Review Tour ~ Heir of Locksley by N.B. Dixon ~ (Review + Giveaway)

Heir of Locksley

by N.B. Dixon

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GENRE: GLBT Historical Fiction

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BLURB:

Robin of Locksley is a rebel, more comfortable roaming Sherwood Forest with his longbow and courting the village girls than learning how to run a manor.

An innocent flirtation with a peasant girl soon lands Robin in trouble, and worse, he finds himself inexplicably attracted to Will Scathelock, his best friend since childhood. Robin must decide whether to follow the rules of society or his own conscience.

Meanwhile, his neighbour, Guy of Gisborne, is anxious to get his hands on the Locksley estate and he will do anything to make it happen—even murder.

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Excerpt One:

Gilbert White-hand held up a silencing finger. “I want to hear what the boy has to say.”

Robin took a deep breath. Perhaps there was a way out of this if he chose his words carefully. Gilbert White-hand seemed less bloodthirsty than his companions. At any rate, he might be reasoned with.

“You’re right. I did come looking for you, but not for the reward. I didn’t even know there was one.”

“Then why?”

“Perhaps he wants to join up,” one of the outlaws said with a laugh. “Tired of living the life of luxury are you, boy? Fancy a life under the stars living on what you can scrounge?”

Robin waited for the laughter to die down, then, still addressing Gilbert White-hand, said, “I hear you’re a good archer.”

The outlaw leader raised an eyebrow. “What of it?”

“So am I.”

There was a murmuring among the outlaws.

“I can prove it. If we both shoot and I win, you’ll let us go, and you’ll allow me free passage through the forest whenever I want it. In return, I won’t tell anyone where you are, nor will my friends.”

“He’s got nerve,” someone said. “You have to give him that.”

“Do we have your friends’ word?” Gilbert White-hand asked.

“Oh yes,” Guy said at once. “We won’t tell a soul.”

“Not a soul,” Katrina echoed. “We promise.”

Gilbert White-hand turned back to Robin. “And if I win? What then?”

Robin took a deep breath. “Then you can do whatever you like with us.”

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4 Stars!

Heir of Locksley is book one in the Outlaws Legacy series, which is a re-telling of the Robin Hood legend, with a M/M twist. In this installment, we follow Robin of Locksley from his birth until he's 18 and it's more like setting things up for the upcoming books (or so I hope). The mystery of why Robin's father doesn't like him, how he and Guy of Gisborne (later the Sheriff of Nottingham) grow from semi-friends to become enemies, how good Robin was with the bow since an early age and how his friendship with Will starts evolving into more, although just in their own thoughts as neither of them acknowledges their feelings to the other. 

The writing was very good and detail-oriented—perhaps too much at times, although I guess when you're setting the foundation for a five-book series, some of that detail might come in handy. The pacing of the book was a bit slow at times and I didn't see the point of some scenes. I would've liked to see more of Robin and Will because, at this point, I'm not sure I feel like they have all that much chemistry, which I really hope changes in the upcoming books. 

Overall, the book was entertaining and it's obvious the author did a lot of research on Robin Hood and the time period this book is set in, so I'll certainly check out the next book(s) when they are released! Recommendable!

*** Copy provided to Bayou Book Junkie for my reading pleasure, a review wasn't a requirement. *** 

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AUTHOR BIO

N.b. Dixon is an author of historical fiction. Her love for the Robin Hood legend began in a neglected corner of the school library and has continued ever since. She is a self-confessed bookworm and also a musician.

She began work on the Outlaws Legacy Series in 2013, and was accepted by Beaten Track Publishing in 2016. Outlaws Legacy is a historical series based around the Robin Hood legend. The author describes it as Exciting Historical Adventure with GLBT romance. Book 1, Heir of Locksley, will be released in paperback and ebook on December 1 2016.

Website: http://www.nbdixonauthor.com/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/nbdixonauthor
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