Series: Black Widow, Book One
Publisher: Parragon Books
Format: Paperback
Published: 2nd May 2016
Number of Pages: 416
Book: For Review*
Genre: Superhero, Action-Adventure,
Science-Fiction, Thriller-Suspense, YA
Recommended
Age: 11+
Contains: Violence,
Death, Swearing and Smoking References
Author's
Site: Margaret Stohl
Blurb From Goodreads:
Enter
the world of the Avengers’ iconic master spy…
Natasha
Romanoff is one of the world’s most lethal assassins. Trained from a young age
in the arts of death and deception, Natasha was given the title of Black Widow
by Ivan Somodorov, her brutal teacher at the Red Room, Moscow’s infamous
academy for operatives.
Ava
Orlova is just trying to fit in as an average Brooklyn teenager, but her life
has been anything but average. The daughter of a missing Russian quantum
physicist, Ava was once subjected to a series of ruthless military
experiments—until she was rescued by Black Widow and placed under S.H.I.E.L.D.
protection. Ava has always longed to reconnect with her mysterious saviour, but
Black Widow isn’t really the big sister type.
Until
now.
When
children all over Eastern Europe begin to go missing, and rumors of smuggled
Red Room tech light up the dark net, Natasha suspects her old teacher has
returned—and that Ava Orlova might be the only one who can stop him. To defeat
the madman who threatens their future, Natasha and Ava must unravel their
pasts. Only then will they discover the truth about the dark-eyed boy with an
hourglass tattoo who haunts Ava’s dreams…
Black
Widow: Forever Red features all the heart-pounding adventure readers expect
from Marvel, written by #1 New York Times best-selling author Margaret Stohl.
Uncover a new side of the Marvel Universe that will thrill loyal fans and
newcomers alike, as Stohl reveals the untold story of Black Widow for the very
first time.
Review:
"This
mission, to attack us? He said it had a name." Her eyes met
Coulson's. "Forever Red."
Once upon a little girl was given the name
Black Widow by her teacher. She was taught in all manner of things – but
mostly in how to kill, deceive and spy. She was experimented on in the
Red Room and she became the most dangerous assassin in the world.
After escaping the clutches of her teacher
Ivan Somodorov, Natasha Romanoff became a member of S.H.I.E.L.D. Her
mission? To take down Ivan.
She found him with a little girl, who she
saved after bringing the building down upon her former mentor. She took
the child to America and told her she would be OK. And then she left her
in S.H.I.E.L.D.'s care..
Now seventeen, Ava Orlova has run away from
S.H.I.E.L.D. She has learned not to trust anyone. That she cannot
rely on the red-haired woman who called her sestrenka,
little sister. All she knows is she has to be her own hero – and that she
dreams of a boy called Alexei with a Black Widow tattoo, even though she has
never met him.
Natasha has never been much of a big
sister. But when children begin vanishing in Eastern Europe and rumours
of the Red Room start up, Natasha fears her former teacher is not as dead as
she hoped and his reaches, influences and plans go far deeper than she ever
could've imagined...
I'm a huge Marvel fan. I've had many
a discussion with family and friends regarding the best team, character and
film in the Marvelverse (team being either the new Guardians of the Galaxy or
the X-Men, character being Remy LeBeau, AKA Gambit and film being Guardians of
the Galaxy – my brother loudly disagrees with that final point). So when
I was offered the chance to review a book about the awesome Black Widow, how
was I meant to refuse?! Natasha Romanoff is a badass – a gorgeous and
deadly agent with a fascinating backstory I really don't know enough about.
Awful, I know, but I love what Margaret Stohl has done with the
character. I just really enjoyed this book – it was like watching a
Marvel movie and reading one of the comics all at once and I just loved it.
Also after reading this there needs to be a Black Widow standalone film –
I am now in love with her.
Natasha Romanoff is one of MCU's most
recognisable and awesome characters. The Natasha from Forever Red is a
mishmash of MCU Black Widow and the comic version – her backstory is more like
that of the film Natasha and not the comic Natasha, although she's colder and
sharper than movie Natasha. Which is awesome! Because – hello – Natasha's
backstory is fascinating in the film's and I loved seeing more of it – and of
those signature Black Widow death stares. Who doesn't watch the films
(and the brief flashes we get into her past) and think let me know you! Just me? Really? Huh.
Anyways, Natasha was cold and businesslike (as expected) and yet she had
these moments – these flashes of confusion and affection and anger that made
her so very human and brilliant and ergo loving her. This was Natasha
says I'd never seen her before – as badass and tough as ever, but also broken
and hurting and afraid and so very very human indeed. And I loved it – I
want more of this Natasha, this Tasha.
Despite the book series being titled as
Black Widow, it's more about Ava – who I discovered after a quick Google upon
getting the book is a superhero in her own right and has recently been
introduced into the Marvel comics. She was understandably confused and
lost and a little angry at the world, but she was also funny and brave and badass
as hell!
Alex was so sweet - he was brave and badass
and kind and smart. He was also pretty darn cute at times, I must admit!
I must say the romance between Ava and Alex
was rather insta-love-y. After one twist I was like yes, this makes more
sense now! And then I was like hang on...no this does not make more sense
it in fact is a little weird now and then my head started hurting as I
considered all the facts and then I had to go lie down and watch the Avengers.
But I digress. They were adorable!
Like so
cute – and so incredibly protective of one another, as would be expected in
two teenagers tossed in the middle of a plot by a crazy man.
And OMG I loved all the little cameos!
Like Coulson – he's always a favourite of mine in the MCU and I loved seeing
his quippy, funny self in Forever Red.
And Tony Stark's scenes? Literally some of my favourite ones in the
whole book! I adore Tony and he was so perfectly Tony. Margaret Stohl captured him so absolutely perfectly!
I must admit, I did miss the presence of one hawk-eyed archer (who is
often portrayed as Natasha's BFF and also BF at times, though not the latter in
the film's) – it was so sad not to have him doing a little cameo or at least
being mentioned. She trusted Tony enough to involve him – so why not Clint?
The writing was awesome! It started
off from Natasha's POV (which I loved – being inside her head was amazing) and
then switched. We got a split POV between Natasha, Ava, Alex and then
transcripts from an official S.H.I.E.L.D. interview of Natasha. It
was all third person – and did occasionally jump perspectives within a set
characters' chapter – and I just loved it. I loved getting into
everyone's heads – although I must say Natasha's chapters was my favourite.
I loved her, if you haven’t gathered, and may possibly be a tiny bit
obsessed now. I regret nothing.
The plot – oh my god! It was like
reading a Marvel movie. The plot was fast-paced and exciting, there were
mysteries a plenty, there were thrills and twists – oh that last twist!
It left me in tears – the finale was explosive and then there was just
this moment after, a moment of pain and sadness and why Margaret why that left me speechless and in shock.
If you can't tell by now, I loved Forever Red to pieces. It was so
much fun – a real roller coaster of excitement and awesomeness and superheroes
and mysteries. I cannot wait for Red
Vengeance – I need in my life like you cannot imagine. Stay Red, people – because after this series
I ain’t ever going back!
Star Rating:
4 Out of 5
4 Out of 5
Read this
book if you liked:
Iron Man: The Gauntlet by Eoin Colfer
Lois Lane by Gwenda Bond
The Avengers
Happy Reading
Megan
* This
book was received from Parragon in exchange for an honest review
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