Scarlet: The Sunday Times bestselling historical romp and vampire-themed retelling of the Scarlet Pimpernel (Scarlet Revolution, #1)

by Genevieve Cogman

Revolution's a bloodthirsty business . . . Scarlet is a thrilling reinvention of the tale of The Scarlet Pimpernel with the addition of magic and even more mayhem.

Revolutionary France is no place to be, especially for aristocrat vampires facing the guillotine. But the League of the Scarlet Pimpernel are determined to rescue them. And they have an ace up their sleeve: Eleanor, a lowly maid from an English estate with a striking resemblance to French royalty.

For Eleanor, the League and their legendary deeds are little more than rumour – until she’s drawn into their most dangerous plot yet. The mission? Travel to France in disguise, impersonate Queen Marie Antoinette and rescue the royal family. If they succeed, it’ll be the heist of the century.

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 the Scarlet Revolution trilogy, set during the turbulent French Revolution, and featuring all of Genevieve Cogman’s trademark wit and fast-paced plotting. It’s perfect for fans of The Invisible Library series, Kim Newman and Gail Carriger.

‘I absolutely loved this’ – N. K. Jemisin on The Invisible Library

• ISBN10: 1529083729
• ISBN13: 9781529083729
• Publish Date: 11 May 2023 (first published 9 May 2023)
• Publish Status: Active
• Publish Country: GB
• Publisher: Pan Macmillan
• Imprint: Tor
• Edition: Goldsboro Exclusive
• Format: Hardcover
• Pages: 320
• Language: English
• Special: Numbered Signed Sprayed Edges

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.

You Can Also Find Me On:
Quirky Cat's Fat Stacks | Quirky Cat's Comics | The Book Review Crew | Monkeys Fighting Robots | Storygraph | Bookhype | Bookstagram | Twitter | Tumblr | Reedsy