Werewolf Hunters • Sisters Red

Sisters Red by Jackson Pearce
Series: Fairytale Retellings #1
Publisher: Little, Brown Books for Young Readers
Publication Date: June 7, 2010
Source: Bought || Hardcover

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? 

The premise of Sisters Red (a pair of sisters who fight werewolves) was what drew me to it in the first place. Though I wouldn't say that Sisters Red is one of my all-time favorites, I will say that it's definitely worth a read.

Jackson Pearce does a great job reeling me into the world that Rosie and Scarlett March belong to, a world where, having experienced an attack by the Fenris at a young age, they both feel obligated to kill as many of the Fenris as possible.  This commitment is taken extremely to heart by Scarlett, who seems entirely too obsessed with completely obliterating the Fenris population. Rosie, on the other hand, is also determined to do what she has to - but is also conflicted by wanting to live normally.

I admired Scarlett for her dedication and commitment, but I also felt sorry for her and how she seemed to only draw pleasure from fulfilling her duty.  I could totally relate to her protective side, as an older sister myself, and I found that it was easy to sympathize and understand her. On the other hand, I appreciated how Rosie managed to keep one foot in both the "real world" and this world of Fenris.  I could understand her desire for something more than just fighting and her fear of disappointing her sister by admitting that.

I like how there's such an emphasis on the importance of sisterhood - if only because I'm very close to my own sisters and can understand that bond.  Though there may be occasional disagreements, when it boils down to it, sisters are there for each other - and I like how that's illustrated in this story. My favorite part of Sisters Red though is the love affair between Silas and Rosie.  Although I saw it coming from the very start, I liked watching how it developed throughout Sisters Red - it was a bit slow-paced, but I thought that just made it sweeter. Good love story, interesting premise, relatable characters - all this makes for a decent read.