#190 Book Review: Scarlet

Scarlet (Lunar Chronicles #2)
Release Date: 17 January 2013
Author: Marissa Meyer
Publisher: Penguin Australia
Source: Publisher for Review
Format: Paperback
Where to Buy:  Fishpond | Booktopia
More Info: Goodreads

Summary:

Scarlet Benoit's grandmother is missing. The police have closed her case. The only person Scarlet can turn to is Wolf, a street fighter she does not trust, but they are drawn to each other. Meanwhile, in New Beijing, Cinder will become the Commonwealth's most wanted fugitive - when she breaks out of prison to stay one step ahead of vicious Queen Levana. As Scarlet and Wolf expose one mystery, they encounter Cinder and a new one unravels. Together they must challenge the evil queen, who will stop at nothing to make Prince Kai her husband, her king, her prisoner...

Cover:
Gorgeous! Love how fierce Scarlet's red cape looks. I actually like this cover more than Cinder, there's just something about that cape that appeals so much to me!

Story:

This is not the fairy tale you remember. But it's one you won't forget...

I remember reading Cinder one year ago and how I fell head over heels for Meyer's striking debut novel. A re-telling of Cinderella, set in New Beijing with Cinder as cyborg? Count me in! While I can't really remember what happened in the book, I am glad that my memory reconstructs itself after reading Scarlet. But this time, it's not Cinder only who is the main character, it's also Scarlet!

As you can see, Scarlet is also based on the re-telling of Red Riding Hood. While there are traces of the original story, Meyer cleverly spins the fairytale into a new exciting tale while joining the arcs of Cinder and Kai's story from Cinder. The book is written from different POVs, sometimes from Scarlet, Cinder and also Kai. I love how Scarlet and Cinder's story intertwine in this book. The story is filled with actions, excitement and of course, romance although there were times when I felt the story dragged a little bit. The romance is more concerned with Scarlet and Wolf but nevertheless, I'm satisfied and the ending makes me so excited for Cress!

Characters:
There's not much to say besides the fact that I love all the characters in this book. Well to be precise, I love the protagonists in this book. I adored Scarlet from the first moment I met her in the book and even adored her more in the scenes between her and Wolf. Wolfie! I mean Wolf. There's just something about Wolf, even though he might not be someone you can trust so easily, that tugs my heart. I also like a certain character called Thorne, which you'll meet in this book! I still adore Cinder and how she starts to embrace her recently-discovered background but I'm annoyed with Prince Kai, I mean Emperor Kai, especially towards the end of the book! And Queen Levana, I think I came to hate her even more in this book. She is so evil!

Overall:
Miss Cinder and the swoon-worthy Prince Kai? You get to see them again in Scarlet but this time, our girl is the one and only....Scarlet! (Pun-intended?) As Scarlet journeys to find her grandmother with the awesome Wolf, her story becomes intertwined with Cinder's and it's definitely a story you won't forget!

4 Forget-Me-Not flowers for Scarlet!

Thank you Penguin Australia for the review copy!