Scarlet by Marissa Meyer

Scarlet by Marissa Meyer
The Lunar Chronicles #2
Release Date: February 3, 2013
Publisher: Puffin
Source: Publisher
Goodreads Stars: 5
Rating: Essential
Buy the Book: Amazon UK

Scarlet Benoit’s grandmother is missing. The police have closed her case. The only person Scarlet can turn to is Wolf, a street fighter she does not trust, but they are drawn to each other.

Meanwhile, in New Beijing, Cinder will become the Commonwealth’s most wanted fugitive – when she breaks out of prison to stay one step ahead of vicious Queen Levana.

As Scarlet and Wolf expose one mystery, they encounter Cinder and a new one unravels. Together they must challenge the evil queen, who will stop at nothing to make Prince Kai her husband, her king, her prisoner . . . - Goodreads

Note: I freakin' hate this synopsis. The last paragraph gives away things that happen in the last fifty pages, so please don't read it if you don't want to be spoiled. I've crossed it out for your convenience. 

I'm pretty sure I had forgotten why I loved Cinder so much before reading Scarlet. I read it so long ago, and I didn't have time for a reread before getting to this. Luckily for me, Scarlet is just as amazing and once I started reading it was easy to tell why I fell in love with Meyer's writing and the world she has created. 

First thing's first, this is definitely not one of those books that will leave you confused for several chapters while you struggle to remember character names and events from the previous book. *cough* Insurgent *cough*. Meyer does an amazing job of reminding you what went down, and instead of having a character explain it, she actually shows it. I think this should become a standard thing in all books, because it was brilliantly done, and really refreshing since I am so used to having a character tell me what went down in the prequels.

Scarlet alternates between a few different points of view. We get to see a lot of Cinder and Scarlet (more on those two later!), as well as some chapters from Wolf's and Kai's perspectives. There's also a new character, Captain Thorne, introduced. While we don't see many scenes from his perspective, I still grew to love him. He's hilarious! 

The storyline was almost completely unpredictable. I was shocked plenty of times, and was left with my jaw hanging open. I loved the new revelations that happened in this book, and I can't wait to find out more in the next one in the series. There was not a dull moment, and I was so captivated by this book that I read it in two sittings, only stopping to eat.

There were also some Little Red Riding Hood references (obviously), and my favourite one was Scarlet's grandmother saying "Come closer." It wasn't even meant to be a creepy moment, but I was entirely creeped out by it. At the same time, I squealed when she said it! 

Okay, so I should probably talk about the title character now. So, Scarlet. I'm kind of speechless. Scarlet is THE BEST. If I was to be any book character, I would want to be her. She's strong, badass, caring, she loves her grandmother, and she's really freakin' determined. 

Cinder was just as awesome in Scarlet as she was in Cinder. In Scarlet, she is trying to come to terms with being Princess Selene, as well as escape the government AND find out more about her past. All of that in only 450 pages, half of which weren't dedicated to her. 

Marissa Meyer writes the most fantastic female characters. I don't know how she does it. Cinder is similar to Scarlet in terms of badassery, but she is also her own person and has her own unique voice. A tough thing to pull off for most writers, and yet Meyer does is wonderfully. I honestly could not wait to get to Cinder's chapters, and then once they were over I couldn't wait to get back into Scarlet's! I love both of these characters equally. 

As for the romance between Scarlet and Wolf, all I can really say is I am conflicted. On one hand, I felt it was totally rushed and annoying because they had only known each other for a a few days when they started talking about love and mates (you'll get it when you read it). The characters even acknowledge how rushed their relationship is. But then, on the other hand, I totally admit to loving them together. If only they had left the love thing out until the next book. I'm hoping that they'll slow down now, and we'll get some more build up. Or conflict, because I like conflict. 

Overall, Scarlet lived up to my expectations, and probably even surpassed them. Marissa Meyer is such a talented writer, and I cannot get enough of these characters. I want to shout about my love for Scarlet, the character, because she is AMAZING. She deserves a keyboard smash: slfdhdksghdukghdg.

Favourite quote? "Mademoiselle Benoit retrieved." (pg. 408) You'll understand when you read the book, I promise!