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Hello everyone and welcome back to the blog!
Today it’s time to talk about a book that I’ve recently finished: Scarlet by Genevieve Cogman.
If you click on the cover you will be redirected to the Goodreads page.
About the book
Goodreads Synopsis:
A thrilling reinvention of the tale of The Scarlet Pimpernel with the addition of magic and even more mayhem.
In Revolutionary France, the aristocrats are vampires โ and they face the guillotine. However, the Scarlet Pimpernel, a disguised British noble, is determined to rescue them. These predators are being offered sanctuary by their aristocratic British kin, but at great cost to Londonโs ordinary people. Then an English maid discovers the only power that could stop them. Assuming she survives.
Scarlet is the first book in the trilogy, set during the turbulent French Revolution.
Title – Scarlet
Series – Scarlet Revolution #1
Author – Genevieve Cogman
Publisher – Tor
Edition – Paperback
Pages – 306
Genre – Historical Fiction, Fantasy, Vampires, Retelling
Review
This is a retelling of the book “The Scarlet Pimpernel” by Baroness Orczy, but with some vampires. The book is set during the French Revolution, where vampires are aristocrats and should be guillotined. There is an organization trying to save the aristocrats, but they are in need of a British maid. Will their plan work out?
I found the concept very interesting, which is why I picked the book up in the first place. And that cover was also on point, so I just had to grab it! In the beginning, I had some trouble with the pacing of the book and couldn’t really get through it. But once the action started kicking in, I managed to push through, and I’m glad I did. Even if I had other expectations of “Scarlet”.
I wanted the vampire aspect to be more detailed. I kind of wanted them to be more involved in the story as that was the main reason why I bought this book. The same goes for the sorcery aspect. It wasn’t really there. It felt like a hundred different things were mashed together but not carried out in detail. Everything was all over the place. There wasn’t really a focus on the fantasy elements. At least that’s what I thought! You might have another opinion on the matter if you’ve read the book or if you plan on reading it.
I particularly enjoyed the way how the British maid, Eleanor, started to question things. At first she was all in and wanted to help the League of the Scarlet Pimpernel at all costs but then slowly she discovers things that seriously question her plans. And whether or not she should follow them.
Overall, I really enjoyed reading this first book of the Scarlet Revolution series. If you were a fan of the original book, then you definitely have to give this reimagining a try.
Have you read this book already? If so what were you thoughts? If not, will you pick it up?
Please let me know in the comments below!
I read this last year as I’ve always loved the story of the Scarlet Pimpernel. I felt a bit let down by most of the characters as to me, they all felt a bit flat and I didn’t really feel a connection to any of them. I think the next book is out now but haven’t decided if I will read it or not yet.