The Outlaws Scarlett and Browne by Jonathan Stroud

 Scarlet McCain lives in post-apocalypic England and survives by relieving less worthy individuals of their personal wealth.  She is an adept thief and burglar with an itchy trigger finger. She loves being free and independent, wandering in the dangerous wilds where no civilized person is brave enough to go. Then she meets Albert.  He is a wide-eyed wimp who sees beauty and wonder in the most ordinary things, but can't seem to walk and chew gum at the same time.  Scarlet finds herself saving his life over and over again, but can't bring herself to desert him to what would certainly be his quick demise. As they have more adventures, however, she begins to wonder if the unassuming Albert may be more than he seems.  His dark past puts both of them in more danger than even Scarlet had imagined.

I was super excited to see that Jonathan Stroud had a new series.  I loved both his Bartimeus and Lockwood and Co series.  I am afraid that this one, however, was a disappointment. In both of the other two series, the world building was clever and intriguing. In this one, it was pretty much like a lot of other post/apocalyptic teen novels I have read. There was also a amazingly high body count, including some pretty graphic descriptions of dismemberment and cannibalism. I wasn't really charmed by either of the two main characters. They were both pretty amoral, easily rationalizing all manner of criminal and violent behavior.  I can imagine some kinds of teen readers who would enjoy what is a rather swashbuckling and action-packed adventure, but it wasn't my cup of tea. (2021, 432 p)