Scarlet

The Lunar Chronicles, Book 2

By: Marissa Meyer

Narrated by: Rebecca Soler

Length: 11 hrs and 19 mins

Publisher's summary

Cinder, the cyborg mechanic, returns in the second thrilling installment of the best-selling 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.

©2013 Marissa Meyer (P)2013 Macmillan Audio

The space drama is real!

I’m neck deep in the Lunar Chronicles now. I hope to see this as either a live adaptation or an animated series.

wonderful series

I liked Scarlet very much. Maybe not as much as Cinder, but that was probably because Cinder caught me so off guard. I expected to enjoy Scarlet, and I did. This second book in the Lunar Chronicles continues Cinder and Kai's story, in addition to a new fairy tale - Little Red Riding Hood.

Scarlet's grandmother has gone missing, and all signs point to the handsome new stranger in town. Wolf may seem like the bad guy, but Scarlet's instincts tell her to trust him, and she lets him help her in the search for grandma. Soon enough, bad things happen (thanks to the evil Queen Levana) and Cinder and Scarlet cross paths. This has all of the elements I loved in book one plus the same fantastic narration. I can't wait for the rest of the series. Which, sadly, won't be until next year.

Phenomenal

Just when I left book 1, Cinder, thinking it was perfect, Scarlet came along and impressed me further. On to Book 3, Cress!

LOVE

I am loving this series!! The narrator is also very good!! I very much enjoyed listening to this. Great storyline, great characters, overall 5 stars on everything!!

Meh

This second book of the Lunar Chronicles about Red Riding Hood is okay. I agree with the other reviewers in that it didn't reach my expectation. The story itself was okay, but I couldn't really pay attention and Scarlet for me came off as whiny. My interest waned when it jumped to Scarlet and Wolf but revived during the parts of Cinder and Kai. I felt like this book was rushed in regards to the story as the Red Riding Hood story isn't as long and memorable (other than when the wolf ate her and the hunter killed him to get her out of his stomach) as Cinderella or other fairy tales.

Addicted!

I love this series! I am addicted and can't wait to keep reading! Great Narration!

amazing story and fantastic narrator!

the story in and of itself is a great story. I really appreciate the intricacies of each fairytale coming together. but I LOVED the narrator and how she really makes the story come to life! she really captures the swagger of the captain, the gruffness of Wolf, etc perfectly. I loved it!!!!

Delivered a romping good story

If you could sum up Scarlet in three words, what would they be?

Entertaining, unpredictable, enjoyable

What did you like best about this story?

The characters developed well and the plot twists kept me entertained. I looked forward to this installment for months, and it was as good as I'd hoped it would be.

Which scene was your favorite?

All of the train scenes

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

When Scarlet began to realize Wolf's identity, found her grandmother, & thought she was abandoned.

Any additional comments?

I read Cinder, Marissa Meyer's first book in this series, almost by accident. I enjoyed it a lot and waited impatiently for Scarlet to be published, hoping it would be as entertaining as the first book. It was. I love a well-written, thoroughly developed story that has enough twists to keep the reader surprised. Meyers delivers each time.

This story/series is engaging.

Scarlet, named for her red hair, is desperately searching for her missing grandmother. The authorities are inclined to think grandmother has just gone off of her free will, but Scarlet is convinced she wouldn’t go without leaving some word. Scarlet continues to run her usual errands but she is greatly frustrated. She happens to run into a young man on the streets, a street fighter who seems keenly interested in her. Scarlet suspects she should be afraid of Wolf but she is oddly drawn to him.

Wolf shows up at Scarlet’s farm as she is arguing with her alcoholic father who is tearing the home apart. She had not seen her father for years and now it appears he has knowledge about her missing grandmother. Her father has clearly been tortured and Scarlet fears for her grandmother.

Wolf convinces Scarlet to let him help her go to Paris seeking her grandmother who has been taken by a pack group that Wolf claims to have left. He tries to talk Scarlet out of it noting how dangerous it will be but she will do whatever it takes to get to her grandmother.

Meanwhile Cinder escapes from prison and picks up another prisoner, “Captain” Thorne. He claims to have an airship they can use to escape authorities. The two are at odds but trouble makes strange companions. Iko adds snark when Cinder brings her back as part of the airship computer.

Evil, awful, Queen LeVana is tightening the trap around Prince Kai as her fury rages at Cinder’s escape. Kai secretly roots for Cinder, not realizing how important she is, even perhaps to his own survival.

This introduced new characters to help Cinder face her destiny. I enjoyed the new characters and the tension between Scarlet and Wolf. I liked how the author moves them along with danger and suspense until they meet Cinder late in the book. The mysteries and dangers continue to surround the characters and I will keep reading or listening to learn if Cinder is willing to do what it takes to challenge the Lunar Queen.

Audio Notes: Rebecca Soler does a good job with the narration. She infuses great emotion into the characters, even a trapped Iko. The energy helps carry the story along at a good pace, although at times the voices are too intense. Still, I enjoyed the audio experience and will probably look to get book three, Cress, on audio.

Source: Personal Audible Shelf; my rating 4.25.

so easy to follow

The story progressed at an appropriate pace and the narrator kept the attention with inflection and tone in reading.