Will in Scarlet

I read this as an e-arc from NetGalley and left my first review over on Goodreads.I quite liked it. It's a look at the Robin Hood story from the angle of a young Will Scarlet. It doesn't shy away from the bandits being actual bandits, and grown men, and y'know, maybe not exactly the sort you want to invite over for tea.I felt like the story got more fun and funnier towards the end, so if there's a sequel, I'll definitely be checking it out.

Adventurous and fast-paced. A good mix of the familiar and surprises.

Will in Scarlet is a Robin Hood story, but instead of focusing on Robin, this one focuses on Will Scarlet. It’s an interesting twist on the typical stories. I found that I was totally drawn into the story. The character development was excellent. I highly recommend reading this book!

I always love finding a Robin Hood retelling. The story is one that appeals to people of all ages, and most children are brought up with tales of the bandits who rob from the rich and give to the poor. I especially love when the stories focus on one or two of the Merry Men instead of directly on Robin. This book focuses mostly on Will and Much, and takes these well known and beloved characters and reinvents them.Will Scarlet, formally known as Will Shackley, is the heir to his father's estate. He is in training to become a lord, and has had to grow up more quickly than most boys because his father is away fighting in King Richard's war. Much, the miller's "son," is actually the miller's daughter and in hiding with the Merry Men in Sherwood forest. Eventually, their paths cross and so begins their adventure. Many other popular characters are also present, including Robin, John Little, Guy of Gisbourne, the Sheriff of Nottingham, and Prince John.I've read a book where Will is actually a girl in disguise, so it was interesting to see Much as the girl pretending to be a boy. Although Will believes Much is a boy, there is definitely a certain connection between them that neither shares with any of the other Merry Men. I'm glad that the romance aspect wasn't played up too much though and is just mentioned in passing since they're only 13 and 14. There's no need to force a romance between two children who have just entered their teen years. I love how protective they are of each other though, and I really liked how they kept each others secrets without having a real need to. Their chemistry is great, and it was refreshing to read about two kids who develop a friendship slowly and in spite of their differences.This book took me a little while to get in to, mostly because of all the setup in the beginning. The first section is all about Will and gives his background (or at least the parts of it leading up to his need to flee). It is a little slow, but most of the information ends up being necessary to either Will's development or to the plot so it ends up being alright if you can get through it. After we meet the Merry Men, things pick up and the book goes by much more quickly.This was definitely a very easy read, and probably way below my reading level, but I think it would be an excellent book for kids who are around the same age as Will and Much. They would be able to relate to them in ways that an older audience really can't, and it's written so that a younger crowd could read and understand what was going on. I wouldn't recommend this for kids much younger than 13 or so though, since there is a lot of fighting, some death, and Rob is a drunkard. I would also recommend this to anyone who is looking for a nice, quick Robin Hood story with new and old characters, and new twists on old favorites. I really enjoyed this retelling, and although I think it's a standalone, I could totally see there being more books in this series! And I would probably read them all. 3/5

Interesting Read! My 12 year old son had to read it for school. I read it also and liked it.

A very good read. Suitable for as young as 4th/5th grade (maybe just a tad graphic for very little ones) but also entertaining for the adults in the family. There is indication that this might just be the first in a series!

Love the point of view of Will Scarlett and Much. Matt Cody knows how to tell a good story. It was hard to put the book down and I wanted more. Will someone make this into a movie and then a series, please?!

An interesting tale about Robinhood. I am always amazed at the clashes in ancient history. Good reading for those who are into history.