This one is a library new book find and I picked it up because I am apparently unable to pass up an interesting looking book sitting on a shelf. Also, I've read some of Cogman's other books and enjoyed them so it was too tempting to pass up.
As a Brit Lit teacher, I frequently touch on the French revolution in teaching my class. It's a very interesting patch of history. The entire social order just flipped on it's head. It was chaotic, violent, yet oddly inspiring and strangely relevant to current political events. Someday I may even teach A Tale of Two Cities and really dive in.
In any case, Scarlet is set during the French revolution and is a retelling of the Scarlet Pimpernel which I've never actually read. However in this version, it's a French revolution in a world where much of the European aristocracy are actually vampires. It's true of the English aristocracy too apparently, although it would appear that the English aristocracy is a little bit better behaved. The main character, Eleanor, starts out as a maid in the household of an English vampire. She's treated fairly and the occasional blood donation is just part of the job. Her big ambition is to move from household staff to lady's maid.
Unfortunately for Eleanor, she looks just like Marie Antoinette.
The Scarlet Pimpernel is determined to rescue the French royalty and Eleanor is part of his plot.
This was a fun read and I have every intention of reading the rest of the series once I track them down. Eleanor is a complex character who is thrust into what amounts to a spy caper. She does it for the sake of compassion but realizes over the course of the adventure that she can do more than just be a lady's maid. While it's not any sort of deep literature, it is a worthwhile read.