Scarlet by A.C. Gaughen

Scarlet
By: A.C. Gaughen
Released: February 14, 2012
Source: Purchased
Purchase the Book: Amazon

"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." (Summary from goodreads.com)

I loved Scarlet and couldn't read this book fast enough! I already loved the tale of Robin Hood so I was really excited to read this twist on the story. While reading this book I couldn't help but be reminded of this picture book about Robin Hood that I would read over and over again as a kid. It has been years since I have read or seen anything about the tale of Robin Hood and I couldn't have picked up a better story to reintroduce me to one of my favorite tales and character all over again but with a twist.

My favorite aspect of this book was definitely the characters, especially Scarlet. Scarlet is a part of Robin Hood's band of thieves and poses as a boy. Scarlet is tough and is more than capable of taking care of herself. She can easily hold her own while alongside the boys. She can be a bit stubborn at times but she doesn't like to be treated like she will break just because she is a girl. Scarlet has kept her past a secret though but it is beginning to catch up to her. I loved learning about Scarlet's past because it was still not what I expected.  

Then there is Robin Hood, the leader of the band of thieves. Robin is a character who I'm already familiar with. However in this book, he is someone who at times I really wanted to hate but then I just couldn't. There is also John and Much who are a part of the band as well. I especially loved Much. The band has a complicated relationship at times but they always have each others backs. I love that these characters are all far from perfect though. They make mistakes and they are thieves, even if they are using the money for a good reason. However, it's difficult to not want to cheer them on.

The plot is exciting and picks up early in the beginning. It was easy to lose time while reading this book. I also love the setting and it was easy to vividly picture the forests and towns. The last couple of chapters were definitely my favorite and I never saw the twists coming. I loved Gaughen's writing and I think she makes an excellent debut. I will definitely be reading what she writes next. Overall I highly recommend Scarlet, it will take you on an exciting adventure that you don't want to miss out on!  

My Rating: