Throwback Thursday Review: Scarlet by A.C. Gaughen

 

 Throwback Thursday is a weekly feature here at I Heart YA Fiction where we will be reviewing older releases and/or books that have been on our shelves for awhile. Feel free to participate by reading from the bottom of your shelf and join the linky list below! We would love to read your Thursday Throwback Reviews! 

This week's feature?

Release Date: February 14, 2012

Publisher:  Walker Childrens
Pages: 292
Source: Borrowed from library

ISBN-10: 0802723462

Rating: 4 Hearts

Book Description

"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."

Review

Short and Sweet:

I love retellings, but I haven't read any with Robin Hood before. I adore Scarlet's take on it, and the characters are so complex!

To Elaborate...

Will Scarlet is widely known as one of the men in Robin Hood's band. However, in Robin Hood's band, everyone knows that Will Scarlet, or Scar, is actually a woman. With a mysterious past, Scarlet does everything in her power to help Robin Hood and save the people in Nottinghamshire from the Sheriff. When her past catches up to her in the form of evil thief tracker, Gisbourne, her identity needs to be hidden more than ever. 

This was such a good retelling of Robin Hood. I love how deep the author has made these characters. John, Robin, Scarlet, and Much feel so much like a family, and their personalities are fun and deep. I especially love all the tension between Scarlet and Robin. 

There is a love triangle between Scarlet, Robin, and John, and Scarlet is pretty reluctant to admit either like her (or at least seriously, since John is a huge flirt). While I love the scenes between Scarlet and Rob, and even though John has some swoony moments too, I wasn't a big fan of the triangle. Plus, I thought it was really obvious (at least in John's case) how he felt about Scarlet, and it seemed like it took her forever to figure it out. 

Even so, the incredible world building and overall feel of the story definitely made up for it. The story has a very distinct voice to it that I loved, and I'm really glad there's a sequel to look forward to reading!

4 Hearts!

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