THE RED FLETCH

A teenage girl uses her skill with bow and arrow to join Robin Hood’s outlaw band in this coming-of-age YA adventure story set in the 12th century.

When 16-year-old Alys Fletcher’s brother, Hob, sets off with Robin of Locksley to join King Richard the Lionheart as a soldier in the Third Crusade, she longs to go with them, as she’s a talented archer herself. Instead, she’s sent to Nottingham Castle as a lady’s maid to Maid Marian, Robin’s true love. Worried for her brother’s safety, Alys makes a bargain with Robin, who promises to bring Hob back unscathed if she does all she can to prevent Maid Marian from marrying another suitor in his absence. Meanwhile, Alys adamantly refuses to consider marriage for herself, despite pressure from her family. While she’s in Maid Marian’s service, a disaster at her family’s farm—and the Sheriff of Nottingham’s onerous taxes—send her clan into poverty. When Robin returns from the Holy Land without Hob, she’s furious that he broke his promise and blames him for the Fletchers’ desperate situation. The novel, told from Alys’ point of view, creatively reimagines the well-known legend of Robin Hood in intriguing ways. At first, Alys is shown to ardently wish only for her family to be reunited and restored to their old life; faced with a series of difficult choices, she struggles with conflicting demands but develops confidence, resilience, and strong friendships with her fellow outlaws, including Little John and Friar Tuck. Vivid descriptions and engaging secondary players enliven the narrative. However, it’s occasionally marred by minor historical inaccuracies; for example, the castle’s interior is decorated with mounted weapons and armor, rather than fabric hangings, and in a crucial discussion about money, the author appears to use the terms shillingand penceinterchangeably. Overall, Alys’ journey from naïve youth to intrepid fighter will appeal to genre fans. The satisfying conclusion positions the protagonist to undertake a new quest in a planned sequel.

An entertaining twist on a legend from the point of view of an unusual young woman.