Series Review - The Lunar Chonicles

The Lunar Chronicles

Marissa Meyer

9 stars
Young Adult/ Futuristic/ Fairytale/ Retelling/ Post-Apocalyptic/ Sci-Fi
Easy Read
All Ages

I was incredibly reluctant to start this series, I missed some of the initial enthusiasm when it was released/ first discovered and I was put off reading the novels because of all the hype. My expectations for these books where astronomical. I wanted to feel the same way about these books as I feel about Harry Potter (which can never be read too many times over, and should be read by everyone). I was not disappointed!

None of these books where what I had expected, they where true to the originals - which does make the stories outcome predictable so I have not included that in my ratings - but I still found that the story's stand on their only as something totally unique as well.

I tried to avoid Spoilers in the reviews bellow, as I review each story however there are some details that escaped.

Cinder
9 Stars

Set in a future Asia, post nuclear war. The world lives in fear of the Lunar's (people who have been living on the moon for generations and have developed unnatural powers). A new disease called  Lutmosis - incredibly contagious and always fatal- is ravaging earths population. Cinder is a mechanic in the city of New Bejing, home to the royal family of the Emperor and Prince Kia, through a twist of fate Cinder and Kia become friends (this was one major bonus, it was not instant overbearing love/infatuation situation). The Emperor contracts Lutmosis, with his imminent death, the Queen of Luna (the moon) threatens war with earth if Kia refuses her marriage proposal. Torn by his duties to his people,Kia will announce his decision at the Royal Ball.

Scarlett
9 Stars

Under strange circumstances Scarlett's grandmother has gone missing, while Scarlett is positive she has been kidnapped. The locals - including the authorities - in their village believe the eccentric woman has finally cracked and will turn up unharmed and still insane eventually. Teaming up with the mysterious street fighter who calls himself Wolf, Scarlett heads towards Paris. Determined to save her grandmother and answer the question of why she was taken in the first place, the spirited young woman unwittingly walks into the middle of a war.

This book was even better than the first, I fangirled over Wolf in a way that I just couldn't over Kia - which was a disappointment with the first novel as I have had a thing for the original Cinderella's prince - I found that there was more mystery in this novel. While I know it was little red ridding hood it didn't follow the original in the same way that Cinder did. Having the two separate story lines (that I know are going to intersect at some point) added another depth. The final perk for me was the Sci-Fi spin, the advanced technology was understandable and not overly complex making it seem more "real".

Cress
8.5 Stars

CresentMoon is a Lunar shell,  given to the government at birth to be culled for lacking The Gift. No one knows Cress has been imprisoned alone in a satellite for much of her life. With a knack for technology Cress has been working for Sybil (the queens right hand) to disable earths defenses against the Lunars and spy on their "secure" information. Cress double crosses Sybil, hiding Cinder's ship from detection. Cinder and her crew make a daring attempt to free Cress with disastrous results. Thorne and Cress are trapped in the satilite falling out of orbit, Scarlett is taken captive by Sybil. Abord the ship Wolf is left to wonder if Scarlett has been executed as a traitor, while Cinder attempts to pick up the pieces of their shattered plan and save not only her prince but her planet.

I enjoyed this read but  finding the story more predictable than the previous two, it did take me longer to get through. Impatient for answers and the finally I speed through it and would probably need to reread it to give it a fair review.

Winter
8 Stars

The grand finale !
Will Cinder manage to start a rebellion and over throw the queen in time to save Kia and the rest of planet earth?
Scarlett is wasting away in her cage and Wolf is captured, with both of them captives of the Queen Levena their future is bleak.
Cress and Thorne, a shell and a human, head into the Lunar palace, As sheep among wolves. Relying on a huge amount of luck they know that one wrong move and the plan will fall apart  
Battling the madness within her own mind Princess Winter attempts to rally troops against her aunt.

To avoid spoiling anything I won't say too much.
I am pleased with the way that it all ended, I loved every single one of the characters and I wasn't the least bit disappointed with the series. Winter was my favorite character in the end, although her book was my least favorite. While Cress and Winter where both fantastic books I found that they could have easily been combined into one. The excess number of pages seemed to be an editing or marketing trick, bogging down the story with repetition of previous statements and events.