Scarlet by Marissa Meyer

•••

— 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.

•••

— MY REVIEW —

⚠ WARNING WARNING WARNING ⚠

Spoilers ahead. Read at own risk!

LOVED IT! I think I read this book at the perfect time. I was on the verge of another mini reading slump and when I started Scarlet (not even 1 chapter in) I knew the slump wasn’t going to hit me. I love Scarlet as much as I loved Cinder. Although their stories are different, they both had the same feel that made me fall in love with both character’s stories.

Another reason I love both books is because Cinder has Kai… and Scarlet has Wolf! Eeeeeeep! 😄😄

I knew after reading Cinder that it wasn’t going to be the typical Cinderella story that we all know of. So I was going into Scarlet knowing that it wouldn’t be typical either, which I’m kind of glad because when Wolf first comes into the scene, I just knew… I had a strong gut feeling that he wasn’t the “big bad wolf” that little red riding hood would have been afraid of. Don’t get me wrong… he’s still a bad boy but the good kind of bad, if you get what I mean… 😉😉

I don’t know how Marissa Meyer was able to take our childhood fairy tales and retell it in a way that still has the core storyline but also make it into something new and different. It’s quickly become one of my fave fantasy series ever!

I got to be honest though, Little Red Riding Hood wasn’t my fave tale growing up. But Scarlet totally changed that…especially since this one has a hunky, somewhat dangerous Wolf in it! *drools* 🤤

Since I’m drooling already, let’s move on from one hunk to another. Carswell Thorne. He made me crack up from the moment he opened his mouth. I love a guy that can make me laugh and with Thorne around, there was no shortage of it! LOL! I love that he was cheeky and a bit vain but it all adds to his charm, I say! 😉 It’s clear when you’re reading this book that the main characters are Scarlet and Wolf but with Cinder (and Kai) still included, you can see that Cinder’s story from the first book ties in well with what’s happening now. I love that the brooding war with Queen Levana is what ties all the characters and their stories together. It was very well written!

I will say this though, I did find Scarlet at times to be bit irritating. Her focus was always on finding her grandma. Yeah, yeah I get that that’s her only family and I wouldn’t want anyone hurting anyone from my family either but I wish she wouldn’t act like she doesn’t care about anything or anyone else besides her grandma. I hate that Scarlet doesn’t even think about the consequences until it’s too late and by then you’re already yelling at the page saying “I knew it!” Lol.

Scarlet (in my opinion) yelled a lot throughout the book. She did a lot of overreacting and finger pointing and blaming of others. Which in some parts was justified but in others it was just too damn rude and I’m just going to say it… I would’ve punched her for it! #sorrynotsorry

I think Scarlet needs to realize there’s a bigger picture than just saving her grandma no matter what. I wanted to shake her and tell her to shut up for a second and listen lol. Did anyone else feel that way too? (Or was it just me? Haha)

But other than that, I love her with Wolf. I think they are perfect for each other. I love Wolf’s (for lack of a better word) ignorance.. Of course he’s from Luna and is unfamiliar with human-related things but I think that’s why I liked him as a character. It makes him all the more cuter because he’s different and doesn’t know any better.

Oh before I wrap up this already long review up, who else thought that Wolf wasn’t going to make it out? Who thought he was going to be left behind whilst the rest fly off? For a second there I thought so. I was ready to cry out it anger and slam the book shut 😛 Let’s just say it was a close call.

But I do like how the book concluded. Yeah sure, a lot of things finally came out in the end and more problems have popped up because of it but the way it ended makes me excited to read the next book. 😊

RATING: ♥♥♥♥/5

Highly recommend read! I found this book to be an easy read just like Cinder. The pace was great and had a nice flow from Scarlet story to Cinder’s and then back again – I never had a dull moment reading this book.

---

•••

Hope you’re all well. Happy reading, and as always, catch you in my next one! Xo

Cinder by Marissa Meyer

•••

— BLURB —

Humans and androids crowd the raucous streets of New Beijing. A deadly plague ravages the population. From space, a ruthless Lunar people watch, waiting to make their move. No one knows that Earth’s fate hinges on one girl. . . . Cinder, a gifted mechanic, is a cyborg.

She’s a second-class citizen with a mysterious past, reviled by her stepmother and blamed for her stepsister’s illness. But when her life becomes intertwined with the handsome Prince Kai’s, she suddenly finds herself at the center of an intergalactic struggle, and a forbidden attraction. Caught between duty and freedom, loyalty and betrayal, she must uncover secrets about her past in order to protect her world’s future.

•••

— MY REVIEW —

First book in The Lunar Chronicles series by Marissa Meyer. Cinder is a retelling of the classic fairytale, Cinderella. But don’t be fooled… this book is not like the Disney version.

Linh Mei (aka Cinder) is gutsy and doesn’t take shit from anyone. Yeah sure she has to deal with her stepmother guardian Adri and annoying stepsister Pearl on a day to day basis, having to deal with their rudeness, demands, repairs and everything in between all because she’s still underage and by law Adri is in “charge” of her. But that doesn’t stop her from planning ways to escape and to ensure she’ll never be found. I love how she talks back to them when she needs to stick up for herself or for her friends. Having the younger stepsister be close to Cinder is a nice change from the original story of “two” evil stepsisters.

I also love the fact that the setting is set in Asia. Although Cinder is also known as Linh Mei, I don’t actually think she is of Asian descent but Prince Kai might be. It’s refreshing to read stories based in Asia because I don’t see it enough. Stories I’ve read are usually set somewhere in America or Europe (if not in new a world).

Cinderella is my all time favourite fairytale (besides The Little Mermaid) so I had high hopes for this book. I was not disappointed. I love the fact that Cinder is no damsel in distress. If anything she’s the knight in shining armor (well part of her anyways like her arm and leg) hehe. 😜

After reading a few chapters I did have thoughts as to where the story would lead to and with no surprises by the end of the book I was correct. So yeah, I did find some predictability in the story but it doesn’t ruin it in any way. If you end up reading this book or have already read it and thought the same thing as me, I’m sure you would still have read it til the end to see if you were right. True?

I also have a minor problem with books ending in cliffhangers. Yes, I know this one is part of a series but I would have liked the ending to feel more wrapped up for this particular part of the story before reading the next one. It felt like watching a scene from a show on tv that had been abruptly cut off for a commercial before the scene could even end properly. If that makes sense? [Tip]: Unlike myself, make sure if you start this book that you already have the next at hand so you can read what happens next asap! (Im)patiently waiting for book 2 to be delivered! Grrrr!!

But besides nitpicking at these teeny tiny issues, I loved the book and cannot wait to read the next installment. I hear it just gets better and better. So with the four stars I’m giving Cinder, I guess the rest will be full ratings #hopeful

Ooohh! I almost forgot about Prince Kai. What can I say? He’s sweet, dreamy, caring… all the characteristics of a perfect (fictional) man! 😜

I love the effect he has on Cinder. It’s cute and I couldn’t help but let out a cheesy grin at the part where he asks her to go to the ball hehehe… 😄😄😄

If anything, I’d read the book just for the Cinder/ Kai interactions! 😉

RATING: ♥♥♥♥/5

•••

---

📚 Read my review for the next book in the series!

Scarlet by Marissa Meyer

---

•••

Happy reading, guys! Catch you in my next one! Xo