Review: Winter by Marissa Meyer (The Lunar Chronicles #4)

Winter by Marissa Meyer (The Lunar Chronicles #4)

Rating: PG

Genre: Fantasy, Dystopian, Romance, Retelling

Score: ❤❤❤❤❤ 

Page Count: 827

Book #4 in the Lunar Chronicles series

Publisher: Fiewel and Friends

Published: November 10, 2015

SPOILERS AHEAD!! DON'T READ IF YOU HAVEN'T READ THE PREVIOUS BOOKS!

Princess Winter is admired by the Lunar people for her grace and kindness, and despite the scars that mar her face, her beauty is said to be even more breathtaking than that of her stepmother, Queen Levana.

Winter despises her stepmother, and knows Levana won’t approve of her feelings for her childhood friend—the handsome palace guard, Jacin. But Winter isn’t as weak as Levana believes her to be and she’s been undermining her stepmother’s wishes for years. Together with the cyborg mechanic, Cinder, and her allies, Winter might even have the power to launch a revolution and win a war that’s been raging for far too long.

Can Cinder, Scarlet, Cress, and Winter defeat Levana and find their happily ever afters?

Reviews of The Lunar Chronicles:

Cinder by Marissa Meyer (Lunar Chronicles #1)

Scarlet by Marissa Meyer (Lunar Chronicles #2)

Cress by Marissa Meyer (Lunar Chronicles #3)

Fairest by Marissa Meyer (Lunar Chronicles #3.5)

REVIEW:

PROS:

1. WINTER IS FINALLY HERE! PRAISE THE LORD ABOVE!!! Anyway, now that the fangirling is done, (kind of) I'm so excited to have finally picked this book up and read it in just a few days though still not fast enough! I freaking love this series so much and I was anxious to find out all what happens to the characters and how this series wraps up! Without further ado, here's my review on this AWESOME conclusion to the series:

2. I swear that the characters in these books just keep getting better and better with each installment as we follow their journeys through earth and on Luna. I want to talk for a second about my favorite character, Cinder. I love how strong she continues to grow as she becomes more determined to dethrone Queen Levana and take back her rightful place in the kingdom of Luna and become the ruler that she knows the people deserve. I love how Cinder doesn't try to portray herself as perfect, knowing perfectly well all that is at stake and fearing so much for her friends as their journey to take Levana down becomes more and more dangerous.

We do get to see a lot more of Scarlet in this book as well, which is nice because we barely got to see any of her in the third book. She's still not my favorite character but she is very feisty and headstrong and doesn't at all give up easily which is always a nice trait in a character.
Cress also becomes a little less naive as she helps everyone with their mission and I really loved that. Cress becomes a stronger character as well as a more daring one who doesn't shy away from danger as quickly as she normally does.

Our other characters, Thorne, Kai, Wolf and the loveable Iko are pretty much the same as always which is perfect. Thorne still can't take things seriously and makes jokes at the most inappropriate times, Kai is just . . . PERFECT. Be still my heart ❤❤❤❤ Wolf just wants to finally get his chance to fight back against Levana any way he can and Iko, I swear gets sassier and sassier throughout the book. Overall, THEY ARE MY BABIES!!

3. The story line and what everything leads up to in this book is just so much craziness and epic-ness that I honestly couldn't wrap my brain around all of what was happening. There were so many twists and turns, ups and downs, excitement, fighting, action, a typhoon of emotions that it still hasn't sunken in yet that the series is over. I was a bit nervous to think about how much could possibly happen in over eight hundred pages but I was hooked into the story the WHOLE time as the story played out and our characters had to face a lot more problems than just sneaking into the palace to get their hands on Levana. So much happened in the story that it's a bit hard to imagine just what runs through Marissa Meyer's mind while writing these books. Respect.  

4. Overall, if you haven't yet read the Lunar Chronicles series, DO IT! It has science fiction, epic fighting and war scenes, adventure across space, danger, excitement, a little bit of magic and romance and it's just all around an addicting read for everyone. If you're looking for a series that seriously has so much to offer, look no further because Cinder is here! Or, Winter. You get what I'm saying.
This book kept me on the edge of my seat the entire time and I have no doubt that it will keep you glued to the pages until the very end. I should know, I stayed up until two in the morning last night reading and I died on page 726. My body couldn't handle it!

Follow Marissa!

Goodreads

Twitter

Facebook

YouTube

Pinterest

I hope you guys enjoyed this book review! Read on bookworms! See you in the next chapter!

The enchantment continues....

The universe of the Lunar Chronicles holds stories—and secrets—that are wondrous, vicious, and romantic. How did Cinder first arrive in New Beijing? How did the brooding soldier Wolf transform from young man to killer? When did Princess Winter and the palace guard Jacin realize their destinies?

With nine stories—five of which have never before been published—and an exclusive never-before-seen excerpt from Marissa Meyer’s upcoming novel, Heartless, about the Queen of Hearts from Alice in Wonderland, Stars Above is essential for fans of the bestselling and beloved Lunar Chronicles.

--
The Little Android: A retelling of Hans Christian Andersen’s “The Little Mermaid,” set in the world of The Lunar Chronicles.
Glitches: In this prequel to Cinder, we see the results of the plague play out, and the emotional toll it takes on Cinder. Something that may, or may not, be a glitch….
The Queen’s Army: In this prequel to Scarlet, we’re introduced to the army Queen Levana is building, and one soldier in particular who will do anything to keep from becoming the monster they want him to be.
Carswell’s Guide to Being Lucky: Thirteen-year-old Carswell Thorne has big plans involving a Rampion spaceship and a no-return trip out of Los Angeles.
The Keeper: A prequel to the Lunar Chronicles, showing a young Scarlet and how Princess Selene came into the care of Michelle Benoit.
After Sunshine Passes By: In this prequel to Cress, we see how a nine-year-old Cress ended up alone on a satellite, spying on Earth for Luna.
The Princess and the Guard: In this prequel to Winter, we see a game called The Princess
The Mechanic: In this prequel to Cinder, we see Kai and Cinder’s first meeting from Kai’s perspective.
Something Old, Something New: In this epilogue to Winter, friends gather for the wedding of the century...

Stars Above by Marissa Meyer Available February 2, 2016

Review: 172 Hours On The Moon by Johan Harstad

172 Hours On The Moon by Johan Harstad

Rating: PG-13

Genre: Science Fiction, Horror

Score: 3.5 Stars

Page Count: 350

Stand Alone

Publisher: Little, Brown Book for Young Readers

Published: April 17, 2012

It's been decades since anyone set foot on the moon. Now three ordinary teenagers, the winners of NASA's unprecedented, worldwide lottery, are about to become the first young people in space--and change their lives forever. Mia, from Norway, hopes this will be her punk band's ticket to fame and fortune. Midori believes it's her way out of her restrained life in Japan. Antoine, from France, just wants to get as far away from his ex-girlfriend as possible.
It's the opportunity of a lifetime, but little do the teenagers know that something sinister is waiting for them on the desolate surface of the moon. And in the black vacuum of space... no one is coming to save them.
In this chilling adventure set in the most brutal landscape known to man, highly acclaimed Norwegian novelist Johan Harstad creates a vivid and frightening world of possibilities we can only hope never come true. 

Review: 

PROS:

1. I've been seeing this book float around for quite a while so I was bound to pick it up sooner or later. Not only does the cover look super cool and the title sound ominous, it has a pretty cool synopsis that I thought sounded creepy to the point where I just couldn't pass it up. I've been gravitating towards creepier books in the past couple of weeks, which isn't surprising since Halloween is just around the corner, so I thought it would be the perfect time to finally pick this book up and see what everyone was talking about. Here's my review:

2. The first thing I want to talk about is the characters. Mia, Midori and Antoine as well as the astronauts sent up to the moon were all interesting characters. I liked that they all came from different parts of the world as well as different walks of life. Mia was in a band, Antoine was still trying to get over his girlfriend and Midori was a young teenage girl who just liked shopping because she could. I liked getting a little bit of background to all the characters and connecting with them little by little. There isn't much back story to any of the characters but what I did get satisfied me enough to want to continue on with their journey.

3. It was an obvious fact going into the book that the scientific facts strewn throughout were very well researched. The author put in a lot of dedication to the researching of space, NASA, astronaut training and the conditions of the moon that really made the book even more interesting to read. I really loved feeling like what I was reading were actually events and facts of a subject I don't know a ton about: The moon, its surface, NASA's previous space missions, the Wow! signal which I knew only a little bit about. It made the book more entertaining to read. If you love a book about anything having to do with space, I would recommend this one.

4. I really loved that this book also had pictures that were made specifically for the story and also had actual pictures of earth from space and of the moon and its surface. It was really cool seeing the details of the moon base as well its layout through the pictures. If you loved Miss Peregrine's Home For Peculiar Children or Asylum, you'll probably enjoy this one as well.

5. Lastly, I would dub this book a great read for the Halloween season. Many people told me how creepy this book was and how they still had nightmares about it even though they read it months before. The last 150 pages of this book were absolutely brilliant in my eyes. It gets creepy right off the bat once the characters land on the moon and things start getting weirder as their time on the moon increases. They see things, hear things, experience things that are unexplainable and keep you guessing as well as on the edge of your seat. The book keeps you asking what's going on and what exactly is on the moon other than the characters. It even had a couple of scenes that seemed straight out of a horror movie so if you don't like creepy or gory, might want to skip this one.

The reason I didn't give this book a five-star rating was because of these reasons:

1. It took a little while for this book to pick up the pace. I was about halfway through the book and the characters still weren't on the moon. I get that the characters and everything had to be introduced and set before the story could continue but I would've liked to have seen it go a little faster in the beginning. I would suggest reading at least the first 100 pages or so, after that it gets interesting.

2. Some of the things that the three teens experience before going to the moon didn't tie in well with the rest of the story, even towards the end of the book when those things are explained. What I mean by that is this: Before heading to the moon, each teen sees something that can't be explained by them or the people around them, each a seemingly eerie warning that they shouldn't go to the moon. It seemed awkward and still like loose ends. I didn't get why those experiences happened the way they did or even happened at all. I guess it did make things a little more eerie to say the least.

3. Some of the POV's in this book didn't add anything to the story for me. They felt like random chapters that could've been left out and wouldn't have changed the story or how it played out. Mr. Himmelfarb added a little more of a creep factor and so did the scientists but I personally didn't think it was absolutely needed to have their say.

Follow Johan! 

Goodreads

I hope you guys enjoyed this book review! If you have any other book requests you would like me to review, just leave a comment or send me an email. Read on bookworms! See you in the next chapter!

Review: Cress by Marissa Meyer (Lunar Chronicles #3)

Cress by Marissa Meyer (Lunar Chronicles #3)

Rating: PG-13

Genre: YA, Romance, Science Fiction, Dystopian

Score: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Page Count: 550

Book #3 of the Lunar Chronicles Series

Publisher: Macmillian

Published: February 4, 2014

 

In this 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’s 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:

PROS:

1. So ever since I finished reading Scarlet, the second book in the Lunar Chronicles series, I couldn't get over how much I needed to know what happened next with the characters and the story and all that jazz! I finally was able to pick this book up and flew through all 550 pages in just a couple of sittings.

 

2. The first thing obviously is the characters! I thought I loved them in the first book, the second but oh my gosh did I love them in this third book so much more! I really loved how strong Cinder's characters grew to be in each book. She just kept getting more courageous and strong and determined to overthrow Queen Levana and it was awesome to see her grow in that way. Scarlet, however, didn't make much of an appearance in this third book which really disappointed me because I really wanted to see her character develop a little more. In this third book, Cress is introduced into the group of misfits and I really loved her character despite how naïve and how much of a dreamer she was and couldn't really grasp reality. Captain Thorne takes on a bigger role in this book as well and I have to say, I couldn't get enough of him! Wolf and Kai obviously make their appearances as well which I didn't mind of course. Prince Kai is just everything. And, of course, the story wouldn't be complete without the lovable and precious Iko! She's just perfect in this book!

 

3. The story took on such a fast-paced turn compared to the last two books. The third book is by far my favorite book so far in the series with all of it's action packed scenes, funny moments, and romantic elements all blending so well into the story. I loved how much more adventure and suspense was in this book and it truly had me on the edge of my seat the whole entire time! I loved reading how the characters planned on taking down Queen Levana and how they planned on getting to Luna without dying. That would be bad.

 

4. I could honestly go on forever talking about this book! Character development was just so great in this book as well as the continuous world building and storyline. It was just a really exciting read overall and I honestly can't imagine how much better the fourth and final book in this series will be! I really love this series and I have to say this book left me wanting so much more and wanting to know more than anything what happens next in the story!

 

5. Can we just talk about that ending though? I mean, seriously, Cinder and Kai are just life.

 

Winter by Marissa Meyer (Lunar Chronicles #4)

Available: November 10, 2015

The 100 by Kass Morgan

The 100 by Mass Morgan

Rating: PG-13

Score: ★★★★

Genre: Dystopian, Post-Apocalyptic, Drama, Sci-fi

Page Count: 323 pages

Book #1 of The 100 series

Publisher: Little, Brown Books for Young Readers

Published: September 3, 2013

In the future, humans live in city-like spaceships orbiting far above Earth's toxic atmosphere. No one knows when, or even if, the long-abandoned planet will be habitable again. But faced with dwindling resources and a growing populace, government leaders know they must reclaim their homeland . . . before it's too late. Now, one hundred juvenile delinquents are being sent on a high-stakes mission to recolonize Earth. After a brutal crash landing, the teens arrive on a savagely beautiful planet they've only seen from space. Confronting the dangers of this rugged new world, they struggle to form a tentative community. But they're haunted by their past and uncertain about the future. To survive, they must learn to trust- and even love- again.

Review:

Pros:

1. Once again, this is one book that 
I really don't regret picking up. There are very mixed reviews when it comes to this book, you either really hate it or really love it but I'm happy to say that I'm part of the latter one. Let's get this review started shall we?

2. The story was written in four points of veiw which seems like a lot but was actually pretty enjoyable. Half the story takes place on earth where three of the points of view are set while the fourth takes place on the ship at the same time. I really liked how the author wrote it so that half the story was told on earth and some of the mystery about what was happening there while the other half of the mystery was taking place on the ship, all combining into one story and conclusion. 

3. I also really enjoyed the characters. 
Their personalities were interesting and I loved learning about their pasts and their biggest secrets. It was really cool to see them grow closer to each other and watch their stories unfold to create a really amazing aspect of the book.

4. I love all the genres this book held. 
With a little action here and there, tons of sci-fi with romance sprinkled throughout the book and an awesome ending, I thought the book was a fun read and had a little something for everyone. If you want a better description, try Star 
Trek meets Wall-E but without all the cuteness and a lot more . . . well . . . death.


Cons:
1. The only thing I didn't like about the book was that it started out a little slow and didn't really pick up for me until at least four chapters in. Overall, the book was well written and an enjoyable read.


Age Recommendation: 13+


I hope you guys enjoyed this book review! If you have any other book requests you would like me to review, just leave a comment or send me an email! Read on bookworms! See you in the next chapter!


Be sure to watch THE 100 on the CW and Netflix!


FOLLOW ME:
Twitter: @BooksMusicLife1
Instagram: @Books.Music.Life
Goodreads: @BooksMusicLife1