Scarlet (Lunar Chronicles #2) Review

Scarlet (Lunar Chronicles #2)

Marissa Meyer

Publisher: Puffin

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

Scarlet is a very different type of story to Cinder – set over just a few days immediately after the end of Cinder, this has the unenviable task of carrying on the story started in Cinder, move it forward and introduce us to both new characters and the wider world. All in all a big task and Scarlet manages to do this rather well.

Cinder and her trials are more the sub-plot this time around with most of the action focusing  on Scarlet and her missing Grandmother...following a rather similar story to one Red-Riding Hood. Scarlet is a very different character to Cinder, slightly older and with a temper issue, she is feisty and doesn’t take no for an answer. She is just as likely to swing a punch at you rather than think her way out of troubles. While I appreciated the differences between the two characters I found it harder to emotionally connect with Scarlet than I did with Cinder, as she was much more independent from the start, but she definitely grows on you! Wolf was also a very different hero to Prince Kai (who is kept in the background for the most part) – he has secrets and a temper too. Wolf is much more of the Alpa male and instinctual rather than calculating. I actually thought Wolf and Scarlet made a good couple -somehow balancing each other nicely.

As the story takes place over just a couple of days, the pace is pretty frenetic with some emotional turmoil to balance the action. The light relief is given in the form of Iko, Cinder’s android friend who has trouble adjusting to her body and Captain Thorne, a renegade American who attempts to flirt with Cinder, more from habit than actual emotion I think! This nicely balances the high emotional story if Scarlet and Wolf. And not forgetting the Lunar Queen who hasn’t forgotten Cinder or her plans to control Earth. The story and plot seems to be getting bigger and more complex and I’m really looking forward to what Cress and Winter have in store for us. It will be a long wait to the next book release!

Recommended for fans of Rachel Hartman and Cassandra Clare. 8 out of 10

Author Interview: Marissa Meyer

I recently finished two fabulous books that were a lot of fun, and managed to be both traditional and new at the same time - Cinder and Scarlet by Marissa Meyer. She is even in the UK next week to sign copies of her book, so if you are based in the UK and can get to the Waterstones in Bromley on 26th March, please go say hello. Unfortunately I'm working at the other end of the country that day so will miss out L

But to console me I have a wonderful quick Q&A with Marissa. I hope you like it!

First of all welcome to Mel's Random reviews - it's great having you here and I’m very excited as I adored Cinder!

Thank you so much for having me!

There are many great characters in these books – do you have a favourite to write for and why?

I love writing the funny characters, largely because they tend to take on a mind of their own and I’m never entirely sure what they’re going to say or do next. Iko was a ton of fun to write – an android with a crush on the prince and great fashion sense, who knew?! I also really love writing Captain Thorne, who shows up in Scarlet. He can be ridiculous and arrogant one moment, and sweet and charming the next. I like characters who make you fall in love with them, while driving you crazy at the same time.

Did you plan the whole Lunar Chronicles series in advance or did you start not knowing where the story will end?

I’m definitely a planner, so yes, I had all four books planned out before I wrote a single word, and then I wrote the first drafts of Cinder, Scarlet, and Cress back to back. I found that it really helped me figure out the world-building and what important elements needed to be set up in the beginning of the series. It also allows me to put in fun foreshadowing that I hope readers will be excited to discover as the series unfolds. (All that said, a lot has changed since those initial drafts, so I always try to be flexible with my original plans.)

What’s been your favourite fairy tale interpretation (TV/Film/Book)?

Oh gosh, it’s so hard to choose!! I adore Ella Enchanted, both the book and the movie. I really loved Entwined by Heather Dixon, which retells The Twelve Dancing Princesses in a really brilliant way. And I’m a sucker for Disney movies!

 What would be your ideal holiday?

A relaxing stay at a log cabin in the mountains, with a roaring fireplace, picturesque windows overlooking snow drifts and a pine forest, and lots and lots of hot cocoa. And I would just snuggle under some cozy blankets and read and read and read.

Wow - sounds ideal! Can I join you? J

 What is your favourite saying or quote?

“Luck plagues the diligent.” ~My Dad

Wise words to live by.

 Thank you so much for taking the time to answer my questions! 

Cinder (Lunar Chronicles #1) Review

Cinder (Lunar Chronicles #1)

Marissa Meyer

Publisher: Puffin

Humans and androids crowd the raucous streets of New Beijing. A deadly plague ravages the population. From space, a ruthless lunar people watch, waiting to make their move. No one knows that Earth’s fate hinges on one girl. . . . 
Cinder, a gifted mechanic, is a cyborg. She’s a second-class citizen with a mysterious past, reviled by her stepmother and blamed for her stepsister’s illness. But when her life becomes intertwined with the handsome Prince Kai’s, she suddenly finds herself at the center of an intergalactic struggle, and a forbidden attraction. Caught between duty and freedom, loyalty and betrayal, she must uncover secrets about her past in order to protect her world’s future...

Cinderella set in the future! I love my fairy tales and this is a fantastic interpretation of a classic story. You know the story but the joys in reading this is the differences from the original tale while still keeping to the same spirit. Cinder is a cyborg and as such is legally owned by her stepmother who expects her to support the whole family with her mechanical workshop. However, Cinder has dreams of being free and is a strong woman who just hasn’t been given the chance to grow. I really liked her character and the balance between being a strong character and accepting how her life is a fine one. Her charming prince is a very likeable character, who is going through so much with his Dad’s illness and picking up the reigns of leadership, the idea he is still able to spend time with Cinder makes him seem so ordinary and approachable. Cinder’s sister Peony is very sweet as well while her android friend is a joy to read about.

However, what was the best part of the story for me are the differences to the classic story. The world of New Beijing with the plague causing fear and paranoia, the political uncertainty with the lunar Queen and ambassador, the way cyborgs are treated as second class in the society. This really makes the world come to life and gives great colour and texture to Cinder’s story. I’m really intrigued by the way the world works with the Lunar ‘magical’ skills an interesting twist on mental abilities.

Great world building, likeable characters, intriguing longer arc and a spice of politics make this a very easy to love book and I’m glad I don’t have to wait too long to start reading Scarlet. I’m really curious how the other classic fairy tales are going to weave into Cinder’s story. If you want a fairy tale with a kick, this is a great read.

Recommended for fans of Ever After film and Malinda Lo. 9 out of 10