Black Widow: Forever Red By Margaret Stohl Review:
The Marvel Universe has expanded into the YA book genre with Margaret Stohl’s “Black Widow: Forever Red.” The story does a masterful job of
delving into the mysterious history of everyone’s favorite assassin turned S.H.I.E.L.D. agent, Natasha Romanoff. After a mission to stop the
man who broke, trained and turned her into a weapon ends with a young girl saved and the man supposedly killed, Natasha finds herself inexplicably
connected to the young girl she rescued. However, because she was trained to be an agent and not an open person who makes personal relationships,
Black Widow disappears from young Ava Orlova’s life, leaving her in S.H.I.E.L.D. custody. Years later, Ava is trying to fit in as a normal
teenager in Brooklyn, but her experiences and connections to her past has left her unable to let people past her own barriers.
Soon however, life get’s complicated for Ava. Children across Easter Europe have gone missing, and when Red Room technology is rumored to be
involved in the abductions, Black Widow fears her old teacher and tormentor may have survived their last encounter, and Ava might be the only
one who can stop him. Reemerging into the teen’s life, Black Widow and Ava must unravel the mystery and their pasts that remain in the dark
from even themselves, and will end up discovering a bigger mystery involving the dark-eyed teenage boy who walks through Ava’s dreams, sporting
an hourglass tattoo.
The mystery of this book’s story makes it one of the most thrilling political YA novels I’ve ever read. The way this book blends the thriller,
Cold War-era political mystery and YA romance genres is brilliant, and getting to learn more about this bad ass and strong character Natasha
Romanoff makes it addicting to read. Getting a chance to peel back the layers of the Black Widow’s history and mixing it with the governmental
politics of S.H.I.E.L.D. was a stellar storytelling technique, and fans of the Marvel universe will love the surprise characters involved in
the story, and the intimate look at a brand new character like Ava Orlova. The novel is filled with tons of action, romance and a fast-paced
plot that will leave you craving more by the last page. With a sequel in the works, Black Widow: Forever Red is a strong first entry in Margaret
Stohl’s Black Widow series, and Marvel has done an excellent job of entering the world of storytelling through novels. Pick up your copies today!
