Scarlet: Number 2 in series (King Raven Trilogy, #2)

by Stephen Lawhead

From his gaol cell, outlaw Will Scatlocke waits to be hanged.

Before he swings, Will - known to his friends as Scarlet - dictates his story to Odo, a duplicitous monk who has been given the job of recording his confession. Odo serves the ambitions of Abbot Hugo, who is gathering evidence that will lead to the capture of the men who have plagued the aristocracy and robbed the church of treasure. Hugo seeks the destruction of the elusive King Raven and his band, the Grellon.

Driven from his home in the north of England, Will has trekked to Wales to join his fortunes with that of the man whose reputation is growing throughout Britain. A forester skilled with the longbow, Will is soon part of Bran ap Brychan's inner circle. In a failed attempt to kidnap sheriff Richard de Glanville, Will is captured. With rumours of conspiracy deepening at court, the humble prisoner becomes a vital link to the outlaws who abandoned him - and on whose loyalty their lives depend - and the throne of England.

Stephen R. Lawhead's King Raven series brings to life the legend of Robin Hood as never before.

• ISBN10: 1904233732
• ISBN13: 9781904233732
• Publish Date: 7 August 2008 (first published 1 September 2007)
• Publish Status: Active
• Publish Country: GB
• Publisher: Little, Brown Book Group
• Imprint: ATOM
• Format: Paperback (B-Format (198x129 mm))
• Pages: 448
• Language: English

Reviews

[Amber (The Literary Phoenix)]

Lawhead's take on the book continues to amaze me. His characters continue to grow, and even in a new environment, the old story of Robin Hood remains clear and strong. Scarlet is written in a slightly different voice than Hood was - it is told mostly in the first person in the voice of a brand new character to the trilogy - William Scatlocke (or Will Scarlet). The change in voice between books one and two is very noticeable, but not abrasive. It keeps the story refreshing and reminds the reader that it is a story of the people, not just the hero.

[Terri M. LeBlanc]

Excellent book told from a very different perspective.

[cherryblossommj]

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.