Scarlet (Scarlet Revolution, #1)

by Genevieve Cogman

Revolution is a bloodthirsty business . . . especially when vampires are involved.

It is 1793 and the French Revolution is in full swing. Vampires—usually rich and aristocratic—have slaked the guillotine’s thirst in large numbers. The mysterious Scarlet Pimpernel, a disguised British noble, and his League are heroically rescuing dozens of aristocrats from execution, both human and vampire. And soon they will have an ace up their sleeve: Eleanor Dalton.

Eleanor is working as a housemaid on the estate of a vampire Baroness. Her highest aspiration is to one day become a modiste. But when the Baroness hosts a mysterious noble and his wife, they tell Eleanor she is the spitting image of a French aristocrat, and they convince her to journey to France to aid them in a daring scheme. Soon, Eleanor finds herself in Paris, swept up in magic and intrigue—and chaos—beyond her wildest dreams. But there’s more to fear than ardent Revolutionaries. For Eleanor stumbles across a centuries-old war between vampires and their fiercest enemy. And they’re out for blood. . . . 

Scarlet is the first book in a wildly engaging new series from Genevieve Cogman, which reinvents the beloved tale of the Scarlet Pimpernel.

• ISBN10: 059363828X
• ISBN13: 9780593638286
• Publish Date: 9 May 2023
• Publish Status: Active
• Publish Country: US
• Publisher: Penguin Putnam Inc
• Imprint: Ace Books
• Format: Paperback (US Trade)
• Pages: 368
• Language: English
• URL: https://penguinrandomhouse.com/books/isbn/9780593638286

Reviews

[Quirky Cat]

Book Summary:

The French Revolution is going strong. The blood of countless aristocrats flows from the guillotines. A bit ironic, given the aristocrats are often vampires. A fitting turn of events, perhaps? There's one, the Scarlet Pimpernel, who is working hard to help rescue aristocrats from this fate.

Enter Eleanor Dalton. She's a housemaid for a Baroness. To her employer, she's an unremarkable being. But she does have the fortune of having a similar enough face to another aristocrat, which puts her in the center of a new scheme.

My Review:

The Scarlet Pimpernel meets vampires?!? Where do I sign up?! But seriously, Scarlet may be a book that felt like it came out of left field, but it was a delight to read. And honestly, I've had far too many of Genevieve Cogman's books stuck in limbo on my TBR stack, so it felt good to dive right into this one.

Scarlet was such a fun and interesting read. Knowing the core material (The Scarlet Pimpernel, the French Revolution, etc.) makes this read even more interesting. Though I think most readers would understand/appreciate it, even without an extensive background in that history.

The vampire elements helped enhance and alter the story, which was probably the best part for me. Historical fiction with twists like this can be such a blast. Oh, and did I mention there's a slow-burn romance mixed into all that? It's perfect.

Highlights:
Retelling – The Scarlet Pimpernel
Historical Fiction but with Vampires

Thanks to Ace and #NetGalley for making this book available for review. All opinions expressed are my own.

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