SciFi Book Review: Scarlet

Scarlet by Marissa Meyer

Synopsis:
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.

Review:
Cinder has had some upgrades since her arrest which aid in her escape. She also meets an interesting inmate who has a ship that will prove invaluable. She and “Captain” Thorne have a fun, friendly chemistry. Thorne is just a great character, overly confident and funny. Meanwhile, Scarlet searches for her missing grandmother now that the authorities have given up. She meets Wolf who offers to help her when she discovers that his tattoo matches that of her grandmother’s kidnappers. But Wolf is obviously hiding secrets. Still the two are soon heating up, as Wolf has multiple opportunities to save her life… and win her trust.

Just as fast-paced as before, with even more action and adventure, Scarlet is a fantastic sequel. The Lunar Chronicles series is a cross between cherished fairy tales and Star Wars. A mixture of distant future science fiction and mind-controlling fantasy, “this IS the droid (or cyborg in this case) you’ve been looking for.” There is plenty of suspense, emotional drama, romance, a “borrowed” spaceship, advanced AI, and high tech gadgets (and limbs). The series is geared towards the popular YA market, but readers of all ages will definitely enjoy. Cinder was one of my favorite science fiction novels in years (YA and adult included), and I’m happy to say the second installment lived up to my expectations. As before, the adventure leaves off in a mild cliffhanger that will make waiting another year for the next release torturous. Don’t miss this exceptional series.