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book cover for The Lion's Claws

The Lion's Claws

The Robin Hood Series, Book 1

with John Lee (Narrator)

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Book 1 of Robin Hood

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Pub Date 8 May 2026 | Archive Date 2 Dec 2026


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Description

What if the legend of Robin Hood began not in Sherwood Forest - but in the courts of kings and emperors? In The Lion's Claws, bestselling author Mac P. Lorne reimagines the origins of Robin Hood in an epic historical saga as if Ken Follett, Bernard Cornwell and George R.R. Martin had joined forces to tell the true story behind the myth:

England, 1110.

Young royal guardsman Robert Fitzooth is appointed personal protector to Princess Matilda of England as she travels across Europe to marry the German king, Henry V. What begins as a prestigious honour becomes a journey through the volatile heart of medieval power. From the treacherous Alpine crossings to the grandeur of Rome, from imperial courts to papal intrigue, Robert is drawn into the brutal struggle between emperor and church - and into a decades-long civil war that will shape the fate of England itself. He will fight. He will love. He will lose. And generations later, his bloodline will give the world a name that echoes through legend: Robin Hood.

Meticulously researched and thrillingly told, The Lion's Claws is sweeping, cinematic historical fiction on an epic scale - rich in political intrigue, battlefield drama, and human passion. Winner of the prestigious "Golden Homer Award" for Best Historical Novel (2025), Mac P. Lorne launches a five-book saga that redefines one of history's most enduring legends. The audiobook is masterfully performed by John Lee, multiple Audie Award winner and AudioFile Golden Voice. With commanding presence and gravitas, Lee brings the medieval world to life - from imperial halls to peasant huts, from Rome to the depths of Sherwood Forest - in over 18 immersive hours of storytelling. For listeners who love sweeping historical epics, dynastic struggles, and the real history behind legendary heroes, The Lion's Claws is only the beginning. The legend starts here...

What if the legend of Robin Hood began not in Sherwood Forest - but in the courts of kings and emperors? In The Lion's Claws, bestselling author Mac P. Lorne reimagines the origins of Robin Hood...


Advance Praise

'Audiobook of the Month' (HotPress Magazine, Ireland)

'Before I say anything about the story: the narrator is next level. Extremely surprising when it started. Excellent performance. I’ve not heard anyone, not reading, but acting an audiobook like this before. Brilliantly expressive. ‘Brings characters to life’ is trite, but, boy, does that fit here. It’ll be hard going back to audiobooks with “merely good” narrators after this. The story is in two parts. First, the life of Empress Matilda’s bodyguard, set before actual historical events, told mainly but not only from his perspective. Much adventure, action, and romance, and also much about ordinary (and extraordinary) life in the Middle Ages. This too comes to life! The second part, connected to the first, is a re-imagining of the Robin Hood tale, giving him a childhood and plausible origin story. Careful: it’s hard to stop once you start!!'
(Audible.com Review)

'Audiobook of the Month' (HotPress Magazine, Ireland)

'Before I say anything about the story: the narrator is next level. Extremely surprising when it started. Excellent performance...


Marketing Plan

International press and marketing campaign, incl. HistoryExtra Magazine ads, online, podcast promotion, Kirkus Review ads and podcast promotion, paid social media campaign.
This audiobook is currently available via Audible (also Amazon) and Apple Books.

International press and marketing campaign, incl. HistoryExtra Magazine ads, online, podcast promotion, Kirkus Review ads and podcast promotion, paid social media campaign.
This audiobook is currently...


Available Editions

EDITION Audiobook, Unabridged
ISBN 9781806910007
PRICE $25.34 (USD)
DURATION 18 Hours, 17 Minutes

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*This page contains affiliate links, so we may earn a small commission when you make a purchase through links on our site at no additional cost to you.