Author: A.C.Gaughen
Pages: 292
Published: February 14th 2012 by Walker Childrens
Source: Library ebook
Links: Goodreads,
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 read this book so fast.. one day really. I joined Away to Whimsical Fairy Land event last minute so I had to hurry and read this book for my Robin Hood retelling. I have actually been wanting to read this book for a while now since I knew it was a Robin Hood story. I love Robin Hood! This book was an OK read to me which is too bad. It wasn't fantastic or out of this world. All our favorite characters from the Robin Hood universe do make an appearance. There is a love triangle which was one of the weaker ones I have read. I mean... it's with Robin Hood and Little John.
This book was written in dialect and it was so awful. As the book goes on the author seems to stop trying so hard with the dialect and it gets easier to read. Or maybe I just got used to the dialect? The main character is Will Scarlet... who pretends like she's a boy and is hiding out with Robin Hood and his gang. Will tries really hard to be someone who can take care of her self. She is always telling that to everyone... but I don't know why she has to keep repeating it through the entire book.
I did like the twist at the end of the book about Will Scarlet and for some reason I didn't even see it coming. Start spoiler: Will turns out to be Maid Marian. I should've totally known that but I just assumed it was the new representation of the Will character from the stories. I am guessing now that she has revealed that she is actually high lady so now maybe she won't do that fake accent anymore. So we discover that Marian was supposed to marry Guy of Gisbourne but ran away he has been hunting for her for years and years and finally catches up to her. So the end of the book is just some crazy events. Scarlet marries Guy and then runs off and leaves will Robin from exciting scene where Robin is captured. Just a crazy ending. End Spoiler
The book being a series ends up in the air. I can't decide if I am going to continue on in the series or not. I do want to know what happens with Guy and all the characters.... but since this book was only mediocre and there are so many books out there I need to read, I don't know if I will spend time reading it. We'll see. So glad I read this in time for Away to Whimsical Fairy Land!
The crystal ball says:
Rain is pouring... Not sure if this was really worth my time, must get an umbrella.
I'm sorry this one was just mediocre for you. But I do know what you mean about not knowing whether to continue or not/ Sometimes I get trapped into a series bc I just want to know what happens. But I mostly end up regreting it when the second book has the same problems as the first.
ReplyDeleteGreat Review!
Michelle @ Book Briefs
Aw, it's too bad this wasn't a great read for you! I feel like I would be disappointed by it as well from your review. A poorly done love triangle is already a big turn off. I did just read the spoiler though, and that does seem like a fun twist, but not enough to make me interested. So glad you read it fast enough to include in the event. At least that is one point in this book's favor- that it's a fast read! :)
ReplyDeleteI haven't read this one yet but I'd already figured out Scarlet was Maid Marian and was really irritated at that. Not sure when I'll get to this one now.
ReplyDeleteOh no...dialect. I have such a hard time with dialect. Is it like English accent dialect? Especially with English or Scottish accents, I usually prefer it to be written in standard English and let me hear the accent in my head. I still would love to read this though.
ReplyDeleteSorry to hear this one wasn't so great! the premise sounds quite interesting but I think I would find the dialect frustrating.
ReplyDeleteA great review! Sharon – Obsession with Books
It's always a tough decision when a book in a series is so so. I try to think about how much I struggled to finish the book and if finding out what happens next is worth the same struggle again. Good luck with your decision
ReplyDeleteThat's too bad that you didn't enjoy this! I liked it pretty well the first time I read it and then liked it a lot upon rereading. The dialect definitely took getting used to and I wasn't thrilled about the love triangle. But I do really like Scarlet and Robin and the tension between them throughout the story. I liked the twist with her history.
ReplyDeleteI also liked the sequel quite a bit, though Gaughen doesn't pull any punches. I'm very excited to read the third.
It doesn't sound like anything I would enjoy. It's one of the best things about following great bloggers. I get to avoid really bad books. :-)
ReplyDeleteHow disappointing. This sounds like it has potential to be really great. I'm not a big lover of love triangles or too thick dialect. I'll have to look for another Robin Hood tale.
ReplyDeleteI own this one but never have read it do to mixed reviews...too bad it was disappointing!
ReplyDeleteI know what you mean about books like that. I have decided to not continue on with the series. I just have way too much to read then spend it finishing this series. Which is too bad. Maybe this book is more juvenile then what I am looking for in a book. I feel like someone in middle school would love it.
ReplyDeleteThe love triangle was nuts. I mean... Little John, Robin and Will. Will kept leading Little John on ... though she didn't want to be with him. But then the next chapter she wasn't sure if she wanted to be with him. Then Robin would chase her around and ask her who she liked... and she kept demanding that she was a woman and she would chose! It was nuts. It was such a fast read and I was really happy about that. It's why I almost went on and read then next book in the series because I knew I could probably read it in one day.
ReplyDeleteYou already figured that out???? BRAVO! I didn't realize it till later. I don't even know why, it just didn't cross my mind. I guess I expected her to appear differently. I was thinking more of the Will that we see in the Kevin Costner movie and really did think she was representing him.
ReplyDeleteDIALECT! Ughh... it is like a slang dialect ... but I suppose it's British??? I did read on a review on goodreads that the audio is fun, which is usually the case with books and dialect. Maybe my own mind just couldn't process the way it was supposed to be heard.
ReplyDeleteI did think that the book was good... just wish the retelling was a little better. More detailed. I found it lacking in detail.
ReplyDeleteI have decided to not continue on with the series and finish up with some of the other series I am already into. The ones I actually want to finish and get done. I am glad though I gave this one a shot because I have been wanting to read it for a while now.
ReplyDeleteHummm... I might read the second one then. You made me interested again!!! LOL! I can easily be swayed with books as you can see. The dialect I am guessing is gone in the next book since Scarlet doesn't have to act like she isn't upper class right?
ReplyDeletehahahaahah! True story!
ReplyDeleteI looked for other Robin Hood retellings and there really aren't very many out there. Which is kind of sad. I would love to give another one a go.
ReplyDeleteThere really are mixed reviews... the book has like 4 stars on goodreads! Which surprised me.
ReplyDeleteIt is always nice to get to those books that have been sitting on a to-read list for awhile. I'm currently trying to catch up on series I am partially through right now so I get the need to prioritize what books to read. I enjoyed your review and since my wife reads YA I am always reading your reviews to see if it is something she might like. I think I will not recommend this to her.
ReplyDeleteI'm sorry this one didn't live up to expectations. I like the premise (and had figured out that Scarlet and Maid Marian were the same character, so you didn't spoil it for me) and will probably give it a try, but it sounds like there are elements that I will definitely have trouble with. (To misquote Indiana Jones, "Love triangles. Why does it always have to be... love triangles?"
ReplyDeleteI've been meaning to read this one for ages! I just never seem to pick it up when I find a copy. Sorry this one wasn't completely mindblowing!
ReplyDeleteThe dialect is definitely lessened because she does take on her upper class style some. But it's still here and there though if I recall correctly (and it's probably been a year since I read it - I may not) I think when it is used, Scarlet does so for a specific reason.
ReplyDeleteLOLOL! Love triangles were not needed here. It was so obvious that Will and Robin were in love, so to through in some sort of odd and uncomfortable love triangle was just off. Kind of creepy. I am sure in the future books that is just totally eliminated so at least the series got rid of it in the first book.
ReplyDeleteNot mind-blowing at all. The more I think about it the more I realize it might've just been for a younger crowd of readers. A little too simple of a plot for me.
ReplyDeleteAw, I'm sorry this didn't really work for you. It sounds like it had a good premise, but I can totally see why it failed to deliver. Thank you so much for joining AWFairyTale! :D
ReplyDeleteI tried to read this when it first came out but didn’t get through it. I’ve been really interested to see it return to the blogsphere lately, with a bunch of reviews popping up- it’s nice that so many bloggers have found it and are loving it! But I agree with you. I couldn’t actually get into it, and the ending sounds really, really fast and intense and a bit peculiar. And the parts of the Robin-Will romance I did read were a bit strange feeling.
ReplyDeleteGlad you got to read it, since you’d been really wanting to, Angela, but I’m thinking it sounds like being a part of the blog event was actually more enjoyable than the book, which is unfortunate.
Have you see the Robin Hood movie, Men in Tights? I wanted to rewatch it so badly, but can’t find it to rent locally. I’m not sure if it’s the one with Cary Elwes in it, or if that’s a different one too, but this was really weird and pretty hilarious, though Very Bizarre. Would love to see what you thought of it! Xx
Yes I loved joining. I know though that I didn't get that much done for it because my laptop wasn't really working at the time. BOO!
ReplyDeleteI saw that there is even another book out in the series. So someone is still reading this series. I actually have not seen Men in Tights in it's entirety. I need to try though because I am sure it's hilarious. I don't know why I haven't just sat down and watch it. Now you have made me want to go and find it on TV!
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