Line #28 Literature/OutlawsShadow


1	[[quoteright:333:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/239acf28_49b7_4d96_995c_df3d491bce8a.jpeg]]
2	[[caption-width-right:333:Prince John was trying to steal a kingdom. And Guy wanted his cut.]]
3	Subtitled “A Sherwood Noir”, ''Outlaw’s Shadow'' is an ebook HistoricalFiction re-imagining of the Myth/RobinHood legend by Nathan Hopkins that mashes up PerspectiveFlip, FilmNoir, MythologyGag, and forgotten history to create a crime thriller told from the perspective of Robin Hood’s EvilCounterpart, Guy Of Gisbourne.
4
5	Available [[https://www.amazon.com/dp/B096T4LRGZ/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&qid=1623100519&refinements=p_27%3ANathan+Hopkins&s=digital-text&sr=1-1&text=Nathan+Hopkins here.]]
6	----
7	!!Examples:
8
9	* ActionGirl: Guy former betrothed, Marian Of Ashfield, was his old sparring partner, and uses a two-handed longsword very well.
10	* AdaptationAmalgamation: The book’s version of Guy mixes together various interpretations of the character from earlier works - he’s a former [[AristocratsAreEvil corrupt knight]] and [[CorruptCop forester]] for the Sheriff of Nottingham like in much film and television, a BountyHunter seeking out outlaws for the Undersheriff like in the original ballads, and an outlaw like in the Howard Pyle version.
11	* AddedAlliterativeAppeal: Several, both from the original legends and in a mirror of them for the new elements - ''L''ady ''L''ilian and ''F''inch ''F''itzwalter mirror ''M''aid ''M''arian, while the ''F''ine ''F''ellows mirror the ''M''erry ''M''en.
12	* AnguishedDeclarationOfLove: Lillian expresses this to Guy, but can’t bring herself to say she “loves” him, instead saying she “needs” him.
13	* AwesomenessByAnalysis: Guy’s flirtation with Lillian takes a serious turn when he realizes that she’s [[spoiler:a bastard daughter of Old King Henry.]]
14	* BatmanGambit: Guy’s well-known animosity towards the Hood is manipulated by a single lie in a letter he is asked to read, setting him on the path to reigniting their feud. It works… but [[GoneHorriblyRight too well.]]
15	* BewareTheNiceOnes: Will the Scarlet is one of the friendlier Merry Men to Guy’s Fine Fellows when the two groups meet. Then in the final skirmish at the end of the book, he turns out to have an axe and kills a named character as part of his DynamicEntry.
16	* BewareTheSillyOnes: Dismas, Tuck’s companion, is a bald and goofy Frenchman who annoys Guy with his antics. He’s also [[spoiler:Robin Hood.]]
17	* CanonCharacterAllAlong: Tuck’s French-speaking companion Dismas turns out to be [[spoiler:Robin Hood]] while the initially background character of Finch Fitzwalter turns out to be [[spoiler:Maid Marian.]]
18	* CombatBreakdown: Robin and Guy’s climactic fight starts with them both using a sword and shield on the ground, and ends with them trying to choke or strangle each other in muddy water.
19	* CorruptChurch: Archbishop Geoffrey Fitzroy of York, who combines this with CorruptCop by holding the office of High Sheriff of York as well... because he employs and commands Guy and the Fine Fellows of Barnesdale as his own gang.
20	* TheDragon: Flatnose Hob, who becomes genuine friends with Guy because of his loyalty.
21	* EvilCounterpart: Several to multiple characters from the legend:
22	** Guy of Gisbourne himself is one to Robin Hood, as another outlaw gang leader who uses BowAndSwordInAccord, and has a romantic history with Maid Marian. They’re also TheRival to each other.
23	** Lady Lillian is this to Maid Marian, as a LoveInterest with AddedAlliterativeAppeal, but is the FemmeFatale to Marian’s ActionGirl.
24	** Archbishop Geoffrey is a power hungry and corrupt high ranking clergyman compared to the humble holy man Tuck, and they both occupy a place of authority in Guy’s life.
25	** The Fine Fellows of Barnesdale are this to the Merry Men Of Sherwood... though with [[MurderIsTheBestSolution Guy]] as their leader, they end up losing other possible counterparts.
26	* EvilVirtues: Guy has VillainousValor in spades, while Flatnose Hob has UndyingLoyalty.
27	* EyeScream: Guy had Arthur-a-Bland’s eye put out when Guy was Chief Forester of Sherwood... [[spoiler:and cuts out the other one when he believes Arthur has betrayed him.]]
28	* FemmeFatale: Lady Lillian, Guy’s mysterious LoveInterest, who’s [[spoiler:Old King Henry’s bastard daughter]] and who [[spoiler:manipulates Guy and betrays her older half-brothers Archbishop Geoffrey and King Richard for Prince John.]]
29	* FriendVersusLover: Played for drama at the end, with fatal results for [[spoiler:Flatnose Hob.]]
30	* GoodShepherd: Tuck, who here is actually a shared friend and mentor between Guy and Robin, is a healer who tends to Flatnose Hob’s wounds, and is generally just an awesome guy.
31	* TheGhost: Prince John is working behind the scenes to destabilize the kingdom, but makes no appearance, even as his schemes directly impact events.
32	* HistoricalDomainCharacter: King Richard the Lion Heart and Prince John are of course mentioned, but their older half-brother, the bastard-born Geoffrey Fitzroy, is actually the ManBehindTheMan for Guy as the Archbishop of York.
33	* IgnoredEpiphany: Guy is aware of his flaws and mistakes, particularly at the end of the book... but just doubles down on his bad decisions.
34	* MasterArcher: Hood, or course, though Guy isn’t a slouch. Hood’s just [[AlwaysSomeoneBetter that much better.]]
35	* MasterSwordsman: Guy is this, though he’s also an unabashed CombatPragmatist not above preemptive attacks, dagger strikes, and DualWielding.
36	* MauveShirt: Wiley, the most featured of the Fine Fellows after Guy, Hob, and Arthur. [[spoiler:Will the Scarlet makes his DynamicEntry by first throwing his axe into him, then running forward and finishing him off with it.]]
37	* MeaningfulName: Dismas, Tuck’s companion, shares his name with the Penitent Thief from Christian Apocrypha. And appropriate for [[spoiler:an alias of Robin Hood.]]
38	* MythologyGag: Several, some of which can act as examples of GeniusBonus to fans of the mythos.
39	** Hood and Guy exchange a taunt from ''Film/TheAdventuresOfRobinHood'', but switching lines.
40	** [[spoiler:Maid Marian]] uses the alias Finch ''Fitzwalter'', their traditional surname.
41	** Guy and Lillian are sent to investigate the mysterious increase in wealth that Sir Richard of Lee has come into, and are EntertaininglyWrong about what’s going on.
42	** Robin Hood fans who hear that the one-eyed Fine Fellow is named Arthur-a-Bland will know he’s connected to the Merry Men.
43	* MyGreatestFailure: Guy lost his title as a knight and job as a forester thanks to a mistake that killed the High Sheriff’s daughter.
44	* OrderVsChaos: Archbishop Geoffrey does not have a very good relationship with King Richard, but is dedicated to preventing Prince John from destabilizing the kingdom because he knows how bad The Anarchy was.
45	* RefugeInAudacity: How Hood hides his identity from Guy early in the book.
46	* TheRival: Gisbourne and Hood, of course.
47	* StealthSequel: Once the Archbishop briefs Guy on Sir Richard managing to pay his impossible debt, a savvy fan of the mythos will realize the story is a follow up to the classic ballad featuring the knight.
48	* TooCleverByHalf: The mastermind setting Guy against Hood again is clever to use their past animosity to sic Guy on Hood with a single deception, but underestimated how much Guy wants to ''personally'' defeat Hood... [[spoiler:so Lillian betrays her own scheme to rescue Guy.]]
49	** His siblings think that this description perfectly fits Prince John; he’s foolish, but not stupid, and doesn’t repeat his mistakes, but makes new ones.
50	* VillainProtagonist: Guy, though he ends up getting ''worse''.

Context Literature / OutlawsShadow