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Sofia's Reviews > Scarlet
Scarlet (The Lunar Chronicles, #2)
by
by
Sofia's review
bookshelves: science-fiction, one-questionable-character, when-the-sequel-is-better, failed-romance
Oct 10, 2020
bookshelves: science-fiction, one-questionable-character, when-the-sequel-is-better, failed-romance
~dropping my rating because I can only think back on this book with rage~
*slow clap* That was... something.
I still don't understand all the Lunar Chronicles fans. It's just not that good, in my opinion. It feels very middle-grade-ish, in that the writing is immature, the character arcs are predictable, and the romance is next-level trash.
After the hot mess that was Cinder, I was more than ready to toss Kai in the garbage and move on to Wolf, who seemed better. And then everything collapsed.
Wolf has NO personality. He's known Scarlet for a day. And then they're all like "you will be my alpha female" and a bunch of other cringy mushy stuff. He's an overprotective, violent guy with anger issues.
Scarlet is a hotheaded, impulsive, melodramatic girl, and you all know that's my least favorite cookie-cutter character type. Also, she likes to throw tomatoes. Kai literally has two chapters, in which he manages to enslave the world to a Lunar queen and doom the Commonwealth. Congratulations. Thorne was okay, even though I should technically hate him because he's a sarcastic idiot and I always picture him with that annoying lopsided grin boys with too much confidence like to use.
The world-building was so bad, too. I couldn't tell the difference between France and the Commonwealth. No culture changes, no scenery changes. France could be Antarctica for all I gathered. At least it's Europe and not Asia, though. The world-building in the previous book was supposed to be "diverse" and "inclusive" and ended up feeling very whitewashed and generic.
The plot was definitely better than Cinder. It's getting bigger and more epic, and I appreciate that. Scarlet was also much easier to slog through than its predecessor was.
So... I didn't love this book, but it was a fun read. I can officially say it wasn't a waste of my time. Which is more than I expected.
2 stars
*slow clap* That was... something.
I still don't understand all the Lunar Chronicles fans. It's just not that good, in my opinion. It feels very middle-grade-ish, in that the writing is immature, the character arcs are predictable, and the romance is next-level trash.
After the hot mess that was Cinder, I was more than ready to toss Kai in the garbage and move on to Wolf, who seemed better. And then everything collapsed.
Wolf has NO personality. He's known Scarlet for a day. And then they're all like "you will be my alpha female" and a bunch of other cringy mushy stuff. He's an overprotective, violent guy with anger issues.
Scarlet is a hotheaded, impulsive, melodramatic girl, and you all know that's my least favorite cookie-cutter character type. Also, she likes to throw tomatoes. Kai literally has two chapters, in which he manages to enslave the world to a Lunar queen and doom the Commonwealth. Congratulations. Thorne was okay, even though I should technically hate him because he's a sarcastic idiot and I always picture him with that annoying lopsided grin boys with too much confidence like to use.
The world-building was so bad, too. I couldn't tell the difference between France and the Commonwealth. No culture changes, no scenery changes. France could be Antarctica for all I gathered. At least it's Europe and not Asia, though. The world-building in the previous book was supposed to be "diverse" and "inclusive" and ended up feeling very whitewashed and generic.
The plot was definitely better than Cinder. It's getting bigger and more epic, and I appreciate that. Scarlet was also much easier to slog through than its predecessor was.
So... I didn't love this book, but it was a fun read. I can officially say it wasn't a waste of my time. Which is more than I expected.
2 stars
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Reading Progress
October 3, 2020
–
Started Reading
October 3, 2020
– Shelved
October 3, 2020
–
0.44%
"Scarlet has some anger issues. What did those tomatoes ever do to her?"
page
2
October 3, 2020
–
5.0%
"If Wolf is that "valiant" stranger who stood up for Scarlet, I will toss this book across the room"
October 4, 2020
– Shelved as:
started-will-finish-eventually
October 7, 2020
–
23.0%
""I'm not usually impressed by men with anger management issues."
SAYS THE GIRL WHO LITERALLY THREW POOR, HELPLESS TOMATOES AT A BRICK WALL. THE IRONY."
SAYS THE GIRL WHO LITERALLY THREW POOR, HELPLESS TOMATOES AT A BRICK WALL. THE IRONY."
October 7, 2020
–
25.0%
"Here are some crazy theories about Wolf because he seems like the type of guy to have a seven-page-long tragic backstory
1. Wolf is secretly one of those freaky Lunar soldiers who escaped to Earth and now wants to ~rebel~
2. Wolf is actually a vampire and always has urges to suck blood, so that's why he likes tomatoes so much
OR -
3. Wolf is a Lunar soldier who must drink blood, so he eats tomatoes to combat that"
1. Wolf is secretly one of those freaky Lunar soldiers who escaped to Earth and now wants to ~rebel~
2. Wolf is actually a vampire and always has urges to suck blood, so that's why he likes tomatoes so much
OR -
3. Wolf is a Lunar soldier who must drink blood, so he eats tomatoes to combat that"
October 7, 2020
–
26.0%
"Calm down, Scarlet. It's not as if your grandmother was missing and nobody believed you and you were stuck with an insane man and a brutal street fighter and your ship was just destroyed"
October 8, 2020
–
30.0%
"Kai can go jump in a lake. He has lost the cinnamon roll status he never had."
October 8, 2020
–
39.0%
"Soooo.... They just casually walked eighteen miles? I would be impressed if I weren't so confused"
October 9, 2020
–
74.0%
"This is unrelated, but I was looking at my holds shelf and doesn't the cover of Ninth House look a bit like the cover for Chosen Ones? Just me?"
October 9, 2020
–
76.0%
"People think I have something against romance because I always criticize it in my reviews. But that's not true. I just wish Wolf and Scarlet had known each other for longer than a day. Smh"
October 9, 2020
–
77.0%
"Just leave Wolf there. He's not worth the trouble. AND SAVE THE DARN PRINCESS, SHE'S TEN TIMES MORE IMPORTANT THAN SOME WOLF DUDE, no matter how aTtRaCtIvE and VaLiAnT he may be"
October 10, 2020
– Shelved as:
science-fiction
October 10, 2020
– Shelved as:
when-the-sequel-is-better
October 10, 2020
– Shelved as:
one-questionable-character
October 10, 2020
–
Finished Reading
February 9, 2021
– Shelved as:
failed-romance
Comments Showing 1-50 of 50 (50 new)
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😆😆😆😆 I'll answer all your questions in my review! Cinder is still my favorite character, though.
I knew you’d like the 2nd one better!
Abi wrote: "I knew you’d like the 2nd one better!"Let's hope Cress is even better.
reina wrote: "grrrrrr 😡"I changed my rating to three stars. Kai is officially better than Wolf.
Yeah, I think this series is better suited for younger teens. I read it way back during my freshman year of high school, so I (and probably lots of readers) definitely have some rose-colored glasses syndrome going on, but I'm pretty sure if I ever reread it, I would feel the exact same way
It's the same with me. All of the early fantasy books I read are automatically favorites, just because of nostalgia. That doesn't necessarily mean they're actually good.
cress will blow your mind
I shall toss both of them in the trash
I'm a Lunar Chronicles fan and I have to say Scarlet was the least favorite of all four for me. I totally agree with you that Wolf and Scarlet are non other than insta-love, but as far as I know this book is the favorite of many other TLC fans. I personally like Winter the most.
Okiee! But whyy i love Wolf toooo!! And lol yupp Cinder is really just awesome but please love Scarlet too😭😭😭😭😭😭 she deserves more love. Why did you change your rating to 3 starssss?! Anddd i dont know why people dont like the book Scarlet so much, it may be my favourite of the four! I loved Cress(the book) too but Scarlet was sooo good toooo.Lol i am way too passionate😆😆😆
Okay i actually just saw that you have written your review😂😂😂Wolfffff ahhhh buuutttt he's so goooddd whhyyy😂😂😭😭
And scarlet! She's so.... Ahhhh...😂 I dont know but i just thought she was really amazing and i actually really likes her strong headedness and fiesty-ness. I enjoyed her character so muchh!!
Aww i really wished you would like this book a lot lol😆😆😆
I hope you like cress more!
I would like to add that I am happy that you have not started loving Thorne rn as everyone else did. I liked him in this book but not thhhaaatttt much.
And ofcourse Cinder and Iko are 😍
@Mel - At least he has a PERSONALITY, unlike Wolf @Laurel - I shipped it at first, but then I realized they had only known each other for a day.
@Ayesha - I just don't like that type of character. I love Cinder, though :)
ahhh okayy😣😣😣😣😣😣😣😣😣😣 maybe you'll get to like them better in the next books hehe
reina wrote: "IN THIS HOUSEHOLD WE STAN IKO AND WE DROPKICK WOLF"YES YES INDEED
Ayesha!!!!! Yes!! I dont know why no one likes Scarlet!!! I mean sure there's a little insta love but thats just wut happens when something is meant to be!! I myself hate insta love but I loved this book!!!!!!! Scarlet and wolf r legit my fave couple 🥰😍🤩!!!!! And i love that scarlet isn't some mushy character but us head strong, confident, and has a big personality. And wolf!!! He's just so amazing!!!! I love them i love them i love them and thus book do much!!🥰😍🤩💝💖🧡❤💕💞💓💟💛💫❣
@YoElle YESSSSSSSSSSSSSS
:)
@Yoelle THANK YOU! I ADORE SCARLET AND I ADORE WOLF AND I AM SO HAPPY TO HEAR THESE WORDS!!!!!!!!!( i love Cinder too and i love kai too but I feel like Scarlet and Wolf are so under rated😭😭😭😭)
Scarlet is literally so cool and Wolf is...... Wolf!!! Ahhh
YESSS!!!!!!!!!!! WE STAN WOLF ANMD AND SCARLET!!!!
YES YES YES YESSSSSS SCARLET AND WOLF R SO CUTE!!!! everyone else is to but...i mean SCARLET AND WOLF!!!
I LOVE them all, but Woflet has to be my second fav, along with Wincin. Cresswell and Kaider are both my first. But i still love them so much! When i first read the series i IDOLIZED Scarlet (i still do)
Lol YESSSSS!!!! Whenever I'm doing something I always think, wut would scarlet do....
I can't chose between who is my absolute favorite couple cuz there all so GREAT!!!!
Same. Kaider: perfection
Cresswell: chemistry and cuteness
Wincin: sweet and loving
Wolflet: passonate and dont fuck wihth my bf/gf
I'm gonna be honest it has been so long since I've read this book so I don't know if my original rating still holds up. HOWEVER, you saying this -
France could be Antarctica for all I gathered.
had me laughing out loud!
@Linley - lol why is that so true 😂@Julia - 😂Glad you enjoyed it!
😄
This book was my least favorite in the series...but I’m glad it wasn’t yours because that would mean you probably wouldn’t continue. I share the same sentiments about Wolf. I love Scarlet (mostly because she reminds my friend of me) but their relationship is just so Insta lovey and I can’t stand it.
Yeah, their relationship was just cringe. It was so melodramatic and shallow. Cinder was my least favorite, I think, because the pacing was horrible and at least Scarlet had some semblance of a story.
“I can officially say it wasnt a waste of my time.� THAT IS IMPROVEMENT!!! And if you liked that the plot was bigger and more epic, it just gets bigger throughout the serious i hope you keep going. also these reviews are my favorite things EVER they are so funny i love them
Aw, thanks so much, Melanie! I'm really loving Cress so far. I hope it just gets better from here on out!
Yes sofia, i really think you will like Cress much better since you like the bigger plots. Personally i think i would have enjoyed Cress soooo much more but I read it at a time when i was having exams and was stressed so I was not able to enjoy it fully. But I still loved it!!!And I totally agree with Melanie! Just today i was thinking that you are an AWESOME review. ( I am reading Divergent currently and i think you are Candor😁😂😂😂)
Thanks, Ayesha! And yes, I am most definitely Candor. I'm that annoying outspoken person who thinks debating is fun.
FINALLY SOMEONE WHO AGREES WITH ME. I honestly don't get why people like it so much and the only characters I liked were Cinder and Iko, and although a bit less, Thorne. The others either weren't good or they aren't even worth mentioning.
YAYYYY, ANOTHER PERSON WHO THINKS THIS SERIES IS OVERRATED!I like Cinder and Cress so far. Scarlet and Wolf are meh. Kai is annoying.
Oops, I forgot Cress is not the the best character, but I guess she's not bad.
Aw man its to bad u don't like the other characters, i need to reread the series.....But still I loved the characters and the books lol 😆
I will officially say that Scarlet isn't my favorite of the series. Nor is Cinder, actually. (But I do have a signed copy of Cinder, sue me). I really loved your review.
"Scarlet has some anger issues. What did those tomatoes ever do to her?"
I loved your little quote updates. They were so fun to read!
"I'm not usually impressed by men with anger management issues."
SAYS THE GIRL WHO LITERALLY THREW POOR, HELPLESS TOMATOES AT A BRICK WALL. THE IRONY."
"Just leave Wolf there. He's not worth the trouble. AND SAVE THE DARN PRINCESS, SHE'S TEN TIMES MORE IMPORTANT THAN SOME WOLF DUDE, no matter how aTtRaCtIvE and VaLiAnT he may be"
"Scarlet has some anger issues. What did those tomatoes ever do to her?"
I loved your little quote updates. They were so fun to read!
"I'm not usually impressed by men with anger management issues."
SAYS THE GIRL WHO LITERALLY THREW POOR, HELPLESS TOMATOES AT A BRICK WALL. THE IRONY."
"Just leave Wolf there. He's not worth the trouble. AND SAVE THE DARN PRINCESS, SHE'S TEN TIMES MORE IMPORTANT THAN SOME WOLF DUDE, no matter how aTtRaCtIvE and VaLiAnT he may be"
Haha, thanks Kylee <3
Sofia wrote: "Haha, thanks Kylee <3"
<3
<3
For me the saving aspect of it is the world, but I absolutely hate the romances. The whole wolf-scarlet storyline was just awkward. I don’t understand why every character needs to be in a relationship??
Juliana (Midnight Book Blog) wrote: "For me the saving aspect of it is the world, but I absolutely hate the romances. The whole wolf-scarlet storyline was just awkward. I don’t understand why every character needs to be in a relations..."Definitely. They paired up too neatly...
OHMYGAY YO YO YO YO YO SALTY OMG OMG OMG OMGGGGGWOLF IS LIKE TAMLIN PQWOITHOIWETHWETWQTOWIPHT
Your comment about Ninth House and Chosen Ones made me laugh out loud
My gosh, did you use the cookie cutter reference??? I thought I was the only one who did it. Maybe I’m just clueless XD
😆😆😆😆😆😆😆😆😆