Scarlet – Marissa Meyer

Cinder, the cyborg mechanic, returns in the second thrilling installment of the bestselling Lunar Chronicles. She’s trying to break out of prison—even though if she succeeds, she’ll be the Commonwealth’s most wanted fugitive.
Halfway around the world, Scarlet Benoit’s grandmother is missing. When Scarlet encounters Wolf, a street fighter who may have information as to her grandmother’s whereabouts, she is loath to trust this stranger but is inexplicably drawn to him, and he to her. As Scarlet and Wolf unravel one mystery, they encounter another when they meet Cinder. Now, all of them must stay one step ahead of the vicious Lunar Queen Levana, who will do anything for the handsome Prince Kai to become her husband, her king, her prisoner.

 

 

Once again, I must restate that I am shocked I am only now reading this series. This is just fantastic! The characters are relatable and remind us of old classics with a  twist, The world building, and social hierarchy are well thought out…overall this has been a great series so far.

I rated Cinder 4/5 and you can find my review for that here. I really enjoyed the book and the characters from the first book but Marissa has made a huge improvement in her writing. This one is so well written.

 

As with the first book, this has a character that we all know from a classic tale but with a new twist. The first book was a spin-off of Cinderella, Cinder a mechanic that had a lot more to learn about her life than she could have ever imagined. Scarlet puts a new spin on Little Red Riding Hood, big bad wolf and all. I enjoyed the first book but this one was so much more detailed.

Once again, the author took the idea of a classic and made it entirely different. I listened to this as an audiobook and simply devoured it. I hated when I had to turn it off! The story pulled me in even more than the first book. This might be because Scarlet had a clear motivation, to save her grandma. During her mission, she learns her grandmother (Michelle Benoit) is connected to Princess Selene but she now needs to know how. I can’t say much more about that…spoilers which I will not indulge in providing. If you wish to know what happens in this action-packed adventure, go pick up the book!

Cinder and Thorne find their paths entwined with Scarlets and another character known as Wolf. The romance builds between an unexpected pair and Iko is as bubbly as ever, although she is reintroduced in a new form so to speak. There might be action in the story but there is also betrayal and people being toyed with in the commonwealth. Kai is struggling with his future marriage to Queen Levana while simultaneously hoping to save his people from her wrath. The multiple POVs really brings the story to its full potential. I don’t think that the series would be even half as good from a single POV.

The pace is more steady in this book, the action is well spread and not thrown into our faces in the last few chapters (I’m looking at you Cinder). Overall, it read so much easier than the first book.

 

Cinder: Ugh…I really like her character but it is nice to see her growing and struggling. I think characters who go through so much find flaws in themselves and it makes them that much more real to us as readers. Cinder never had a huge ego, to begin with, she has struggled her entire life and I really think that is why I like her so much. She is growing into her own potential but remains humble to some regard. And still refuses to admit her feelings for Kai.

Kai: My poor Kai! He is put through so much in this book, and the first one. I hope he gets a break soon. He has to deal with trying to protect his people, marry Levana, and find Cinder…on top of all of that he is a new Emperor. I just want to hold him as he sleeps so he can for once have a night in peace. I love that he tries to ignore or admit his feelings for Cinder but we all know that is a line of bull… He is so in love with her, he just doesn’t know it yet.

 

Lunar Queen (Levana): I despise this woman. She toys with the lives of humans of the commonwealth as if they are nothing but expendable. Levana stops at nothing to get her way, making sure Cinder is out of the picture…painted in a negative light. She is so manipulative and just vile.

Iko: I was so happy to see Iko again!! Her remarks are always a mood lightener when situations become tense. She is funny and bubbly, ironically…she reminds me a little of myself at times. I am very bubbly like that but she is way beyond that. She is just…such a great character and I love her so much.

Thorne: I had mixed feelings about him to begin with but he is really growing on me. The conversations between him and Cinder are comical at times. I think part of why he has grown on me as a character is that he reminds me of Han Solo from Star Wars. I mean really…his ship that is really not his, his demenor…you can’t deny it. He is Han Solo…

 

 

Scarlet: I liked Scarlet from the start. She is strong and will risk even her own life for those she cares for. Her accent too…it was amazing. (Thank you audiobook… I could not have imagined a better French accent in my mind).

Wolf: I love the Macho-man hiding his soft side trope! He is bad but really good deep down… one thing I’m a sucker for. I look forward to seeing more of him in the future. Him and his…romantic interest that is.

 

 

I listened to this as an audiobook and the narrator was, once again, Rebecca Soler. She is so talented! The individual voices for characters are great but the accent for Scarlet was amazing! I love hearing the different voices, it brings a whole new dimension to the book.

 

I am listening to the fourth book as I write this…yes the fourth book. I can’t get enough of it. I need to buy actually hard copies of the series. It would have been a great series without the retellings but those make it even better. I enjoyed this book much more than the first one. The action is “on the edge of your seat” worthy. The romance was so swoon worthy! I love the faith that Kai has for Cinder and the love Wolf shows.

 

 

Ugh…it is just a really good book ok! If you haven’t read this series…What are you waiting for?!?!

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Would you read this novel? Buy it or borrow it? If you have read it, what did you think?

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