Book Review - Black Widow: Forever Red by Margaret Stohl
I actually found out about this wonderful holiday after I had already read a book this morning - which I found very amusing. I had wanted to read because it's been just downpouring all morning here, and it's supposed to for like... days. So, basically, it's absolutely perfect weather for me to get all cuddly and read a book! Also, great timing for me to do my first book review blog post ever. Clearly, this was just supposed to happen.
The book I ended up reading was Black Widow: Forever Red by Margaret Stohl. I had heard her name plenty of times and seen her books on the shelves at bookstores everywhere. But, I'd never actually read anything by her. Until I found this book in the bargain section of BAM. I thought, "I like good deals, I like Black Widow. For this clearance price, okay, I'll bite."
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| My copy of this book. Thanks, BAM! |
And I'm so glad I did. This book was incredible. And considering how much I don't like alternating third person perspective style books, that's saying something! The book is broken up into 3 acts, and each of the chapters starts with a debriefing of Black Widow/Natasha Romanoff to the Department of Defense. And it also alternates between her perspective, a teenager named Ava, and a third teenager named Alex. I really thought that was going to bother me because I always have trouble getting into third person stories in the first place. Then it also alternated between multiple people, and I'm honestly surprised that I didn't have any trouble with it.
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| The back cover if you want to read more. |
Overall, it was a well-paced book with believable characters. It really felt like I was inside the Marvel universe. References to other Marvel characters were all well done and on point. The dialogue felt realistic. The action sequences didn't bore me like a lot of books with crazy action fights do. It was just a really quick read, and it was fun!
I do have a few things that I didn't care for so much though. There was a romance plot between Ava and Alex, and I really thought it felt weirdly rushed. I understood why it was happening, and the characters themselves even mentioned how it was a little fast, but I just thought it was too hurried.
Another issue I had was that I couldn't tell if this story was supposed to exist within the Marvel Cinematic Universe, or just be its own separate thing. Because it felt like both to me. I was trying to figure out where it would have fit into the movie timeline, but it wasn't all that clear. Sometime after the battle in New York in The Avengers movie, but it doesn't seem to be too much further after that? But, Agent Coulson was alive, and Black Widow and Tony Stark both knew that... Now, I haven't really gotten into the Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. show, so maybe they do know about him still being around now? I don't really know because, as I said, I haven't watched that show. So, this issue could just be because I don't have all the answers in general, or because it's supposed to not be related to the universe established in the movies.
All in all though, it was a great book. I thoroughly enjoyed it. It's great for those who already have a Marvel base of knowledge and want to delve deeper into Black Widow's character, or for those who don't know much and are curious. There is a sequel called Black Widow: Red Vengeance that I'll have to pick up, and that's always a great thing!
As always,
Write on!
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