Scarlet (The King Raven, Book 2)

Scarlet (The King Raven, Book 2)
by Stephen R. Lawhead

Scarlet (The King Raven, Book 2)
List Price: $16.99
Our Price: $6.15
You Save: $10.84 (64%)
Availability: Usually ships in 24 hours
Buy Used: from $0.72 (click here)
Category: Book
See more book details and other editions


or

Book Summary Information

Author: Stephen R. Lawhead
Edition: Paperback
Audio: English (Unknown); English (Original Language); English (Published)
Published: 2008-06-10
ISBN: 159554089X
Number of pages: 464
Publisher: Thomas Nelson
Product features:
  • ISBN13: 9781595540898
  • Condition: New
  • Notes: BRAND NEW FROM PUBLISHER! 100% Satisfaction Guarantee. Tracking provided on most orders. Buy with Confidence! Millions of books sold!

Book Reviews of Scarlet (The King Raven, Book 2)

Book Review: Another good tale by Lawhead
Summary: 4 Stars

Scarlet, the second book in Stephen Lawhead's King Raven Trilogy focuses on Will Scatlocke ("Scarlet"), a disillusioned forester who goes searching for, finds, and joins King Raven's infamous band of thieves. During one of their exploits, Will is caught, sentenced to hang, and thrown into prison where he is asked to tell his story to a priest in hopes that he'll let slip some information that will help sheriff Guy of Gysborne find and defeat the robbers. Thus, most of the story is told in past tense from Will Scarlet's perspective.

Even though the pace is slower than in Hood and we're not much concerned that Will might actually hang, Lawhead still spins us a fine yarn -- the story is thoroughly entertaining. And, as usual, we are not just entertained, but enlightened as we get a real feel for the period -- the tyranny of the Freinc, the corruption of the church, the suffering and stubbornness of the Britons. This is what Stephen Lawhead does so well.

The characterization is mostly well done. The male characters are all three-dimensional, life-like, and immediately likeable. However, the female characters, most notably Merian and Will's love-interest, Noin, remain flat (I have noticed this lack of attention to female characters in some of Lawhead's previous books). These were strong women whose presence was important to the plot, but whose personalities and motivations were never explored.

For example, Bran kidnapped Merian at the end of Hood, and in this sequel she is at his side. Will relates a few observations about their relationship, but we are never sure exactly what that relationship is and whether or not Merian wants to be there or not. I'm sure that Lawhead's intention was to leave this vague, but I found it frustrating (especially since I wondered if Merian knew, or cared, that her family thought she was dead) and wished for a chapter or two from Bran and/or Merian's perspective. Likewise, I wasn't completely convinced about Will and Noin's relationship because I wasn't told anything from Noin's perspective.

Again, I listened to this installment in audiobook format. It was the same reader (Adam Verner) who did Hood and I have the same comments: he's got a pleasant and enthusiastic tone, but some of his accents and character voices made me chuckle. If you can listen past that, it's a good format. --FanLit.net

Summary of Scarlet (The King Raven, Book 2)

After losing everything he owns, forester Will Scarlet embarks on a search for none other than King Raven, whose exploits have already become legendary. After fulfilling his quest--and proving himself a skilled and loyal companion--Will joins the heroic archer and his men.

Now, however, Will is in prison for a crime he did not commit. His sentence is death by hanging--unless he delivers King Raven and his band of cohorts.

That, of course, he will never do.

Wales is slowly falling under the control of the invading Normans, and King William the Red has given his ruthless barons control of the land. In desperation, the people turn to King Raven and his men for justice and survival in the face of the ever-growing onslaught.

From deep in the forest they form a daring plan for deliverance, knowing that failure means death for them all.

Scarlet continues Stephen R. Lawhead's riveting saga that began with the novel Hood, which relocated the legend of Robin Hood to the Welsh countryside and its dark forests. Steeped in Celtic mythology and the political intrigue of medival Britain, Lawhead's trilogy conjures up an ancient past and holds a mirror to contemporary realities. Prepare for an epic tale that dares to shatter everything you thought you knew about Robin Hood.

Wales Books

Book Subjects
Most talked about in Wales Books
The Kellys and the O'Kellys: Or Landlords and Tenants (The World's Classics) ImageThe Kellys and the O'Kellys: Or Landlords and Tenants (The World's Classics)
by Anthony Trollope
Oxford University Press, USA; Published: 1982-08-26; Paperback; Book
Best price: $14.61
Hanes Cymru (Welsh Edition) ImageHanes Cymru (Welsh Edition)
by J Davies
Penguin Books; Published: 2007-01-25; Paperback; Book
Best price: $17.67
Battleship: The Loss of the Prince of Wales and the Repulse ImageBattleship: The Loss of the Prince of Wales and the Repulse
by Martin Middlebrook, Patrick Mahoney
Penguin UK; Published: 1994-02; Paperback; Book
Price in other shops: $17.95
The History of Scottish Literature: 1660-1800 (History of Scottish Literature,) Vol. 2 ImageThe History of Scottish Literature: 1660-1800 (History of Scottish Literature,) Vol. 2
Aberdeen Univ Pr; Published: 1987-10; Hardcover; Book
Price in other shops: $39.95
A Resurrection of a Kind ImageA Resurrection of a Kind
by Christopher Rush
Aberdeen Univ Pr; Published: 1984-12; Paperback; Book
Price in other shops: $8.80
Scotland and the Lowland Tongue: Studies in the Language and Literature of Lowland Scotland ImageScotland and the Lowland Tongue: Studies in the Language and Literature of Lowland Scotland
Pergamon Pr; Published: 1983-09; Hardcover; Book
Best price: $31.50
Roses Round the Door ImageRoses Round the Door
by Christine Mari Fraser
Harpercollins; Published: 1986-06-12; Paperback; Book
London Calling ImageLondon Calling
by Sukhdev Sandhu
Harper Collins; Published: 2003-09-01; Hardcover; Book
Best price: $238.98
Macbeth (Shakespeare in Production) ImageMacbeth (Shakespeare in Production)
by William Shakespeare
Cambridge University Press; Published: 2004-06-28; Paperback; Book
Best price: $35.41
Price in other shops: $38.00
Here Be Dragons ImageHere Be Dragons
by Sharon Kay Penman
Ballantine Books; Published: 1993-05-11; Paperback; Book
Best price: $4.73
Price in other shops: $15.95
Similar Books and other products
Tuck (The King Raven Trilogy) ImageTuck (The King Raven Trilogy)
by Stephen R. Lawhead
Thomas Nelson; Published: 2009-02-17; Hardcover; Book
Best price: $2.75
Price in other shops: $26.99
Taliesin (The Pendragon Cycle, Book 1) ImageTaliesin (The Pendragon Cycle, Book 1)
by Stephen R. Lawhead
Harper Voyager; Published: 1990-01-01; Mass Market Paperback; Book
Best price: $4.40
Price in other shops: $7.99
Pendragon (The Pendragon Cycle, Book 4) ImagePendragon (The Pendragon Cycle, Book 4)
by Stephen R. Lawhead
Harper Voyager; Published: 1995-09-01; Mass Market Paperback; Book
Best price: $4.25
Price in other shops: $7.99
Arthur (The Pendragon Cycle, Book 3) ImageArthur (The Pendragon Cycle, Book 3)
by Stephen R. Lawhead
Harper Voyager; Published: 1990-06-01; Mass Market Paperback; Book
Best price: $3.43
Price in other shops: $7.99
Grail (The Pendragon Cycle, Book 5) ImageGrail (The Pendragon Cycle, Book 5)
by Stephen R. Lawhead
Harper Voyager; Published: 1998-06-01; Mass Market Paperback; Book
Best price: $3.00
Price in other shops: $7.99
Merlin (The Pendragon Cycle , Book 2) ImageMerlin (The Pendragon Cycle , Book 2)
by Stephen R. Lawhead
Harper Voyager; Published: 1990-04-01; Mass Market Paperback; Book
Best price: $3.00
Price in other shops: $7.99
Tuck (The King Raven Trilogy) ImageTuck (The King Raven Trilogy)
by Stephen R. Lawhead
Thomas Nelson; Published: 2009-02-17; Hardcover; Book
Best price: $5.14
Price in other shops: $26.99
Hood (The Raven King, Book 1) ImageHood (The Raven King, Book 1)
by Stephen R. Lawhead
Thomas Nelson; Published: 2007-06-05; Paperback; Book
Best price: $1.78
Price in other shops: $15.99
Hood (The King Raven Trilogy, Book 1) ImageHood (The King Raven Trilogy, Book 1)
by Stephen R. Lawhead
Thomas Nelson; Published: 2008-04-08; Mass Market Paperback; Book
Best price: $1.89
Price in other shops: $7.99
Tuck (The King Raven Trilogy) ImageTuck (The King Raven Trilogy)
by Stephen R. Lawhead
Thomas Nelson; Published: 2009-12-15; Paperback; Book
Best price: $1.98
Price in other shops: $16.99