The fates of Cinder and Scarlet collide as a Lunar threat spreads across the Earth...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. ~ Goodreads
Review:
I enjoyed Cinder, Book #1 of the Lunar Chronicles, but I didn't love it. This is probably the most imaginative retelling of fairy tales that I have ever read but there was something about Cinder and especially Kai that left me feeling meh…whatever…instead of OMG what happens next. I had no intention of even continuing with the series until my friend, Julie, sent Scarlet to me in the mail.
I'm really glad she did because I loved this book. That can all be attributed to my love of Scarlet and Wolf. They are great characters on their own but dynamic together. The weaving of the Little Red Riding Hood tale was subtle but well done.
Wolf was a bit of a mystery and I enjoyed how layered his character was as I tried to uncover if he was indeed the big bad wolf trying to eat grandma or something else entirely.
As with Cinder, I think Scarlet misses a great opportunity by ignoring the location around them. Scarlet takes place in France (Cinder was New Beijing) but there isn't any local dialect or real descriptions of their surroundings. Despite knowing I'm reading about a far away/futuristic land…I can't see it in my mind. But at a long 452 pages already I'm not sure how you could do that anyway.
Cinder is still very much in the thick of things but with a new, hilarious, sidekick – Captain Thorne Carswell. I kept seeing him as a Harrison Ford/Hans Solo type in my head. He's funny and flirtatious but loyal when the chips are down. I loathe love triangles but for the first time I was hoping for one. Prince Kai better grow a pair soon or I will never buy into him and Cinder getting together. Kai is nice enough and I know he's on an emotional journey of his own but his decisions are flat out unproductive and stupid. Man up Prince Kai! lol
At times the plot feels like it veers away from resolution just for the sole purpose of weaving in the next fairy tale but again Meyer does it so well that I guess I'll just follow along for the ride.
Final thoughts: I had written this series off after feeling lukewarm about Cinder but Scarlet gave me the fast paced action, characters and depth I was looking for.
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Buy the book! Scarlet (Lunar Chronicles, Book 2)
Thanks for sharing your thoughts. Intrigued by this series and having read such mixed reviews I think I'll have to read this one for myself.
ReplyDeletePeople say how happy they were that Cinder showed up in this book but I wanted more Scarlet and Wolf-time!! Still, I loved the Captain. What a fantastic bad boy! Can't wait to read Cress and catch up with them all!
ReplyDeleteI agree with you. While Cinder's POV was ok, I wish that we got develop Scarlet and Wolf's relationship even more. They were great characters.
DeleteThorne was awesome!
Yes you liked it and totally agree with you about wolf and Scarlet :) Thorne did remind me of han solo too :)
ReplyDeleteI think Scarlet sounds a lot more interesting than Cinder. I'm glad you gave this a try and enjoyed it.
ReplyDeleteGreat review, Karen!
That's great the second book has you more interested. Good thing you gave it a shot. I haven't read Cinder yet, but I do want too.
ReplyDeleteIt's a really unique retelling. It doesn't 100% work for me but it's fun.
DeleteThe question is...can I read this one without having read book 1? Cos the library has this one
ReplyDeleteI think you do need to read the first one - or at least have someone spoil you and tell you what happened. Because Cinder and Kai form book #1 both have carry over POV's in this book.
DeleteThe Scarlet/Wolf parts stand on there own though.
You know I enjoyed the first one, but didn't love the romance so I think I was a bit lukewarm (at least in that one regard). I so need to read this one. Everyone comments on the captain. Need to meet him.
ReplyDeleteI really liked the Captain/Wolf and Scarlet. More than Kai and Cinder.
DeleteOMG, Thorne as Han Solo--YES. I even said that in my review:) Cannot wait for more of him in Cress!
ReplyDeleteI loved Scarlet more than Cinder too--this series seems to be getting better and better as it goes.
I see you're reading This Song Will Save Your Life! Now THAT is an awesome book!
Awesome, I still need to read this, but it's so exciting to hear you thought so highly of it. It sounds like I liked Cinder more than you (I kind of like Prince Kai - I'll have to see how I feel after Scarlet), but I'm still really excited to meet the new characters!
ReplyDeleteI AGREE! I liked Cinder but wasn't OMGINLOVE but loved this one! I am so impressed with how Marissa Meyer weaves in fairytales. I am so excited for Cress.
ReplyDeleteseriously! I agree Prince Kai is so bla - I would never just roll over and go with things - I hope he grows more of a backbone by the end of the series since you know Cinder will end up with him. Now Wolf and Thorne - those two guys I am LOVING especially Wolf. He stands up for what he wants.
ReplyDeleteI liked Cinder a lot but didn't raving love it the way so many did, but it's great to hear that you feel that way about Scarlet! Tonya reviewed it for us so I still haven't read my copy yet, but I will have to do it soon.
ReplyDeleteWendy @ The Midnight Garden
I felt the same about Cinder, it's good but not great. I was also undecided if I wanted to continue the series but your review has convinced me I should :)
ReplyDeleteAmazing with great thrills along the way. At first I thought it was going a bit slow and wondering how everything tied in together but when all hell broke lose and the action began it was full on suspense. I have heard from other people at school that they didn't really like it that much. But I did! I mean it had violence, love, mutations, lunar's, escapes, untold secrets and more!
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