Title: Something Old, Something New
Author: Marissa Meyer
Series: The Lunar Chronicles #4.5
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: Medium
Format: Short story
Publisher: Feiwel and Friends
Year: 2016
5th sentence, 74th page: “I love you too.”

In this epilogue to Winter, friends gather for the wedding of the century…

I’m so glad that everyone got a happy ending. And that, although the ending of Winter tied up the main plot points, there was Something Old, Something New to completely finish it off. After all, the series just had to end with a wedding, and this story did that perfectly.

Judging from the title, I knew that somebody out of the four couples was going to get married. And I kind of love the fact that it was Scarlet and Wolf. They probably had the most difficult time of it, and with the way things ended for Wolf in Winter… well, it was nice to know that everything ended perfectly for them. And it also highlighted what happens with the rest of the couples two years after the ending of their war.

Now I just have to get rid of this gooshy feeling and find a new book / series to read…

Image source: Lunar Chronicles Wiki

Title: Winter
Author: Marissa Meyer
Series: The Lunar Chronicles #4
Rating Out of 5: 5 (I will read this again and again and again)
My Bookshelves: Fairy tales, Steampunk, Strong women
Pace: Medium
Format: Novel
Publisher: Puffin
Year: 2015
5th sentence, 74th page: It was going to be a wedding gift for Emperor Kairo, before… well.

THIS IS NOT THE FAIRY TALE YOU REMEMBER. BUT IT’S ON YOU WON’T FORGET.

Winter is admired for her grace, kindness and beauty, despite the scars on her face. She’s said to be even more breath taking than her stepmother, Queen Levana…

When Winter develops feelings for the handsome palace guard, Jacin, she fears the evil Queen will crush their romance before it has a chance to begin.

But there are stirrings against the Queen across the land. Together with the cyborg mechanic, Cinder, and her allies, Winter might even find the power to launch a revolution and win a war that’s been raging for far too long.

Can Cinder, Scarlet, Cress and Winter claim their happily-ever-afters by defeating Levana once and for all?

You know when you finish a really amazing series, and you just… ?? After finishing Winter, I strolled around, looked at all my books and wondered how anything else could live up to that standard. Yes, I had a short story left to finish in Stars Above, and that helped for a little while, but the main storyline, that big, epic battle that had been building up? It was done, finished, and I honestly wasn’t sure I would ever be able to read anything so amazing again (it’s okay, I got over this, but seriously… how many books punch you in the gut like that?)

Admittedly, I have sort of been putting of reading Winter, although I’ve been absolutely dying to know what happens in the final face off between Cinder and Levana, the book is over 800 pages long. It’s big. It feels a little intimidating when you should be studying, and don’t want to get bogged down in a good book. I also tend to find that not many books of that size and length keep me completely enthralled throughout. They normally have their I-have-to-turn-the-next-page moments followed by the eh-I-can-put-this-down-for-a-few-days moment. Not so with Winter. I read the entire thing in 2 days. I actually took a “me day” off of my PhD because I was so desperate to finish it (and felt like it was about time I took a moment to breath)…

All throughout The Lunar Chronicles, I have loved how closely Meyer has managed to stick with the original fairy tales. Yes, they have a more “Disney spin” than the actual originals, but it is still pretty damn well done, and I have loved the darker aspects that the non-Disney versions have been able to provide. And, of course, mad little Winter was no different. You just have to read this book to understand how phenomenally good this story actually is. Although, maybe don’t make plans for the next 24 hours?

Image source: Lunar Chronicles Wiki

Title: The Princess and the Guard
Author: Marissa Meyer
Series: The Lunar Chronicles #3.6
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: 2016
5th sentence, 74th page: He was wearing his crimson coat, even though it was the middle of the night.

In this prequel to Winter, we see a game called The Princess.

Winter is a creepy, but cool character that we first meet towards the end of Cress. And more of her horrible history is then introduced in Fairest. Yet, it is when you read The Princess and the Guard that she shines through beautifully. And you start to understand that she is actually crazy – although for a very good reason.

I like how this novella encompasses most of Winter’s life. It starts with her young friendship with Jacin and follows this until they are young adults. It shows how they both fall for each other and are willing to sacrifice everything to keep one another safe. The Princess and the Guard sets up the final couple for the final battle of Cinder, her companions and Levana.

Image source: Lunar Chronicles Wiki

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

Title: The Queen’s Army
Author: Marissa Meyer
Series: The Lunar Chronicles #1.5
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: Medium
Format: Short story
Publisher: Feiwel and Friends
Year: 2012
5th sentence, 74th page: Z pushed himself back into the exam table.

In this prequel to Scarlet, we’re introduced to the army Queen Levana is building, and one soldier in particular who will do anything to keep from becoming the monster they want him to be.

Levanna’s army is shown in Cinder and it seems kind of scary. Which is why a short story about one of the young men who are placed into this situation and created as a soldier worked in quite well. It’s the story from behind enemy lines that is not only introducing a character that will (I’m sure) appear in the next novel, but helping to highlight the horrors which Levanna inflicts upon her own people.

There really wasn’t much that was shocking in this story. It was expected that the soldiers would be genetically modified. That the lead would be unwilling to join the legions. And that he would eventually triumph over the other sufferers of brutality. The way in which it was done was completely different though. Mostly because of the great and unique world in which Meyer has placed her characters.

Now that I’ve read about the boy, I can’t wait to meet the man in Scarlet…

Image source: Goodreads

Title: The Mechanic
Author: Marissa Meyer
Series: The Lunar Chronicles #0.9
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: Medium
Format: Short story
Publisher: Feiwel and Friends
Year: 2016
5th sentence, 74th page: “But without knowing what’s wrong with -”

In this prequel to Cinder, we see Kai and Cinder’s first meeting from Kai’s perspective.

This is an alternative view at a great scene in Cinder. And it’s something that I enjoy in a series – looking at another character’s point of view. The fact that it is Kai, the other half of the love match in the first full Lunar Chronicles novel, made it even more captivating. And, it was enlightening as to why Kai fell for Cinder. After all, she is constantly described as being very plain. So I found it a little difficult to really understand their connection in this scene. Until I read The Mechanic, then everything fell into place.

I like that the heroine of this story isn’t described as beautiful and stunning. It’s difficult to connect with characters when they are constantly described as otherworldly. The fact that Kai’s draw in to Cinder is her simplicity and difference makes you feel like everyone has their own hope for the future.

Image source: The Lunar Chronicles Wiki

Title: After Sunshine Passes By
Author: Marissa Meyer
Series: The Lunar Chronicles #0.25
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: Medium
Format: Short story
Publisher: Feiwel and Friends
Year: 2016
5th sentence, 74th page: State-of-the-art.

In this prequel to Cress, we see how a nine-year-old Cress ended up alone on a satellite, spying on Earth for Luna.

The idea of shells is introduced in Cinder and it is a great reminder that even if you don’t have superpowers, you still have powers. The beginning of the Rapunzel story starts off kind of sad. It’s an unwanted girl in a place where she is told that she is unwanted and not needed. Actually, this is the saddest of the short stories in The Lunar Chronicles that I have read so far. There is no light on the horizon, but rather it just ends with a young girl being locked up by herself, orbiting the earth.

One thing that I really loved about this short story is Cress’ strength of character and ability to find something good in her life. The picture painted about her dismal upbringing would ensure that many people became downtrodden. Yet, somehow this girl is optimistic and full of hope – the very short story begins with her imagining a better life for herself.

Image source: Lunar Chronicles Wiki

Title: The Keeper
Author: Marissa Meyer
Series: The Lunar Chronicles #0.1
In: Stars Above (Marissa Meyer)
Rating Out of 5: 4.5 (Amazing, but not quite perfect)
My Bookshelves: Fairy tales, Steampunk, Strong women
Pace: Medium
Format: Short story
Publisher: Feiwel and Friends
Year: 2016
5th sentence, 74th page: A deep crease had formed between his brows.

A prequel to the Lunar Chronicles, showing a young Scarlet and how Princess Selene came into the care of Michelle Benoit.

I read this after reading Cinder, and although I am slowly reading the series in order, I’m kind of glad that I read it after reading Cinder. This short story tells the tale of how Cinder became a Cyborg and how she was saved from Levanna’s evil reign. It also gives insight into the world of Lunar and how the Earthlings of this world deal with it.

Not only did The Keeper introduce Cinder’s first years on earth, it also told the story of how Scarlet came to live with her Grandmother. And I can’t wait to see how she has transformed into an adult when I actually get to reading her novel…

Image source: Lunar Chronicles Wiki