A brilliant follow up to Scarlet. We return to the adventures of the Scarlet Pimpernel, set in an alternate world where vampires live amongst the nobility. It was refreshing to see this world from Eleanor's viewpoint, a maid servant in the household of Sir Percy Blakeney, and secret member of the League, and her slow disenchantment with her status in society. The adventure itself was alot of fun in the spirit of Sir Percy although I think it would have always been better with more of him in it! Some great twists and turns and I can't wait for the next one!

Thank you Tor, Pan MacMillan and NetGalley for the arc of Elusive by Genevieve Colman in exchange for my honest and unbiased review.

Elusive follows on very soon after the events of Scarlet, the first book in the series and continues to be told from the perspective of Eleanor, housemaid to Sir Percy Blakeney, who also just happens to be the Scarlet Pimpernel. Eleanor is of course now a fully fledged member of his league of secret agents who continue to do their bit amidst the French Revolution, and unknowingly to her confederates, Eleanor is now semi- possessed by the spirit of an ancient mage - Anima, who aided her with magic at the end of Scarlet.

The second book focuses on Eleanor, who has most definitely changed and continues to develop, mature and expand her political and societal awareness, and of course knowledge and experience after all she has been through already. Alongside this, Eleanor is once again plunged into a world of plots, politics and power, as the unknown and mysterious Prince of Paris emerges and the adventures recommence.

Book two does initially start with a slower more reflective pace but, this soon ratchets up amidst prison breaks, vampire parties and heinous plots. And then there is the mystery of Eleanor’s ancient mage, Amina and of course the magic she introduces Eleanor to. I’m sorry, I’d love to talk you more but, spoilers…you’ll just have to pick the series up, and yes you need to read Scarlet first!

All in all Elusive is a well paced and plotted second book that builds upon the foundations of Scarlet. If you love historical set fantasy, the French Revolution and vampires, you’ll live Elusive!

An excellent continuation in the Scarlet Revolution trilogy as Eleanor’s assistance and ingenuity is once again required in the service of The Scarlet Pimpernel. In true Cogman-style, Elusive is jam-packed with action, plotting, escapades, vampires, magic and secret side-plots and all with a strong female lead. It also comes with a very handy cast list.
I cannot wait for the final part.

I didn't like the second book in the Scarlet Revolution series. The book suffers from Middle Book Syndrome, in my opinion. The plot dragged on because it was too much about Eleanor being in her own head and asking the same questions over and over. The second half of the novel picks up the pace a bit, but by that point I was tired of reading "What would Sir Percy do?" or "If only Sir Percy was here," as well as reading about Eleanor getting into trouble just to prove her point.

I hope the final novel in the trilogy shows us a strong Eleanor who knows who she is and what she is worth and who doesn't need to prove herself over and over.

2.5 stars rounded up to 3

I read an eARC of this book so thank you to the author, publisher and NetGalley.

A fantastic second book in this series. We really see Eleanor start to come into her own and mature. She starts to build confidence, to challenge what’s told to her and take more authority over her own future. It was a really strong character development from the first book.

This series mixes The French Revolution with Vampires and it works so well! There are interesting comparisons drawn between the nobility and vampires and they slot so well into the time period and society.

This is a fascinating blend of historical fiction and fantasy and it’s quite riveting! The second book was just as good as the first. We see the return of characters from the first book along with new challenges. Eleanor has greater autonomy in this book and often is leading the investigation on her own initiative.

This is definitely a series I will continue.

Loved this clever follow up to Scarlett. The revolutionary world has been fleshed out and the character development has been broardened. We just need more books now, a super series.

Decent book, pace and style similar as the last one. I didn't care too much about the plot, I didn't see why would they care to do what they did, but the mage plot line is very interesting. I am very curious to read about that and I hope next book will be focused on it.

Vampires were again very background characters. I hoped they would be more involved in this book. They are a little bit more involved, but not much.

Characters are the same as in previous book and they stay pretty much the same development wise. Eleanor develops a bit, but she gets annoying at times with frequency of pointing out how she is just a maid.

All in all, if you liked the first book, you will likely enjoy this one too.

Half way through Elusive I remembered that it was written by the author of the (much-missed) Invisible Library series and it's a hallmark to Cogman's plotting, writing and characterisation that up to now I hadn't remembered, because beyond being fiendishly clever and totally unputdownable the two series are completely different with Eleanor very much her own person and not an Irene part 2.
As an overly romantic child bookworm I adored The Scarlet Pimpernel, the romantic estrangement between him and his beautiful wife, the relentlessness of their enemies, the way Lord Percy switched from fop to genius in a second. I love Cogman's take even more, Eleanor's continuing independence and awareness that for working people things in England aren't exactly utopian, her growing resentment that her status as both female and maid mean she is always an outsider, the element of magic, of age old forces manipiulating circumstances, all enrich and enhance the original seamlessly.
Elusive is as filled with adventure, derring deeds, betrayal, subterfuge and bravery as the first in the series. Highly recommended.

I loved the sequel to Scarlet! This book really focussed on the growth of Eleanor's character and how she began to think of herself differently. It was really subtle and well-done, but at the end of the book, Eleanor was markedly different, and I really enjoyed how she began to think she deserved better than the well-meaning but patronizing treatment she frequently received. I'm really looking forward to seeing how she comes into her own power in the third book.
It's uncommon to read a book about the nobility from the perspective of a maid who, at the start of the series, truly doesn't see herself as deserving of anything else in life. This is possibly the more realistic kind of historical fantasy, and really considers the inherent inequality between Eleanor and her friends. I loved this book!

Fantastic! This was just what I hoped for in a continuation of the series. I loved that Eleanor really took centre stage and showed what a brave and resourceful character she was. Can’t wait for the next one. Many thanks to Netgalley for an arc of this book.

Whilst I'm still not a fan of the 'French revolution with vampires' concept underlying the 'Scarlet' trilogy, there's no doubt Genevieve Cogman writes a very compelling adventure story. 'Elusive' is the second novel of the set, and they should be read in order. The point of view character is Eleanor, a housemaid in the home of Percy Blakeney - the Scarlet Pimpernel - and a member of his league of secret agents. She also happens to be partially possessed by the spirit of an ancient mage, who shares some of her magical powers with Eleanor. The storyline centres on a conspiracy surrounding a mysterious character known as the Prince of Paris, and sees Eleanor once again in France getting into and out of all sorts of dramatic situations.

After a slowish beginning, the second half is a non-stop rollercoaster of eventfulness, and is hard to put down. I think I preferred this novel to 'Scarlet' - there was less time setting up and establishing concepts, and more time for the story itself. The vampire element, which seemed really pointless in the first novel, was better integrated in this one and I felt it did add something different to the story. It will be interesting to see how the concept is finally dealt with in the conclusion.

Eleanor is a sympathetic enough character but I never felt any strong liking for her, or indeed for any of the characters. They all feel a bit flat to me - perhaps because Cogman is limited by working within the confines of both history and the original 'Scarlet Pimpernel' concept. Certainly Cogman is very capable of creating really interesting and loveable characters. Despite being the heroine of two novels now, and despite all the times Eleanor privately resents people not being interested in the 'real her', I don't feel she is a fleshed out character and she has few defining characteristics apart from liking sewing. It's a shame. I find many of the other characters annoying or dull - Anima the spirit-magician and the vampiric Marie Antoinette are probably the most interesting.

The writing is easy to read as always and the pacing is good. But it lacks the humour that makes Cogman's 'Invisible Library' series such a joy to read. The constraints of the concept would always make it harder for this trilogy to succeed in the same way as that series (which is excellent and highly recommended, and should not be judged based on 'Scarlet' or 'Elusive'), but there could definitely be more of a sense of fun and the sort of humorous touches Cogman added so expertly to the 'Library' books.

I would recommend 'Elusive' to fans of fantasy adventure who read only or mainly that genre. Readers who prefer to cover a wider range of genres and therefore need to restrict themselves to only the best of each should give it a miss. There are just too many better books in this category to take reading time for this one. For any readers who like fantasy and haven't read the 'Invisible Library' series I would highly recommend that, over this trilogy.

Short version: I didn’t like Elusive as much as Scarlet. It seemed less propulsive and more prone to regurgitating its themes (or rather, Eleanor grappling with the same questions throughout, which I didn’t find great for holding tension) and I kept thinking it should get even campier and funnier but it kept on getting more earnest.

Long version is that I suspect that while Scarlet held my interest as it established the set up and limitations of Pimpernel pastiche vs original worldbuilding, and plunged our servant heroine into wild antics orchestrated by swashbuckling aristos, this book aimed to delve deeper into the issues raised while also trying to keep up with the antics, but the balance was off and impacted how enjoyable I found the story. The ponderings and conflicts seemed to repeat themselves, and antics took shape of Eleanor taking unnecessary risks to prove a point - with chaos or indifference ensuing. I seem to be in minority with this opinion so far, so impressions clearly differ - YMMV.

My thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for a chance to read an early copy,

Thank you to Pan Macmillan and NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review!

The queen of fantasy is back! Elusive by Genevieve Cogman is the sequel to Scarlet, the first book in a fantasy reimagining of The Scarlet Pimpernel. The story continues with Eleanor, who is now a member of the League of the Scarlet Pimpernel during the French Revolution. There are rival factions vying for control through their secret schemes. Eleanor must go undercover with her crew in order to discover the truth. But can Eleanor, with her limited control of magic, succeed in her mission, or will she end up being killed by vampires?

Here is an atmospheric excerpt from the Prologue:

"It wasn't yet dawn, but Portsmouth was already busy. The night trade - vampires, criminals, whores, aristocrats out late partying, and poor fellows who had no choice but to work those hours - was drawing to a close, and the business of morning had begun. The sky was pale and a thin light etched the horizon, glinting off the sea and gleaming on the brass fittings of the boats which filled Portsmouth Harbour. Carts of food creaked through the streets, on their way to supply inns and shops for the day. Beggars, many inured and deformed - or at least apparently so - crawled out from their nocturnal hiding-places, ready to call on the sympathies of workers heading to their jobs. A troop of freshly recruited (or possibly press) soldiers marched down the road to the harbour to take ship, the cadence of their boots stumbling in their newness. And in the Admiral Inn, Joseph took a jug of hot water up to his master's room so that he might shave."

Overall, Elusive is an amazing fantasy book full of vampires, books, secret missions, escapes, fights, and magical powers. One highlight of this book is the author, who wrote The Invisible Library, my favorite fantasy series. Although that series has a dear place in my heart, this trilogy has been getting better and better with each book. I enjoyed reading this book even more than I enjoyed reading the first one.

Another highlight of this book is the exciting prison-break plot, which had me on the edge of my seat in suspense. One final highlight of this book was the subplot involving the voice in Eleanor's head (trying not to be too specific to avoid spoilers). I think that Eleanor's relationship with this voice really developed during this book, and I became much more invested in it. I will definitely check out the third book in the trilogy and anything else that the author writes in the future! If you're intrigued by the excerpt above, or if you're a fan of fantasy books in general, I highly recommend that you check out this book when it comes out in May!

This is the second in the author’s new series and this one picks up the conspiracy threads from book one. I enjoyed this book more than the first which felt very much a book that was setting up the series. Eleanor is working with the Scarlet Pimpernel and his gang. Whilst it is quite hard to care too much about the odd aristocrat, the story mainly revolves around the ‘Prince of Paris’ and a potential rebellion against the National Convention in France. I enjoyed the parts with Chauvelin. The most interesting part is the battle between the mages and the vampires. Obviously, this is all nonsense but the book was good fun and I am looking forward to the next instalment. Thanks to a Netgalley for an ARC.

I had a fun time with this novel. I believe that, just based on the summary and list of Dramatis Personae, you'll understand whether or not this is the kind of novel that you'll have fun with - if you hate 'camp', if you can't find delight in the idea of Marie Antionette as a vampire, and if the concept of the consciousness of an ancient mage being entwined with our main character puts you off, then this isn't your kind of book. But if these things speak to you, then I think you'll have a delightful ride!

I honestly love the way that Cogman takes the story of the Scarlet Pimpernel and decides that vampires, mages, and magic should feature. I have only a passing familiarity with the works of Baroness Orczy, and still enjoyed this read, so I don't think that it's necessary to know much, or anything, about it to engage with Cogman's novel, but I do get the sense that there are probably plenty of nods to pre-existing Pimpernel stories that folks who are familiar with them will see and enjoy.

I also appreciate that the novel isn't just an blanket endorsement of rescuing aristocrats from the guillotine in revolutionary/post-revolutionary France. As our main character, Eleanor, continues to expand her understanding of the workings of the world around her, she starts to interrogate her own ideas of justice, the possible merits of some revolutionary ideas, and whether or not she is content to continue to live in a world of such inequality. Cogman ensures that neither Eleanor, nor the reader, are unable to see that many individuals among the vampires, human aristocrats, and revolutionary figures are all content to feast on the blood (literal and metaphorical) of the common folk, while those same common folk toil, starve, and descend into paranoia and desperation.

For what it is worth, I did not know that this was the second novel in a series when I picked it up. This is in no way the fault of the novel itself - it's very clearly stated - just an oversight on my part. I did become aware by the time I actually opened the book up, but by that point I decided I'd give it a try even though I hadn't read the first book. I wasn't completely lost, and still had a lovely reading experience, but I do believe that I would have had a better grasp of some of the characters and set up if I had. On this account, I can't really speak to how Eleanor and the other characters progress from one novel to the next, but just in the novel alone I see quite a bit of development in Eleanor as far as having the confidence to trust herself, to have her own ideas, and, more importantly, to believe in those ideas. I believe that this would probably offer a satisfying progression in her character from where she started in book 1.

It may also be because I did not read the first novel that I don't quite feel the chemistry between Eleanor and her love interest, Charles. Both are quite likeable characters, so I can't quite put my finger on why I am not overly invested in their connection, unless it's that I missed the whole foundation of their relationship as set up in the prior novel.

Besides that, I have only some nit-picks. There are a few places where the dialogue doesn't quite flow as well as it does in others and took me out of the scene - this isn't a chronic issue, so it's more of a heads up than a Warning To Others. Mostly, though, I just wish Cogman leaned a little bit further into the "campiness" of the whole premise. The places where she does are some of the most compelling bits of the novel to me - the Victims' Ball, the hot air balloon, the confrontation with the vampires in the tunnels, and everything with Marie Antionette, to name a few without any blatant spoilers.

Overall, as stated above, I found this to be a fun read with a likeable main character. I appreciate seeing her start to have opinions about the world that she previously hadn't allowed herself to have. I love watching her grow in confidence and power. I feel ambivalent about her love interest, but love when Cogman embraces the inherent absurdity of where superhero fiction (as the Scarlet Pimpernel is often considered), historical fictional, and vampire fiction overlap. It really seems that these scenes are where Cogman herself has the most fun, so I hold great hope that as the adventures of Eleanor and the League of the Scarlet Pimpernel escalate, so will the stakes and, in some ways, the foolery.

Thank you to the author and publisher for the chance to read this ARC, via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Elusive is a slick, action packed sequel. I loved it.

Superbly fun follow up to Scarlet, this continues to mesh the scarlet pimpernel, vampires and magic and I loved it. Great continuation of the story, development of the main characters, new threats and further world building make this a really enjoyable historical fantasy. It’s particularly good fun as real life revolutionaries are brought into play, the history / fantasy boundaries are thrillingly permeable. More please

“We seek him here, we seek him there,
Those Frenchies seek him everywhere.
Is he in heaven?—Is he in hell?
That demmed, elusive Pimpernel.”
A poem by Sir Percy Blakeney ~Baronet~

Elusive indeed! For not only did the Scarlet Pimpernel evade the French but he and his crew have survived into book two and continue their rascally crusade of saving lives and lying to the aristocracy and new Republic alike. And now the notorious French diplomat Charles-Maurice de Talleyrand has gone missing, and the League must find him before anyone else does.

Eleanor, former maid to a snobby vampiric (literally) aristocrat, now fully-fledged member of the League of the Scarlet Pimpernel, is finding life a bit difficult to balance. The lies of the League are fine, even the housework isn’t too bad, but Eleanor has a powerful secret. One that saved her life, but now may risk it. Because there are larger schemes at work, some that go back centuries.

Two factions of vampires fighting against each other, buried histories of magic and betrayal, mutiny on the streets of Paris, and new laws that threaten to overturn the French way of live even more than the revolution already has. Even a once-dead Queen is stalking the streets. This is a book that is flooded with drama. Hard not to be when it’s set in 1793. There’s even a touch of romance. Though Eleanor is no fool. Her chances as a “lowly maid” with a high born lad are slim to none. But heart’s are difficult to change.

I enjoyed book one, but book two jumped up a notch in action. We bolted off down the cobblestones and got very bloody along the way. I was shouting, I was gasping, it was a whole thing. Genevieve Cogman has a beautiful tone of writing, and the details sewn throughout just make the whole thing feel real (even the vamps!). I cannot wait for this one to be released and even more cannot wait for the next book because Excuse Me! How dare you leave me hanging like this?? I hadn’t even gotten over the whole Amina thing!! I would like more please and thank you. A caper, a romp, and a thrill. I do recommend.

"Elusive" is the second installment of Genevieve Cogman’s "Scarlet Revolution" trilogy, loosely inspired by Baroness Orczy's "The Scarlet Pimpernel". In this series, the tumultuous reality of the French Revolution is augmented by the presence of wealthy, aristocratic vampires, who are seen as the new regime's primary adversaries. The series centers on Eleanor, a maid and seamstress who joins forces with a group of English nobles who risk their lives to save French citizens from the guillotine.

"Elusive" is a solid sequel that surpasses its predecessor in certain aspects. With the characters and their goals already established, the reader is quickly immersed in the action, allowing for pure enjoyment of the narrative. One of Cogman's notable strengths is her skillful world-building, a quality exemplified in "Elusive". Though rooted in fantasy, the novel remains meticulously researched and intricately intertwined with the historical backdrop of the French Revolution. The integration of vampires and supernatural elements feels remarkably organic, blurring the lines between fiction and historical truth. It was delightful to return to this richly crafted universe.

The plot of "Elusive" is very compelling, but much like its predecessor, it takes some time for the action to really kick in. It is not a particularly fast-paced book, which may be the biggest drawback for many readers. It is also a factor that keeps me from giving it 5 stars. However, the novel excels in its intricate world-building and depth of political intrigue, which shows the considerable quality of the book. I really enjoyed the League's adventures and how they were woven into the real events of revolutionary history. Also, the character relationships are more solid in this installment, which allowed me to enjoy the interactions between Eleanor and the other members of the League of the Scarlet Pimpernel, who I had confused with each other in the previous book.

Speaking of character development, Eleanor goes through a remarkable growth throughout the book, which I particularly liked. What I found very interesting was her dilemma of belonging. By working for the League of the Scarlet Pimpernel, she alienates herself from her fellow commoners, but at the same time, she remains acutely aware of her inferior status among the nobility, perpetuating her feelings of inadequacy.

Overall, "Elusive" proves to be a satisfying book. Personally, I found it even more enjoyable than the first installment. For those who have started this trilogy and are considering whether to continue, I highly recommend it.

I was riveted by this thrilling story, about Eleanor, serving the League of the Scarlet Pimpernel and gradually changing her attitude towards them, becoming less of a servant and more of an equal, though not quite there yet. This subtle change in her character is more obvious in this book, and it was good to see her changing in this way. I loved the first book, and I loved this one even more. I would give it ten or more stars if I could, but unfortunately I am limited to five. I did not think the author could surpass the first book, but she has.
Highly recommended. A realistic story of the French Revolution.