Thanks to NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to read a digital ArC of "Will in Scarlet" by Matthew Cody. "Will in Scarlet" was published on September 25, 2013. Although I read it years ago, I did not write a review for a book I thoroughly enjoyed.

"Will in Scarlet" is the retelling of the classic tale of Robin Hood. His father, Lord Shackley, is on a crusade with King Richard. Alas, the Shackley household falls, so young 13-year-old Will runs away and joins a gang of banditos called the Merry Men. This swashbuckling saga has plenty of adventure and lovable, flamboyant characters. Long live Will Scarlet!

Thank you for the egalley to read and give an honest review.
GIVE ME ALL THE RETELLINGS. I just love them. So of course reading this summary I had to grab this one and see what it was all about. I love that it's a middle grade, as well. I haven't seen many retellings for this age group.
First, the setting. It's fun and epic. The author layers the world with many historical nuances to make it so the story truly feels like you're in the time of Robin Hood. Fight scenes, swashbuckling, robbery, and even a bit of romance round the story out well.
Will is a loveable character with flaws (as any 13 year old would be). He is believable and shows a good amount of growth and maturing during the story.
I love that the author still incorporates all the characters we know well from the original Robin Hood story: Merry Men, the sheriff, and Robin's (Will's) trusty side kick!
Like the classic, this story brings in political and social rebellion along with social reform.
Enjoyed!

I really enjoyed this alternative telling of Robin Hood. It was realistic while imagining a different start to the legend of Robin Hood. I received a free copy in return for an honest review.

Where I found it: Another from the NetGalley backlog

Why I picked it up: I love Robin Hood, and retellings, and especially Robin Hood retellings from one of the non-Robin characters. What’s It All About? This is the story of young Will Shackley, heir to Shackley House. His father, gone to fight beside King Richard, leaves his brother Geoff in charge as regent and protector. But Shackley House, like England, has not been the same since King Richard and his best lords have gone to fight in their war. Prince John is trying to take over, and he is testing the lords to see which ones might be loyal to him. He sends Sir Guy, a knight feared across the realm, to test the waters of Shackley house. They are warned by their friend, the Sheriff of Nottingham, to use diplomacy for their own safety. However, Sir Guy sets up young Will, brings the Sheriff with his men, and finds an excuse to attack. His family shattered and scattered, Will finds himself alone on the road and soon kidnapped by a group of brigands known as the Merry Men. He claims the name Will Scarlet, a lower position in the keep, and spins a tale of treasure. Once inside the castle, Will can think only of revenge. The Merry Men get separated, and Will has to make several quick choices. Soon, he is in too deep and cannot go back to his former life. But having seen what life outside of Shackley's walls is like, does he even want his old life back?

My thoughts: This was a great new take on the Robin Hood myth, with all the familiar faces (Robin, Little John, Will, Much, and Watt). The parallel between Shackley House and England is a clever way to show what Prince John was doing, even though he factors little into the story itself.  Will's sheltered life explodes and the aftershocks continue as he realizes that the people on his land are living at a much lower standard than he expected. The lessons that Will learns, about the people who live outside the protection of the keep, about how people with power mostly help themselves (even his father), and about how an honest man can be turned to a life of crime. I love the spin Cody put on Much's character and on Robin himself. This was a solid retelling, and I think the story is perfect for middle grade kids (its intended audience), especially to show them that life isn't always what you see or experience, and that kindness and generosity always have a place in this world. The storytelling was fantastic, the pacing was great, and the characters were more rounded than in many of the legend's retellings. And with all of that, it is a fast, fun read that I will definitely return to again, likely when my TinyHuman is ready to read this. 

Genre: Historical, legends, retellings
Themes: Family, duty, revenge, justice, love, friendship
Recommended For: Readers who enjoy retellings, legendary figures, and adventure stories with great characters. 

Will be published at https://tichwi.ninja/2023/01/16/book-review-35-will-in-scarlet/ on January 16, 2023

This was a fun new spin on the classic Robin Hood tale. I would definitely be interested in a sequel. This would most likely appeal to grades 5-7.

This book was pulled from my Nook before I could read it back in 2013. I don't want to add a rating but it doesn't allow me to submit the review without one.

What an interesting story to be read here. Its the origin of Robin Hood and how he got his band of merry men. Lots of action and humor as well,

Thirteen year old Will Shackley is the son of a lord. But his father is fighting in the crusades with King Richard the Lionheart and his home becomes a site for a local power struggle. Young Will is no match for those uprooting the communities and so he flees into the nearby Sherwood Forest where he becomes acquainted with a group of bandits. The outlaws are suspicious of Will, dressed in fine clothes, and prepare to dispatch him when he offers them access to riches in his family home. Slowly Will earns the trust of the Sherwood Forest outlaws so that he becomes one of their gang.
This was a really solid story.
The characters, of course, are familiar to most as the people in the Robin Hood myths - they are all here: Little John, Robin, Much, the Sheriff of Nottingham. But author Matthew Cody lets us see them through the eyes of one of the other, often unexplored characters. This is a not an uncommon method, but it works so brilliantly here. We not only get the Robin Hood myth, but we get a deeper understanding of some of the other characters.
One of the interesting and clever changes to the myths (and the myths themselves are slightly different with each retelling through the ages) is with Much the Miller's Son. Here Much is a girl in disguise (for her own safety, of course) and perhaps more suspicious of Will than the others (her secret has often led to her being more aware of the people around her). But Much and Will will manage to find common ground.
Cody delivers just the right amount of action in this middle grade read, combining clever story-telling with the action today's readers expect to keep them engaged. This is an all-around winner and although it's been out for a few years now, this is the sort of book one can point to when a reluctant young reader wants something.
Looking for a good book? Will in Scarlet by Matthew Cody is a strong middle grade read with familiar characters from a unique point of view and plenty of action.
I received a digital copy of this book from the publisher, through Netgalley, in exchange for an honest review.

This was a fantastic retelling/origin story for Robin Hood! Lots of fun characters and a really great story that sucks you in from the beginning. The relationships between the characters are well-thought-out and fun to read (especially the interactions between Will and Much - I think Much was my favorite). I could see this getting a sequel, in fact I kind of hope it does.

I quite enjoyed this Robin Hood retelling! While much of the story was recognizable from the original legends, the author put a fun twist on things, and made the story much more realistic. This would be a good one for any kid who loves adventure and re-told stories, or any Robin Hood fan.

I love the story of Robin Hood and tend to be drawn to this type of historical fiction. I think this book is not for reluctant readers, however - the depth and detail could be daunting to more casual readers. I enjoyed it, but I am an adult who likes such historical, detailed adventures.

Well, I was expecting werewolves and action. I got no werewolves and very little action. Will in Scarlet featured medieval politics a bit too much for my liking, but I think that it would be good for children who might become Game of Thrones readers as adults. Biggest disappointment: no Maid Marian. Some parts moved extremely slowly (but that might have been my aversion to medieval politics) which surprised me because children and teen books usually move quickly. Others flew by. Overall, it was ok - definitely not one of my favorites. However, I would recommend it to someone looking for something in this genre.