In these uncertain times, we need people who do the right thing, no matter the cost. Who stand against the powerful, the corrupt, the abusive. We need people to stand against religious intolerance, who see through the class war, who stand for the different, the alternative, those marginalised and ostracised. We need someone like Hurnungaz.

A thousand years ago, Robin came to Sherwood. He became Hurnungaz, and Caerne, the spirit of Sherewode, a Stag-god, came into being. Brother Gascon, the senior-most cleric of the Christ of the East, is building a cathedral in the heart of Sherwood to stamp out paganism, Anglo-Saxons, poor people, anyone he despises. The forest god Cernunnos is dead; belief in him is being discredited. The poor are over-taxed, are starving, with no choice but to work and hope for a better day which may never come. History and Justice are being sold off and to defy is to invite a death sentence.

And then Hurnungaz and Caerne come to Sherewode. But they do not come alone. From the Highlands of Alba comes Tam. From Erin comes Mar of the Caithlá. From Wales comes Brother Bwyd, a druid of the Sælvatici. From Scarsdale comes Wulfrun, a former King’s Man. From Hereseige comes the stone mason John. Representing Wōden comes Muna and Hugi, reborn Ravens.

St. John D’Hallowcross, Sheriff of Nottingham, controls the heartland of Sherwood. His brother, the Abbot Simon De Hallowcross, controls Gresham Abbey. Brother Gascon and the Abbess Winchester also hold religious property. The penniless, but well-respected, knight, William of Gisborough, is looking for a new master. The commander of York is looking for marriage.

There’s a strange, albino, crow-headed, creature running wild in Sherewode. There’s someone who, when they loose a single arrow, three fly from their bow – Devil worship or Hel-bound sorcery? There’s an assassin who sleeps in the ground, one of the Old Ænglish who never leaves their burrow but sees further than any, a girl with hooves and horns, a Skald who talks to his dead daughter, a scribe from Londinium and a brother who hears voices and believes it’s his god.

This is not just any Robin Hood retelling.

This is a visceral, grim and bloody, reimagining of the Robin Hood mythos. This is not cuddly mythmaking. This is wild fiction, feral folklore, dark, vengeful and hopeful.

From the Dark – come the Hooded.

Book launch –

27th June at Saturday Books in Dudley DY1 1ND. 18.30 – 20.30.

There will be some open mic slots, a performance from Poetic Malevolence, a Q&A session and several readings from the novel.