I wasn't a great fan of Scarlet's rough speech, though it did serve a purpose in this story. Her struggles with identity, guilt and how to be a girl within her time period without loosing her will drew me to her narrative. Especially her blend of strength and vulnerability. But I really liked Scarlet within this setting, and how she changed the dynamic of the characters. The larger plot was interesting, but it was also a lot of the standard Robin Hood fair: stealing from the rich, giving to the poor, outmaneuvering and then getting thwarted by the Sheriff and Guy Gisbourne. I liked the unfolding of Scarlet's story, and how she's fit herself into Rob's group. What Rob doesn't know, however, is where Scarlet came from, and that certainly causes conflict in this book. Rob knows that Scarlet is a she from the beginning, though not everyone else does, and it was amusing to see how that affected her interactions with some characters. Along with that, it was nice that the whole point of the plot wasn't a big 'she's a girl!' reveal. I LOVED Lady Thief, but this is a solid series that I'm so glad I finally started!Īlthough I honestly don't remember the character of Will Scarlet from previous retellings, I enjoyed the idea of one of Rob's men being a cross dressing girl. I read Scarlet and Lady Thief back to back. That changed as soon as I met Gaughen's adaptation. Before I started Scarlet, I often thought of Robin in fox form, and the other character as woodland creatures. I've seen several movie adaptations, and I've read Ivanhoe, but I will admit that until I read this book it was the animated movie that stuck most firmly in my head.

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. Helping the people of Nottingham outwit the corrupt Sheriff of Nottingham could cost Scarlet her life as Gisbourne closes in. 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. 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. Many readers know the tale of Robin Hood, but they will be swept away by this new version full of action, secrets, and romance. Published: Februby Walker Childrens (Bloomsbury)

Scarlet by A.C. Gaughen