Published: May 19th 2015
by Bloomsbury
Rating: 5 out of 5
Rating: 5 out of 5
✤✤✤✤
Available from:
✤✤✤✤
The eagerly-awaited conclusion to the Scarlet trilogy delivers another action-packed and romance-filled adventure.
Scarlet has captured the hearts of readers as well as the heart of Robin Hood, and after ceaseless obstacles and countless threats, readers will finally find out the fate of the Lady Thief.
Imprisoned by Prince John for months, Scarlet finds herself a long way from Nottinghamshire. After a daring escape from the Prince's clutches, she learns that King Richard’s life is in jeopardy, and Eleanor of Aquitaine demands a service Scarlet can’t refuse: spy for her and help bring Richard home safe. But fate—and her heart—won’t allow her to stay away from Nottinghamshire for long, and together, Scarlet and Rob must stop Prince John from going through with his dark plans for England. They can not rest until he’s stopped, but will their love be enough to save them once and for all?
✤✤✤✤
✤✤✤✤
Follow and Like to Read More Bookworm Blogger #YA Reviews:
✤✤✤✤
✤✤✤✤
Synopsis:
The eagerly-awaited conclusion to the Scarlet trilogy delivers another action-packed and romance-filled adventure.
Scarlet has captured the hearts of readers as well as the heart of Robin Hood, and after ceaseless obstacles and countless threats, readers will finally find out the fate of the Lady Thief.
Imprisoned by Prince John for months, Scarlet finds herself a long way from Nottinghamshire. After a daring escape from the Prince's clutches, she learns that King Richard’s life is in jeopardy, and Eleanor of Aquitaine demands a service Scarlet can’t refuse: spy for her and help bring Richard home safe. But fate—and her heart—won’t allow her to stay away from Nottinghamshire for long, and together, Scarlet and Rob must stop Prince John from going through with his dark plans for England. They can not rest until he’s stopped, but will their love be enough to save them once and for all?
✤✤✤✤
Review:
Ms Gaughen really stepped up her game in this, the last book of the Scarlet series, Lion Heart. Everything fell apart at the end of Lady Thief and I'll admit I was surprised it was Scarlet in chains at the end of the book, I really thought that Prince John would find a way to kill Robin. But the unfortunate death of Scarlet's John and that awful ending had me reaching for Lion Heart as soon as I was done to find out what happened next.
At the beginning of Lion Heart Scarlet is in prison for her attempted murder of Prince John. She's been hidden and moved around a few times and is being held by Prince John and his guards. Only one guard is nice to her and that's David. Prince John wants to tell the Queen Mother, Eleanor, that Scarlet is dead. But I think he really wants to gloat to Robin, who is now the legitimate Sheriff of Nottingham. Either way, Prince John gets hold of Eleanor's gift to Scarlet, the moonstone necklace, and he takes off while giving his guards the order to kill Scarlet. That doesn't happen because David is actually one of the Queens guards and has been told to protect Scarlet to the end. He does, and he manages to rescue her and takes her away. Allan, that sneaky Irish bloke, is also on a mission from Robin. In a round about way he discovers David and Scarlet, and the 3 of them begin their journey to find the Queen. Of course what Scarlet really wants to do is go back to Robin but she knows the minute he's aware she's not dead he and Nottingham will be vulnerable again.
Instead, the three discover Prince Johns plan. Queen Eleanor is raising and collecting taxes to free King Richard from prison. And Prince John wants to steal that money, buy himself a French army and make sure Richard never sets foot on English soil again. Prince John wants to be King.
It's a race against the clock. Prince John versus King Richard. And the only way for Prince John's plan to be effective is for Scarlet to be dead. The stakes are now higher than ever. Scarlet must use her newfound rise in station with the nobility and get them to help her defeat Prince John once and for all.
It's fair to say there's a lot going on in Lion Heart but at no time did I feel the story was getting away from me. The plots and sub plots are evenly paced and the writing is thorough if a little lacking in good humour as per the first two books. A very serious stage is set for Lion Heart and the change in Scarlet is apparent from the start. While she might think in her usual common tongue, as in the narrative, her spoke words are now grammatical correct. She not only holds herself high as a noble but is finally being accepted by the high ranking. Scarlet also holds most of the power. In Scarlet, she considered herself a rat and a thief, in Lion Heart she has accepted her role reversal. She is a Princess and as has a heart in exactly the right place. For the good of the people.
The scenes with Robin were almost a pleasant diversion from the main story, Scarlet pitting against Prince John, and their love story battled through the oppression and sailed out the other side. That's not to say it was ever easy for them. Right up to the end they battled for everything they wanted. Love. Happiness. Nottingham. England. There were moments I was sad for them and moments of happiness (the wedding!) Scarlet proved to be one of my favourite heroines who has struggled and fought for everything. She really deserved the best in the end.
A terrific ending to a great series. It'll definitely be one of those I read again and again.
-CBx
At the beginning of Lion Heart Scarlet is in prison for her attempted murder of Prince John. She's been hidden and moved around a few times and is being held by Prince John and his guards. Only one guard is nice to her and that's David. Prince John wants to tell the Queen Mother, Eleanor, that Scarlet is dead. But I think he really wants to gloat to Robin, who is now the legitimate Sheriff of Nottingham. Either way, Prince John gets hold of Eleanor's gift to Scarlet, the moonstone necklace, and he takes off while giving his guards the order to kill Scarlet. That doesn't happen because David is actually one of the Queens guards and has been told to protect Scarlet to the end. He does, and he manages to rescue her and takes her away. Allan, that sneaky Irish bloke, is also on a mission from Robin. In a round about way he discovers David and Scarlet, and the 3 of them begin their journey to find the Queen. Of course what Scarlet really wants to do is go back to Robin but she knows the minute he's aware she's not dead he and Nottingham will be vulnerable again.
Instead, the three discover Prince Johns plan. Queen Eleanor is raising and collecting taxes to free King Richard from prison. And Prince John wants to steal that money, buy himself a French army and make sure Richard never sets foot on English soil again. Prince John wants to be King.
It's a race against the clock. Prince John versus King Richard. And the only way for Prince John's plan to be effective is for Scarlet to be dead. The stakes are now higher than ever. Scarlet must use her newfound rise in station with the nobility and get them to help her defeat Prince John once and for all.
It's fair to say there's a lot going on in Lion Heart but at no time did I feel the story was getting away from me. The plots and sub plots are evenly paced and the writing is thorough if a little lacking in good humour as per the first two books. A very serious stage is set for Lion Heart and the change in Scarlet is apparent from the start. While she might think in her usual common tongue, as in the narrative, her spoke words are now grammatical correct. She not only holds herself high as a noble but is finally being accepted by the high ranking. Scarlet also holds most of the power. In Scarlet, she considered herself a rat and a thief, in Lion Heart she has accepted her role reversal. She is a Princess and as has a heart in exactly the right place. For the good of the people.
The scenes with Robin were almost a pleasant diversion from the main story, Scarlet pitting against Prince John, and their love story battled through the oppression and sailed out the other side. That's not to say it was ever easy for them. Right up to the end they battled for everything they wanted. Love. Happiness. Nottingham. England. There were moments I was sad for them and moments of happiness (the wedding!) Scarlet proved to be one of my favourite heroines who has struggled and fought for everything. She really deserved the best in the end.
A terrific ending to a great series. It'll definitely be one of those I read again and again.
-CBx
✤✤✤✤
About the Author
You can find A.C. Gaughen here:
✤✤✤✤
Follow and Like to Read More Bookworm Blogger #YA Reviews:
 |  |  |  |
 |  |  |  |
✤✤✤✤
No comments:
Post a Comment
I love hearing from fellow readers. Write a message!