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
Title: Fairest
Author: Marissa Meyer
Series/Standalone: The Lunar Chronicles (Book #3.5)
Genre: Young Adult, Fantasy, Science Fiction
Pages: 220
Publisher: Feiwel and Friends
Year Published: 2015
Format: Physical Copy (Own It)
First Line: "She was lying on a burning pyre, hot coals beneath her back."
"Mirror, mirror, on the wall. Who is the Fairest of them all?
Fans of the Lunar Chronicles know Queen Levana as a ruler who uses her 'glamour' to gain power. but long before she crossed paths with Cinder, Scarlet and Cress, Levana lived a very different story- a story that has never been told... until now."
My Rating: 2.5/5
I'd heard alot of mixed reviews about this installment in the Lunar Chronicles and unfortunately I just didn't love it. I know that this story is written to further explore why Levana is the way she is, but I just didn't like it. I think that this story explores a different side of Levana but I felt strongly that it was trying to justify Levana's choices, which I just wasn't ok with. That being said, it did open the door to Princess Winter for the Fourth book. I'm looking forward to finishing the series and exploring Winter's p.o.v from Luna.
Thanks for reading,
Sidny
Unfortunately this is my least favorite book of the series so far. I understand the purpose of the story and why it's important to further understand Levana as a villain, but this story seemed to be trying to justify her actions towards those around her. And it just didn't seem to make sense to me. Yes she'd lived a tough life and had been assualted by her sister, but that didn't mean she had the right to manipulate everyone around her. If anything it just showed that her mental health probably wasn't in the best place as she was able to justify everything she "had" to do.
Characters:
Levana: I think that she just wasn't able to trust those around her and believe that anyone would love her for who she really was which is just a shame. I also think that the fact that she was able to justify her horrible actions just shows how much of villain she really is.
Winter: I think that she is going to be a huge part of the next story and I wonder about her sanity as well just based on the way we've seen her throughout the series.
Selene: To be punished just for being a child of someone who was cruel is ridiculous.
Evret: To be forced into a marriage and into sharing a bed with someone is horrible. Especially after trying to be supportive in the kindest way. I don't know how he was able to live his life with her knowing that she was using his dead wifes face. It's horrifying to think about.
Channary: She was undoubtedly cruel, and I wonder what her reasoning for her actions toward Levana were. Why would you put your younger sister in a fire. That's madness. I can't say that I'm sorry she met her death.
Sol: I loved her and she was a sweet woman, and at least she didn't die at Levana's hand.
Moments to Remember:
Final Line: "Here is what I think of love."
Thanks for reading,
Sidny
Title: Cress
Author: Marissa Meyer
Series/Standalone: The Lunar Chronicles (Book #3)
Genre: Young Adult, Retellings, Fantasy, Science Fiction
Pages: 552
Publisher: Square Fish
Year Published: 2014
Format: Paperback Copy (Own It)
First Line: "Her satalite made one full orbit around planet earth every sixteen hours."
"Even in the future, there are damsels in distress...
Cress, having risked everything to warn Cinder of Queen Levana's evil plan, has a slight problem. She's been imprisoned on a satellite since childhood and has only ever had her netscreens as company. All that screen time has made Cress an excellent hacker. Unfortunately, she's just received orders from Levana to track down Cinder and her handsome accomplice.
When a daring rescue of Cress involving Cinder, Captain Thorne, Scarlet, and Wolf goes awry, the group is separated. Cress finally has her freedom, but it comes at a high price. meanwhile, Queen Levana will let nothing prevent her marriage to Emperor Kai. Cress, Scarlet, and Cinder may not have signed up to save the world, but they may be the only hope the world has."
My Rating: 4/5
I've really been working hard to binge read series that are highly anticipated in the YA book community and this series is no exception. I really have enjoyed getting to see the twist that Marissa Meyer takes with classic fairy tales. I enjoyed how well the series brings in new characters and perspectives while keeping the story line interesting. I also enjoyed catching up with older characters from the past two books. That being said, I didn't think that this book was as ground altering as I hoped it would be for the plot. There were a few aspects that were surprising but not as shocking as they were in the past two books. This book was good for me, it just wasn't all I hoped it to be. I can't wait to continue on with the series and novellas to gather a complete opinion on the series as a whole.
Thanks for reading,
Sidny
I think that this series really has a lot going for it, which is likely why it's such a classic in the YA book community. I think that Marissa Meyer does a great job storytelling with a twist on the classics. I love the way the characters intertwine and connect without seeming overdone. I also have really connected with a few of our characters in these past three books. Unfortunately, Cress wasn't one of them for me. I thought that she was ok, but she didn't really capture a whole of my attention. I
I also really appreciated the change of scenery in this book. Which has happened in the past two novels. I always appreciate when authors are willing to expand on their world/universe. I think that the space aspects of this story were especially interesting to me.
Characters:
Cress: I think that she was just too nice for me. I like my characters to have a little more fire or humour behind them and she just didn't. I can see how she made a very good damsel in distress and how the world from her perspective was an interesting idea, it just wasn't my favorite. I also found it rather obvious that she was Dimitri's child. Especially after the first two books. It just became to clear for it to be even close to a surprise.
Thorne: I like him. He's a sassy womanizer. He also reminds me a lot of Han Solo's attitude projected into a young Captain character. I wonder what he'll think as his eyesight begins to return. I also wonder how his relationship with Cress will grow.
Cinder: She's gotten a lot more fierce throughout the series, something I'm totally on board with. I loved that she was willing to go to such lengths to show that she was capable while still keeping true to who she really is. I also liked her consciousness aspects, the feelings of guilt she felt when using her power kept her relatable for me.
Scarlet: She's by far my favorite main character. She is so loyal to those she loves and believes in. It was sad to see her lose so much because she was in the wrong place at the wrong time. I do think that she'll find her way out though.
Wolf: I also love him. I really enjoy his relationship with Scarlet and the evidence of heartbreak as he begins to believe that she is gone. I think that's an important aspect that fairytales sometime forget to show. How the love of the two is reciprocated.
Sybil: She went just the right amount of crazy for me. She deserved what she got, I do wonder how her death will affect Levana.
Levana: Speaking about the evil lady herself, I'm super excited to get to Fairest to learn more about her backstory and why she turned into the person she did. I also wonder about her perspective being more present in Winter.
Kai: He's got a lot of pressure on him the poor dude. That being said, he just seems lost so much of the time. I sincerely hope that he's ready to do what they have to end the war.
Dr. Erland: This might have been the most heartbreaking part of the story line for me. To finally found something that you thought was gone only to have a short amount of time to enjoy it/share it with the other person. It was heartbreaking to see him start to lose his mind, but I think it was important to see that anyone is now able to catch the plague. ANYONE.
Iko: Just as sassy as I remember and I love it. I hope that she gets everything she wants throughout the series and I can't wait to see how she does with the upcoming war. She is getting braver with each book, and slightly less self-centred which I can appreciate.
Jacin: I'm not sure what to think about this character yet. It's clear that he and Winter have an intense relationship, but I'm curious how that happened and how it got to that point. Especially with him being Sybil's puppet.
Winter: I also appreciated seeing someone who just looks like she's full of madness. I appreciate a character who is not exactly reliable and who the reader is unsure of. I can't wait to read her story in the final book in the series.
Moments to Remember:
Final Line: "'So I'm going to Luna, and I'm going to start a revolution.'"
Thanks for reading,
Sidny
Title: Scarlet
Author: Marissa Meyer
Series/Standalone: The Lunar Chronicles (Book #2)
Genre: Fantasy, Young Adult, Science Fiction
Pages: 454
Publisher: Feiwel & Friends
Year Published: 2013
Format: Physical Copy (Own it)
First Line: "Scarlet was descending toward the alley behind the Rieux Tavern when her portscreen chimed from the passenger seat, followed by an automated voice: 'Commm received for Mademoiselle Scarlet Benoit from the Toulouse Law Enforcement Department of Missing Persons."
"Cinder, the cyborg mechanic, returns in the second thrilling instalment of the bestselling Lunar Chronicles. She's trying to break out of prison even though if she succeeds, she'll be the Commonwealth's most wanted fugitive.
Halfway around the world, Scarlet Benoit's grandmother is missing. When Scarlet encounters Wolf, a street fighter who may have information as to her grandmother's whereabouts, she is loath to trust this stranger but is inexplicably drawn to him, and he to her. As Scarlet and Wolf unravel one mystery, they encounter another when they meet Cinder. Now, all of them must stay one step ahead of the vicious Lunar Queen Levana, who will do anything for the handsome Prince Kai to become her husband, her king, her prisoner."
My Rating: 4.5/5
So this book has been a long time coming for me to read. I finally had the chance to binge read this book this weekend. Overall I loved the way the story introduced new characters and a slightly different plot. But it still manages to keep our older characters close, and is able to connect these characters together. I loved the way the story line morphed and the new characters we got a chance to meet in this installment.
Thanks for reading,
Sidny
This book was so much better than I thought it would be. When I first started reading and realized that this book was from a different perspective. I thought that we wouldn't really connect with Cinder and the rest of the story. That being said, Scarlet might be my favorite character throughout this series so far. I also loved exploring different parts of this new style world. France as a dystopian and changed country was a interesting to see and experience. I also enjoyed the one chapter from Levana's perspective.
Characters:
Scarlet: I really love Scarlet. I think she's sassy, loyal, a go getter. She does what she needs to do to help those around her. I also like how critical she was of people around her (for the most part). She's a badass and I hope we see more of her in the next book.
Wolf: I also really liked him and Scarlet together. I'm not sure how popular that opinion is, but I don't care. I do wonder what he was taken from and turned into. The way he said, he remembered who he really was. I do wonder if maybe these wolf people are shells.
Kai: I'm not overly impressed with him but he's making the choices he can with the bartering tools he has. That being said, he knows that Levana is going to take over the country one way or another.
Cinder: I liked how she was exploring her powers and learning what she was capable of. I also appreciated her exploring her past and learning more about herself. I'm curious to see where her story line will go.
Thorne: I like him. He's sassy and he's a huge flirt which I'm on board with. Hopefully he finds someone to hang out with and who has the same sense of flirtation that he does.
Iko: She needs a different body. She's a bad ass ship, but what if she gets shot or something! Ugh.
Levana: I'm excited to see stories from her perspective and learn more about the reason she is the way she is.
Moments to Remember:
Final Line: "'And then I'm going to stop hiding.'"
Thanks for reading,
Sidny
Title: Cinder
Author: Marissa Meyer
Series/Standalone: The Lunar Chronicles (Book #1)
Genre: Young Adult, Fantasy, Dystopian, Science Fiction
Pages: 387
Publisher: Square Fish
Year Published: 2012
Format: Paperback Copy (Own it)
First Line: "The screw through Cinder's ankle had rusted, the engraved cross marks worn to a mangled circle."
"Even in the future, the story begins with Once Upon a Time....
Humans and androids crowd the raucous streets of New Beijing. A deadly plague ravages the population. From space, a ruthless lunar people watch, waiting to make their move. No one knows that Earth's fate hinges on one girl.
Sixteen-year-old Cinder, a gifted mechanic, is a cyborg. She's a second-class citizen with a mysterious past and is reviled by her step-mother. But when her life becomes intertwined with the handsome Prince Kai's, she suddenly finds herself at the centre of an intergalactic struggle, and a forbidden attraction. Caught between duty and freedom, loyalty and betrayal, she must uncover secrets about her past in order to protect her world's future. Because there is something unusual about Cinder, something that others would kill for."
My Rating: 4.5/5
I was hesitant going into this book because this is another well loved series on booktube and the book community, and I would be disappointed if I hated this one. But I really enjoyed it! I think that this book is a perfect binge read. This series is fast passed but also written in a way that you feel like you're getting a lot of story line in a short amount of time. Marissa Meyer everyone was telling me to read your books and I feel like I've wasted so much time putting this one off for long. The half a star was docked due to the ending that I predicted to an extent but other than that this book is an amazing read. I can't wait to continue with the series. They are being added to my next month TBR.
Thanks for reading,
Sidny
So I finally got to this book that feels like it's been on my TBR forever (because it has, let's be honest with each other). I loved this book! I think that Marissa Meyer kicks ass with retellings, while making them her own. The story was so unlike anything else I'd ever read. And while there were elements from Cinderella I didn't feel like everything was predictable. There were a few things that I guessed, such as the ending fact about Cinder's identity, but I think that that just made sense.
The setting in this story is another interesting factor in this first instalment. In a dystopian novel were Earth has many different governments after World War IV, and there are freaking people who have "powers" on the moon, it's hard not to get caught up in the world. I can't wait to continue the series and see other parts of this world through the next story.
Characters:
Cinder: She's an interesting main character to me, because of her different makeup. Being a cyborg obviously isn't always accepted in this world, and especially with the plague going on and people refusing to "volunteer". I think that she was the right amount of naive and with a reason (not enough to make me roll my eyes while reading).
Kai: I wonder how his life will continue when or if he finds out about Cinder's true identity and what that could mean for his kingdom and the Lunars.
Peony: She was sweet, ditsy but sweet. I cried when she died, especially when Cinder was so close to saving her.
Queen Levana: I'm not going to lie I can't wait to rad Fairest to see about her life and how she became to be an evil dictator.
Iko: Please come back to our story line. I miss your cute, sassy comments. Ugh perfect side character.
Dr. Dmitri: You son of a gun killed a lot of cyborgs to find the one you were looking for. Also what else do you know about Cinder and the Lunar migration? I want to know so much more.
Adri: I hope you're embarrassed but I'm surprised you weren't the real villain during this story to make it a classic Cinderella retelling.
Pearl: I could do without your snotty little attitude. Hopefully we don't see you for a long while... or ever.
Moments to Remember:
Final Line: "But they would be looking for a ghost."
Thanks for reading,
Sidny
