- Author: Margaret Stohl
- ISBN: 9781484726433
- Publisher: Marvel Press
- Genre: YA Science Fiction
- Pages: 401
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 savior, but Black Widow isn’t really the big sister type.
Until now. – Goodreads synopsis
I requested Black Widow: Forever Read from Netgalley, but wasn’t lucky enough to get a copy, so I bought the Kindle edition with some of my gift card money instead.
Ok, this is one of those moments when my Fangirl starts showing and, trust me when I say this, I have no shame. I don’t care what it is, if it’s got Black Widow’s name or logo on it, it’s mine, all MINE. I don’t have to tell you how much Black Widow kicks butt unless you’ve somehow managed to miss every Avenger related movie, comic, or even movie trailer in which she appears, and this book is no different. Yes, it’s YA. Yes, I tend to steer away from YA, with very few exceptions. This is one of those exceptions, and I wasn’t in any way disappointed.
I hadn’t even bothered to read the synopsis before I bought the book or even before I started reading it. So, I was a bit surprised to discover that this wasn’t exactly what I thought it was. I thought it was going to be a retelling of Black Widow’s story, but with her as a teen. As you can tell from the synopsis above, that’s not it at all, and, honestly, I was a bit relieved. I understand revamping Marvel’s greatest to appeal to a new generation, but understanding doesn’t mean I want Natasha’s story changed. Please, Marvel, keep doing what you’ve done with this book and just leave my favorite assassin as she is, OK? Oh, and how about giving her her own video game? I’ll give you all my monies.
Full of action, attitude, and shocking red hair, if you want a non-comic comic book story, look no further than Black Widow: Forever Red.
