Vispilio Synopsis
Robin Hood has a new name—the Vispilio, a thief by night, thought to be only a legend. Does he seek vengeance, or justice?
Antony Bronson has never known his past-as far as he knows, he’s the second son of his father Bron and has lived an unremarkable life in the village of Barnswood, other than a fateful fall from a tree that caused him to lose memories. But when rumors of a lost prince-the Prince Adrian who was supposed to have died in an act of war ten years before-begin to surface among the kingdom of Southborn, Antony begins to wonder if he’s been told the truth. So does Adelaide DuMont, the girl who had been destined to be the prince’s beloved, and Sir John, the hated son of the former king’s advisor. As Antony discovers his true identity, so does King Tanor, who will stop at nothing to make sure his crown is secure. To some a prince, to others a pretender, Antony must forge his own destiny-as the true king of Southborn, or as an enemy of the people. A thrilling adventure of political intrigue, royal drama, and a romance as old as Robin and Maid Marian.
Quick Review
A new take on the Robin Hood tale,Vispilio is an origin story with a deep interest in court intrigue. The book unfurls slowly, across many characters’ perspectives, to paint a deeper vision of the kingdom and its peoples.
Full Review of Vispilio
Vispilio is Audrey D. DeBoer’s take on the Robin Hood story. Knowing this, you’ll notice many similarities especially in certain characters: “Robin’s” love interest is a hand maiden of the queen (Maid Marian), and of course there is no subtlety in the character of Prince John. There’s a certain glee in some scenes that reference the original tales as well, such as when a noble suddenly finds much of his wealth was stolen and handed out to the poor.
While the English tale is undeniably woven into the story of Vispilio, I would argue that this book is at its heart best described as a tale of court intrigue. The driving forces behind it are not so much Robin thwarting and evading the nobility, but rather the series of events which get us to that point. Vispilio is an origin story. It’s a book about liars and victims, and their struggle for either justice or to maintain control.
As a result, the first half of Vispilio is quite slow. DeBoer takes her time introducing the main cast and exploring what makes them tick. Adelaide was—to me—the most compelling among them, as she’s taken to court and paraded around in search of a bachelor that she doesn’t particularly want. However, her aunt is determined to make a bride of her, and she hasn’t got anywhere else to go.
Although Adelaide was a favorite of mine, the rest of the cast is often just as captivating. The mystery behind Antony’s past is a joy to unfurl, and the depth to Prince John’s trauma made him a surprisingly empathetic character. DeBoer could have just made him a cruel knight, but instead she spends a lot of time showing how he was or felt forced into the part he plays in this story. There are other snippets where we see different perspectives, more than I anticipated, that helped to paint a picture of this world and the struggles within it. The way DeBoer handles this reminds me in many ways of A Song of Ice and Fire, where Martin uses many point-of-view characters from across social classes to help paint a more nuanced vision of the world.
By the end, the Robin Hood myth is more or less realized, with a battle in the forest and plenty of archery. In other stories like this, these would be the opening scenes, but not here. That extra time to set up the characters and stakes make the second half of Vispilio a white-knuckle ride where nobody is safe.
I highly recommend Vispilio. As I said, it took a while to really get going, however upon completing the book I find that I’m only developing a greater appreciation for what DeBoer has accomplished here. Vispilio feels familiar enough to understand the references to Robin Hood, but it also approaches that tale in a way that I personally haven’t seen before. The character work behind Adelaide and John in particular is incredible, and she even manages to make the story somewhat unpredictable—a major feat for a book which is openly inspired by one of the most well-known English folk tales.
I’ll add that Jack Jacobs’ narration on the Vispilio audiobook is great. There are a lot of characters in this book, many with their own point-of-view chapters. He balances them all well, giving each a unique voice. If you’re struggling to fit in new print or eBook reads, I recommend listening to it!
