Since I bragged a bit about my 70 book goal on Friday, you get a book review on a Monday! As many of you know, I am a big fan of retelling old stories in new ways, whether fairy tales or history or what have you. I also enjoy stories about Robin Hood. These two things made me very excited about finding Scarlet by A.C. Gaughen. I believe this book was on someone’s list for Top Ten Tuesday, but to be honest, I can’t remember who it was who recommended it. So if you’re reading this and you had this book on one of your lists, thank you!

This book has all the usual suspects that a Robin Hood story needs: Robin, Little John, Friar Tuck, the Sheriff of Nottingham, Guy of Gisbourne. And, of course, Will Scarlet. Except in this story, Will Scarlet is actually a girl. Scarlet (or Scar, as the gang calls her) is a good, feisty heroine, which I always enjoy. Most people don’t know she’s a girl, although Robin and John do, as do a handful of others. Together, the gang try to protect the people, both from the Sheriff’s taxes and Gisbourne’s thugs.

Of course, there’s a bit of a love triangle. John is clearly attracted to Scarlet, and she doesn’t not like him either, but she does have confusing feelings for Rob. You start to suspect that, despite her rough-and-tumble act, Scarlet may not be as low born as she seems. She also knows Gisbourne from somewhere in her past and has a very good reason to get him as far away from her people as possible.

This was a fun read and definitely a new take on the Robin Hood story. I can honestly say I haven’t see this idea before. There was action, adventure, a little romance – all packaged nicely into a book that can be read in a couple of days. It was thoroughly enjoyable. Whoever recommended it to me, I thank them gladly for doing so and add my own recommendation. Check this book out. It’s a whole lot of fun.