Release Date: February 5, 2013
Age Group: Young Adult
Series: Lunar Chronicles #2
Received From: Publisher
IBSN: 9780312642969
Blurb: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.
You may remember how much I adored Cinder last year. It was one of those rare books that took me completely by surprise. It didn’t really sound like my thing–I mean it has cyborgs. But I looooved. I’ve been excited to read Scarlet ever since.
I wasn’t sure what to expect with Scarlet since it’s a companion novel and not a direct sequel. I was worried about Cinder and her story being forgotten or overshadowed. I shouldn’t have been. Marissa Meyer does an amazing job of introducing us to new characters and story lines, but still keeping Cinder’s story a main focus as well. I was really puzzled when I first heard that ever book in the series is going to be based on a different fairy tale. How could that possibly work when all the books are connecting. Guys, it works! It works beautifully, seamlessly, extraordinarily…I’ll stop. I’m honestly still just blown away that this concept works as well as it does. I mean, futuristic, hover-crafts, droids, cyborgs, people living on the moon, but there’s also Little Red Riding Hood, Cinderella, and Prince Charming. WHO THINKS OF THIS STUFF?! Marissa Meyer…that’s who, and it’s awesome.
There’s a few new characters introduced, Scarlet obviously. She’s pretty kick ass, although maybe not as kick ass as Cinder, but she was definitely a strong heroine. There’s also Thorne, who is on the run with Cinder. I kind of adored him. He was a little wacky and he had a very high opinion of himself. He brought some fun to the story. I’m still on the fence about Wolf. I really wanted to like him, but I just didn’t. I didn’t dislike him. I just found him to be meh…That in turn made me feel pretty meh about the connection between Wolf and Scarlet. That was unfortunate, but it didn’t take that much away from the story.
Scarlet is very action packed and adventurous just like the first installment. I did feel like the story stalled a bit sometimes. That might have a lot to do with switching between the characters so often. Overall though, it held my attention well. I really enjoyed Scarlet. Not as much as Cinder, but that is one hard book to follow up. I’m looking forward to devouring every book in the Lunar Chronicles.
Cinder by Marissa Meyer
Insignia by S.J. Kincaid
Beauty by Robin McKinley
Ice by Sarah Beth Durst
I’ve heard amazing things about Scarlet. Always happy to see another positive review! Excited to meet Scarlet and see how she compares with Cinder, and also looking forward to seeing how Marissa deals with LRRH! Should be brilliant. Great review!
Lisa | Read Me Bookmark Me Love Me
It is brilliant! I hope you enjoy it!
I really loved Scarlet too! For me, I actually liked it a bit more than Cinder and I’m keeping my fingers crossed that Marissa Meyer will only make each installment better than the last. Thorne was so great, he was such a highlight. Great review!
Steph recently posted..Book Review: Just One Day by Gayle Forman
I’ve heard lots of people say they liked it better and I can definitely see that. I already can’t wait for the next one.
I LOVED Cinder and I’m so excited you loved this, too! I’ve been biting my nails wondering how MM’s going to handle Cinder/Kai + Scarlet/WHOEVER IS NEW. EEEEEE! SO EXCITED.
I can’t wait to get my hands on this. I think we still have a few months in Australia
Sarah (saz101) recently posted..SUMMER GIVEAWAY: Win One of 2013′s Hottest Releases!
She handles it so well! I hope the wait goes by fast for you!
Lori recently posted..Review: Hysteria by Megan Miranda
Great review, I didn’t actually know that each book in the Lunar Chronicles were going to be based on different fairytale retellings, I thought that the Lunar Chronicles were to be based on “Cinderella” alone, this is an amazing concept, but like yourself if I heard it through the grapevine and not through your review, I’d have thought it wouldn’t work either.
I’m currently in the process of reading “Cinder” so looking forward to seeing if I like it as much as most
Angelica @ Paperback Princess recently posted..Bout of Books Read-a-thon
The concept is genius and MM pulls it off soooo well.
Cinder was probably the most imaginative fairty-tale retelling I’ve ever read. Marissa Meyer is a genius, and I’m glad that still shines through in Scarlet. I’m curious about these other characters – I’ve heard every opinion imaginable about this Wolf person. I very intrigued and can’t wait to get a copy of my own. Great review!
Jessie Marie recently posted..Sundays in Bed With… Night Beach by Kirsty Eagar
I hope you enjoy it!
So excited for this! I have it pre-ordered and can’t wait to read it. I put off reading Cinder for a long time, but when I finally did I loved it!! I’m so glad that you enjoyed this one. It makes me really look forward to it.
Amy @ Book Loving Mom recently posted..Review: Splintered by A.G. Howard
Yeah, I was so unsure about Cinder but then when I read it I was like WOW! I hope you love this one too.
Lori recently posted..Review: Hysteria by Megan Miranda
I can’t wait until the release date!
I hope it goes by fast for you!
I JUST finished Cinder and all I can think about is “SCARLET SCARLET SCARLET”
I can’t wait to read it – but am SO BUMMED I have to wait until February! Wahhhhh.
I am happy to hear, however, that things continue to be awesome, if slightly less awesome than in Cinder.
Lisa [is busy nerding] recently posted..Books on the baby brain
Lots of people have said it’s more awesome, so no worries there.
Great review! I loved Cinder, and I feel really silly that I didn’t know Scarlet and the rest would be companion novels and not sequels. Thanks for clearing that up. I have heard complaints there’s not enough Kai in this one and now it makes sense. I think I’m looking forward to Scarlet more now
It’s such a genius concept. I hope you love Scarlet!
Before I read Cinder, I was really skeptical–Cyborgs are not really my kind of thing, but I fell in love with the book. I am so excited for Scarlet, if a little nervous that it won’t live up to my expectations. I have yet to read a review from someone who loved Cinder and didn’t like Scarlet though, so I’m optimistic!
Stormy recently posted..Review: Hush, Hush
I had the same thought! Cyborgs?! But it was so amazing. I think you will love Scarlet.
EEK! I am so excited to read this book! Awesome review. I was so worried that Marissa Meyer wasn’t going to include Cinder as much, but I love that she’s still a focus in the book. I am so incredibly excited for this series and where it is going. Marissa is an awesome writer, and her take on fairytales is so unique it just blows my mind!
I actually wasn’t expecting as much Cinder as there was. So that was a great surprise.
I just finished Cinder this morning! Oh my gosh, it was amazing. Also, definitely not my kind of book, but I am so glad I read it. I can’t wait to read Scarlet. I’ve been hearing wonderful things.
Quinn @ Quinn’s Book Nook recently posted..Review: She Went All the Way by Meg Cabot
It definitely wasn’t my kind of book either. I hope you love Scarlet just as much.
I think I loved Scarlet even more than Cinder, if for no other reason than how brilliantly she managed to merge the two stories of CInderella and Red Riding Hood. I wasn’t really sure about Wolf either, but in the end I loved it too much to care. Great review!
I had no idea how she was going to merge them, but wow! It was so great.
I’m looking forward to reading Scarlet soon! I’ve read so many good things, but it’s good to hear some not so great things about it too to keep my expectations in check. Glad that the concept translates well with a new fairytale & characters. Can’t wait to read it
Lucy @ The Reading Date recently posted..What Happens Next by Colleen Clayton Book Review
I hope you love it, Lucy!
ay yi yi. marissa meyer is so freakin’ fantastic. i <3 that woman. and wolf? i wasn't sure if i should trust him or not. i just never was sure. was i going to fall in love with him and then BAM – be tricked into liking a bad guy? yikes.
Magan recently posted..Magan: Just One Day by Gayle Forman
Yes! Yikes, indeed!
Ahhh I cannot wait for Scarlet to come out! I was also super surprised by how much I enjoyed Cinder and I was wondering how Scarlet would compare to it. Thank goodness you liked it and Marissa Meyer worked her magic! I was excited to meet Scarlet & Wolf, but too bad that you didn’t like Wolf too much. Great Review and I cannot wait for this one!
Amanda @ Vivalabooks recently posted..2nd Week of January 2013 Releases
I cant WAIT to read this! I remember bring puzzled how it would work so I had asked Marissa at her signing and it made more sense, but I don’t think think it completely makes sense until you read it. So hopefully I can do so soon!
candace recently posted..Fantabulous Contemp! Review of Just One Day by Gayle Forman
She definitely pulls it off!
I want to meet Scarlet. Like you Cinder took me completely by surprise, I mean a cyborg Cinderella?! Awesome imagination!
Braine recently posted..Cover Reveal: The Agreement by Cami Stark
Ah Scarlet, how I loved it! I feel very fortunate to have been able to read it, and I love that Marissa Meyer’s skill in writing this AMAZING story inspired by fairytales is still hardcore. It was really awesome to read about Scarlet, but also to have Cinder popping up and then to find out how their stories would eventually meet. I really enjoyed this!
Alexa Y. recently posted..What I Did for a Duke – Julie Anne Long (Review)
Good to hear! The way she makes everything come together is just incredible.
Great review, as always
You may be interested in the free short stories from Marissa Meyer and the publisher (Tor)
http://www.tor.com/stories/2011/12/glitches
http://www.tor.com/stories/2012/11/the-queens-army
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