Review: Scarlet by Marissa Meyer

Summary
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.

We enter this novel, reeling from the information bomb dropped at the end of the previous novel, with inquiring and hungry minds as to what comes next in Cinder’s journey to fulfilling her destiny. However, Marissa Meyer introduces you to a new character that takes the center stage and is the primary person you have contact with. Scarlet, based on an update of Little Red Riding Hood, is the main narrator while you do get snippets into what is happening in Cinder’s life and her next move into helping everyone she loves.

Scarlet is a girl who also has never had it easy, lives with her grandmother, and together they deliver goods to local markets and restaurants from their ranch/farm. However, one day when she comes home from work, she finds that her grandmother is missing and no one seems to know where she is. The police are no help, thinking she has run off on her own, and Scarlet even turns to her father whom she has no respect for. 

It is only when she gets a tip from Wolf, a street fighter and a complete stranger to everyone in the community, who tells her that he knows where her grandmother is. Together, they embark on a journey that will change their future, their relationship together, and have them collide with Cinder in a way no one thought was possible.

Review
This book was just as amazing as the first, making me even more excited for the next novel in the series, Cress, which comes out next month. The stories are very well-woven together in terms of plot and character development, but it is a little frustrating that some secrets are still being kept between each other.

The only disappointment with this novel that I had was less time to develop Cinder’s story, since you connect with her tremendously during the first novel. Scarlet, however, is still a very wonderful character to meet, and you will be anxious to learn the next part of their story.

Reviewed by Mercedes Olivas

Book Information
Publisher: Square Fish
Publication date: 2/4/2014
Pages: 512