Scarlet by A. C. Gaughen

Source: 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 so freaking happy right now I can't even deal.

You know why I'm happy? Because since 'Crappy book day' two weeks ago, I still hadn't read a good book. Until now. I was getting so frustrated, I was reading mediocre after mediocre after mediocre, instalove, i'll-fix-you-cause-you're-so-broken, crap. Well crap is harsh. Except for those two books from crappy book day that will never be mentioned again. Anyway, the point is I had actually given up. That's the longest dry spell I've ever had. I even branched out of young adult, new adult and contemporary since those genres had been failing me so. I tried to find some really good historicals where the women weren't completely spineless and the men had some character, but I didn't have much luck there either.
I found myself at my wits end. I thought this is it. I'm never going to read a good book again (that fits my reading criteria).

But then, just when I'd given up all hope, I found Scarlet. This gem of a read. This book life line that drew me out of the instalove induced jaded darkness in which I had found myself drowning in. So I took a chance, I don't normally read retellings, or fantasy, but book beggars can hardly be book choosers right? I mean technically they can, but that's irrelevant. The little book voice in my head said try it, I did, and here I am screaming from the book rooftops: YESSSS!!!!!!!!!!!!

This is the reason why I kiss all of those mediocre book frogs. I do it to find a book prince, like this. I loved it! I loved it! It was just such a good story. I went in cautiously at first. I side eyed every blush because I was trying to protect my poor broken book heart, just in case it turned out to be another fail. But then Scarlet's voice was so clear and it was all so unpretentious and unpatronising... I was completely carried away. BTW, I freaking loved Scarlet, she was awesome. I just...I don't know what else to say. This was an actual story. And it was so awesomely told that I was there with all of the characters while it was happening!

A. C. Gaughen, you have made a fan out of me.

Note: Clean. 4 stars.

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