Review: Scarlet (Lunar Chronicles 02) by Marissa Meyer

Book form: pdf
Genre: YA sci-fi/fantasy
Target audience: fans of modern fairy tale retellings

The first part of the series, Cinder was reviewed by me some time ago; my review can be found here. If you haven't read that one you might be mildly spoiled by the synopsis - consider yourself warned.

Synopsis

When young Scarlet Benoit gets a message informing her that the police officially closed the investigation concerning her missing grandmother she is really angry. She decides to take the matters into her hands and go find the elderly lady on her own. While looking for possible clues she meets a young street fighter, Wolf whose hand is adorned by a strange numeric tattoo. Soon enough it becomes obvious that Wolf may have information as to her grandmother's whereabouts. Scarlet is loath to trust a complete stranger but he is the only one who knows something and is willing to help. They travel to Paris by train and during that journey Scarlet finds herselfs inexplicably drawn to Wolf, and he to her (translation: after a very short period of teenage awkwardness they make out like mad bunnies).

Meanwhile Cinder (her full story was told in the first part) has broken out of the space prison, helped by one Carswell Thorne - a thief, a womanizer, a liar and a swaggering buffoon (all things considered, your average human male specimen ;p). His only advantage seems to be a stolen ship, currently under his 'command' - it is the only way of space transport available if you want to return to Earth. Cinder of course returns just to get mixed into the mayhem created by our lovely Lunar Queen Levana who wants to marry the young emperor Kai and rule the Moon and the Earth. Cinder's path crosses with that of Scarlet whose grand-mere was far more important than anybody would have imagined and played a role in rescuing little Lunar princess Selena. So Cinder herself. Will they be able to avoid capture?

What I liked:

Firstly and foremostly I liked the fact that the author tried to combine Cinderella and Little Red Riding Hood into one cohesive story. The narration was well-paced and I managed to finish the novel in two evenings - it was a fun ride although with three different POVs which only at the end merged into one.

From the two main heroines I liked Cinder better; maybe because I got to like her in the first installment so much, maybe because Scarlet was given simply too little narration time, as she had to share her story with Cinder whereas our cyborg girl had a whole book at her disposal.

Finally I liked the fact that this part was set in the old good Europe. Not that I didn't like the New Beijing in the previous part but a change of scenery is always welcome.

What I didn't like:

The more I read the more I heard 'Star Wars' music theme in my head because, in my opinion, the whole tale stopped sounding like a variation of the Little Red Riding Hood  very soon and started copying one of those space operas. Copying HARD, like at every turn. Such a premise can be hardly called original, can't it? Cinder is a Lunar princess in exile (Leia anyone?) whose mental 'powers' equal those of the Jedi knights; she is helped by Carswell who not only owns a ship but also thinks he is the God's gift to womankind in a leather jacket  (Han Solo?) and an mouthy android Iko ( a female equivalent of C-3PO if I remember the name right). The evil, power-crazy Queen Levana with her band of sadistic thaumaturgs would make Darth Vader and other lords Siths clap and cheer. As you see it was definitely worse than while reading Cinder.

Not to mention the insta-love between Scarlet and Wolf/Ze'ev which, due to its incredible speed, was able to give me a bout of gut-turning sea sickness - they meet, they kiss and, after just one day, boys and girls, they cannot live without each other even if he is a kind of a beast (Chewbacca?) and she is...well, a girl with a mission. And he lied to her. Repeatedly. From the very beginning. Apologizing every now and then. Yeah...animal magnetism I suppose?

The cover is rather bland - you have to guess what it really shows. A dress? A cloak? A shawl? A flag? Something else?

Final verdict:

Not the worst YA fantasy I've ever read but I liked the first part, Cinder better.Still I think I will continue reading this series out of sheer curiosity. You see, Rapunzel will join us in the third book, Cress, and being a huge fan of this lady of long, fabulous hair, I will not rest until it is in my greedy, hands. I also hope there will be no more such abusive relationships as that of Scarlet and her Wolf.

Review: Dirty Blood (Dirty Blood 01) by Heather Hildenbrandt

Book info:

Form: pdf

Genre: YA Urban Fantasy with Werewolves
Target audience: Twilight YA fans

EN GARDE!

Synopsis (from Goodreads):

I killed a girl last night. I did it with my bare hands and an old piece of pipe I found lying next to the dumpster. But that’s not the part that got me. The part that scared me, the part I can’t seem to wrap my head around and still has me reeling, was that when she charged me, her body shifted – and then she was a wolf. All snapping teeth and extended claws. But by the time I stood over her lifeless body, she was a girl again. That’s about the time I went into shock… And that was the moment he showed up.

Now, all I can do is accept the truths that are staring me in the face. One, Werewolves do exist. And Two, I was born to kill them.

HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA

My impressions:

ENGAGEMENT
If you read the synopsis then you will know...nothing, literally nothing about this novel. What's more, you might be tricked into thinking it is a nice YA Urban Fantasy with werewolves. It is NOT. Before I reveal the whole ugly truth about this one let me put on my protective suit and I warn you: things will become dangerous from that point. If you are queasy, just avert your eyes and leave. Yes, there will be BLOOD.

Now, protected by many charms, garlic and silver, with my faithful sword, cape and a hat, I can proceed. 

FIRST SLASH:

It is not a book about werewolves. It is a book about vampires masquerading as werewolves.Have you ever heard about a series featuring sparkling, vain, teenage, bloodsuckers, one of them called Edward Cullen? Yes, we are hunting that rainbow-coloured git again. Prepare yourself for a ferocious fight. He is the cunning one but I've dealt with him in the past so I know my enemy. Just follow my steps and you'll be safe.

SERIOUS FENCING TRICKS

 I got the inkling we might deal with him again when I read his description: brown hair, artlessly mussed up, brown eyes with golden sparks, muscled body, but one can never be sure in my profession, right? So I waited and then, after a very short time, I struck gold. He was stalking a girl, yes, once again, and her name was Tara. He went into her house several times completely unannounced - sometimes through the door, sometimes through the window. He never bothered to knock. He was a controlling ass...thingy. I was almost sure I got the sparkling idiot again but I had to be 100% certain. And yessssssss...finally the last proof. He could read minds and manipulate memories. It's him.

DIRTY FEINTS

So what that he claimed his name was Wes and he was a kind of werewolf this time? My word against his, right? He told that Tara girl (the main protagonist) his mind-reading abilities were on full display only during full moon but he was able to read her mind and influence it without any problems, right? I know Edward Cullen when I see him and let me repeat it once again: it WAS him. He drove a silver Aston Martin for heavens' sake! Do you still need any other argument? YOU DO? Verry well. 

Right after their second or third meeting Tara asks "How old are you?" and Wes replies "Nineteen". Tara then says "How long have you been nineteen?" Weirdly it sounds exactly like one of those Bella and Cullen sweet dialogues, don't  you think? Plus these other crappy promises: he is "protecting your virtue" honey, protecting all the time and referring to neutral ground as "switzerland". If you need more you simply don't qualify for this job.

COUP DE GRâCE
Having dispatched the ugly Cullen let me take care of the rest. The characters, ALL the characters were cardboard flat copies of different Twilight vampires (and let me say that those weren't exceptionally well-rounded to begin with). Apart from that the author seemed to be rather at loss how to make this novel logic and distinguishable. The main heroine is repeatedly lied to by: her mom, her grandma, her boyfriend, her would-be boyfriend Wes. They do it to protect her, a born Hunter, against other, 'bad' werewolves. Yes, instead letting her train as she was supposed to they endanger her life because it's their idea of 'protection'. Well, last time I looked knowledge was power, not ignorance and stupidity...

At the very beginning Tara kills a werewolf girl called Lilian. Yes, the girl attacked her for no reason and yes, Tara was just defending herself but she kills her nevertheless. What's her reaction and what other weres think ? First Wes/Cullen observes Tara as if she was a scientific experiment that backfired; Lilian's body is just something that he must get rid of. Then he makes Tara forget the whole incident for 'her own good' of course, and then we are told that it was practically ok. Although Lilian was one of those 'good', bunnies-hugging werewolves who want world peace and social benefits for everyone, her killing wasn't Tara's fault because she simply couldn't help herself. Lilian... *emphatic shrug* well...Lilian was a blonde and a traitor anyway. Or almost a traitor because nobody had any tangible proof of it at the time of her death. Well, she died so something must have been wrong with her, right? Apart from that only a baddie, Leo, mourns her, no big deal... Remember, Cullen doesn't do blondes, one more, one less, just a cannon fodder...

The last remark. I almost died of evil laughter when Wes announced to Tara that she was his destiny. DESTINY!!! That's what entitled him to enter her room unannounced whenever he wanted to, that's why he was drawn to her from the very ugly beginning, even though she killed a girl in cold blood right before his eyes. She was his destiny, it explains everything. For that sentence alone Cullen deserves a slow, painful death by sunrays, werewolf or not. If you've heard a sillier excuse to stalk anybody do let me know. I might write a book about them one day. You see, even vampire killers retire.

BURYING THE BODY or Final verdict:

It's time to go - I have things to do and vampires to kill. Just let me say this: the less I read such novels the more happy I am. You have been warned.

Review: Days of Blood & Starlight (Daughter of Smoke and Bone #2) by Laini Taylor

Book info:

Form: pdf, e-book
Genre: YA fantasy, angels and demons, paranormal romance
Target audience: YA

My review of the first part you can find here

Synopsis (from Goodreads):

Once upon a time, an angel and a devil fell in love and dared to imagine a world free of bloodshed and war.This is not that world.

Art student and monster's apprentice Karou finally has the answers she has always sought. She knows who she is—and what she is. But with this knowledge comes another truth she would give anything to undo: She loved the enemy and he betrayed her, and a world suffered for it.In this stunning sequel to the highly acclaimed Daughter of Smoke & Bone, Karou must decide how far she'll go to avenge her people. Filled with heartbreak and beauty, secrets and impossible choices, Days of Blood & Starlight finds Karou and Akiva on opposing sides as an age-old war stirs back to life.

While Karou and her allies build a monstrous army in a land of dust and starlight, Akiva wages a different sort of battle: a battle for redemption. For hope.

But can any hope be salvaged from the ashes of their broken dream?

What I liked:

Not much...the curse of the second book, eh? Firstly let me assure you that angels and demons/chimaeras are and act as just ordinary guys and gals in this series which was a kind of relief. If you keep it in mind all the time you'll be fine. I was also rather pleased that the author didn't forget about humans and Prague although there was less of it than in the first part. I also appreciate that Laini Taylor tried to show the ugliness of the war and politics.

Liraz and Hazael I found the most likeable characters. Their change of heart and reticence to kill the chimaera felt real in comparison to Akiva's fickle compassion towards Karou's kin.

What I didn't like:

The romance between Karou and Akiva made me yawning too many times. Let's face it, the author continues with a Romeo and Juliet cliche at practically every turn PLUS a comedy of errors, not my favourite plot device either.  Karou behaves like your average befuddled teenager - she  struggles and is shamed and digs deep to find her inner strength again. But watching her struggle is boring because it is also predictable. 

I thought Mik and Zuzana were pretty pointless characters. I don't even know why Zuzana had a POV, as she could add little to the story. I guess her romance with Mik was supposed to sweeten a bit the lack of hot scenes between Karou and her beloved but I didn't really care about either of them.

I was also surprised that one of secondary characers was named Festival. I swallowed Madrigal in the previous part because it was a less common noun but Festival, honestly? Can't you think of a more original, fresher name without so many ordinary connections?

Still my main carping and the thing that disturbed me the most during reading was the lack of intelligence among practically all characters. Karou is being deceived by the simplest trick on Earth and, although she now remembers her previous life and experience, she can't see through it, at least until the truth bangs her on her head. Akiva is an angel and a seasoned warrior, far older than Karou, but he behaves exactly as a teen boy would: he dithers and doubts his girl not seeing the obvious, he lets his superior to manipulate him into an assassination and then he has to bear very painful consequences. Honestly, has anybody out there heard about strategy and planning? 

The baddies are no good either. Thiago, the leader of the Demons, is crudely cunning but not intelligent enough to hide his 'scorched earth policy' guerrilla war from Karou or at least find a good excuse for it. Finally in the end happens something which looks like a big plot hole: (spoiler, highlight to read) another chimaera guy called Ziri takes the control over the body of dead Thiago, killed by Karou during a rape attempt, in order to hide the killing from other chimaeras and let Karou live. Excuse me? How exactly it could happen, without a resurectionist, a necklace, magic, and so on? How come we haven't been told about it before?

Final verdict:

I liked the first part far better. I fear in the last installment love will simply have to conquer all, especially the common sense, interesting narration and logic. Perhaps sweet but so boring...