Title: Carswell’s Guide to Being Lucky
Author: Marissa Meyer
Series: The Lunar Chronicles #3.4
In: Stars Above (Marissa Meyer)
Rating Out of 5: 5 (I will read this again and again and again)
My Bookshelves: Fairy tales, Steampunk, Strong women
Pace: Fast
Format: Short story
Publisher: Feiwel and Friends
Year: 2014
5th sentence, 74th page: He raised an eyebrow.

Thirteen-year-old Carswell Thorne has big plans involving a Rampion spaceship and a no-return trip out of Los Angeles.

Carswell’s activities and past are mentioned throughout Cress quite a bit. And it’s a little hard to figure the guy out. But, there is one moment that stands out specifically for Cress, and there are a number of reasons that he gives for his actions. And that moment with Kate Fallow is covered in Carswell’s Guide to Being Lucky.

Although Carswell’s actions are incredibly selfish, and you can see how his parents have influenced his future, there is still a moment of goodness in him. He still is doing everything for his own master plan, and it is really clear why and how he stole his own spaceship, but there is a great purity in his childish spasms of guilt.

It’s always fun to read a novella or short story that gives insight to the characters – and this tale does that perfectly. Not only does it show who Carswell is behind all of the charm, but it highlights why he acts the way that he does.

Image source: Goodreads