Winter (The Lunar Chronicles #4) The Final Book!

                Happy Friday readers!  So today I am so excited to have finished a book I've been listening to for a while and dying to know how it ends.  Only downside is when I'm not going on a trip my daily commute is like 10 minutes round trip which is great for sleeping in and MPG but not so great for banking audiobook time.  Also I apparently need some new headphones since the little buds never stay in my ears and other things I could do while listening always seem louder than my phone without them so….its a learning process.  Plus as much as I just wanted to read the end of the book I couldn't after listening so long I was attached to the way the it was narrated.  This book is the Winter by Marissa Meyer, the final book in The Lunar Chronicles.  Being the final book there will be spoilers through the first three books (Cinder, Scarlet, & Cress), duh.

Rating:  5 Stars

                OMG can I just take a moment to say how much I completely adored this book!  Because I did!

                So we pick up where we left off in Cress.  Scarlet is held on Luna in a cage, a pet for Winter, our new POV and Levana's step daughter whom is a bit off her rocker.  Cinder and the rest of the crew are working out their plan to take her throne from Levana and end the war  Having last kidnapped Kai before his wedding, Captain Thorne healing from loss of sight and Wolf completely desperate to find Scarlet they have a lot of disadvantages in their way.  Jacin had previously been helping them but turned on them and now he is back on Lunar, back to where he needs to be by Winter's side.  Despite her marred face and her refusal to use a glamour she is still the most beautiful around and her childhood friend, Jacin, will do anything to keep her safe. 

                I liked getting the new perspective of Winter, each book I feel the new story line/POV has really added to the plot and I like Winter.  Her mental instability is clear and as she struggles with it you get a sense for her.  That she would let this happen to herself just by refusing to use her gift, by refusing to do what others Lunars do so easily and without thought or care really shows her strength.  Winter also has this eternal sweetness about her.  She is truly kind, not in trying to be good she simply is by default.  That translates throughout and her random little 'crazy talk' was enduring.  I also enjoyed the dynamic of her and Jacin and his protective instinct towards her.  He was a bit gruff and hard to trust in the previous book, with good reason, but he was doing what he did for a good reason. 

                 Winter pretty much takes all the awesome things from the previous books and combines that and then some in this stunning conclusion that just had me completely captivated.  So much was happening and so many different moving parts in the plan as well as with our characters.  I loved seeing the couples we've come to know and root for as they dealt with everything thrown at them.   I love all of the characters deeply and they only improve on it with each book but I think my favorites just for pure hilarity of some of their lines are Iko and Captain Thorne.  There is so much tension and even when he was the cause of the tension he was able to bring some levity in with his signature charm. 

                We also get to meet a bunch of new characters on Lunar.  This is the first time we get to really take place there, the majority of the story revolves in Luna.  This involves dealing with Lunars who have the gift and when most of your crew can be manipulated this only amps up the danger.  They take on impossible odds but even when they aren't together they are all working towards one main goal:  End Levana. 

                There were parts I cried in.  I squealed with excitement in others.  Gasped in shock.  Or even groaned loudly about some things that frustrated me.  Parts where so much was happening both action wise and intricate plot wise that I was ready to strangle the next person who interrupted me.  Seriously.  We also had more nods to the fairytales which rounded it all out.  Everything was so beautifully wrapped up and kept going until the last moment, I kept thinking there weren't nearly enough minutes of the audiobook or pages (as I kept following by chapters at the end) to do everything that needs to be done.  Still Meyer was able to do just that, keep me stuck in the world and still wrap things up in a fitting way.  I'm not saying I don't want more, because let's be honest I do.  I always want more but I am so happy.  I don't think anyone could be disappointed with this. 

                I'd love to hear your thoughts in the comments below on this wrap up or series as a whole.  It is for sure one of my favorite series of all times.  I think my favorite ship in this was Thorne and Cress, while I shipped all the pairs they edged ahead, probably because of Thorne and my crush on him but then again I adored Cress and her sweet naïve yet determined attitude, but yeah Thorne.  Tell me your favorite ship!  Or moment…or just tell me all the feels! 

               

                Until next time…

Cress: The Lunar Chronicles Book 3

                Happy Monday!  I hope this is a short week for many of you and you have great plans for the holidays!  I so hope many of you have now seen Mockingjay Part 2 as well, I did a full review here.  I am thinking of seeing it again later today because I loved it so much!  But in the mean time I wanted to continue on with my review of The Lunar Chronicles and move onto book three, Cress. If you missed it I reviewed Cinder and Scarlet previously.  As usual there will be spoilers for the first two books in the series so be warned, go catch up and come back.

Rating: 5 Stars

                In Cress, the third book in the Lunar Chronicles, we continue on with our previous characters Cinder, Scarlet, Wolf, Captain Throne, Prince Kai and so on but we get introduced to a new lead as well.  Cress of course!  Cress is based around Rapunzel, though instead of being stuck in a tower she’s been imprisoned on a satellite since childhood with only her netscreens to keep her company.  This has made her an excellent hacker and the groups best hope of staying ahead, though she just received orders from Queen Levana to hunt them down.  When her daring rescue goes badly the group is separated.  Cress is finally free of the satellite but it’s not without cost.  The group, split, but keep moving forward and though they didn’t volunteer keep trying to save the world while Queen Levana is bound and determined nothing will prevent her marriage to Emperor Kai and of course ruling over the world. 

                I just loved it.  We got more Captain Thorne, who if you didn’t read my review of Scarlet to know, whom I just adore.  Cress has a major crush on this handsome rogue as well which is written so beautifully, all sweet, cute, and innocent but still with something more as they get to know one another all the while Cress is learning how the world works in real life not just on the screens.  Cress has been through a lot but she is ready to help and dive right in I liked her from the start.  But even though we have them we also have plenty of the other gang is well with everyone working to their own ends as they are all fugitives.  Each character is going through some serious emotional and physical trials which add depth to everyone and the story at large. 

                 I really enjoyed watching the plot unfold and how things twined together.  There was lots of action happening, mystery, political power plays and spy like moves to keep you glued to the page.  Oh and some romance happening….when you’re heart isn’t breaking that is.  There is also plenty of comic relief throughout in the moments when you need it and my favorite ones are still from Thorne and Iko!  If I didn’t already love Throne (sorry Cress I might have to fight you for him) then a gift he gives would have totally won me over, even if he went about getting it a bit badly.  I do think one of my favorite parts of the series is how everyone is involved and no one is just stuck sitting on the side lines as the story moves along, everyone has a story and a purpose.  Which as you gain more characters of different temperaments and personalities it’s just bound to be interesting. 

                We also get a deeper look into Luna as a whole.  Not just as moon people who can use glamour but inside the castle.  We also get an introduction to Winter, the title character from the final book.  Things are getting serious and I have so many theories and sub plot lines running through my head trying to figure out how it will all play out and if I can prepare myself for any surprises.  I highly recommend this series to everyone it just gets better with each book. 

                That’s all I have to share with you as of now.  I look forward to getting into Winter and getting my full thoughts of it and the series as a complete whole soon.  I also wanted to take a moment and give a small update.  With this week being a holiday I hope you are all safe and happy.  I will be posting my usual Tuesday and Wednesday posts but I will not be posting anything on Thanksgiving Thursday as a heads up.  Still I wish you all the best and safest of holidays.

                Until next time…

The Lunar Chronicles Book 2 Scarlet by Marissa Meyer

                Hello everyone!  I am super excited today because Mockingjay Pt. 2 comes out tonight, technically tomorrow is the release but almost every theatre is showing 'advanced night showings' for which I am thankful since I work tomorrow.  Yep a group of friends and myself will be going to see the movie and wrap up the series of book to movies.  I am beyond stoked, all the trailers and prep, I re-watched Pt. 1 last night (review here), and I am ready to go.  While I wait for the day to pass I wanted to focus on something else I love and that is The Lunar Chronicles.  I reviewed Cinder last week, here, and today I'd like to continue with book two Scarlet.  Spoilers ahead for those who haven't read Cinder yet get on it and come back.

Rating: 5 Stars

                In Scarlet we still have all the characters we loved from the first book but we get more characters that pull the story into another retelling of sorts all wrapped in the original.  I probably just sucked at explaining that but trust me it works.  Scarlet, if you haven't guessed, is Red Ridding Hood.  Cinder is still here of course, she's trying to break out of prison and make herself the most wanted fugitive in the world.  Still while Cinder works her magic and meets one of my favorite characters ever, Captain Thorne, halfway across the world Scarlet is trying to find her missing grandmother.  Turns out grandma had secrets.  In her search she meets a street fighter, Wolf, who may have the answers she needs but she doesn't trust the beast even if she is drawn to him as he seems to be to her.  Still as they work to recover her grandmother and unravel the secrets of the past they encounter more and more and meet Cinder.  Now all of them have to keep on their toes to stay ahead of Lunar Queen Levana and every guard in the Commonwealth while trying to stop Levana from forcing Prince Kai to become her husband and enslaving the world to Levana.

                There is a lot happening.  Seriously prison breaks, street fights, chases, mysteries, romance, and so much more.  I liked the way the new story with Scarlet was blended into Cinders story.  I liked the addition and he is pretty bad ass.  I like her.  I also really liked Wolf.  He was so awkward and cute at times it was just adorkable.  Plus he kept me on my toes with his…lets say complex nature.  But yes Scarlet keeps her head pretty much as she is suddenly faced with her whole life being changed and turned on end and that is always a sign of a badass heroine.  Cinder is her normal cyborg mechanic self we love from book one, if anything about her life is normal.  Really you just grow to love her more.  Oh and I still just adore Iko!  But yes back to another new character, Captain Thorne, oh I love that man.  To be he is a cross between Hook from Once Upon a Time and Captain Jack Sparrow!  The best of both and just sigh…his one liners and comments had me snorting with laughter as I read.

                There is constantly something happening, a new discovery and mystery to be revealed so there is not much down time.  I liked the continuation and learning more of what Lunar wanted and how both sides were working to achieve their own goals. I also enjoyed the emotional elements throughout the book as well and oh Prince Kai having a chance to see him dealing with Levana and see how torn he is between desire and duty to his people is on point.  Oh and Scarlet and her grandmother, made me tear up.

                I don't really have much else to say because I'm worried I'd ruin it.  Just know I LOVED this book and highly recommend it to everyone!  I'd love to hear your thoughts on the series through the first two books so leave them in the comments.  Did you see some things coming?  Who was your favorite character? I'd love to know.  

                Until next time…