Bitten by Books
This is the third installment and the conclusion of the Scarlet series. Scarlet has been moved from one prison to another as Prince John tries to keep her location a secret. When he finally reveals his plan to kill the King and end her life, Scarlet finds a friend in one of the guards and manages to escape. Her Grandmother, the Queen, is telling her that the only way to escape with her life is to leave the country. Her heart is torn between leaving to ensure her safety and the safety of her beloved Robin, and returning to the only man she has ever loved. Will she return to Nottinghamshire and bring the wrath of Prince John with her?
The breathtakingly beautiful cover illustration is what originally drew me to this book. I did not realize that this was the third book in a series when I picked it up and was a bit lost at first but quickly became immersed in this fantastic tale.
The story opens with a young woman in a cell that is steeped in darkness. Her memories of Robin are the only warmth available to her. When her solitude is broken by a visitor, it becomes clear that the prisoner is Marian and she is being held captive by Prince John. As the story unfolds, the atrocities that have befallen Marian before her imprisonment are revealed as well as her fearlessness and strong character.
Marian/Scarlet is tougher and more capable than most of the men she encounters and she is formidable with blade in hand. There are glimpses of the Robin Hood that I grew up with, but the original tale has been delightfully twisted in ways I could have never imagined. I definitely need to go back and read the first two books and then will read this one again. Although King Richard is missing, a replica of his Lion Heart beats wildly in the chest of the amazing Scarlet. This one is a definite must-read.
Book Stats:
- Age Range: 7 and up
- Hardcover: 352 pages
- Publisher: Bloomsbury USA Childrens (May 19, 2015)
- Language: English
- ISBN-10: 0802736165
- ISBN-13: 978-0802736161
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Books in the Scarlet series in the order they should be read:
Scarlet
Lady Thief
Lion Heart
Review Overview
Overall Rating
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Summary : Marian/Scarlet is tougher and more capable than most of the men she encounters and she is formidable with blade in hand. There are glimpses of the Robin Hood that I grew up with, but the original tale has been delightfully twisted in ways I could have never imagined. I definitely need to go back and read the first two books and then will read this one again. Although King Richard is missing, a replica of his Lion Heart beats wildly in the chest of the amazing Scarlet.
