Scarlet Review

Title: Scarlet
Author: A. C. Gaughen
Published: February 14, 2012 from Walker Children's
Synopsis:

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. 

I've been a HUGE fan of the Robin Hood legend since I was a little kid growing up watching the Disney animated version.  Over the year's I've watched so many TV shows and Movies on the Robin Hood, but Scarlet is the first book and boy did I choose a great book to get me started!  Scarlet is a fun action packed story that turns Will Scarlet into a girl! Well really, Scarlet is hiding from her past pretending to be a boy, but lets not get too far a head of ourselves.

Scarlet follows the story of Will Scarlet, but turns it on it's nose a bit.  Will is actually "Scarlet," a young girl Robin found pick pocketing and brought into his gang.  Scarlet's secret is only known to those in the gang but she keeps a bigger secret about her past to herself.  Scarlet has made herself an integral part of gang and keeps her identity hidden by pretending to be Will Scarlet while she's out helping the villagers.

The story starts shortly before the taxes are due, and follows the gang through their well known antics to raise money, scavenge food and rescue those citizens who get caught in the traps set by the Sheriff of Nottingham.  And this is what I loved about what A. C. did with Scarlet.  It keeps the spirit of the Robin Hood legend a live while doing it in a fun and different way.  A. C. makes the this legend her own and brings a us another amazing strong willed female character.

I was SUPER excited to read Scarlet when I first heard about it, and it totally lived up to everything I was hoping to find in the story.  It's one of those stories that has something for everyone, it has action, romance humor, history and so much more; it's a great all around read!

Overall Rating: