Sisters Red by Jackson Pearce

Hardcover 328 pages
Published June 7th 2010 by Little, Brown Books for Young Readers
seriesFairytale Retellings #1
Rating 3 (2.6)

From Barnes & Noble:
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?

My Review:
It feels good to be back. Things have been hectic lately but I have a review so let's get on with it. I liked the story. It is different enough to keep you reading and familiar enough that you don't lose sight of what story is being retold. The faniliar elements are the red cape, grandma, the woodsman, and the wolf. The wolf even repeats one of the lines of "the better to see you with". The new elements is that Red Riding Hood has a sister, they are wolf hunters, and there's a romance.

The original fairy tale is pretty dark; this one is no exception. The book is very sexual in nature from the reason the wolves chooses their victims to the romance between Rosie and Silas. Speaking of the romance between the two I am surprised by it. The age difference is technically statutory rape. I know other people have issues with the blame the victim aspects of the story (girls who are pretty and dress seductively are asking for it) but for me this was the surprising part of the story for me.

All in all, it's a good fast paced story that will keep you interested to the very end.