Book Review: Scarlet by Marissa Meyer

Scarlet
Lunar Chronicles #2
Author: Marissa Meyer
Reading Level: YA
Genre: Science Fiction/Dystopian/Steampunk
Released: February 5th 2013
Review Source: Purchased
Available: Amazon

Summary: (from goodreads) 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.

When I was reading Cinder, the first installment of the Lunar Chronicles, I knew about Scarlet, but wasn’t very interested in reading it. After reading Cinder, it was like the whole world changed, and I had to get that book. That book being Scarlet.

Our favorite mechanic cyborg returns with a few new perks. She has the advanced cyborg limbs Dr. Erland had given her, and the new knowledge that she is Lunar. Except Cinder isn’t any ordinary Lunar, she’s Princess Selene. She knows it, Dr. Erland knows it, and –worst of all- Queen Levana knows it. After being thrown in prison for being an escaped Lunar hiding on Earth, she break outs of her cell with another criminal- Captain (Cadet) Carswell Thorne. Together the fugitives orbit Earth in Throne’s spaceship, while Cinder craves more information on her past.

The main reason why I rated this book a whopping 5 trees is because of the new story of Scarlet. Scarlet is a retelling of Little Red Riding hood in case you didn’t know. Scarlet Benoit’s grandmother has been missing for over two weeks. Any piece of her identity has been left behind and the police have given up on the case and presumed Michelle Benoit dead. Scarlet wants answers, and that’s almost what she gets when she meets a street-fighter, called Wolf. Wolf is an ex-member of a Lunar gang of wolf-like soldiers that follow their Queen’s every command. They’re Queen Levana’s army-on-Earth. Wolf hasn’t really told his gang he’s not returning, but that all changes when he meets Scarlet. Michelle Benoit, Scar’s grandmother, might have something to do with Princess Selene that preserved her life and changed the Princess’s life forever. On top of having Cinder needing to hide away from Queen Levana, Scarlet and Wolf set off to find Michelle Benoit.

I must say, a probably did a really cruddy job of summarizing that. It’s so indescribable, though. If this was just continuing the story of Cinder, this book probably would’ve got 4.5 trees. When Meyer included Scarlet’s story in there (especially her time with Wolf!) that was like adding a chocolate candy bar to chocolate cupcake with chocolate icing- making the best *even* better! I loved the new characters *cough* Wolf *cough*.

In conclusion Marissa Meyer did an amazing job of writing Scarlet. When I read it, it felt like I was actually witnessing the story for my self instead on a page. I guess I’m half-way done with the Lunar Chronicles. Is that a good or bad thing? The books are exceptional and the series getting closer to being over is traumatic. In the end -rest assured- Scarlet will not disappoint.