Title: Scarlet
Author: Marissa Meyer
Series: The Lunar Chronicles #2
Rating Out of 5: 5 (I will read this again and again and again)
My Bookshelves: Fairy tales, Steampunk, Strong women
Pace: Fast
Format: Novel
Publisher: Puffin
Year: 2013
5th sentence, 74th page: She closed the distance between them and thumped her locked fist into his sternum, ignoring how he towered a full head above her.

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

Scarlet Benoit’s grandmother is missing. The police have closed her case. The only person Scarlet can turn to is Wolf, a street fighter she does not trust, but they are drawn to each other.

Meanwhile, in New Beijing, Cinder will become the Commonwealth’s most wanted fugitive – when she breaks out of prison to stay one step ahead of vicious Queen Levanna.

As Scarlet and Wolf expose one mystery, they encounter Cinder and a new one unravels. Together they must challenge the evil queen, who will stop at nothing to make Prince Kai her husband, her king, her prisoner…

It took me a little while to really get into this book. I absolutely devoured Cinder and all of the books that came before…. But there was something about Scarlet that took me a little longer. And then it hit me, out of all of the fairy tales that I grew up with – Red Riding Hood was the one that held the least interest and sway for me. Something about it never really clicked, and in the beginning of this book, that feeling kind of lingered.

Which is not to say that this story wasn’t amazing. Although it took me a little longer to become obsessively engrossed within the storyline (always a good tell of a good book with me), I still managed to very happily lose myself in the story of Scarlet and Wolf. The fact that Cinder’s story was continuing and everything tied in so beautifully together… it just all worked beautifully. I love how Meyer manages to grab the very heart of our favourite fairy tales and make them work in her incredibly unique world. The fact that there’s a bit of a love story involved kind of helps a little. After all, when there is some kind of love (be it romantic or platonic), the stakes are just that much higher.

I have to say that my favourite character throughout this entire novel was Wolf. There was just something about his tragic past, his incredibly obvious internal conflict and just his general persona that really drew me to him. It could have something to do with the fact that I often seem to connect with the idea of wolf packs and hierarchy in every book / series that I read (make of that what you will). His rocky relationship with his brother only increased the heartfelt and almost vulnerable feeling that he inspired, and although I know that the bulk of his and Scarlet’s story is over, I look forward to seeing how the two will play out throughout the rest of the series.

Image source: Goodreads

Title: Cinder
Author: Marissa Meyer
Series: The Lunar Chronicles #1
Rating Out of 5: 4.5 (Amazing, but not quite perfect)
My Bookshelves: Fairy tales, Steampunk, Strong women
Pace: Fast
Format: Novel
Publisher: Puffin
Year: 2012
5th sentence, 74th page: Yes, her ratio should be impressive.

A FORBIDDEN ROMANCE.
A DEADLY PLAGUE.
EARTH’S FATE HINGES ON ONE GIRL…

Cinder, a gifted mechanic in New Beijing, is also a cyborg. She’s reviled by her stepmother and blamed for her stepsister’s sudden illness. But when her life becomes entwined with the handsome Prince Kai’s she finds herself at the centre of a violent struggle between the desires of an evil queen – and a dangerous temptation.

Cinder is caught between duty and freedom, loyalty and betrayal. Now she must uncover secrets about her mysterious past in order to protect Earth’s future.

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

Cinderella is a fairly well known fairy tale. After all, it’s the perfect rags to riches tale. The story of someone overpowering their bad situation and finding a good one. The fact that there is a handsome prince, and a pretty dress and a ball…that just makes it all the more appealing and sweet… at least normally, Cinder gives this tale a very different spin. And one that I personally love to pieces.

I am fairly new to the steampunk genre. But, I absolutely adore it. It’s something that marries a range of different themes and styles into this perfect little world. The fact that this was then partnered with the childlike world of riches kind of made this series absolutely perfect for me. Having already read Glitches, I had a little more backstory on Cinder’s unwanted presence in the Linh household. But, even without that, the creation of a future world in which cyborgs walk (and are owned) among us was fun. The joy and happiness of Peony and the quirkiness of Ito just helped to make the story a whole lot more enthralling. And cute. There were a lot of serious, hard and sad moments throughout the story for Cinder, but the attitude of not only her, but her companions made it a lot easier to bear.

I really wasn’t expecting the ending to this story. Although it is a Cinderella tale, it didn’t quite end in the same way. And it left the tale wide open for the next book in the series… which I now have to wait for… there’s always something great about a surprise at the end of a series, and it always makes getting the next book in the mail all the more exciting…

Image source: Jennifer Melza

Title: The Little Android
Author: Marissa Meyer
Series: The Lunar Chronicles #0.6
In: Stars Above (Marissa Meyer)
Rating Out of 5: 4 (Really good read!)
My Bookshelves: Fairy tales, Steampunk, Strong women
Pace: Fast
Format: Short story
Publisher: Feiwel and Friends
Year: 2014
5th sentence, 74th page: It wasn’t the first time such horrible thoughts had come into her head.

‘

A retelling of Hans Christian Andersen’s “The Little Mermaid,” set in the world of The Lunar Chronicles.

The blurb for this story is that this is a cyborg version of The Little Mermaid. I was expecting a happy ending for the android-mermaid, but, this short story actually stuck much closer to the original version. Where Ariel doesn’t get her happily after, but rather, sacrifices herself for the love of the prince. And honestly? I loved this version even more. Don’t get me wrong, I love the Disney happy ending. But there is something nice about an alternate ending and twist to the tale.

The Little Android helps to place Cinder and her kind heart in context within the greater series. But, mostly for me, it was just a cute and simple way to spend a half hour or so. Meyer’s understanding of fairy tales and her modern take on them is thoroughly enjoyable. And using one like The Little Mermaid which has two distinctly different endings left me smiling contently. Even though Star didn’t quite get her happily ever after…

Image source: Goodreads

Title: Glitches
Author: Marissa Meyer
Series: The Lunar Chronicles #0.5
In: Stars Above (Marissa Meyer) & Kisses and Curses (Lauren Burniae)
Rating Out of 5: 4 (Really good read!)
My Bookshelves: Fairy tales, Steampunk, Strong women
Pace: Medium
Format: Short story
Publisher: Feiwel and Friends
Year: 2011
5th sentence, 74th page: Cinder racked her brain, wondering if it could feed her recipes as easily as it fed her useless definitions.

In this prequel to Cinder, we see the results of the plague play out, and the emotional toll it takes on Cinder. Something that may, or may not, be a glitch….

I liked this short story. It explained the beginning of the Cinderella story that is introduced in Cinder. Explained how Cinder got to where she is, and what makes her so different. Her inability to cry is seen as a glitch, and explained away in terms of a mechanical term.

I always love prequels. They often don’t actually feel necessary for a series, but they always add something to it. Glitches is no different, Cinder’s situation will be explained in Cinder, but the little bit of extra information and emotional turmoil help to give more context to her tale. And help to make her far more realistic for me, as the reader.

Image source: Goodreads