Title: Winter
Author: Marissa Meyer
Series/Standalone: The Lunar Chronicles (Book #4)
Genre: Young Adult, Science Fiction, Retelling
Pages: 827
Publisher: Feiwel & Friends
Year Published: 2015
Format: Hardcover (Library Copy)
First Line: "Winter's toes had become ice cubes."
"Princess Winter is admired by the Lunar people for her grace and kindness, and despite the scars that mark her face, her beauty is said to be even more breathtaking than that of her stepmother, Queen Levana.
Winter despises her stepmother, and knows Levana won't approve of her feelings for her childhood friend-- the handsome palace guard, Jacin. but Winter isn't as weak as Levana believes her to be and she's been undermining her stepmother's wishes for years. Together with the cyborg mechanic, Cinder, and her allies, Winter might even have the power to launch a revolution and win a war that's been raging for far too long.
Can Cinder, Scarlet, Cress, and Winter defeat Levana and find their happily ever afters? Fans will not want to miss this thrilling conclusion to Marissa Meyer's national bestselling Lunar Chronicles series."
My Rating: 4/5
I've heard so many good things about this series and I wonder if the hype didn't really do me any favours. I found that this series was really entertaining and creative with the use of fairy tales. That being said, it didn't blow me out of the water. I think that this conclusion was beautiful, although a bit long. I understand that all the aspects of the story we had to follow were important but by halfway through I was wondering how much more could be thrown into this last book. That being said I do love the majority of the characters and I enjoyed the idea of living in space. I'm interested in reading more work from Marissa Meyer but I don't think that I'll be reading Stars Above anytime soon. It just doesn't hold a high appeal to me. Overall I enjoyed the series and the plot line, it was just so hyped that I felt a little bit let down.
Thanks for reading,
Sidny
One goal I have this year is to finish out series that I start and to marathon them when I can and enjoy them. This one has been a long time coming and after Cress, I wasn't sure what to expect. Overall I really enjoyed the characters and the setting in this installment. That being said, I found that the plot was a little lacklustre at some points. I just didn't seem to feel the urgency that I should have felt while reading the second half of the book. That being said, I think that Marissa Meyer is super creative with her retellings and the way that she uses things from the original fairy tales.
Characters:
Winter: I think that she was an interesting character to hear from. Especially based on her choice not to use her gift. I was interested in her madness and how quickly she could spiral. I also wonder about after the war and where her thoughts went. I loved her characters and I wish that we would have heard a little more about her upbringing with Levana.
Jacin: His loyalty to Winter throughout this story is so impressive. Also his restraint in keeping himself from telling her how he felt. I liked the element of wanting something he couldn't have. It made their romance so much more than guard and princess.
Levana: She is a good freaking villain. She's crazy and selfish but seriously thinks that she is doing right by her people by making the choices she does. A fantastically written villain.
Cinder: I was most proud of her last decision to adequate the throne at some point. After all, she didn't really want to be a ruler she wanted to give the people of Luna freedom. She succeeded in the goal and plans to give them a more secure future with her decision.
Kai: I still think that he's a little bland. Too much a just kind of there to hold off the villain which I understand but not my favourite male character by far.
Thorne: Thorne grew a lot on me in this book especially after Cress is left behind. His urge to get back to her broke my heart. I also enjoyed the way he reacted to trying to tell her how he felt. Even after he just stabbed her. I also loved that at the wedding he told that Lunar he loved her because he thought that she was Cress. My heart hurt as we watched their relationship grow.
Cress: Another character who grew on me as she got more confident in her abilities. She was willing to risk herself for the good of all, which I felt is something she lacked in the 3rd book. I also think that her romance with Thorne was better fleshed out in the finale.
Scarlet: Still my favourite female character. She's badass and she doesn't take shit from anybody. She's willing to fight for those she loves and those she just started to get to know (Winter). I think that her storyline and romance is the real reason I finished the series. And possibly the only reason for me to continue with Stars Above.
Wolf: Probably not a surprise but my favourite male character as well. His romance with Scarlet was so perfectly executed in this storyline. The way he changes and is still himself underneath it all. I also loved that he was willing to let Scarlet go if she wanted, even though it would likely break him. I also just think that he was hot. Not even gonna lie he has so many amazing qualities.
Iko: I'm not a huge fan of her but I don't hate her either. She was ok for me to read from, especially as she was not affected by glamours. I understand that she had a different personality than the average AI, but I'm not interested in reading Wires and Nerve just yet.
Moments to Remember:
Final Line: "She held her foot over the water and let go."
Thanks for reading,
Sidny
