Book Review: The Lunar Chronicles

Over the last few weeks I've had the immense pleasure of reading through the first three volumes of the supremely talented Marissa Meyer's Lunar Chronicles: Cinder, Scarlet, and Cress.

You guys I love them so much!!

Here's why they're awesome:

They're fairy tale retellings that fit together in an overarching original plot that's compelling and fascinating and kind of brilliant.

 Cinder starts off as a fairly standard Cinderella retelling—except the title character is an Asian cyborg mechanic living in New Beijing and the prince is about to become emperor of the Commonwealth 'cause his dad is dying from the plague that's ravaging the world. Oh yeah, and this crazy moon queen with brainwashing powers is trying to take over the planet. Cinder does a brilliant job of staying true to the original fairy tale (ball and glass slipper and everything!), all the while laying groundwork for a bigger story that leaves us clamoring for more by the end.

Scarlet is fascinating. It's a Red Riding Hood retelling (wolf and grandmother and red hood and everything), while still continuing the story and plot lines begun in Cinder. The book unfolds by alternating Scarlet and Cinder's stories, until, eventually, you begin to see the threads that connect them…

Cress is Rapunzel—stranded in a satellite orbiting earth. This book kicks it up a notch higher, because now we have three interconnected stories and main characters to keep track of, all fitting in to the mounting plot begun in Cinder. And somehow Marissa Meyer manages to still keep true to the story elements of the original Rapunzel fairy tale: an isolated tower, an evil witch, lots of hair, wandering in the desert… Cress is a captivating strong heroine in her own right, with a different personality than either of our other two leading ladies. And that ending! AHHHHHH!!!!!



Now to pick up Levanna's story in Fairest, and patiently await the release of Winter in November (AUUUUGHHHH Where is the TARDIS when you need it???).

And just for fun, here's some of the random thoughts/reactions I had while reading the books.

[MILD SPOILERS FOR THOSE WHO HAVEN'T READ THE SERIES YET]

Thoughts while reading Cinder:

Cinderella is an Asian cyborg! Cool!
This book is gonna be so fun and… WHAT WORLDWIDE PLAGUE??? Oh.
Iko = hilarious.
Aw she's friends with her younger stepsister.
The VW is the pumpkin coach! Pumpkin coach!
What the… TELL ME MORE ABOUT THE CRAZY MOON PEOPLE.
Okay, I'm calling the twist three chapters in.
I heart Prince Kai.
WHAT THE CYBORG DRAFT WHY.
PEONY WHY :'( :'( :'( :'(
Evil stepmother is evil.
QUEEN LEVANA IS SO INTERESTING AND CREEPY.
Ahhhh I spy Rapunzel!
The ball the ball the ball!
THE FOOT IS THE GLASS SLIPPER AHHHHHH
Wait, this book continues on? ahhhhhhhh **grabs for Scarlet**


Thoughts while reading Scarlet:

Oooh we're in France.
Aw her grandmother is missing.
Scarlet is super kick-butt. I dig her piloting skills.
Whoa Wolf is creepy. But hungry? And kind of sweet?
Captain Thorne HAHAHAHAHA
KAI'S JEALOUSY OF CAPTAIN THORNE = :-D
IKO IS A SPACESHIP IKO IS A SPACESHIP
I'm getting Star Wars vibes AND I LIKE IT.
POOR KAI POOR KAI POOR KAI POOR KAI
Cinder, go to Africa SHEESH
Ahhhhhh Scarlet and Cinder are connected!
These wolf people are so weird/creepy.
Wolf is good, right?
Wolf is not good.
Wolf is good?
THE TRAIN SCENE ***heart***
The underground lab scene!! :-( :-( :-( :-(
They are totally Lunar. They've got to be.
THEY **ARE** LUNAR I KNEW IT!!!
Ackkkk Grandma!!! :-( :-( :-( :-(
YAY EVERYBODY TOGETHER!!!!


Thoughts while reading Cress:

Oh. My. Gosh. I LOVE THIS GIRL.
This girl is me.
This girl is so me.
Literally, this girl is EXACTLY LIKE ME, over-active imagination, uber emotional and idealistic…
Oh I just want to hug her.
She and Thorne are totally gonna hook up.
HA SHE HAS A CRUSH ON HIM.
Ack! Contact!
No Sybil!!!!!!!!
Scarlet! Wolf!!!!! :-(
Whoa! The desert! The blindness! HOW COULD I FORGET ABOUT THE BLINDNESS?
Thorne totally = Han Solo.
I would react EXACTLY THE SAME AS CRESS if I had to march through the Sahara. OMG I love her so much.
Nooooo misunderstanding!
FINALLY EVERYBODY IS TOGETHER IN AFRICA… except for… :-( :-( :-(
SAD WOLF IS SO SAD. :-( :-(
Whoa first mention of Winter! *intrigued*
"It starts with kidnapping the groom." YESSSS I HIGHLY APPROVE OF THIS PLAN!
SCARLET!!!!!!!!!!!!
WHERE IS THE NEXT BOOK I WANNA READ WINTER'S STORY RIGHT NOW!!!!!!!