Customer Reviews

Tuck (King Raven Trilogy)

5 star:		(29)
4 star:		(17)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

"It is an end worth fighting for," mused Bran. "It may be for others to complete what we've begun, but there must be a beginning." (p. 334)

Rhi Bran ap Brychan only wants restored what has been taken from him - his kingship on the throne of Elfael. Red William has led the Ffreinic in a seemingly endless battle against a mysterious group of outlaws under the leadership of King Raven. When he finally decides he will not tolerate another moment of rebellion - because he cannot afford the debt he must pay for the souls he has killed, a battle of epic proportions begins to form in the vale of Elfael.

Throughout the story, there is a short, stout friar named Tuck who faithfully fulfills the requests made of him by his fearless leader Rhi Bran. He is asked several times to go face to face with the enemy and ask that peace be considered, only to have his life threatened and his leader defamed. Yet Tuck remains faithful to pray for Bran and those who fight by his side, and the Lord is faithful to answer Tuck's prayers in some very unexpected ways!

Although Tuck is the final book of Stephen Lawhead's King Raven trilogy, it is a book that can be enjoyed on its own as well. I am almost embarrassed to admit that it's my first introduction to Lawhead's work, but you can be certain I am now a fan! Tuck absolutely transports the reader to another time and place, and from the opening sentence to the final page this epic story plays out in rich imagery, heroic daring and breathless chases! I couldn't help but laugh at Alan A Dale and his hilarious interpretations during Bran's masquerade as Count Rexindo, and I wept at the loss suffered by Bran and Scarlet during one of the final battles. Truly, the King Raven trilogy is an epic tale, and I highly recommend it!

In the King Raven trilogy, Stephen Lawhead creates his own version of Robin Hood, this time placing him in the 12th century under the rule of William Rufus, son of William the Conqueror. This Robin is actually the rightful heir to a fiefdom in The March, a band of Wales that is on the border with England. Tuck is the third volume, this time following Friar Tuck's role and adventures in the whole story. Written in third person omniscient, the narrative will sometimes wander to Robin or other characters, giving the reader a panorama view of all the players and their activities and conversations. While Robin is still the leader and main hero, this time Friar Tuck's role is brought much more to the forefront. His contribution to the final denouement is crucial; more than that I dare not say lest I give away the finale. Friar Tuck is much more well developed as a character in this novel than in most stories; he is usually presented as the somewhat jolly gourmand who is fond of ale and food, but he seems a bit questionable in his true piety and devotion to God. Happily, Lawhead's Tuck has a deeper relationship with his Lord and does seem to want to follow God. He is in contrast to the rich, powerful and power-hungry Abbots and Bishops that scheme to take land and money from the true Britons and Welsh people. Tuck is a servant, a simple priest as he says, but he knows his scripture. Tuck has great depth to his character. Time and again, Robin puts his trust in Father Aethelfrith (Tuck's real name) to perform tasks could affect life or death for the whole group of followers in Robin's camp.

There are the familiar tales of broken promises and subterfuge on the part of the sheriff, the greedy Abbot, and the king, as well as many daring exploits with Robin and his Grellon winning against impossible odds in skirmish after skirmish. One difference in this story, though, is that the forest dwellers recognize that the successes come from the intervention of God. They feel certain that their cause is just, so therefore God is on their side.

Above all, Lawhead presents a convincing case for his version of Robin Hood's story, why it might be the true story and how the other versions may have evolved over time. His use of a ballad of Rhi Bran y Hud and his Grellon cradles the narrative in the form that our earliest known versions came from, the ballads of early minstrels. With an abundance of Celtic, French, and Welsh language thrown around, coupled with detailed cultural ambience that appears to be authentic of the time and the Welsh and Norman peoples, the tale of King Raven (it has to do with a translation like Rhi Bran, which led to Robin donning a terrifying big Raven costume to frighten enemies) sounds plausible.

Those who love legends like Robin Hood and King Arthur will devour Tuck as well as the other two books in the series, Hood and Scarlet. I am sure it would be better if the books could be read in order, but I personally haven't read the first two, and I found it easy enough to follow without the background. Perhaps for someone who actually knows nothing of Robin Hood, it could be confusing to start at the last book. Tuck will appeal to those who thrive on digging into the truth behind any fictional history. I found myself looking up a lot of the words at first, mostly Welsh words. It's something I enjoy. Little touches like a pronunciation guide and a map added to my personal enjoyment in reading. Many extra touches enhanced a story that was already outstanding. It won't appeal to everyone: for one thing, it is over 400 pages long. The style is almost scholarly at times, very much in keeping with the older tales that we have already in our libraries. It only seems appropriate. Tuck is neither a simple read nor a quick one, but it is well worth the time for those who will undertake a new telling of Rhi ban and his Merry Grellon of the forest band.

I don't get to read much fiction. I enjoy a good novel, but don't often find the time for it. When I do get the chance, I gravitate toward authors like John Irving, Charles Dickens, John Updike, or Tom Wolfe. I figure if I'm going to give an author time and space inside my mind, I want something that's going to be worth it. And, in general, I haven't found 'Christian' authors who fit that bill. I'm not given to romance novels, Christian or otherwise; the hyper-spirituality of Peretti and the like strikes me as dangerous; and, of course, (in my humble opinion) those best-selling end-times novels aren't worth the paper on which they're written.

Stephen Lawhead is the exception to the rule. I think I've read every one of his books, save for some kids' books he did a few years back. Lawhead breaks every stereotype of Christian fiction, in that his books are actually well-written. From well-developed plot lines to believable characters to excitement and intrigue, his books are always winners. They may not rank up there as Great Literature with the likes of Dickens, Tolkien, Tolstoy, or O'Conner, but (in my humble opinion) they're better than most anything else in 'Christian' fiction, and up right there with the rest of the popular fiction at your local bookseller.

Tuck is the finale in Lawhead's most recent King Raven trilogy, a re-telling of the Robin Hood tale. Along with the first two, Hood and Scarlet, Tuck is full of familiar and memorable characters, deep intrigue, action and adventure, and enough historical lore to create a vivid world in the reader's imagination. Included are your soulless villains, your strong yet fair maidens, your club-wieding priests, your hard-working laborers, and, of course, your troubled yet victorious hero. Lawhead takes you from deep inside the ancient woods to the broad plains of Wales, from tiny farming villages to the teeming streets of ancient London. There are moments of quiet introspection beside mountain streams, running battles along wooded trails, and massive battle scenes with armies arrayed in full color and splendor across open fields.

Lawhead's language is rich and poetic, full of the sights and sounds of ancient England. It is evident that he has done his research, as he includes many of the tiny details that made up life in the days of Robin Hood. From the song of the bard to the arrow of the Cymry, each character and their actions flesh out a world so intriguing yet foreign to modern-day readers.

And, of course, what makes Lawhead unique in this genre is the way in which he weaves the work of God into the story. Without being overbearing, without forcing Jesus into the story, Lawhead still creates a story of a people whose faith in the "blessed Jesu" sees them through their darkest days. Truly, I fear labeling his writings as "Christian fiction," because so often that means poorly-written attempts to force Jesus onto bad novels, or writing bad novels in an attempt to "tell the world about Jesus," or even writing cleaned-up versions of whatever the secular world is pursuing, just so our kids can have all the fun with none of the sin. That's not what Lawhead does. Instead, he pens well-written books in which his own faith pours out, guiding the action of the characters as the plot moves along. I suppose one could say he's a historical novelist who happens to have a Christian wordview, rather than being a Christian novelist.

All that to say, I was excited when Tuck was released, I was happy when it showed up in the Amazon box last week, and I enjoyed reading it over the weekend. It's a quick and easy read - I got through all 400+ pages in about 4 days, so it fit in nicely with all the other books I'm reading at the moment, and was a nice diversion when the family was gone for a couple days. I was expecting good things, and wasn't disappointed. Lawhead finished up the trilogy in typical exciting fashion.

The only complaint I bring is that they are such quick reads - I wait two years for a new Lawhead novel to be released, and then read it in a week, and go back to waiting for the next. But they are certainly well-worth the wait. If you're looking for a good novel to carry you through the rainy days of spring, or perhaps some lighter summer reading, then get started on this tale of Robin Hood and let Lawhead carry you away to not-so-merry old England, where scoundrels and villians are on the loose, and heroes stalk the night to free the land and bring hope and light to their people.

While this book was a quick read, the ending left something to be desired. The first two books were VERY enjoyable and I felt like they were leading up to something big in the finale, but nothing big really ever happened. The ending was a "cheesefest." It seemed like Mr. Lawhead was just ready to get this series over with and move on to something else. All in all, a decent read just not a very good ending to the series. If you are one of those people (like me) who needs closure, the third book will pass in a blink of an eye but may not satisfy.

Book three of The King Raven trilogy starts off a bit slow but soon barrels ahead with great fervor. "Tuck" was a faster-paced read then the first two books but stayed the course with the story to create an excellent trilogy with a good storyline and great characters. Unlike "Scarlet" book three was written from a narrative point of view. Friar Tuck was not the main character but was one of many, although his part in the story was more important then most of the others. Not the typical Hollywood ending I was expecting but satisfying non-the-less. All in all I'm very pleased with the trilogy and would recommend it to those who enjoy history or a good fight. I still think Lawhead's "Song of Albion" trilogy was better, in fact so much that I'll be reading it again soon.

Biblically speaking the series was written from a Catholic perspective (which of course would be historically correct) and not a Biblical one. Christians reading these books would know the difference but I don't think unbelievers will, since they tend to lump us all in one group. Lawhead did a commendable job separating the well meaning religious leaders from the evil greedy ones. It was true back then and it still is today.

The longbow played a huge part in the story and in history, so much so that I purchased a bow for myself. Although I don't plan on shooting any Frenchmen any time soon I have been enjoying target practice.

Rumor has it that Stephen will be returning to fantasy for his next book. I sure hope that's true.

1 Star = Pathetic

2 Stars = Fair

3 Stars = Good

4 Stars = Excellent

5 Stars = Life changing

It is sometimes difficult to create a review of the final book in a trilogy. However, "Tuck" by Stephen R. Lawhead, is easily read as a standalone novel. I imagine that the first two novels in this series ("Hood" and "Scarlet") are also very capable of standing on their own. I have been a fan of medieval stories, and Robin Hood in particular, since I was a child. To experience Friar Tuck, the "holiest" of Robin's Merry Men, in a new way is not only refreshing and educational, it will forever color how I see Friar Tuck in the future as I revisit old books and films. Thank you, Stephen Lawhead, for adding dimension and depth to a wonderful character that has become one of my favorites because of your effort.

When I first noticed the pronunciation guide at the start of the book, I became wary of beginning this novel. But I was thoroughly impressed with Stephen Lawhead's ability to create a medieval flavor without the confusing language. Then, when I read the poems at the beginning of each section, I saw the usefulness of the pronunciation guide, and really enjoyed reading these tomes aloud to enhance my reading experience and add credibility to the setting.

From the lovely maps on the inside covers to the elegant header font and page numbers to the suspenseful story of Friar Tuck that is told within the pages, this novel is a class act!

The full trilogy could have been one, big book, and they should be read that way. Tuck is the most emotional of the three and the major characters are all well drawn. After reading Hood and Scarlet, with this book, you can almost hear the sounds of the forest around you as the battle begins. A great ending.

Lawhead has made me a real fan and I will be moving on to other series he has written. This book was a great and thrilling finish to the series which has been one of my favorites of recent memory.

There was, for me, a lot of suspense in this as at times I was begining to worry/wonder about the outcome. The book was well paced, well written, interesting and intriguing. The progression of characters was also a great feature, and a mark of truly great fiction. Many characters in this book did not stay their same cardboard self as other authors may have left them, but rather developed and changed and altered over the course of the book (and series).

I can't give enough praise for this book or how it was written. I guess if I had one critique I thought that the epilogue was more than a little "eh" at best, and found myself skimming parts of it just to get to the end.

Nonetheless it was not enough of a blemmish to mar this great book.

Fidelity, cunning, penance, and peace. With these themes Tuck, the third book of Lawhead's King Raven Trilogy, provides a fitting finale for the other two.

At the conclusion of the second book, the English king William Rufus had refused to keep his word to the Welsh; Rhi Bran had rendered him invaluable service in exposing a conspiracy, but still he would not give the kingdom of Elafel back to its rightful owners. Angry at this betrayal, King Raven (Rhi Bran) determines to find more troops and drive out the Norman oppressors by force. With his customary wit, charm, and cunning, Bran rescues the Welsh king of Gwynedd from the keep of a Norman castle, but receives no more than a graceless thanks for his efforts. As Merian strikes out on her own to find help, Bran returns to the forest, resolved to fight off the might of the Norman king with only a handful of longbowmen.

Throughout the book, Friar Aethelfrith (Tuck) provides a spiritual anchor for the band of outlaws. The comic relief he provided in the first two novels all but disappears as he urges the outlaws to seek peace with the Normans. In the end, it is not the force of arms, but the lowly friar who will achieve that peace that the Welshmen want.

The plot hinges around the Norman belief in penance for the dead (which Lawhead explains more thoroughly in his Author's Note at the end of the book). William Rufus, a king always at war, has sunk himself deep into debt to the church. According to the philosophy of the time, every soldier who died in battle was another blot on the king's soul. If he did not pay the monks and priests to do penance for himself, he would be looking at a near-eternity in Purgatory.

Lawhead fulfills every expectation with this finale to his trilogy, combining engaging storytelling with colorful historical background.

Review by Rosanne E. Lortz, author of I Serve: A Novel of the Black Prince

I have read the trilogy of The King Raven series. I was swept away in the time and place. The believability of Robin Hood over the standard story Nottingham story was one that captured my heart. I have been in the many places mentioned in the books, and could see in my minds eye the people and places. My Welch heritage made me feel proud of these people. Wherever one goes it is nice to hear that the bowman of Wales are second to none. They even helped King Henry V at Againcourt in the battle that even Shakespeare wrote about. These are a must read from the pen of Lawhead. From Hood, Scarlet and lastly Tuck, you want him to win and keep the Country of Wales safe and secure.