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3.5 AVERAGE
3.5 AVERAGE
Dear Ms. Stohl, who the f*ck picked you to write this book?
Should have realized I wasn't going to enjoy this book as I couldn't stand the author's writing previously. But wow, I didn't think anyone could write something like this. Two stars because Natasha was the only interesting thing.
Should have realized I wasn't going to enjoy this book as I couldn't stand the author's writing previously. But wow, I didn't think anyone could write something like this. Two stars because Natasha was the only interesting thing.
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
DNF around 10%
I really wanted to like this one because BLACK WIDOW IS DA BOMB DOT COM. But I couldn't get into the story and was hoping for more of Natasha and less of ... everything else. I will just stick to reading about superheroes in their natural habitat, comics.
Books and Ladders | Queen of the Bookshelves | Books Are My Fandom | Twitter | Instagram | Bloglovin'
I really wanted to like this one because BLACK WIDOW IS DA BOMB DOT COM. But I couldn't get into the story and was hoping for more of Natasha and less of ... everything else. I will just stick to reading about superheroes in their natural habitat, comics.
Books and Ladders | Queen of the Bookshelves | Books Are My Fandom | Twitter | Instagram | Bloglovin'
At the beginning of last year, I fell into the Marvel fandom. I watched all of the movies, read a lot of comics and basically I was hooked. I even tried out some of their 'written' novels, though that wasn't a big success. That is until I found out that there was going to be a YA novel surrounding Natasha Romanoff, aka Black Widow. Forever Red was released last year, in hardcover, and I spent a long time waiting its paperback release, which I believe was a couple of months ago.
Black Widow: Forever Red tells the story of Ava Orlova. Ava has been living in America for the past eight years, after being rescued from a warehouse in Odessa by the infamous Black Widow. Ava is now trying to be a 'normal' teenager, who lives in the basement of the local YWCA and practices fencing in her spare time. During a tournament, she comes across Alex Manor, who she has been dreaming about for months now. Then, Black Widow appears again to rescue her from the same danger that she was in eight years prior.
I prefer reading Young Adult books, because most of them are just so easy to get into. So when I heard this book would be a YA novel, I was intrigued. The fact that it would feature Black Widow was even better! I picked up the book as soon as I got my hands on a copy, and I can tell you that I finished it within two days!
While the book is titled Black Widow, I did feel like Natasha wasn't the main character of the story. The main character, imo, was Ava. Natasha did have her own POV and the interviews in between the chapters were with her, but other than that she didn't have the main part of this story. Still, I enjoyed reading this book, reading about how Natasha kicked ass while dragging the two teens along. The multiple POV didn't bother me as much as it normally would have, partly because it was written from a third person narrative.
Ava and Alex were nice characters too, but I just didn't really feel much for them. Maybe it's because they're not Marvel official characters (I kind of see this as fanfiction to be honest, though it's a lot better than the previous 'fanfiction' book that I read ;)), but I just didn't like them as much as I probably should have done. Ava honestly felt like a younger copy of Natasha, and to me it felt like Alex was just there for the romanceuntil the second part of the book where we found out he was actually Natasha's brother. Hadn't seen that coming. I did not feel the romance at all, it kind of felt like a repeat of the one from Beautiful Creatures (the other book I know Margaret Stohl of) I mean the whole 'I have been dreaming about you and I drew you in my notebook a thousand times part'? Totally Ethan Wade-ish.
Alex's death was probably necessary or something, but honestly I didn't like it. I had seen it coming the moment he told Ava he'd cover her, and I wasn't shocked or sad at all. Then again, no one really stays dead in the Marvel universe. Except for uncle Ben. And Pietro Maximoff. Which brings me to another thing that bothered me. I guess this novel happens somewhere after the events of The Avengers, otherwise they wouldn't have been mentioned at all - so how the hell is Coulson even involved? Coulson is supposed to be 'dead', the Avengers are supposed to think Coulson is dead. That is one of the reasons I kind of think as this book as fanfiction, to be honest, not actual Marvel canon.
My favourite parts by far were the ones that involved Tony Stark, because I just love Tony and I love Robert Downey Jr. and gosh I really wish someone would write a YA novel about Tony Stark *looks up hopefully to the Marvel gods*. I really loved Tony's friendship with Natasha and the fact that Pepper was mentioned as well (and Pepper buying souvenirs for Natasha from her trips, ahhhhh). I do wish we'd had a mention of Natasha's actual best friend, Clint Barton aka Hawkeye - because there was literally nothing. Rogers was mentioned, Thor was mentioned, Bruce Banner was mentioned - but nothing about Natasha Romanoff's best friend. The guy who was supposed to kill her but decided to let her live. Yeah, bummer.
But yes, I did really enjoy Black Widow: Forever Red. And one day I might perhaps even manage to write 'widow' correct in one go (the amount of times I had to retype the word in this review alone is ridiculous). I do hope that there'll be more YA novels after this one, and I think I will pick up the sequel to this book, Red Vengeance. If you love Marvel and you love YA books, I recommend you pick up this book.
Black Widow: Forever Red tells the story of Ava Orlova. Ava has been living in America for the past eight years, after being rescued from a warehouse in Odessa by the infamous Black Widow. Ava is now trying to be a 'normal' teenager, who lives in the basement of the local YWCA and practices fencing in her spare time. During a tournament, she comes across Alex Manor, who she has been dreaming about for months now. Then, Black Widow appears again to rescue her from the same danger that she was in eight years prior.
I prefer reading Young Adult books, because most of them are just so easy to get into. So when I heard this book would be a YA novel, I was intrigued. The fact that it would feature Black Widow was even better! I picked up the book as soon as I got my hands on a copy, and I can tell you that I finished it within two days!
While the book is titled Black Widow, I did feel like Natasha wasn't the main character of the story. The main character, imo, was Ava. Natasha did have her own POV and the interviews in between the chapters were with her, but other than that she didn't have the main part of this story. Still, I enjoyed reading this book, reading about how Natasha kicked ass while dragging the two teens along. The multiple POV didn't bother me as much as it normally would have, partly because it was written from a third person narrative.
Ava and Alex were nice characters too, but I just didn't really feel much for them. Maybe it's because they're not Marvel official characters (I kind of see this as fanfiction to be honest, though it's a lot better than the previous 'fanfiction' book that I read ;)), but I just didn't like them as much as I probably should have done. Ava honestly felt like a younger copy of Natasha, and to me it felt like Alex was just there for the romance
My favourite parts by far were the ones that involved Tony Stark, because I just love Tony and I love Robert Downey Jr. and gosh I really wish someone would write a YA novel about Tony Stark *looks up hopefully to the Marvel gods*. I really loved Tony's friendship with Natasha and the fact that Pepper was mentioned as well (and Pepper buying souvenirs for Natasha from her trips, ahhhhh). I do wish we'd had a mention of Natasha's actual best friend, Clint Barton aka Hawkeye - because there was literally nothing. Rogers was mentioned, Thor was mentioned, Bruce Banner was mentioned - but nothing about Natasha Romanoff's best friend. The guy who was supposed to kill her but decided to let her live. Yeah, bummer.
But yes, I did really enjoy Black Widow: Forever Red. And one day I might perhaps even manage to write 'widow' correct in one go (the amount of times I had to retype the word in this review alone is ridiculous). I do hope that there'll be more YA novels after this one, and I think I will pick up the sequel to this book, Red Vengeance. If you love Marvel and you love YA books, I recommend you pick up this book.
2.5 stars. This is not the Black Widow book you're looking for - even in her own novel, Natasha is not exactly the main character. She's reduced to Iron Man 2 status - intriguing presence with some key scenes but mostly there for decoration and to trick readers into buying the book. The novel opens with a great Black Widow set piece and then moves to two teens for the next third of the book. Black Widow finally re-appears and the book finally finds footing. The prose was workmanlike but it was a great concept even if the title was misleading. Based upon the ending and the title of the next book, it doesn't appear Black Widow will be the star of her next book either. Get it together, Marvel.
The two other issues I had with the novel was structure and setting. Between each chapter, there's transcripts of an inquiry where Black Widow answers questions from congress. I guess this was to pad Black Widow's appearances and to try to recapture some Winter Soldier magic because overall they added little to the book. It is hinted at that the book takes place in the MCU but when (like between which films) is never confirmed and some of the plot doesn't support that it takes place within the MCU. Based on characters that appear, this also doesn't take place in the comics Marvel Universe.
Time would be better spent with Nathan Edmundson and Phil Noto's 3 volume Black Widow series.
The two other issues I had with the novel was structure and setting. Between each chapter, there's transcripts of an inquiry where Black Widow answers questions from congress. I guess this was to pad Black Widow's appearances and to try to recapture some Winter Soldier magic because overall they added little to the book. It is hinted at that the book takes place in the MCU but when (like between which films) is never confirmed and some of the plot doesn't support that it takes place within the MCU. Based on characters that appear, this also doesn't take place in the comics Marvel Universe.
Time would be better spent with Nathan Edmundson and Phil Noto's 3 volume Black Widow series.
Fun read but nothing to write home about. Bought the next one as I’m a fan of the Marvel Universe rathe than for the story.
Eh. When I see MCU Natasha running around with Clint's children...
...and then see this Natasha with her "I'm not a kid type of person" vibe, I'm like "who are you and what have you done with my Natasha Romanoff?!?!?"
The plot was OK...I felt like it could have achieved great heights with better writing. The writing was pretty bad - it would have served the story better to do first-person perspectives on the three main characters instead of awkwardly switching from different characters in a 3rd person setting (setting? way of writing? my brain hurts).
Oh, also, that insta-love story that ended ? Nobody needed that.
Seriously no one did.
Final thoughts: if you adore black widow like i do, she's not here. Look somewhere else for this Queen, because I could never see Natasha Romanoff in this character.
TL;DR: probably shouldn't be writing reviews this late at night but #YOLO. Also i no longer believe in that slogan because the last time i did i got friendzoned.
life sucks, man.
especially if you're part of the red room.
...and then see this Natasha with her "I'm not a kid type of person" vibe, I'm like "who are you and what have you done with my Natasha Romanoff?!?!?"
The plot was OK...I felt like it could have achieved great heights with better writing. The writing was pretty bad - it would have served the story better to do first-person perspectives on the three main characters instead of awkwardly switching from different characters in a 3rd person setting (setting? way of writing? my brain hurts).
Oh, also, that insta-love story that ended
Spoiler
in his deathSeriously no one did.
Final thoughts: if you adore black widow like i do, she's not here. Look somewhere else for this Queen, because I could never see Natasha Romanoff in this character.
TL;DR: probably shouldn't be writing reviews this late at night but #YOLO. Also i no longer believe in that slogan because the last time i did i got friendzoned.
life sucks, man.
especially if you're part of the red room.
Very uneven. At time I couldn't put it down but there were times I didn't want to pick it up. This was also not necessarily a Black Widow story but more of a story that had the Black Widow in it. It seems to serve as a vehicle for introducing new characters for teens.