Sisters Red (Fairytale Retellings #1) - Jackson Pearce
Grade: YA
Rating: 5/5 stars
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?
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Fairy tales and myths keep popping up in stories these days. It seems to be popular to retell an old story in new ways. But I'm certainly not going to complain. When a friend of mine told me that 'Sisters Red' was an amazing story, I knew I had to get my hands on it. She was right. The addictive adventure and adorable romance was perfect. I'm so happy I read this book.
Scarlett and Rosie March are sisters who are so connected to each other that it's like they share the same heart, despite being born a few years apart. After an attack from a Fenris (more commonly known as 'werewolves') leaves the March sisters without their grandmother who looks after them, the girls end up beaten, broken and - in Scarlett's case - damaged; but not without the strength to keep fighting. Scarlett takes it upon herself to train with every last breath in her body to be strong enough to defeat any roaming Fenris that visit their town of Ellison. Scarlett feels it is her duty to protect Rosie; while Rosie will do anything to support Scarlett, as she knows she owes her sister her life, even if she feels that there should be more to life than hunting. I adored Scarlett and Rosie's relationship. We get to see inside the mind of both March sisters throughout the story, switching first person point-of-view for each new chapter. The unwavering faith and love they had for each other; that despite what happens in the world, they'll always have a sister to rely on. It was incredible.
'Sisters Red' is a re-imagining of the Little Red Riding Hood fairy tale, a story most people have heard of but probably haven't explored in greater depths. I think that's part of the reason I loved it so much, because it not a tale I've searched for in the past. The wolves in 'Sisters Red' are fairly common in existence, but not common in knowledge. If it hadn't been for their grandmother's death at the beginning of the novel, Rosie and Scarlett would never have been aware of the Fenris. There's a mystery to the Fenris, they are hunting something - someone - the next possible addition to the wolf ranks: The Potential. They're so rare, there is no way of actively tracking them; but Scarlett will stop at nothing to make sure this person does not become the next soulless Fenris. The storyline was fairly predictable. The signs and hints that were thrown into the mix early on weren't hidden too well and I guessed most of what was coming next. But it didn't make me love the book any less. I sometimes really enjoy predicting where a story is heading too next. I feel pretty good about myself. I loved the action and excitement that came with hunting wolves and searching for the mystery Potential. It was very addictive.
What made this book even better was the romance. Another part that could be labelled as predictable, but only because the blurb gives it away. Childhood friend and neighbour, Silas Reynolds joins the sister team as another hunter, but he's not just hunting wolves; he's also hunting Rosie's heart. I adored the Rosie and Silas scenes and I kept holding out for more of them. The heart flutters, the accidental touches, the stolen moments when it was just the two of them; it all made my heart melt and break. These two caused a lot of emotional torture for me, but it was worth it.
I feel like the ending was a little rushed, but that's probably because I loved it too much to let the story end.
Incredible and powerful words. I loved every moment. Jackson Pearce, you rock!
5/5 stars
Kim
(Originally posted on Goodreads)
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