Title: Scarlet
Author: Marissa Meyer
Series: Lunar Chronicles, Book 2
Published: 2013
Edition Read: Hardback
Pages: 464
Level Recommended: Young Adult
Warning: If you haven't read book one, Cinder, then don't read this review. It'll be spoiler-y for you.
Overall:After reading Cinder, late might I add, I was amazed by the sci-fi elements of the fairy tale retelling. I wasn't sure what to expect with the sequel, but I wasn't disappointed. It was a fun ride from beginning to end.
Summary: 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. It turns out there are many things Scarlet doesn't know about her grandmother or 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 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.
Review: By the time I finished book two I really fell in love with Scarlet, Meyer's version of Little Red Riding Hood. Scarlet has a spunky but vulnerable nature. She knows that she wants to find her grandmother who was kidnapped from their farm, and that she's alive. Even after everyone else decides that her grandmother is lost. Most of book two appropriately follows Scarlet's quest to find her grandmother. Scarlet meets Wolf, a gruff and slightly scary man who participates in street fights, whom she both trusts and distrusts throughout the novel. After Scarlet learns more about her grandmother's whereabouts she convinces Wolf to help her find her grandmother even though he tries several times to deter her.
Alternatively, Cinder finds her way out of jail and causes Emperor Kai plenty of stress in trying to apprehend her. Cinder tries her best to deal with the knowledge that she is Princess Selene, and understanding what that means for her and everyone else. Although you see less of Cinder in this novel, and believe me I wanted to see more of her, Scarlet is amazingly interesting and holds her own as the main character. The ups and downs of her and Wolf's relationship keeps you interested, and I even found myself rooting for Wolf and Scarlet.
By the time I hit the end of the 464 page book I wished there was more. Meyer does a wonderful job of adding in this fairy tale with the original Cinderella retelling from book one without pulling you out of the world that was already established. The sci-fi elements mixed with with the fairy tales is still refreshing and intriguing. Too bad I have to wait until next year to read the third installment.
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