Scarlet - King Raven - Book 2 [Import] [Paperback]

Stephen R. Lawhead (Author)

Product Details

• Paperback: 448 pages
• Publisher: Thomas Nelson Inc. (2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 190565412X
• ISBN-13: 978-1905654123
• Product Dimensions: 8.3 x 5.3 x 1.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (61 customer reviews)

More About the Author

Stephen R. Lawhead is a prolific and bestselling author of mythic history and imaginative fiction. He is best known for his King Raven trilogy, a re-telling of the Robin Hood legend, and Pendragon Cycle, centering on the King Arthur legend. Other notable works include the Song of Albion, Celtic Crusades and Dragon King Trilogies, Byzantium, Patrick, Avalon, and the works of science-fiction Dream Thief and Empyrion saga. Lawhead makes his home in Oxford, England, with his wife.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

23 of 24 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars 4 1/2 Stars...Leaves Us Hanging, September 20, 2007

By 

Eric Wilson "novelist" (Nashville, TN United States) - See all my reviews
(TOP 100 REVIEWER)   

This review is from: Scarlet (The King Raven Trilogy, Book 2) (Hardcover)

If you're a Stephen Lawhead fan, you need to catch his spin on the classic Robin Hood tale. Obviously, he gives it his own historic ambiance, exploring old and new ideas with respect, but without rigidity. If you're not a Lawhead fan...Time to join the bandwagon! Since the Pendragon Cycle and the Song of Albion series, he has consistently given us entertaining and intelligent stories. "Hood" and "Scarlet" only add to his impressive resume.

While last year's "Hood" followed the origins of Lawhead's Welsh Rhi Bran Hud, "Scarlet" takes us into the life of Will Scarlet. From the first page, Lawhead establishes a wonderful character with a literary voice that's consistent, lyrical, and captivating. Will is in prison, awaiting his own hanging. In the meantime, he dictates his story of meeting and pledging fealty to Bran, King Raven. We see wonderful glimpses into medieval life. We become entwined in the political/religious intrigues of the day, and we meet new heroes and villains. From Will's initial archery contest with Bran, to his gallows day, Lawhead wields his pen with attention to detail, character, and plot.

"Scarlet" meanders into a fascinating tale, gives us some romance and action, then ends with a cliffhanger, a perfect bridge into the final book, titled "Tuck." Lawhead is having fun with this trilogy and, to the delight of his readers, it shows.

14 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Easily Lawhead's most mature work, November 11, 2007

By 

Norse Gael "Baroque Norseman" (Louisiana) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Scarlet (The King Raven Trilogy, Book 2) (Hardcover)

I won't tell about the story line because that wouldn't be fair to the reader. I won't ruin it for you. But about the book itself, its style and flow. This book is so much better than *Hood.* The storyline is crisper, its characters so much more mature, and the dialouge is cleare.

The romance is among Lawhead's better renditions. I do fear that some of Lawhead's works tended to repeat themselves (this was especially true in the Pendragon Cycle). Here, the romance is more sensible and realistic. I particularly enjoyed the interplay between Will and Noin. Also, the back and forth between Merian and Bran is better done than in Hood.

I definitely recommend this work as one of Lawhead's more mature writings. Also, be sure to find the soundtrack that goes with it. There is an official King Raven Trilogy soundtrack. Go to Itunes and type in Brian Dunning and Jeff Johnson.

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Anxiously Awaiting TUCK, October 8, 2007

By 

Higgy (USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Scarlet (The King Raven Trilogy, Book 2) (Hardcover)

It's too bad that TUCK has been delayed but at least it isn't altogether canceled. I hope Lawhead makes a full recovery or as full a recovery as nature will allow.

When I read HOOD I have to admit that I began it fully expecting to take in the story with a grain of salt. I was pleasantly surprised that Lawhead could re-imagine the story of Robin Hood and convey his image in a manner that captured me in the first chapter. SCARLET is a sequel that does not disappoint. The character development was flawless and I could feel myself emphathizing with Will "Scarlet" Scatlocke and at least relating with the Sheriff (but not quite empathizing).

The thing I found greatest about this book was that while it's still a story about Robin Hood, it is mostly related as narrative by Will Scatlocke and Will plays as the central character.

Both HOOD and SCARLET are great novels for those interested in a more grown-up version of the story of Robin Hood as well as those that enjoy historical fiction (although I cannot vouch for how historically accurate/inaccurate the books are). They are reminiscent of Mary Stewart's MERLIN TRILOGY in that both sets of books relate fantastic tales of seemingly far-fetched accounts that may or may not have occurred in a manner that, at the least, makes the stories plausible.

These KING RAVEN novels are the first novels I've read by Stephen R. Lawhead so I'm not giving my review based from the standpoint of someone who loves all things Lawhead. Having said, if TUCK is as great as the first two novels in this series, I may become a Lawhead fan after all.