Scarlet by Stephen Lawhead

Scarlet (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.

Reviewed by Amber (The Literary Phoenix) on

5 of 5 stars

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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.

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Reading updates

  • Started reading
  • 16 December, 2010: Finished reading
  • 16 December, 2010: Reviewed