[Review] Scarlet by Marissa Meyer

Click on image for Goodreads.

(#2, Lunar Chronicles)

Cinder | Scarlet | Cress | Winter
 

Publication (dd/mm/yyyy): 17/01/2013

Publisher: Penguin (Puffin)

Pages: 450

Source: Publisher (thanks, Tina!)

Book Tunes
♪ Exploring & Travelling Theme from LOST ♪

Violence | Sexual Content | Profanity

My Rating: 

A satisfying sequel.

My thoughts

Scarlet is the sequel to Marissa Meyer’s debut YA novel, Cinder. This book follows both Cinder and Scarlet as their perilous adventures eventually lead them to finding and helping each other. Queen Levana’s army is growing ever stronger and the fate of Earth rests with a group of misfits—an estranged Lunar princess; a prison-break captain; a red-headed teenage girl, whose best friend might just be her gun; and finally, Wolf.

The estranged Lunar princess, aka, Cinder. You remember her from her titular novel. She’s humble and an honest hard-worker whose diligence and determination drive her to achieving her goals. She’s not always put-together, and she’s a bit naïve—but she develops and grows more courageous in Scarlet. She’s brash, pragmatic and judgemental. Careful. And I like that. Her exchanges with Captain Thorne are spot-on and I enjoyed every moment they spent together.

The prison-break captain, aka, Thorne. His crime? Protesting for better soap. He’s so funny and clever, but not in the conventional way. I love his sarcasm and dry wit, and the dynamic between him and Cinder is just the absolute best.

Image credit: rivertem

The red-headed teenage girl, aka, Scarlet. She’s our Little Red-Riding Hood, whose appearance is easily discernible by her scarlet hoodie and fiery red hair. She’s a badass who won’t take crap from anyone. Her grand-mere went missing a week ago and the police—who believe she ran away of her own accord—have just given up. So what does she do? Rather than sit and wait around like a good little girl she’s going to get her back, no matter what. Snarky and a good shot—I like her.

Wolf, aka, Wolf. Quite simply, Wolf is Wolf. He’s a mystery to us for a good length of the novel and it’s hard to know his true intentions for agreeing to help Scarlet in her mission. The background surrounding him is really interesting and I think his development is well done overall.

I think the take on the famous fairytale was pretty cool. I actually read the fairytale told by the Grimm brothers (Little Red-Cap) recently, and the outcomes and feeling of despair translate pretty well into Scarlet.

Scarlet is written in third-person dual narrative. Despite the fact that the writing style is exactly the same as Cinder, the book seemed to drag out, and I think it’s because there are so many scene breaks (due to the dual perspective). I started reading Scarlet on the 8th of March and finished just on the 11th this May. I know I’m a relatively slow reader, but this was a sequel of a book that I highly enjoyed! The fact that it took me so long to finish must mean something. Despite my issues with it, I think Meyer has done a fairly good job of splitting up the perspectives and it’s easy to tell when the scene has shifted over.

The book ends at a good place, I think. Without any particular spoilers, decisions are made, which leads to a more grand and dangerous third book in the Lunar Chronicles quartet. I’m really curious to see how Meyer spins the tale of Rapunzel in Cress and I look forward to continuing the adventure!

Quotes

First line: Scarlet was descending toward the alley behind the Rieux Tavern when her portscreen chimed from the passenger seat, followed by an automated voice: "Comm received for Mademoiselle Scarlet Benoit from the Tolouse Law Enforcement Department of Missing Persons."

Favourite quotes:

"A relieved grin filled up Thorne’s face. “We’re having another moment, aren’t we?”
“If by a moment, you mean me not wanting to strangle you for the first time since we met, then I guess we are.”  (107)

"She [Levana] kept a hold on her people by tricking both their eyes and their hearts. She ruled with fear, yes, but also with adoration. It would be easy to abuse a person when they never recognised it as abuse.  (196)

Buy

AUSTRALIA: A&R | Readings | The Nile

INTERNATIONAL: Fishpond | Book Depository

Extras:
A reader's photoset of the settings in Scarlet | Post #2

I have received this review copy in return for an honest review.



MBIC (13): Show and tell!

MBiC is a fortnightly (*ahem*) book haul feature inspired by Kristi (The Story Siren) and Alea (Pop Culture Junkie). I love looking at book covers, and especially their colours, and that is where the idea to feature my new arrivals by their spines in accordance to their shade comes from.

~~~~~

12th of May 2013 ~ Notes

Happy Mother's Day! <3

All you mums in the world do so much for your families.

We love you, we appreciate you--even if we don't express it often enough!

I said in my last book haul a few weeks ago that I had more to show. And I'm finally finished with class for this semester so I had time to gather up all my new books to show for you all. :)

I'm so excited to read all of these books! Any particular ones you want me to bump up the TBR?

Note: All release dates are in the format (dd/mm/yyyy); click on images to zoom in; all book links go to Goodreads.

* = Up for swap

For Review

Thanks to...

Bloomsbury & Hachette!

• If You Find Me - Emily Murdoch - 14/05/2013 - unsolicited
• The Disgrace of Kitty Grey - Mary Hooper - 09/05/2013 - unsolicited

Neither of these titles were on my radar prior to receiving a review copy but I'm so glad I was sent these. They both sound great! If You Find Me sounds like a good winter read, so I've pushed that to my June reading list. :) I'm going to try and read The Disgrace of Kitty Grey this month, but no promises!

Bought

• Code Name Verity by Elizabeth Wein
• Burning for Revenge (#5) by John Marsden

There has been an endless stream of praise surrounding Code Name Verity. Been anticipating this new paperback release. The presentation is just lovely. And Burning For Revenge, the fifth book in the Tomorrow series by John Marsden. Which I'll definitely be reading soon.

Click image to enlarge.

• Oz: The Complete Collection by L. Frank Baum
• The Lady in the Looking Glass by Virginia Woolf
• Bliss by Katherine Mansfield
• The Bad Beginning (#1) by Lemony Snicket
• Ella Enchanted by Gail Carson Levine
• Bounjour Tristesse & A Certain Smile by Françoise Sagan
• Now and Forever by Ray Bradbury
• Sense and Sensibility by Jane Austen
• The Fountain Overflows by Rebecca West
• The Mill on the Floss by George Eliot
• Wild Swans by Jung Chang

Classics or older books. Already read the first book in the Oz series and I loved it. I'm really curious about Bounjour Tristesse and The Fountain Overflows--both coming of age stories. The first is French (obviously), the other British. A lot of these were bought through AllBooks4Less ($5!) and Booktopia (free shipping deals). And they're all gorgeous!

Q: Have you ever reread your favourite childhood books now that you're older? How was it?

Happy reading!

Share your own book hauls with me. :)

[Review] Steal My Sunshine by Emily Gale -- Aussie

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Publication (dd/mm/yyyy): 01/05/2013

Publisher: Random House (Woolshed Press)

Pages: 330

Source: Publisher (thanks Dot!)

Book Tunes
♪ Missy Higgins - Where I Stood ♪
♪ Meg & Dia - Just One of Those Things ♪ 

Violence | Sexual Content | Profanity

My Rating: 

Lovely, affecting and true.

My thoughts

♪ You’ll never know dear, how much I love you

Please don’t take my sunshine away… ♪

Steal My Sunshine is Aussie author Emily Gale’s debut contemporary YA novel. It is a mixed bag of good – good writing, good voice, good characters, good message, good feel, good Aussie-ness. I had one problem with it, which I’ll go over later, but my connection to the characters was so strong that my overall experience was still super positive.

Steal My Sunshine follows the emotional journey of Hannah as her family begins to fall apart in more ways than one. When her dad, with whom she is closest, walks out on the family without warning, Hannah’s mum goes into reclusion while Hannah’s brother (Sam) tries to pick up the pieces. Meanwhile, Hannah’s crush on her best friend’s (Chloe) brother, Ethan, grows into something that may stir up trouble in the long run. There are also family secrets that begin with Essie, Hannah and Sam’s boisterous grandmother, that may be the key to making things right again.

This story is split up into two narratives: Hannah and young Essie.

Hannah is shy and uncertain about everything. There are times when she feels completely helpless about what’s going on in her life, which I can relate to. She has two strong females in her life, her best friend and her grandmother, and when they finally meet, she worries that she will be left out. One day, Essie begins sharing her secret with the girls, which begins decades ago in London, when her father’s friend impregnated her and she was shipped off to Australia. That’s only the start of what is a horrifying and gruelling story.

The historical aspect of the novel is something that I’d never known before. It’s horrible that forced adoption and convent incarceration actually happened in Australia too, and it’s definitely a piece of history that has been swept under the rug. Essie’s story/secret gripped me in a really thought-provoking manner. I also liked the way it was presented in the story—in small doses, so that you can take a breather in between.

Overall the way it was written is just perfect. I can’t explain it, but Steal My Sunshine reads like an Aussie YA novel and it has a great Australian vibe to it.

I love when family is explored, and the complexity surrounding Hannah’s made me ponder on the meaning of family. Hannah’s exchanges with her brother (Sam) are always hostile, whereas Chloe’s relationship with Ethan is so perfect in comparison. Their mum cannot stand Essie (grandmother), and it is only until halfway through that you truly understand why. Every relationship (some I have not mentioned) felt authentic, especially once you understand more of the family history.

The romance simmers in the background; Ethan wasn’t ever-present in Hannah’s thoughts and I felt that the way in which Emily Gale handled this arc was refreshing. It was true to life, full of uncertainties and second-guesses. The love interest is seen in two different lights: while she adores him, her brother (they used to be friends) says that he isn’t good. We don’t really get to learn about him and considering that both of them have a bias, we can’t know for certain where he stands. The progression of the relationship is very significant and ties well with Essie’s story. It’s a personal preference of mine, but I liked that the romance was subtle.

As I mentioned in the first paragraph there was something that I had a problem with. The ending. It's kind of choppy and too tidy for my tastes. It didn’t feel that authentic, the way certain characters reacted. Though, in saying this, I can’t say how I would have ended it; it’s just that I don’t feel like the debilitating effects of life-long secrets can be solved in such a short time frame. For me, the ending was just okay, especially compared to the rest of the book (which I loved).

Steal My Sunshine is a novel about family history, love, secrets and the uncertainties of growing up. This debut novel is affecting and beautifully told; Gale explores the horrors of forced adoption in an engaging manner. I cannot wait to see more from this new Aussie author!

Quotes

First line: The morning it started Mum freaked out about the Christmas tree. 

Favourite quotes:

"Sometimes they looked happier than I felt – how were you supposed to tell if your level of sadness or worry was more or less than someone else’s anyway? Maybe I was really screwed up. Maybe if I told Dad I needed him, he’d stay. (45, Hannah)

"You needed your mum in a crisis, even if you didn’t get on the rest of the time – Chloe hardly went a day without dropping hers into conversation, as if the loss defined her. (109, Hannah)

Buy

AUSTRALIA: A&R | QBD | Readings

INTERNATIONAL: Fishpond

I have received this review copy in return for an honest review.