Scarlet

ORIGINALLY POSTED AT Fantasy Literature.

Scarlet, the second book in Stephen Lawhead's King Raven Trilogy focuses on Will Scatlocke (“Scarlet”), a disillusioned forester who goes searching for, finds, and joins King Raven's infamous band of thieves. During one of their exploits, Will is caught, sentenced to hang, and thrown into prison where he is asked to tell his story to a priest in hopes that he'll let slip some information that will help sheriff Guy of Gysborne find and defeat the robbers. Thus, most of the story is told in past tense from Will Scarlet's perspective.

Even though the pace is slower than in Hood and we're not much concerned that Will might actually hang, Lawhead still spins us a fine yarn – the story is thoroughly entertaining. And, as usual, we are not just entertained, but enlightened as we get a real feel for the period – the tyranny of the Freinc, the corruption of the church, the suffering and stubbornness of the Britons. This is what Stephen Lawhead does so well.

The characterization is mostly well done. The male characters are all three-dimensional, life-like, and immediately likeable. However, the female characters, most notably Merian and Will's love-interest, Noin, remain flat (I have noticed this lack of attention to female characters in some of Lawhead's previous books). These were strong women whose presence was important to the plot, but whose personalities and motivations were never explored.

For example, Bran kidnapped Merian at the end of Hood, and in this sequel she is at his side. Will relates a few observations about their relationship, but we are never sure exactly what that relationship is and whether or not Merian wants to be there or not. I'm sure that Lawhead's intention was to leave this vague, but I found it frustrating (especially since I wondered if Merian knew, or cared, that her family thought she was dead) and wished for a chapter or two from Bran and/or Merian's perspective. Likewise, I wasn't completely convinced about Will and Noin's relationship because I wasn't told anything from Noin's perspective.

Again, I listened to this installment in audiobook format. It was the same reader (Adam Verner) who did Hood and I have the same comments: he's got a pleasant and enthusiastic tone, but some of his accents and character voices made me chuckle. If you can listen past that, it's a good format.
Read more Stephen Lawhead book reviews at Fantasy literature.

I'm so glad I stuck with this series and read the second novel about Will Scarlet. This is a meditative but still lighthearted adventure tale. Lawhead's description of 11th century Wales, especially the great forest in which Robin and his band live is evocative and beautiful. I am looking forward to closing out the trilogy with Tuck.

Will Scarlet has always been my favorite Robin Hood character for as long as I can remember knowing different versions of the historical tales. This book does not change that at all. This is Will Scarlet in more depth than any book or film has ever shown him. Everything you ever once thought of him or wanted to know is given in a wonderfully melodious tone by [a: Steven Lawhead 4260614 Steve Lawhead https://s.gr-assets.com/assets/nophoto/user/m_50x66-82093808bca726cb3249a493fbd3bd0f.png] and your imagination can soar. I was thoroughly impressed by [b: Hood 44533 Hood Emma Donoghue https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1343682756l/44533.SY75.jpg 1413310], but so much more by [b: Scarlet 12296 The Scarlet Letter Nathaniel Hawthorne https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1404810944l/12296.SY75.jpg 4925227] yet in different ways. I recommend this book to anyone who loves celtic, Britons, old english, Robin Hood, medieval, knights, and chivalry... as well as just good old adventure. There is nothing “tasteless” in this novel as you find in many books these days... meaning there is moral delimma with characters that are just out right evil. But you do not find the protagonists as lust filled murders. It is just plain good stories twisted together to keep you up hours into the night reading until there is no more. So sad that I have to wait until 2009 for the Trilogy end [b: Tuck 84981 Tuck Everlasting Natalie Babbitt https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1445184695l/84981.SY75.jpg 1955922]... but I am fairly certain it will be worth it.Oh, and there are other Lawhead books that I've read that didn't “hook” me, but these King Raven Trilogy books are really to die for.