Scarlet by Marissa Meyer
(Lunar Chronicles, #2)
Genre: YA Science Fiction, Fairy Tale Retelling
Format: ARC
Read: 12/13/2012 — 12/14/2012
In Six Words: Did not want Scarlet to end.
Links
Marissa Meyer — Website | Blog | Twitter | Facebook
Amazon — Hardcover | Kindle
Add it to Goodreads
Book Order
1. Cinder
2. Scarlet (TOMORROW!)
3. Cress (2014)
4. Winter (2015)
Why I Started Reading This Series
As many of you know, I read Cinder last year and got very flaily about it. When Jenny offered to lend me her ARC of Scarlet, you know I jumped at the opportunity. (Yes, there was also much flailing.) But, guys. GUYS. The Lunar Chronicles is probably one of my favorite series. It is so imaginative and fun and….AWESOME. I highly recommend picking up this series if you haven’t yet. There’s a little bit of everything in this series, and it is far FAR more than some fairy tales being retold.
Synopsis
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.
-from Goodreads
Thoughts on Book 2
There is no second book slump syndrome for Marissa Meyer and the Lunar Chronicles series. Wow. Like Cinder, Scarlet was the kind of book that makes you panic when the pages start dwindling because you don’t want the story to end. I cannot get enough of this story, these characters, and this world. 2014 is too long to wait for the next story!
In Scarlet, we’re introduced to Scarlet (shocking!) and Wolf. Scarlet is a very loosely retold version of Red Riding Hood–complete with red hoodie. What I love about both Lunar Chronicle books is that while being a retelling, these books are so much more. With Cinder’s story arc still continuing into this book, we get to see the world expand and grow in ways that are unique and exciting. So many THINGS HAPPEN!
Though we don’t get to spend as much time with Cinder this time around, we do get introduced to more characters and more, er, stuff. (Sorry. Vagueness needed to ensure no spoilers.) This is Scarlet and Wolf’s story and what a fun one it is. (No, really. It was a “grip the book in your fingers and fly through the words because that scene was so incredibly SWOONY” type story.) I loved the push and pull between Scarlet and Wolf. Their story is different from Cinder and Kai’s, but at the same time it involves a lot of the same elements. (No, I won’t say which.)
And I don’t think I can write this review without mentioning Captain Thorne. He just tickled me silly. Thorne also does a very good job of highlighting the subtle humor that is pervasive throughout the Lunar Chronicles. It’s good fun–the kind of humor that occasionally catches you off guard, but you find yourself cackling at. I want more of Thorne and his “heavy American accent” and I seriously hope he’ll make an appearance in future books. (And Scarlet and Wolf. I want more of them, too. I want ALL THE CHARACTERS.)
Amy @ bookgoonie February 4, 2013 at 6:08 am
FLAILing that the series continues to Rock. You are making it really hard NOT to make the drive to Dallas Friday night to see Marissa.
Felicia February 4, 2013 at 7:18 am
Wait! She is town Friday night?
Amanda @ On a Book Bender February 4, 2013 at 10:10 am
You should go see her!!!
Felicia February 4, 2013 at 7:18 am
Flail! We have been over how much I am jelly of you right? :)
Amanda @ On a Book Bender February 4, 2013 at 10:11 am
We have. But it will be worth the wait. I promise!
Kelly @ Reading the Paranormal February 4, 2013 at 8:23 am
OMG! OMG! OMG! WOLF! SCARLET! CINDER! KAI! THE EVIL QUEEN! I didn’t mention Captain Thorne in my review but he was SO funny! I just… *flails*
*flails* *flails* *FLAILS*
Amanda @ On a Book Bender February 4, 2013 at 10:11 am
I JUST LOVED THIS WHOLE BOOK AND SERIES AND *FLAILS*
Kelly @ Reading the Paranormal February 4, 2013 at 2:03 pm
The only downside to how good this book was? All the books I’ve picked up since have felt meh. *sad face is sad*
Amanda @ On a Book Bender February 4, 2013 at 2:03 pm
We can read Trapped together. That should help?
Kelly @ Reading the Paranormal February 4, 2013 at 7:12 pm
It’s a date. I’ll bring the wine and get you all liquored up so that we can go trolling the vampire bars and I can catch myself a hunky, slightly scary, totally alluring Mohawked vampire. *dreamy sigh*
Mary @ BookSwarm February 4, 2013 at 8:38 am
I CAN’T WAIT TO MEET WOLF!! AND SCARLET!! I’m certain I’ll be flailing around like Kelly & Felicia when I finally read this book!!!
Amanda @ On a Book Bender February 4, 2013 at 10:11 am
Probably. There is a lot to flail over here. :D
Rummanah February 4, 2013 at 9:09 am
Must meet this Wolf everyone keeps talking about! So glad you really enjoyed it. Can’t wait to read it myself. :)
Amanda @ On a Book Bender February 4, 2013 at 10:12 am
I hope you get to it soon, Rummanah! :)
Jenny February 4, 2013 at 9:59 am
THIS BOOK WAS SO GOOD AMANDA!!! We should do a whole joint post about Captain Thorne his epicness, because really, he stole every scene he was in. And Wolf! *dreamy sigh* He was such a fantastic mix of traits and I’m dying for a whole other book that features him and Scarlet. I feel like with Cress I’m going to be wishing it was just a continuation of Cinder and Kai and Scarlet and Wolf, but I have no doubt Marissa Meyer will make the introduction of Rapunzel (I think?) as awesome as Scarlet’s introduction was!
Amanda @ On a Book Bender February 4, 2013 at 10:13 am
Yes. I want to reread Scarlet and then we can write an ode to Captain Thorne. *loves* *wants more* *can’t wait until 2014*
Smash Attack February 4, 2013 at 10:43 am
I am so excited to read this! I hope to do the audio. I just loved Cinder on audio. And I want to see how the Wolf character is portrayed. So much fun!
Marisa is going to be in Nashville this Wed! I am SO angry it’s smack in the middle of the week, which makes it impossible for me to make the trip. *whines*
Amanda @ On a Book Bender February 4, 2013 at 11:09 am
I love Wolf! <3 <3 <3
Renae @ Respiring Thoughts February 4, 2013 at 3:12 pm
I haven’t read Scarlet yet, but I don’t think I’ve read a single bad review for it, and every person who flails over this book just makes me more desperate to get my hands on it. I definitely agree that these books (or Cinder at least) are more than just fairy tale retellings. For me, not being a huge fan of retellings, I think that’s part of the draw behind them. The fact that they’re more than they appear to be on the surface makes them a jillion times more awesometastic.
Amanda @ On a Book Bender February 4, 2013 at 4:54 pm
Tomorrow, Renae. TOMORROW! It will be yours. There was a point in Scarlet where I actually forgot that I was reading a retelling. So, yes. These are definitely a jillion times awesometastic. :D
Alexa February 4, 2013 at 5:54 pm
I have had an arc of this for a while and yet I’m scared to read it. I really was expecting more of Cinder’s story and this just seems a little weird to change that story arc slightly but making two new characters the focus of the book. Makes me think that Cinder’s story was sort of cut off.
I guess I’m just going to have to read this for myself to see what it is all about. :)
Thanks for the great review!
Amanda @ On a Book Bender February 4, 2013 at 6:51 pm
Cinder’s story arc will likely span the entire series. Her story is far, far from over, and we still get to see quite of bit of her in Scarlet. And Scarlet and Wolf’s story is awesome, too.
Trust the Marissa Meyer, Alexa. Trust her.
Logan February 5, 2013 at 11:22 am
You mentioned the accent thing, and that was one of the coolest things I loved about this world. I love how she inserts these little reminders that though WE live in America and are reading a book written in English, New Beijing is not any of those things. I thought it was a nice touch.
Amanda @ On a Book Bender February 5, 2013 at 11:26 am
Yes! I also like how people’s names in New Beijing also follow the typical Chinese order of last name, then first name. It is a tiny little detail, but it really lends authenticity to the setting and story.
Sarah (saz101) February 7, 2013 at 6:40 pm
AMANDA AMANDA AMANDA.
YOUR REVIEW.
YOU.
THIS IS CRUEL. You are mocking me with your having read Scarlet and CINER and KAI and this heavily accented American and *whim,pers*
Book Depository only shipped my copy YESTERDAY.
*stomps foot* that means another week, minimum, and then *grumbles*
I love how much you loved this, and how FUN it sounds. I loved Cinder. It’s wildy inventive and crazy and fun and and and ♥♥♥
Amanda @ On a Book Bender February 7, 2013 at 7:58 pm
If it makes you feel better, you have read Unvravel Me, while I am still DYING to get my hands on it.
This book will be worth the wait. I promise.
Sarah (saz101) February 7, 2013 at 8:12 pm
It doesn’t, really. It just makes me feel smug :P