Book Review - Jackson Pearce's Sisters Red
Sisters Red by Jackson Pearce
ARC Provided by Little Brown
Published by: Little Brown
Publication Date: June 7th, 2010
Format: Hardcover, 336 Pages
Challenge: 1st in Series
Rating: ★★
To Buy
The March sisters, so alike as if to be one heart in two bodies, lost everything the day the Fenris came. Their grandmother, their futures, and Scarlett's eye. Years later Scarlett and Rosie carry on fighting, luring the wolves and killing them till they become the dust of dark shadows. Building on the knowledge that Pa Reynolds taught them they are determined to fight, to save the ignorant flighty girls, nicknamed dragonflies by Scarlett. Pa's son Silas used to help, but he has since taken a sabbatical in San Francisco. But one day after his 21st birthday Silas returns. He's there to help, but not everything turns out as it should. Due to the rising murders in Atlanta they decide to take the fight to the Fenris, versus waiting for them on a dusty road in the hopes that they can kill enough. But in taking them to Atlanta Silas is showing that there is a greater world out there, a world where Rosie might be able to have a future away from the fight, away from her sister's scars and perhaps with Silas. With a wedge forming between them, they continue the fight. But with their red capes and mangled faces, they don't stand a chance to the lure of the dragonfly girls queuing up in front of the nightclubs. But it appears that while the March's have a plan, so do the Fenris. It's their time to claim another. A Potential Fenris would be a mighty lure for the rest. Perhaps this is the bait that Scarlett needs to win the ongoing war. But when things become personal, will any of them survive?
Sisters Red is a predictable and drawn out book which is worthy of two stars just for the basic fact it was refreshing to see evil werewolves again. I have many issues with this book, starting with who the hell wears a red cape!?! I know that this is to be a feminist, kick ass retelling of "Red Riding Hood," but please, update for the modernity that this book so obviously wanted to cram onto a traditional tale. A top, a skirt, anything! Also these wolves have to be really dumb to not spot the red cloak and wonder, that's an interesting fashion statement, but apparently they just get turned on by the red. But the thing that really got me was the use of stereotypes of femininity to lure the Fenris. They make such a big deal of basically slutting themselves up with tight clothes and perfume and swishing the cape and their hips just so I wanted to harm Jackson Pearce. There's Buffy on one end of the spectrum, kicking ass and being herself. Then on the other end, we have the March sisters, playing a disgustingly stereotypical part to kill. I really can't say why this bothered me so much, but I think that it being a Young Adult book and showing all the girls as either flighty sluts or killing machines with no in between seemed wrong. The females were one or the other, no in between, well, maybe Rosie is the in between. But it's not like she's really both. She could be, Silas is trying to show her this through outside experiences, but in the end, she's just like the rest of the non-hunters. Also, has no one learned anything with "potentials," ie, future slayers, future Fenris, equals boring. End verdict, I should have stopped reading because I saw then end long before it happened and I need to remember not to be drawn in by the pretty pretty covers. Needless to say, I won't be picking up the sequel.
I loved the cover on this one, and my students love werewolf books, so it was good to read your take on the characters. I'll still read it, but if I think the characters are this wimpy, I won't buy it!
Ms. Yingling said... July 19, 2010 at 7:36 AM
They were just bad sterotypes but at least in the end they were strong women...
Miss Eliza said... July 19, 2010 at 1:34 PM
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