Book Review: Scarlet (The Lunar Chronicles, #2)

Scarlet (The Lunar Chronicles, #2): Marissa Meyer 

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.

Wow! This book was amazing! I read Cinder about a month ago and I wasn't sure when I was going to pick up Scarlet. Yes, I really loved Cinder but I feel like sometimes you just have to be in the mood for fairytale retellings, you know? Scarlet is obviously a retelling of Little Red Riding Hood, but it still continues with Cinder's story from the first book. I love love love how everything came together! 

"A captain always knows where his ship is. It's like a psychic bond."

"If only we had a captain here."

Fan cast of Scarlet: Jane Levy

I love how the story changes perspectives between Scarlet and Cinder and occasionally Kai! I liked Scarlet even better than Cinder. I feel that people can relate more to her. She's so impulsive and isn't afraid to let her emotions show. Which makes sense with the situations she's put in. I like that she tries to fight but at the same time you can tell that everything is sort of taking an emotional toll on her to the point where she just really wants to snap. Cinder is so calm and collected all the time, even in this extreme situations. And that doesn't really change much for this story either. There are two new characters in this book besides them, and they are Carswell Thorne and Wolf! Wolf is definitely not who he seems like in the beginning of the book, which lead to a pretty big twist that I wasn't expecting! Carswell Thorne honestly at first reminded me of my ex boyfriend, lol. He seemed really shallow and sneaky but coming off as super charismatic to people in order to impress them. However, he really grew on me! You can tell he isn't as self-serving as he comes off as. So I'm also really pumped to finally see his love story as well! 

Fan cast of Wolf: Tyler Hoechlin 

The romance in this book is pretty much between Scarlet and Wolf. They have that kind of forbidden love thing going on, which was definitely intriguing to the story. There wasn't much about Cinder and Kai since they weren't even in the same place. They still thought about each other, though. The romance between Cinder and Kai is so slow-burning that I really can't wait to see what will happen when they finally see each other again. While I do like Scarlet as a character better, I think I like the romance between Cinder and Kai the most. They seriously will be such a great couple one day! Cinder really is trying to save his life in any way she can, even if she has to prove to the entire world that she is the lost Lunar Princess. And Kai is knowingly sacrificing his life for the hope that Queen Levana will leave the people of Earth alone and one day hand over the Letumosis cure. 

"I don't see that her being Cyborg is relevant."

I really think this is a fantastic series. I'm so glad I decided to start it! I also am currently in the first quarter of Cress… I currently don't like it as much as Scarlet or Cinder, but I'm thinking it will pick up soon! If you haven't read any of this series yet, I highly recommend it! While it's considered a fairytale retelling, you really don't even think about it being one! It really is a unique series that isn't bounded by the strictures of the old fairytales. So even if you aren't a huge fan of retellings, I'd still recommend this to you! 

- Jocelyn