Reading a series can be quite the journey. Sometimes the first book grabs your attention, the middle books lose a bit of steam, and the final book wraps everything up. But with “The Lunar Chronicles” by Marissa Meyer, that’s not the case. The second book, “Scarlet,” was surprisingly engaging. While “Cinder,” the first book, had to set up the world with a futuristic Cinderella story featuring cyborgs, “Scarlet” expanded on it with a futuristic twist on Little Red Riding Hood, complete with genetic hybrids. This book introduced new characters and deepened the story from the first book, raising the stakes considerably. A heads-up: there are spoilers ahead for both “Cinder” and “Scarlet.”
The plot of “Scarlet” sticks to the basics of the Little Red Riding Hood tale—a girl in a red coat on her way to her grandmother’s house, encountering a wolf with dubious intentions. However, in this version, Scarlet is wary of the wolf, and their relationship develops into an accidental yet believable romance. Scarlet Benoit lives on a farm in Rieux, France, far from the Eastern Commonwealth, and only knows about the cyborg Cinder through news reports. Unknown to her, their fates are closely linked.
The novel starts with Scarlet searching for her missing grandmother. She meets Wolf, a street fighter who claims to know where her grandmother is and that she has been taken by a secret society called the Loyal Order of the Pack. As Scarlet and Wolf begin their quest to rescue her grandmother, Cinder escapes from jail, taking Captain Carswell Thorne with her. They set off to France to find Michelle Benoit, who might have information about Cinder’s past as Princess Selene. Unbeknownst to Cinder, others are also searching for her and the Benoits.
Meanwhile, Kai and the Eastern Commonwealth are hunting for Cinder to prevent a war with Luna. Queen Levana has dispatched her genetically modified soldiers to find both Cinder and the Princess Selene, believing she is still out there. The story intertwines the adventures of Cinder and Thorne with Scarlet and Wolf’s journey, all while keeping the reader updated on events in the Commonwealth.
Each character’s actions impact the others in significant ways. Kai struggles with his position and his feelings for Cinder, who grapples with her identity and powers. Scarlet is focused on saving her grandmother while also developing feelings for Wolf, who is dealing with emotions he’s unprepared for. Thorne seems to be set up for a more prominent role in the third book. Levana’s operatives are ready to wreak havoc on Earth to achieve her goals.
The novel also delves into the ethics of genetic modification, contrasting the protective alterations made to Cinder with the dangerous modifications of Levana’s soldiers. This exploration adds depth to the themes of family loyalty, power abuse, prejudice, duty, and politics, which were already present in “Cinder.”
One of the captivating aspects of this series is the real consequences of characters’ actions. Cinder’s jail break-out leads to a global manhunt with dire results, prompting her to master her powers. Scarlet’s determination to save her grandmother poses risks not only to herself but also to Cinder and Wolf.
“Scarlet” keeps the plot dynamic, with compelling characters and an increase in romantic elements. It’s a strong follow-up, continuing what promises to be a thrilling and emotional series with cyborgs, genetic modification, and more. The anticipation for the third book is high, with expectations of another exciting installment.
This series would translate well into a film series, given the need for impressive special effects to bring its richly imagined world to life. “Scarlet” has certainly met expectations and would be a great addition to a potential five-movie adaptation of “The Lunar Chronicles.”
Have you read “Scarlet”? Did the story unfold as you expected? How did you find the romance angle? If you haven’t read it, does it piqué your interest?
