Review: Cress by Marissa Meyer

Series: The Lunar Chronicles (Book 3)

Hardcover: 560 pages

Publisher: Feiwel and Friends

Genre: Fairy Tale | Sci-Fi

Date of Publication: February 4, 2014

My Rating: 5 out of 5

Synopsis:

In the third book in the Lunar Chronicles, Cinder and Captain Thorne are fugitives on the run, now with Scarlet and Wolf in tow. Together, they're plotting to overthrow Queen Levana and her army.

Their best hope lies with Cress, a girl imprisoned on a satellite since childhood who's only ever had her netscreens as company. All that screen time has made Cress an excellent hacker. Unfortunately, she has just received orders from Levana to track down Cinder and her handsome accomplice.

When a daring rescue of Cress goes awry, the group is separated. Cress finally has her freedom, but it comes at a high price. Meanwhile, Queen Levana will let nothing prevent her marriage to Emperor Kai. Cress, Scarlet, and Cinder may not have signed up to save the world, but they may be the only hope the world has.

Review:

I could not put this one down. Cress blew Cinder and Scarlet out the water. It was fast paced and kept me on my toes. Though I am usually able to predict what is going to happen, I was pleasantly surprised at how many times I was proven wrong. I love it when an author can surprise me with plot twists. 

I was crushed for Wolf when the team was separated and they lost Scarlet. We was truly a sad puppy without his mate. 

Cress joins the narrative and is able to give us insight on Levana's mission. Her naivete is endearing and she is adorable. When Cress first meets Thorne, she is so in love with the idea of him from seeing him on her netscreen, that she ignores his flaws. This builds and builds as they have to work together to survive. There is heartbreak, jealousy, and insecurity. Haven't we all been there? (Apart from having to cross a desert at risk of death.)

By the end, I had experienced an emotional roller coaster and I was metaphorically out of breath. I can't wait to pick up Fairest and finish the series with Winter. The Lunar Chronicles series is by far one of my absolute favorites.

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The Lunar Chronicles Series:

Cinder (January 2012)

Scarlet (February 2013)

Cress (February 2014)

Fairest: Levana's Story (February 2015)

Winter (Coming November 2015)

Review: Scarlet by Marissa Meyer

Series: The Lunar Chronicles (Book 2)

Hardcover: 452 pages

Publisher: Feiwel and Friends

Genre: Fairy Tale | Sci-Fi

Date of Publication: February 5, 2013

My Rating: 5 out of 5

Synopsis:

Cinder, the cyborg mechanic, returns in the second thrilling installment of the bestselling Lunar Chronicles. She's trying to break out of prison--even though if she succeeds, she'll be the Commonwealth's most wanted fugitive.

Halfway around the world, Scarlet Benoit's grandmother is missing. It turned out there are many things Scarlet doesn't know about her grandmother, or the grave danger she has lived in her whole life. When Scarlet encounters Wolf, a street fighter who may have information as to her grandmother's whereabouts, she is loath to trust this stranger, but is inexplicably drawn to him, and he to her. As Scarlet and Wolf unravel one mystery, they encounter another when they meet Cinder. Now, all of them must stay one step ahead of the vicious Lunar Queen Levana, who will do anything for the handsome Prince Kai to become her husband, her king, her prisoner.

Review:

Wolf is so attentive to his alpha female.

I love Scarlet and Wolf. It doesn't take him long to fall completely for her. He is a big teddy bear that just needs a hug for all he has been through. Ugh! I swooned so many times because of these two.

Heartthrob Thorne joins Cinder when she breaks out of jail. He is the comedic sidekick that the story needed. Thorne is amazing! He is charming, hilarious, and absolutely full of himself--in an endearing way.

Though Cinder is amazing, I am delighted to say that the story gets better and better. I can't say that I like Scarlet better, but I would say I like it just as much because of the characters. The great thing about Meyer's writing, is that she has found a way to seamlessly stitch together the happenings of people all over the world into the same story. It flows so smoothly. The reader is not left wondering what is happening to people in other cities. The story follows Cinder, Scarlet, Prince Kai, and Levana. Marissa Meyer is brilliant!

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The Lunar Chronicles Series:

Cinder (January 2012)

Scarlet (February 2013)

Cress (February 2014)

Fairest: Levana's Story (February 2015)

Winter (Coming November 2015)

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Review: The Dream Thieves by Maggie Stiefvater

 

Series: The Raven Cycle (Book 2)

Hardcover: 416 pages

Publisher: Scholastic Press

Genre: Paranormal

Date of Publication: September 17, 2013

 

My Rating: 3 out of 4

Synopsis:

If you could steal things from dreams, what would you take?

Ronan Lynch has secrets. Some he keeps from others. Some he keeps from himself.

One secret: Ronan can bring things out of his dreams.

And sometimes he's not the only one who wants those things.

Ronan is one of the raven boys - a group of friends, practically brothers, searching for a dead king named Glendower, who they think is hidden somewhere in the hills by their elite private school, Aglionby Academy. The path to Glendower has long lived as an undercurrent beneath town. But now, like Ronan's secrets, it is beginning to rise to the surface - changing everything in its wake.

Review:

I hate to say it, but the second book in The Raven Boys series fell flat for me. I am so disappointed, because I really wanted to love this book. It took me two months to read it--which is really saying something because I read the first book in about three days.

I would argue that more than half of this book could be removed and the reader would still know what's going on. The unnecessary filler and "character building" didn't serve it's purpose. For the majority of the novel it felt as though the plot were at a stand-still. It was such a struggle for me to finish it. If I had not already bought the third book, I would have put it down and been done with it.

My love for the characters and the story is the only thing that really kept me going. There were moments that I enjoyed and moments I didn't, but I can't rate this one higher due to the drop in momentum.

Oh, and there were so many F-bombs I lost count. That is something else that annoys me. I know we are talking about high school boys here, but it took away from the beauty of the work.

I hope the third book redeems the series.


Check out my review of The Raven Boys

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Author Bio: Marissa Meyer

Author Spotlight

 

Marissa Meyer is the New York Time's bestselling author of The Lunar Chronicles. She received her Bachelor's in Creative Writing and Children's Literature from Pacific Lutheran University, and went on to receive a Master's in Publishing from Pace University. (She knows her stuff) Before her wildly popular book series, she worked as an editor in Seattle and even became a freelance typesetter and proofreader. She currently lives in Tacoma, Washington.  

I think the most charming thing about Marissa is that she is a big geek like me. Some may have first discovered Marissa under her pen name "Alicia Blade" on Fanfiction.net. There she wrote Sailor Moon fan fiction. She is a Moonie enthusiast who enjoys cosplay, and I'm sure she geeks out on the Sailor Moon Crystal reboot.

Her debut novel Cinder echoes her love of the 90s anime and reinvents the classic fairy tales we all know and love. Her writing style is full of plot and intrigue that is fast paced and engaging. I have fallen in love with her works and I look forward to reading more from her.

Works:

The Lunar Chronicles:

Cinder (January 2012)

Scarlet (February 2013)

Cress (February 2014)

Fairest: Levana's Story (February 2015)

Winter (Coming November 2015)

"Glitches" (Prequel to Cinder)

"The Queen's Army" (Prequel to Scarlet)

Author Links

Website | Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads | Amazon | 

Review: Talon by Julie Kagawa

Series: The Talon Saga (Book 1)

Hardcover: 464 pages

Publisher: Harlequin Teen

Genre: Urban Fantasy | Dragons

Date of Publication: October 28, 2014

Synopsis:

Dragons walk among us in human form.

Long ago, dragons were hunted to near extinction by the Order of St. George, a legendary society of dragon slayers. Hiding in human form and growing their numbers in secrecy, the dragons of Talon have become strong and cunning, and they're positioned to take over the world with humans none the wiser.

Ember and Dante Hill are the only sister and brother known to dragonkind. Trained to infiltrate society, Ember wants to live the teen experience and enjoy a summer of freedom before taking her destined place in Talon. But destiny is a matter of perspective, and a rogue dragon will soon challenge everything Ember has been taught. As Ember struggles to accept her future, she and her brother are hunted by the Order of St. George.

Soldier Garret Xavier Sebastian has a mission to seek and destroy all dragons, and Talon's newest recruits in particular. But he cannot kill unless he is certain he has found his prey--and nothing is certain about Ember Hill. Faced with Ember's bravery, confidence, and all-too-human desires, Garret begins to question everything that the Order has ingrained in him--and what he might be willing to five up to find the truth about dragons.

Review:

Best Cover EVER!!!

Seriously, this cover is absolutely beautiful and makes me happy.

I will begin by saying that I read some absolutely scathing reviews about this book on Goodreads, which made me a little hesitant to pick it up. The cover and Kagawa's reputation made me read it. I will say that the scathing reviews are completely unwaranted.

I agree with many that Ember's character is a little lack-luster, but I don't think she was written as immaturely as others claim. I enjoyed the build up with the supporting characters. The characters were different and the plot was stronger with the various arechtypes. For the entirety of the novel, the story is centered on Ember's inner struggle with her desire for the relaxing and fun human world, versus finding her place in the cut throat and scary world of Talon.

This book has action, romance, drama, and DRAGONS! The premise of the book is interesting, with two secret societies being at war with each other. Not original, but it translated well in the book. I have a deep love for dragons, and I really liked how Julie Kagawa portrayed them. The Elders were especially cunning and arrogant--their words and body language dripping with the superiority I expect and love.

A quick note: the book is arranged in two halves. The second half of the book is absolutely stellar. Had there been as much action and development in the first half, I would have rated Talon higher.   

My biggest complaint, and the main reason why I'm rating this book 3 out of 5, is that I wanted to see more dragon stuff. The book is long--a little over 400 pages. There could have been so much more character and plot development had there not been multiple points of view in First Person. It was a huge distraction and took up way too much space. If you have read any of my other reviews, you know how I feel about multiple perspectives being written in First Person. I loathe it. It annoys me to the brink of insanity. Just use Third Person. Seriously.

Also, the other negative aspect that could have made this book exceptional is that Ember, Garret, and Dante fell a little flat for me. Not completely, just a little. I could have ignored one flat character, but when all three of the leading characters are flat, it really begins to bother me. Furthermore, there was something about the interactions that just seemed artificial. I didn't bond with these characters. This wasn't a deal breaker for me, it just made the story less engaging.

Despite that, I think this series has great potential and I recommend that you at least check it out and give it a try.   



Rating: 3 out of 5 owls



Links:

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Review: The Elite by Kiera Cass

Series: The Selection (Book 2)

Hardcover: 336 pages

Publisher: HarperTeen

Genre: Dystopian | Teen Romance

Date of Publication: April 23, 2013

Synopsis:

The selection began with 35 girls. Now, with the group narrowed down to the Elite, the competition to win Prince Maxon's love is fiercer than ever. The closer America gets to the crown, the more she struggles to figure out where her heart truly lies. Each moment she spends with Maxon is like a fairy tale, filled with breathless, glittering romance. But whenever she sees her first love, Aspen, standing guard, she's swept up in a longing for the life they'd planned to share.

America is desperate for more time. But while she's torn between her two futures, the rest of the Elite know exactly what they want--and America's chance to choose is about to slip away.

Just when America is sure she's made her choice, a devastating loss makes her question everything again. And while she's struggling to imagine her future, the violent rebels that are determined to overthrow the monarchy are growing stronger and their plans could destroy her chance at any kind of happy ending.

Review:

Why did Maxon have to go and ruin it?

If you read my review of The Selection, you know that I thoroughly enjoyed the first novel in the Selection series. Maxon was sweet and naive and head over heels for America.

Well think again, because every aspect of The Bachelor TV show that I despise showed up in The Elite. I'm disappointed in both America and Maxon. America was upfront with Maxon at the beginning of the series in letting him know that she had feelings for someone else. I commend her for that. But Maxon grows impatient and starts flirting with all the other girls, while still claiming to be in love with America. Even though America was stupid and let her past feelings for Aspen cloud her judgment, at least she was clear with Maxon on her feelings.

So why did Maxon run off to "make out" with the other girls? Because he's a douche bag, that why. He was such a jerk. I have read reviews of The One, but I have no desire to read the rest of the books in the series. I hate it when people cheat on each other in real life, so why would I enjoy reading about it? Not gonna happen. You don't tell someone you love them and then go be intimate with a bunch of other girls. 

LIES! 

In terms of the plot, there was some good development. I really like how America truly wants to help the people, not just show off for them. Cass has some great potential political discord going on that I enjoyed, but I wished there had been a little bit more emphasis. I think it would have helped the story for the better. 

I feel conflicted. When Maxon explained his poor behavior, I could understand it. When America finally realizes how much she really cares for Maxon, I rolled my eyes and scoffed. In theory, I liked the development of the sub-plot, but I just kept getting distracted by how badly all the characters were acting. Ugh! Why can't you just be honest with each other and love each other and get married and live happily ever after? I understand the need for drama to draw the reader in, but this was ridiculous.

I'm giving The Elite 3 out of 5 owls simply because I saw so much potential. The reviews I read confirm that Maxon and America get together in the end, but I'm too mad at the both of them to want to finish the series. My friend who finished the series loves it, so you should at least give it a read. The situation didn't suit my tastes, but there was nothing at all wrong with the writing style.



Rating: 3 out of 5 owls



Links:

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Review: The Raven Boys by Maggie Stiefvater

Series: Raven Cycle (Book 1)

Hardcover: 416 pages

Publisher: Scholastic Press

Genre: Paranormal

Date of Publication: September 18, 2012 

Synopsis:

Every year, Blue Sargent stands next to her clairvoyant mother as the soon-to-be dead walk past. Blue never sees them--until this year, when a boy emerges from the dark and speaks to her.

His name is Gansey, a rich student at Aglionby, the local private school. Blue has a policy of staying away from Aglionby boys. Known as Raven Boys, they can only mean trouble.

But Blue is drawn to Gansey, in a way she can't entirely explain. He is on a quest that has encompassed three other Raven Boys: Adam, the scholarship student who resents the privilege around him; Ronan, the fierce soul whose emotions range from anger to despair; and Noah, the taciturn watcher who notices many things but says very little.

For as long as she can remember, Blue has been warned that she will cause her true love to die. She doesn't believe in true love, and never thought this would be a problem. But as her life becomes caught up in the strange and sinister world of the Raven Boys, she's not so sure anymore.

Review:

Brilliant.

I could not put The Raven Boys down. The concept of the novel is so intriguing. There are multiple points of view, but they are presented through Third Person, which I greatly appreciated. It created a smooth transition between the characters.

I have not read Stiefvater's Shiver series, but I will have to pick it up because I am blown away by her writing style. Stiefvater is an amazing story teller. The Raven Boys is a complex, multi-level story that combines mythology with the supernatural and adds a dash of teenage angst.

The characters are amazing. I can hear the accents in the text and the linguistic nuances that are unique to each individual voice. Each character has a back story that adds such depth and meaning to the events that push the story forward. Ronan and Adam tugged my heartstrings in a serious way. I was fully prepared to hate Gansey just like Blue, but I loved him. I opened the book fully expecting Gansey and Blue to fall into an infatuation that quickly led to his death. Well, I'm still waiting on it because who would have thought that she would get the butterflies for Adam. And realistically, their personalities match. It was perfection!

I haven't read reviews for the next two books, so I don't know whether Gansey and Blue will get together, but I have to admit that if they do I'll feel a little hurt. Betrayed. Because Blue and Adam are so stinking cute that I can't even handle it.

Other than that, I just really enjoyed everything about this book. It is hard to surprise me, but there were a few good ones in there. I have to put the warning out there, there is some bad language. The F-bomb is used about 4 or 5 times that I noticed. Just a disclaimer. Can't say that I didn't warn you.

The Raven Boys is an absolute must-read. Go buy it and read it. NOW!



Rating: 5 out of 5 Owls



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Review: Cinder by Marissa Meyer

Series: The Lunar Chronicles (Book 1)

Hardcover: 400 pages

Publisher: Feiwel & Friends

Genre: Fairy Tale | Sci-Fi

Date of Publication: January 3, 2012

Synopsis:

Humans and androids crowd the raucous streets of New Beijing. A deadly plague ravages the population. From space, a ruthless lunar people watch, waiting to make their move. No one knows that Earth's fate hinges on one girl...

Cinder, a gifted mechanic, is a cyborg. She's a second-class citizen with a mysterious pass, reviled by her stepmother and blamed for her stepsister's illness. But when her life becomes intertwined with the handsome Prince Kai's, she suddenly finds herself at the center of an intergalactic struggle, and a forbidden attraction. Caught between duty and freedom, loyalty and betrayal, she must uncover secrets about her past in order to protect her world's future.

Review:

Holy cow, this book is good!

And when I say good I mean that it has been years since I've read a book that I liked as much as Cinder. For a debut novel, I am thoroughly impressed by Marissa Meyer and I can only hope that when I finally publish my first book my story will be as complex and developed as hers. Marissa has created a world with multiple layers of pain, suspicion, intrigue, and romance. I don't know much about the mechanical and medical side, but it seems like Marissa did her research. I've never been a sci-fi fan, but I've always loved fairy tales and this one is a superb retelling of the classic Cinderella.

I am so glad I finally read Cinder. I'm glad I only just discovered it because there are two other books out, so I won't have to wait to continue the story. I hope to have Scarlet by the end of the week. Kudos to Marissa Meyer for a fantastic story. Her writing style flows between perspectives without any confusion--mainly because she uses third person, which I greatly appreciate. Her story-telling is top notch. I was definitely reminded of Sailor Moon in terms of the matriarchy and the nature of the villains, but the development of the lunar characters is strictly Marissa's.

There is character development, plot twists, and great mythology. It is very predictable, but the story is so good I easily looked past it. I can continue to gush, but that would be redundant. Cinder is an absolute must read. Go get it now!

Rating: 5 out of 5 owls

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The Lunar Chronicles Series:

Cinder (January 2012)

Scarlet (February 2013)

Cress (February 2014)

Fairest: Levana's Story (February 2015)

Winter (Coming November 2015)

Trailer:





Review: The Selection by Kiera Cass

Series: The Selection (Book 1)

Hardcover: 336 pages

Publisher: HarperTeen

Genre: Dystopian | Teen Romance

Date of Publication: April 24, 2012

Synopsis:

For thirty-five girls, the Selection is the chance of a lifetime. The opportunity to escape the life laid out for them since birth. To be swept up in a world of glittering gowns and priceless jewels. To live in a palace and compete for the heart of gorgeous Prince Maxon.

But for America Singer, being Selected is a nightmare. It means turning her back on her secret love with Aspen, who is a caste below her. Leaving her home to enter a fierce competition for a crown she doesn't want. Living in a palace that is constantly threatened by violent rebel attacks.

Then America meets Prince Maxon. Gradually, she starts to question all the plans she's made for herself--and realizes that the life she's always dreamed of may not compare to a future she never imagined.

Review:

I picked this book up because of the cover. It's gorgeous! I'm a sucker for a great cover, and this one takes the cake. In fact, every cover in this series is beautiful. It was also the super pretty, super girly cover that made me put it back on the shelf. I have learned over the years that you can usually judge a book by it's cover. This one made me hesitate. Some time later, I came back to this book because of my friend. She highly recommended it, and, being the trusting friend that I am, I read it.

And liked it.

I will be the first to say that I hate The Bachelor TV show with the passion of a thousand burning suns. I hate The Bachelorette even more. So, I was surprised by how much I liked this book. Maybe it was the fact that it was no secret that these girls wanted Maxon for money, power, and social status. And don't forget the food. I loved the jealous back biting and the vindictive character of some of the girls. I was charmed at how some of the girls became very close friends.

I felt bad for the handsome prince who was so overwhelmed by suddenly having so many beautiful girls all vying for his affection (did you catch my sarcasm?) when he had never been around women before. I was happy when America suggested that they be friends. What a mature decision! How about marry a friend that you will like for life, and not some fake plastic Barbie with horns and a pitchfork? I loved it. I knew, of course, that they would fall in love. Maxon makes it obvious. He became so endearing with how he sought America out and made sure that she knew where he stood in regards to her.

The only down side--which I knew based on the summary there would be one--is the love triangle. I guess I've just gotten bored with them. Why can't we just have two people who fall in love, and the speed bumps that try to separate them aren't other lovers? Wishful thinking.

This series has great potential, so I'm giving it a 4 out of 5. I look forward to reading the rest of the series.

Rating: 4 out of 5 owls

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