Sara Masarik
Tag: Book Review
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I first encountered Stephen Lawhead through a Facebook book group that I helped to create years ago called the Potato Peel Pie Society. We were exiles from other groups, and we craved a place where we could talk openly and honestly about books new and old that met a certain moral, intellectual, and literary standard. In that group, we were looking for books that conveyed the transcendentals of Truth, Goodness, and Beauty.
Having long admired Robin Hood tales and classics like Sir Walter Scott’s Ivanhoe, I was immediately drawn to Lawhead’s King Raven Trilogy. I purchased the trilogy in print and on CD, though at the time, the demands of early motherhood left me little opportunity to review such a substantial tome. Over the years, the hefty three-volume-in-one moved with me to a new house and eventually joined my lending library. A few weeks ago, a teen requested to borrow it, prompting me to revisit the story via the Audible version—a decision that reminded me how masterful this trilogy truly is. (The Audible version is expertly done and so helpful in knowing how to pronounce the Welsh names and terms.)
The trilogy focuses on three central figures from the Robin Hood legends, with each book giving particular emphasis to one. The first follows Bran, the rebellious prince of a small Welsh kingdom shortly after the Norman conquest of 1066. After his father is murdered and his court decimated by Norman usurpers, Bran flees, wrestling with both personal survival and the fate of his kingdom. Early on, we meet Iwan, the loyal and steadfast Little John figure, and Merian, a spirited and intelligent heroine whose courage and wit are the heartbeat of the story. The second book shifts focus to Bran’s new friend and ally, Will Scarlet and life in the rebel forest camp. The third book offers perhaps the most nuanced and virtuous portrayal of Friar Tuck I have encountered, reimagined in the character of Aethelfrith.
Lawhead, a Christian author, weaves these stories with a deep respect for legend, history, and moral truth. The trilogy reads like a true legend, yet it is grounded in the richness of historical fiction and the intrigue of a carefully plotted mystery. His storytelling draws upon Welsh history and folklore in a way that reminds me of Tolkien, yet the characters’ dialogue has a slightly modern European cadence which suggests to me Lloyd Alexander. And yet the narrative shifts between setting and character arcs is executed with precision and rhythm, bringing to mind the craftsmanship of Connie Willis. Each transition feels natural, maintaining momentum while deepening character and world-building. I see why Lawhead is considered one of the great modern authors.
Above all, the trilogy is infused with virtue and faith. Bran, Will, and Aethelfrith are complex and human with a love of virtue and human failings. Merian stands as a true heroine, demonstrating intelligence and agency that enriches the story and gives us an ambassador between the two worlds of the nobility and the forest people. Bran’s mentor is an old woman who might be thought of as a witch or hag, and yet, everything she says and does is absolutely steeped in a love of Christ. At the same time, Lawhead gives us the traditional Christian in Tuck, a friar who genuinely loves the gospel and the Church. This trilogy is not only a thrilling adventure but also an edifying read.
Parents may wish to know that in the early chapters of the first book, Bran’s father complains that his son is a useless playboy who cares more about sneaking into the bed of some woman than in doing his duty. This theme, however, is not explored and while Bran was a scandalous problem son before the story begins, the death of his father thrusts him into a role where virtue is requisite. Lawhead gives him an excellent mentor and the love of Merian to keep him honorable.
For readers who cherish classic adventure, well-crafted historical fiction, or quality modern reimaginings of legend, the King Raven Trilogy is a treasure.