Title: Scarlet
Author: A.C. Gaughen
Review: Scarlet is an alternate take on the
folklore of Robin hood and his Merry Men.
Scarlet is Will Scarlet, a women posing as a man working alongside Robin
Hood as he steals from the rich in order to feed the poor. Scarlet is a broken girl who's father tried
to marry her off for money but instead she ran away to find what she feels is a
better life.
Scarlet works alongside
the famous Robin Hood and his small group, Little John and Much. Scarlet starts with the early stories of
Robin Hood, and tells the stories from before he had a large band of men
following him.
The author wrote the
characters the same way I have always imagined them in my head but with a
modern twist. Robin of the Hood is
noble, strong, and does everything to save the people because all that he loved
was destroyed or stolen from him and given to Prince Jon. John Little loves the women, loves life and
when he find something he likes he takes it. Much is the band mate who tries to
be the peacemaker but everyone treats him like a kid brother.
The violence in the
book follows the line of a PG-13 movie. For example, the characters seem to
feel remorse for killing a person to save another. Romance is on par with what
a teen novel should have with kisses and chasing but nothing offensive for 13
and older readers and it fits with the story line.
I love how the author takes a story we have
all heard millions of times and creates a strong woman in Will Scarlet. Who
keeps up with her fellow Merry Men, biting down hard in order to never let
anyone know if she happened to be in pain.
However some of the injures were severe enough that the character
Scarlet should have been deathly ill or resting but instead Robin had Scarlet
climbing trees and running around the forest.
I would have preferred during the time of healing Scarlet and the other
main characters were developed more instead of rushing into the
friendship\romance building.
I have heard mention
that her book has many errors but personally, the only thing I noticed was her
use of language changed in the book and I couldn't tell if that was the author's
intention. Sometimes there was a very modern feel to the book and that made it
feel like the author broke character. Scarlet is running and upset and starts
to swear and Robin says “You swear like a sailor." It’s something people
say now and I just couldn't see it back in the 12 century. So that took me out
of the story for just a few minutes but I dove back in and loved every second
of the book.
I can only name a hand
full of books that have me hoping the story doesn't end because I was so invested
in the characters. I enjoyed every
second of Scarlet and I can't wait to read the next book. That's a hint for the author…hint…hint. Buy this book....you will love it!
Thanks goes to Heidi
for this review.
Publisher: Published February 14th 2012 by WalkerChildrens
ISBN: 9780802723468
Copyright: 2012
Pages: 292
Quick Review: 5 stars (out of 5)-
Why I Read It:
Sent by the publisher for review.
Synopsis: 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.
Author Biography: I
am shamelessly addicted to staying up far too late (it feels like stealing
time), diet coke (it burns so good), Scotland (stupid country stole my heart
and won't give it back. Interpol has been ineffective for prosecution) and
thieves (so I guess I'm not that mad at Scotland).
Want to know more?
Just ask!
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