Reviews

Scarlet by Genevieve Cogman

elizab3thc's review against another edition

adventurous tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

kwthor's review against another edition

adventurous emotional mysterious tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

5.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: War, Blood, Misogyny, Murder, Death, Violence, and Classism

njdesai521's review against another edition

adventurous lighthearted fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character

4.0

palindromereads's review against another edition

adventurous mysterious tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.0

kates_book_nook's review against another edition

adventurous dark lighthearted medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

bmbriar's review against another edition

adventurous tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.0

As a huge fan of the The Invisible Library series, I was super excited to read this. Cogman is always easy to read, with great ideas and worldbuilding, but this sophomore series was a bit disappointing for me. 

I could really feel the ghost of Irene in Eleanor, and while the businesslike, sensible competency worked with Irene and made her compelling, the repeated traits in Eleanor make her a little dull. Similarly,

I really appreciated the realistic approach to the slow burn romance between Irene and Kai, but I find it a bit tiresome between Eleanor and Charles. The French Revolution But With Vampires is an unquestionably sexy premise, and I could have done with a bit more passion in that department even if she wanted to keep it a slow burn.

I think I also wanted more from the premise overall. There were long passages in the book where I forgot there were vampires in this world at all, and they didn't feel massively necessary to the plot overall. Perhaps that will change in the second part of the series, but for this first installment I was left a bit wanting on that front. 

In a similar vein, you can tell from reading it (and from her note at the end) that Cogman isn't a lover of the aristocracy, but has chosen to adapt a very pro-aristocrat story, and she neither fully throws her own opinion out in favour of Having Fun, nor satisfyingly unpacks the issues with the source material. It's the literary equivalent of saying "oh, I shouldn't" before accepting that second glass of wine. 

I feel like I've been hard on this book, but I did still have fun with it (especially in the second half), I just know how much better this author can do! 

olurin's review against another edition

adventurous medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.75

ciaraisabookworm's review against another edition

adventurous dark fast-paced

3.75

taxiforone's review against another edition

adventurous challenging medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

maddy_kearns's review against another edition

adventurous hopeful medium-paced

3.0