madhatter360's review against another edition
2.0
I want to clarify that my low review is mostly about a personal problem that I had, not the story itself. I really liked the plot, and I overall thought the story was well told.
However, I could not shake the voice in my head screaming about the various parts of the story that made no sense with the MCU canon.
This book takes place post-Avengers, but Every time that character appeared I had trouble reconciling the book with the universe it is supposed to take place in.
Perhaps if I were better able to live by the MST3K theme song I would have been able to give a higher rating.
However, I could not shake the voice in my head screaming about the various parts of the story that made no sense with the MCU canon.
This book takes place post-Avengers, but
Spoiler
Coulson is not only alive, he interacts with Avengers and his being alive isn't treated like a secret at all.Perhaps if I were better able to live by the MST3K theme song I would have been able to give a higher rating.
hannah085's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
luna_rondo's review against another edition
2.0
Dear Ms. Stohl, who the f*ck picked you to write this book?
Should have realized I wasn't going to enjoy this book as I couldn't stand the author's writing previously. But wow, I didn't think anyone could write something like this. Two stars because Natasha was the only interesting thing.
Should have realized I wasn't going to enjoy this book as I couldn't stand the author's writing previously. But wow, I didn't think anyone could write something like this. Two stars because Natasha was the only interesting thing.
stefanielt's review against another edition
5.0
I’m a HUGE Marvel fan, so when I learned about these books, I was ecstatic. I’ve read the IronMan one and the Spider-Man ones already, and this is probably my second favourite. It’s a close call though, since Reynolds did such an amazing job with Morales.
I was going in blind with this book, but the way Stohl mixed the canonical MCU with her own fictional universe was masterfully done. The insight into each characters mind was heartfelt and I was left wishing for me.
Fortunately, there’s Red Widow. I’ll definitely be going into the second book when I get the chance.
100% recommend to anyone who loves Marvel and YA books.
I was going in blind with this book, but the way Stohl mixed the canonical MCU with her own fictional universe was masterfully done. The insight into each characters mind was heartfelt and I was left wishing for me.
Fortunately, there’s Red Widow. I’ll definitely be going into the second book when I get the chance.
100% recommend to anyone who loves Marvel and YA books.
meagan_kay's review against another edition
4.0
This was a very fun, fast paced action book! Although I did have a few problems with it, I overall enjoyed the book a lot! It was so very Marvel in the way that the story progressed that it was hard for me to dislike it. Natasha Romanoff has been one of my favorite Marvel characters for a while now and I enjoyed the opportunity to read more about her/her adventures.
wolfdreamer97's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
inspiring
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
5.0
bigbear73's review against another edition
3.0
Okay, here's the deal. I've been a Marvel fan since, well, I could read on my own. So a novelization of anything Marvel? I'm at least gonna look at it. A novelization of one of my faves, like Black Widow? Get me in line. The negative, of course, that I'll have super high expectations, but that's a bullet you'll have to take when writing about characters this well known. So I excitedly got my hands on Black Widow: Forever Red, and expected the moon and stars.
Well, I got a nice view of them anyways.
This is a decent book, it really is. It took me awhile to decide why I didn't love it, actually, and it came down to two things.
1. It doesn't feel like it's really about Natasha Romanoff. It feels like its about things around her, at most. I know she's tricky to deal with, because half of who she is is her mysterious past, but she still needs to be the focus, and it never really felt that way. It felt like another episode of Avengers where she is the awesome one doing the cool stuff, and all anyone wants to talk about is Thor's biceps or Tony's snark. She's stage left somehow.
Basically, if your view of The Black Widow stems entirely from the movies, and that's what you know of the character, this book will be fine for you. Or for anyone looking for a good adventure/spy novel. Anyone looking for a fully realized Natasha should probably look somewhere else.
Well, I got a nice view of them anyways.
This is a decent book, it really is. It took me awhile to decide why I didn't love it, actually, and it came down to two things.
1. It doesn't feel like it's really about Natasha Romanoff. It feels like its about things around her, at most. I know she's tricky to deal with, because half of who she is is her mysterious past, but she still needs to be the focus, and it never really felt that way. It felt like another episode of Avengers where she is the awesome one doing the cool stuff, and all anyone wants to talk about is Thor's biceps or Tony's snark. She's stage left somehow.
Spoiler
2. There is an insane, nonsensical love story. Which isn't probably entirely fair for me to say, as it ended better than it began. But the whole thing just felt like it was there make sure one existed, and just nagged at me most of the book.Basically, if your view of The Black Widow stems entirely from the movies, and that's what you know of the character, this book will be fine for you. Or for anyone looking for a good adventure/spy novel. Anyone looking for a fully realized Natasha should probably look somewhere else.
amy_da1sy's review against another edition
1.0
I thought I was gonna really like this book as I am a massive black widow fan as she is my favourite superhero and I’ve read basically all her comics and I did like this up until act three. The first two acts were really good but then from act three onwards it didn’t seem like Natasha. It felt like a weird fan fiction of Natasha and maybe that’s just my feeling but I really didn’t like this.
abigail_march's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5