Saturday, September 22, 2012

Book Review - Scarlet - A. C. Gaughen


Scarlet
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.
 A.C. Gaughen 
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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