Winter (The Lunar Chronicles)

Title: Winter 

Series: The Lunar Chronicles (Book #4)

Year: 2015 

Author: Marissa Meyer 

Summary: Princess Winter is admired by the Lunar people for her grace and kindness, and despite the scars that mar 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? (from Goodreads)

Main Characters:
~ Cress
~ Scarlet
~ Cinder
~ Winter
~ Captain Thorne
~ Jacin
~ Kai
~ Wolf
~ Levana

Review: I can't say just what it is about this series. Truthfully, there are certain things that just make me cringe, but at the same time, something always draws me back for more. It could be the fact that it has all the crazy, space-y, awesome elements that remind me of Star Wars. It could also be that Marissa Meyer has a unique habit of creating characters that are impossible to forget and impossible not to care for. OR it could simply be the fact that these are fairy tale retellings, and I absolutely love a good fairy tale retelling.

Or it could be all of those things combined. 

At any rate, here is the stunning conclusion to The Lunar Chronicles, and we're treated once more to the adventures of Cinder and Co. All the things are at stake. People are in jeopardy. The fate of both the moon and the earth hang in the balance. And Winter can't seem to snap Jacin out of Guard Jacin mode. 

This book I felt was maybe a little more action-packed and dramatic than the other three books. Possibly because it's the finale, and I will say that Marissa Meyer doesn't disappoint with this finale. I like how she took several different plots and wove them all together into one, satisfying tale. Granted, not everything is satisfying, but there's a great feeling of an end well done once you hit the last page. 

The Snow White angle I thought cleverly woven in. I was interested to see how the author would use the glass coffin, and it did not disappoint. In the least.

Truthfully, I want more fairy tales in this style. The science fiction/space opera settings do well when mixed with fairy tales, and I was kinda disappointed that this was the last book for Marissa Meyer's Lunar Chronicles. I think the stories could have gone on a little further with more fairy tales. But that's just me. I'm a fairy tale fanatic. *coughs*

Advisory: Violence/fighting/blood/pain/death, but all on the same level as the other Lunar Chronicles books. The queen has a hobby of torturing people, so the narration gets a little graphic at times, but I never thought it too much. I can't recall anything specific that stood out, but it was definitely darker than the other three books. Also, some "adult comments" and language - all typical of the series. 

Romance from all 4 major couples plus some. I remember quite a few kisses/romantic physical content, so that's something to be aware of. It was pretty heavy, and that's a lot more than what I'm normally comfortable with. 

Rating: 3 out of 5 stars

The Lunar Chronicles: Cress

Title: Cress

Series: The Lunar Chronicles (Book #3)

Year: 2014

Author: Marissa Meyer

Summary: In this third book in the Lunar Chronicles, Cinder and Captain Thorne are fugitives on the run, now with Scarlet and Wolf in tow. Together, they’re plotting to overthrow Queen Levana and her army. 

Their best hope lies with Cress, a girl imprisoned on a satellite since childhood who's 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 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. (from Goodreads)

Main Characters:
~ Linh Cinder
~ Emperor Kaito
~ Iko
~ Crescent Moon
~ Captain Thorne
~ Jacin Clay
~ Dr. Dmitri Erland

Review: Rapunzel is one of my favorite fairy tales (and no, I'm not biased because I myself have long, blonde hair), so I was pretty excited when I heard that Marissa Meyer's third book in The Lunar Chronicles would be based off that character. And in many ways, Cress did not disappoint. There were plenty of references back to the original fairy tale, yet the author wove a lot of the unique into the novel. Honestly, it was hard to put down.

Among the things that I liked in Cress was its complexity. It was true to the books earlier in the series (Cinder and Scarlet), yet it had a style all its own. Cinder was once again my favorite as she battled internal and external enemies to try to save Kai and, ultimately, the world from the evil clutches of the Lunar queen, Levana. From the dark regions of space to dry, desert towns in Africa, the plot weaves around splendidly, never giving you a moment's peace. Of course, more secrets come to light, and all you can think about at the end is, "When is book four going to be out?"

Cress was a sweet girl, but I found her at times to be a little on the annoying side as she daydreamed. Yes, she reminded me a lot of Disney's Rapunzel, and I'll admit, with other readers, that there were several things in the novel that made me think of Tangled. While it was fun to be reminded of one of my favorite films, I did think the author could have been a little more original. Scarlet disappeared for most of the book, as her actions took her in a different course than both Cinder and Cress. While I was a bit saddened that she didn't have a bigger role, I did enjoy the time I got to spend learning more about the other girls.

Advisory: Violence is a given, knowing that Cinder and her company are pretty much outlaws and have armies from both earth and Lunar after them. It's all set in a fantasy-type setting. The plague that terrified everyone in Cinder is back, and is again taking its toll. Highlight for spoilers: One character gets part of a finger chopped off, but it's not described graphically. 
I think there's more romance in Cress than in either Cinder or Scarlet. Personally, I didn't care much for the amount of time Marissa Meyer spent on Cress's romantic imaginings and thoughts, but nothing gets out of hand. I counted two kisses, no more. Highlight for spoilers: There is also a scene in which a girl is taking a bath and a blind man walks in on her. Nothing is described, but I found that highly uncomfortable to read.

Rating: 3 out of 5 stars

Related reviews: Cinder (The Lunar Chronicles)
                        Scarlet (The Lunar Chronicles)

Click here to buy Cress on Amazon!

The Lunar Chronicles: Scarlet

Title: Scarlet

Series: The Lunar Chronicles (Book #2)

Year: 2013

Author: Marissa Meyer

Summary: Cinder, the cyborg mechanic, returns in the second thrilling installment 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. It turns out there are many things Scarlet doesn't know about her grandmother or the grave danger she has lived in her whole life. 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. (from Goodreads)

Main Characters:
~ Linh Cinder
~ Scarlet Benoit
~ Wolf
~ Queen Levana
~ Emperor Kaito

Review: I was pretty eager to continue Cinder's story from reading Marissa Meyer's first book in this series (Cinder), and I was greatly interested to see how she was going to weave the story of Little Red Riding Hood into the tale that began with Cinderella. Scarlet begins as your typical Little Red Riding Hood character -- she's got red hair, a bit of a temper, and a favorite red jacket. She loves her grandmother, and I liked the way their relationship was portrayed. It's just like the fairy tale you'd expect it to be. And then the book took a very un-fairytale dip. Scarlet's grandmother is kidnapped, and Scarlet is forced to team up with an unlikely partner, an ex-solider from Lunar who seems to be part-wolf. 

The plot keeps you on your toes, and it's the kind of book you really want to read in one sitting, just because it's hard to put down. In addition to following the storyline of Scarlet's actions, the novel also follows the heroine from the first book, Cinder. While the two girls seem so different concerning their respective stories, they tangle together, and it's interesting how Marissa Meyer gets them together in the end. Excitement is high with fights, space ships, break-outs, and a whole lot more. While Scarlet's off to rescue her grandmother, Cinder's breaking out of jail with a certain criminal Captain Thorne. Iko gets a makeover, and Kai makes a decision that throws the whole world in chaos. And yet another cliffhanger ending -- be warned now. You're going to want to have Cress (book #3 of The Lunar Chronicles) beside you to pick up when you finish Scarlet. 

Personally, I prefered Cinder to Scarlet. While Scarlet was enjoyable, I thought the themes were darker, and the violence level kicked up a notch. I liked reading about the cyborg/mechanic Cinder more than the aggressive Scarlet; for some odd reason Scarlet's story didn't interest me as much as Cinder's did. This has been my least favorite book of the series so far. Not that it's bad, but compared to Cinder, it just seemed rather dark and heavy for Little Red Riding Hood. 

Advisory: A lot of violence; Wolf is a street fighter, and he and Scarlet encounter a lot of enemies, and Marissa Meyer really describes the fights. While I was okay reading them, they could be a bit over the top for other readers. There is also some romance, and some "adult comments" -- nothing extreme, but just something to take note of. 

Rating: 3 out of 5 stars

Related review: Cinder (The Lunar Chronicles)

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The Lunar Chronicles: Cinder

Title: Cinder

Series: The Lunar Chronicles

Year: 2012

Author: Marissa Meyer

Summary: 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. 

Cinder, a gifted mechanic, is a cyborg. She’s a second-class citizen with a mysterious past, reviled by her stepmother and blamed for her stepsister’s illness. But when her life becomes intertwined with the handsome Prince Kai’s, she suddenly finds herself at the center 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. (from Goodreads)

Main Characters:
Linh Cinder
Prince Kaito
Iko
Linh Peony
Linh Adri
Dr. Dmitri Erland

Review: When I first heard of this book, my reaction was pretty much summed up in one word: Really? Cinderella as a cyborg? Some space-y story set years into the future? Science fiction had never been a favorite genre of mine, and this book seemed too out-there for me to bother with it. However, friends of mine read Cinder and I found their reviews favorable, so I'd thought I'd give it a try.

First off, Marissa Meyer writes in a easy-to-read style, and while that's usually not a favorite of mine, it helped to keep the action flowing along and suck the reader into the plot. I was able to predict a lot of the stuff that happened, yet there was still a great deal of suspense and mystery that made me unable to put the book down. The familiar tale of Cinderella was excellently woven into the plot, beginning with a feeling of redundancy but ending with unique twists, and the science fiction aspect added nicely to the story. For me, it was like reading fairy tales mixed with Star Wars. The well-formed characters, mystery, and action were all a plus, in my opinion.

Cinder was a very nice heroine, and you can't help but sympathize with her struggles. She shares a good relationship with a android named Iko (who may or may not have a faulty personality chip - rather humorous) and her younger stepsister Peony. Her stepmother and elder stepsister act just as you would expect, yet they were mild villains compared to the lunar queen. Prince Kai, the young son of the deathly ill emperor, I found to be a slightly naive royal, but in his position, that's exactly what you'd expect. 

There is what one might call a "magical" aspect about this story, but in truth it's simply natural talent. The people of the moon (known as lunars) have the ability to push thoughts and ideas into others' minds. They use this ability to manipulate circumstances and people to get what they want, sometimes for evil purposes. Mirrors, however, cannot be manipulated, so the lunar people bear a hatred for reflective objects. 

I will warn you: this story is vastly different from most fairy tale retellings as it does not have a happily ever after; it is the first in a series. The ending is a smash-bang cliffhanger, leaving you wanting the second novel desperately. The second, Scarlet, is a retelling of Red Riding Hood, which leads up to the third, Cress, a Rapunzel retelling, and the fourth and last installment of this series is expected to be published in 2015 - Winter, based on Snow White.

Advisory: Seeing as this is a futuristic novel, there is a lot of action as well as some blood, though not too terribly graphic. A few times Cinder and other characters use swear words - very disappointing - and there is some light romance leading to a kiss. Also, there are what I'd dub "adult comments" in the book that brush against some touchy issues, and while they don't go into any detailed descriptions, it was a letdown to see them in the book as the story would have been just fine, as well as a lot cleaner, without them there. For all of that, I'd recommend this book to readers over 14 years old.

Rating: 3 out of 5 stars

Click here to buy Cinder on Amazon!