A truly enjoyable and quite wonderful book. I was fully immersed in Marian’s “sequel” world, at once so familiar but also slightly different by way of the addition of old magic to the story. This integration of a well-known Tale with the world of the pagan and Fae was seamless, and I particularly liked the way that the conflict between the old ways and new (the church) was integral to the plot. I was cheering on our heroine throughout and fell in love with the cast of characters, right down to cheeky Bridget the fox. The action sweeps the reader along, building the tension until a satisfying final confrontation. The only criticism I have is that I do not understand the title of the book - I don’t remember the word Brightfall being used anywhere in the text!

I received an advance ebook through NetGalley.

The mythology of Robin Hood is twisted in delightfully fresh ways in Moyer's <i>Brightfall.</i> Picking up about a decade after the disbanding of the Merry Men, the book finds Maid Marian as a mother of twins and a competent witch. (Let me emphasis the competent bit, as that was one of the joys of this book--she's darn good with magic and a savvy lady. This isn't a book with a Too Stupid to Live lead character.) Robin Hood is her children's father, but he is not involved in their lives. Instead, he has abandoned them--and the larger world--to live in a monastery, an embittered man who hides behind his excessive piety.

This version of Robin Hood is a jolt, no denying that. I think Robin, I think fun, charismatic, jovial. But this Robin feels realistic, sadly so, and Marian is as jolted by what has happened to Robin as the reader is. She never stops mourning the change in the man she once loved.

When word comes to Marian that the Merry Men and their families are being murdered, she must act. She's forced to partner up with Robin, neither of them happy about the arrangement, as she searches for clues about the killer's identity. As Robin has become a supreme jerk, I was concerned that the book might rekindle the romance with Robin--not so! The book wonderfully subverts that trope, as it does so many during the course of the the plot. Also, I loved that a fox character brings brightness to the novel; I'm not sure if that was intended as a nod to Disney's animated Robin Hood, but I relished it nevertheless.

This is truly a fun mash-up of historical fantasy and murder mystery. The familiar is made new and different, and the story brings constant surprises. I read through this incredibly fast--about half the book in a single setting--and I was sorry to see it end. There's a cozy feel to this world that left me yearning to settle into a cottage next door to Marian's and watch the fae frolic about Sherwood Forest.

I liked this a lot. Especially characters were so much fun and likeable. And I'm impressed with writing a lot. It has the vibes of a fairy tale, but it's a thriller. So, it's a fantastic cross over between genres. I'd recommend this to anyone who loves mysteries, thrillers and want to experience something different.
Absolutely amazing.
Thank you Netgalley and the publisher for this copy in exchange for an honest review.

A story where Maid Marian is a witch, Robin Hood is a grumpy older man with a whole bunch of secrets, and together they have to navigate Sherwood to find out who is killing their friends? All with the Fey court looming in the background? If that doesn’t sound amazing to you then… well, you do you, I suppose, but I reserve the right to judge your taste.

I have to admit that Brightfall wasn’t the sort of book I was expecting it to be. While I was expecting a bit of a murder mystery, this isn’t really that kind of book. Well, it is to an extent. It’s not the kind of story with lots of twists and turns, and where you find out that characters aren’t quite who you thought they were. Instead, it’s more of a sequence of relatively calm revelations.

The story unfolds at a steady, languid pace, with a style that feels quite charmingly old-fashioned. Sherwood comes to life as a place that hides magic behind every tree, with Fey lords and ladies, lesser fey and goblins, and even a dragon.

Marian herself is a great character. She’s reasoned, competent, and more than capable of getting herself out of a jam. When her partner (Will Scarlett) dies, she soon learns from Friar Tuck that he isn’t the only one from Robin Hood’s old group to have passed on. She reasons that they must be under a curse, and sets off with Robin to see if she can break it. Things are understandably tense between Robin and Marian — he “set her aside” twelve years ago, while she was pregnant — and that conflict is explored throughout the book in an engaging way, with lots of hurt feelings on either side.

The two pick up another pair of travelers to help them on their route — an ex-soldier from King Richard’s crusades, and a trickster Fey lord. I have to admit that I didn’t really connect with either of these two characters as much as I did with Marian. The presence of the soldier did allow for some more informed critique on the crusades than we usually see in Robin Hood stories, but the Fey lord to me just seemed like all-too-convenient way to move the story along. He would always know where to go, what to do, and was always there to pull the other characters out of trouble. Despite being labeled as a trickster, and consistently referred to as a trickster, he isn’t really shown to do much trickery.

In the end, I found Brightfall to be a bit of a strange little book. I enjoyed it, and found it to be a very relaxing read (though it does have it’s fair share of dark moments), but my engagement was more composed of interest than it was excitement.

If you’re a fan of Robin Hood stories, then this is an excellent fantasy re-imagining. If you’re looking for a get-off-your-seat exciting tale with lots of battles and high-paced action, then you might be better served looking elsewhere.

I love this so so much. It blew me off my socks with it's lovable characters. Besides all your standard Robin Hood/Maid Marian characters we got an adorable vixen called Bridget, a hound named Julian, Marlowe the dragon and even Marian's children. All the sidekicks gave the story this extra magic to it.
It reads like a re-telling/fairytale paired with adventure and a bit of thriller.
I flew through this and at some point I'll re-read it, which is the highest rating I personally can give a book.
5 stars and re-read-worthy.

Thank you Netgalley for providing me with an eARC.
All opinions expressed are entirely my own.

Brightfall, Jaime Lee Moyer

Review from Jeannie Zelos book reviews
ction
Genre: Sci-fi and Fantasy

As a child I adored Robin hood and the merry men, so when I saw this I was keen to read. I'm really conflicted though, TBH if it wasn't about Robin and co I'd have enjoyed it far more but for me its Robin and Marion and a HEA and its hard to see them apart.
Even harder is the ar se Robin has become. He's like a spoiled child, afraid of his own shadow, sullen, rude to everyone and with a really Entitled sense of self. I just didn't recognise him from the Robin I remembered. That spoiled the whole book for me sadly :-(
Its a really well written novel, fabulous characters, human, Fae and otherwise. I loved Marion, a strong lady, devoted to her twins, always ready to help others, doesn't need a man but enjoys being part of a couple. I liked seeing her skill at Craft, the stuff that's kept Robin and his crew alive for so long, and now he sees it as Devils work. It just seemed so wrong the way he saw Marion, when from my memories he respected and adored her. Likewise he didn't seem to have any respect for the men who he lived with, the band that were such a close knit group, who valued each other, had each others backs always.
The story took turns I didn't expect, and was full of surprises, especially the culprit and the reasons. That came as a real shock. There were criticisms by another reviewer over the types of Fae brought in that served no real purpose and I wouldn't disagree with that. The story didn't need those additions, they simply detracted IMO. Likewise the Fae – all powerful and yet Marion, skilled in craft though she was, seemed to be able to work round them pretty easily. Sometimes it was made clear it had taken effort but others it was just too easy for her...again, that's just how it felt to me.
Stars: Three, if it hadn't been Robin and the gang I think I'd rate it higher, probably a five. Its a great read, but for me Robin being such a drag, so surly and rude really brought the story went down.

ARC via netgalley and publishers

A fantasy mystery story featuring the 'characters' from the Robin Hood tale. Set 12 years after the events in the traditional story, this novel sees Marian as the main protagonist, setting out to solve a series of unexplained deaths. These deaths have no rational explanation other than each victim has a connection to Robin Hood. With the help of Robin, and others who join them along the way, including a fairy lord, Marian uses her magical abilities to discover the truth about the killings.
This started off with so much potential, I was really looking forward to reading it. However, it soon became clear that there wasn't much substance to the story. It plodded along, more as a descriptive piece of writing rather than a plot driven narrative. The characters lacked depth. Robin Hood was arrogant, sanctimonious and irritating. Marion was more like an over-confident teenage witch with spells and charms than a mature wise-woman.
A disappointing read.

My thanks to Quercus Books/Jo Fletcher Books for an eARC via NetGalley of Jaime Lee Moyer’s ‘Brightfall’ in exchange for an honest review.

I immediately fell in love with this historical fantasy inspired by the legends of Robin Hood. Its green cover design showing a map of Sherwood and the surrounding environs was beautiful and enticed me to enter Moyer’s rich reimagining of how Robin, Marian and their companions lives turned out.

Twelve years before the events of ‘Brightfall’, Robin had his marriage to Maid Marian annulled and entered a monastery. Marian now lives deep inside Sherwood with her twin children, born after Robin’s abandonment. Marian was raised in the old ways and is a powerful healer and hedgewitch.

Abbot Tuck sends news to Marian about the mysterious deaths of a number of the former Merry Men, including the most recent victim Will Scarlet, who has been Marian’s partner for the past seven years. Tuck suspects witchcraft is involved and feels that “we need a witch to unravel it all.”

Although in mourning, Marian agrees to his request especially as she realises that her children are also in danger. Tuck orders a sullen and reluctant Robin to accompany her. The Lady of the Fae is also concerned when Marian seeks her counsel and assigns a Fae Lord to join the quest. He is something of a trickster figure and assumes the guise of a peddler for the journey taking the rather amusing name of Bert.

Also joining the group is Jack, a disillusioned soldier whose sister, Meg, is the widow of Midge the Miller, another victim of the curse. Bert dubs Jack as the Warrior and Robin as the Archer.

Of the reasons for Robin’s withdrawal from the world and the mystery behind the deaths I will say no more aside from the fact that Moyer addresses both within the narrative.

Marian is the novel’s narrator and I welcomed her powerful voice. She is devoted to her children and also very much in touch with the energies of the Greenwood and respectful of the Otherworld, hence Bert’s assignment to the party.

Moyer’s Sherwood is a place of magic populated by various creatures and beings, including many kinds of Fae from the lesser goblins and piskies to the powerful Lordly Ones. There is also a wise dragon who serves as the secret Guardian of Sherwood.

I love historical fiction and felt Moyer seamlessly blended realistic aspects of life in medieval England with its rich folklore and mythology. I hadn’t expected such a strong fantasy element but welcomed it; especially Moyer’s powerful portrayal of Faerie expressing the sense of their otherness and often inimical attitude towards humankind.

‘Brightfall’ proved a highly engaging and entertaining novel, tragic and bittersweet in places but also hopeful and uplifting. There is humour as well, much of it provided by ‘Bert’, who after Marian was my favourite character. I was also very fond of their animal companions: Julian, Jack’s enthusiastic dog always eager to chase after lesser woodland fae, and Bridget, a vixen loyal to Marian and her children.

Each chapter began with a short extract of poetry, ballads, and the like that reflected the themes of the novel. It was a small yet much appreciated detail.

I was sad for this wonderful novel to end and certainly will be interested in reading more of her work.

I have been a long time fan of the ‘Robin of Sherwood’ series created by the late Richard Carpenter. Many of my friends are also very drawn to the tales of Robin Hood and I will be looking forward to having them read this when published and discussing.

Given Moyer’s beautiful and lyrical language and ‘Brightfall’s’ rich imagery I am hoping that her publishers will be releasing this novel in audiobook format.

Very highly recommended.

I found Brightfall an immensely fun and entertaining read. It's not a retelling per se, as all the events from standard Robin Hood stories have taken place prior to those in this story, but it does take familiar characters and show them in a new light. Marian is very much the central figure here, and I enjoyed Moyer's portrayal of her as a strong, independent woman. My favourite character was Bert, though I do wish Marian had given him a nobler-sounding name. Every time she addressed him I wanted to laugh at the thought of a Fae lord being called Bert! The fantasy elements were central to the story and worked well within the historical setting, the prose was engaging, and the action nicely paced. I would definitely read more from this author in the future. 4.5 stars.

Review will post 21 August 2019.