Nothing But Reading Challenges discussion

This topic is open for discussion about Scarlet by Marissa Meyer



Book 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.

Reserved

Good thing I have this one on order already!

Was getting worried I was going through Cinder too slow, but finished just in time to start this next week =)

Yay! Onto the next book :)

Recently started this book so I can join in properly now!

Happy Scarlet Day, everyone ^^

Up to Chapter Four (pg 30)

I love Scarlet's observation in the restaurant of Wolf looking "no more menacing now than a scolded dog". I think that's a great way to tie in the wolf connection from Red Riding Hood and characterize the fighter at the same time.

Right off the bat, I love Scarlet as much as I love Cinder. She has the temperament of a red head, of course, but she needs it when dealing with the vendors, if the early chapters are any indication. And she seems to have fierce loyalty and love to those she cares about. It's quite admiral that she refuses to give up looking for her grand-mere.

I also like how instead of just the red hoodie, she has red hair too (I also have to give her mad props for having a gun hidden under her hoodie). Just like Cinder, it's clear right off the bat that Scarlet is not going to be your typical fairy tale heroine in distress.

It took me way too long to realize this was a play on Little Red Riding Hood. It wasn't until I logged on here and saw the Cinder group read that I thought 'Huh, wonder what this ones based on.' Then I face-palmed and blamed it on working too much...

Are we breaking this down into parts like Cinder?

Thanks Jessi

Jessi wrote: "I really like Scarlet's character as well! She's headstrong, feisty and fiercely protective of those she cares about. Like Cinder, she's a strong independent heroine but what's nice is she is a different person from Cinder. Scarlet is a bit more impulsive, emotional, kind of a "wear her heart on her sleeve" kind of gal. Whereas Cinder seems to be more reserved. Being slightly older and more experienced Scarlet also seems to have more confidence than Cinder. I mean Scarlet's like "I ain't taking no crap from anybody." and "you mess with my grand-mere, you gotta deal with me then."
Cinder is more like "Oh well...I'll just pretend that I don't care..." "

Totally. I think a lot of this can be contributed to their upbringing. Scarlet is raised by a grand-mere in the military, and it sounds like her mother wasn't around and her father up and abandoned her. So her circumstances have kind of required her to be strong and independent, but she's also fiercely loyal to those that stick around because maybe she's used to losing others.

Cinder's never had that kind of affection from anyone, though Peony did care for it. Cinder grew up kind of like a castaway in her own home, largely unwanted by her stepmother and older stepsister. Being treated that may, Cinder is able to "brush the dust off" because she is used to having to, spending all that time being largely unwanted in the household she grew up in.

I love how these characters are actually developed, unlike their Grimm brothers/Disney counterparts.

Up to Chapter X (pg 98)


Jessi wrote: "You root for her because of those qualities...she is able to rise above her terrible circumstances."

Exactly! She's not a damsel in distress, but life has certainly not been easy for her. And it doesn't seem like it's gonna get any easier any time soon either.




Jessi wrote: "maybe I'm reading into too much but when she admonishes him for not eating his veggies or her tomatoes and he responds by saying that he's never seen one before just gives me that mother and child vibe"

I took this scene to be more like she was just surprised he'd never even seen the vegetables before. It is kind of shocking, to be at that age and not know what a tomato or a carrot is.


Ahhhh, Captain Thorne. Such a lovable little goofball. Everything about his character oozes charm, even though he has a *bit* of an inflated ego and perhaps takes it a little too far sometimes. But right off the bat, he seems like a perfect foil for Cinder. She is so determined and serious, and he's just like (view spoiler)["So how do I look in my wanted picture? Still good, right?" and "They don't know if I never intended to return the ship or not" (hide spoiler)] It's probably a good thing he isn't real and we never crossed paths because he definitely seems like the type of guy that could get you into a lot of trouble lol.

Up to Chapter 13


Jessi wrote: "--LOL, I know...isn't he just awesome! I love his flippant sarcasm. I heard someone once compare him to Captain Jack Sparrow...lol...I love the banter between him and Cinder. They haven't known each other very long yet they act like best friends who know each other so well that they're not afraid to throw little insults back 'n forth...I love it! Although (view spoiler) "

I don't know if I would make the connection to Captain Jack Sparrow... but then again, he does have a (view spoiler)[stolen ship (hide spoiler)] lol. When we see how Thorne interacts with Cinder, it's kind of what I would have expected between Cinder and Kai in the first novel. Granted, Thorne seems to get on Cinder's nerves a little since he is much more flippant and she is much more serious. But they have this instant rapporteur that works so easily for them, almost like flirting, that Cinder never really got to with Kai. But perhaps that was because of the separation of social class and the need for Cinder to be more respective of him?




Meanwhile, on the ranch, Scarlet is not having the easiest time. First grandmere, and now apparently (view spoiler)[her father (hide spoiler)]. Meyer does love to put her heroines through the ringer! And it's interesting to see how Meyer is interpreting Red Riding Hood, the Grandmom, and the Big Bad Wolf so far.

I loved all the random stuff pulled out of the storage crates in Thorne's ship that he had no idea was stashed in there, and it ended up saving the day.