Review: Scarlet

08:41 Cilla 0 Comments

Title: Scarlet
Author: Marissa Meyer
Publisher: Feiwel and Friends
Source: Book Depository
Synopsis:

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: ⋆⋆⋆⋆⋆

"I think I realized that I would rather die because I betrayed them, than live because I betrayed you."

Like the best fairytales, this book doesn't skip the dark parts; the monsters commit horrible crimes and the good guys get by on more than just luck and a good heart. Scarlet, like Cinder, is a strong character in many ways; I love their separate story lines as much as when they intertwined, and I look forward to seeing more of them together.

Speaking of great characters, we meet Thorne Carswell in this installment. I adore his interactions with Cinder; he brings light to what would otherwise be completely angsty situations, and he brings out Cinder's dry humour which I love. I look forward to see how this little group of misfits will accomplish their mission.

I'd protest that Scarlet's romance with Wolf seems too quick to be more than just a passionate crush, but there is this chemistry between them that couldn't be ignored. And Wolf! Every series could do with a (well-written) tormented not-always-nice-but-actually-good-hearted character (X-Men's Logan/Wolverine, anyone?). I continued to be intrigued rather than exasperated by his dilemma.

It's delightfully easy to sink into the world of The Lunar Chronicles, and I couldn't wait to do it again with Cress.

"It would be easy to abuse a person when they never recognized it as abuse."