Scarlet (Scarlet Revolution #1) by Genevieve Cogman

A fan of the author’s previous (and initial) series The Invisible Library, this reader eagerly picked up Scarlet, hastening home to immerse oneself in the author’s new imagined world.

It is book one of the new Scarlet Revolution series set in the period of the French Revolution and the Scarlet Pimpernel. The main character is a below stairs servant named Eleanor who works in the estate of a Baroness in England. Her uncanny likeness to a critical member of the Revolution sees her services (and herself) loaned indefinitely to Lord and Lady Percy Blakeney, themselves not whom they appear to be.

Set in 1793, the guillotine has been working overtime, amongst its victims Louis XVI. The Scarlet Pimpernel and his team have been working exhaustively to rescue French aristocracy, transporting them beyond the reach of the Revolutionaries. The next big plan is to rescue Marie Antoinette and her children before the guillotine finds them first.

From here the story deviates from true history (though Eleanor’s Baroness’ heritage has set the scene) into an alternative history (fantasy if you like) where vampires make up the vast majority of French aristocracy and the revolutionaries more than just on a witch hunt.

Enter a third enemy of the vampires (a device used by other fantasy authors) about which the Scarlet Pimpernel knows nothing and you have a rollicking good adventure to enjoy.

This reader was fully entertained and looking forward to the obvious sequel/s.

Reviewed by Belinda Coombs
Murder and Crime Reading Group