Maddie Lincoln’s life is a mess. She ends up back home in Nottingham after her mother’s death, trying to find her footing and start over again. However, her messed up life soon seems no big deal when she’s running for her life. Caught in a war between the Dark Lady and her enemies, Maddie stays one step ahead by the help of her friends. Maddie enters a new world – the realm of Eventide. New dangers appear at every turn and soon the town is rioting. The Dark Lady’s powers grow ever stronger. The hooded man presents more questions than answers. Maddie must decide who really her worst foe is and who she truly is herself.
This book caught my attention very early on. I was totally intrigued by the third or fourth page in! I have always loved the story of Robin Hood and this story takes place in the heart of Nottingham in present day. This however is not a true Robin Hood story, and that catches my attention. There is lots of action and intrigue, and mystery and twists and turns. The story flows smoothly between points of view and different flashbacks or current scenes. The characters have good development. You have a good idea what Maddie is facing and what her history has been. The fairy tale characters have minimal development, but their back stories stay true to what we’ve always heard about Robin Hood, Maid Marian, and the others.
The story has many British phrases that were slightly different to my American ear, but easy enough to follow. I only had to look up one or two to make sure I knew what was going on. It added a nice flavor to the story and made it different and stand out from other books I’ve read recently.
One of my favorite lines in the story is from chapter nine. Maddie and her friend Charles are trying to research and find answers to some of the events Maddie has experienced. While sitting in Charles’ library Maddie muses: “All Charles needed … was a violin, a pipe, and a long suffering doctor to take note of his escapades, and the picture would be complete.” No actual reference to Sherlock Holmes is stated, but with this thought I could immediately picture a Holmes-esque library, with the fire smoldering, and all the other iconic Holmes scenes that fully paint how they were trying to puzzle out the situation.
Overall, I really enjoyed this book. The action was fast enough to keep you interested. The characters were relatable. The slower parts were a nice chance to catch your breath. I would highly recommend it.
Review by Patti Farrington