Monday, March 17, 2014

Scarlet

Title: Scarlet
Author: A.C. Gaughen
Series: Scarlet #1
Genres: Adventure, Historical Fiction, Young Adult, Romance
Publisher: Walker Childrens
Released: February 14, 2012
Pages: 292
Summary: courtesy of goodreads.com Many readers know the tale of Robin Hood, but they will be swept away by this new version full of action, secrets, and romance.
Posing as one of Robin Hood’s thieves to avoid the wrath of the evil Thief Taker Lord Gisbourne, Scarlet has kept her identity secret from all of Nottinghamshire. Only the Hood and his band know the truth: the agile thief posing as a whip of a boy is actually a fearless young woman with a secret past. Helping the people of Nottingham outwit the corrupt Sheriff of Nottingham could cost Scarlet her life as Gisbourne closes in.
It’s only her fierce loyalty to Robin—whose quick smiles and sharp temper have the rare power to unsettle her—that keeps Scarlet going and makes this fight worth dying for.
For Fans Of: The Wicked and the Just, Guilt, A Breath of Eyre, Finnikin of the Rock
My Review: I absolutely loved this book. I love the Robin Hood retelling and this was one of the best. I'm a huge fan of the BBC's version of Robin Hood, (which everyone should go and watch) which focuses on heroines rather than just the heroes. So that is why I really loved Scarlet; it focuses on Will Scarlet who is a girl posing as a boy and her dealings with Robin Hood and his band of thieves, Little John, Much and Friar Tuck. Through out the whole story, we are left wondering about Scarlet's elusive past, which comes back to haunt her when Guy of Gisbourne suddenly enters her life...again.
I liked this book because it focuses on Scarlet and she is a strong, kick ass heroine who doesn't need men to take care of her. She knows how to fight with knives and is quite skilled with a bow (but not as skilled as Robin) fast and quick on her feet. She is stealthy, has ears for useful information and is the best thief in the county. Besides being a strong heroine, I like that she stays true with her feminine side. Rather than cutting her hair to take on the whole persona of a boy, she keeps her hair long and dresses as a girl to go to church in secret.
One thing I didn't like was the love triangle among Robin, John and Scarlet. I wouldn't call it a love triangle; however, it was just awkward and I felt like it got in the way of the story. I felt like there should have been either romance between Scarlet and one of the lads or no romance at all. I highly recommend this book and I am currently reading the sequel Lady Thief. 

 

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