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Scarlett Hart: Monster Hunter
Scarlett Hart, orphaned daughter of two legendary monster hunters, is determined to carry on in her parents’ footsteps―even if the Royal Academy for the Pursuit and Eradication of Zoological Eccentricities says she’s too young to fight perilous horrors. But whether it's creepy mummies or a horrid hound, Scarlett won’t back down, and with the help of her loyal butler and a lot of monster-mashing gadgets, she’s on the case.
With her parent’s archrival, Count Stankovic, ratting her out to T.R.A.P.E.Z.E. and taking all the monster-catching rewards for himself, it’s getting hard for Scarlett to do what she was born to do. And when more monsters start mysteriously manifesting than ever before, Scarlett knows she has to get to the bottom of it and save the city . . . whatever the danger!
In his first adventure for middle-grade readers, acclaimed YA author Marcus Sedgwick teams up with Thomas Taylor (illustrator of the original edition of Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone ) to create a rip-roaring romp full of hairy horrors, villainous villains, and introducing the world’s toughest monster hunter―Scarlett Hart!
With her parent’s archrival, Count Stankovic, ratting her out to T.R.A.P.E.Z.E. and taking all the monster-catching rewards for himself, it’s getting hard for Scarlett to do what she was born to do. And when more monsters start mysteriously manifesting than ever before, Scarlett knows she has to get to the bottom of it and save the city . . . whatever the danger!
In his first adventure for middle-grade readers, acclaimed YA author Marcus Sedgwick teams up with Thomas Taylor (illustrator of the original edition of Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone ) to create a rip-roaring romp full of hairy horrors, villainous villains, and introducing the world’s toughest monster hunter―Scarlett Hart!
208 pages, Paperback
First published April 3, 2018
7 people are currently reading
888 people want to read
About the author
Marcus Sedgwick
109 books1,583 followersMarcus Sedgwickwas a British writer and illustrator. He authored several young adult and children's books and picture books, a work of nonfiction and several novels for adults, and illustrated a collection of myths and a book of folk tales for adults.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 193 reviews
July 21, 2021
I loved reading graphic novels. The illustrations are excellent and the read are quick. Reading graphic novels doesn’t require a lot of imagination either because it’s all happening in the illustrations. This book followed Scarlet Hart out hunting monsters with her family’s butler named Napoleon as her getaway driver. Her parents died 4 years ago from the same career. She wanted him to take pictures of her in capturing a monster so that she can collect the reward money. The first monster she lost to other hunter because she had to rescue a civilian who was caught by the monster. It happened a few times with other monsters too and then she found out why this other hunter always seemed to know where she was and arrived a little bit before her.
August 2, 2018
(originally reviewed at
thelibraryladies.com
)
Rarely can you find an author who can jump from genre to genre with ease. A lot stick within their strengths, which may be limited to one or two genres. It’s true that sometimes you get some who can shift between them and be strong in all of them (Stephen King and J.K. Rowling come to mind for me), but I wouldn’t necessarily expect it of an author, great ones included. So Marcus Sedgwick just keeps completely surprising me. He has written dark fantasy (“Midwinterblood”), straight up horror (“White Crow”), speculative Science Fiction (“The Ghosts of Heaven”), and realistic crime fiction with a literary zest (“Saint Death”). And he does a good job in all of them. Now we can add children’s graphic fantasy to his already impressive list of genre jumping, with “Scarlett Hart: Monster Hunter”. Given that the last book I read by him was the brutal and violent and depressing “Saint Death”, I thought that he couldn’t POSSIBLY make a realistic shift to a fun fantasy for children.
And yet “Scarlett Hart: Monster Hunter” is exactly that. Scarlett is a mix of Anne Shirley and Buffy Summers, as she’s a plucky monster hunter with a lot of heart but also a bit of sad baggage. She is determined to follow in the footsteps of her parents, both renowned monster hunters in their own right who died in the line of duty, but is too young according to The Royal Academy for the Pursuit and Eradication of Zoological Eccentricities (T.R.A.P.E.Z.E.). With the help of her guardian/former servant Napoleon White she breaks the rules, wanting to make her parents proud. I loved Scarlett, for her tenacity and her recklessness, and I loved how she and Napoleon banter and work together in their monster hunting. Napoleon himself is a fun stereotype/send up of the stuffy Gilded Age British butler, with his worry about the state of his car and restrained frustration with Scarlett’s antics. Their interactions are both funny and sweet, and you get a good sense of both their motivations and devotions to her late parents as well as his devotion to her because of a sort of surrogate parental instinct. It’s very Buffy and Giles.
The monsters themselves are pretty standard villains, but they have some fun tweaks and twists added to them. We’ve all heard of the Hound of the Baskervilles Church Grims, and mummys and gargoyles. But while they are presented as menacing and definitely scary, the tone is lighthearted enough that kids who may not like scary things will probably be able to enjoy the monster hunts themselves. The true villains of this story are Count Stankovic, who was the arch rival of Scarlett’s parents and hates her just as much, and, in some ways, society. T.R.A.P.E.Z.E. is a very strict group, seeming to be mirrored off of old Victorian secret societies that you might see in other books like this, and one of the rules is that Scarlett is too young to officially hunt, under threat of punishment if she is caught. But given that is her main source of income now that she has been orphaned, she has little choice, especially since women during this time period (Victorian? Edwardian? I’m not totally certain) really didn’t have many options if they were on their own. Seeing her fight against norms of the society she lives in is fun and encouraging, and I think that a lot of people, kids and teens alike, will find a lot to relate to with her.
I also really enjoyed the artwork for this book. It’s cartoony enough to be entertaining to the audience it’s written for, but there is a lot of depth to it as well. I’m not too surprised, given that Thomas Taylor was the original artist for the cover of “Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone” in the U.K. He’s made a career for himself beyond that, but he was the first. And his talents are definitely on display in this book.
“Scarlett Hart: Monster Hunter” is a comic that I think will be perfect for end of summer reading for kids and teens alike. Heck, if stories about spunky orphans getting into some daring do is your thing, you’ll probably like it too! Marcus Sedgwick has now branched his writing talents into the middle grade community, and I think that he is going to fit in just swimmingly!
Rarely can you find an author who can jump from genre to genre with ease. A lot stick within their strengths, which may be limited to one or two genres. It’s true that sometimes you get some who can shift between them and be strong in all of them (Stephen King and J.K. Rowling come to mind for me), but I wouldn’t necessarily expect it of an author, great ones included. So Marcus Sedgwick just keeps completely surprising me. He has written dark fantasy (“Midwinterblood”), straight up horror (“White Crow”), speculative Science Fiction (“The Ghosts of Heaven”), and realistic crime fiction with a literary zest (“Saint Death”). And he does a good job in all of them. Now we can add children’s graphic fantasy to his already impressive list of genre jumping, with “Scarlett Hart: Monster Hunter”. Given that the last book I read by him was the brutal and violent and depressing “Saint Death”, I thought that he couldn’t POSSIBLY make a realistic shift to a fun fantasy for children.
And yet “Scarlett Hart: Monster Hunter” is exactly that. Scarlett is a mix of Anne Shirley and Buffy Summers, as she’s a plucky monster hunter with a lot of heart but also a bit of sad baggage. She is determined to follow in the footsteps of her parents, both renowned monster hunters in their own right who died in the line of duty, but is too young according to The Royal Academy for the Pursuit and Eradication of Zoological Eccentricities (T.R.A.P.E.Z.E.). With the help of her guardian/former servant Napoleon White she breaks the rules, wanting to make her parents proud. I loved Scarlett, for her tenacity and her recklessness, and I loved how she and Napoleon banter and work together in their monster hunting. Napoleon himself is a fun stereotype/send up of the stuffy Gilded Age British butler, with his worry about the state of his car and restrained frustration with Scarlett’s antics. Their interactions are both funny and sweet, and you get a good sense of both their motivations and devotions to her late parents as well as his devotion to her because of a sort of surrogate parental instinct. It’s very Buffy and Giles.
The monsters themselves are pretty standard villains, but they have some fun tweaks and twists added to them. We’ve all heard of the Hound of the Baskervilles Church Grims, and mummys and gargoyles. But while they are presented as menacing and definitely scary, the tone is lighthearted enough that kids who may not like scary things will probably be able to enjoy the monster hunts themselves. The true villains of this story are Count Stankovic, who was the arch rival of Scarlett’s parents and hates her just as much, and, in some ways, society. T.R.A.P.E.Z.E. is a very strict group, seeming to be mirrored off of old Victorian secret societies that you might see in other books like this, and one of the rules is that Scarlett is too young to officially hunt, under threat of punishment if she is caught. But given that is her main source of income now that she has been orphaned, she has little choice, especially since women during this time period (Victorian? Edwardian? I’m not totally certain) really didn’t have many options if they were on their own. Seeing her fight against norms of the society she lives in is fun and encouraging, and I think that a lot of people, kids and teens alike, will find a lot to relate to with her.
I also really enjoyed the artwork for this book. It’s cartoony enough to be entertaining to the audience it’s written for, but there is a lot of depth to it as well. I’m not too surprised, given that Thomas Taylor was the original artist for the cover of “Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone” in the U.K. He’s made a career for himself beyond that, but he was the first. And his talents are definitely on display in this book.
“Scarlett Hart: Monster Hunter” is a comic that I think will be perfect for end of summer reading for kids and teens alike. Heck, if stories about spunky orphans getting into some daring do is your thing, you’ll probably like it too! Marcus Sedgwick has now branched his writing talents into the middle grade community, and I think that he is going to fit in just swimmingly!
July 12, 2019
Very cute story, that could have been much longer, about a young monster hunter and her trusty butler. Felt a bit like Artemis Fowl or a Sherlock Holmes with steampunk overtones. Each of the monsters they encounter could have been a whole story, it felt like a series on fast forward. But the art is awesome, and I would be very exited to see more!
October 15, 2017
The premise to this Graphic Novel was good, the first few pages introducing Scarlett, her sidekick, her profession, and her archrival were good. Then the storyline got clunky. To me it felt like a young Sherlock Holmes got mashed up with a Victorian Lara Croft.
Still, I can imagine that kids will like it.
This review is based on a NetGalley ARC.
Still, I can imagine that kids will like it.
This review is based on a NetGalley ARC.
January 25, 2019
Okay. Seems like everything this publisher puts out is juvenile. Seemed like a monster story for kids. Fast paced and basic.
November 17, 2017
ARC via Netgalley. This book was just... not good. I kept waiting for a twist or surprise or anything to make the incredibly obvious plot more interesting, but it never happened. Orphan monster hunter girl hunts monsters. Bad guys oppose her. She triumphs with the aid of her loyal retainers. That's it. The art was not good. There was just nothing redeeming about the book. It was boring and predictable. I expected better of Marcus Sedgwick.
June 27, 2022
Pretty good but the art is rather simple at times and hard to follow and it shoves you into the action with little background and leaves you to figure it out. Also felt a bit childish but since it's aimed for kids, makes sense. Overall, a good monster hunting graphic novel for readers moving into J fiction.
April 16, 2018
This was a fun, thrilling adventure story following a rambunctious young heroine, Scarlett Hart, who is determined to be the next best monster hunter and honor her parents' legacy. But her nemesis doggedly tries to deter her at every chance he gets.
While I enjoyed the characters, especially Scarlett and her firm persistence (which was reminiscent of Nimona), I was not super impressed by the plot of this graphic novel. The story felt a bit generic. The individual monster huntings felt like small pieces of an episode, but there was not as much of an overarching direction, other than the motivation of mere survival.
I think the visual format worked well for this story and made it all more exciting!
Even though I found some elements were lacking, I believe it will be entertaining and fitting for middle grade adventure story lovers.
***I received an e-ARC from the publisher in exchange for an honest review
***This review is also posted on Amazon and my blog
While I enjoyed the characters, especially Scarlett and her firm persistence (which was reminiscent of Nimona), I was not super impressed by the plot of this graphic novel. The story felt a bit generic. The individual monster huntings felt like small pieces of an episode, but there was not as much of an overarching direction, other than the motivation of mere survival.
I think the visual format worked well for this story and made it all more exciting!
Even though I found some elements were lacking, I believe it will be entertaining and fitting for middle grade adventure story lovers.
***I received an e-ARC from the publisher in exchange for an honest review
***This review is also posted on Amazon and my blog
October 17, 2018
I must confess, Victorian-era/Steampunk is one of my favorite aesthetics. So I, seeing a book set in Victorian era England with a spunky redhead who hunts monsters with the aid of her butler? I'm sold.
Scarlett Hart is the last of the Hart dynasty, a family who's been reknown for their monster hunting prowess, and Scarlett seeks to follow in her dearly departed parent's footsteps... But she's underaged.
Aided by her butler Napoleon, Scarlett goes out to hunt monsters that plague London, while the butler reports the kills. The banter between Scarlett and Napoleon is amusing and you get a similar vibe between them like Bruce Wayne and Alfred.
The story is a fast pace barrage as Scarlett tracks down monsters across London, and she uncovers a conspiracy that there maybe more than meets the eye with this monster plague assaulting London...
The art style is simple, but effective with lots of bright colors and I overall love the design of the variety of monsters: mummies, a sea serpent, hellhound, gargoyles and a whole slew of other baddies!
Another interesting touch I liked was how at each battle the panel introduced them like a video game encounter: Skirmish: The Ghostly Bishop at the Noble Pig! Fight: The Black Dog of Suffolk County!
Scarlett Hart is the last of the Hart dynasty, a family who's been reknown for their monster hunting prowess, and Scarlett seeks to follow in her dearly departed parent's footsteps... But she's underaged.
Aided by her butler Napoleon, Scarlett goes out to hunt monsters that plague London, while the butler reports the kills. The banter between Scarlett and Napoleon is amusing and you get a similar vibe between them like Bruce Wayne and Alfred.
The story is a fast pace barrage as Scarlett tracks down monsters across London, and she uncovers a conspiracy that there maybe more than meets the eye with this monster plague assaulting London...
The art style is simple, but effective with lots of bright colors and I overall love the design of the variety of monsters: mummies, a sea serpent, hellhound, gargoyles and a whole slew of other baddies!
Another interesting touch I liked was how at each battle the panel introduced them like a video game encounter: Skirmish: The Ghostly Bishop at the Noble Pig! Fight: The Black Dog of Suffolk County!
October 29, 2018
Fast-paced and fun, this graphic novel is a great choice for reluctant readers. The story's simple: underaged monster hunter Scarlett Hart hunts with her aged butler for support. Only a rival monster hunter keeps threatening to report her for the crime of underage monster hunting, but she can't stop because they're out of funds.
What story there is I enjoyed thoroughly, but the graphic novel's quite brief. As such, there's not really any depth to be had. I'd love to have learned more about her parents and her life, for example. I generally have this problem with standalone graphic novels tbh; they're just not long enough for me to fall in love.
What story there is I enjoyed thoroughly, but the graphic novel's quite brief. As such, there's not really any depth to be had. I'd love to have learned more about her parents and her life, for example. I generally have this problem with standalone graphic novels tbh; they're just not long enough for me to fall in love.
October 8, 2018
This is a quick read with fun steampunk elements and monsters of all shapes of gory attacks. Although the set-up is a bit overdone, I think the character of Scarlett has a good edge and some memorable lines. Cool weapons and gadgets add to the excitement.
For my full review: https://paulspicks.blog/2018/10/07/sc...
For all my reviews: https://paulspicks.blog
For my full review: https://paulspicks.blog/2018/10/07/sc...
For all my reviews: https://paulspicks.blog
October 26, 2020
Scarlett Hart is the orphan daughter of a pair of famous monster hunters and is very capable of hunting monsters on her own for the bounties. There’s just one little problem: she’s underage for monster hunting. But when she realizes that there seem to be more monsters running amuck than there should be, especially given how many monster hunters there are, including the infamous and successful Count Stankovic, Scarlett decides to take action and get to the bottom of things to keep London and England safe. Even if it means risking losing her home and more besides. With her loyal butler Napoleon and house manager Mrs. White by her side, will they have enough to get to the bottom of the mystery? Or will Scarlett lose what little she has left?
I read this for my public library’s Cookies and Comics, the day of. Hey, at least this time I finished it before the book club meeting, right?! This makes for a quick read, and with clear drawings and pretty easy to flow panel-to-panel action, an entertaining story. It is a standalone story, but it definitely has room for a sequel, as not everything is resolved by the end. I found it stylistically interesting that for each new monster, there was a banner announcing a sort of “episode title” – some sort of style of action plus the type of monster Scarlett was up against. There was actually a fair amount more of story before the mystery part even came up, which threw me off – based on the book blurb, the mystery about where the monsters are coming from seems like it would appear much sooner than it does. Though, this did work in the story’s favor, at least for building up Scarlett and the monster hunters-world. Which is why it is surprising to me that there is not at least a second book – with so much time invested in just building this world, and for the blurbed mystery to appear so late and to only really be half-resolved, it really doesn’t make sense for this to be a standalone. Maybe someday there will be a sequel – I would read it, because I like seeing everything wraps up when I enjoy a story.
I read this for my public library’s Cookies and Comics, the day of. Hey, at least this time I finished it before the book club meeting, right?! This makes for a quick read, and with clear drawings and pretty easy to flow panel-to-panel action, an entertaining story. It is a standalone story, but it definitely has room for a sequel, as not everything is resolved by the end. I found it stylistically interesting that for each new monster, there was a banner announcing a sort of “episode title” – some sort of style of action plus the type of monster Scarlett was up against. There was actually a fair amount more of story before the mystery part even came up, which threw me off – based on the book blurb, the mystery about where the monsters are coming from seems like it would appear much sooner than it does. Though, this did work in the story’s favor, at least for building up Scarlett and the monster hunters-world. Which is why it is surprising to me that there is not at least a second book – with so much time invested in just building this world, and for the blurbed mystery to appear so late and to only really be half-resolved, it really doesn’t make sense for this to be a standalone. Maybe someday there will be a sequel – I would read it, because I like seeing everything wraps up when I enjoy a story.
May 11, 2018
Marcus Sedgwick a Printz award winning YA novelist takes her turn at a children's graphic novel. Scarlett a monster hunter for T.R.A.P.E.Z.E. (The Royal Academy for the Pursuit and Eradication of Zoological Eccentricities). She and her butler Napoleon search out various monsters and ghosts to capture in return for money, but she has two problems. She's too young to be hunting monster, according to the law, and her nemesis Count Stankovic always seems to get there before she does. A steampunkish adventure story well illustrated by Thomas Taylor. My one issue with the book was that the dialogue seemed a bit stilted, like a Geronimo Stilton or Scooby Doo story, which are geared more for 2-3rd graders, but this book's target audience is middle grade readers (4-8th grade), so older readers might want something more engaging.
June 5, 2018
A superbly English supernatural romp featuring a young monster hunter and her faithful butler as they bring down fearsome beasts for profit and tangle with their nemesis. Elements of dieselpunk, Lovecraft, and cryptozoology (gotta love an appearance by Black Shuck!). As with all the Marcus Sedgwick books I’ve read, this one has a great time doing its own weird thing, with no mind paid for fitting into the rest of his oeuvre, and I had a great time reading it. Perfect for young graphic novel readers with an eye for macabre adventure.
April 23, 2018
I really enjoyed this one. I read it in one sitting.
Really, the only thing that would make it better is more background. More background on the world filled with monsters. More background on the characters. I don’t even know the main character that well. However, I loved her. Young girl fighting monsters, despite fears, underage laws, and bad guys? Yes, I’m in.
On the other hand, it felt like I was kinda reading a comic book, versus a graphic novel. A comic book actually designed for girls. Scarlett was a young Bruce Wayne, for sure. She even had her Alfred. And I guess comic books get background within many installments -not all in the beginning. I hope this gets more installments.
It was just so much fun watching Scarlett take down monsters.
Really, the only thing that would make it better is more background. More background on the world filled with monsters. More background on the characters. I don’t even know the main character that well. However, I loved her. Young girl fighting monsters, despite fears, underage laws, and bad guys? Yes, I’m in.
On the other hand, it felt like I was kinda reading a comic book, versus a graphic novel. A comic book actually designed for girls. Scarlett was a young Bruce Wayne, for sure. She even had her Alfred. And I guess comic books get background within many installments -not all in the beginning. I hope this gets more installments.
It was just so much fun watching Scarlett take down monsters.
April 29, 2018
2.5 stars. While I enjoyed the premise of this graphic novel and thought the artwork was fun, ultimately it didn't grab me as much as I wanted it to. The story line and dialogue often felt a little clunky and existed in this weird space of sometimes too cheeky or too dark. It was like the story couldn't decide on what type of mood it wanted to portray. That being said, I think my students will enjoy it, especially if it is the beginning of a Scarlett Hart monster fighting series.
June 29, 2017
I thoroughly enjoyed this middle-grade graphic novel. It sets the stage for some fun adventures for Scarlett and Napoleon in future books. Scarlett is a worthy heroine and up to the challenge of monster hunting. Recommended for anyone who enjoys a good adventure story and plenty of monsters - of all kinds.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher First Second for providing an early copy of this book for an honest review.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher First Second for providing an early copy of this book for an honest review.
March 19, 2018
This strikes me as a fun read, and possibly series, for younger (probably middle school) readers.
Read
March 30, 2018I just really did not like the art, I couldn't focus on the story because the art style was so distracting.
December 27, 2018
Fun, quick read. Kind of like if Batman were a teenage girl. Action-packed, and I learned a new word, too: impecunious!
November 9, 2018
Exciting graphic novel about Scarlett Hart and her butler Napoleon who hunt monsters. Quick read with great illustrations. I would love to read another adventure with these two.
May 7, 2018
What caught my attention about Scarlett Hart: Monster Hunter were the names of the author and illustrator. Both I've heard of so I decided to give this graphic novel a try. Besides, who doesn't fancy a little monster hunting action? ;)
I enjoyed the illustrations but the storyline felt disjointed at times. I sometimes found myself struggling to connect how one panel jumped to the next. The transitions just didn't feel very smooth. This ties together with some confusion regarding the story. Though the synopsis gives it away I expected some background to Scarlett's present condition and about the monster hunting practice. You don't really get a good sense until further into the book.
Despite her young age, Scarlett was brave and tackled monsters without hesitations. She may have been a little headstrong but she always had her trusty and loyal butler and housekeeper to keep an eye on things and to encourage her. While the villain was a fellow monster hunter I was happy to see Scarlett had some allies in other monster hunters. It was exciting and satisfying to see them fighting side by side.
I don't love monsters but I really like the way Thomas Taylor illustrated each of Scarlett's monster encounters. They were scary but not overly gross that you'd want to toss the book far away. Thy were all familiar and easily identifiable.
Scarlett Hart: Monster Hunter is definitely just the beginning. I can tell there will be much more adventures to be had and I look forward to what other monstrosities and brilliant gadgets this author/illustrator duo will come up with!
I enjoyed the illustrations but the storyline felt disjointed at times. I sometimes found myself struggling to connect how one panel jumped to the next. The transitions just didn't feel very smooth. This ties together with some confusion regarding the story. Though the synopsis gives it away I expected some background to Scarlett's present condition and about the monster hunting practice. You don't really get a good sense until further into the book.
Despite her young age, Scarlett was brave and tackled monsters without hesitations. She may have been a little headstrong but she always had her trusty and loyal butler and housekeeper to keep an eye on things and to encourage her. While the villain was a fellow monster hunter I was happy to see Scarlett had some allies in other monster hunters. It was exciting and satisfying to see them fighting side by side.
I don't love monsters but I really like the way Thomas Taylor illustrated each of Scarlett's monster encounters. They were scary but not overly gross that you'd want to toss the book far away. Thy were all familiar and easily identifiable.
Scarlett Hart: Monster Hunter is definitely just the beginning. I can tell there will be much more adventures to be had and I look forward to what other monstrosities and brilliant gadgets this author/illustrator duo will come up with!
October 5, 2017
Thought the cover looked interesting on this one so I requested it on Netgalley. I really it in a day and would be happy to continue with the series. It was a fun read, I think it needed a little more character build but overall fun. I loved Scarlett and the idea of her being a young (which isn’t allowed) monster hunter. The graphics in the novel were ok pretty good for an ARC, not sure if that would be the final art but even if not I liked it.
This was a fun read, it’s good for YA and adult, I think it could even be good for tweens. I really enjoyed it. I am looking forward to reading more of this series. Totally recommend.
Thanks for stopping by to check out my review.
Have a great day and Happy Reading!
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March 3, 2018
What a kick-ass, adorable graphic novel!
Scarlett Hart and her butler-sidekick, Napoleon, are continuing in the Hart monster-hunting tradition-even though it's technically illegal since Scarlett is underage. Despite Scarlett's prowess as a monster-hunter, the dastardly "Count" Stankovic and his underling keep poaching her kills! But is the count just stinky . . . or is he putrid? Only Scarlett and Napoleon can stop him before it's too late!
This middle-grade fantasy/steampunk graphic novel kept me engaged and entertained for the entire read. Scarlett is a spunky, courageous heroine who is determined to do whatever she can to save her family's home and defeat evil. The illustrations are simplistic but I really liked the moment-by-moment panels that kept the story moving at a brisk pace. The snarky, age-appropriate dialogue was fun and just the right amount-not too much and not too little.
Perfect for younger readers who love monster hunting, adventure and new insults!
I received this ARC from NetGalley for an honest review.
Scarlett Hart and her butler-sidekick, Napoleon, are continuing in the Hart monster-hunting tradition-even though it's technically illegal since Scarlett is underage. Despite Scarlett's prowess as a monster-hunter, the dastardly "Count" Stankovic and his underling keep poaching her kills! But is the count just stinky . . . or is he putrid? Only Scarlett and Napoleon can stop him before it's too late!
This middle-grade fantasy/steampunk graphic novel kept me engaged and entertained for the entire read. Scarlett is a spunky, courageous heroine who is determined to do whatever she can to save her family's home and defeat evil. The illustrations are simplistic but I really liked the moment-by-moment panels that kept the story moving at a brisk pace. The snarky, age-appropriate dialogue was fun and just the right amount-not too much and not too little.
Perfect for younger readers who love monster hunting, adventure and new insults!
I received this ARC from NetGalley for an honest review.
June 7, 2018
Scarlett's parents were monster hunters who were killed in the line of duty. She has taken on this role, even though she is underage and technically it is illegal for her to do so. She is helped in this endeavor by her parents butler and cook, a married couple, who also care for her deeply. Her nemesis is Count Stankovic who is determined to both catch her in the illegal act and get her arrested as well as catch the monsters and get the money for the bounty.
This new graphic novel series is very fun and engaging. Some parts of the plot line are very predictable but that doesn't hurt the story at all. The illustrations are very clear and it is easy to distinguish the individual characters.
This new graphic novel series is very fun and engaging. Some parts of the plot line are very predictable but that doesn't hurt the story at all. The illustrations are very clear and it is easy to distinguish the individual characters.
November 8, 2017
Thank you Netgalley for providing me with this ARC for my unbiased review.
The story was too disjointed and the dialogue was way to forced…fake…wrong? The dialogue felt forced, the way the characters interacted was superficial and I didn’t feel any connection with them. I guess since I am used to reading manga’s and the character development takes time (sometimes several chapters/books), so I was surprised that this story didn’t really focus on any of that. I couldn’t even finish reading the story and I’m sad because it seems like a great idea.
The story was too disjointed and the dialogue was way to forced…fake…wrong? The dialogue felt forced, the way the characters interacted was superficial and I didn’t feel any connection with them. I guess since I am used to reading manga’s and the character development takes time (sometimes several chapters/books), so I was surprised that this story didn’t really focus on any of that. I couldn’t even finish reading the story and I’m sad because it seems like a great idea.
May 30, 2018
I mistakenly wrote my previous review based on a different book. I'm so sorry. My daughters were confused when I originally asked. I have since changed my rating to 5 stars based on my daughters' opinions. They both LOVED this book and are already asking me to find out if the author is writing another book. Great job entertaining my girls! They love graphic novel style books to read in their free time.
August 6, 2018
Monster hunting isn’t necessarily a new idea, but this felt like a fresh take.
It was a completely enjoyable book, though some of the dialogue and art seemed like it was in draft form. And why were the word balloons twice as big as they needed to be? They took up so much room with their white space.
But I really liked it and would recommend it - for late elementary on up.
It was a completely enjoyable book, though some of the dialogue and art seemed like it was in draft form. And why were the word balloons twice as big as they needed to be? They took up so much room with their white space.
But I really liked it and would recommend it - for late elementary on up.
July 9, 2018
The orphaned child of famed monster hunters, Scarlett Hart wants desperately to follow in their footsteps. She has their gadgets and their butler. She has the will to face down everything from grim hounds to dragons. The most dangerous challenge she faces though might be her parents’ old rival, Count Stankovic. His focus switched to her, the Count constantly rats her out to the watch and, worse yet, steals the credit for her kills. He’s up to something more than that though, something that threatens the entire city. It’ll be up to Scarlett to figure out what the Count is planning and save the day.
Marcus Sedgwick’s Scarlett Hart: Monster Hunter is, in many ways, a good start that needs more room to be developed. It’s actually a little hard for me to dig into because I am very aware that I am not the target audience for this book. I have issues with this book that I know aren’t entirely fair to the book for what it is. That said, I could see this being enjoyable for the kids it’s written for.
Mostly I find myself curious about the world itself. The monsters seem to be a natural part of it, but then also somewhat separate from it. It’s considered strange when more start showing up. The only protection against them seems to be the hunters, but then we don’t get a lot of how that works beyond Scarlett being too young and that being part of how the Count keeps tripping her up.
The Count himself is also a bit of a sticking point for me. He had history with Scarlett’s parents and is taking it out on her. That’s a little cartoony but I can roll with it. That his nemesis is a literal child and the lengths he’s willing to go makes me wonder how he functions within the setting’s world. It’s a thing that would honestly probably roll past the target audience. Count Stankovic is the bad guy, so of course he’s going to be a problem for our heroine, it doesn’t need to go deeper than that.
The story itself is simple and largely serves to set up the next book. No real complements or complaints there. Though, again, I would like to learn more about the setting. Presumably that would be in later installments. Again, it doesn’t need to go super deep, and the monster designs are cool enough to carry some of the places where the plot it thin.
Thomas Taylor’s art here is interesting. It can be quite expressive and a lot of the back ground elements are really cool. While it’s cartoony that fits the book really well. The faces occasionally feel a little off in places where I’m not sure they’re meant to, but then are really off in the places I’m certain they’re meant to be. It works.
Ultimately, I’m left with this book being functional. It isn’t for me and I didn’t get as much enjoyment out of it as I feel someone pre-middle school might. So, I’m giving Scarlett Hart: Monster Hunter a three out of five. It introduces the main character and her story and, while I wish there was more to it, I’m sure that later books with fill in details as they go.
I was sent a copy of this book for honest review by the publisher.
Marcus Sedgwick’s Scarlett Hart: Monster Hunter is, in many ways, a good start that needs more room to be developed. It’s actually a little hard for me to dig into because I am very aware that I am not the target audience for this book. I have issues with this book that I know aren’t entirely fair to the book for what it is. That said, I could see this being enjoyable for the kids it’s written for.
Mostly I find myself curious about the world itself. The monsters seem to be a natural part of it, but then also somewhat separate from it. It’s considered strange when more start showing up. The only protection against them seems to be the hunters, but then we don’t get a lot of how that works beyond Scarlett being too young and that being part of how the Count keeps tripping her up.
The Count himself is also a bit of a sticking point for me. He had history with Scarlett’s parents and is taking it out on her. That’s a little cartoony but I can roll with it. That his nemesis is a literal child and the lengths he’s willing to go makes me wonder how he functions within the setting’s world. It’s a thing that would honestly probably roll past the target audience. Count Stankovic is the bad guy, so of course he’s going to be a problem for our heroine, it doesn’t need to go deeper than that.
The story itself is simple and largely serves to set up the next book. No real complements or complaints there. Though, again, I would like to learn more about the setting. Presumably that would be in later installments. Again, it doesn’t need to go super deep, and the monster designs are cool enough to carry some of the places where the plot it thin.
Thomas Taylor’s art here is interesting. It can be quite expressive and a lot of the back ground elements are really cool. While it’s cartoony that fits the book really well. The faces occasionally feel a little off in places where I’m not sure they’re meant to, but then are really off in the places I’m certain they’re meant to be. It works.
Ultimately, I’m left with this book being functional. It isn’t for me and I didn’t get as much enjoyment out of it as I feel someone pre-middle school might. So, I’m giving Scarlett Hart: Monster Hunter a three out of five. It introduces the main character and her story and, while I wish there was more to it, I’m sure that later books with fill in details as they go.
I was sent a copy of this book for honest review by the publisher.
May 17, 2018
I have the United Kingdom on the brain these days. First, there’s the royal wedding this Saturday (I’ve been invited to an early-morning watch party, and I’m making a Victoria Sponge). Second, next Saturday I’m headed to Scotland with my mom for a 12-day tour/adventure (!!!). And thirdly, I recently read and thoroughly enjoyed Marcus Sedgwick and Thomas Taylor’s England-set middle grade graphic novel Scarlett Hart: Monster Hunter.
As you can tell from the title, this is the story of Scarlett Hart, the orphaned heir to a monster-fighting legacy. She has a trusty butler and housekeeper on her side and an old mansion filled with cool gadgets to her name, but not much else. She’s too young to officially fight monsters, and her fellow monster-fighting bounty hunters don’t respect either her age or her family name.
In Sedgwick’s first foray into graphic novel territory, the action is pretty much non-stop, there are plenty of fight sequences, and cool gadgets, discoveries, and mysteries make their way into the narrative as well. It’s basically Sherlock Holmes crossed with Batman, with fantastical monsters and a preteen protagonist. In other words, reliable fun. The first page features a sea monster chomping down on a sailor, so it’s pretty clear from the get-go what you’re getting into.
Young readers will identify with wanting to fight their own battles and make a difference, and the frustration of not being taken seriously by adults. Adults will want to take it at face value as a fantasy, and not murmur too much at the irresponsible parenting. All readers will enjoy the transitions from one monster emergency to the next, with some extra big-picture mysteries and a possible open door left at the end for further adventures.
Now, the art! It was my favorite part of this book. The monsters were by far the best part – everything from zombies to ghostly dogs to sea monsters and more. It’s a field day for the imagination, but nothing gets so gory that a younger crowd can’t enjoy it. The color palette also enhance the story – darker, muted tones set a serious mood that complimented some of the lighter moments and contributed to the background scenery.
In all, Scarlett Hart: Monster Hunter is a graphic novel with rousing adventure art that will appeal to monster-obsessed kids.
Recommended for: graphic novel aficionados ages 10 and up, those who think a girl-powered Batman/Sherlock Holmes mashup sounds like fun, and fans of Jonathan Stroud’s Lockwood & Co. and Maryrose Wood's The Incorrigible Children of Ashton Place series.
As you can tell from the title, this is the story of Scarlett Hart, the orphaned heir to a monster-fighting legacy. She has a trusty butler and housekeeper on her side and an old mansion filled with cool gadgets to her name, but not much else. She’s too young to officially fight monsters, and her fellow monster-fighting bounty hunters don’t respect either her age or her family name.
In Sedgwick’s first foray into graphic novel territory, the action is pretty much non-stop, there are plenty of fight sequences, and cool gadgets, discoveries, and mysteries make their way into the narrative as well. It’s basically Sherlock Holmes crossed with Batman, with fantastical monsters and a preteen protagonist. In other words, reliable fun. The first page features a sea monster chomping down on a sailor, so it’s pretty clear from the get-go what you’re getting into.
Young readers will identify with wanting to fight their own battles and make a difference, and the frustration of not being taken seriously by adults. Adults will want to take it at face value as a fantasy, and not murmur too much at the irresponsible parenting. All readers will enjoy the transitions from one monster emergency to the next, with some extra big-picture mysteries and a possible open door left at the end for further adventures.
Now, the art! It was my favorite part of this book. The monsters were by far the best part – everything from zombies to ghostly dogs to sea monsters and more. It’s a field day for the imagination, but nothing gets so gory that a younger crowd can’t enjoy it. The color palette also enhance the story – darker, muted tones set a serious mood that complimented some of the lighter moments and contributed to the background scenery.
In all, Scarlett Hart: Monster Hunter is a graphic novel with rousing adventure art that will appeal to monster-obsessed kids.
Recommended for: graphic novel aficionados ages 10 and up, those who think a girl-powered Batman/Sherlock Holmes mashup sounds like fun, and fans of Jonathan Stroud’s Lockwood & Co. and Maryrose Wood's The Incorrigible Children of Ashton Place series.
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