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3.73 AVERAGE
3.73 AVERAGE
adventurous
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
I am a HUGE Robin Hood fan. Anything related to Robin Hood I devour. I'm also a huge fan of kick ass ladies with any sort of fighting skills. It took a bit to get used to the language in this book, but I thought it was creative and added to the feel of a medieval girl telling her story. You never quite know throughout the story who Scarlet really is, as she only reveals glimpses into her past as the story progresses. This leaves the reader to use their understanding of Robin Hood to fill in the blanks and make guesses throughout. As much as a despise getting sucked in to series, I'm hoping for a next book to see where Scarlet and the band of Robin Hood go next!
Action-packed and exciting! I can see why this book was nominated for the Teens' Top Ten. Scarlet is quite the role model (despite her totally unhealthy guilt complex), and Rob is a dreamy hero. This book makes me wish I could kick butt.
adventurous
emotional
tense
fast-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
I just had fun with this one. I think it needed a bit more at the beginning to set up the characters. There were a couple of "reveals" that had less weight because I didn't really know who the characters were. But a fun time.
The romance is everything you want. Scarlet is a complex character who is tough, yet vulnerable when it comes to love. I love Robin Hood movies and this book didn't disappoint. The story unfolded slowly but picked up in the middle and finished in a flurry. Can't wait to read the next one.
Trigger warning: this book contains an attempted sexual assault, and this review is going to address it.
Edit: I'm gonna put this here because I forgot to add how the author used a girl kissing Scarlet as a humor device so take that into consideration too because gross.
So yeah, I have a lot of feelings about this book, and just a heads up: none of them are good. I was really excited to start reading Scarlet, but this... this is the worst retelling of Robin Hood I have ever, and hopefully will ever, read.
I'll start with this: I actually liked Scarlet as a character; y'know, when she wasn't blushing at everybody and everything (why do authors do this?) She's a troubled girl with a bad past, trying to make amends for it now by helping people, but never helping herself. And the plot itself of the book wasn't bad.
But the romance. Oh my God, the romance. Spoiler time: this turns into a love triangle between Scarlet, Robin Hood, and Little John. If that sounds bad, it is, and it only got worse and worse.
Both of them treat Scarlet like a child; because of her gender, because they're both "in love" with her, who knows, and they always talk over her. And then they start fighting over her like she isn't right there.
Robin Hood gets mad when Scarlet won't eat, and it's almost like he's talking to a toddler who wants dessert without having finished her vegetables. Little John is the embodiment of a creepy misogynist who always wants Scarlet to kiss him even though she refuses, and won't take no for an answer. He and Scarlet cuddle for warmth one night, and Robin Hood acts like it's the end of the world. Even though he and Scarlet are. Not. Dating. John constantly calls Scarlet "his girl" and makes it out like they're dating, even to Robin, and she CLEARLY says OUT LOUD that that isn't true... and they ignore her anyway!
So then Robin accuses Scarlet of toying with John. And then of toying with him when Scarlet once again says that they are not dating. And how if Scarlet doesn't "figure it out," she'll be kicked out of his band. He threatens to kick her out all the time, by the way, for no reason at all. Okay then. Scarlet says multiple times how she doesn't like John, and John literally stands there in front of her and says "yes you do." I'm not even kidding.
Let's also talk about how when the main villain, Gisbourne (he's out to catch Robin and his gang of men) kills a young boy and is threatening everyone else, Little John promises Scarlet he'll only save her friend (another female character) from being killed if she gives him a kiss. She slaps him, he grins, and she agrees. Skeeved out yet? You should be.
Now here's the serious part: someone betrays Scarlet to Gisbourne (again, he's the main villain) and then tries to assault Scarlet while he waits for Gisbourne to arrive. He tears off her shirt and starts fondling her, and she's saved by Robin Hood. Her back is torn up from having been dragged on the ground, and Robin literally yells at her, then leaves her there bleeding to go warn everyone else about [redacted] being a traitor. But it gets worse.
So here's another spoiler, this one I'll hide because it's major and basically tells you the plot of the book. So when Robin finds this out, it's right after the assault, and he accuses Scarlet of still being with Little John anyway. When she says she's not, he calls her a whore. Let that sink in. He calls a girl who's just been assaulted a whore. Scarlet calls him out on this later (like she calls him and John out on everything else) and Robin doesn't apologize. Nope. Because he was in luuurve with her this whole time and hurting her was easier than admitting it!!!11!! / lame excuse.
Let's also not mention that Little John could have killed Gisbourne but he didn't because
Anyway. This is the worst interpretation of Robin Hood I've ever read. I would never picture him (or Little John, for that matter) to be such cruel and misogynistic men. Robin Hood would never act this way, I hate this whole book, and no, I will not be continuing this series, nor will I ever recommend it to anybody else.
Yikes.
Edit: I'm gonna put this here because I forgot to add how the author used a girl kissing Scarlet as a humor device so take that into consideration too because gross.
So yeah, I have a lot of feelings about this book, and just a heads up: none of them are good. I was really excited to start reading Scarlet, but this... this is the worst retelling of Robin Hood I have ever, and hopefully will ever, read.
I'll start with this: I actually liked Scarlet as a character; y'know, when she wasn't blushing at everybody and everything (why do authors do this?) She's a troubled girl with a bad past, trying to make amends for it now by helping people, but never helping herself. And the plot itself of the book wasn't bad.
But the romance. Oh my God, the romance. Spoiler time: this turns into a love triangle between Scarlet, Robin Hood, and Little John. If that sounds bad, it is, and it only got worse and worse.
Both of them treat Scarlet like a child; because of her gender, because they're both "in love" with her, who knows, and they always talk over her. And then they start fighting over her like she isn't right there.
Robin Hood gets mad when Scarlet won't eat, and it's almost like he's talking to a toddler who wants dessert without having finished her vegetables. Little John is the embodiment of a creepy misogynist who always wants Scarlet to kiss him even though she refuses, and won't take no for an answer. He and Scarlet cuddle for warmth one night, and Robin Hood acts like it's the end of the world. Even though he and Scarlet are. Not. Dating. John constantly calls Scarlet "his girl" and makes it out like they're dating, even to Robin, and she CLEARLY says OUT LOUD that that isn't true... and they ignore her anyway!
So then Robin accuses Scarlet of toying with John. And then of toying with him when Scarlet once again says that they are not dating. And how if Scarlet doesn't "figure it out," she'll be kicked out of his band. He threatens to kick her out all the time, by the way, for no reason at all. Okay then. Scarlet says multiple times how she doesn't like John, and John literally stands there in front of her and says "yes you do." I'm not even kidding.
Let's also talk about how when the main villain, Gisbourne (he's out to catch Robin and his gang of men) kills a young boy and is threatening everyone else, Little John promises Scarlet he'll only save her friend (another female character) from being killed if she gives him a kiss. She slaps him, he grins, and she agrees. Skeeved out yet? You should be.
Now here's the serious part: someone betrays Scarlet to Gisbourne (again, he's the main villain) and then tries to assault Scarlet while he waits for Gisbourne to arrive. He tears off her shirt and starts fondling her, and she's saved by Robin Hood. Her back is torn up from having been dragged on the ground, and Robin literally yells at her, then leaves her there bleeding to go warn everyone else about [redacted] being a traitor. But it gets worse.
So here's another spoiler, this one I'll hide because it's major and basically tells you the plot of the book.
Spoiler
Scarlet is actually Marian, and has been engaged to Gisbourne all along, and she's been hiding as Scarlet.Let's also not mention that Little John could have killed Gisbourne but he didn't because
Spoiler
killing him would have meant Robin Hood and Scarlet getting together, and he didn't want that. I mean, what's the whole second novel gonna be about, Scarlet and Robin wanting to be together but can't because she's engaged so she's clearly a harlot!!!! Wow, what a loving tale.Anyway. This is the worst interpretation of Robin Hood I've ever read. I would never picture him (or Little John, for that matter) to be such cruel and misogynistic men. Robin Hood would never act this way,
Spoiler
or treat his love Marian this way.Yikes.
Amazing! I have always loved the story of robin hood and this retelling was a fresh look at the legend. I had a hard time at first adapting to the way the first person narrative was voiced, but ultimately it enhanced the story, so stick with it.
This book really appealed to that tomboy girl I was a child, buried inside me now that I am an adult.
I loved Scarlet! I loved how strong she was and how she took her life into her own hands when she decided that the one decided for her by her family was not what she wanted. I loved that she was good with knives and disguised herself as a boy "Will Scarlet" to be a thief and rob from the rich to give to the poor.
I loved that she was uncertain of her standing with the guy she loved, Robin of Locksley, and thought herself unworthy of his attentions even though she was born into a moneyed family. I love that she is really another person in the Robin Hood story (something I guessed halfway through the book and was delighted to have my guess made truth) but she did not let it be known until near the end of the book. She held that secret inside and saw herself as not that girl anymore. When it comes out and the others of Robin's band of men find out, it is thrilling.
I love that Scar fights for herself (with friends watching her back which she dislikes) and that she is so loyal to her friends. That she truly cares about people and fights for them, putting her life on the line.
I am a huge fan of YA books with strong female characters that make their own decisions and know their own hearts. Scarlet was one of these though the "knowing her heart" was tempered by being unsure of herself. That was fine because that is normal for women to feel that way.
I really enjoyed this retelling of the Robin Hood legend, told from "Will" Scarlet's point of view.
I loved Scarlet! I loved how strong she was and how she took her life into her own hands when she decided that the one decided for her by her family was not what she wanted. I loved that she was good with knives and disguised herself as a boy "Will Scarlet" to be a thief and rob from the rich to give to the poor.
I loved that she was uncertain of her standing with the guy she loved, Robin of Locksley, and thought herself unworthy of his attentions even though she was born into a moneyed family. I love that she is really another person in the Robin Hood story (something I guessed halfway through the book and was delighted to have my guess made truth) but she did not let it be known until near the end of the book. She held that secret inside and saw herself as not that girl anymore. When it comes out and the others of Robin's band of men find out, it is thrilling.
I love that Scar fights for herself (with friends watching her back which she dislikes) and that she is so loyal to her friends. That she truly cares about people and fights for them, putting her life on the line.
I am a huge fan of YA books with strong female characters that make their own decisions and know their own hearts. Scarlet was one of these though the "knowing her heart" was tempered by being unsure of herself. That was fine because that is normal for women to feel that way.
I really enjoyed this retelling of the Robin Hood legend, told from "Will" Scarlet's point of view.
The Bad: This book. It's bad. The dialog is bad. Robin is a Grade A Douchecanoe (""Hurting you is the best way I know to punish myself. And, despite that I'm not much proud of it, I can't truly control myself when I see you even looking at John"). The Sheriff and Guy are one dimensional cardboard villains.
The Worse: I put the sequel on hold through ILL. Don't ask me why.
The Worst: I think I may have to write my own Robin Hood YA series now. It's going to be called "Robin Hood and Little John Are Not Dick-Weasels and Serfdom Was a Thing" by Madame Librarian.
I expect you all to pre-order it on amazon.
The Worse: I put the sequel on hold through ILL. Don't ask me why.
The Worst: I think I may have to write my own Robin Hood YA series now. It's going to be called "Robin Hood and Little John Are Not Dick-Weasels and Serfdom Was a Thing" by Madame Librarian.
I expect you all to pre-order it on amazon.