Scarlet by Marissa Meyer

Second book in the Lunar Chronicles, I do have the first book Cinder reviewed and it is linked as well. Like the last book, Scarlet is a spinoff, only this time of Little Red Riding Hood. The next book is Cress. The fourth book Winter comes out late this year. There is a short story that goes along with this series, called Glitches. You can get free on Amazon for your Kindle. There are a few other books and short stories that go along with the series, one other is also free.

Cinder has returned for the second book. She's trying to escape from prison and if she succeeds she will become the most wanted person in Commonwealth. Then halfway around the world, Scarlet Benoit's grandmother has gone missing. She meets Wolf, a street fighter, who may or may not have information about her grandmother. As much as Scarlet doesn't want to trust him, she is drawn to him and he to her. The two of them begin to decipher a mystery, and they come up against yet another when they meet up with Cinder. Together they must try and stay one step ahead of Queen Levana. The one who rules Lunar and is meaner than mean and will do anything to get Prince Kai to become her prisoner....I mean king...

For a YA novel I really think adults and "older" people could enjoy this read. I'm really glad that Cinder was still a main character in this book, along with Scarlet and a few others. So far my list of people that I like is growing, most of the new characters introduced in Scarlet I came to enjoy. Captain Thorne is the comic relief that we need from time to time with his whit and I like that about him. I found Wolf to be very endearing, because I knew he wanted to do good but just had a rough start to life. Along with a few things that where out of his control, but he didn't let that deter him, especially after he met Scarlet. I wasn't too sure how both Cinder and Scarlet where going to be able to coexist in this book together, but their plot lines came together nicely. Meyer did a great job with the two. I didn't have one problem with the action in this book, it started earlier and lasted long enough for me. I find it fascinating that in just a short amount of time I read two separate books both with a bad guy named Jael. I wonder if I will find a book where he is the hero of sorts? Once again as in Cinder, you can see the parallels between Little Red Riding Hood and Scarlet. I am wondering how Cinder and Kai's relationship is going to pan out though, or if it does. I also liked that Levana's character is continuing to be unraveled slowly and in a way that is keeping me interested. Along with that we as a reader are learning some very interesting things that are going on on Lunar. I hope that Meyer will divulge more on what is going on on Lunar.

Honestly, I don't have anything to rant about that I didn't like. As I said before whereas I have had problems with when the action starts in a book, I didn't have it for Scarlet. The spoiler that is marked ahead, if you have read Scarlet, then it shouldn't be a spoil for you. *SPOILER-ALERT* I have seen a theme from the first book to the second one, where someone dies. In the first book it was Peony, and then there is grandmother in this one. And quite possibly a second yet to be confirmed or revealed as a hoax. I wonder who is next, I wonder if someone will perish in Cress? *SPOILER-ENDED*

As of now, I recommend this book and the previous to anyone and everyone. Not just young adults. I would even say that an advanced reader in middle school could conquer this book. There isn't anything that I would say is something that a parent may take offense with. Even with the bloodier descriptions, they could have been a lot worse, and I guarantee that you see worse in movies. I hope I continue to be happy with this series and if I am not you will know. I would reread this book and I do want to own it. If you haven't read these books yet, I say go for it!

Rating: 5 out of 5.

Page Count: 454 pages (hardcover)

Price: $17.99

Next Book: Trinity-The Prophecy by Kylie Price

Thank you for reading and I hope that everyone has a great 2015!

~Jade

Cinder by Marissa Meyer

First book in the Lunar Chronicles, Cinder is a spin off of Cinderella. I will try my best to review the next three books but it took forever for me to get Cinder and actually read it from my library. I am really glad that I have finally jumped on this train because I like where it is going, even if I am really late on the train as always!

Cinder is not your normal sixteen-year-old. She is deemed the bane of her stepmothers existence, and society doesn't perceive her more than a technological mistake. Though being part cyborg has it's lighter side, Cinder can fix anything and in New Beijing, she is the best mechanic. With a reputation like that people still come to her to have their things fixed. Even Prince Kai himself. He visits her booth requesting that she fixes his android before the annual ball. He plays the android off to be nothing more than a sentimental machine to him, but Cinder knows better. Wanting to please the Prince Cinder doesn't get far when the only person who has been nice to her comes down with the plague. Earth is no longer what it once was, and there is more to Cinder than anyone actually knows.

It seems I am on a roll with books that I have absolutely loved. To continue, Cinder definitely makes the 5 star list. From beginning to end I was enraptured by Cinder and what things have fallen to after a chemical war. For a spinoff of Cinderella I didn't know if I was going to enjoy this, because most of the time there isn't enough of the spin part and lots of the actual fairy tale. Cinder crosses enough of the tale and throws lots of spins into the plot that I ended up loving the plot within a few pages of starting the book. This is going to be a huge spoiler for those who have not read the book and I do not recommend reading this particular one. *SPOILER-ALERT* I was expecting for the ending to be all happy and hunky-dory. It wasn't. Even with the love that's between Kai and Cinder, they don't end up together at the end of the story. Maybe in one of the future books they will be hinted toward being together. *SPOILER-ENDED* I also love how other fairy tales are brought in, you almost know what the next books are about in terms of other fairy tales.

There really wasn't anything I had a problem with in Cinder. I did run into a few passages where I had to reread it a few times to fully understand what was going on, but that could have just been me. I loved the cyborg and dystopian style of this book, Meyer made it flow very nicely together. There were a few sad parts in it, but I almost would have been let down if things were just happy and good all the time.

Yet another good book read, and I totally recommend this book to everyone who has looked at it. I really loved Cinder and I think the series is going to be amazing. I would love to one day own this book. I'm sorry that these last few reviews have been a little weird in terms of length, but when I have nothing to say, I have nothing to say. Nevertheless, I still hope you enjoyed the reviews, I have more on the way as usual.

Rating: 5 out of 5.

Page Count: 390 pages (hardcover).

Price: $17.99

Next: June Book Haul

Thanks for reading!
~Jade