Superb writing style in new retelling of Robin Hood story

Most of us know the story of Robin Hood. This new version of it however has a whole different feel to it than the Hollywood action movie we remember it by. On a first glimpse it feels like you have picked up a book from a bygone era that oozes background knowledge and paints a vivid picture of the 12th century. From the start you are ankle deep in the mud of the Holy Land struggling with the army to attack Acre to switch in the next chapter to a very down to earth Marian who tries to feed her flog of discarded serves. The writer has a hand at painting you a picture with his words. You see Little John, a giant who has gone fat, and hear his laboured breath when he tries to keep up with Marian.
This preview makes you curious of what the writer will do with the rest of that well-known tale.