Review: Scarlet by A.C. Gaughen

Publisher: Walker Children
Publication Date: February 14, 2012
Rating: 5 Stars

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. (Goodreads)

I've suggested this book to multiple patrons and all (except for one, but I'm planning to have a chat with him) have loved it and read the entire series. Despite all of that I've only just now read it and it was awesome. I really, and truly loved this book. I've actually never read a Robing Hood adaptation, although I love fairy tale adaptations. I typically left Robin Hood along because I didn't like Maid Marian, I typically steer toward strong female characters and int he original Robin Hood, she didn't really do much. This book is totally different. Robin Hood was suppose to lead, but his position as taken from him and he's not just stealing from the rich to give to the poor, he's stealing from the rich to give to his people. His band of merry men is small, only four people, and one of them is a woman, AKA Scarlet. It doesn't take a genius to figure out who she really is.

I think the secrete of who Scarlet really was and how she was connected to Gisbourne dragged out a little bit, and I really wish she was a smidge more open with Robin and the guys, she was so withdrawn, adn ready to run at a moments notice. Then again, Robin was kin of an ass, so I guess I get it. Anyway, the book was great. The characters were great. I loved the cameos of "Friar Tuck". The ending was pretty freaking awesome! I'll read the second one as soon as I finish my book Book Club on Sunday; I should probably start that.

Oh yeah, the cover is AMAZING!!!