Review of Scarlet by Marissa Meyer


Scarlet (Lunar Chronicles #2) by Marissa Meyer

To be published by Feiwel and Friends on February 5, 2013


Plot Summary of Scarlet by Marissa Meyer


Scarlet Benoit is delivering fresh-picked vegetables from her farm in the French countryside while trying not to worry about her grand-mere's mysterious disappearance. 

On a routine delivery to a tavern, she meets ... you guessed it: Wolf. He's a tough street-fighter, but soon Scarlet has reason to believe he might be able to help her.  

Meanwhile, cyborg Cinder is trying to break out of prison and stop evil Queen Levana from taking over earth. When these two space-age fairytale heroines finally cross paths, they learn that they have something in common: they each have a piece to the puzzle of a missing Lunar princess, a girl who could disrupt the evil Queen's plans and save the universe.

Review of Scarlet by Marissa Meyer


I like fairytale retellings, and really enjoyed Cinder, book one in this four-part series. You can read my review of Cinder here. 

Scarlet is part two of this inventive series, and the action moves from New Beijing to the French countryside, where the fiery-haired Scarlet delivers vegetables by spaceship for a living. As she does, she meets a hungry wolf, whom she's convinced can help her find her missing grandmother. Or is he just big and bad?

Scarlet's story alternates with that of Kai's and Cinder's. Kai is still trying to deal with the fallout of the whole Cinder at the ball fiasco. 

Cinder, after her disruptive appearance at Prince Kai's royal ball, has been imprisoned. With the help of Captain Carswell Thorne, a feckless fellow prisoner, Cinder stages a jailbreak and soon the pair are combing New Beijing for Thorne's missing spaceship.  

The two of them made a compelling couple -- verbally sparring in a rapid-fire fashion that brought to mind the crackling sexual tension between Princess Leia and Han Solo in the Star Wars movies. I am definitely rooting for Thorne in this particular love triangle.** 

Like many classic fairytale heroes, Prince Kai strikes me as a little on the bland side. After Cinder escapes, poor Kai has to manage Queen Levana's fury, but he still isn't given much of interest to do in this book. As far as I'm concerned, Cinder gets to do all the cool stuff. 

I was also delighted that among her accomplishments is managing to bring back Iko, her beloved cyborg-servant, at least in a manner of speaking. Iko provided additional comic relief as Cinder and Thorne tried to evade capture by the Queen's minions.

While I enjoyed reading about Scarlet and Wolf, I also felt that theirs was also a peripheral plot stream to Cinder's. 

Scarlet isn't really a sequel to Cinder or a companion book -- it's more like a merging of story lines. Scarlet's grandmother has information that the evil Queen Levana needs, but Scarlet isn't really central to the series' main plot. 

Wolf is an enigmatic and compelling character -- I don't want to say too much for fear of spoilers -- and I hope he and Scarlet will continue to be part of the series. But there are still two more fairytale characters -- Rapunzel and Snow White -- who also need to be brought into the mix, and things could get crowded.

Scarlet, like Cinder, is a lively, imaginative book that seems to be one-third fairy tale, one-third sci-fi, and one-third comic book adventure. The series, which features strong female heroines and a great blend of action and romance, is one I highly recommend!

** Okay, not everyone agrees with me that this is a love triangle, and it probably isn't, but a girl can hope...  I'm always rooting for the underdog.



Comments

  1. I am not happy to hear about Thorne because I really liked Kai in the first book-he was a highlight for me! But Thorne also sounds very charming so maybe I will fall for him? I did manage to get an ARC of this so should be reading it pretty soon.

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    1. Really? I don't know, Kai was only okay to me. But see Heather's comment below. Heidi @ Bunbury in the Stacks is all over this with an awesome theory.

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  2. Ooh! Thanks so much for the giveaway! I can't believe I haven't read Cinder yet..but I do have it! I hope to read it this month!

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  3. So can't wait to read this one!

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  4. Thanks for the giveaway, just read Cinder a few days ago and can't wait to read this one.

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  5. Thank you so much for the giveaway. Especially for giving the chance for the international to win. :)

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  6. Skimmed the review...I haven't read it yet and I have some theories I want to see pan out on my own. :P But I'm glad you like this series, too. Took me awhile to read Cinder, but once I started it, major fangirling. :P

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    1. Ooh, can't wait to hear them. This series is tons of fun.

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  7. Feckless, Thorne?? No...;)Woo Hoo for Han Solo comparisons:)

    Actually Heidi thinks that Thorne might be the primary love interest in the next book. Cress is a Rapunzel retelling and she does live in a tower surrounded by thorns (I think she may be on to something there!)

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    1. Don't you think Han Solo started out a little feckless. Kinda mercenary, not very idealistic. I'm sensing a similar character path for Thorne. I've plotted it all out in my head.

      PS Heidi is a GENIUS. I'm so happy. Hope she is right.

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    2. Just had to say, I love the Han Solo comparison! :) Did you see #7 is coming out in 2015? We are Star Wars fans here. I'm just glad I don't have to figure all the love interests out. I just get to enjoy reading about them.

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    3. I hadn't heard that. Huge Star Wars fans in our family too!

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    4. Great theory! Thanks for alerting me to this comment. Would be a great way to tie the stories together.

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  8. Fabulous review!! I am really looking forward to this one! I pre-ordered it from Amazon, but I got the free shipping so it won't ship until Clockwork Princess does in March. *gasp* It's okay though since I don't have time to read it until about then. Lol!!

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  9. I still haven't read Cinder, but I've heard wonderful things about both books. I don't always love fairy tal re-tellings, but Id like to give these a try,
    I'm happy you liked Scarlet. Great review !

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    1. You definitely should. I'm very impressed with this series!

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  10. This sounds SO SO good. I can't wait to read it <3 I absolutely loved Cinder, so this is going to be good. *Fingers crossed on winning this book* I love how the heroins are strong females and how she manages to blend all these great aspects into a story. Her romance is just enough to make you go 'ahhhh' but not so much that I'm waiting for more action :D

    Mel@thedailyprophecy.

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    1. What she's doing is really interesting. I expected Cinder to make an appearance, but I didn't expect her to get a whole plotline.

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  11. Awesome review hon, I need to get on the first book bandwagon :(

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  12. Scarlet delivers vegetables by spaceship?! That is so funny! I have to read this book for that alone! Glad to hear that Cinder's story is continued in this one though, I wasn't sure if these were going to be a continuing thing or just sister fairytale type things :)

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    1. Yes, wearing a red hoodie. How awesome is that!

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  13. I still need to read Cinder, but I know I'll totally love it. :) I started it once and thought it was so unique!

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  14. I still need to read the first one. Glad that you enjoyed and go underdog :)

    Happy reading,
    Brandi @ Blkosiner’s Book Blog

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    1. Well, I love the theory that he's getting a big role in the next book *crosses fingers*

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  15. I was pretty surprised by how much I liked Cinder and I want to Scarlet, someday. I like the idea of "merging storylines" makes for an interesting plot, and it's different. I especially like the references to Han and Princess Leia's verbal sparring. Their banter is one of the best parts of those movies.

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    1. These are definitely not the typical fairytale retellings. Okay, read this and tell me what you think about the Star Wars vibe.

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  16. I wasn't a huge fan of the first book but I plan on reading this one just to find out what happens with Cinder's part of the story! Oh no another love triangle?!? I'm so sick of those! Thanks for the giveaway =)

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    1. Nah, I don't think it is really a love triangle. But I love Thorne so I hope he gets his own story.

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  17. I can't wait to read Scarlet! That's interesting; I didn't realize it was a merge of sorts. That's totally fine with me, though! :D

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    1. That's how it seemed to me. Cinder has her own plotline -- I think she's going to be a key part of all the books.

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  18. I might agree with Heather/Heidi. I kind of liked Kai, but I can see your point, Jen. I also think it could get a little busy with characters if she doesn't do it right. I LOVED Cinder and I'm really looking forward to getting my hands on this!!!

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    1. I'm very curious to see if all these couples are integrated into the same story by book four.

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  19. Thank you! I'm so excited for this book and am really interested to see how Marissa brings in Rapunzel and SW in the future!

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    1. Rapunzel is a favorite of mine so I'm really excited.

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  20. i just read Cinder and cannot wait for Scarlet. I'm envious of everyone that got an ARC!

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  21. *flails* I am so excited for this one! And its really interesting on how the two story lines merge. That I can't wait to read. :) I absolutely loved Cinder, and I can't wait to read this retelling- and it's set in FRANCE! *cue more flailing* And there's a jailbreak? Oooh- maybe it'll be like Prison Break! ;)

    And did I mention that I love you, in a totally non-gay way, for the giveaway? No? Well, I totally do! :) I AM DYING FOR THIS ONE!

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    1. The French countryside, the jailbreak, Wolf and Thorne -- it's pretty fun to read!

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  22. I really need to hurry up and read Cinder, huh? lol

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  23. This book is a major reason that I'm excited for February. I can't wait to read it. I think fairy-tale, sci-fi, and comic book is the perfect blend to describe Cinder, so I'm glad that ratio is maintained in Scarlet.

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  24. I have been waiting to read Scarlet, could it take any longer to come out?. I can't believe it's almost finally out and then the wait will begin again for book 3.
    Thanks for the giveaway!

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  25. A love triangle, OH NOES! Though I'm pretty sure that Heather doesn't think that Cinder's relationship with this new guy will turn into a romance. I will choose to believe her until I see for myself. In any case, I cannot WAIT for this book.

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  26. I want to read this series! I wasn't sure if this was going to be a good book or not so I was waiting for a few reviews and see what others thought of the book. Thanks for the chance to win this AWESOME book!!

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  27. I can't wait to read Scarlet! I really liked Cinder! :D Love triangle? :/

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