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oneillchris's review against another edition
5.0
Reimagining the Robin Hood legends, J. Tullos Hennig sets the action in twelfth century Shire Wode (Sherwood Forest) when ancient druid ways are being scoured from the countryside by the Christianizing Norman occupation. It’s the era of England’s King Richard the Lionheart, his brother John who rules while Richard is on Crusade in the Holy Land and imprisoned in Austria, and Richard’s mother, Eleanor of Aquitaine. The population is divided between the Norman ruling class and Saxon commoners. And the Earth powers are stirring … historical fantasy at its absolute best!
Hennig’s The Wode series begins with Greenwode (2013), develops through Shirewode (2013) and Winterwode (2015), and arrives in the fourth book titled Summerwode (2017), the focus of this review. Let’s catch up a little on the other three books in order to set the stage for comments.
The heroes first meet (Greenwode) when twelve-year-old Gamelyn, the third son of Sir Ian Boundys, becomes lost while riding in the forest and is attacked by a buck deer in rut. Gamelyn falls from his horse, is hoisted on the buck’s horns, and knocked silly. On an errand to Loxley village, Robyn, eleven-year-old son of the lord’s forester for Shire Wode, finds him unconscious on the ground.
Hennig carefully draws out the scene.
It’s no accident that Gamelyn is challenged and wounded by a “buck” in the forest, “spit on the horns, thrown aside as if he is parchment ripped from a court ledger, set ablaze in a brazier… his head is burning from the fire, ground beneath the galloping hoofs... He’s going to die. He can feel the stag’s breath heating and tugging his cape and he cannot even lift so much as his fingers to do anything about it.”
All this is foreshadow as well as action and shows Hennig as a master of story, wherein every detail counts. Back to the forest.
“Bloody damn.” Robyn guesses the “poncy lad” laid out on the forest floor is addled, and he notices that the riding cape is finely crafted while underneath is a worn out dark-blue tunic. Robyn wonders what kind of lad “wore such rich clothes until they wear out?” Indeed.
Dazed from his fall, Gamelyn’s first waking glimpse of Robyn is of a “wolf. Black pelt gleaming, dark eyes glittering with fire and shadows. Lean and dusty, the outlier moves toward him with another growl, soft threat. Hungry.” Later in the first book, that phrase will change seamlessly from “lean and dusty” to “lean and lusty.”
And thus begins the unlikely friendship of Robyn of the Shirewode and Gamelyn of Blythe Castle. The main characters—Gamelyn, Robyn and his 15-year-old sister, Marion—are fully developed as believable, likeable personalities with strengths and faults—though Marion’s “faults” are perhaps a bit lacking. She learns herbal medicine at her mother’s side, but after the brutal death of both parents, experiences a major memory lapse (in Shirewode) that stands out as a distinguishing if unplanned phase of her apprenticeship. I shouldn’t disclose more of the story, but reading between the lines, her amnesia stands metaphorically for the ongoing effort by women to reclaim knowledge that has been erased and nearly forgotten.
The Earth powers—the Stag Lord and The Lady—act as commentators and advisors, sometimes taunting the three heroes. Usually intruding into their thoughts, they provide both humor and an ominous foreboding presence.
Each book has its own plot within the series, and the heroes deal with local authorities and religious zealots in Shirewode, the Queen Mother and plots against King Richard in Winterwode, and in the fourth book, King Richard and Wymarec, the most powerful Templar in England. Gamelyn, Robyn, and Marion are now fully empowered for their roles—Summerlord, Winter King, and Maiden of the Spring. The big question is: will Gamelyn claim the crown of the Summerlord and ...
Well, best you read it for yourself.
Still, I want to comment on one theme in the series—the dilemma of the modern male. Robyn is apprentice to an Ur-druid who lives in a cave under the holy hill. The druid molds his character and consecrates him to Earth powers while Robyn lives in a home that supports him. As a young man he bears the weight of the Stag Lord’s horns. Yet the old ways are on the brink of disappearing, and his future is tied to the future of the Shire. He must act and knows with whom.
On the other hand, Gamelyn is the son of a Norman lord, and what is his apprenticehsip? As the third son, he won’t inherit. He wants to be a scholar, suggesting a quiet life inside the church. But by accident, he gets lost in the woods and is befriended by two local youth imbued with forest powers, powers that stir his soul despite the socialization of church and class privilege. Worse. His first and only true love blossoms with another young man, a disqualifying disgrace within the Norman lord’s hillfort. He is driven away and forced to join the Knights Templar for violation of the patriarchal male code, a punishment that splits him into two characters: Gamelyn, the gentle pre-pubescent boy Robyn and Marion grew to love (Greenwode) becomes Guy de Gisbourne, Falconier to a Templar Commander and a master of martial mayhem (Shirewode). His family believes he died in the Holy Land on Crusade. And in a sense, Gamelyn is dead.
Hennig’s is a particularly interesting take on the foreboding task of survival for the modern young male who accidentally discovers a world in the forest outside the boundaries of his upbringing, a world where Earth remains recognizable as the primary power. Her story portrays Guy de Gisbourne (a hyper-masculine Gamelyn in the role of a Templar hitman) as a rigidly disciplined young man who must ceaselessly tamp down the Earth-power welling inside. Thus, the reader encounters a split character—Gamelyn/Guy—who blindly struggles for his own soul and the right to forget … or fully be the person he truly is. The apparent irreconcilable differences between Gamelyn (who must grown up) and Guy (who must reclaim boyhood inspiration) require constant pressure against one temperament so the other temperament has room to breathe. Gamelyn/Guy must choose.
For me, Gamelyn/Guy’s struggle is the central conflict that drives the story forward—Oak and Holly or Cross and Sword—for it appears that it cannot be both.
And a major achievement of the author is Marion—the third element—who is not merely a pretty face standing in the corner watching the boy’s battle. Her energy, her birthing and healing powers as well as her aim with bow and arrow are essential for the survival of the old ways against the encroaching outsider beliefs that would destroy the old ways. Can a threesome truly work in harmony? Will the old ways survive? The genius of the story is how the weaving of Robyn’s soul with Gamelyn’s and Gamelyn’s with Marion’s is so convincing. And, of course, we cheer for them.
While I anticipate a satisfying conclusion to the series, the denouement of Summerwode surprised me. There is much to ponder in what Hennig has wrought and much to admire. And we are left wondering to where will our three heroes travel next. It’s surely worth the wait.
Highly recommended.
Hennig’s The Wode series begins with Greenwode (2013), develops through Shirewode (2013) and Winterwode (2015), and arrives in the fourth book titled Summerwode (2017), the focus of this review. Let’s catch up a little on the other three books in order to set the stage for comments.
The heroes first meet (Greenwode) when twelve-year-old Gamelyn, the third son of Sir Ian Boundys, becomes lost while riding in the forest and is attacked by a buck deer in rut. Gamelyn falls from his horse, is hoisted on the buck’s horns, and knocked silly. On an errand to Loxley village, Robyn, eleven-year-old son of the lord’s forester for Shire Wode, finds him unconscious on the ground.
Hennig carefully draws out the scene.
It’s no accident that Gamelyn is challenged and wounded by a “buck” in the forest, “spit on the horns, thrown aside as if he is parchment ripped from a court ledger, set ablaze in a brazier… his head is burning from the fire, ground beneath the galloping hoofs... He’s going to die. He can feel the stag’s breath heating and tugging his cape and he cannot even lift so much as his fingers to do anything about it.”
All this is foreshadow as well as action and shows Hennig as a master of story, wherein every detail counts. Back to the forest.
“Bloody damn.” Robyn guesses the “poncy lad” laid out on the forest floor is addled, and he notices that the riding cape is finely crafted while underneath is a worn out dark-blue tunic. Robyn wonders what kind of lad “wore such rich clothes until they wear out?” Indeed.
Dazed from his fall, Gamelyn’s first waking glimpse of Robyn is of a “wolf. Black pelt gleaming, dark eyes glittering with fire and shadows. Lean and dusty, the outlier moves toward him with another growl, soft threat. Hungry.” Later in the first book, that phrase will change seamlessly from “lean and dusty” to “lean and lusty.”
And thus begins the unlikely friendship of Robyn of the Shirewode and Gamelyn of Blythe Castle. The main characters—Gamelyn, Robyn and his 15-year-old sister, Marion—are fully developed as believable, likeable personalities with strengths and faults—though Marion’s “faults” are perhaps a bit lacking. She learns herbal medicine at her mother’s side, but after the brutal death of both parents, experiences a major memory lapse (in Shirewode) that stands out as a distinguishing if unplanned phase of her apprenticeship. I shouldn’t disclose more of the story, but reading between the lines, her amnesia stands metaphorically for the ongoing effort by women to reclaim knowledge that has been erased and nearly forgotten.
The Earth powers—the Stag Lord and The Lady—act as commentators and advisors, sometimes taunting the three heroes. Usually intruding into their thoughts, they provide both humor and an ominous foreboding presence.
Each book has its own plot within the series, and the heroes deal with local authorities and religious zealots in Shirewode, the Queen Mother and plots against King Richard in Winterwode, and in the fourth book, King Richard and Wymarec, the most powerful Templar in England. Gamelyn, Robyn, and Marion are now fully empowered for their roles—Summerlord, Winter King, and Maiden of the Spring. The big question is: will Gamelyn claim the crown of the Summerlord and ...
Well, best you read it for yourself.
Still, I want to comment on one theme in the series—the dilemma of the modern male. Robyn is apprentice to an Ur-druid who lives in a cave under the holy hill. The druid molds his character and consecrates him to Earth powers while Robyn lives in a home that supports him. As a young man he bears the weight of the Stag Lord’s horns. Yet the old ways are on the brink of disappearing, and his future is tied to the future of the Shire. He must act and knows with whom.
On the other hand, Gamelyn is the son of a Norman lord, and what is his apprenticehsip? As the third son, he won’t inherit. He wants to be a scholar, suggesting a quiet life inside the church. But by accident, he gets lost in the woods and is befriended by two local youth imbued with forest powers, powers that stir his soul despite the socialization of church and class privilege. Worse. His first and only true love blossoms with another young man, a disqualifying disgrace within the Norman lord’s hillfort. He is driven away and forced to join the Knights Templar for violation of the patriarchal male code, a punishment that splits him into two characters: Gamelyn, the gentle pre-pubescent boy Robyn and Marion grew to love (Greenwode) becomes Guy de Gisbourne, Falconier to a Templar Commander and a master of martial mayhem (Shirewode). His family believes he died in the Holy Land on Crusade. And in a sense, Gamelyn is dead.
Hennig’s is a particularly interesting take on the foreboding task of survival for the modern young male who accidentally discovers a world in the forest outside the boundaries of his upbringing, a world where Earth remains recognizable as the primary power. Her story portrays Guy de Gisbourne (a hyper-masculine Gamelyn in the role of a Templar hitman) as a rigidly disciplined young man who must ceaselessly tamp down the Earth-power welling inside. Thus, the reader encounters a split character—Gamelyn/Guy—who blindly struggles for his own soul and the right to forget … or fully be the person he truly is. The apparent irreconcilable differences between Gamelyn (who must grown up) and Guy (who must reclaim boyhood inspiration) require constant pressure against one temperament so the other temperament has room to breathe. Gamelyn/Guy must choose.
For me, Gamelyn/Guy’s struggle is the central conflict that drives the story forward—Oak and Holly or Cross and Sword—for it appears that it cannot be both.
And a major achievement of the author is Marion—the third element—who is not merely a pretty face standing in the corner watching the boy’s battle. Her energy, her birthing and healing powers as well as her aim with bow and arrow are essential for the survival of the old ways against the encroaching outsider beliefs that would destroy the old ways. Can a threesome truly work in harmony? Will the old ways survive? The genius of the story is how the weaving of Robyn’s soul with Gamelyn’s and Gamelyn’s with Marion’s is so convincing. And, of course, we cheer for them.
While I anticipate a satisfying conclusion to the series, the denouement of Summerwode surprised me. There is much to ponder in what Hennig has wrought and much to admire. And we are left wondering to where will our three heroes travel next. It’s surely worth the wait.
Highly recommended.
saraubs's review against another edition
3.0
I liked this entry, but still can't help but feel a little disappointed after my HUGE love for books 1&2. The writing was still lovely (though I could certainly do with fewer mentions of 'verdigris' and 'cinnabar' from here) and the characters still have my heart. Robyn has fast become one of my favourite fantasy characters, and Hennig draws him with such care. I do think that this volume could have used some heavier editing; it was at least 100 pages too long, and this affected the pacing. After the ending I am intrigued about where book 5 will take us, but I'm not sure if this will end up as an all-time favourite (which seemed a given following books 1&2).
crtsjffrsn's review against another edition
4.0
The story of Robyn, Marion, and Gamelyn has not been easy. They've suffered ups and downs, and beyond their personal tragedies they have almost been torn apart several times. But now they've found a bit of peace...or so they think. When the three are summoned to the siege of Nottingham by the Queen, none are exactly pleased or excited. But she has promised Gamelyn that he may reclaim his family's noble title while Robyn and Marion will receive royal pardons. And while none of them exactly trust the royals, the Queen has proven to be unlike the others. But King Richard has returned, and it turns out he may have some suspect motives of his own...
I so love this series. It is one of my favorites that I've read--ever. And I am definitely looking forward to book five and its epic conclusion. I've you've not experienced this series, you are missing out. Run, don't walk.
I so love this series. It is one of my favorites that I've read--ever. And I am definitely looking forward to book five and its epic conclusion. I've you've not experienced this series, you are missing out. Run, don't walk.
sethxo's review
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.25
alisonalisonalison's review against another edition
5.0
Utterly captivating. This is the fourth book in an amazing historical epic fantasy series re-telling the Robin Hood myths and it definitely does not stand alone. This series is so special to me and my high expectations for this book were most definitely met, and exceeded. What a wonderful, satisfying book. I absolutely loved it and savoured every minute.
While the third book, [b:Winterwode|26138445|Winterwode (The Wode, #3)|J. Tullos Hennig|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1440137978s/26138445.jpg|46091116], was Marion's, and the final book, Wyldingwode, is to be Robyn's, this book is centred around Gamelyn. Throughout this series, Gamelyn, who grew up a devout Christian intending a life in the church and is now a Knight Templar, has struggled with his destiny: that he is the Summerlord of the heathen Old Religion and holds potent magic within him. The powerful love he and Robyn Hood share and his wish to commit to the pagan ways of the Wode war with his Templar loyalties and his nobleman's upbringing, and, all the while, fear and uncertainty and denial are keeping him captive and holding him back. The internal conflicts and passive indecision of the past years are tearing him apart and are making those he loves suffer almost as much as he himself. The time has come for him to make a decision or lose everything that matters. Emotional turmoil and enormous frustrations dog each of our heroes in this instalment.
Robyn and Marion and the others, along with brooding Gamelyn, have plenty of other complications to contend with this time around, including King Richard, Queen Mother Eleanor, a pack of Templars, a heap of bickering noblemen, the fae, a siege on Nottingham Castle, a possible pardon for the outlaws, and more. All this adds up to a cracking good read with one hell of a dramatic ending.
This book is completely riveting and so full of depth and layers and adventure and history. It's exciting and intense and emotional and long and thorough and so all-consuming. I've only just finished and I'm already reading it again. These books are immersive and so incredibly satisfying and are among my favourite books ever. I've rarely read characters that have been so meaningful to me. This series makes me laugh and cry and simply feel so much. The story has been building and building over four long books and, with one more book to come, I cannot wait to see how it all finishes!
Also, Serena Yates' review is excellent.
While the third book, [b:Winterwode|26138445|Winterwode (The Wode, #3)|J. Tullos Hennig|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1440137978s/26138445.jpg|46091116], was Marion's, and the final book, Wyldingwode, is to be Robyn's, this book is centred around Gamelyn. Throughout this series, Gamelyn, who grew up a devout Christian intending a life in the church and is now a Knight Templar, has struggled with his destiny: that he is the Summerlord of the heathen Old Religion and holds potent magic within him. The powerful love he and Robyn Hood share and his wish to commit to the pagan ways of the Wode war with his Templar loyalties and his nobleman's upbringing, and, all the while, fear and uncertainty and denial are keeping him captive and holding him back. The internal conflicts and passive indecision of the past years are tearing him apart and are making those he loves suffer almost as much as he himself. The time has come for him to make a decision or lose everything that matters. Emotional turmoil and enormous frustrations dog each of our heroes in this instalment.
Robyn and Marion and the others, along with brooding Gamelyn, have plenty of other complications to contend with this time around, including King Richard, Queen Mother Eleanor, a pack of Templars, a heap of bickering noblemen, the fae, a siege on Nottingham Castle, a possible pardon for the outlaws, and more. All this adds up to a cracking good read with one hell of a dramatic ending.
This book is completely riveting and so full of depth and layers and adventure and history. It's exciting and intense and emotional and long and thorough and so all-consuming. I've only just finished and I'm already reading it again. These books are immersive and so incredibly satisfying and are among my favourite books ever. I've rarely read characters that have been so meaningful to me. This series makes me laugh and cry and simply feel so much. The story has been building and building over four long books and, with one more book to come, I cannot wait to see how it all finishes!
Also, Serena Yates' review is excellent.
angelas_library's review against another edition
2.0
Much as I adored the first two books in the Wode series, the subsequent books haven't worked as well for me. For one thing, I feel like the constant fog and tangle of magic and mysticism and tynged and the like has begun to befuddle me; most of the time I can't make heads or tails of it and end up feeling lost.
Also, there isn't nearly enough Gamelyn-Robyn page time anymore. What I loved most about Greenwode and Shirewode were the scenes of passion between the two men, and these were basically non-existent in Summerwode.
The biggest issue for me, though, was
I confess, part of me wishes this series had simply stopped at a duology. The first books were amazing, but the fact that I haven't enjoyed the follow-ups as much casts a pall over my fond memories of the first stories. :-(
Also, there isn't nearly enough Gamelyn-Robyn page time anymore. What I loved most about Greenwode and Shirewode were the scenes of passion between the two men, and these were basically non-existent in Summerwode.
The biggest issue for me, though, was
Spoiler
the lack of fidelity among the characters. For all Marion's insistence that none of them owned one another, and that sharing and swapping lovers freely was "their people's way," I just couldn't get behind it. In fact, it infuriated and frustrated me to the point where I'm hesitant to continue with the final book in the series. I especially hated the idea of Gamelyn and Marion getting together. The whole thing was so bizarre, and I felt like it undermined the relationship between Gamelyn and Robyn, and Marion and Much. The fact that Robyn and Much not just condoned, but encouraged, the union just made the situation worse, not better.I confess, part of me wishes this series had simply stopped at a duology. The first books were amazing, but the fact that I haven't enjoyed the follow-ups as much casts a pall over my fond memories of the first stories. :-(
darth_aubs's review against another edition
3.0
I liked this entry, but still can't help but feel a little disappointed after my HUGE love for books 1&2. The writing was still lovely (though I could certainly do with fewer mentions of 'verdigris' and 'cinnabar' from here) and the characters still have my heart. Robyn has fast become one of my favourite fantasy characters, and Hennig draws him with such care. I do think that this volume could have used some heavier editing; it was at least 100 pages too long, and this affected the pacing. After the ending I am intrigued about where book 5 will take us, but I'm not sure if this will end up as an all-time favourite (which seemed a given following books 1&2).
bookshelfsos's review against another edition
5.0
Check out my full (spoiler-y) review at my blog: BookshelfSOS. Thanks!
I have feelings. So many feelings.
Summerwode is the fourth book (out of an anticipated five) in the Wode series by J. Tullos Hennig. This story is (I believe) loosely based on The Tale of Gamelyn, which is a Canterbury Tale as well as actual English history from this time period, including a recorded siege of Nottingham Castle in 1194. Richard the Lionheart had been ransomed from Henry VI and is returning to English shores. Our band of outlaws had made some progress toward legitimacy in Winterwode, and now a royal pardon is within their grasp. Meanwhile, old enemies are plotting revenge and the leaders of the Templar Knights have their own agenda and seem to want to seize control of the magic of the Wode.
Why did this book take me almost two full months to read? I read 11 other books in between starting this and finishing it. I think part of it is that this book felt sacred. I didn’t want to rush through it just to get to the end (especially knowing that I’d be waiting for the next one) and I wanted to savor every little detail of the absolutely gorgeous prose. Seriously, the writing in this book absolutely blew me away on every page. How does Hennig - as a modern-day American writer - craft prose as lovely and lyrical as a Medieval ballad? The other reason why this book took me longer to read is that there is a definite shift in the pacing of this story (and Winterwode too, honestly) compared to the first two books in the series. Summerwode is much slower and the plot didn’t really compel me forward with a desperate need to know what would happen next. Rather, it led me through a slowly unfolding scene and asked me to appreciate the interesting details. Which I absolutely did. Think lazy river canoe instead of white water rapids. Both are good, of course. One just gets you to the end a lot faster.
Really though, I really can’t say enough to praise this book, and the series as a whole. I love, love, love the characters, their magical Medieval Wode, the dialects, the interwoven history and mythology: it all hits some really perfect notes and works so beautifully. As a consummate lover of all things achingly sad and painful, these books manage to deliver in spades as well. Are Robyn and Gamelyn constantly getting wounded, either physically or emotionally? Yes, and I truly love it. Not Marion though. Stay away from my queen. Anyone who tries to hurt her will have to go through me.
This series is as close to perfect as I can dream up in my mind. It's long and literary and achingly sad and gay and historical and ROBIN HOOD and... yeah. It's everything. I'm so glad that we're all lucky enough to live in a world where these books exist.
I have feelings. So many feelings.
Summerwode is the fourth book (out of an anticipated five) in the Wode series by J. Tullos Hennig. This story is (I believe) loosely based on The Tale of Gamelyn, which is a Canterbury Tale as well as actual English history from this time period, including a recorded siege of Nottingham Castle in 1194. Richard the Lionheart had been ransomed from Henry VI and is returning to English shores. Our band of outlaws had made some progress toward legitimacy in Winterwode, and now a royal pardon is within their grasp. Meanwhile, old enemies are plotting revenge and the leaders of the Templar Knights have their own agenda and seem to want to seize control of the magic of the Wode.
Why did this book take me almost two full months to read? I read 11 other books in between starting this and finishing it. I think part of it is that this book felt sacred. I didn’t want to rush through it just to get to the end (especially knowing that I’d be waiting for the next one) and I wanted to savor every little detail of the absolutely gorgeous prose. Seriously, the writing in this book absolutely blew me away on every page. How does Hennig - as a modern-day American writer - craft prose as lovely and lyrical as a Medieval ballad? The other reason why this book took me longer to read is that there is a definite shift in the pacing of this story (and Winterwode too, honestly) compared to the first two books in the series. Summerwode is much slower and the plot didn’t really compel me forward with a desperate need to know what would happen next. Rather, it led me through a slowly unfolding scene and asked me to appreciate the interesting details. Which I absolutely did. Think lazy river canoe instead of white water rapids. Both are good, of course. One just gets you to the end a lot faster.
Really though, I really can’t say enough to praise this book, and the series as a whole. I love, love, love the characters, their magical Medieval Wode, the dialects, the interwoven history and mythology: it all hits some really perfect notes and works so beautifully. As a consummate lover of all things achingly sad and painful, these books manage to deliver in spades as well. Are Robyn and Gamelyn constantly getting wounded, either physically or emotionally? Yes, and I truly love it. Not Marion though. Stay away from my queen. Anyone who tries to hurt her will have to go through me.
This series is as close to perfect as I can dream up in my mind. It's long and literary and achingly sad and gay and historical and ROBIN HOOD and... yeah. It's everything. I'm so glad that we're all lucky enough to live in a world where these books exist.
rachela1eaf's review
5.0
Honestly, I don't know what to say that I haven't said about previous books. Incredible from every angle, and in every way. A masterful weaving of plots and conflicts that have been building from book one. I'm dying for the next book.
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