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Dec 05, 2011

(Actual Rating: 3.5 stars)

"We do what we do because there's something we can do about it. Things like 'how long' and 'what if' aren't part of that. It's about the hope, not the horror."

Scarlet, 2012 debut novel from A.C. Gaughen, takes the legends and characters associated with Robin Hood and spins them all into an engrossing story focusing on a secretive thief who's much more than meets the eye. The people of Nottinghamshire know the thief as Will Scarlet, knife-wi More...

6 comments like (20 people liked it)

Feb 01, 2012

Soumi (in love with PUCK) rated it:

Scarlet is wrenching and moving story of love and friendship, bravery and loyalty, a retelling of the legend of Robin Hood, only the voice of narration was Scarlet. Yes Will Scarlet, the most skilled knife- handling young fellow of Robin, in the traditional tales, famous for his hot temper. But he’s not actually what we think he is. He’s no lad; he’s a lass; a girl hiding her true identity in men’s cloth.

description

Being a part of the merry men, Scarlet was always successful to hid More...

32 comments like (15 people liked it)

Feb 20, 2012

Ferdy rated it:

1.5 stars

A retelling of Robin Hood where Will Scarlet, a member of Robin's band is a actually girl in disguise.
-The storyline didn't really entertain me, it was boring and the real action only really kicked in towards the end.
-The narrative was strange, it was part present tense and part past tense, I couldn't get my head around it.
-The British-isms and British slang didn't read right AT ALL, it felt forced and it made me cringe at how hard it tried to sound authent More...

2 comments like (5 people liked it)

Jan 30, 2012

Sam rated it:

3.5 stars

A. C. Gaughen debuts with a historical re-telling of the renowned legend of Robin Hood - a legend of thievery, injustice, and the eminent bow and arrow that so many of us are familiar with in some form or another. What readers probably won’t be familiar with is the astonishing idea that Will Scarlet, a prominent member of Robin Hood’s band of Merry Men, is, in actual fact, a girl. Scarlet, this brilliantly clever idea of a story, turns the customary concepts of this English More...

9 comments like (12 people liked it)

Jan 15, 2012

Paige rated it:

Also appears on The Screaming Nitpicker. I received this book for review through NetGalley.

The people at large believe Will Scarlet is a boy, a thief, and a member of Robin Hood's band. Two of those descriptors are right, but one is not like the others: he is really a she, a girl named Scarlet--and she's on the run. As the thief taker Gisbourne is brought to Nottingham to help capture Robin Hood and his band, Scarlet could lose her life if she isn't careful. The truth about Scarlet, More...

0 comments like (8 people liked it)

Jan 15, 2012

Allison (The Allure of Books) rated it:

Scarlet by A.C. Gaughen is the newest Robin Hood retelling. Y’all, I love the story of Robin Hood and I was extremely excited to pick this book up. I am happy to tell you that Scarlet more than lived up to my expectations! It has a comfortable spot on the list of best fantasy books I’ve ever read.

In Scarlet, the main character is a well known Robin Hood character re-imagined as a girl. She is fierce and loyal – such a fantastic character. But she definitely has some skeletons in her cl More...

3 comments like (6 people liked it)

Nov 09, 2011

Angie rated it:

Okay. You are all familiar with my . . . what's the word . . . thing . . . for thieves. And Robin is perhaps the thief I've loved the longest. So it should come as no surprise when I say that I was filled with glee when I first heard about A. C. Gaughen's upcoming retelling--SCARLET. I liked the cover and, without running down too many spoilery details, I looked forward to the focus on Will Scarlet and the fact that it hailed from a debut author. All of these things add up to that most wonderful More...

7 comments like (12 people liked it)

Feb 13, 2012

Mundie Moms & Mundie Kids rated it:

I didn't think I could love Robin Hood or the legend of Robin Hood any more than I already have, but I'm totally in love with A.C. Gaughen's verion of this historical hero. Her writing is flawless! She not vividly describes what it was like to live during this time period, she also captures the feelings of the people, and the hope Robin Hood and his band of thieves brought to them. I felt like she perfectly crafted together a story of how I envision a younger version of Robin Hood. I absolutely More...

8 comments like (1 person liked it)

Jan 24, 2012

Niki rated it:

Truthfully, I wanted to read this book because the cover caught my attention but the book itself is pretty good. I love the main character Scarlet, she's the type of girl who's strong and can kick butt. It kept my attention the whole time with all the plots and surprises and the secrets Scarlet had. I enjoyed this version of Robin Hood and all the characters in it even though it is the first time I've read a book based mainly on romance. It's a really good book if you enjoy action and romance.

0 comments like (2 people liked it)

Feb 09, 2012

Deanna rated it:

After reading the summary of this book I HAD to read it. Will Scarlet a girl?! I love it when authors put women back into history or legend and Scarlet is the perfect heroine for that. It is so much fun unraveling Scarlet's history chapter by chapter. This book is more than a retelling of a legend that happened long ago - it is a story full of emotions and situations that are still relevant today. It is about hope, family, sacrifice, and trying to do good in a world filled with evil. This More...

0 comments like (2 people liked it)

Feb 21, 2012

Marlene rated it:

Robin Hood is one of the best-loved (and most often re-told) English legends, probably just behind the King Arthur stories in the number of times it's been re-done and re-interpreted. And examined by everyone from Disney to Sean Connery. Cartoon to pathos.

Scarlet by A. G. Gaughen is a slightly different take on Robin Hood and his so-called "Merry Men", who are certainly not merry in this re-telling of the tale.

In Gaughen's version, "Will" Scarlet is known More...

0 comments like (1 person liked it)

Feb 21, 2012

Gillysegal rated it:

Scarlet is a breath of fresh air for readers like me. I don’t read many historicals, but you don’t need to be a fan of that genre to enjoy this one. Gaughen strikes the perfect balance between modern grammar and period slang. Nottingham and Robin’s merry men spring to life through the dialog and setting description, peppered with just enough historical detail to make you feel you’re there, without making you feel you’re reading Life in a Medieval City. The novel reimagines Robin in his teen year More...

0 comments like

Feb 15, 2012

Christy rated it:

Scarlet by AC Gaughen
Publisher: Walker Children's
Pages: 304
Pub Date: 14 February 2012
Format: ARC-Kindle

A special Thank you to Walker Books and NetGalley for sending me this books to review.

Robin Hood is given a fresh, feminine twist in this romantic retelling from the point of view of "Will Scarlet"
Many readers know the tale of Robin Hood, but they will be swept away by this new version full of action, secrets, and romance, from de More...

0 comments like

Feb 15, 2012

Andi rated it:

Will Scarlet is a thief in Robin "Hood's" band of men. Unfortunately, Will Scarlet is neither actually a 'Will' or a man. A new twist on the tale of Robin Hood, Scarlet is a thief running from her past. Fiercely capable, Scarlet is often the most relied-upon of Robin's band, with her abilities as a thief, spy and knife thrower saving everyone more often than I can count. An enigma who refuses to share anything of her past while avoiding lying, Scarlet unknowingly draws everyone into he More...

0 comments like

Feb 13, 2012

Pretty in Fiction rated it:

Originally posted on Pretty In Fiction.

I first heard about Scarlet when I stumbled upon it on Goodreads. I have always been a fan of Robin Hood, but never found a retelling that I really connected with. But as soon as I turned the first page of Scarlet I was in love. Robin is a hero that you want to love, and Scarlet is a heroine you can truly admire. She is tough in a time when girls weren't usually thought to be tough. She fits right in with Robin's band of Merry Men. She can hold More...

0 comments like

Feb 13, 2012

Jenny rated it:

Actual Rating: 4.5/5

Scarlet is a story that despite the use of familiar characters and a familiar premise feels fresh and new, the world of Robin Hood looking very different through the eyes of a female Will Scarlet–a young woman who steals and swears better than the boys in their band of misfits but who can’t quite hide the flush in her cheeks and the beating of her heart at the sight of Robin behind her boyish façade. Never before has the concept of thievery been quite so appealing More...

0 comments like (4 people liked it)

Jan 12, 2012

Michelle rated it:

Will Scarlet is a brilliant thief, has more knives than you could count (and a deadly sharp aim with said knives), a sharp temper, and numerous scars gained before and after joining up with the notorious Robin Hood.

Will Scarlet also happens to be a girl.

But no one outside of Robin, John Little and Much are privy to that secret -- something she is hoping to keep even more quiet as the cruel Sheriff of Nottingham has enlisted the aid of the single-minded Thief Taker, Guy of G More...

3 comments like (3 people liked it)

Dec 01, 2011

Crstn29 rated it:

Everyone knows the basic story of Robin Hood and his Merry Men. It's been told over and over with the same basic plotline of stealing from the rich to give to the poor. This story is told from the point of veiw of the classic character of Will Scarlet. The difference is, this time Scarlet is a girl. Scarlet is able to hide her true identity from all those except her band with an always present hat, some binding cloth and skills with knives that are second to none. As the book opens we learn More...

0 comments like (3 people liked it)

Feb 08, 2012

Christina (A Reader of Fictions) rated it:

Scarlet is one of the books I have been completely desperate to read, since the moment I heard it was being published. A reenvisioning of a legend! A strong heroine! How could this fail? Well, in the past, a lot of the books I most wanted to read turned out to be really disappointing and awful. As a result, I held myself back, prepared myself to be disappointed.

Guess what? Scarlet totally was not disappointing. At all. I maintained my skepticism for a while, but Scarlet completely wo More...

0 comments like

Feb 17, 2012

Elena rated it:

"a thief could die to let the hero live."

Scarlet by A.C. Gaughen
Rating: 4.5/5
Release date: February 14th 2012
Publisher, Place: Walker Childrens
The story takes place in the Sherwood’s, England during the regime of Richard the Lionheart. The king is out of the country and his brother, Prince John is an unfair ruler while he is gone. The story revolves around a band of outlaws, Robin Hood’s band. They steal from the rich and give to the poor. The group More...

0 comments like

Feb 15, 2012

Cheryl rated it:

The story of Robin Hood I’m most familiar with is Disney’s cartoon version and, while that took the tale in a different direction, seeing that they were all animals, this is definitely another twist on the usual version. In Gaughen’s version, Will Scarlet is actually a girl who was blackmailed into joining Robin Hood and his band (which, at this point consists of John Little and a boy with one hand named Much), after she was caught stealing from him in London two years before. Few know that Scar More...

0 comments like

Feb 06, 2012

Justin rated it:

Real rating: 3.5 Stars

I'm a huge fan of retellings. With that said, I can extremely pick when it comes to these types of books. I went into Scarlet with really high expectations, because I have always enjoyed the classic Robin Hood story. I feel like Scarlet was really well written, as far as what A.C. Guaghen was wanting to portray within her story. I think one of the major redeeming factors for this book was actually the writing itself, I love how she used language you would expect d More...

0 comments like

Jan 29, 2012

Rosy rated it:

Reviewed for The Review Diaries: http://reviewdiaries.blogspot.com/

I am a sucker when it comes to a good Robin Hood story, and when I saw Angie’s reviewof ‘Scarlet’ I was absolutely desperate to read it. But then there’s always a worry when it comes to reinterpretations of the Hood legend, that they’ve taken it too far in the wrong direction. Although after watching ‘Robin Hood Men in Tights’ I’m not so sure there is a wrong direction anymore… Anyway, I was a little bit wary going in More...

0 comments like

Nov 05, 2011

Katy Book Corner rated it:

What an awesome version of Robin Hood. Who would have ever thought to make the heroine dress as a boy and join the band of thieves. This was such a cute and delightful twist of the classic.

I thought Scarlet was so well written. She was feisty, strong and just a tough cookie. I love a girl who can kick butt. But I also love a girl who has spunk but wasn't written to be sarcastic and annoying. I also really liked both Robin and John - not for their romance potential but for the way their More...

1 comment like (8 people liked it)

Jan 10, 2012

Rose rated it:

I love a re-telling of a classic. Throw in a gender twist and you have the potential for something great. Unfortunately this book misses the bulls eye for me.

Scarlet is Will Scarlet but in this case she’s a girl. I love a strong heroine, especially one who’s clever, tough, and one who doesn’t fall into that ‘damsel in distress’ category. She fits in nicely in Robin’s Band of Merry Men and they all accept her as a fellow thief. Soon enough though, she is faced with developing fee More...

0 comments like

Jan 30, 2012

Vernieda rated it:

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here

0 comments like (2 people liked it)

Jan 16, 2012

Laura rated it:

I'm a big fan of Robin Hood stories, especially ones that focus on the girls, so I was thrilled to get an ARC of Scarlet through NetGalley. Scarlet is the sole female in Robin's band, although to those outside the band, she goes by Will Scarlet and dresses as a boy. I love how A.C. Gaughen played with the character of Will Scarlet and blended that character with another well known Robin Hood character to come up with the character of Scarlet, and although I guessed who Scarlet really was well More...

1 comment like (1 person liked it)

Jan 12, 2012

Mlle. rated it:

I started A.C. Gaughen's SCARLET with visions of The Outlaws of Sherwood dancing in my head. How could I not? Both are Robin Hood retellings that feature a female protagonist smack in the middle of Robin's merry band, and both heroines are fierce, strong women expert with their chosen weapon. I fell in love with The Outlaws of Sherwood when I read it. I fell in like with A.C. Gaughen's SCARLET.

Readers can guess enough of the action from the fact that it's a Robin Hood retelling t More...

0 comments like

Jan 16, 2012

Anna rated it:

"I turned to see three men on Rob, and I felt the sting of insult. Honestly, I were just as much a threat as him. Why did I only get one?"

I really liked this book. I enjoyed almost everything about it--the plot, the setting, the dialect, and especially the characters. Man, the characters. They’re all likeable and flawed, and the bond and friendship between the band is one of my favourite parts of this story.

Scarlet is a thief, and on the run from a past she doe More...

11 comments like (4 people liked it)

Dec 16, 2011

Hannah rated it:

Scarlet fights alongside Rob, John, and Much to protect the people suffering under the lawless rule of King John and the Sheriff of Nottingham. For Robin, once an earl and now an outlaw, the fight means protecting his people. For Scarlet--a girl in disguise, hiding layers of secrets even from the rest of the outlaw band--the war against the sheriff and her old enemy Guy of Gisbourne is an act of atonement. How is it possible to fight lawlessness without becoming a criminal? Scarlet robs traveler More...

0 comments like (1 person liked it)

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