The Traitor of Sherwood Forest by Amy S. Kaufman is a gripping and immersive twist on the classic Robin Hood legend, and it’s sure to captivate fans of historical fiction, intrigue, and moral dilemmas. This isn’t your typical Robin Hood tale; Kaufman delivers a darker, more nuanced version that explores betrayal, loyalty, and the complex nature of heroism. It’s a fresh perspective, told through the eyes of Jane Crowe, a peasant girl who unexpectedly becomes a spy in Robin’s band of outlaws. What begins as a mission to gather intelligence quickly spirals into a tangled web of deceit and moral conflicts that Jane has to navigate carefully. 🕵️‍♀️💔

The world-building is one of the book's standout elements. Kaufman does a fantastic job of blending the familiar Sherwood Forest setting with historical details that make it feel both authentic and vivid. You can almost hear the rustling of the leaves in the woods and feel the tension in the air as the characters move through dangerous territory. The atmosphere is thick with suspense, and the stakes are high throughout, with every action feeling like it could tip the balance between life and death. 🌳🔪

One of the most intriguing aspects of the book is the portrayal of Robin Hood himself. Kaufman takes this legendary figure and turns him into a morally grey character, challenging the classic “noble outlaw” image. Robin is still a leader, still a symbol of resistance, but he’s far from perfect. As Jane gets closer to him, she realizes that Robin’s methods can be ruthless, and his ideals might not always align with the greater good. This portrayal really adds depth to the story, and I found myself constantly torn between admiration and doubt when it came to Robin. It makes for a compelling and morally complex read. 💔⚔️

As for Jane, the protagonist, she’s relatable and full of internal conflict. At first, she’s a bit naive—thrust into a world much bigger than she anticipated. But as the story unfolds, we see her grow stronger, more determined, and less willing to accept the black-and-white notions of right and wrong. Her personal journey is just as compelling as the political intrigue around her, and it’s a joy to watch her evolve from a pawn into a more active player in the unfolding drama. Jane’s internal struggle between loyalty to her mission and her growing feelings for Robin is both heartbreaking and riveting. 💔🔒

The supporting cast is equally rich in complexity, with Ibota, the prioress, standing out as a fascinating character with her own secrets and motivations. The relationships in the book—especially Jane’s interactions with Robin and the other members of the outlaw band—are layered with tension, trust, and betrayal, keeping you on the edge of your seat the entire time. 📚🔮

While the pacing of the book is generally well done, I did feel that the ending was a bit rushed. The conclusion comes fast and furiously, which left me wishing for a bit more space to explore the emotional and plot-related payoffs. I loved the build-up to the final moments, but I could’ve used a little more resolution in terms of character arcs and motivations. The climactic moments are satisfying but could have been deeper and more detailed. ⚡⚖️

Overall, The Traitor of Sherwood Forest is a fantastic and refreshing take on the Robin Hood mythos. It’s a tale of betrayal, complex morality, and characters that feel real and conflicted. The plot keeps you guessing, the characters make you feel invested, and the dark atmosphere pulls you into the story from start to finish. If you’re a fan of historical reimaginings, morally ambiguous characters, or just love a good tale of betrayal and adventure, this book is a must-read! 📖🔥

Highly recommend for fans of historical fiction, gritty fantasy, and anyone looking for a story that’s more than just black-and-white heroes and villains. Can’t wait to see what Kaufman does next! 🌟

When I came across this book, I was so excited about the idea of a retelling of the Robin Hood story. My only familiarity with this legend is from the Disney movie in my childhood, so I was interested to see how this novel might flip the well-known tale on its head.

In this regard, The Traitor of Sherwood Forest does a decent job through the characterization of Robin and by telling the story through the lens of the ordinary girl he turns into a spy in the world of wealthy nobles.

I want to highlight the medieval setting, which was my favorite part of the story. The lush descriptions and details made sense when I saw that the author has a PhD in medieval literature.

The characters and plot, unfortunately, fell a little flat for me. I felt that the pacing was too slow to ever really get into the story, and I did not care about Jane enough as a protagonist. I did like that her motivations and allegiances became more and more unclear as the book went on, but it was not enough to draw me into the story as a whole. However, fans of medieval retellings and anyone who is really into the Robin Hood legend may still enjoy this one.

I received this book courtesy of NetGalley, and I’m grateful to them and Penguin for the opportunity to read this in advance of publication! The Traitor of Sherwood Forest will be published on April 29th, 2025.

I’m going to try and give a truncated version of my thoughts up top to keep this as spoiler free as possible. I think those interested in reading this book should really go in not quite knowing what’s to come. Maybe even especially true for Robin Hood fans, because it was fun to be surprised and excited when familiar elements popped up!

The Traitor of Sherwood Forest follows Jane Crowe, a young woman who becomes Robin's spy inside Kings Houses, where she works in the kitchen. It follows her complicated relationship with the morally gray actions of Robin and his men, and the spiraling events that occur while she becomes increasingly involved.

In short, I have really mixed feelings about this book. It is very specifically an adaptation of medieval Robin Hood ballads, which will clue readers in on what to expect depending on how familiar they are with those texts. It borrows only a few things from more contemporary Robin Hood works. By a few things, I mostly mean that Friar Tuck here is “Tuk”, a Muslim mercenary in the newer tradition of having a Muslim character among the Merry Men (i.e. Djaq in the 2006 series, Azheem in Prince of Thieves). That’s the primary concession made. Otherwise, I can only assume that the oft-used description of Robin’s hair as “fox-colored” is a nod to the Disney movie, which has perhaps contributed to the proliferation of ginger Robins running around. No complaints.

I think the publisher's summary of the book makes it pretty clear that Robin is a violent and dangerous individual, but learning how much of that is true or not is part of the entertainment of the novel so I won’t spoil that. That said, this is definitely gritty. If you want a fun book, this ain’t it. It was hard to predict exactly how this book would end, although I had a pretty good idea about one element of the ending because of my familiarity with Robin Hood lore. The suspense elements at play were quite enjoyable, though!

I’m not sold on Jane as a protagonist. I understand her role in the story, and why she is the way she is, but I wish I had found her more intriguing as a character in her own right, rather than as an avenue to the story being told. Her decisions and logic were frustrating as she became increasingly wrapped up in the world of the plot. I wish I had understood her choices more or shaken some sense into her.

I’m not the most well-versed or academic when it comes to medieval Robin Hood ballads, so I won’t speak too much on how this book presented its interpretations, but it was interesting to see how the author chose to stitch them together into her narrative, and what changes she chose to make.

Okay, spoilers below this! I don't want to kill the suspense element for anyone.

The Traitor of Sherwood Forest adapts Robin Hood and the Potter, The Geste of Robin Hood, Robin Hood and the Monk, and The Death of Robin Hood. That last one is what makes this list a spoiler, although I was absolutely expecting it. I screeched a bit when the prioress was introduced early in the story, and knew immediately that Robin would die. The prioress, here named Ibota, was a marvelous addition, and I’m glad that she was present throughout the novel.

I don’t like gritty Robin Hood stories. I just don’t. I liked elements of this book and elements of what it was trying to do. Some of the writing was quite lovely. It was descriptive and evocative (although it perhaps overused similes), and that includes descriptions of violence. Parts of this book were so gory and unpleasant that I gagged. Your mileage may vary, of course.

However, regardless of my mileage, I don’t want to read about Robin torturing people. Which he does, twice. Once, while killing Guy of Gisborne and once while killing the sheriff. While killing the sheriff, he specifically calls the act “fun”, and views it as a “reward”. Little John actually mercy kills the sheriff against Robin’s wishes.

I had a look at the Robin Hood and Guy of Gisborne ballad, and in it, Robin cuts off Guy’s head and then mutilates it so it is unrecognizable. That’s already a lot to handle. In Traitor, Robin mutilates Guy while he’s still alive, and Guy dies from the torture of it, and then loses his head. That’s a lot to handle! There are a few other changes to the ballads adapted, but this one was rough. I didn’t like it. Okay, as a reader, I wasn’t supposed to. I’ll admit that. But as a reader, it downgraded my opinion of the book, too. It just felt like it went too far.

There are multiple points in this book that really smack the reader over the head with the message that Robin Hood is not actually a hero. Multiple people talk about it, and Jane explicitly states it. Robin is a genuinely scary, horrifying person. The last third of the book reads a bit like horror, but it’s Robin Hood who wants to slowly torture people to death. While his character is nuanced enough that you can see how he might have been a good person once, he starts to seem like an irredeemable psychopath. I think that’s a bad faith interpretation of the medieval ballads. I get what the book wanted to do and say. I even think it’s kind of cool to build a story entirely around only the medieval ballads themselves, but this isn’t the message I wanted from that theme.

Here, have some pretty writing that I liked. This was so nice, it made me want to be there. A palette cleanser: “A massive oak held court in the forest’s center, thick and strong among the birch trees’ snow-white bones. Seashells danced on ropes throughout the oak’s branches, tangled white and gray and pink among the crisping leaves. The shells sang like tiny church bells when the wind swept through.”

I do think that if you want a gritty Robin Hood book, this is a really good one. Jane’s slow descent from wonder to confusion to horror is fascinating. The use of the medieval ballads as a base is unique, if not done in a way that I personally like. I don’t want a gritty Robin Hood book, though. I don’t particularly care if the idealized, romanticized Robin Hood is not the same as the Robin Hood of medieval ballads. I like him to be idealized and romanticized. I like empathetic heroes. I don’t think ultra-violence is required for Robin Hood to be a subversive character and story. I like Robin Hood. I don't really want a book to give me any reason to hate him.

The premise of this book intrigued me, but the story's execution was just ok. While it doesn't fall into the genres I usually read, I was excited to read a female perspective of the Robin Hood story. It does come across as a bit slow, which I think is the biggest factor in why it wasn't a favorite read of mine. The writing was solid, but the story just wasn't for me.

This book just wasn’t what I was hoping it would be.

I loved the premise of it - a peasant girl who works for Robin Hood, whispering secrets of the household she works in. Robin’s tricks implicate her in a murder and she needs to decide if she is a pawn in the game or an equal player.

Unfortunately, I don’t think the book really lives up to it. There isn’t much action in the book, it feels like a long drawn out story that meanders from place to place but doesn’t really pick up till 60% of the way through. I didn’t find myself wanting to read it.

Jane is a selfish main character who seems forever unhappy with what she has gotten in life and I found it difficult to care about her.

The story is at its core about the hunt for Robin Hood by three different people, and that Robin Hood is not the hero he is perceived as. In that sense, it did a great job getting that across, but the story lost the sense of adventure that typically comes from Robin Hood stories. Instead this was a brutal and almost gory version where it’s just a timeline of people murdering each other. Jane has no chance to grow and there is no pivotal moment where she is really implicated and needs to make a tough decision or can really have an impact and think for herself. She’s supposed to be the main character but is really just subject to the whims of everyone else until essentially the last page. I really wanted to see her take control of her own narrative.

I was able to get this book through Net Galley. Everyone has heard of Robin Hood but what about a girl namea Jane. This is the story of Jane and the events in her life that caused her to find herself. It did take a few chapters to get into this story but it was worth it.

This had such a fun premise with a Robin Hood retelling, told from a female perspective.

Sadly, the book didn't quite live up to the potential of the premise. The characters, especially Jane, seemed very juvenile to me. She behaves like a young girl, but also talks about "bedding" men. I found myself being annoyed by the characters and this really prevented me from enjoying this book as much as I expected I would.

The Traitor of Sherwood Forest is retelling of the Robin Hood stories from the perspective of Jane Crowe, the main character. She reminds me of the friend who’s boyfriend is a walking red flag, but “he’s different with her.” Most of the book I was rooting for Jane to stop justifying Robin Hood’s actions; he is an easy to hate villain. My favorite character by far is the total badass, Prioress Ibota. She wasted no time calling out the incompetent men who unfortunately surrounded her. Ultimately, I think if the Prioress had more on on page time, I would’ve given this book four or five stars instead of three. The Traitor of Sherwood is your next read if you like retellings and complex characters.

[3.75/5] THE TRAITOR OF SHERWOOD FOREST is a standalone historical fiction that reimagines the Robin Hood ballads. One doesn't need to be familiar wit them to enjoy this book. However, familiarity with those tales may provide the reader more context and, possibly, increased appreciation for Amy Kaufman's story. After a recommendation from her beau, Robin Hood recruits Jane as one of his spies at King's Houses, which often hosts nobles and clergymen. Jane agrees because mainly because she is about to lose her childhood home, but also because she sees the allure in Robin's alleged mission and the man himself.

Many readers are probably mostly familiar with the Disney version of Robin Hood who steals from the rich to give to the poor. THE TRAITOR OF SHERWOOD FOREST is not that nostalgic story. It's a tale of good will twisted by toxic loyalty and the desire to always triumph. Jane's primary asset for Robin is her keen judge of character. Robin needs this and information about the nobles to successfully carry out his tests and tricks. Initially, it appears as though he wants to root out corruption in the church and the various echelons of nobility. However, the longer Jane works for him, the more she sees that glint in his eye. Yet, at the same time, she finds herself drawn to his confidence and charisma.

This tale is also about the various roles women take on, usually as a way to survive in medieval Europe. They are spies, lovers, caretakers, cooks, ladies maids. They are strong willed, but throw on a mask of subservience to cool men's tempers. Jane steps in and out of these various roles or watches other women do the same. And while she recognizes the importance of this for survival, she still waivers in the face of temptation. It's all well and good to recognize it from a distance, but quite another when faced with it directly.

Themes aside, I enjoyed the writing of Kaufman. It is easy to get into and not dry or flowery. THE TRAITOR OF SHERWOOD FOREST is definitely a more character- than plot-driven story. This is perhaps why it feels a bit slow for the first half of the book. There is a decent amount of action in the last 50% of the book. But the crux is Jane's journey discovering that not all that glitters is gold. Finally, the Author's Note provides some good context about the Robin Hood ballads that are quite interesting. So definitely don't skip those.

Overall, this Robin Hood reimagining is a great pick for those who appreciate character-driven medieval fiction and morally grey characters. Robin Hood brings the charm and action, but at what cost?

Title: The Traitor of Sherwood Forest  
Author: Amy S. Kaufman         
Genre: Fiction  
Rating: 3 out of 5

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?

I liked the voice of this, I just wasn’t a huge fan of the story itself. This is just a ME problem, not a problem with the writing, which was solid and vivid. I wanted to smack Jane for being stupid several times (okay, a lot), although with her background, it wasn’t a surprise she was so sheltered. This isn’t a sunshine and roses retelling of a Disney tale, but much more realistic.

Amy S. Kaufman is a former English professor. The Traitor of Sherwood Forest is her debut novel.

(Galley courtesy of Penguin Group in exchange for an honest review.)
(Blog link live 4/22).

Jane Crowe has grown up as a common peasant girl, in a home where she didn’t receive much love. At 19, she now has the chance to leave her abysmal home life behind and work for Robin Hood as a spy in the King’s Houses. Jane is immediately drawn to Robin’s charismatic personality and she is willing to pass on the information he’s looking for. As Jane spends more time with Robin and his men, she realizes there is more danger involved and she starts to question her work for Robin and the feelings she’s had for him since their first meeting. Now Jane must decide what’s right and what’s wrong, and what her ultimate role will be in the game between Robin and the nobles.

The Traitor of Sherwood Forest is an interesting take on the Robin Hood legend. I enjoyed having the story told from a female perspective and seeing how Jane wants to prove herself, but is also naive to the situation she gets caught up in. I found myself feeling sorry for Jane throughout much of the book, because her bad decisions and lack of experience brought a lot of chaos to her life.

There is no definitive line between “good” and “bad” characters in the book. Robin is not your typical whimsical, good-natured character from other Robin Hood stories. He is very much morally grey, and I really loved the idea of his character’s initial purpose being a proponent for the undervalued in society, while losing sight in taking things too far with his fight against the nobles. The book did have one likable character that I connected with (Ibota), and I found her to be a strong female character, who was the voice of reason to Jane’s poor decision making.

There is a great historical feel to the story, and Kaufman includes an Author’s Note, that explains some of the decisions she made in her writing, that I really appreciated. I did find the Baron’s War to be a bit confusing, which caused me to not feel as strongly connected to some of Robin’s motivations. I think this was probably due to some pacing issues, that muddled the story, for me.

If you are looking for an intriguing historical fiction read, with a fresh perspective on the Robin Hood legend that explores the lines between heroes and villains, then I would definitely recommend The Traitor of Sherwood Forest.

5-Star Review for The Traitor of Sherwood Forest by Amy S. Kaufman

The Traitor of Sherwood Forest by Amy S. Kaufman is an absolutely thrilling and heart-pounding adventure that will captivate readers from start to finish! As a huge fan of the Robin Hood legend, I was excited to see a fresh take on this classic tale, and Kaufman does not disappoint. The writing is rich and immersive, drawing you straight into the heart of Sherwood Forest, where betrayal, loyalty, and fierce battles await.

The characters are expertly crafted, each one with their own complex motives and personalities. I found myself fully invested in the fates of both familiar faces and new ones, especially as they navigated the moral gray areas of their loyalty to the outlaw band. The tension between friendship and betrayal adds an emotional layer that keeps you turning the pages. Kaufman’s exploration of trust, duty, and sacrifice makes the stakes feel incredibly high.

The pacing is spot-on, with just the right balance of action-packed scenes and quieter moments of reflection. The world-building is lush, and you can practically feel the cool air of the forest and the danger lurking around every corner. The plot twists are clever, and there are plenty of surprises that will leave readers gasping.

Overall, The Traitor of Sherwood Forest is a brilliant reimagining of a legendary story, with compelling characters and a gripping narrative that never slows down. Amy S. Kaufman has crafted a tale full of heart, suspense, and unforgettable moments. If you’re a fan of historical fiction, adventure, or the Robin Hood legend, this book is an absolute must-read!

Thanks to Viking Penguin Books for the eARC copy! #TheTraitorofSherwoodForest #NetGalley

I love a good retelling and this one was really well done! This story is told from the POV of our FMC Jane, a young woman sent to work in the kitchens as one of Robin Hoods spies. She's young and naive of the world she is now part of, but I really appreciate that author maintained that she is a normal young woman trying to navigate her way through. Jane has heard the rumors of the legendary outlaw hero Robin Hood and gets drawn in by his charms and charisma. I was expecting she would learn to fight or train as an archer, but instead she has to use her mind and make her own choices. But with no experience outside of her small world, she overthinks, questions herself, and makes mistakes that leads to a disastrous situation that could cost her own life. She has to form her own connections with the people she's serving and takes matters into her own hands in order to save herself.

With this story set in the Medieval times, this version of the Robin Hood is so much darker and grittier than the stories I think we're all so used to. (The author has an amazing historical note at the end of the book which highlights where she got her inspiration.) This Robin Hood is less vigilante hero and more vicious sociopath with his band of Not-So-Merry men.

The pacing in the first half was a little dicey for me, but it evened out and was very enjoyable about 45% of the way through and that's when all the dominoes started falling into place and the story took off. Super impressed for a debut novel!

What a fantastic book! The first one I have read by this author but definitely can't wait to read more! The characters stay with you long after you finish the book. Highly recommend!

Meh...it's was OK. Not great, not something you need to read. The premise is strong...but of course has been told before soooo many times. Pacing was off.
Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the ARC.

This book is at times complex and nuanced, and then the next minute it is shallow and superficial. The main character is naive and straight up dumb. However, the history and research conducted is amazing and so impressive. I just think this book could have done with another few edits and a rewrite to make the MC more complex and nuanced. I liked the slow paced beginning, then it seemed like the author ran out of time and put all of her action in the middle and towards the end, then left us with an unsatisfactory ending. It was abrupt and anticlimactic. I would have liked to have more of the slow burn feeling throughout. This felt like a second or third draft, not a finished novel. It felt like it was rushed to be released. I am so impressed with the historical research the author conducted that she discusses at the end of the novel. I just wish that that translated more into the story and the characters. Even Robin Hood felt very one-dimensional. I understand that this is based on the Medieval ballads and that this version of Robin was psychotic and violent, however if a character is being inspired by that, I just wish there was more humanity and complexity imbued into his character instead of a one-dimensional villian who happens to be charismatic. There really was no character arc except for Little John whose complexity is revealed as we go along. Although this Robin wasn’t my favorite iteration of the legend, he was still extremely charismatic and the romantic scenes were nice. Overall it was a fast and mostly enjoyable read, I just was left disappointed and angry at moments.

A unique and interesting twist of classic tales that kept me engaged. I would class this book as a comfort novel, easy to read with enough interest to keep me from wanting to do something else. I enjoyed the little side characters and their stories, and particularly enjoyed the ending.

Admittedly, I read the reviews before choosing this book. I broke my own rule to out biases. However, I share similar sentiments to others who have read this novel.

The Good: Exploring the fragile masculinity of Robin Hood. I was really drawn to the premise of a woman protagonist reworking the Robin Hood story. The author makes a strong case against Robin Hood and exploring the morality of the principle he’s known for. Can you really redistribute wealth for good? Historical fiction at its finest.

The Mid: Largely, the rest of the story / plot pacing.

The Bad: Not bad per se, but not great either. I grew weary of the MC. I love strong feminist characters, but there were some points that made me roll my eyes. I didn’t find the character overly likable nor did I love her. Largely impartial which isn’t the emotions I hope a new novel to arouse.

Thank you — I appreciate NetGalley and the publishers for providing me with an advance copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions expressed are my own and are not influenced by the author, publisher, or any third party. My reviews are voluntary and not sponsored in any

This was such a good book. I loved the story and the writing so much. The characters were great and the story flowed smoothly. Will definitely read more books by this author in the future.

This story is a retelling of Robin Hood, but with a twist on the character. The story started out very strong and hooked me right away. It had everything I could have wanted being full of wit and whimsy as well as some espionage. However I found that the pacing was a bit off throughout the story that made it fall flat a few times. I also struggled with the character of Robin Hood being a villain ih the story, as I wanted to root for him. However that is what makes the twist in the novel so I think it does that well. As the reader along with the main character Jane you also rationalize the actions of Robin at first, though eventually it was hard to emphasize with Jane as she kept making the same choices. Overall a great story and would recommend for anyone interested in reading a different retelling of the famous story.