Magoon, Kekla. Rebellion of ThievesOctober 18th 2016 by Bloomsbury USA Childrens
E ARC from Edelweiss Above the Treeline
While barely surviving in Shadows of Sherwood, Robyn Loxley is back in full force, stealing from the government for the disadvantaged people in her district. She would also like to get her mother out of jail, and thinks that entering the Iron Teen competition is a surefire way to get into the government facility where her mother is being held. The problem is that the sheriff is still hot on her trail, and her image is being disseminated so widely that even a taxi driver recognizes her. Her friends think it is a bad idea to enter the Iron Teen competition, because the fine print that Robyn didn't read indicates that contestants can be conscripted into the military police for any reason. The sheriff is a little apprehensive about Robyn, who has entered as Roberta Calzone with a fake Tag, and is sure that she is the outlaw Robyn but can't prove it because Robyn has cut off her mystical braid. Against all odds, Robyn makes it into the competition, continues to elude authorities, and manages to get close enough to free her mother. Things are still bad in the dystopia that is Sherwood, and another book is certainly in the offing.
Strengths: The twist on the Robin Hood legend is great fun, and teens struggling to overthrow a dystopian government will always find readers. It's good to see a fantasy that includes a more diverse character AND pictures her on the cover.
Weaknesses: The moon lore, and the prophecy of having to find members that reflect different elements once again seemed odd. I also had a LOT of trouble believing that the sheriff didn't recognize Robyn. Robyn's attachment to her braid got tiresome, but I was relieved when she cut it off when she clearly needed to.
What I really think: Perfectly fine book, but the first one hasn't circulated as well as I hoped. Pirates, Robin Hood, and fairy tale retellings are hit or miss in my library. May wait a bit to buy this sequel.
I always think I'm going to like Robin Hood retellings, but for some reason I seldom do. I've been interested in reading the first book of this series, but it hasn't made it to the top of my pile yet.
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