Book Review of Sisters Red by Jackson Pearce

Title: Sisters Red

Author: Jackson Pearce

Release Date: June 7th, 2010

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 fiercely alongside her. Now Rosie dreams of a life beyond the wolves and finds herself drawn to Silas, a young woodsman who is deadly with an ax– but loving him means betraying her sister and has the potential to destroy all they’ve worked for.

Summary from Goodreads.com

My Review: I have heard so many good things about this book, so when I opened it up I went in hoping it would be good.  Well, it wasn’t just good it was awesome!!  I loved this book!  The story focuses on two sisters, Rosie and Scarlett March.  Remember Little Red Riding Hood?  These girls take that image to a whole new level.  When they were young the girls were attacked which left Scarlett permanently scarred and Rosie feeling indebted to her for life.  The sisters hunt the Fenris, the “big, bad wolf” on steroids, 24/7 in hopes of riding the world of their evil.    Scarlett is strong, independent and almost has tunnel vision when it comes to killing Fenris, it is what she lives for.  She also remains unattached to almost everything in her life except her sister, Rosie, and her best friend, Silas.  Jackson describes Scarlett by saying “Her body could never allow tears-it isn’t trained for it…” while that may be the case, she is still lovable because of her fierce protection over those she loves.

Rosie is easy to love because it is easy to relate with her.  She loves her sister and wants to fight the Fenris just as much as Scarlett, but she also wants  more, maybe not more, just something that just belongs to her.  She longs for the simple things in life and to have a piece of that life not include hunting.  On the other side of that same need is her desire to please her sister.  She feels as though she owes Scarlett her life and therefore all of her free time must be spent hunting down the evil that threatens to take lives of more innocent girls.  It is this inner struggle that Rosie battles with throughout this story.

One of the biggest themes that comes out of this book is the bond these two sisters share.  Their bond is like no other, they often describe it as a “shared heart”  they feel as though they are one soul that has been split into two bodies and that emotion leaps off the page and into the readers grasp.  I felt how much they cared for each other as the novel progressed and it made me cheer for them even more.

The other major factor in this tale is Silas, a woodsman and hunting partner to Scarlett.  He has been away for a while and upon his return Rosie suddenly catches his eye.  The two of them try to understand these new feelings and make sense of them, while also trying to keep on the path and hunt the Fenris.  As their relationship begins to bloom and Scarlett starts to pick up on it, Rosie pulls away for fear of hurting her sister which is the last thing she would ever want to do.  I understand Rosie’s hesitation, but I really love Silas and her together so I was steadily hoping they would get a happy ending.

There is a mystery that needs to be figured out as the book progresses and if you pay attention I think you will discover the answer, though you may not want too.  I know that was part of the fun for me, going back and re-reading passages to try and decide what the outcome was going to be.  It kept me turning pages so fast, I devoured this book in one day.  As of now this book has two planned companion novels that you read more about on Jackson’s site here.  I know I will be on the lookout for them. :)

Language Love:

“Periwinkle sunshine pours in through the tiny octagonal window at the end of the hall.  It casts shadows off the ceiling beams and doorknobs that dapple the ground in light, like a forest floor.”

I like this quote because of the colors used to illuminate the scene and the comparisons made with light.

“They’re adorned in glittery green rhinestones, shimmery turquoise and aquamarine powders streaked across thier eyelids.  Dragonfly girls.  Their hair is all the same, long and streaked, spiraling down their backs to where the tiny stings holding their tops on are knotted tightly.  Their skin glows under the neon lights-amber, ebony, cream-like shined metal, flawless and smooth.”

This description just makes me laugh because that is a great way to label those girls.  We all know those girls who are all dressed up and out on the town and this description fits them perfectly!

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