Random YAck Attack: Scarlet by Marissa Meyer

Scarlet (Lunar Chronicles #2)
by Marissa Meyer
Published: February 5, 2013
Feiwel and Friends

From Goodreads:  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.

This wasn't a book group read; we just felt a need to express our opinion on it. (Surprised? Didn't think so.)

Melissa: Several of you have read/are reading Scarlet (which I just finished and found to be way better than Cinder). Discuss.  

Sandy: I'm not entirely done but I am finding that it's much stronger than Cinder was. Also the stakes are much higher ;D

Nicole: Um, I hated CINDER, so I'm no use to this conversation. Is it worth picking up SCARLET if I hated CINDER?

Angie: I loved SCARLET to teeny, tiny pieces. I liked CINDER but had issues with the last third. No such issues with SCARLET. I was nervous about the whole thing. I just love it when a sequel proves me wrong.

Heidi: I really liked Cinder, but I LOVED Scarlet. The pacing was better, the stakes were higher, and it was juts more FUN. Plus the train was a bit swoony, not gonna lie. I me some Wolf. 

Holly: I loved it too! The alpha male bit at the end just about did me in. 

Melissa: Nicole: I strongly disliked Cinder (like Angie I had real issues with the last 1/3), so I wasn't going to read Scarlet. The only reason I did was that our store's Random House (our Houghton, I can't remember which) rep said Scarlet was really good, and I decided to take a chance. And, what everyone one else said: it's quite good. The only downside is that you can't not read Cinder first. 

Donna: I'm liking it so far. I'm a little annoyed by how back and forth the plot was. I was under the impression that it would focus on Scarlet with little pieces of Cinder thrown in but it appears to be the other way around. That's not to say I'm not liking what I'm reading but I think I was a bit misled. This feels more like Cinder's story still with little Scarlet interludes than the other way around. Maybe because Cinder is just a stronger presence since she's had a full book already to develop. I don't know. But I am liking what I'm reading. I'm maybe closing in on halfway through. I think. 

Janice: Dammit. I was leaning towards not bothering with SCARLET because I was really MEH on CINDER. This has me wondering if I should give it a go.

Angie: Do it, Janice. Do it, I say! 

Sya: I just got sent Scarlet the other day. I quite enjoyed Cinder but wasn't blown away by it. I think I might have to re-read it now as it didn't leave a lasting impression yet I'm curious about book two. 

Melissa: I don't know about re-reading Cinder, Sya. You get pretty caught up on the plot without having to torture yourself.

Angie: My niece just finished reading Cinder and Scarlet in two big swallows (after I unceremoniously shoved them into her hands). We've been texting our thoughts back and forth ever since. Happiness. It is mine.

Donna: As much as I loved SCARLET, it took a nose dive with the romance between Scarlet and Wolf. OMG we've only known each other a week but . . . headdesked on that one. Other than that it was great. 

Nicole: Oh, good, because instalove is enough to make me hate a book. And I hated Cinder for many other reasons. So... I think I can count Marissa Meyer off the list of authors I'll be picking up soon. Sad, 'cause she seems nice. 

Donna: It occurs in the last couple pages of the book. Literally. And it so disappointed me. 

Melissa: I knew you'd come through, Donna, with a legitimate complaint about something I missed. I didn't mind it -- I guess I didn't feel it was instalove -- but I can see how that' would be a headdesk moment.

Angie: Yeah, it didn't feel like instalove to me since it came at the very end and I felt like they'd grown closer together throughout the course of the book. I was beginning to wonder if we'd get any kind of declaration at 

Donna: Hahaha, Melissa! For me is was the extent to which is was taken. Wolves are monogamous, the alpha male protects the alpha female, they've known each other for a week, 98% of that time with Scarlet questioning Wolf's allegiance with him turning on her but being really sorry about it. My black heart would have been okay with the romance. I was even expecting it. I mean, all signs pointed to yes. But the extent to which it was taken killed it for me. I'm glad it happened on the last couple of pages because it might have killed the book for me and I would have been pissed. Now I would kindly like to refocus back on Cinder and Kai and how the eff that one's going to get pulled off. I mean, Levana CAN be shanked, right? She can't work her voodoo in her sleep, can she? 

Angie: I am full of fear for Cinder and Kai, Donna. Full of fear. 

Laura: I haven't started Scarlet yet, SO I HAVE NOTHING TO ADD TO THIS DISCUSSION. But I will be saying hello to Marissa at the book store over yonder this afternoon. Shall I issue a formal declaration of approval for Scarlet? You're NOBODY until you're YAckers approved. I'll tell her so. 

Melissa: Oh, do. But not for Cinder, which was kind of lame. 

YAckers Reviews of Scarlet:
Melissa @ Book Nut 
Angie @ Angieville