This was an enjoyable romp of a book, but the vampire element seemed a bit shoe-horned in for me. I thought Eleanor was a good protagonist, giving us insight into the world of aristocracy without being a part of it herself. I thought the League of the Scarlet Pimpernel characters all felt a little bit too interchangeable and the relationship between Charles and Eleanor felt forced. The plot itself was compelling and the book has done a great job to set up the remaining books in the series, which I will be picking up. I just was hoping for a bit more from this first installment.
I received a free copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for a fair and honest review.

Thank you NetGalley for an e-arc of this book. I wanted to read this because of the interesting synopsis. Unfortunately, this was not for me due to the historical retelling aspect, but I enjoyed the fantastical aspects. I still highly recommend this if you like vampires and historical fantasy.

The Scarlet Pimpernel in an alternate French-Revolution-period, vampire-featuring world, how could I resist!

The Scarlet Pimpernel has been a TV adaptation favourite of mine, ever since I saw the version with Richard E. Grant, but then fell in love with the Anthony Andrews 1982 version much later and the verbal sparring between the foppish Sir Percy and Chauvelin - played to perfection by Ian McKellen

"Chauvelin: I take it, sir, that you do not approve of our new society.
Sir Percy: Approval, sir, in my opinion, demands the attainment of perfection. And in that sense, you rather overrate the charms of your society. I'faith, for one thing, it does seem monstrous ill-dressed for any society, even a new one."

Then I recently read the first two books in the Invisible Library by Genevieve Cogman and became hooked, so a melding of the alternate worlds and one of my favourite period dramas was a must-read for me.

Scarlet features the wit and derring-do I've come to associate with the Scarlet Pimpernel, at first the vampires seemed pretty random, but I found it interesting that they tended to be the aristos, literally bleeding the serving classes dry, though that theme wasn't explored very much, and how intentional that theme was, it wasn't clear. I think having read the Invisible Library series gave me a bit more context for this alternate world that someone going into Scarlet cold, I just took it as a given that vampires were around because this was one of the worlds where they existed, rather than because they served a specific narrative purpose.

It is a fast-paced quick read, entertaining, though not terribly deep in terms of character-development. The world itself though felt vivid, and I suspect the depth will come in subsequent books in the series. I would recommend reading at least the first Invisible Library book for a bit of context, though Scarlet is not directly related at all, it helps to read it from that perspective.

When I saw this book coming I knew I would have to read it, having loved Cogman's Invisible Library alternate universe novels. And indeed in Eleanor we have a similar quiet seeming but really kickass heroine to Irene. But there's much more to Scarlet than that. I was also taken by the premise, and wondered how Cogman would tackle it. The book features the characters, and setting, of Baroness Orczy's Scarlet Pimpernel series (the first part of which was published in 1905) - an English nobleman and his friends acting anonymously to rescue French aristocrats from the Terror during the Revolution.

A secret hero is always an excellent premise, but I did wonder if the Pimpernel wasn't, well, just too dated. Sensibilities change over time and the Revolution is an interesting barometer of that. Like, I suspect, many, my knowledge of the earlier books is limited to the "They seek him here, they seek him there" couplet and the Carry On parody. (Is there a proper literary term for works better known from derivatives and parodies than from the original text?) In part I suspect that's because to modern eyes, the whole "rescuing nobility" thing just doesn't seem interesting, or particularly laudable. Liberty, Equality and Fraternity seem much more engaging, as Les Miserables has shown, and despite the excesses of the Terror, I find it much more objectionable that the French population was downtrodden and starved to the point that they felt a revolution might help them than that a few bigwigs lost their lives in that revolution.

Cogman is clearly well engaged with the contradictions here. Eleanor, a humble serving maid, is added to the aristocratic clique of The League of the Scarlet Pimpernel, indeed she's a vital part of it. She may begin the book a "lowly maid" but she is fully the equal of her co-conspirators in courage, determination, resourcefulness and intelligence, and she also brings a well articulated social critique to the tale. One of the fascinating aspects of this book - and one that's very well done - is Eleanor's internal debate responding to the attitudes of those around her. She's been recruited by the League to assist in reaching Marie Antoinette and her children, as she bears an uncanny resemblance the "Austrian Woman". But Eleanor is very conscious of the downside of Regency Britain - and of France under the rule of the Kings - and she constantly weighs her sense that, no, no it isn't right to execute a mother and her personal loyalty to her aristocratic friends with her knowledge that the French people had been treated unbearably.

The interplay of personal relationships and political strands make this a book with philosophical as well as adventurous themes, and Eleanor's uncertain place in society (she was basically enlisted to a dangerous mission with no alternative given) gives it real emotional point. Succeed or fail, the aristocrats of the League have agency and will be celebrated, Eleanor faces an uncertain future even if she survives and at the worst, she may end up dead ion some dark cellar. Actually, that's not the worst because Cogman wanders from the merely historical to add a vampiric strand to the peril here. Besides being a neat encapsulation of the overmighty aristocrats (described as "sanguinocrats" by the Revolutionaries) the vampires add a genuinely disturbing strand to the tapestry of this story. It's one that will I suspect be further explored in sequels, because there seems to be some hidden backstory to the vampires that will surely come back and, er, bite our brave heroine.

Or at least, they may try, but I suspect that Eleanor is up to the challenge. She's already coping here not only with the assumptions of her time - know your place and grateful to your master, but with the currents of Revolutionary France, and coming out pretty much on top.
I look forward to seeing where Cogman takes this story next.

Please see my post for review.

Blog tour - http://ramblingmads.uk/2023/05/15/blog-tour-scarlet-genevieve-cogman/

I’ve always wanted to try Genevieve Cogman’s Invisible Library series but haven’t gotten around to it, so when I heard this would be the first in an all new trilogy I jumped at the chance to read it. A reimagining of the Scarlet Pimpernel, the story follows Eleanor, a young maid who happens to look a whole lot like Marie Antoinette. Tasked with assisting the League to rescue Marie Antoinette and her children, Eleanor embarks on a daring adventure in revolutionary France. But with the aristocrats and vampires being sent to the guillotine, will Eleanor be able to complete her mission and survive unscathed?

Scarlet is such a fun and entertaining read. I must admit I know virtually nothing about the Scarlet Pimpernel, but that didn’t stop me from being completely captivated by this story. Fast paced and full of action, this is such a clever and well executed story. I loved the idea of ‘the French Revolution with vampires’ and Cogman did a brilliant job of weaving the vampires into the story. They weren’t present as much as I expected them to be, so I am intrigued to see if vampires will feature more heavily in the subsequent books. Cogman also really brings the sights and sounds of Revolutionary France to life and I loved the vivid descriptions of Paris.

Eleanor is a really interesting main protagonist. She wants to do what’s right and help people, but also can’t help agreeing with some of the revolutionary ideas. I was really fascinated by the way Eleanor grappled with being part of the League but also not being an aristocrat. The other characters felt well developed and I enjoyed seeing how Eleanor’s relationships with the other League members changed as she became more involved with their adventure. Scarlet is a gripping story, full of adventure and mayhem. Cogman has created a really fantastic opening to the series and I cannot wait to see where the characters will go in books two and three.

This seemed a wonderful premise – a retelling of the Scarlet Pimpernel story set around the French Revolution, with the addition of vampires into the mix. But I’ve read plenty of marvellous-sounding ideas for books that simply haven’t fulfilled their promise. So I was delighted when this one absolutely nailed it.

I liked Eleanor. Cogman writes intelligent, ambitious young women who have a sense of their own worth really well. While Eleanor doesn’t have the assurance of Irene – she knows she doesn’t want to be stuck in the kitchens all her life and is determined to make it to the post of a lady’s maid where her needleworking skills can come to the fore. So she avoids amorous young men – though it was something of a shock to discover that might not be sufficient to keep her from being married off, if her family and employer decide that’s the best course for her.

And then she crosses paths with the Blakeneys – and everything changes. While I’m aware the prose style isn’t to everyone’s taste and the pacing is initially a tad leisurely – this never bothered me. I read The Scarlet Pimpernel back when Noah was knee-high to a hen and also burned through a number of 19th century books as a young woman, so I felt very at home with Cogman’s writing style, which is a nod in that direction. But once in France and in the middle of a plan that always required a great deal of luck to achieve – this story really picked up such that I just kept turning the pages.

I loved the twists and turns. Poor Eleanor is subjected to all sorts of unexpected adventures she never signed up for and I particularly enjoyed the inclusion of the vampires, which I thought was very well done. I read waaay into the night, unable to put this one down and was still buzzing when it finished – which is always a sign of a cracking read. I’m now very much looking forward to the next book in this series. Highly recommended for fans of historical fiction with a supernatural twist. Do be warned – a lot of books in this sub-genre heavily feature the romance and while there is a slow-burn hint of something here, this offering is far more about the adventure and action. I mention it not as a criticism, but so readers looking for something else aren’t disappointed. While I obtained an arc of Scarlet from the publishers via Netgalley, the opinions I have expressed are unbiased and my own.
10/10

Genevieve Cogman is an auto-read author for me and Scarlet did not disappoint. Cogman’s plots and characters are so engaging and I cannot wait for the next instalment. In the meantime I’ll be re-reading The Invisible Library series!

An easy five stars! This has less mayhem and magic than the Invisible library series, however I think I prefer the vampire and magic context of this story. I’m hoping there will be more vampire/ Aristocracy (sanguinocracy) to come. Many thanks to Netgalley for an arc of this book.

"Sink Me!" I've read the original "Scarlet Pimpernel" a couple of times & love the on-screen versions too (L Howard/A Andrews/RE Grant); I also love Genevieve Cogman's "Invisible Library" series! Her "Scarlet" is faithful enough to the original, for anyone who only has a vague idea of the story & vampires & spirits do add another dimension. However, I'm not sure that these additions add anything to the original story or that I'm that interested in finding out what happens in any sequels. Sorry.

‘France, 1793. Revolutionaries want blood. But vampires bite back.” - cover tag line.

My thanks to Pan Macmillan Tor for an eARC via NetGalley of ‘Scarlet’ by Genevieve Cogman.

This is the first book in Cogman’s The Scarlet Revolution series that is a reimagining of Baroness Orczy’s tales of the Scarlet Pimpernel enhanced to include magic and vampires.

The League of the Scarlet Pimpernel are engaged in rescuing French aristocrats, including the vampire ones, who are facing the guillotine,.

Eleanor is a maid employed by Sophie, the Vampire Baroness of Basing. When she serves drinks to the Baroness’ guests, Sir Percy Blakeney and his wife Lady Marguerite Blakeney, they are struck by her resemblance to Queen Marie Antoinette. They recruit her to assist them and the League of the Scarlet Pimpernel in a daring rescue of the surviving French royal family.

Eleanor has no experience of the world or of impersonating royalty though with the assistance of League members she is prepared for the role before they embark in disguise to the Continent. No further details to avoid spoilers.

Genevieve Cogman opens with a few historical notes on the French Revolution and a very useful Dramatis Personae.

In her Acknowledgements Cogman writes: “at seven or eight years old, I loved Leslie Howard in the film version of The Scarlet Pimpernel – no, I wanted to be the Scarlet Pimpernel.” That youthful enthusiasm was later tempered with questions about what underlying social issues had led to the Revolution. The result in the form of ‘Scarlet’ is a playful romp with vampires that is informed by a more serious stance on the politics of the era.

On a side note, the cover art for this novel was very striking and drew my eye immediately.

Overall, I found ‘Scarlet’ a fast paced historical fantasy adventure told against the backdrop of the French Revolution. I enjoyed it very much and definitely will be reading further books in the series.

4.5 stars rounded up to 5.

Anyone that knows me or has been following my reviews for a while, knows I LOVE Genevieve Cogman and her Invisible Library series. It’s one of my absolute favourite series and while I was devastated that it had to come to an end, Scarlet was ready and waiting to comfort me!

Scarlet has everything I love about Cogman’s writing. It’s got rich world building, an atmospheric narrative and interesting characters that are capable of holding their own. Not to mention that it’s imaginative, bringing vampires and fantasy elements to the French Revolution.

Oh, and a vengeful ghost!

To give the general gist: this is a reimagining of the Scarlet Pimpernel as a league whose sole purpose is to rescue aristocrats from the Revolution in France. Of course, said aristocrats are largely vampires, all of whom are out and proud to society as a whole. Our MC Eleanor just so happens to bear a striking resemblance to someone and so she finds herself caught up with the League and their latest mission: rescue Marie Antoinette.

The writing is rich, and honestly? A lot of the things mentioned in this book regarding the Revolution and why it happened really rang true with the world today.

Despite the Revolution, politics, high-stakes mission and odd guillotining, this was a really fun read and I love how Cogman builds the world up around you so that you can easily slip into it! Vampires were smoothly and plausibly slotted in with hints to their deeper role in history, along with a historically accurate and just generally accurate word for them and I really did sit there and think “huh, points were made because they WERE kinda like vampires”.

I haven’t read the Scarlet Pimpernel and my knowledge is very limited but that didn’t take away from my enjoyment of the book! The prologue draws you in and intrigue keeps you hooked as you try to figure out who Eleanor looks like, how they’re going to rescue their chosen target and the general mission of getting to Paris and staging a prison break.

Eleanor is a great character, she’s strong, smart and ballsy and I enjoyed our side characters as well, particularly Percy! I did want to smack Charles more than once though, I’ll be honest.

Mystery and intrigue abounds, we get an interesting look at Paris and there’s a few threads woven for the next book given the vengeful ghost currently occupying Eleanor’s body along with her!

Did I mention said ghost is a sorcerer and there’s a deep enmity between them and the vampires? And that the ghost can channel its powers through Eleanor?

The next book is definitely going to be interesting and I’m looking forward to having the world and characters expanded upon!

Unfortunately I didn't enjoy this book as much as I'd hoped and it was a did not finish at 40%. Thank you to the publisher and to NetGalley for the digital ARC, it has not affected my honest review.

I’ve had Genevieve Cogman on my TBR for years and haven’t been able to get my hands on a copy of her The Invisible Library series. So when an opportunity to read her new book came along, a The Scarlet Pimpernel retelling with vampires, I couldn’t say no!

Scarlet is the type of book that was either going to be amazing or fail miserably, and thankfully it’s as brilliant as it sounds. It follows the story of Eleanor, a young servant in a vampire’s household. One day she’s given the opportunity to serve drinks to her mistress’ guests. It should be just another day in the life of a maid, but what Eleanor doesn’t know is that her life is about to change forever. The guests are in fact Sir Percy Blakeney and his wife Lady Marguerite Blakeney, and they need Eleanor to help them save vampires in facing the guillotine in France.

Whisked away to the Blakeney’s estate, Eleanor finds herself in a very different world to the one she’s known before. She learns new skills, and is treated like an equal rather than a servant. All she has to do is help the Blakeney’s and their friends with a mission to France, a mission only she can help with because she looks like a noble woman they want to save. Once they’re sure of Eleanor’s commitment to their cause they reveal to her that it isn’t a noble woman that she resembles, it’s the Queen of France – the infamous Marie Antoinette. Despite the danger Eleanor’s resolve doesn’t waver; it’s not just the Queen that’s at risk, it’s her two children. If Eleanor can help save lives then she’s going to do everything she can to help.

In Scarlet Cogman showcases her skills as an established writer by deftly combining the supernatural with historical events, while being sensitive to the unrest that fuelled The French Revolution. As Eleanor learns all about what is happening in France, first from her tutor Charles and later first hand in Paris so do we. Cogman does well to avoid information dumping, weaving the information into interesting scenes that show character growth. I learned far more about The French Revolution reading this book than I ever did whilst reading a history book, and with the wide variety of characters it was an unbiased view. Normally The Scarlet Pimpernel is very biased towards nobility but with a former maid as the main character we’re offered a much-needed fresh perspective.

Fast-paced with adventure at every turn, Scarlet is an enjoyable read with charming characters. Despite the pace of the book Eleanor’s journey from a simple maid to a spy did not feel unrealistic, and she grew well into her new position by the end of the book. I absolutely loved Lady Blakeney and hope we see more of her in the next one.

I’m not quite sure why this wasn’t a five-star read for me. When rating a book I question how the book made me feel in comparison to other books I’ve rated five stars, and there was just something missing with Scarlet that didn’t quite compare. I think it might just be that this was book one and while it was great to witness Eleanor’s growth we’re left at the end of the book on the precipice of what could be. I’m interested in seeing what happens next now that Eleanor is in a very different position than what she was at the start of the book. That isn’t a complaint about Scarlet, or Cogman’s writing; we needed to see Eleanor’s journey, we needed to be there with her on it and the next book is going to be all the better for it. The scene is set for book two, and I can’t wait to see what’s install for Eleanor and her friends next!

A promising start to a new historical fantasy series. 3.5/5 stars.

I’m a fan of Genevieve Cogman’s Invisible Library series and was sad when it came to an end back in 2021 with The Untold Story. So when I was saw that she was starting a new series, I jumped at the chance of requesting Scarlet, without really caring what it was about!

Scarlet is an interesting historical-fantasy mash-up, with the story being set in the immediate aftermath of the French Revolution but with added vampires and some (so-far not entirely explained) magical shennanigans.

France in the turbulent period at the end of the 18th century is a brilliant choice of setting with the all-pervasive paranoia and hardship of daily life adding to our characters’ dramas. While all the descriptions are good, I thought the Paris of the period was described particularly well.

The combination of the undercover intrigues of the Scarlet Pimpernel, engineering what is basically a beyond high stakes heist, with vampires and magic make for a narrative full of surprises. We root for the main character, Eleanor, and are pleased when she manages to escape all the trials thrown her way. There is only a hint of romance at this point, and I’ll be interested to see how that is developed as the series progresses.

The only downside for me was that sometimes I felt the narrative was treading water and I didn’t feel as gripped as I’d hoped to be. However, I imagine this is because Scarlet, as the first book in a series, is setting up lots of things that will become important later.

Overall: This is a great start to a new series and I look forward to the next installment. If you like the idea of a historical heist story peppered with vampires, Scarlet is for you!

In an alternate world from our own where we return to the time of the 18th century, vampires are beings that are not only acknowledged but universally accepted by society.

Eleanor is an English maid with aspirations of a better life. When she is discovered to bear a distinctly strong resemblance to Queen Marie Antoinette, Eleanor soon finds herself being swept up in the world of deceit and espionage within the very heart of Revolutionary France.

A reinterpretation of the famous Scarlet Pimpernel and his feats, Cogman has managed to take the idea of the iconic tale and flip it into a completely fresh and thrilling novel.

A vivid, rip-roaring immersive experience, the reader can expect plenty of action and adventure with a clear respect for the historical context.

Eleanor thrives as the heroine of this novel. She is likeable and well-developed, and I truly enjoyed following her on her journey.

Captivating and suspenseful, I am utterly intrigued to see how this story will continue for Eleanor as this is just the beginning in the series!

I found Scarlet by Genevieve Cogman to be an amazing read, it’s a historical fantasy that mixes vampires and the French Revolution, as you can guess as soon as I read the synopsis I knew this was a book for me and I was proven to be more than right.

With fabulous and vivid world building, magic, vampires, mystery and even a romantic subplot, this was more than even I had hoped for. Scarlet is a retelling of The Scarlet Pimpernel. Eleanor, a maid who bares a close resemblance to the Queen of France, gets caught up in a plot to rescue French aristocrats and vampires from the revolution and I admit a certain delight with references and parallels to capitalism.

Eleanor, is such a an intelligent , witty and resourceful character, as a servant she's independent and thoroughly capable, at the beginning she can seem a little naive, but she has some definite growth as the story progresses. My minor criticism I think mainly as an British reader, is that some of the English characters do read a bit like stereotypical caricatures, but I get the feeling because we don’t focus on these quite so much that the author didn’t flesh these out as much yet and hopefully that will change in future books, if and when we get to know them more.

I particularly enjoyed the placing of the vampires as the aristocracy of France and England the imagery of parasites I particularly enjoy, especially with the corruption that led to the French Revolution being a parallel of the corruption happening in certain parts of the world now, it’s so well done and makes you understand more the rage against the aristocracy and why the executions happened. I absolutely loved the fact it doesn’t end on a cliffhanger, because I’m an impatient reader and it drives me mad waiting for the next, but that doesn’t mean there aren’t plenty of unanswered questions.

This is a strong start to the series, I can’t wait to see where this goes, especially the focus on the aristocracy, wealth and their treatment of the working classes, I’m more than here for those discussions. I am looking forward to the future books very much and wholeheartedly recommend that you read this to get as involved and addicted as me.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

Eleanor, maid to Lady Sophia, spends most of her time below stairs. One day she is asked to serve refreshments for visitors, Lord & Lady Blakeney, who immediately show surprise upon seeing her. She is sent to their home in London ostensibly to do some needlework, but is told upon arrival about the situation in France. The Revolution is in full swing, & the aristocracy (many of whom are vampires) are facing execution by guillotine. There is, however, the League of the Scarlet Pimpernel, a small group of people who risk their lives to save as many as possible. Eleanor's physical resemblance to a French aristocrat is remarkable, & the League ask her if she would be willing to help save a family in distress. Eleanor agrees & heads to France with the group, but things quickly go wrong, & Eleanor finds herself in grave peril.

Here we go - the French Revolution with vampires! It was a little slow to get going & I almost lost interest, but keeping going was rewarded with a much better second half. Eleanor was a good main character for the most part, & the evolution of her views about her place in society & the dawning of the idea that vampires (whom she had been raised to think of as essentially benevolent) could be violent killers behind closed doors was interesting to see. Also its parallels with exploitation of the poor. I liked the fact that Sir Percy Blakeney seemed to be a morally grey character - yes he helps people escape the guillotine, but many of these are vampires who may not have the best interests of humans at heart. Is he idealistic, naïve, or is there more at play here? There was a small romantic aspect between Eleanor & one of the other characters but it wasn't a major plot point & didn't really detract from the story. Overall, I liked it & would be interested in reading the sequel(s). Verdict: the most audacious take on The Scarlet Pimpernel since Carry On Don't Lose Your Head.

My thanks to NetGalley & publishers, Pan Macmillan/Tor, for the opportunity to read an ARC.

The French Revolution plus Vampires..!? It's the mash up, I never knew I needed! Genevieve Cogman has revisited history, explored all the nitty, gritty parts and penned such a unique take, on such a famous tale.

Thrilling, action packed and full of likeable characters you can get behind and root for, Scarlet will have you on the edge of your seat as she casts Marie Antoinette in a whole new light - bloody hell, was it fun! A brilliant start to what I expect will be a fantastic series. ☠️🇫🇷

Paris, 1789, the French Revolution has begun. In this unusual book, blood is spilt, but in a very different way!! We have Sir Percy Blakeney, AKA The Scarlet Pimpernel, his arch enemy, Citizen Chauvelin, and just for good measure, Aristocrats, who happen to be Vampires!
Eleanor works for Lady Sophie, you could say they are United by blood. Eleanor is loaned out to the household of Sir Percy, as she bears a stunning resemblance to a French Aristocrat who is in great danger, along with her children. The plan is to cross the channel to Paris, and free this lady and her children from Madame Guillotine, as simple as that!!
I loved the character of Eleanor, she is very practical and a down to earth protagonist, when she is amongst the landed gentry, she appears to have the best brains and ideas of them all.
When Eleanor has problems with a Vampiric Count, who traps her in a cellar, she is saved by a book, literally! A spirit is trapped within the pages of this novel, confined there decades ago by vampires, and Anima, the trapped spirit, takes the chance to rescue Eleanor from her captivity, in order for both to make further progress. The spirit looks at the world through Eleanor’s eyes, and has a vested interest in keeping ,them both safe, an interesting concept that will probably be developed further in this intended trilogy. Anger is the key to gaining power for the voice.
A fantastic read, once you get past the weirdness of having vampires around, the chase amongst the underground pipes is quite breathtaking! There is much to admire, the adventure and sheer fun in this novel, the variety of characters and escapades are lovely. A brilliant fantasy, unusual but very good.
I did guess the events well before the end, apart from the mad dash through underground channels, and I am intrigued about how the second book will play out.
My thanks to Netgalley and the publishers Pan MacMillan for my advance digital copy, freely given in exchange for my honest review.
I will leave reviews to Goodreads and Amazon UK.