Review: Sisters Red by Jackson Pearce

Title: Sisters Red 

Author: Jackson Pearce

Publisher: Little Brown Books for Young Readers
Publishing Date: June 7th 2010

Pages:  338
Genre:  YA Fairy Tale Retellings

Series: Farytale Retellings #1
Source:  Audio

  

Scarlett March lives to hunt the Fenris--the werewolves that took her eye when she was defending her sister Rosie from a brutal attack. Armed with a razor-sharp hatchet and blood-red cloak, Scarlett is an expert at luring and slaying the wolves. She's determined to protect other young girls from a grisly death, and her raging heart will not rest until every single wolf is dead.

Rosie March once felt her bond with her sister was unbreakable. Owing Scarlett her life, Rosie hunts ferociously alongside her. But even as more girls' bodies pile up in the city and the Fenris seem to be gaining power, Rosie dreams of a life beyond the wolves. She finds herself drawn to Silas, a young woodsman who is deadly with an ax and Scarlett's only friend--but does loving him mean betraying her sister and all that they've worked for?

I love retellings and I loved this book. It’s definitely not the fairytale I remember from childhood. In this story Little Red Riding Hood is not little, not scared, and not alone. Her grandmother may have been killed by the wolf, but he did not get the girl, and she wants revenge. The book was well paced and full of all kinds of goodies... creepy wolves, kick butt heroines, and of course romance. 

This story is a retelling of Little Red Riding Hood. Two girls, sisters, at night they hunt werewolf creatures with their childhood friend Silas.  The sisters grandmother was killed by a wolf when they were young and after finding out the truth, that werewolves are real, they take matters into their own hands. They live their life for one reason only, to hunt the wolves. The book follows the sisters as they hunt but also as they find themselves and define their relationships. A bit of mystery too.

This book is well paced and written beautifully. The narrators did a wonderful job portraying the characters and I felt connected to each and every one of them. I fell in love with all three of the characters and felt that even though the story was unique and thrilling, the character building was what rocked my world. 

Little Red Riding Hood is played by Scarlett March. I really liked Scarlett. She is smart, she is brave, and she can really kick butt. Scarlett came out scarred physically and mentally from the attack she and her sister, Rosie, survived in early childhood. She believes she is no longer beautiful which leaves her to believe she will never find anyone to love her. She doesn’t mind so much, she has a mission in life, to kill as many werewolves a she can. She is also not alone, she has her sister Rosie and her best friend Silas. Together they keep girls in their small town safe from attacks.

Rosie March is also strong and brave and can kick butt, the only difference is that she is not scarred physically or mentally from their childhood attacks. She wants to have a life a beyond hunting and more importantly she knows who she wants to have this life with, Silas.

Silas is stuck between the sisters. He respects Scarlett and what she does but he also knows that Rosie heart is set on living as normal of life as she can. Silas also notices that Rosie has grown up and he is not sure if he can stop seeing her as Scarlett’s little sister and start treating her like the young woman she has become.

The story is also spectacular and I think it was possibly the most unique retelling I have had the pleasure of reading. Dark, creepy, and mysterious. Just the way Little Red Riding Hood was meant to be. The writing was wonderful, flowed well, and was beautiful. I loved the writing style. It wasn't hard to get into and wasn't hard to follow. It was just all love. 

The story started off with bang and ended killer.  I loved all the moments in between and I can't wait to read more.