My only complaint about The Ghosts of Sherwood is that I want more! I didn't realize when I began reading it that it was essentially a novella otherwise I probably would have slowed down my reading so I could savor it for longer. As it was I ended up reading it in one sitting because it's only a little over 100 pages.

Despite its short length, it still managed to fully set the scene and develop the characters. I felt fully immersed in the story, following along with the familiar and new characters alike. Robin Hood, Maid Marian, and the Merry Men are well known and loved fictional icons so it was a delight to be able to read a story that posed, "Okay, but what happened afterward?"

Reading about Robin's children carrying on his legacy within Sherwood Forest was fascinating and I'm glad to see that this is the start of a series. I can't wait to read more!

Full review to come on my blog closer to publication.

I was eager to snap this up when I saw it on Netgalley, because Robin Hood stories are kind of a Thing for me. I did a module on Robin Hood stories during my BA, wrote a handful of my essays about it, and have always rather enjoyed Robin Hood stories. (Starting in childhood with Enid Blyton's Tales of Daring Adventure, which is the only book handed down from both my parents. I believe I still have both their copies, with Dad's in a better state and retaining its dustcover. I have also frequently heard the stories of my mother as a child deeply concerning her parents by sobbing inconsolably over the death of Robin Hood.)

So, this fairly gentle story fits right into that warm and cosy spot in my heart. Robin and Marian are married and respectable, with three children; it's sort of inserted into real history, with King John signing the Magna Carta in part because of Robin's insistence and William Marshall showing up to say hi. The story also tries for realism in discussing their relationship, Marian's pregnancies, the way they fit into the world.

At the start of the novella, they're returning from London, with Robin having decided that their eldest daughter will marry -- and Marian isn't happy. It carries on in this rather domestic way, until the children are kidnapped by a band of men... and a much-missed friend, long absent from Robin's circle after his first decision to respect King John's succession to the throne, witnesses the kidnapping and rushes to Robin for help.

Things move a lot faster at that point, and from the blurb it feels like that's meant to be the centre of the story. It doesn't feel like it, though, and I was surprised to learn there's meant to be another linked book. I was happier with it as a sort of coda to the Robin Hood story; as the introduction to something more, it actually feels lacking for me, because I didn't connect to the original characters in that way. I thought it was about Robin's group, his relationship with Marian, and how an outlaw steps out of legend and becomes part of the world. I'm less interested in reading for the kids -- I just liked seeing the old gang come back together.

Review link won't be active until 26th May.

This reads like fan fiction in the very best way possible. A charming, fast-paced, highly comfortable continuation of a familiar story. Ever wonder what Robin Hood & Marian's children would be like? You can find out in this adorable novella, which you can finish in a single sitting.

In a world that seems to spin ever further out of control, it's hard to adequately convey how comforting familiar characters are. That Vaughn has made them modern (including a very independently minded Marian) is all the better.

Posted on Goodreads 4/2/20

Sherwood is full of ghosts and looks after its own.

A quick and delightful tale featuring the children of Robin of Locksley and his Marian. It's not a meat and potatoes kind of story as it is a short, but I found it engaging enough and will gladly have welcomed more (with The Heirs of Locklsley coming later this summer). Featuring a dual POV; you get a glimpse at Robin's life after the legend through Marian's eyes, and a glimpse at their ghosts and future through their daughter eldest daughter, Mary, author Carrie Vaughan has provided a sweet continuation to one of my favorite figures.

Thank you to tor.com and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for review.

A short and sweet novella about life after the legend.

"Robin of Locksley and his one true love, Marian, are married. It has been close on two decades since they beat the Sheriff of Nottingham with the help of a diverse band of talented friends. King John is now on the throne, and Robin has sworn fealty in order to further protect not just his family, but those of the lords and barons who look up to him – and, by extension, the villagers they protect.

There is a truce. An uneasy one, to be sure, but a truce, nonetheless.

But when the Locksley children are stolen away by persons unknown, Robin and Marian are going to need the help of everyone they’ve ever known, perhaps even the ghosts that are said to reside deep within Sherwood.

And the Locksley children, despite appearances to the contrary, are not without tricks of their own..."

This was super fun! It read like a fairytale, and not only did I love seeing the interactions between the Locksley children, but of course, the interactions between Robin, Marian, and the classic Merry Men gang.

"'Do you know where the children are?' Marian asked softly. 'The children you took?'

His attention caught, he gazed on her, and his look of wonder turned to anguish. 'Oh Holy Mary in Heaven forgive me, please forgive me, I didn't know!' He clasped his hands in prayer, his whole body shaking.

'Well, that's something,' Robin said, baffled."

The descriptions of the nature surrounding the Locksley manor (especially Sherwood forest) completely drew me in, as well. I loved the dynamics between Mary, John, and Eleanor. The writing definitely reminded me of reading a classic legend or folk tale. Though it was short, it was a nice little adventure filled with heart!

Big thank you to Netgalley and the publishers for sending me this ARC!

I went through a series of feelings about this book.

The first was anticipation. I've been a long-time fan of the author, since the early Kitty Norville books, loved the Golden Age supers novels, and have been impressed by her short fiction. Recently, I enjoyed a side novel in the Kitty Norville series, made up of several shorter pieces (a "fixup"). While Robin Hood is pretty well-trodden ground, I felt confident that Carrie Vaughn was up to the task of making it fresh and giving it a new angle, lifting it above the tropes of the often-told story.

So the next emotion I experienced was slight disappointment, when I first saw that this was a novella (less than 20,000 words), and then, as I began to read, found that it unfolded at first as a linear story such as I've often seen written by new professional writers: competent, certainly, but not promising to rock my world. Fairly ordinary Robin Hood fanfic, I felt, without any fantasy elements or new twists; just "here is Robin as a middle-aged family man, after Prince John has legitimately ascended to the throne, and here are his kids, and here is the political situation, and now we will have a crisis."

But by the end, I had been drawn into the plight of the children, and was thoroughly ready for a tension-filled escape/rescue, and felt the family's emotion around it. So even though this is quite a straightforward story, and (like many novellas) it feels like it wants to be longer, and it leaves a lot at the end not fully resolved, on the whole I enjoyed it, and felt it was done with the skill I've come to expect from this author.

I received this book from NetGalley in exchange of an honest review.

First of all, I wanted to thank Macmillan-Tor/Forge, Tor.com for the chance to read this book.

The ghosts of Sherwood is a short story, a quick read and I loved everything! Being a fan of Robin of Locksley and Marian, and their talented friends and allies, I couldn't not want to read this book.
Robin and Marian are married and live with their three children, Mary, John and Eleanor. Almost two decades ago they beat the Sheriff of Nottingham. Now Robin has sworn fealty to King John in order to protect his family, friends and those who look up to him. It's an uneasy truce and everyone knows it and when Robin's and Marian's kids are kidnapped they are ready to do anything to get them back safe and sound. Even with the help of the mysterious ghosts in Sherwood.

I liked The ghosts of Sherwood, it was interesting and amazing reading about Robin and Marian as parents and their children, who are inventive and very resourceful.
Marian,Mary and Eleanor are not the ladies of the stories, not damsels in distress, but strong and determined, able to fight and full of resources. Robin is brave, generous, a legend, but also sometimes impulsive, little John is decisive and stubborn and I loved the cameos of Much, Scarlett and the others.
I really liked it!

This was a super quick read - only about 112 pages - but I loved every moment of it. Like most UK kids, I grew up with the Robin Hood legends, and I've always had a soft spot for the stories and various permutations thereof. Even knowing most of what lay behind the legends and gaining an understanding of that uneasy period in Saxon-Norman history has not dulled my appreciation. Which means I can go either way on a retelling, reimagining or sequel.



Happily, Vaughn nails the 'what happens next' of Robin Hood with this fun addition to the canon. Told in third person from Marian and her daughter, Mary's POVs, this is a fast paced and engaging treat. Robin Hood is a slippery character to pin down - as you would expect from someone who started out as a personification of the Green Man, Robin Goodfellow and possibly a real Saxon who was declare <i>'Nīðing'</i> (an unperson who could be killed without consequences by anyone who wanted to do so), adding snatches of several historical figures and a vast body of lore both ancient and modern. I like Vaughn's depiction of a Robin Hood in his forties with a castle, lands, family and earldom to protect and care for. There are still flashes of the wicked, mirthful mischief maker who defied a Norman prince in favour of supporting the true king, but he's been tempered with age and responsibility, and by his quick witted and carefully schooled wife.



This is not strictly speaking a historical novella. For a start, we have no evidence that Robin Hood or Robin of Lockesley ever existed as a single entity and we can be pretty sure that Marian did not, but was instead an allegorical presence to symbolise duty and honour, added to the tale by a French poet. However, tiny, deft touches establish this piece of fable/ fantasy firmly in 12th C England and there are pleasing historical details.



I really liked the characters. Marian is more than just the paragon of beauty and goodness; Robin is occasionally rash and ill-tempered as well as brave and generous; Mary was very resourceful. There are cameos from Much, Scarlett, Tuck and others. But the star of the book for me was the silent, ten year old Eleanor who manages to trump everyone with a combination of intelligence and rare insight into human nature.



I know another reviewer was a little disappointed that not much seems to happen and that's true if what you're referring to is physical action. However, this is as much a character study, depicting interaction between a well rounded set of characters and is therefore about internal journey as much as outward action. However, I completely agree that this is very short. I would have liked to have gone on to The Heirs of Locksley straight away. Thoroughly enjoyable. Can't wait for book 2.

A brief but engaging story about life after the legend. Robin and Marion's story didn't end with marriage. This story explores their lives after the death of King Richard, as they raise family and live with the compromises they've had to make

This is an enjoyable riff on the Robin Hood legend - we see Robin and Marian as parents, and what their children inherit from each of them - but ultimately, it’s too short to really do anything with, so we don’t get much plot or character development. I think Mary’s character alone could have sustained a whole novel, especially if interwoven with Marian’s perspective. It’s a fun vignette, but I wanted so much more from it!

Robin Hood has always been one of my favorite stories - the various movies and TV shows lent to my obsession.

I saw this was coming out and I quickly requested a copy. Little did I know it would be so painfully short, I probably would have waited for the actual copy and several other installments to come out.

For a short mini tale, it's not a bad continuation of the story. I have no issue with the characters or the danger they go through.

What hurts this short story is the fact that it is so dreadfully short that nothing honestly happens up until the 75% mark. Then when things happen that you want to know more of it ends and you have to wait for the next installment.

I can't tell if this book is supposed to be for teens, it was originally released in a magazine or if it's part of an anthology. The fact that I finished it in less than a half an hour has me a bit worried on how they're going to market it - but I am not in charge of that.

The point is this book is a good start but lacks as a short story and a part one to a series.

It is a really quick read (112 pages I think) but is thrilling and action packed nonetheless. I found this book really interesting. I just don't know what genre to categorise it in because of everything (and that's why I love it). In short, it is a must-read book and I totally recommend it to everybody.
I thank NetGalley and the publisher for providing me this amazing read

The Ghosts of Sherwood by Carrie Vaughn, a nice short read. Robin and Marian are older with kids, King Richard is dead and they are once again dealing with his brother - John.