Robin: Lady of Legend

Robin: Lady of Legend is a 2012 historical adventure by R.M. ArceJaeger (alternative title: The Classic Adventures of the Girl Who Became Robin Hood). This Robin Hood retelling includes both new and traditional characters (e.g., Little John), while writing Robin as a woman.
Plot
The novel follows Robin of Locksley, an 18 year old girl who struggles with defining herself in a society where women are stuck in traditional roles of caring for a household and bearing children. When her father announces that she will be engaged to the Sheriff of Nottingham, Robin flees her home and ends up in Sherwood Forest. To protect herself Robin hides her true gender and also meets a farmer named John Little. Together they put together a group of people with whom they "rob from the rich, give to the poor", although Robin dictates that they should not kill anyone that they rob. Robin eventually discovers that her sister Maid Marian is to be wed to the Sheriff of Nottingham in her stead. She rescues Maid Marian while also starting to develop feelings for Little John. He eventually discovers that Robin is a girl, which temporarily harms their friendship.
Robin manages to lure the Sheriff into the forest in hopes of teaching him that he should be kind and thoughtful to others. The attempt is unsuccessful in its goals, but does manage to mend the relationship between Robin and Little John and also shows the Sheriff that Marian is there of her own free will. Afterwards Marian becomes engaged to Will Scarlet. Towards the end of the year Robin and Little John go into town to buy presents. Robin chooses to attend Midnight Mass but is captured after she is recognized and sentenced to hang the following morning. She is rescued by Little John and Will Stutley that results in the death of Guy of Gisborne.
Back at the camp, Little John and Robin at last admit their love for each other and get engaged. They have a dual wedding with Marian and Will in the spring, which is cut short when a messenger from the Queen arrives and summons Robin to a tournament in London, promising them a full pardon for everyone in their band if she wins. Though wary of a trap, Robin and Little John decide it is worth the risk, and the book ends with them departing from their Sherwood home in the hopes of procuring a better life for their people.
Characters
In order of appearance:
Folklore Characters
* Robin of Locksley: The protagonist. Also known as "Robin of the Hood" or "Robin Hood," she leads the inhabitants of Sherwood. She is the daughter of Lord Locksley, sister to Marian, and cousin to Will Gamwell.
* Marian: Robin's sister, daughter of Lord Locksley, and cousin to Will Gamwell. Though younger than Robin, she is considered quite a beauty.
* Will "Scarlet" Gamwell: Cousin to Marian and Robin, he has lived at Locksley Manor ever since the death of his parents in the same plague that killed Robin's mother.
* Phillip Darniel: The Sheriff of Nottingham. Noted for his cruelty and greed.
* Little John: nee John Little. Originally a farmer, he excels at quarterstaff fighting. He is Robin's best friend in the band.
* Will Stutley: An uneducated youth who becomes the first member of Robin's band.
* Sir Guy of Gisborne: Mercenary captain for the Sheriff of Nottingham.
* Allan: A member of Robin's band. He is generally pensive, but is an excellent musician and singer.
* Friar Tuck: A friend of Will Scarlet's and the officiant at his wedding.
Fictional Characters
* Darah: The housekeeper at Locksley Manor.
* Lord Locksley: Father to Robin and Marian. Uncle-in-law to Will Scarlet.
* David: A member of Robin's band. He is the husband to Mara and father to little Hannah. Noted for his fairness and loyalty to Robin.
* Nicolas: A member of Robin's band.
* Shane: A member of Robin's band. Twin brother to Glenneth.
* Glenneth: A member of Robin's band. Twin brother to Shane.
* Tailor: A master dyer and clothesman from whom Robin purchases the characteristic Lincoln Green outfits for her band.
* Nella: The Sheriff's daughter and the girl Will Stutley is in love with.
Setting
Robin: Lady of Legend is set in Nottinghamshire, primarily in Sherwood Forest, though events occur in Locksley Town, Nottingham Town, Lincoln Town, and London, Ancaster, Cuckney, Harworth, Tamworth, Radford, and Mansfield are all mentioned, as is the Yorkshire town of Doncaster. The story takes place during the Middle Ages sometime around the 13th century, although it does not specify when. Royalty is mentioned, though not by name. Similarly, the Crusades are referenced briefly, though not which one.
Reception
In the book Medieval Afterlives in Contemporary Culture a critic notes that ArceJaeger's choice to cast Robin as a woman worked well in multiple parts of the novel while noting that there were "constraints on the novel's feminist potential".
Awards
* Semifinalist in Amazon's Breakthrough Novel Award Contest (ABNA), 2012

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