Title: Fairest
Author: Marissa Meyer
Series: The Lunar Chronicles #3.5
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: Feiwel and Friends
Year: 2015
5th sentence, 74th page: She ran her tongue along her lower lip, every sense heightened, and inched toward him again.

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.

This book was supposed to give an alternative point of view to Levana’s choices and life. And it did, it made me feel a little sorry for her and the history that she has been forced to face up to throughout the beginning of her life. Although it is all kind of horrible, and I felt a lot of sympathy for her throughout the tale, she’s still kind of an awful person.

I know that this book is supposed to help you feel a little sympathetic for Levana, but it didn’t work. Mostly I just disliked her even more. And my heart hurt because every bad thing that is happening in the series is due to a child being incredibly self-centred. Yes, there is a lot in there about her need to be loved, and I understand that drive, but Levana is so self-centred in this drive that everything else kind of fades away in comparison.

This was a great story to give some background not just into Levana, but also Cinder and Winter. But, it doesn’t raise the sympathy that I was expecting… it was just missing something that could have made Levana into a truly sympathetic character.

Image source: Goodreads

Title: Cress
Author: Marissa Meyer
Series: The Lunar Chronicles #3
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: 2014
5th sentence, 74th page: She is requesting an extension of the docking clamp.

INCARCERATE IN A SATELLITE, AN EXPERT HACKER AND OUT TO SAVE THE WORLD – CRESS ISN’T YOUR USUAL DAMSEL IN DISTRESS.

Cress grew up as a prisoner. With only netscreens for company, she’s forced to do the bidding of the evil Queen Levana. Now that means tracking down Cinder and her handsome accomplice Emperor Kai. But little does Queen Levana know that those she seeks, and the man she loves, are plotting her downfall…

As paths cross and the price of freedom rises, happily ever after has never seemed further away for Cress, Scarlet and Cinder.

This is not the fairy tale you remember. But it’s one you won’t forget.

Cress is so incredibly, unbelievably sweet. And a little naïve, but not horrifyingly so. I actually really liked her partnership with Carswell – he is so completely jaded and a player, and Cress is so very, very sweet. The balance between the two leads is kind of perfect, and it helps to drive the rest of the story as Cinder and her gang rush towards the royal wedding in an attempt to save Kai.

I love the original version of Rapunzel – where the prince is blinded, wanders through the deserts until his princess saves him with her tears. And I love the fact that, like the other fairy tales in this series, Meyer is able to turn the darker, more traditional tale into a steampunk journey. And the women, although they are often rescued in many fairy tales, are able to rescue themselves. Especially Cinder, who has awesome cybertronic attachments.

It took me a little while to get through Scarlet, I don’t love Red Riding Hood, and it felt a little slow. But it set everything in Cress up perfectly. And now, with the final words of the story, and Cinder’s declaration ringing in my ears, I can’t wait to start on the final leg of their fight! Especially once I met Jacin and Winter, and found out what the plan was and where they were heading to… bring on the next adventure!

Image source: Goodreads

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