Twilight

*Spoiler alert*
Twilight is the story of Bella Swan, a 17 year old girl who has just moved to Washington t o live with her father while her mother travels. when she arrives at her new school, she immediately notices a strange group of people sitting together at lunch. she is told that they are the Cullens,adopted teenagers of Dr. and Mrs.Cullen. In biology, Bella is partnered with Edward Cullen. He instantly appears to hate her and she is understandably confused. Later, he saves her life, then just walks away. increasing her fascination for him. then she goes to the beach and after hearing old legends from an Indian friend, she does some research and decides Edward is a vampire. While in town, he again saves her life from rapists this time, and confirms her theory. After a few more cryptic conversations, she agrees to hang out with him that weekend. So they hang out in a meadow and discuss their feelings all day before going back to her house. he stays over (nothing happens) and the next day he decides to take her to meet his family. So they go and while Bella is watching them play baseball, 3 strange vampires show up. they want to eat Bella. One is an extremely skilled tracker and he'll stop at nothing to eat Bella, so she goes into hiding with 2 of Edward's "siblings" Alice and her life partner Jasper. they stay in Arizona for a few days before the tracker tricks Bella and captures her, then tortures her a bit and is about to kill her when the Cullens show up and kill him. He bit Bella's hand and she could turn into a vampire, but Edward doesn't want her to, so he sucks out the venom and takes her to the prom (after she got out of the hospital) Then she tells him she wants to be a vampire, he says no, they agree to disagree, the end. unfortunately there's more books after this one.
while i thought that the whole idea behind this series was very creative and a great start,it was ruined by several things: THE CHARACTERS-
Bella is the worst. she whines during the entire book from page one, is spineless, seriously lacking in self confidence, self absorbed, needy, and has a weird complex where she doesn't want anyone to die for her and would rather die herself, but keeps putting herself in situations where others have to put themselves in the position to die in an attempt to save her life. Edward is constantly going on about how horrible he is and how many people he killed, and he doesn't deserve to live, it goes on and on. He just cant seem to accept that hes a vampire, done deal.
THE PLOT-
Ok the entire plot seems to revolve around whether Edward loves her or not. she obsesses about it for weeks, analyzing his every move, whining inside her head (does he like me? probably not. its cold, i want to go home, oh ya, i sent myself here so i need to stop complaining before the reader burns this book) Once we finally figure out he loves her, the author throws in the whole little thing with the evil vampire intent on killing Bella in the final few chapters. This seems like more of a main plot thing to me......
THE ROMANCE-
It was sickeningly sweet. they pretty much sat around, staring at each other and debating who was more beautiful, making long, drawn out speeches of their great love and refraining from any intense making out in case Edward looses control and sucks the life out of Bella. Lovely. They seemed more obsessed with each other than in love, they were both extremely jealous and wanted to know what the other was doing all the time.
This book is good for anyone looking for something to read while in a hospital and only other choice is a cookbook. I do not suggest it at all. The only way the movies are better is that they take less time than reading a book, so there's less suffering.

Dead To The World

I have read all the Sookie Stackhouse books except Dead in the Family (im on the county library waiting list) and this is my favorite so far! The plot is really good, the whole fighting evil Were witches/Eric loosing his memory/finding Jason thing really tie together well and make for a good mystery/action/romance.
Sookie is still getting over her recent breakup with Bill the vampire when he announces hes going to Peru. Driving home from work the next day, she spots Eric, another vampire she knows, sprinting down the side of the road, wearing pants and nothing else in the middle of the night in January. So she stops to offer him a ride and discovers that he has amnesia. She brings him back to her house and calls his second-in-commands, Pam and Chow. They show up at the same time as Jason, Sookie's brother, who announces there are posters for Eric's return. Pam and chow offer Sookie $50,000 to hide Eric. she agrees and they explain to her that Were witches who drink vampire blood gave Eric amnesia, as punishment for rudely refusing to give them a fifth of his businesses. To make matters worse, Jason disappears a few days after sleeping with a were-panther girl. will sookie be able to help defeat the witches, save her brother, and keep from falling for this new Eric, a lonely, scared, gentle version?
This was a great book with a great plot, characters,mystery, and romance. as a die-hard fan of Sookie/Eric, i was ecstatic by certain developments with them *wink*. I definitely suggest this book for any fan of this series and Eric.

Alpha

Alpha is the finale in the Shifters series. It was intense, with non stop action and all the characters weve come to know throughout the series. Here is my review:
CHARACTERS: A lot of people hate Faythe with a passion, which i can totally understand. but i like a lot of the bad things about her. it makes her more understandable. and yes, she does act like shes 15, not in her 20's at times, but she is truly a good person, she just isnt like many other paranormal/fantasy female leads who are snarky and caring and quiet and matured beyoned their years at the right times. shes different and not afraid to be herself even f people hate herself and i like that. no, i dont agree with all her decisions, but people make mistakes and shes good bout fixing hers. Marc and Jace. Well. SPOILER!!!!! Faythe asks Marc to marry her at the end, which i thought was very appropriate. hes been there for her always, its time for her to express herself to him a little for once. im all for an equal partnership, so go faythe for stepping up to he plate and finally meeting marc halfway! Jace, well ive never really liked him, but thats a personal preference thing, though i believe marc is a better fit for faythe. he iss her equal. with jace, it seems he more wants to worship faythe. also, character death, im not going to say who, but im sure most of you have guessed by now. it was admittedly, necessary, but poor faythes mom! (she didnt die, by the way).
PLOT:similar to earlier plots, faythe is arrested, calvin malone is involved, the whole shebang devolves into an all out war. the thunderbirds make an appearance, calvin malone has to be stopped for once and for all faythe has to choose her partner, all the loose ends have to be tied.....quite a journey!
OVERALL: overall i liked it. i like faythe, i like her decisions and just her in this book. i liked the plot and i liked the ending. i didnt love it, but it is definitely worth reading. 3.5 stars.

Angel's Blood

I thought that this was overall a wonderful book with a creative, original plot, strong characters, and beautiful writing. My only complaint was that is was a little too much sexuality in it for my taste, but that's just me.
THE PLOT:
The plot was one of my favorite parts of this book. Elena is a born vampire hunter in an alternate New York, where vampires are more powerful than humans, angels are more powerful than vampires, and archangels rule all. Elena can track vampires who have escaped their angel masters by using scent and she is the best hunter in the Hunter's Guild. Raphael is the ruthless, 3,000 year old archangel who rules North America. Raphael has a problem. Another archangel has gone rouge, and means to bathe the world in blood. So Raphael calls on the best tracker in New York, Elena.Elena and Raphael set off around the city after Uram, the rouge archangel. They find many bloody, horrifying scenes and hints are given at a horror in Elena's past. As Elena and Raphael draw closer to finding and destroying Uram, they also find themselves growing closer to each other.
THE CHARACTERS:
The characters were very well developed and you find yourself instantly caring about them. Elena is a strong female lead who can take care of herself, but isn't perfect, either. She has a terrible experience in her past and is deeply scarred by it. Overall, she is a very relate able, likable character. Raphael is an ancient, extremely powerful archangel. He is used to everyone instantly obeying him, until he meets Elena.Raphael is a bit off-putting at first, but he slowly grows on both the reader and Elena as his "humanness" is revealed.There are several great secondary characters as well.
Overall, I thought this was a great book and worth reading. However, I would not recommend it to younger or faint hearted readers, as there is very graphic violence, gore, torture, and sex. The author is extremely talented and writes beautifully, making this book flow very well. I recommend it.

Destiny Kills

I really liked this book. I found myself rereading my favorite scenes over and over. ****SPOILER ALERT****
PLOT:
Destiny, a sea dragon, wakes up naked on a beach next to a dead man. But she has a problem. she has no idea who she is, who the man is, or where she is. I was led to believe from description blurbs that this was a major plot point, but Destiny remembers everything within the first couple of chapters. This was okay with me, because the actual plot was much better. Destiny teams up with her dead lover's brother, Trae, to free her mother and a group of children from a lab in Scotland, on Loch Ness. (And yes, Destiny is one of many "Loch Ness Monsters")
CHARACTERS:
Destiny was thankfully not annoying. She is strong and brave and cares about her family. Trae was the typical yummy male lead. There was a little too much sexual tension to be believable, but it didnt distract from the story. The secondary characters werent very present in the story, so they weren't fleshed out.
OVERALL:
I enjoyed the element of water and air dragons and the different elements they control. This was very well done.the writing was very beautiful, but had just enough humor mixed in.
This was very good overall and I recommend it.

Entice

Entice is the third book in Carrie Jone's Need series. I would definitely suggest reading the earlier books first, otherwise you may be confused.
THE PLOT:
Entice starts literally about 10 minutes after Captivate ends. Zara and her friends go to the school dance, and Zara receives a clue about the location of Valhalla, where her werewolf boyfriend, Nick, has been taken. Since, you know, he happens to be dead. Also, he doesn't know Zara has turned into a pixie, and he despises pixies. But you can't say Zara isn't stubborn. the girl is bent on saving him. so much that nearly the whole book is spent trying to find Valhalla and chasing various dead ends. Meanwhile, Frank the Extra Evil Pixie King, is trying to take over Astley's territory. (Astley is the Good Pixie King...and Zara happens to be his queen.) Frank's pixie minions wreak havoc on Bedford and have kidnapped about 20 teens. This all makes for some excitement and danger in Zara's life.Warning: Entice does end on a mild cliffhanger. Basically, you will be left thinking, "OMG, Whats he going to do?!?!?!" I will say no more :)
THE CHARACTERS:
This was really what made the book worth it for me. I have always been a little iffy about Zara, but with her new pixie skills, she is becoming quite the kicka$$. But while she is becoming stronger when it comes to standing up for herself and confrontations, she still can't see past her wants(saving nick) to the bigger picture(saving the world.) I am hoping she will mature a little more in that sense in the fourth installment. Going over Nick would be a spoiler, so I wont include him, but Zara's other friends haven't changed much. They were not as involved in this book as in others, but it was understandable. Betty was her same old tigerish self, but we were shown a deeper, more human part of Betty at a particularly sad scene, which I thought added to her character. Zara's parents were the worst written characters. We finally meet Zara's mom, who appears to be bipolar. As for her dad....you just have to read it. And then there was Astley. Hot, rich, pixie king, loves Zara, nice guy, spends all his time and energy helping her find Nick, just to make her happy. AND SHE DOESN'T GO FOR HIM?!?!?!?!?!?! luckily, she does eventually learn to trust him, and there are a couple of scenes where things heat up between them. He was by far, the best character.
OVERALL:
This book was not nearly as strong as its predecessors, but it had its moments. The writing has also dramatically improved. The childishness has all but disappeared, and the detail was far more, well, detailed. Overall, I would recommend it to fans as part of the series, but not as a stand alone novel.

The Lost Saint

The Lost Saint is the second book in the Dark Divine (series? trilogy?)and means to set the bar for the third book quite high.
THE PLOT:
The book starts about 10 months after The Dark Divine left off. Grace is a werewolf, Daniel is cured, and Jude is MIA. Daniel is training Grace, and they are happier than ever. But this doesn't last. Soon, Grace is receiving cryptic messages from what appears to be Jude and Daniel is keeping secrets and pulling away from Grace. But Grace has a few secrets of her own...Such as she's been training with bad boy Talbot and looking for Jude. But soon, Grace is losing control and Daniel is hiding something huge. Will the wolf consume Grace? Will Daniel's secret destroy him?
THE CHARACTERS:
One thing I really liked about this book was that, essentially, the characters were still themselves. Yes, Grace was a little wilder and angrier, and Daniel slightly less tortured (note the slightly), but they were still true to who they really are, which I was happy about. Jude, however, is another story. That boy is the weakest, most spineless idiot in the book. Isn't there any glimmer of the old Jude left? I'm beginning to be unsure. Another character I would like to make note of is April. I don't know if I want to shake that girl or buy her a neon traffic safety vest. Probably both. Her bubbly girlishness has a tendency to border more on annoying 6 year old than cute at times, but she does provide comic relief,(bedazzled stake, LOL) which is needed in such an emotionally packed book.
OVERALL:
Overall, I would say that this book is a great addition to the Dark Divine books. The writer continues with her lovely writing in this book, fans of the first book will not be disappointed. The scenes were well planned, the characters fully fleshed out, and the emotions were charged. Beautiful! 4.5 stars.

Vampire Academy

Vampire Academy is the first in a TRULY great series you dont want to miss out on.
THE PLOT:
Rose Hathaway is a dhamphir(vampire/human) who is best friends with Lissa. a Moroi (good, magical vampire) Princess. Add to the fact that they are on the run, Strigoi(evil, stereotypical vampires) are after them, and you've got a story! However, Lissa and Rose get caught and hauled back to school within the first chapter. There are secrets hanging over Lissa and Rose, deadly secrets from their past that they ran to escape from. But it seems someone at St. Vladamir's Academy knows their secrets. All this is stressful enough for Rose without the daily rigors of looking out for Lissa, regular classes, and guardian training with her mentor, who she just may be in love with.....
THE CHARACTERS:
Lissa and Rose are the main characters. Lissa is tall, pale, blonde, gentle, and kind. Rose is darker, curvier, reckless, argumentative, and sarcastic. The story is told from Rose's POV, which is awesome since she is definitely the best character. Yes, she is reckless and sarcastic and has been known to break people's bones. But she also is dedicated to Lissa and being a guardian. She isn't afraid of hard work and will do anything for those she loves. Lissa is her polar opposite, and therefore balances Rose out nicely. Then theres Rose's mentor, Dmitri. Seven years older, badass guardian, ripped Russian.....its no wonder Rose cant help having some feelings for him. Despite all this, he is a person too. He feels pain, he cares, he makes mistakes. There are also some great secondary characters who are well fleshed out.
OVERALL:
Overall, this book is beautifully written, with well executed scenes and enough humor to balance out the intensity. This is basically a gritty, badass, sexy vampire book with great characters and an original take on vampires. There are some alcohol/almost sex/drugs/cussing in this book, so I wouldn't recommend to younger readers. 5 stars.

Firelight

Firelight is the first novel in it's series. While the idea was very original and could have made a wonderful book, Firelight fell into the pit of Unrealistic Star-crossed Lovers.
THE PLOT:
Jacinda is a draki(human/dragon) who is a rare fire breather, making her valuable to her Pride. She hates this role, but it still loyal to the Pride. One morning, Jacinda and a friend decide to go on a morning flight, which is strictly against the rules. Apparently, it's against the rules for a reason, because a group of dragon hunters immediately spots them and gives chase. Jacienda is forced to hide in a cave, where a young, attractive hunter finds her....and lets her go. Jacinda's life may have been spared, but the pride knows what she has done, and they aren't happy. To protect them, Jacinda's mother takes her and her sister away to the desert, where they will live as humans and Jacinda's draki side will eventually die. But at school, she meets the hunter who lets her go. Suddenly, Jacinda has an incentive to stay. Will she find true love? Or will all her secrets crash down around her?
THE CHARACTERS:
Jacinda was not a great character. She seemed very selfish and childish, especially in the way she treated her mother, who was sacrificing a lot to keep her safe. She became angry with her sister for wanting this life, and was convinced everything they did was some elaborate plot against her. Speaking of her sister.....Tamra is Jacinda's twin, and just as immature. She never "manifested" so she's happy with the move. She at first tries to get Jacinda happy about it, but soon becomes jealous and indulges in stupid behavior just to rub it in Jacinda's face. I felt sorry for their mother. Then there's Jacinda's hunter, Will. Basically, Jacinda and Will avoid each other, then make out, then avoid each other, then decide they are in love, one avoids the other, and so on and so forth. Will seems like a nice guy, just not willing to stand up for his beliefs. Also, their whole relationship seems far more based on lust than trust and friendship. It just seemed forced and rushed.
OVERALL:
This book was written in a lyrical style, but it occasionally didn't work and bordered on melodramatic. And like I said, I loved the idea of Draki, but the plot and characters made this book fall flat. 2 stars.

Magic Burns

Magic Burns is the 2nd installment in the Kate Daniel's series, by Ilona Andrews. This can be read as a stand alone novel, but I would suggest reading the previous book to clear up the backstory.
THE PLOT:
In a futuristic world where Magic and Technology rise and fall, shapeshifters, vampires and any other sort of magical beastie imaginable prowl the streets of Atlanta,Kate Daniels is working as a liaison for the Order of the Knights of Merciful Aid and the Mercenary Guild. The pay is better, but the job hasn't gotten any less demanding. But things really pile up on Kate's plate when the local shapshifting pack asks for help finding a set of stolen maps, Kate somehow finds herself with a 12 year old kid, and a mysterious bowman keeps popping up to cause trouble. Not to mention the fact that a flare is coming, and that can only mean one thing: trouble.
THE CHARACTERS:
Kate is as wonderful as ever. With her sword, hilarious thoughts, and caring/violent personality, Kate is one of the best characters in Urban Fantasy. Several new characters were introduced, and old characters made a reappearance. One of the great things about this book is how fleshed out the secondary characters are. They are real people with their own stories and the reader comes to care for them.
OVERVIEW:
Overall, this book is a beautifully written addition to the Kate Daniels series. The twisting plot was fast paced and there were few to none grammatical errors to distract from the writing. 5 stars.

Clockwork Prince

Cassandra Clare has done it again with Clockwork Prince, the second book in the Infernal Devices trilogy.
Tessa, Will, Jem, and the others at the Institute are on a 2 week deadline to find the Magister, or risk losing the Institute. Tessa continues to be tempted by both Will and Jem, and she painfully tries to unravel how she feels about them. Secondary characters are further fleshed out, new motives are revealed, and danger waits around every corner.
I thought that Tessa was more likable in this book than in Clockwork Angel. She seemed more sure of herself, quicker to speak out. Some of Will's carefully erected shields are torn down, and we get a look at the real William Herondale. (just as hot as the fake one, I promise!) Jem, like Tessa, appears less complacent and a little more fiery in this book, which I greatly enjoyed. We also delve further into Jessamine and Charlotte's histories. Overall, this book is just as good as Clockwork Angel, with a double dose of romance, danger, demons, and downworlders.
On a closing note, one of my favorite things about this series is the writing. For example, in Clockwork Angel, I never knew taking off a glove could be one of the most emotional, seductive, intimate scenes that could be written. Well, Cassandra Clare did it, and Clockwork Prince is just as beautiful.
I HIGHLY recommend this book.

Born At Midnight

Born at Midnight is the first in what promises to be an excellent series. (very mild spoilers. Nothing is given away that is not in the blurb.)
THE PLOT: Kylie is a normal teenager with normal problems. Her parents are getting a divorce, her boyfriend was cheating on her, and she's starting to feel distanced from her hard-partying best friend. But then Kylie starts seeing a mysterious man no one else seems to notice. Seems Kylie isn't so normal after all. Soon she's sent to Shadow Falls camp, a place for troubled teens. But it turns out these teens aren't troubled, but they are fairies, witches, werewolves, vampires, and many other supernatural beasties. Kylie isn't buying into it, but they insist that Kylie is like them. Supernatural. To make things more complicated, there are two hot boys competing for her heart. Kylie just may be in over her head...
THE CHARACTERS: I really liked Kylie. It helped that she was physically similar to me, (short, long blonde hair), but it was just her that won me over. She's smart and tough and stands up for herself, but she makes mistakes and can be painfully stubborn. She really cares about her friends and is not afraid to speak up in their defense. Kylie's friends, Miranda and Della, were really well done. They weren't cardboard cutouts, and each had their own story and hang-ups. Kylie's two romantic interests, Derek and Lucas, were also beautifully done. They both were very different boys, but you can't help but root for them both. The other minor characters were also very likeable. No cardboard cut-outs in this book!
OVERALL: Overall, this is a fantastically written book about supernaturals with very human emotions. The entire book feels very relateable. The writing was well done and fast-paced without sounding repetitive. i highly recommend this book. 5 stars.

Fallen In Love

Fallen In Love is a set of four stories set on Valentine's Day in the Fallen world.
THE PLOT: These four stories about our most beloved Fallen characters will make you smile and cry. Tragedy, sacrifice, sweet moments, and true love fill these stories set in medieval England.
THE CHARACTERS: It was really great to see a bit into the past of Arriane and Roland, despite the heart-wrenchingness of their stories. Shelby and Miles were adorable, and Daniel and Luce were....just perfect. The chararcters all remained true to themselves and we learned a bit more about everyone, particularly the angels.
OVERALL: A beautiful, heart-breaking, tender book about love. The writing is as fantastic as ever and as an extra bonus, a sneak peek of Rapture is included. 4 stars.

Frost Moon

Frost Moon, by Anthony Francis, is the first book in the Skindancer series.
THE PLOT: Dakota Frost is the best magical tattoo artist in Atlanta. But this Atlanta is crawling with vampires, shapeshifters,witches and those who straddle the edge of both worlds. Edgeworlders like Dakota. But when a werewolf asks Dakota to do a suspicious tattoo for him, Dakota is dragged over the edge she's straddled for so long. Throw in some secret agent men, vampires with fetishes, a bratty werecat, and some very high stakes and dangerous people and you've got a fast paced, addictive read.
THE CHARACTERS: Dakota was, for the most part, likeable. I liked how the author made her very different from other paranormal heroines. With her mohawk and attitude, Dakota kept her friends and enemies on their toes. Her love interests were well done too. They had feelings and were nice guys, not just drool worthy cardboard cutouts. Dakota's zany array of friends provided comic relief and kept the pages turning between big scenes. The villains were appropriately twisted and creepy. Everyone felt very real, even the vampires :)
OVERALL: Overall, this book was well written and fast paced. My only complaint is that more of a backstory and laying down of the rules could have been provided about Dakota's world, but that is a fairly minor complaint. 4 stars.

I'd Tell You I Love, But Then I'd Have To Kill You

I'd Tell You I Love, But Then I'd Have To Kill You, by Ally Carter, is the first book in the Gallagher Girls series.
THE PLOT: Cammie Morgan is a spy in training. Part of the elite Gallagher school, she goes to class every day to learn things like code breaking, tailing techniques, and combat. Cammie wants nothing else but to be a spy, just like her parents. But while on a trailing mission, she meets Josh, the boy who sees her. Suddenly, Cammie is lying to people she cares about and things are spinning out of control. What life will Cammie choose?
THE CHARACTERS: Cammie was likeable enough. She was smart, determined, and dedicated. She did lie quite a bit, but she ended up sticking to her ideals and staying loyal to her friends, both of which endear her to readers. Josh was a sweet and genuinely nice guy, but it seemed like he often lacked depth or motivation. The secondary characters were well done and provided great contrast. From genius Liz and scatterbrained professors to Britsh Bex and hot secret agent teachers, the secondary characters all added something to the story.
OVERALL: overall, this book was a fun read that stands out in it's genre. I recommend this book. 4 stars.

White Witch

White Witch is the first book in a great new YA paranormal series by Trish Milburn.
THE PLOT: Jax is a witch. But she wishes she wasn't. After the brutal murder of her mother, Jax is sickened by her family's cruelty and tyranny. She runs away in an RV to a small town near the Appalachian mountains. There she meets a pair of cousins, Keller and Toni. Jax and Toni hit it off and are instant friends, but what Jax feels for Keller is much more than friendship. The only problems? Keller hunts supernatural creatures in his spare time, and Jax may be next on his kill list if he finds out her secret and her vengeful family doesn't find her first...
THE CHARACTERS: For the most part, I liked Jax. I liked that she stood up for herself and was intensely loyal to those she cared about. My only complaint is the way the reader is continually reminded how beautiful Jax is, and how boys love her and girls hate her. This made her slightly harder to relate to, but overall, she was a likeable heroine. Keller was a realistic romantic interest, he had his own problems and came across as an actual person, not a "perfect" boyfriend. Secondary characters were very well done as well, and added a lot to the plot, rather than just serving as props.
OVERALL: Overall, this was a well done book. I enjoyed watching Jax fall in love, make friends, and decide who she really wants to be. 4 stars

Scarlet

 

Scarlet, by AC Gaughen, is a fantastic new novel based on the Robin Hood legend.

THE PLOT: Eighteen year old Will Scarlet is one of Robin Hood's closest friends in their outlaw band. He is known by the people of Nottingham for his distinct scar and skill with knives and stealing, but only a select few know the truth, Scarlet is a girl. Scarlet has plenty of problems, what with being an outlaw and her confusing feelings for Robin, but when someone from her mysterious past appears, everything Scarlet has worked for and run from may come crashing down around her. 

THE CHARACTERS: Scarlet was a likeable heroine, despite the fact that she did make some bad decisions. I think that this added to her realisticness, since no one is perfect. She was tough and brave, but had a huge tangle of guilt and caring underneath her hard exterior. Robin and the other members of his band, John and Much, were all very well done, with distinct personalities and backgrounds that made them who they were. The villains were were so much fun to hate, and the romance was perfect, not to sweet and no insta-love!

OVERALL: Overall, this was a beautifully written book by a talented new author. Scarlet's voice is difficult to understand at first, but after a few pages you become accustomed to it and the story flows well. Plenty of action, fight scenes, betrayal, grievous wounds, kissing, and explosions. Scarlet is my new favorite Robin Hood spin-off and i highly recommend it. 5 stars.