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. (Cover and synopsis from Goodreads.)

I really enjoyed Scarlet, but I didn’t end up taking many notes, so I just thought I’d write a mini review and share some of those notes with you:

• Not so sure about the writing being in a dialect, especially because the grammar is incorrect. It’s kind of making my grammar-nerd self crazy.
• But the story has sucked me in right from the beginning.
• I’m loving YA fantasy novels right now, and I’m especially loving this one, because it’s a retelling of Robin Hood, AND because Will Scarlet has been turned into a female character posing as a boy.
• I’m glad that some people know she’s a girl, because it would have been really annoying if no one knew.
• I don’t understand the layout of the castle at all.  And every time it is described, I get more and more confused.
• I like the themes of this book:  feminism, not judging others, etc.
• I do like the romance aspect to this book, but it bothers me when a character likes another one, but thinks that that character can’t possibly like him or her back, especially when that character has done nothing to make him/her think that way.
• Nice twists at the end.  I saw one part coming, but was completely blown away by another part!  And it’s nice that there’s more to that dialect than meets the eye.

My rating for Scarlet by A.C. Gaughen:

Actually 4.5 stars.  I really loved it and can’t wait to read the sequel, Lady Thief!