Scarlet (The Lunar Chronicles, #2) in Once Upon a Time...

Aug 08, 2014 Rachmi rated it really liked it

Shelves: ebook, retelling-and-or-inspired-by, fantasy, sci-fi-steampunk, romance

4.5 stars

I’m so join the hype now! Although I enjoyed Cinder, there were things that I didn't quite like and it was kind of predictable for me. Yes it was a Cinderella retelling so I felt familiar with it, but it was the Sailor Moon references that I think made it predictable as it was one of my favorite comics when I was a teenager.

In this Little Red Riding Hood retelling, I felt like reading a new story. Again, yes I still felt a familiar feeling throughout the story, who doesn't, anyway? As 4.5 stars

I’m so join the hype now! Although I enjoyed Cinder, there were things that I didn't quite like and it was kind of predictable for me. Yes it was a Cinderella retelling so I felt familiar with it, but it was the Sailor Moon references that I think made it predictable as it was one of my favorite comics when I was a teenager.

In this Little Red Riding Hood retelling, I felt like reading a new story. Again, yes I still felt a familiar feeling throughout the story, who doesn't, anyway? As it's one of the most popular fairy tales, but at the same time, I also felt it has its own story, makes it a new refreshing retelling. It even still has twists for me. And the fact that it combines with Cinderella retelling nicely, made me can't help not to fall in love with the story.

First of all, I loved that the main characters of this Lunar Chronicles, Cinder and Kai, are growing so much from Cinder. Cinder isn't naive anymore, though she still a bit confused with her true role. I can accept that, though. She just learnt her true identity and at the same time has to face the consequences of it. Kai, though also still confused of what he has to do and is overwhelm by his role, slowly realize his responsibility and willing to sacrifice himself for greater things. There are uncertainty and confused role on both of them, but I think it make them good characters as they are growing much in me and feel real. It also shows that they can be great leaders for their people.

As for new characters, they are all interesting and awesome characters. I loved how strong Scarlet can be. She doesn't have power but her strong-will made her a badass heroine to me. And Wolf, is quite a mystery throughout the story, though it's kind of obvious of what his role is since I already know Little Red Riding Hood story. But still, he can show me surprises.

And I won't forget about Cadet-who-called-himself-Captain Throne. He's so funny and his sarcastic jokes never failed to make me laugh. Now I'm really curious to see his relationship with Cress.

I have to admit that at first I was kind of doubt Cinder story will let aside so that Scarlet can have bigger story here. Scarlet is still the main character here, but Marissa Meyer didn't let Cinder in the shadow. She has the same important role as Scarlet. I think it makes me love it. Meyer can balance both of the stories and intertwine it well.

Now I have high expectation for Cress, can't wait to read it. Well...am going to read it soon, shoot...am heading to the book now!
...more

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Aug 30, 2016 Charissa rated it really liked it

This one confused me a bit at first. I didn't realize that in each book there was going to be a different character to focus on. It still continues Cinder's story, just adds Scarlet's too. I stuck with this one, and I am glad I did. While its might be my least favorite out of the series; it was still good. ...more

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Oct 22, 2013 Felita rated it really liked it

Shelves: paranormal-romance, young-adult, action, plot-twist

woow...

beneran ya...mba Marissa kepikiran menggabungkan cerita retelling...

tadinya aku nyangka cerita kedua hanya berkisar lanjutan Cinder. ternyata ditambah retelling Gadis Berjubah Merah dan Serigala..

dan keduanya nyambung..woow...suka deh...

Scarlet dan Wolf, ditampilkan dg karakter berbeda. Scarlet, termasuk heroine tangguh. di saat neneknya menghilang, ga henti2nya, Scarlet mencari sampe semua orang di kotanya menyerah. Scarlet ga percaya neneknya hilang tanpa jejak. di saat itu, dia ketemu ...more

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Apr 20, 2016 Mia rated it it was ok

Shelves: young-adult, space-fantasy, fairy-tale

I might still finish the series, but I have no rush to do so (and I'm going to borrow instead of buy them now). 90% of the time the characters are paper-thin and their motivations come with explanations afterwards. Telling me "it's only been a day!" repeatedly for a romance means... hey you don't think its been long enough either, so why not just extend the amount of time the couple spends together? I can honestly already predict how the next book is going to, because Throne is such a Flynn Ride ...more

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Jun 10, 2014 Sam at A Journey Through Pages rated it it was amazing

Shelves: want-physical-copy, fairytales-legends-myth-etc

Review from A Journey Through Pages

Scarlet is a much more dramatic and darker tale than its prequel, Cinder, but considering that story it comes from (Little Red Riding Hood) I feel like that's harder to avoid. There's something about this specific fairy tale that inspires darkness. The book follows two storylines for the most part (with bits from Kai's point of view). We have the continuation of the last book's plot with Cinder's escape, and then we have the introduction of our new heroine, Sca Review from A Journey Through Pages

Scarlet is a much more dramatic and darker tale than its prequel, Cinder, but considering that story it comes from (Little Red Riding Hood) I feel like that's harder to avoid. There's something about this specific fairy tale that inspires darkness. The book follows two storylines for the most part (with bits from Kai's point of view). We have the continuation of the last book's plot with Cinder's escape, and then we have the introduction of our new heroine, Scarlet.

What I absolutely love about Meyer's writing style, is how strong her characters are. They have very distinct personalities, they are not flaky things that we can imprint our own selves on to, instead they have such personalities that if we met them in real life we could recognize them.

Focusing in on Scarlet's story, we have a girl whose grandmother has disappeared, yet no one will take the disappearance seriously (everyone considered her crazy and thinks she just ran off). When she gets a hint to where her grandmother may have gone/been taken, she starts off, ending up getting help from a stranger named Wolf. However she doesn't know if she can trust him or not.

Do you notice something about this summary? I certainly noticed it while I was reading the book. Meyer has not just taken the basic story of a girl in a red hood and a wolf, this is the fairy tale, with every bit Meyer could fit in from the original tale stuck in somewhere. I was duly impressed. I think Meyer has a gift for interpretation that I have not seen done better by many other writer of fairy tales. The ideas she comes up with are incredibly unique, yet they perfectly represent what they're supposed to in the original story (I mean Cinder's foot falling off instead of a shoe? Brilliant.) And, it's all done naturally.

Now all my gushing praise aside, it is true that I didn't enjoy this book as much as Cinder, however I think that is less Meyer's fault and more a personal preference. Scarlet has a slightly different feel to it. The main character is slightly older, the situations a bit more, and Wolf is much more... dramatic that Prince Kai.

The beginning also didn't catch my interest and it was slow reading for a while. If I didn't have the parts with Cinder to follow, I don't know if I'd ever gotten past that point where suddenly I was hooked.

The Lunar Chronicles stick out among fairy tales. I think it's obvious what a success they are, when a new book comes out all the blogs are reviewing it. But, there is a reason for the hype, they are written well, they are written creatively, and they are unique takes.

4.5 BOOKMARKS ...more

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Jul 20, 2015 Jessica Andersen rated it really liked it

Shelves: young-adult, steampunk, sci-fi

Scarlet is the second book in The Lunar Chronicles series. We catch up with Cinder in this book, but we are also introduced to Scarlet, who is searching for her missing grandmother. Scarlet meets a fighter named Wolf, but isn't sure if she can trust him.

I really am loving this series and have book three currently in my TBR pile. I love the world that Meyer has created and am excited to see where it all ends up. Don't let the covers fool you, this series is no Twilight, it's much better!

The hero ...more

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Oct 03, 2014 Diane rated it really liked it

Shelves: young-adult-fiction, kindle, 4-star, fairy-tale, science-fiction, love-story, ya, werewolves, heroines-you-can-like, 2014-read

I actually really liked this. I went into it happily optimistic just because even if I didn't *love* Cinder, I *did* like how Marissa Meyer retold the fairy tale. So I was eager to see what she did with little red riding hood.

Once again, I wasn't disappointed. The take is unique and yet it still follows the original take quite closely, even down to some little details.

I liked this book better than Cinder and I'm not sure if that's because I liked Scarlett more as a character, or that I liked Wol ...more

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Nov 18, 2012 Joya rated it it was amazing

LOVE LOVE LOVED!!!!

It's really not very often that you come across a series, or even a book for that matter where you care about what happens to each and every character because they're all so well developed.

Not only did Marissa masterfully interweave Little Red Riding Hood in this one, she also seamlessly blended Cinder's story with Scarlet's. Wonderfully written. Wonderful character growth, even the robot Iko! Just wonderful! :D And I LOVED Scarlet and Wolf and even Red and everyone!

I CAN NOT ...more

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