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3.73 AVERAGE
3.73 AVERAGE
adventurous
inspiring
lighthearted
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
I thought it was quite good, as an adaptation of the Robin Hood folk tale goes.
I felt that in some parts, the story could have reached a greater depth with the characters and at some points it felt slow, but overall it was an enjoyable read and I liked the twist at the end (I must admit the whole time I was wondering if a certain character would be introduced).
I felt that in some parts, the story could have reached a greater depth with the characters and at some points it felt slow, but overall it was an enjoyable read and I liked the twist at the end (I must admit the whole time I was wondering if a certain character would be introduced).
The tale of Robin Hood only if it was told from the perspective of will scarlet, who in this case is actually a girl.
Scarlet is whatever you would expect of a girl who has run away from home, joins a merry band of thieves, and is an expert with the knife.
She is rambunctious, likes cursing, hates girly stuff, despises authority, independent, rash, and fits the cross dressing girl trope quite well. She is only afraid of one thing in the world.
It follows the normal Robin Hood story pretty well, king john the tyrant rules in place of his brother, robin was actually the earl of some land before he became a leader of thieves. The sheriff of Nottingham has a hard time trying to capture robin so enlists Guy of Gisborne to help him track down robin.
Surprise surprise, scarlet was actually the noble girl betrothed to marry Guy when she ran off and guess what the only thing she is afraid of is.
Also there's lots of drama and sexual tension with Robin Hood because, well. This is a young adult novel.
And some more shenanigans happen, and Robin is captured! And the only way to set him free is if scarlet marries guy!
It all starts to go into way too much drama for a Robin Hood book and then I don't even remember the ending because it continues in book two.
3/5 for the silliness and the fact I finished it but will not be reading book 2
Scarlet is whatever you would expect of a girl who has run away from home, joins a merry band of thieves, and is an expert with the knife.
She is rambunctious, likes cursing, hates girly stuff, despises authority, independent, rash, and fits the cross dressing girl trope quite well. She is only afraid of one thing in the world.
It follows the normal Robin Hood story pretty well, king john the tyrant rules in place of his brother, robin was actually the earl of some land before he became a leader of thieves. The sheriff of Nottingham has a hard time trying to capture robin so enlists Guy of Gisborne to help him track down robin.
Surprise surprise, scarlet was actually the noble girl betrothed to marry Guy when she ran off and guess what the only thing she is afraid of is.
Also there's lots of drama and sexual tension with Robin Hood because, well. This is a young adult novel.
And some more shenanigans happen, and Robin is captured! And the only way to set him free is if scarlet marries guy!
It all starts to go into way too much drama for a Robin Hood book and then I don't even remember the ending because it continues in book two.
3/5 for the silliness and the fact I finished it but will not be reading book 2
I cannot believe this released in 2012 and despite hearing of it's awesomeness I didn't read it until the tail end of 2014. Don't be like me! Read it now if you haven't! The Lion Heart is out in May and it's the perfect opportunity to binge read this amazing, incredible, and damn astounding series. Seriously, you can't lose.
I love the Robin Hood mythology. I love the despite nobody knowing if this man ever really existed, people are drawn to the story of Robin, his men, the Sheriff of Rottingham Nottingham, and many other factors and make each retelling belong solely to its individual creator. Scarlet is no exception to this and A.C. truly makes this retelling her own.
Scarlet is running from a past she wants no one to know of and now that past has come back with a vengeance. What I love about this plot is that we don't know who Scarlet was or why she ran from her home. A.C. doesn't tell us until we and her band absolutely need to know. Scarlet hints at it certain points during her narrative, but we don't know the whole story. And when the whole story does come out - whoa.
Scarlet is a strong heroine and stands up for herself. At the same time, she can be insecure and tends to hide when she's emotionally wounded or is scared. However, she doesn't allow this insecurity to put her friends in danger. It's almost as if, even though they can't see Scarlet, she's always watching from the trees.
I loved the men in the band as well. Robin is definitely a looker and I was shipping him and Scarlet immediately. He is fighting for his people while at the same time fighting his feelings for Scarlet. It's obvious he likes her but doesn't want to let his feeling become a distraction, especially when it comes to the inner workings of their band. John and Much are great secondary characters and they treat Scarlet with respect and love. Together, the four of them are their own little family in the woods - so much more than just a band of individuals fighting for the less fortunate.
The language was a bit hard to get used at first, but within the first chapter or two I didn't even notice. It was accurate and truly made you feel like you were in the story. In my opinion, it's one of those minor things you wouldn't think about otherwise, but without it something would be missing. It made the story real and held your attention.
Scarlet's plot is intricately woven and won't let you sleep until you finish and even then - hello hangover! I flew though this book because I could not stand not knowing what was going to happen next. I had to know, I needed to know how is was all going to pan out. And once I finished . . . Oh, the feels.
I love the Robin Hood mythology. I love the despite nobody knowing if this man ever really existed, people are drawn to the story of Robin, his men, the Sheriff of Rottingham Nottingham, and many other factors and make each retelling belong solely to its individual creator. Scarlet is no exception to this and A.C. truly makes this retelling her own.
Scarlet is running from a past she wants no one to know of and now that past has come back with a vengeance. What I love about this plot is that we don't know who Scarlet was or why she ran from her home. A.C. doesn't tell us until we and her band absolutely need to know. Scarlet hints at it certain points during her narrative, but we don't know the whole story. And when the whole story does come out - whoa.
Scarlet is a strong heroine and stands up for herself. At the same time, she can be insecure and tends to hide when she's emotionally wounded or is scared. However, she doesn't allow this insecurity to put her friends in danger. It's almost as if, even though they can't see Scarlet, she's always watching from the trees.
I loved the men in the band as well. Robin is definitely a looker and I was shipping him and Scarlet immediately. He is fighting for his people while at the same time fighting his feelings for Scarlet. It's obvious he likes her but doesn't want to let his feeling become a distraction, especially when it comes to the inner workings of their band. John and Much are great secondary characters and they treat Scarlet with respect and love. Together, the four of them are their own little family in the woods - so much more than just a band of individuals fighting for the less fortunate.
The language was a bit hard to get used at first, but within the first chapter or two I didn't even notice. It was accurate and truly made you feel like you were in the story. In my opinion, it's one of those minor things you wouldn't think about otherwise, but without it something would be missing. It made the story real and held your attention.
Scarlet's plot is intricately woven and won't let you sleep until you finish and even then - hello hangover! I flew though this book because I could not stand not knowing what was going to happen next. I had to know, I needed to know how is was all going to pan out. And once I finished . . . Oh, the feels.
When I think of Robin Hood, I either think of the BBC tv show or, if you want to back even further, the Disney version with foxes.
And with that behind me, I was really excited for this one going in, and the premise was interesting and I'm a sucker for Robin Hood stories... but I'm afraid this book wasn't as great as I was hoping.
I found Will Scarlet, the women thief, to be rather... weak. This women is supposed to pass as a man? Ha! She spends most her time fawning over Robin and complaining. She was the epitome of a martyr, throwing herself (repeatedly) into situations where she's going to be in trouble, and needing rescue like the damsel-in-distress she really was. And the guys where all over themselves to save her... over and over and over even when she does stupid crap.
Now there is Robin. He's the original hero, stealing from the rich to help the poor! But in this, the majority of the time was spent rescuing Will or sending John out to do it. And then there was John, the secondary love interest... who was just there to make Robin jealous.
In general, this book was a disappointment, especially after such a promising premise and set up. I wouldn't recommend it.
And with that behind me, I was really excited for this one going in, and the premise was interesting and I'm a sucker for Robin Hood stories... but I'm afraid this book wasn't as great as I was hoping.
I found Will Scarlet, the women thief, to be rather... weak. This women is supposed to pass as a man? Ha! She spends most her time fawning over Robin and complaining. She was the epitome of a martyr, throwing herself (repeatedly) into situations where she's going to be in trouble, and needing rescue like the damsel-in-distress she really was. And the guys where all over themselves to save her... over and over and over even when she does stupid crap.
Now there is Robin. He's the original hero, stealing from the rich to help the poor! But in this, the majority of the time was spent rescuing Will or sending John out to do it. And then there was John, the secondary love interest... who was just there to make Robin jealous.
In general, this book was a disappointment, especially after such a promising premise and set up. I wouldn't recommend it.
I'm on a Robin Hood kick now. Thank goodness that this is being turned into a trilogy, because it frankly was just not enough. I like where A.C. Gaughen ended it, but there are still quite a few loose ends that need to be wrapped up.
Scarlet is a kick butt female MC and was such a fun character to read about. The story line was a bit predictable at times, but the dialogue and character development made it a fresh take on a classic story.
As a teacher I really enjoyed the author's note with some explanation and background information, as well as sources page, so now I can go get some more of Robin Hood and his Merry "Men" while I wait for book 2 & 3.
I will definitely be suggesting this book to my students.
Scarlet is a kick butt female MC and was such a fun character to read about. The story line was a bit predictable at times, but the dialogue and character development made it a fresh take on a classic story.
As a teacher I really enjoyed the author's note with some explanation and background information, as well as sources page, so now I can go get some more of Robin Hood and his Merry "Men" while I wait for book 2 & 3.
I will definitely be suggesting this book to my students.
Major spoilers ahead, but it doesn't really matter because you can see the "twists" coming a mile away. Without a doubt one of the worst books I've read in ages. The author claims that her character is a "strong" and "independent" woman, unlike all these other Marians in different Robin Hood retellings, without knowing what those words mean. Scarlet simpers and preens and acts all coy around her multiple admirers, one of whom she clearly does not like in that way and leads on for half the book, and has impeccable thieving skills despite being brought up as a noble lady. How she acquired these thieving and knife throwing skills is never explained. Also, even though she is disguised as a boy for long periods of time, she doesn't cut her hair (excluding the time when the bad guy chops it off at the end), and instead hides it in a hat. Because that will never fall off when you're being jostled in crowds and climbing on rooftops and buildings. I don't think every female character has to have shorter hair like me, I'm just saying it doesn't make sense in her situation. Plus that hat proves to be pretty weak disguise anyway, because it gives her away a couple of times. Also, for a girl who claims to like being free, she sure doesn't seem to mind being trapped against walls and trees by her various love interests. She also spends a lot of time cooing over babies and wishing she could be a wife and mother. I'm definitely not saying that there's anything wrong with that, but the problem is that the author is trying to sell her as some sort of badass (excuse my French), when ultimately "Scar" comes out looking like a wimp. Her only flaw is that she doesn't love herself. Aww, how nauseatingly cliché and predictable. It's not even funny how much of a Mary Sue she is. I even made a list:
-Has a unique eye color
-Is beloved by all the characters that matter
-Has no real flaws apart from being too noble (same goes to Robin)
-Has at least two smoking hot super overbearing controlling protective guys fighting over her (John is basically just there for eye candy, and Robin is just a arrogant sod and a list of other unpleasant words I won't mention here)
-Has super special talents that are never explained
-Acts tough but has a super soft side that no one but her current love thing gets to see
-Is super spunky but has no other defined character traits (also dishes out "witty" comebacks to the villain and others)
-Slutshames other girls for being too easy, but flits back and forth between two guys and kisses the one she doesn't like repeatedly. Also shames other girls for being weak or too girly, which basically undermines the girl power message the author seems to impart on the reader.
If she sang really well her Mary Sueness would be complete.
I think that's what bugged me the most about this book. I hate it when authors write these strong female characters, who are actually as "weak" as the supposed flirty girly girl. A strong female character does not have to be good at fighting or using weapons. The key in creating a good female character is treating her like an actual person with believable flaws and traits, whether she likes to wear dresses or not. Just don't try to make me believe that she's totally different from these other girls when she's really not, be that for good or for ill. The deception is what makes me mad.
The book is written in the illiterate fashion, where the character narrates in bad English. This style of writing is becoming increasingly popular with YA writers, but unlike in Blood Red Road, where it was believable and easy to adjust to, it just makes it a slog to get through. Scarlet also has a charming habit of referring to all private parts as "bits." No I am not joking. And it's not just her. Several other characters use it as well. Marian, or Scarlet, claims that John only likes her because, among other reasons, "my bits look good in a dress." Excuse me while I snort up my dinner. That's the type of word I would expect a fourth grader to use in describing both male and female genitalia. In fact the whole book has that vibe of being bad Robin Hood fanfiction written by some ignorant middle schooler. There is no real plot, there is no suspense, there is no point for this book to even exist. In fact, the back of the book lists other books, movies, and tv shows based on Robin Hood, one of them being the far superior Hawkmaid. Because of how bad this was, I might just reread that to wash the horrid taste of this pond scum out of my mouth. Or finally read The Outlaws of Sherwood. Either way, I'm glad to be done with this drivel.
-Has a unique eye color
-Is beloved by all the characters that matter
-Has no real flaws apart from being too noble (same goes to Robin)
-Has at least two smoking hot super overbearing controlling protective guys fighting over her (John is basically just there for eye candy, and Robin is just a arrogant sod and a list of other unpleasant words I won't mention here)
-Has super special talents that are never explained
-Acts tough but has a super soft side that no one but her current love thing gets to see
-Is super spunky but has no other defined character traits (also dishes out "witty" comebacks to the villain and others)
-Slutshames other girls for being too easy, but flits back and forth between two guys and kisses the one she doesn't like repeatedly. Also shames other girls for being weak or too girly, which basically undermines the girl power message the author seems to impart on the reader.
If she sang really well her Mary Sueness would be complete.
I think that's what bugged me the most about this book. I hate it when authors write these strong female characters, who are actually as "weak" as the supposed flirty girly girl. A strong female character does not have to be good at fighting or using weapons. The key in creating a good female character is treating her like an actual person with believable flaws and traits, whether she likes to wear dresses or not. Just don't try to make me believe that she's totally different from these other girls when she's really not, be that for good or for ill. The deception is what makes me mad.
The book is written in the illiterate fashion, where the character narrates in bad English. This style of writing is becoming increasingly popular with YA writers, but unlike in Blood Red Road, where it was believable and easy to adjust to, it just makes it a slog to get through. Scarlet also has a charming habit of referring to all private parts as "bits." No I am not joking. And it's not just her. Several other characters use it as well. Marian, or Scarlet, claims that John only likes her because, among other reasons, "my bits look good in a dress." Excuse me while I snort up my dinner. That's the type of word I would expect a fourth grader to use in describing both male and female genitalia. In fact the whole book has that vibe of being bad Robin Hood fanfiction written by some ignorant middle schooler. There is no real plot, there is no suspense, there is no point for this book to even exist. In fact, the back of the book lists other books, movies, and tv shows based on Robin Hood, one of them being the far superior Hawkmaid. Because of how bad this was, I might just reread that to wash the horrid taste of this pond scum out of my mouth. Or finally read The Outlaws of Sherwood. Either way, I'm glad to be done with this drivel.
Originally posted at yAdult Review
This book gave me all the feels. ALL of them. Scarlet is essentially the story of Will Scarlet, Robin Hood, John Little and March. These four steal from the rich and feed the poor so people don’t starve because of heavy taxation a la Robin Hood, which makes sense, because one of the characters is Robin Hood. That being said this is not the story of Robin Hood. This is the story of Will Scarlet, who is actually a girl, acting as a boy.
Important parts of the story! Scarlet is on the run from her past. The town sheriff has decided that Lord Gisbourne, a man from Scarlet’s past, has to find Robin Hood’s group of misfits. When it seems all is in the clear, it’s not. A townie betrays the misfits and Gisbourne catches, and arrests, Robin, who of course was protecting Scarlet. Throughout the novel, Gaughen, weaves together a beautiful story that generally hurts your heart and when you think your heart can’t hurt anymore, it does because she sticks the knife in just a little harder and it continues to be beautiful.
I devoured this book. I haven’t devoured a book in quite sometime, but I could not stop reading this. And while it has action and adventure, there is a bit of a love story weaved in. Scarlet is very self-sufficient and doesn’t like to lean, or depend on anyone. Of course Rob gets through this hard shell of hers, but so does John, who is also in the group, which leads to much tension and awkwardness. What also adds to the madness (fine, beauty) of this novel is Scarlet’s backstory and how Gaughen, has clearly spent a lot of time weaving things into the story, that while they don’t make sense at the time, come to light and make everything hurt because you know what she is going to do, and oh, oh how you really wish she wouldn’t. (But she has to. And she does.)
The ending hurt this angst hater reviewer so much, that if I didn’t have the next book, The Lady Thief in my possession, I would have thought about crying.
This book gave me all the feels. ALL of them. Scarlet is essentially the story of Will Scarlet, Robin Hood, John Little and March. These four steal from the rich and feed the poor so people don’t starve because of heavy taxation a la Robin Hood, which makes sense, because one of the characters is Robin Hood. That being said this is not the story of Robin Hood. This is the story of Will Scarlet, who is actually a girl, acting as a boy.
Important parts of the story! Scarlet is on the run from her past. The town sheriff has decided that Lord Gisbourne, a man from Scarlet’s past, has to find Robin Hood’s group of misfits. When it seems all is in the clear, it’s not. A townie betrays the misfits and Gisbourne catches, and arrests, Robin, who of course was protecting Scarlet. Throughout the novel, Gaughen, weaves together a beautiful story that generally hurts your heart and when you think your heart can’t hurt anymore, it does because she sticks the knife in just a little harder and it continues to be beautiful.
I devoured this book. I haven’t devoured a book in quite sometime, but I could not stop reading this. And while it has action and adventure, there is a bit of a love story weaved in. Scarlet is very self-sufficient and doesn’t like to lean, or depend on anyone. Of course Rob gets through this hard shell of hers, but so does John, who is also in the group, which leads to much tension and awkwardness. What also adds to the madness (fine, beauty) of this novel is Scarlet’s backstory and how Gaughen, has clearly spent a lot of time weaving things into the story, that while they don’t make sense at the time, come to light and make everything hurt because you know what she is going to do, and oh, oh how you really wish she wouldn’t. (But she has to. And she does.)
The ending hurt this angst hater reviewer so much, that if I didn’t have the next book, The Lady Thief in my possession, I would have thought about crying.
I enjoyed this far more than I thought I would. Scarlet is very entertaining and I loved the twist on the traditional story. I felt that Scarlet's voice was right and her backstory pretty clever. This was probably one of the better historical fiction YA books I have read. I am definitely going to read the sequel.
