Tuesday 12 July 2011

Sisters Red by Jackson Pearce

  • Paperback: 368 pages
  • Publisher: Hodder Children's Books (7 April 2011)
  • Language English
  • ISBN-10: 9781444900606
  • ISBN-13: 978-1444900606
A modern re-telling of Little Red Riding Hood

The story of Scarlett and Rosie March, two highly-skilled sisters who have been hunting Fenris (werewolves) - who prey on teen girls - since Scarlett lost her eye years ago while defending Rosie in an attack. Scarlett lives to destroy the Fenris, and she and Rosie lure them in with red cloaks (a colour the wolves can't resist), though Rosie hunts more out of debt to her sister than drive. But things seem to be changing. The wolves are getting stronger and harder to fight, and there has been a rash of news reports about countless teenage girls being brutally murdered in the city. Scarlett and Rosie soon discover the truth: wolves are banding together in search of a Potential Fenris - a man tainted by the pack but not yet fully changed. Desperate to find the Potential to use him as bait for a massive werewolf extermination, the sisters move to the city with Silas, a young woodsman and long time family friend who is deadly with an axe. Meanwhile, Rosie finds herself drawn to Silas and the bond they share not only drives the sisters apart, but could destroy all they've worked for.

Cover:  This is a great, clever cover and also striking with the black and shiny red.

Plot: Two sisters hunt down the Fenris, wolves that changed their lives forever when one killed their grandmother and seriously scared Scarlett.  When they find out that the wolves are searching for more than beautiful young girls to devour, the Potential.  A rare boy that during a certain moon phase can become a Fenris.  They want to beat the wolves to him.
Silas, a boy they've known since childhood returns after a year away and he starts to notice Rosie in a different way. Is Silas and Rosie's attraction for each other going to drive the sisters apart, or will the fact that they're ultimately different do that?


Characters:

Scarlett- The older sister.  After she was scarred by the Fenris protecting her younger sister, the hunt has become her life to the point that it consumes her.  She feels that herself, her sister and Silas have the responsibility to protect people from the Fenris because they know about them when others don't.  Wants her sister to fight with her but then won't let her fight solo.

Rosie- The younger sister.  Doesn't hunt with the all consuming need that Scarlett does, but rather she does it to feel close to her sister.  She feels that she owes her sister for saving her and so doesn't always do what she wants to do.  She's hesitant with her feelings for Silas for this reason.

Silas- Comes from a family of woodsmen that know about and fight the Fenris.  He was Scarlett's hunting partner before leaving for a year to visit his Uncle.  He wants more in his life than hunting, for example he wants to learn how to play guitar (Scarlett really doesn't understand this).  When he comes back and sees Rosie again he's attracted to her.

Writing Style: The story is told in alternating chapter perspectives of both Scarlett and Rosie which really gives the reader insight in to the thoughts, feelings and personalities of both sisters.

Rating: 3.5/5 stars.  I really liked the overall plot and Jackson Pearce has succeeded in updating Little Red Riding Hood into a contemporary YA paranormal romance.  Once I got past the prologue I quickly got hooked and it was a fast and enjoyable read but I sometimes found myself frustrated with Scarlett, finding her jealousy and selfish feelings, while sometimes understandable I just found that it made me dislike her.  However I loved the romance between Silas and Rosie, and that while the attraction was instant, I liked that it was hesitant and gradual.  
I would definitely recommend this book for fans of the YA paranormal romance genre, especially if you like twists on classic tales.



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