Scarlet Review

SCARLET
Series: Scarlet (Book One)
Genre: YA, Fantasy
Release Date: February 14th 2012

Book Length: 287 pages
Publisher: Bloosmbury
Source: Physical copy, Goodreads 
Review: 4/5 *Full Review Below.

Blurb:
Will Scarlet is good at two things: stealing from the rich and keeping secrets - skills that are in high demand in Robin Hood's band of thieves, who protect the people of Nottingham from the evil sheriff. Scarlet's biggest secret of all is one only Robin and his men know...that she is posing as a thief; that the slip of a boy who is fast with sharp knives is really a girl.

The terrible events in her past that led Scarlet to hide her real identity are in danger of being exposed when the thief taker Lord Gisbourne arrives in town to rid Nottingham of the Hood and his men once and for all. As Gisbourne closes in a put innocent lives at risk, Scarlet must decide how much the people of Nottingham mean to her, especially John Little, a flirtatious fellow outlaw, and Robin, whose quick smiles have the rare power to unsettle her. There is real honor among these thieves and so much more - making this a fight worth dying for.

To me Robin Hood will always be this:

However this book did a good job of replacing my childhood hero with something filled with action, blood, guts and a cheeky romance. As a lover of anything and everything Disney there was no way this book was going un-read, although I’ve dropped the ball a little because this has been out a good long while now, the final book is even out ooops.

There have been many retellings of Robin Hood in TV Shows and Movies (Hi Kevin Costner!) and many different types of characters such a Will Scarlet. So who’s to say that moody old Will, one of the merry men isn’t a kickass girl? HELL YES.

Scarlet runs away from her past and a dangerous man who is out to kill her and bumps into the devilishly handsome Robin Hood. Robin takes her in and now she’s thief who helps the band steal from the rich to give to the poor. As the story goes the merciless Sheriff of Nottingham increases taxes and punishes those who cannot pay them. This stays true to the classic but now the Sheriff wants rid of Robin Hood and his men and decides to hire a Ruthless Thief Taker called Gisbourne. This isn’t the story you remember when peasants are locked in a prison for not being able to pay their taxes, no this is much much darker. Gisbourne will stop at nothing to dispatch of all thieves no matter how much blood is shed and when he finally lays eyes on Scarlet this only makes him more determined and deadly.

I adored Scarlet she was stubborn, strong, fierce and determined to helps those who are less fortunate and won’t let any man stand in her way, GO SCARLET! The story is written from Scarlet’s POV and with her common as muck dialect it was like learning to read again at the beginning which I really enjoyed and ensured I was paying attention. You soon become immersed in the writing as the plot is filled with action, betrayals, secrets, adventure and romance.

Speaking of the romance it was my favourite part as always ;). Scarlet must choose between Robin and John Little, to me this was such a good twist! It’s a slow burn romance with accidental touches and longing looks that filled me with so much angst however it all comes to a very satisfying end. I simply have to tell you about Robin Hood!! He’s so broody and so so HOT you will love him, please go away John Little!

Fans of the old story, tv show, movie or anything Robin Hood will love this new twist on a classic. It’s packed full of action with from beginning to end and will take you on an emotional rollercoaster with some truly chilling deaths and a heartfelt romance at it’s core.