Review: Scarlet by Marissa Meyer

Title: Scarlet: Lunar Chronicles 2
Author:  Marissa Meyer
Publisher:  Feiwel & Friends
Published:  February 5, 2013
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My Rating: ★ ★ ★ ★ 1/2

Cinder returns in the second thrilling installment of the New York Times-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. It turns out there are many things Scarlet doesn’t know about her grandmother and the grave danger she has lived in her whole life. 

When Scarlet encounters Wolf, a street fighter who may have information as to her grandmother’s whereabouts, she has no choice but to trust him, though he clearly has a few dark secrets of his own.

As Scarlet and Wolf work to unravel one mystery, they find another when they cross paths with Cinder. Together, they must stay one step ahead of the vicious Lunar Queen who will do anything to make Prince Kai her husband, her king, her prisoner.

 

 

After reading Cinder earlier this year, I couldn't wait to get my hands on Scarlet.  I love that not only do we get this amazing new character in this futuristic re-envisioning of Little Red Riding Hood, but we also get to continue Cinder’s story, picking up right where we left off.  Marissa Meyer gives us many new characters to fall for as well, especially Wolf and Thorne.  I must confess, I am extremely partial to Wolf.

“She did not know that the wolf was a wicked sort of animal, 

and she was not afraid of him.”

His story was sad, but I couldn't help falling for him as he faced his internal battle to give in to either what he was or who he wanted to be.

“‘I knew they would kill me when they found out, but…’ He struggled for words, releasing a sharp breath. ‘I think I realized that I would rather die because I betrayed them, than live because I betrayed you.’”

Thorne was a very fun addition to Cinder’s story; and not only did he make me laugh with his shenanigans, but Cinder’s first look at him had me giggling, too:

“He was still dazed, and though she hated to admit it, he was actually rather attractive. If a girl happened to like that square-jaw, 

bright-blue-eyes, devilish-dimples kind of thing.”

I would have loved more of Kai in this story; but while his appearances were scarce, they served the very important purpose of keeping us in the loop with what was going on in the Commonwealth without detracting from the journey of the novel’s main characters.

If you were a big fan of Cinder, then you will no doubt be pleased with Scarlet.  The same fast-paced excitement and swoon-inducing moments are ever present. I did groan a bit when I reached the end of Scarlet -- not because of an unbearable cliffhanger but because I didn't want to see this story end.  I don’t know how I will wait an entire year to find out what happens next.

I received a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.