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.
Review:
Outlaws and kings, star-crossed lovers, some crazy dark moments, and awesome worldbuilding. Vispilio is an excellent book; one that scratched my historical fiction itch while still being a fantasy novel.
Going in, I wasn’t sure what to expect in Vispilio, beyond that there would be archers, a touch of romance, and Robin Hood vibes. The author was kind enough to send me a paperback copy and then also an audiobook review code, so I dug in. And I’m so thankful I did, because this story was everything I look for in a fantasy novel! Definitely one of my favorite indie reads of the year.
Antony, a young bowmakers apprentice, saves a young noblewoman, Adelaide, from bandits. Afterward, she goes off to court to find a husband and comes across John, the king’s bastard, who’s been off at war and is a tortured soul. John has feelings for Adelaide, but she’s not interested. However, Antony and Adelaide happen upon each other, there’s mutual attraction, and it seems like a bit of a harmless flirt until we learn that Antony’s past is absolutely not what it seems. Antony is so much more than a bowmaker, but King Tanor and his cronies don’t want anyone to know the truth. Thus begins a game of cat and mouse ala Robin Hood, with Antony as the man of the people, a thief in the night with honorable intentions, while Tanor is the Prince John character, along with Sir Edwin, an odious Sherrif of Nottingham-adjacent lord. While I’m connecting these characters to Robin Hood because the influence is there, I want to be clear: this is not just a Robin Hood retelling. Vispilio is certainly inspired by Robin Hood, but this story is fresh, not a stale rehashing of what we’ve seen before. I was immediately on board for the romance between Antony and Adelaide, and I’ve informed the author that I will riot if they don’t get a happy ending at the end of the series.
If I had to critique an aspect of the story, i did find the ending to be slightly abrupt, with a few moments where I wasn’t totally sure what had happened, but these were minor quibbles. This is an assured debut; action packed, well-written, and full of lovable and hateable characters–I’m looking at you, Tanor.
In conclusion, this book was so good! I can see Audrey Deboer becoming one of my favorite indie authors. Highly recommended!
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