Title: Scarlet
Author: Marissa Meyer
Series: The Lunar Chronicles #2
Genre: YA Fairy Tale Retelling, Science Fiction/Fantasy
Published: February 5th, 2013
Source: I purchased the book at a Scholastic Warehouse Sale
I have to say that I had trouble getting through this one. If you remember my review of book one, Cinder, you'll know that I haven't quite loved this series as much as everyone else, unfortunately. It took me over a month to read. At the end of the story, it did pick up and grab my interest again. Now since I already own copies of the next three books, Cress, Fairest, and Winter, I will probably go on and see where the story goes. In fact I've heard from many people that Cress is their favorite in the series, so I'm looking forward to starting that one, and hopefully picking up. If you haven't read the first one, you may not want to read on for any spoilers.
This story is a retelling of Little Red Riding Hood for the most part. Although we still have the main characters from book one, Cinder and Prince Kai, and Queen Levana. Cinder is in prison, but after talking to her doctor, she finds that she must escape. When she does, she is off to try to find answers to who she really is, and she takes along a fun new character, Thorne. Thorne describes himself as a ladies' man. And he helps Cinder somewhat reluctantly, but he is also glad for the prison break. And then they are on the run. At the same time we have Scarlet, who is working on her grandmother's farm, even though her grandmother has disappeared. At the same time a new guy is in town, named Wolf. Wolf is a fighter, and he also doesn't seem to know much about fresh food, and life as Scarlet knows. Soon Scarlet finds out that there are other people like Wolf, men who can change into wolves. And Wolf is trying to protect her, and he agrees to try to help her find her grandmother, who she has found out has been kidnapped.
It's hard to explain a lot about the story. It kind of went around and around. Wolf definitely had something sneaky about him. Something that Scarlet would have to decide if it was worth trusting in the end. And of course, this retelling would mean a romance might develop between them. But with all the things going on in the world, it's unsure if they can be together. And there are definitely secrets that Wolf is keeping from Scarlet, even as he is keeping her safe.
Cinder is trying to stay hidden as the number one fugitive. She is a fugitive as Prince Kai was supposed to give her to Queen Levana. And when Cinder disappears, the Queen plans to attack Earth. It is then that we find out about the army she has been building on the Moon. An army of soldiers very similar to Wolf and his kin, but much worse. To save Earth, Prince Kai gives in to Queen Levana's wish to marry him. And that is kind of where we end up.
That's not all, as I said, I can't explain it all. It's a very convoluted story. That's probably part of what made me have trouble getting into it. But the end all came together, in a way that makes me want to go on to the next book.
