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jessiedoesstuff 's review for:
Scarlet
by A.C. Gaughen
Originally posted on The Daily Bookmark
5 / 5 Stars
Everybody knows the story of Robin Hood. We've heard the stories since we were children, watched many on-screen adaptations. It's a story that is based on historical knowledge and was passed down from the days of old by verbal storytelling. And none of the versions that I've encountered are as good as this one, not even close. A.C. Gaughen changed my perspective on The Hood and his merry men, and the entire story of the man who stole from the rich to give to the poor.
"Will" Scarlet, Robin "The Hood" Hood, and the band of merry men are first introduced in the midst of stealing funds to help pay Nottinghamshire's residents' astronomical taxes. Scarlet is a female disguising as a male, thus protecting herself from the sheriff, known as Gisborne or the Thief Taker. Scarlet is a practiced thief, there is none like her so The Hood protects her identity in exchange for her help. When Gisborne does come to town, things get complicated and gruesome for everybody. Connections are made and the band's histories are slowly but surely fleshed out in a way that leaves you flipping through the pages, eager for more.
What makes Scarlet so great is the fact that Robin Hood is such a well-versed story, one that has it's reaches and versions across the world. It's been told in so many different ways and with many variations, such that Scarlet becomes another variation, but a great one. The characterization is flawless, the prose spectacular and well-paced for the story at hand. There are shocks and twists and turns around every corner, leaving readers at the edge of their seat.
Another well-enjoyed aspect was watching my concerns with the story disappear as I read:
- Scarlet is told in Scarlet's perspective, with her heavily accented voice. At first, I thought it sort of annoying and didn't really grasp the point. Some moments, I actually had to say them out loud for the accent to work. But gradually, her accent becomes one with the reader and in that way, it makes perfect sense.
- I didn't like John Little. Pushy, arrogant, refuses to take no for an answer and almost had that creep-factor, circa Edward from Twilight. This "Little John" really irked me at first. Then his intentions were leaked out, bit by bit and in the end, I still didn't like him but not for the writing or Gaughen's vision. I just didn't like who he was as a character, as a person.
- It's incredibly violent and graphic. There are scenes where even my stomach squirmed and I enjoyed every minute of the Saw legacy movies. At first, this bothered me - this book was written for a young adult audience whose vision of the world are still growing and taking form. What made that bearable and understandable, though, is that this was old English reality. It wasn't sunshine and daisies all day long. Happy endings? Rare. And it was violent. Scarlet is half fairytale, have historical fiction. The violence helped solidify Scarlet's place in history.
Essentially, everything I had foreseen as an issue resolved itself and that made for a really wonderful story. All around, it was a new, exciting and fresh take on a beloved tale. I read Scarlet in one sitting, let that be a testament to Gaughen's brilliant debut.
5 / 5 Stars
Everybody knows the story of Robin Hood. We've heard the stories since we were children, watched many on-screen adaptations. It's a story that is based on historical knowledge and was passed down from the days of old by verbal storytelling. And none of the versions that I've encountered are as good as this one, not even close. A.C. Gaughen changed my perspective on The Hood and his merry men, and the entire story of the man who stole from the rich to give to the poor.
"Will" Scarlet, Robin "The Hood" Hood, and the band of merry men are first introduced in the midst of stealing funds to help pay Nottinghamshire's residents' astronomical taxes. Scarlet is a female disguising as a male, thus protecting herself from the sheriff, known as Gisborne or the Thief Taker. Scarlet is a practiced thief, there is none like her so The Hood protects her identity in exchange for her help. When Gisborne does come to town, things get complicated and gruesome for everybody. Connections are made and the band's histories are slowly but surely fleshed out in a way that leaves you flipping through the pages, eager for more.
What makes Scarlet so great is the fact that Robin Hood is such a well-versed story, one that has it's reaches and versions across the world. It's been told in so many different ways and with many variations, such that Scarlet becomes another variation, but a great one. The characterization is flawless, the prose spectacular and well-paced for the story at hand. There are shocks and twists and turns around every corner, leaving readers at the edge of their seat.
Another well-enjoyed aspect was watching my concerns with the story disappear as I read:
- Scarlet is told in Scarlet's perspective, with her heavily accented voice. At first, I thought it sort of annoying and didn't really grasp the point. Some moments, I actually had to say them out loud for the accent to work. But gradually, her accent becomes one with the reader and in that way, it makes perfect sense.
- I didn't like John Little. Pushy, arrogant, refuses to take no for an answer and almost had that creep-factor, circa Edward from Twilight. This "Little John" really irked me at first. Then his intentions were leaked out, bit by bit and in the end, I still didn't like him but not for the writing or Gaughen's vision. I just didn't like who he was as a character, as a person.
- It's incredibly violent and graphic. There are scenes where even my stomach squirmed and I enjoyed every minute of the Saw legacy movies. At first, this bothered me - this book was written for a young adult audience whose vision of the world are still growing and taking form. What made that bearable and understandable, though, is that this was old English reality. It wasn't sunshine and daisies all day long. Happy endings? Rare. And it was violent. Scarlet is half fairytale, have historical fiction. The violence helped solidify Scarlet's place in history.
Essentially, everything I had foreseen as an issue resolved itself and that made for a really wonderful story. All around, it was a new, exciting and fresh take on a beloved tale. I read Scarlet in one sitting, let that be a testament to Gaughen's brilliant debut.