Review: Scarlet

Scarlet (The Lunar Chronicles #2) by Marissa Meyer
Release Date ~ February 5, 2013
Feiwel & Friends ~ Macmillan
ISBN13: 9780312642969
ARC received from Raincoast Books

Goodreads Synopsis:

The fates of Cinder and Scarlet collide as a Lunar threat spreads across the Earth...
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.


I loved Cinder, and I have no idea why I put off reading this one for so long. Admittedly I was anxious about a few things - whether Scarlet would be a lackluster sequel in comparison to Cinder, whether I'd adapt to the change in characters, and whether I had suffered from too a futuristic, sci-fi YA overload.

Thankfully, none of these potential problems came up for me! In fact, I'd even say that I loved Scarlet more than Cinder - the character change ended up being ideal for me, and there was just enough Cinder to keep me happy and focused on the overarching plot of the series.

1. A fresh cast of characters while keeping familiar favourites:
   
   The main reason I loved this sequel to Cinder so much? Scarlet. I related so well to her, in ways I'll never relate to Cinder. As much as I liked reading about Cinder, Scarlet reminded me so much of myself (and it helps that she's a little bit older than Cinder, too). I loved her commitment to her grandmother, and her willingness to stand apart from the crowd. And Wolf was ESPECIALLY surprising and intriguing. But I was equally grateful that Cinder played a prominent role in the story, along with Kai (and others)! Plus, we get Thorne on top of all of this. He's the cherry on the Scarlet sundae. :)
   
2. Superb world-building:
   
   Marissa Meyer's world in the Lunar Chronicles is one of my favourites to date from a YA book. You can tell by reading her books how much thought and preparation has gone into creating the setting, which only makes it feel more real and very present while you're reading it. Some big Lunar secrets are revealed, and Scarlet gives us a much better idea of exactly what's going on with Queen Levana's plans.
   
3. Strong relationships:
   
   Relationships are one of the main focuses of Scarlet. And while there's a lot of swooning and romance, I especially appreciate the emphasis on strong friendships and familial relationships. It's so nice to see a wide variety of relationships being appreciated in a YA book, and I'm a big fan of the friendships we witness in Scarlet. Friendships are so important in life, and they get the credit they deserve here!

The hardest part about this book? I'm so attached to all the characters, and I wanted more time with each and every one of them. As a result, there were a few that didn't get the time I felt they deserved or needed for their story to develop as much as it could have - Kai, for example. And Wolf and Thorne as well, to a certain extent. They have fascinating stories all on their own and I know there just aren't enough pages for them... but I still feel like they could have used a bit more face time, although this is a fairly minor complaint. 

I love that these books are ones I can recommend to so many readers, though! There seems to be a bit of something for every taste, and I expect that to continue with the next books as well. :) The Lunar Chronicles will be a new favourite and a new classic for YA fans. 

Marissa Meyer's SCARLET Signing in Toronto

Quick heads up for those of you who are local: Marissa Meyer will be doing a reading of Scarlet, Q&A and signing at Indigo Yorkdale at 12:00 p.m. on Saturday, March 9th.

Raincoast Books is also hosting a little contest for it (see below).

So if I was lucky enough to have the opportunity, one of the questions I would ask Marissa Meyer is:

Writing is a very personal experience, and I think reading is an even more personal experience. A reader's perspective of a book is entirely subjective. I know that The Lunar Chronicles has a long history behind your experiences writing it, and I wonder if there's any overall idea or feeling you hope readers gain by reading your books? 

Best of 2012

I know, I know... It seems that I'm a few days late for this one. We're already IN the New  Year, but I decided this year that I wouldn't post this list too early to give myself more of a chance to read as many 2012 releases as I could.

So without further ado... I give you my list of the top reads for the 2012 year!

10. The Dark Unwinding by Sharon Cameron
This book was a surprise I received in the mail from Scholastic, and I wasn't familiar with it at all until I opened up the package in the mail. However, I was so surprised by it - there's some really fascinating steampunk aspects to the story, and turned out to be one of the most touching books and remarkable characters I have ever read about. Plus the writing works so well to give off a distinctly gothic creepy vibe.

9. Falling Kingdoms by Morgan Rhodes
Epic high fantasies are some of the best fun there is when it comes to books. I loved the political intrigue and multiple perspectives which made Falling Kingdoms stand out in my mind from many other stories I've read. It's dark and full of magic and mysteries and has just enough of a mature/grown up feel to it.

8. 172 Hours on the Moon by Johan Harstad
Reviews have been mixed for this book (I recommended it to one friend who turned out to be a bit disappointed) but I was totally freaked. right. out. I loved the suspense and the space setting! And the ending is one that really left me guessing. I'm just dying for a re-read of this one.

7. Shadow & Bone by Leigh Bardugo
Another great fantasy pick. There was a whole lot of hype surrounding Shadow & Bone, and it was definitely well-deserved. Fascinating character dynamics, and magical world building is a great start to a new series.

6. Pushing the Limits by Katie McGarry
Contemporaries have rarely moved me the way Pushing the Limits did; the romance is intoxicating, and Echo's past is mysterious and leaves you guessing and turning the pages as fast as you can to figure out the puzzle. Shocking and so very, very touching.

5. Thief's Covenant by Ari Marmell
The Widdershins books have quickly become some of my new favourites - I love clever, brave heroines and the world created here felt so lively and real with its developed religions and society. Furthermore, the villains in these books are some of the most terrifying I have ever read.

4. Seraphina by Rachel Hartman
I loved the take on magic, dragons, and mystery in Seraphina! The romance is so unlike other YA books (or other books in general, actually) and I loved the depth Rachel gave to her fantasy world. And it has a traditional mystery feel to it, very "whodunnit". Oh, and the musical take to Seraphina's character! So creative and thoughtful.

3. Scarlet by A.C. Gaughen
Re-tellings can be fairly hit-or-miss but Scarlet is one that I would absolutely recommend. It was so much fun, and thoroughly brought Robin and his band of merry men (and one woman) to life. The characterization was phenomenal, and the romance delightful.

2. Grave Mercy by R.L. LaFevers
Historical fiction tends to be a favourite of mine and the assassin nuns found in Grave Mercy make for a thoroughly enjoyable alternate historical story. PLUS: witty banter, I love thee.

1. Code Name Verity by Elizabeth Wein
I'm really surprised that Code Name Verity made my top spot for the year - why? Because this is the only 4-star book on my list. And I struggled through the first half of the book. But very, very rarely has a story ever left such a mark on my heart and become unforgettable. I cried and my heart breaks every time I think "kiss me, Hardy! Kiss me quick!"

So now I'm curious - have you read any of these? And did you LOVE them as much as I did? What were your top picks for the year  (which was a FANTASTIC year for books. It was so hard to narrow these down, but you can totally tell what types of books I really love).

Review: Scarlet

Scarlet by A.C. Gaughen
Release Date ~ February 14, 2012
Walker Childrens ~ Bloomsbury
ISBN13: 9780802723468
E-galley received from publisher via Net Galley

Goodreads Synopsis:
Many readers know the tale of Robin Hood, but they will be swept away by this new version full of action, secrets, and romance.
Posing as one of Robin Hood’s thieves to avoid the wrath of the evil Thief Taker Lord Gisbourne, Scarlet has kept her identity secret from all of Nottinghamshire. Only the Hood and his band know the truth: the agile thief posing as a whip of a boy is actually a fearless young woman with a secret past. Helping the people of Nottingham outwit the corrupt Sheriff of Nottingham could cost Scarlet her life as Gisbourne closes in.
It’s only her fierce loyalty to Robin—whose quick smiles and sharp temper have the rare power to unsettle her—that keeps Scarlet going and makes this fight worth dying for.

Scarlet is the kind of book that reminds me why I fell in love with reading in the first place: a brave heroine, a dashing hero, every page bursting with excitement and action, and true love.

I love this book so much- it's an unbelievable retelling and an even better debut. My only real regret is that I believe it's a standalone, but I would love to see A.C. Gaughen revisit this one some time!

1. Dynamic characters:
   What's really fantastic about A.C.'s retelling is that she takes the familiar characters of Robin Hood and breathes life into them with the story of Scarlet. Will Scarlet is the most obvious one to get a makeover, but even Robin and Little John and Much are given extensive backgrounds and histories. But Scarlet is the one who really shines through, and I think ends up being the most creative stories of the bunch. Yet I truly appreciated how well-developed A.C. ensured her secondary characters were, and the result was truly brilliant. Also, I think this is what makes it such a wonderfully enjoyable retelling.
2. Scar's mysterious past:
   I spent a good amount of time trying to decipher how the story would turn out, and in particular exactly what happened to Scarlet in her past to influence the young woman she had become. I loved seeing the pieces gradually fall into place, and it really does keep you constantly guessing.
3. Fast-paced action:
   A.C. writes her action scenes well, and I loved how Robin Hood-esque the fight sequences felt to me. Plus, there's plenty of it to keep the story moving along quickly, and Scar is such a tough girl that I just loved getting to know her.
4. Relationships:
   I loved, loved, LOVED reading about the friendships between the individuals in the band and Robin's band all together! It was so neat to see how differently they interacted with one another, and how their personalities affected those relationships. But on top of that, I loved seeing some grow closer together, and the romance was totally killer and so emotional to read about. I was happy with how things turned out but it was a painful journey along the way!

I can't stress how much I loved this book- it's one that I can already say I'll be recommending again and again, especially to those who appreciate Medieval based stories. And strong heroines- any one who loves a strong heroine just needs to read Scarlet. This book has such a classic feel to it, and I can easily say it's one of my all-time favourites.