Review: Scarlet by Marissa Meyer

Scarlet

Author: Marissa Meyer

Publication Date: February 5th, 2013

Publisher: Feiwel and Friends

Genre: YA/Romance/ReTelling/Dystopia

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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.

My Thoughts: Marissa Meyer has mastered the ReTelling genre! You will not find any others in the genre  that are nearly as unique, imaginative, adventurous, and creative as The Lunar Chronicles. Meyer has breathed the most fresh breath of air possible into stories that we all know so well. She has all but turned these stories on their heads and emptied their pockets and stripped down to their bare essentials. She then rebuilt them in a way only she can, with every page and character becoming something even better and more astounding than it previously was.

I'm sad that it took me so long to read this. I read Cinder last year and I absolutely loved it. You can read my review for Cindre here. It should not have taken me this long to get my hands on the sequel, and if it weren't for my great friend Jenn here passing me on  her copy I would probably still have it on my to read list. So big thanks to Jenn for being so generous and giving me the encouragement I needed to get this book read!

Scarlet is a female heroine we all can't help but love. She has a  fierce loyalty to her loved ones and a determination that never quits. I fell in love with  her just as easily as I fell for Cinder in the first book. Both are female leads you will be rooting for right from the start.

I was especially happy to find that Cinder was in this book. I had assumed that it would be a brand new re-telling with all new characters. This is because I have a habit of not reading the synopsis to sequel books because I just love being surprised too much and I don't want the slightest surprise to be given away. But yes, you can imagine my delight when Cinder was amongst the pages. This delight only intensified to the max as Cinder's and Scarlet's stories intertwined.

The way Meyer has weaved these two fairy tales together is nothing short of incredible. She obviously has a gift for this genre and I would say her books are the yardstick that all others in the genre are measured against. You don't want to miss out on these books. If you have not looked into the Lunar Chronicles yet you seriously need to hop on that train! Pick up these books and prepare to fall in love with the stories you've always known, only this time around, they are revved up, and totally kick ass!

Teaser Tuesday (68)

Teaser Tuesday is a weekly bookish meme hosted by  MizB at Should Be Reading

To Participate you:

-Grab your current read

-Open to a random page

-Share two 'teaser' sentences from somewhere on that page

-BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS

This week's teaser comes from:

Scarlet

Author: Marissa Meyer

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Teaser:

"Hello little girl," he said, his voice too human-like, too re-strained. "I believe my queen has been looking for you."

My Thoughts: I am loving this sequel just as much as I loved Cinder! Freaking awesome, look for my review later this week :).

Review: Avow by Chelsea Fine

Avow
The Archers of Avalon #3

Author: Chelsea Fine

Publication Date: December 11, 2012

Publisher: Firefall Publishing

Genre: Fantasy

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Synopsis:

Scarlet remembers. Everything. Her past lives, Tristan, Gabriel, Nate: she remembers it all--including how to get to the Fountain of Youth. But time is running out.

Heather and Gabriel have been kidnapped by Raven, while the curse that has plagued Scarlet and Tristan for centuries has shifted, putting the star-crossed lovers in more danger than ever before. Water from the Fountain of Youth is the only thing that can save Scarlet and her loved ones. But the water comes at a price.

With lives--and hearts--at stake, Scarlet leads her friends on a dangerous journey to the Fountain of Youth. Where eternal life is possible, but death is certain.

My Thoughts: This is a series that I bought as eBooks by chance on my Kobo and I am so glad that I did! This has turned into one of my top series and I love it to death, in fact I almost wish it hadn't ended.  I am so attached to these characters that I feel like they are going to stick with me for a long, long time.

In Avow, the final book in the series, Scarlet finally remembers her past lives.  Which means she finally remembers where the Fountain of Youth is, and why she was so secretive and ran away in her last life in the 80s.  Everything in this book that has been building up finally comes to an head and the only question that remains is who will make it through the dangerous journey to the Fountain and back?

There is something about forbidden love that gets me every time. Tristan and Scarlet are something much more intense than that.  Cursed, just touching each other can kill one and not being near each other kills the other.  It is very heart tugging at every moment they are in the room together.  It is surreal.  Normally, I am holding on for my favourite book couples to kiss and be together - with Scarlet and Tristan I was giddy if their hands touched.  It is really amazing how involved I got with them, they are truly an electrifying power couple.

I wasn't a fan of half of the book being in italics as flashbacks into Scarlet's past lives, but I really liked finally getting the whole story instead of Tristan, Gabriel and Nate constantly referring to things and being as lost about them as Scarlet was.  It was also satisfying to find out why she had taken off in her last life with an arsenal of weapons (Tristan's weapons, I might add).

This was a wonderful series, everything was wrapped up pretty neatly and I was satisfied with the ending.  I enjoyed this series so much that I read a book a day and it took me only three days to get through them.  I would have taken me a lot less too if I hadn't had to work all three of those days as well as I could hardly bare to put my eReader down for the duration of it.  Well done, Chelsea Fine.

Review: Scarlet by Marissa Meyer

Scarlet

Author: Marissa Meyer

Publication Date: February 5th, 2013

Publisher: Feiwel and Friends

Genre: Science Fiction / Fairy Tale Retelling

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Synopsis:

Cinder returns in the second thrilling installment of the New York Times-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 and 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 has no choice but to trust him, though he clearly has a few dark secrets of his own.

As Scarlet and Wolf work to unravel one mystery, they find another when they cross paths with Cinder. Together, they must stay one step ahead of the vicious Lunar Queen who will do anything to make Prince Kai her husband, her king, her prisoner.

My Thoughts: Wow, just wow. Honestly I don't even know where to start with this review. I guess I will just pick my jaw up from the ground to begin with. So Scarlet, the second instalment of The Lunar Chronicles by Marissa Meyer, I might have liked it even more than Cinder. Crazy I know, since I loved Cinder. But I'm not really sure what happened when I started reading this one. I just couldn't stop. I dragged this book around until it was done. First of all, just look at that cover! I love how it's so similar to Cinder's cover and not at the same time. All you get to see is Little Red's cape and hair. In case you are wondering, no Scarlet doesn't run around in a cape being all super hero-y. She has a red hoodie, much more tactful for fitting in in the future.

So, there are multiple points of view in this one, which made me a very happy person because I quite enjoy the multiple PoV's. Especially, as in Scarlet there is a lot going on and you really need everyone's PoV. It starts off with Scarlet, so we get to meet our new favourite, ass kicking, ginger, farmer girl. All Scarlet wants is to find her grandmother, who has disappeared. She is sure that she was kidnapped but everyone else, including the police, think her grandmother is crazy and ran away. Scarlet is thinking about trying to find her gran herself when Wolf shows up. He is new to town and asks Scarlet for a job on her farm, she doesn't trust him and turns him away (good girl! You can't trust a Wolf!). Unfortunately, she finds out that she needs his help and falls for him hard (Bad girl!). There is huge betrayal, I don't know if it can be forgiven, but that's all I'm going to say on that matter. I really like Scarlet, even with her judgement lapses. I hope there is a bit more with her in the next books!

Cinder is fleeing, with the help of a fellow inmate, she manages to get a hold of a ship and evade capture, for the time being. They realize that they need to find someone from Cinder's past (although she doesn't let "Captain" Thorne in on this). There isn't really a whole lot of character building with Cinder this time since she is mostly trying to not be sent back to prison so her evil aunt won't get a hold of her and try to kill her, again. But she is still awesome! Also, IKO IS BACK!!! I'm not going to tell you how, but Iko is so not impressed right away.

The third point of view is Prince Kai! There's not really a lot from his PoV, since most of it is him trying to track down Cinder so Queen Levana doesn't start a war over all of this. We all know she's just using it as an excuse though. Kai make a very bad decision in this book :( Kai, you make us all sad!

Wolf. I love him, I hate him, I love him, I hate him, I love him. Seriously. He really needs to stop being so nice and then an ass. You can't trust him at all. You want to like him, but he's the big bad wolf, so clearly he's bad, right? Bad and yummy. *sigh*

Yes, I liked Scarlet possibly more than Cinder. I can't get over how Marissa Meyer just writes in a way that I can't physically put a book down. It's crazy. She has an amazing way with words. There was so much going on but it isn't at all confusing. I cannot wait for Cress to come out. Really, I can't. It's going to be a LONG year. In case you haven't figured out if I recommend this or not yet, yes, yes, YES! You have to read this series, it is an amazing retelling! All science fiction-y and such. I loved it! See, there's five owls down there!

Waiting on Wednesday (34)

"Waiting On" Wednesday is a weekly event hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine that spotlights upcoming releases that we are eagerly awaiting.

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Scarlet

by Marissa Meyer

Expected Publication: February 5, 2013

Summary: Cinder returns in the second thrilling installment of the New York Times-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 and 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 has no choice but to trust him, though he clearly has a few dark secrets of his own.

As Scarlet and Wolf work to unravel one mystery, they find another when they cross paths with Cinder. Together, they must stay one step ahead of the vicious Lunar Queen who will do anything to make Prince Kai her husband, her king, her prisoner

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Marissa Meyer is one of my favourite authors and the Lunar Chronicles are must reads (if you haven't read Cinder yet, go get it)!  So, I can't wait to have a copy of Scarlet in my hands.

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What are you waiting on?

Author Interview: Marissa Meyer

I have been following Marissa Meyer since her fan fiction days as Alicia Blade and was ecstatic when Jenn told me that she had agreed to do an interview with us!  Marissa is the author of the Lunar Chronicles, a four book series of which the first, Cinder, is published.  See my review of Cinder here and Meghan's here.  I would like to take this time to thank Marissa for taking the time to talk to us!

1. Tell us about your car. 

Other than HOW MUCH I LOVE IT? I drive an orange 2010 VW Beetle. It's adorable. I developed an obsession with orange Beetles after writing Cinder (hint: that's the car she finds in the junkyard, although hers would have been an old model from the 1960s), but the particular burnt-orange color I wanted is really hard to find. When I was shopping for one, we discovered that there were only three for sale in the ENTIRE COUNTRY. So my husband and I flew down to L.A. to buy it and drove it back home. It's my one big eccentric-writer story.

Kristal: I have seen the pictures of this car, and I must say that it is awesome! Well worth the flight and drive :)

2. What books are you currently reading?
I'm just finishing THRONE OF GLASS by Sarah J. Maas (I'm a sucker for teen spy and assassin stories!). After that, I have an ARC of ABOVE WORLD by Jenn Reese sitting on my nightstand, and I recently downloaded an e-book about being a more productive writer. I'm hoping that might lead to some revelations in the near future.

3. You haven't kept it a secret that you wrote Sailor Moon fan fiction under the pen name of Alicia Blade. As Alicia Blade, you posted 38 stories and drabbles on FanFiction.net. Do you think you will ever return to Sailor Moon fan fiction?
I had such an amazing experience writing Sailor Moon fanfic and met so many awesome people in the community, many of whom are still so supportive and encouraging to this day. But no, I don't see myself ever returning to the world of fanfiction. Writing is my job now, and I want to continue to write books that reach a much wider audience than my fanfics ever could, not to mention books that I actually get paid for, haha.
Kristal: Although sad you won't be returning, it is even better to have your books in print in my bookshelf!

4. Have you considered revamping some of your fan fiction to turn it into a publishable novel (The House on Thornrose Lane: A Grimm Tale, for example)?
You are not the first person to ask! It's certainly crossed my mind, but I don't see it happening any time soon. While I'm still very proud of many of my fanfics (Thornrose Lane included), I feel like every story I write continues to be better than the last, and that I've moved on from the time in my life when those were the stories I needed to tell. Plus, I have so many ideas for novels in my head, that to return to a finished story would feel like moving backward.
Kristal: We look forward to all of the new novels you will write.  Although, I will admit I go back and read your fan fictions from time to time. I can't wait to read the rest of the Lunar Chronicles!

5. Cinder has some obvious Sailor Moon influences if you know the series well. Did you do this knowingly or did they slip in there out of habit?
I feel like I SHOULD have done it knowingly with how many people have pointed it out, but it was all habit and having been so inspired by Sailor Moon over the years. I'm so glad that Sailor Moon fans are getting enjoyment out of Cinder, though!
Kristal: I loved spotting the Sailor Moon references!  It seemed like a nice little tribute to the Sailor Moon community and made Cinder even more special to me.

6. How hard was the decision to forgo your pen name and publish Cinder under your own name?
Not really that hard. I was attached to the penname and worried that my fanbase wouldn't follow me into publication (which turned out to be an unnecessary concern), but it just seemed easier to use my real name. Plus, knowing that I'd be next to another Meyer on the shelf seemed like a good marketing decision.
Kristal: Yes, I can see how being listed by your last name would be a definite plus!  I am sure the cover didn't hurt either.

7. Cinder was a novel that you wrote during NaNoWriMo. Can you tell us what it was like writing the novel in under a month?
It was INSANE. As part of a ridiculous contest, I decided to try and write the first 3 books of The Lunar Chronicles in a month, and ended up writing 150,011 words in those 30 days. I look back now and cannot for the life of me figure out how I did it. Of course, there are lessons to be learned. While it was great to get the books "written" fast in order to keep up my momentum for the series, in the end, every one of them has been scrapped and re-written from page one. NaNoWriMo is great for learning how to prioritize your writing and to get involved in a community and to get your basic ideas down on paper, but it does not a finished novel make.
Kristal: I have participated in NaNoWriMo as well and have to agree, although it is fun to dedicate the whole month to writing (and having an excuse to act more crazy lol).

8. What was your favourite chapter (or part) of Cinder to write and why?
I loved writing the ball scene. Partly because it's such an iconic moment in the Cinderella story, but also because it's the culminating finale in CINDER - where secrets are revealed and emotions are running high and choices have to be made. It was exciting to throw Cinder and Kai into this very terrifying and public situation and see how they dealt with it.
Kristal: This has to be one of my favourite parts as well.  I love how the shoe from Cinderella was tied in, only in a uniquely cyborg way.  The emotions in that scene were amazing.

9. Can you tell us a little about your upcoming book?
SCARLET: Book Two of The Lunar Chronicles will be out on February 5, 2013, and it gives a new spin to Little Red Riding Hood. It continues to follow Cinder on her adventures, while also introducing readers to Scarlet, a girl who lives in southern France with her grandmother. Except her grandmother has mysteriously disappeared, and the only person willing to help Scarlet is a street fighter named Wolf, who has a few mysterious of his own.
Kristal: Who else can't wait?  February 5th can't get here fast enough!

10. Anything that you would like to say to your fans?
Only to thank them for being fans, and I sincerely hope you continue to read and enjoy The Lunar Chronicles!
Thanks so much for the interview!

Thanks again for taking the time to speak with us.  Cinder is a great read and I can't wait for the rest of the series to come out!  It has been awesome speaking with you.