Showing posts with label scarlet. Show all posts
Showing posts with label scarlet. Show all posts

Tuesday, 2 April 2013

Book Review- Scarlet by Marissa Meyer


Title: Scarlet
 Author: Marissa Meyer
Series:   Lunar Chronicles#2
Published:  7 February 2013 by Penguin
Length:452 pages
Source: Publisher
Other info: This is book 2 in the Lunar Chronicles series. Book one was Cinder and was reviewed here. Books three and four will be Cress and Winter.
Summary : 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 . . .

Review: The police have given up on finding Scarlet Benoit’s grandmother, but she hasn’t. She’s at the cagefights where she meets Wolf, a fighter who she wants to trust, but isn’t sure she should. The whole book leads straight on from the end of Cinder, so Cinder is in prison as a fugitive despite her being who she is. With Thorne, another prisoner, she escapes to find Michelle Benoit, who might have information to stay out of Queen Levana’s way. Various things happen and there’s many more mysteries to unravel.
I was so ready for this. I absolutely loved Cinder (review here) and Scarlet didn’t disappoint in mixing scifi and fairytale elements. Once again, you get major plot points of Red Riding Hood, but moved around to fit the plot and cyberpunk world.
 I love the fact that we get more Cinder! I’m looking forwards to the way this series is working-as well as bringing in a cool new girl, we get the cool ones from before back. Looking forwards to the fourth one where we get (hopefully) four kickass heroines.   
Scarlet is just as epic as Cinder. She’s very assertive, really determined and really believes in finding her grandmother. Wolf is someone I halfliked to start with, liked more as we got to know him, then less at various points. End feelings were mixed. The grandmother is so so awesome. Kai, I feel sorry for-he’s obviously being manipulated by Levana and  he goes against what he really wants to do.
There’s lots of plot twists. They’re a bit predictable, but I loved them all the same. So much happened and the action just kept coming.
We get lots of scene changes, which would normally be annoying but doesn’t mess with the flow too badly when done here. You know the trick of cutting off a chapter at a cliffhanger? Normally, this gets resolved in the next chapter. Not so here-you get a chapter of someone else doing important things, dragging out the waiting time. the rest of the writing is really good too.

Overall:  Strength 4 tea to another perfectly blended science fiction fairy tale.  A  whole year to wait??? Damn.

Saturday, 29 December 2012

Top Ten Books I Want of 2013

Yeah...I was going to publish this next Wednesday, but everyone else was doing it today. So...Extended Waiting on... Saturday! Possibly featuring past WoW picks, because I want to feature them again. Links lead to Goodreads!



Title: The Glass Republic
Author: Tom Pollock
Release Date: 1 August
Why I want it: I loved the London that Tom created and just can't wait to go back to it.

Title: Level 2
Author: Lenore Appelhans
Release Date: 15 January
Why I want it: Cool concept and refreshing take on the afterlife.


Title: The Program
Author: Suzanne Young
Release Date: 30 April
Why I want it: It's an interesting concept and the topic interests me.


Title: Inferno
Author: Sherrilyn Kenyon
Release Date: 19 March
Why I want it: I've stuck with Nick throughout his series and the majority of the Dark Hunter one. And it was an epic cliffhanger for Infamous. The title suggests that hell's breaking loose.

Title: Etiquette and Espionage
Author: Gail Carriger
Release Date: 5 February
Why I want it: If it contains anywhere near the amount of sly witty humour and fun as the last two books in the Parasol Protectorate series, it would be amazing.

Title: Clockwork Princess
Author: Cassandra Clare
Release Date: 19 March
Why I want it: Steampunk fantasy/paranormal  with generally awesome characters.  And pretty cover!

Title: Scarlet
Author: Marissa Meyer
Release Date: 5 February
Why I want it:  I love fairy tales. I love steampunk. The first in the series was awesome. Yay.

Title: Call of the Jersey Devil
Author: Aurelio Voltaire
Release Date: 28 May
Why I want it: I love Voltaire's music. The concept of this (New Jersey is the gateway to hell) is highly amusing, even if you don't live there, and I'm generally guessing this'll be facepalmingly funny.

Title: Valkyrie
Author: Kate O Hearn
Release Date: 2 May
Why I want it: I've been telling myself for a long time I'll read some more Norse myths. This isn't exactly one, but it has elements and mythology fiction, I tend to enjoy anyway.

Title: Undone
Author: Cat Clarke
Release Date: 31 January
Why I want it: I loved Cat's other books-and talk from friends has said it's even better. Not sure if this is possible. Must check it out.




Seriously, there's more than ten books I really want coming out in 2013. I really cannot list them all. They'll feature in upcoming WoWs (as long as I remember to do them!). In the meantime though.... *eyes up huge box of books to read*