SCARLET, by Marissa Meyer

Title: Scarlet
Author: Marissa Meyer
Series: The Lunar Chronicles
Year: 2013

(I apologize in advance, in the end I loved the book, but this is a rant!)

Yes, this is the sequel to Cinder. I was soo looking forward to it and devoured the first half of the book. Then it got silly. As in, cheesy romantic drama silly. A relationship a little too much like Twilight developed and I just got bored of it pretty quickly and left the book for a while. It sat on my coffee table for, what, a month or two, not really sure if I wanted to keep reading, or even bother with the whole series. But last night I decided to give it another chance and, boy! I'm glad I did!


*Spoiler Alert*

I still think that Scarlet and Wolf's relationship is kinda silly and too much like Twilight in the sense of "I'm-such-a-monster-(literally)-but-your-love-has-unnaturally-changed-me". Not that love can't change you or that genetically modified aliens that resemble wolves can't fall in love, it's just that the whole circunstances are too... umm.... I AM A KILLING MACHINE BUT THE SECOND I SAW YOU I BECAME YOUR LOYAL PUPPY FOR THE REST OF ETERNITY. And my species is monogomous.

It's too rush and definite. I believe in love at first sight, but this is a bit too much. Now, having said that... that's exactly the kind of relationship I'd expect from Scarlet and Wolf. They are both passionate, obstinate, stubborn and rush. And Scarlet is super impulsive. Don't get me wrong, I love these characters, but I wish the author would develop Scarlet into someone with a bit more caution and wisdom. She's super kick ass, but it wouldn't hurt her to develop a tiny bit more patience.

On the other hand, Cinder has developed into the tough chick she needed to be. I looove that character development, she's grown up the spine she needed. Sure, it has happened a bit unrealistically fast, but I do think that her change in character was needed. The Cinder at the beggining of the series wouldn't have made it this far and definately wouldn't stand a chance against Levana. Furthermore, she's aware that she still lacks the physical skill and knowledge to do it, so she's set her mind to achieve that first, instead of just rushing to defeat Levana.

And that's what makes her so different from Scarlet. The minute Scarlet was given the chance, she literally pounded on the bad guys' door. Cinder, instead, decided to acquire the skills (and do her research) before facing her enemy. I really like how she and Scarlet are both kick ass but so different. Kai, Wolf and Carswell too, I love how the male characters each have very different personalities and roles within the plot. That makes them actual characters instead of just the love interest of the girls - and I've seen that happen in other books and both in male and female characters.

Also, I thought the "Evil Queen from the Moon" was a side story that would end early in the second book, but it's actually what connects the series. I admit I initially disregarded it, but when I re-read Cinder before reading Scarlet I realized it's actually the major conflict that ties all these (kick ass) girls together.

The plot is still a bit predictable and I can see the major picture coming. I can still foresee WHAT is gonna happen but its the HOW what keeps me wanting more. This is what makes me forgive that awful cheesy romantic scenes in the middle of the book. Also, very good writing, I'm looking forward to Cress, the third book in the series. Thumbs up!

Here's a cool short story prequel to Scarlet!

CINDER by Marissa Meyer

Títle: Cinder
Series: The Lunar Chronicles
Author: Marissa Meyer
Year: 2012

When I first saw this book I loved (the cover and) the idea. Cinderella is a cyborg in a futuristic world. Instead of loosing a shoe, she looses her cyborg foot. HER WHOLE FOOT. If we're taking fairy tales literally, that makes a lot more sense than the original story. Seriously! How incredibly ingenious! How could you not want to read that?

So I bought it aaaand it was great! Yes, yes, it's a teenage romance, but it really is very entertaining and it left me wanting MORE. (Thank God the sequel is already out!) Sure, it's a light read; at first I thought it was only good for times when you need to get away and relax, but it got my attention real quick. I read most of it in one sitting and I only stopped because I had to go to work. The author fits the fairy tale's elements very well into the setting (although this setting is a bit faulty, I'll get back to that later). In this new world, robots (androids) do most of the work. Cinderella, instead of having to do the chores around the house, fixes these robots for a living. She's a mechanic, and because she's a cyborg, she's the best mechanic around.

There's no fairy godmother, though. Cinder makes it clear from a start that she doesn't need one. She can be her own hero and work her own magic. (I'll have to say, though, that there is a certain old gentleman that deserves some credit, but he merely provided the weapons, not the strength of character.)

 Also, there's a side story that develops quite well. Lunars are the Moon's population, evolved from a human colony centuries ago. Their dictator, Queen Levana, wants to ensure control of Earth by (brainwashing and) marrying one of Earth's princes. The author makes it quite clear that this whole business will connect Cinder's story to the sequels: Scarlet (Little Red Riding Hood), Cress (My guess is Rapunzel) and Winter (Snow White?).

The side story also generates a conflict that gives the choices Cinder must make a lot more importance. Going to the ball suddenly is a matter of life and death, not just a night out partying. That gives the whole business a thrill I hadn't felt in a book in a while.

On the con side, the setting could have been worked better. It's a bit lazy. What I mean is, there are some things that wouldn't work that way anymore with the kind of technology they'd have. Having to carry tablets, for instance, when they all have chips incorporated.

Also, the book's awfully predictable. Ok, ok, we all know the Cinderella story, but I'm also talking about the subplots the author slips in. You can see them coming. The fact that these connections are invisible to the characters makes me want to scream... which probably just proves this is a damn good book!

I loved it. I loved the idea, the simpleness of its narrative, the strength of its characters and how dear they have become to me. Thumbs up, absolutely!

(P.S: Lovely prequel short story found here!)

EL NOMBRE DEL VIENTO de Patrick Rothfuss

Título Original: The Name of the Wind 
Autor: Patrick Rothfuss 
País: E.E.U.U. 
Año: 2007

                                por Alex Lagos Padilla

El Nombre del Viento, como su título señala, es un susurro en la noche, una voz que describe los sueños de un bardo, los temores de un ladrón, la arrogancia de un mago y el coraje, de este.  Aquel que durmió con la muerte y regresó para contarlo, aquel que derrumbó imperios y dominó artes oscuras antes que siquiera fuera un hombre, quien a veces sería un salvador enviado por los cielos y otras un terrible asesino.  Es la historia de Kvothe el Sin-Sangre, Kvothe el Arcano, Kvothe el Asesino de Reyes, o como él prefiere, simplemente Kvothe.

 
Uno de los libros más atrapantes que he leído, enmarañado en una autobiografía narrada por una leyenda supuestamente muerta.  Una historia gentil y violenta, equilibrándose entre la alegría y la tristeza, el drama y la acción, una gran picardía que oculta un alma desesperada y herida.  Pues esto es Kvothe y mucho más.

Pero no haría justicia a este libro si tan solo alabara a su protagonista, pues mucha de su belleza radica en el mundo en que él desempeña su papel, un escenario complejo y maravilloso.  Tierras inexploradas ocultan  historias de reyes dementes, tribus monásticas que danzan como el viento, ciudades oscuras en donde solo las ratas y la escoria sobreviven, templos antiguos en donde criaturas fata, seres mágicos, merodean para jugar con los simples mortales. Bosques en  donde dragones devoran árboles y caminos transitados por dioses y demonios ocultos en piel de hombres

Así es como Patrick Rothfuss nos expone una trama compleja y sinuosa ocultándose en la aparente simpleza, otorgándonos personajes que serán amados y odiados, admirados e ignorados por igual. Pues Kvothe no suele estar solo por mucho tiempo, siendo así como este mundo fantástico se inunda con hechiceros dementes, sacerdotes corruptos y otros bondadosos, compañeros entrañables, amores increíbles y enemigos inesperados.  Una maraña de naturalezas se conjuga y brota en armonía, una tarea admirable de Rothfuss, pues la gama de personalidades es comparable con los escenarios y acontecimientos de esta obra. 

Para concluir, El Nombre del Viento, y su secuela, El Temor de un Hombre Sabio, son unos de aquellos libros que trascienden el tiempo y el espacio y por unos instantes nos hacen viajar y amar, añorar y odiar, todo esto en una leyenda capaz de quitar el aliento al más escéptico y derramar una lagrima de satisfacción en su culminación.  En pocas palabras, una obra increíble compañero para cualquier amante de las letras, y un recorrido apasionante para todos los demás.

Para considerar:

- El Temor de un Hombre Sabio, de Patrick Rothfuss.