Sisters Red by Jackson Pearce - Review

Two sisters, one heart, and an unbreakable bond...

One sister, whom can't think of anything but the fight. The other, whom knows the “fight” is her duty however, she wants, craves and feels like she needs more...

How can one heart break into two, again? The answer is, it can't, but it can grow, change and evolve into something stronger, more beautiful and unbreakable than it ever was before.

Synopsis via goodreads:

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.

Twenty-five-year-old Jackson Pearce delivers a dark, taut fairy tale with heart-pounding action, fierce sisterly love, and a romance that will leave readers breathless.

When you are a sister, especially a sister like those found in Sisters Red, your bond is palatable, immovable, often times one sister must break free from the bond, freeing herself from the fate the other has chosen, in order to survive.

You see, Scarlett is damaged, and obsessed, with werewolves, she hunts, stalks, and feels it's her duty above all else to protect other young girls, like she herself used to be, from them.

Why does her duty feel so strong, why is she so obsessed? Because, when she was just a girl, a werewolf broken into her home, killed her dearly beloved grandmother and then went after her and her sister.

Scarlett, was scared in the attack in more ways than one, but her sister Rosie is spared, because Scarlett was able to fend it off, and eventually kill it.

Rosie, is the “perfect” sister, still with her beautiful face and spirit, Scarlett has taken it upon herself to teach Rosie all she knows, they live together, fight together, and would do anything to help each other.

Rosie remembers the years before the attack, when as sisters they laughed and played like they shared one beating heart, the attack broke it apart, and Rosie would do anything, and EVERYTHING in her power to bring back that feeling...but now, it seems the only way to get it back is while fighting.

Fighting gives Scarlett a reason to live and Rosie knows it's only while fighting that Scarlett's heart is free. So, she hunts and does her best to earn the respect of her sister.

That is until they get word that the Fenris Werewolves are gathering, in the city and it appears that they are joining forces in order to bring a new werewolf into the fold...but how, and who? Those are questions no one seems to know the answer to.

While Scarlett is drawn to the city to search out reason's, Rosie is drawn there to help, but also because she begins craving more from life, than what she can get solely from hunting.

Knowing that Scarlett would never understand, Rosie starts hiding things from her, but nothing good can come from hiding the truth as Rosie begins to understand but can these two sisters, come together again, face there fears and their secrets and join as one heart again? Can they find out the secrets the Fenris Werewolves are hiding in order to save other young girls, and themselves?

In a tale where danger lurks around every corner, where light can turn to darkness in the blink of an eye Jackson Pearce takes us down a shadowy road where midnight reigns, devils walk, and sisters wear red.

When you pick up Sisters Red, you might expect it to read like a retelling of Little Red Riding Hood, I did. However that's not what Sisters Red is at all, once the pages are opened, once the first chapter is read, your driven into this world of sisters, a world where most “common” folk live in the proverbial “dark cave”, and only a few have stepped into the light to see the sun.

And when your done reading, your not sure if you would rather live in the proverbial cave or if stepping out into the sun is really the best option. For in the world of the sisters, to come out into the sun, also means that you have a duty to help protect those still stuck inside the cave, almost damning yourself to a life involving “the hunt.”

This is my first Jackson Pearce novel, though I have As You Wish, I have not picked it up yet, so I was not familiar with her writing style, now that I am, I am thrilled to be a fan, she has a way with descriptions, that transforms places, scents and sounds into things you hear, see and feel. When she talked about the bond between Scarlett and Rosie, I felt it, I understood it. Though, I did feel as though I could understand and relate with Rosie better, but only, I think, because she's more like me, timid and shy, reserved and willing to “go with the flow” in order to gain the respect and love of her sister. Though in the end, Rosie grows into someone more like her sister, though I can't say how...she earns her respect!

Scarlett is harder, tough, and often times because she needs to be angry, hateful and full of vengeance. She's been a fighter for so long it's hard for her to be anything else, and because of that I felt almost sorry for her. I longed to reach though the pages, do something to sooth her soul, and remind her that no matter what she looks like on the outside, her strength and love are beautiful on the inside. She's a strong, STRONG character, willing to do ANYTHING for those she loves, she's fearless and wise!

The ending of Sisters Red, perfection – as is the book...I loved how Jackson Pearce decided to “wrap things up” though, since it's a “book 1” and I know that Sweetly is due out next year, I can tell you I am patently waiting to see where Jackson takes us, I can only hope we find Scarlett again, and that she's able to...well, never mind – I can't say that, it gives away to much!

Bottom Line – Read this one! It's an excellently written story about two sisters, whom share one heart, they struggle, love and embrace the life they are given in order to make the best of it. Jackson Pearce obviously has her nose to the ground about teen's today, her writing is insightful, dramatic, and original. Sisters Red is a book I loved, though it took me a bit to 100% get into the story, once I did, I could not tear myself away, and the ending had me in tears – it's one I did NOT see coming! I give Sisters Red a 4 mushrooms and I can't WAIT for more from Ms. Jackson Pearce!

Sisters Red
By: Jackson Pearce
336 Pages
Published: June 7, 2010
Publisher: Little, Brown Books
Received via my hard earned $$.