Scarlet

Scarlet by Marissa Meyer, 2013 Feiwel & Friends

     Scarlet Benoit is worried when her grandmother goes missing: it isn't like Madame Michelle Benoit to just vanish - especially without her ID chip or a bag. Scarlet has contacted the local authorities but they are hesitant to search for someone who doesn't want to be found.
     Counter to her personal problems, Scarlet is stunned when a young cyborg girl is imprisoned in New Beijing for attempting to assassinate the Lunar Queen Levana. The girl is barely sixteen and already a felon - and Scarlet has a hard time agreeing with the citizens of Rieux when they're happy to hand Linh Cinder over for certain execution
. When Scarlet's outburst begins a brawl at the local tavern a shy street fighter stands up for her. When the young man dogs her steps Scarlet discovers Wolf isn't exactly safe, but he is certainly fascinating.
     Meanwhile Cinder escapes from prison with a little help from the Emperor's personal doctor, Dr. Erland, and an American deserter calling himself Captain. Carswell Thorne believes he's Earth's gift to women and enjoys trying to catch Cinder's eye, but when the young woman finally reveals her somewhat relationship with the new emperor Thorne limits his participation to helping her escape New Beijing and tagging along for an adventure.
     Off-planet Thorne is little more than an annoyance while Cinder tries to come to terms with her true identity and the bio-electric gift that comes with it. The only clue to how Cinder became the adopted daughter of an Asian inventor is Michelle Benoit. Between avoiding the agencies searching the globe for her and managing her lunar gift Cinder aims for France and the Benoit farm.
     Scarlet and Wolf, in turn, head to Paris to search for Scarlet's grandmother at the den of a wolf-like gang. Arriving late, Scarlet discovers the man she believed she could trust has been a leader among the ranks of the very gang holding Madame Benoit hostage.
     Cinder and Scarlet's paths meet and converge when Levana forces Kai, Emperor of New Beijing, to either marry the Lunar Queen or face global warfare. Can the two young women come to terms with their changing circumstances long enough to save Earth from the Lunar Invasion?
     Scarlet takes elements from the story of Little Red Riding Hood and incorporates the into futuristic world where cyborgs are an accepted part of life and humans have lived on the moon long enough to evolve into a separate race. This is a teen novel with some mature elements including animalistic violence.