This review was first posted on http://www.rubysreads.com. 
 While I have greatly enjoyed the various editions of Robin Hood that I've seen throughout the years, I can't say that I've ever actually read a Robin Hood-themed novel. The primary reason for this is my lack of interest in the romantic pairing. Robin Hood and Marian have never particularly compelling to me--and you know that I've gotta love romance in order to love the story. I've always seen Marian as a kind of ineffectual, inconsequential heroine. In fact, I hesitate to call her a heroine at all. Rather, she personifies the kind of woman the age of chivalry deifies. Women didn't take active roles according to the mores of the time, and that's a concept I can't get behind. 
 All this is to preface this statement: It took a modern author to bring the legend of Robin Hood into the 21st Century. This may seem like a no-brainer, but it wasn't to me. I didn't know I loved the tale of Robin Hood until I read Scarlet. In fact, I don't think I loved Robin Hood at all until I read A.C. Gaughen's interpretation of him. For those two reasons alone, I loved this book. And the really wonderful thing is that it has so much else to offer besides. 
 Scarlet achieves three lofty goals: One, it creates a strong, believable, admirable heroine who remains true to her time period. Two, it seamlessly weaves a new twist into a classic tale. In other words, it uses the good that the tale had to begin with, and makes it even better. Three: It tells a fantastic story. I honestly can't say enough good things about this debut. A.C. Gaughen is an author to stalk, and I sincerely hope to see more of her. Though, I must admit, that I hope she doesn't use dialect in her next book. It's the only thing that kept this book from being a perfect six. 
 5 1/2 Points: 
 I would have this book's babies.