This series is simply amazing. Each story is loosely based on a fairy tale character. In book one Cinder, is modeled slightly after the Cinderella fairytale. Then, book two Scarlet is roughly based on Little Red Riding Hood. In the beginning, the reader is introduced to this new character, Scarlet. We get to know a little about her story and quickly realize she's searching for her Grandmother, who has unexpectedly and uncharacteristically disappeared. My first impressions of this story was well, how is the author going to integrate Cinder's story with Scarlet's? In fact, I almost feared the worst, that Cinder maybe wouldn't even be present in this story. I was wrong! Scarlet is a fast paced novel, thrilling and written with plenty of action and adventure. I classify it as a fairly tale retelling on steroids. Told in a third person narrative this story has multiple character point of views. The main focus is on our newest heroine, Scarlet. 
 Scarlet is a hoodie-doning strong willed young lady. When we first come across her she's in the midst of searching for her grandmother. We immediately see her spirit and vigor as she loses her patience with the police who have decided to give up the search. As the story progresses, we find Scarlet will stop at nothing to uncover what happened to her grandmother. Even if it means teaming up with a dangerous boy called Wolf. 
 Wolf is a fierce fighter. He has a strange tattoo on his arm signifying his old alliance to a gang of kids who act like pack wolves. When Scarlet meets him, he's trying to separate himself from his pack. He spends time fighting others to earn his keep. Scarlet isn't sure he's trustworthy. I was suspicious, too, not sure if he was being genuine and totally upfront, either. 
 Kai, the prince from Cinder, remains in this story, but much more as a background character in this installment. He struggles with trying to rule the empire, especially with Queen Lavanna wreaking all kinds of havoc for him and his country. He's unsure of what to do. Lind Cinder is still weighs on his mind, trying to sort out his feelings for her has him perplexed. 
 Cinder is present in at least half of this book. She's struggling with how to deal with the knowledge revealed in the first book, that she is the lost Princess Selene. She despises using her new found powers, but in many circumstances she's forced to. Cinder has a good heart and longs to do what is best for her people. First though, she must find some answers. Most of the story she's on a quest with another new character Thorne. 
 Thorne is a prisoner who escapes along side of Cinder. At first glance, he seems to be more trouble that he's worth. Quickly, Cinder wins him over and he realizes just what an amazing girl she is and also how valuable. They work together to get Cinder's android functional again. Then use the android to control Thorne's ship which enable them to travel about. 
 Scarlet is a complete and different story than Cinder. Its full of a completely different set of problems and new characters, too. I love how Cinder and Scarlet's stories slowly meld together as one. The author also does an impressive job creating a wolf society with mind control and integrating this into the story line. I enjoyed how action packed this was and how we slowly were doled out the missing pieces to the puzzle. Many twists and turns make this story difficult to put down. In the end, this one comes to a restful conclusion. It sets up the next story nicely with another set of objectives for our heroines to go after. I can't wait to start Cress. I hear its even better then Scarlet, which at this moment seems farfetched and unfathomable. This series is just gathering steam and momentum as it quickly rushes to the conclusion with Winter. I can't wait to see where this goes...its certainly an amazing ride.