Scarlet by A.C Gaughen

Scarlet by A.C Gaughen
Release Date –  February 14, 2012
Publisher Website –  Walker Childrens
Pages -  292 pages
My Rating- 3.5/5
**obtained from the publisher for an honest review**

Here is the Goodreads 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’m Rob’s secret declares Will Scarlet. Many of us know the tale of Robin Hood and his band of merry men. You may even be familiar with Will Scarlet, whose loyalty to Robin is well known. This novel puts a delightful twist on the age old tale by making Will Scarlet a woman. A tough, sarcastic, conflicted woman at that. This is her story, and it’s her character that kept me interested in the novel. We got to know the vulnerable side to Scarlet as well and the reader quickly learns that she is disguised in more ways than one.

The setting is perfect, and the forest Scarlet and the men in her life roam is easy to imagine. The plot itself is imaginative and well thought out.Those familiar with the tale will find that Ms Gaughen puts her own spin on the characters and keeps it entertaining. The narration was a hybrid of present and past tense that was a little jarring at first. It takes some getting used to, and it didn’t really work for me.
I had a love/dislike relationship with the romance aspect of the story. I wish Robin had been a little more developed. I didn’t really find myself invested in the romance as a result of not being attached to the characters. I wish I knew more about what really motivated Robin. I felt I got to know Scarlet, but the other characters seemed less developed.  I also wanted to scream at Robin and Scarlet to talk to each other. Misunderstandings, and lack of communication are this couples downfall. Even as truth and honesty is demanded from each other their past and own reasoning prevent them from doing it.

At the same some there are plenty of romantic scenes and stolen glances that left me giddy in anticipation for something to happen. There is a hint of a love triangle, that felt awkward to me. I didn't really think it was important to the overall story and there was enough drama to create tension without it.
The action mainly is prevalent in the latter half of the story, this tends to make some of the earlier chapters feel a little longer. The last half though rushes by with storyline reveals and fight scenes. The fight scenes in the end were some of my favourite parts of the story.

While I had some issues with the narration, and wished some characters were developed more, I enjoyed this book and would gladly read about these characters again.