other quality that would explain why so many people are drawn to her, let alone willing to go out of their way to help her. Robin gives several lectures about economic inequity in the beginning that feel more 21st century than 13th century, as does the book's most interesting character, the prioress Ibota. Some of the writing was lovely, but I found Amy S. Kaufman's afterword explaining how the Robin Hood myth evolved over centuries more intriguing than the novel itself.

Thank you, Penguin Group and NetGalley, for providing me with an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

3.5 stars rounded up. I have never read anything about Robin Hood before and I was very intrigued to pick this one up. I really appreciated the author's attention to detail and descriptions of medieval life. I especially enjoyed all the food and landscape descriptions. The beginning was a little slower than I would have liked and it was hard for me to get into the story but once I did get invested I could not stop reading. The main character Jane goes through a lot of growth throughout the book and I enjoyed getting to know her story. Robin Hood was very morally grey and not the hero he is usually portrayed as.

Thank you Netgalley and Penguin Group Viking for the digital arc in exchange for my honest review.

I'll start with the one thing I liked about The Traitor of Sherwood Forest—because trust me, it's all downhill from there.

The one redeeming quality of the book is its unique portrayal of Robin Hood. That’s not to say I liked this depiction of Robin — I found him to be cringe, unlikeable, and repulsive from the get-go, however Kaufman takes a fresh approach to the legendary hero, offering a version of Robin who is morally complex, tempestuous, and contradictory. This Robin isn't the idealized hero of most stories. Instead, Kaufman presents him as someone who may have trampled over the innocent, become consumed by ambition and revenge, and lost sight of his original purpose. It’s a refreshing take on the Robin Hood myth, but unfortunately, it wasn’t executed as well as I had hoped. As Kaufman writes, <i>"I wanted to write Robin as the Middle Ages imagined him... both chivalrous and cruel. He steals from the rich, and he sometimes protects the poor, but he is also violent, erratic, and deeply flawed."</i> It's an interesting and unique take on the Robin Hood legend and I appreciated it, but sadly, this is where my enjoyment ended because all of the characters are insufferably unlikeable.

Let’s talk about Jane, the protagonist. From the very start, I found her frustratingly naive and, frankly, annoying. She’s inexplicably infatuated with Robin Hood from their first meeting, but her feelings are completely unearned. There’s no real reason why she should be so enamored with him—she simply admires his looks, charm, and bravery. However, these superficial qualities are not enough to justify her obsessive admiration. She lets herself be used and discarded by Robin, turning into a "pick-me" who constantly questions her worth in relation to him. Zero dignity.

Robin, despite his so-called code of honor where he supposedly never harms or disrespects women, consistently treats them poorly from the very beginning. He flirts with and uses women for his gain, and when he's done, he discards them without a second thought. One of the most blatant examples of Robin's hypocritical nature occurs when Robin makes a crude comment about another woman in the story, and Jane brushes it off, despite earlier witnessing him throw a temper tantrum when another man made a similar joke. Double standards much? She even acknowledges how demeaning he talks about women: <i>“[She] bristled. He had a foul name for the washerwoman, he did, and fouler words for Betrice, and she wondered suddenly how Robin referred to her when she wasn't in the room.”</i> And yet continues to overlook it. This is the man Jane thinks respects women? Give me a break.

But the hypocrisy doesn’t end there. Robin, the ever so chivalrous and gentlemen, bets Jane as a prize in an archery contest, saying: <i>“If you’re the better shot, then you can have the girl.”</i> Appalling. This is someone who Jane still thinks lives by his moral code, and yet he openly bets her as if she were a mere object. It’s demoralizing, and Jane, despite being repeatedly described as observant and capable of reading people, does nothing to question Robin’s behavior, even when it’s right in front of her. She ignores the glaring red flags and dehumanizing way Robin treats her, as well as his lack of respect for women in general.

Jane’s inability to see Robin’s flaws is even more frustrating when she excuses his behavior time and time again. Robin is supposed to protect the poor and vulnerable and yet when he steals wine, he doesn’t care that an innocent servant will be punished for it. Jane, in turn, dismisses this, suggesting that Robin must not have known the consequences. Like hello, girly? I thought you said he was clever. Truth is, he just didn’t care and you, for some inconceivably reason, refuse to acknowledge any of it. This is just one example of Jane’s willful ignorance; she consistently holds Robin to a different, far more lenient standard than she does others, which is both frustrating and hard to read.

There are several instances where Jane’s lack of critical thinking and self-awareness comes to the forefront. Even Robin’s own crew warns her about him, telling her that he’s manipulative, plays games, and has done worse things than they ever could. These are the people who know him best—who have been with him the longest—and they still try to caution her. But Jane, stubbornly convinced of her own perception of Robin, refuses to listen. She ignores all the warnings and continues to justify his actions. She dismisses the reality in front of her because she’s too infatuated with Robin to see him for who he truly is. One of the most infuriating moments is when Jane lashes out against Robin’s crew after they kill an innocent page boy. She says Robin would never have done that, only for Robin to later admit that he would have done the same thing. And instead of holding him accountable, Jane just goes along with it, accepting it as if everything’s justified the minute it comes out of his mouth. Girl, where did your brain cells fly off to?

To make matters worse, Jane’s relationship with her boyfriend, Bran, is poorly handled. Despite being in a committed relationship, Jane mentally cheats on him as she pines for Robin. Eventually, she physically cheats, and when Bran leaves her after discovering the betrayal, Jane has the audacity to call it a betrayal on his part. She shows no remorse, and her actions are entirely selfish. There’s a particularly infuriating scene where Jane is at church during a baptism, and Robin decides to pick a fight with soldiers and guards right in the middle of the ceremony. Babies are being baptized, and mothers and children are in danger, but Jane’s only concern is for Robin’s safety. Her brother, her boyfriend, and literal infants are at risk, and yet Jane doesn’t even think about them—she’s only focused on Robin. Here, and I quote, <i>"[Her brother] pressed through the crowd for her, risked himself, and she hadn't thought of him at all. She'd only had eyes for Robin."</i> I cannot defend her. She chose a man, who doesn’t care if she lives or dies, over her own brother. This moment was a clear of how far Jane had gone into her delusion about Robin. She puts him on a pedestal while everything around her falls apart, and it’s hard to take her seriously when she’s so blind to the reality of her situation. Also who picks a fight at a place fully of babies getting baptized? Another example right in Jane’s face that Robin doesn’t care about the innocent, he just loves the attention.

But the worst moment for me was when Jane considers lying about being raped to convince the Prioress of her distress. She briefly entertains the idea of claiming she was raped to make her story more convincing and gain sympathy. This was the moment I lost all remaining respect for her. Irredeemable. Absolutely not. That is abysmal.

In addition, Jane’s ability to sneak around and do her job is laughable. Her urges to be near Robin are so overwhelming that she rides out to see him without thinking. She’s shocked when a hunter following her tracks leads straight to Robin’s hideout. At one point, Jane steals a key to the cell that is holding Robin prisoner. She steals it from a woman who has just confided to her that she has been used and discarded by Robin, reminiscing and contemplating about what she did and felt. Jane hopes the woman won’t notice the missing key, thinking to herself, <i>“But why would she look for the cellar key, unless she was thinking about Robin?”</i> Are you kidding me? She was just talking to you about Robin 37 seconds ago. Absolute buffoon Jane is. Likewise, Robin’s supposed cleverness also seems to evaporate in critical moments, leading to situations that don’t make much sense. Such as going to a place that has already been exposed to the authorities and shooting arrows in broad daylight. If he’s supposed to be clever, his actions certainly don’t reflect that.

There is also this strange moment I just have to mention because it’s so ridiculous. A character who has taken Jane under her wing offers to shelter her at her nunnery, where no one would look for her. Jane is hesitant, not because she’s worried about her safety, but because she doesn’t want to be a nun—she wants a man. The nun then suggests that Jane could have a secret relationship if she’s careful, which is both so wild and disrespectful to the whole image and title of a nun. It was so absurd I had to laugh. Seriously, what am I reading.

And even at the end of the book, Jane continues to delude herself. She recognizes that she isn’t someone who wants to be at the forefront of war with deaths and killing and instead is a person that yearns for peace and safety. She mourns Robin and says that above everybody else Robin was the only person who truly knew her. Which is so laughable because just before he shamed her for being overwhelmed from seeing a sadistically tortured and brutalized body. He taunts and belittles her saying he thought she was different and was disappointed in her. He scolds her for not being grateful that he saved her and manipulates her into upholding undying loyalty for him. He shames her for not handling the brutality of war and murder, and yet she continues to idealize him, even in death. Even in the end, this character makes no sense.

The supporting characters don’t fare much better. The entire plot often feels like everyone is easily fooled, even when they’re face-to-face with Robin. People who have been hunting him for years are suddenly eager to play his games rather than capture him on sight. It’s hard to believe that even the most naive character would fall for this.

In conclusion, while The Traitor of Sherwood Forest had a promising premise with its complex take on Robin Hood, the execution ultimately fell flat. Jane’s character was more insufferable than endearing, and I found it hard to sympathize with her, especially given her naïveté, lack of self-respect, and obsession with a flawed, hypocritical man. The book just didn’t resonate with me, and I can’t say I enjoyed it.

I received an ARC from the publisher in exchange for an honest review

The Traitor of Sherwood Forest by Amy S. Kaufman is a third person-POV historical novel examining the story of Robin Hood through the original Medieval lens. Jane has few prospects in life and has little respect for her mother relying so much on men. When Jane meets Bran, she finds someone who is calm and steady but maybe doesn’t necessarily fill her with excitement. But then Bran brings her to meet Robin Hood, setting off Jane’s own journey of self-discovery and she’s going to have to make a lot of sacrifices if she’s going to survive.

The author’s note helped to contextualize a lot of what happens in the book, particularly in regards to Robin Hood. Like a lot of Americans, I grew up on the Disney version and all the stories of the selfless Robin and his beloved Maid Marion. This is all apparently a revision that started in the time of Henry VIII and the original Robin Hood was much more morally gray and didn’t really have a love interest as he instead devoted himself to the Virgin Mary. It was a really interesting experience for me to read this because it showed me how much my enjoyment of an adaptation is colored by the version I grew up on and prefer.

Beyond Robin’s devotion to Mary, Jane’s brother has joined the Church and there are discussions around the ways the Church abused their power in the Medieval era. It isn’t a secret that the Catholic Church had a lot of power in Europe for centuries and it handled that power very poorly, with many of the people who claimed to serve God using the Church as a shield to commit heinous acts, acts that, unfortunately, do continue today. Not all depictions of the Church are painted in a bad light, as Jane’s brother is genuinely devoted to God and appears to be a better man than some of the other members of the clergy and Jane works with a nun who is trying to convince Jane to join a nunnery so she can have some kind of power over her own life.

The romantic elements between Bran and Robin are definitely frustrating, mostly because I could see Jane falling for Robin a mile away and how toxic he would be for her. Bran is a good partner who cares about her and respects her boundaries, but he’s also safe. Despite all the negative things Jane thinks about her mother, she still made less than ideal choices regarding men. This helps to show the cycle that many people wind up in when it comes to partners and how anyone can be lured in by a charismatic personality.

Content warning for mentions of CSA and sexual assault

I would recommend this to fans of Robin Hood looking for something based on the original ballads and readers of historical fiction who like more morally gray characters