Jeeze, I leave for a little while and amazing things go down!
Fairest (The Lunar Chronicles .1) by Marissa Meyer
Mirror, mirror on the wall,
Who is the fairest of them all?
Fans of the Lunar Chronicles know Queen Levana as a ruler who uses her “glamour” to gain power. But long before she crossed paths with Cinder, Scarlet, and Cress, Levana lived a very different story – a story that has never been told . . . until now.
Marissa Meyer spins yet another unforgettable tale about love and war, deceit and death. This extraordinary book includes full-color art and an excerpt from Winter, the next book in the Lunar Chronicles series.
Published by Feiwel & Friends
Release Date: January 27, 2015
Okay, I just need to take a second to stop jumping up and down! It's 256 pages, so it's n0vel-length. I cannot wait to read about her descent into a need for power and control! This will also tide me over until November when Winter is released.
Rapunzel’s tower is a satellite. She can’t let down her hair—or her guard.
In
this third book in the bestselling Lunar Chronicles series, Cinder and
Captain Thorne are fugitives on the run, with Scarlet and Wolf in tow.
Together, they’re plotting to overthrow Queen Levana and her army.
Their
best hope lies with Cress, who has been trapped on a satellite since
childhood with only 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 goes awry, the group is separated. Cress finally has
her freedom, but it comes at a high price. Meanwhile, Queen Levana will
let nothing stop her marriage to Emperor Kai. Cress, Scarlet, and Cinder
may not have signed up to save the world, but they may be the only ones
who can.
Best Bits: My emotions! I really liked Cinder, and Scarlet was even better. That's a formula that usually means I've set myself up for disappointment. Cress surpassed my expectations, and the plot built on the last two books while throwing in some crazy twists, and great character development. I'm sure I must have looked a bit unhinged as I read the second half of the book. There was audible gasping and looks of shock...sadly no one understood exactly what was going on (and I wasn't about to spoil my sister who read the first book earlier this winter).
Meyer has a gift for creating complex female characters. Meyer has allowed her characters to be imperfect, to experience fear, happiness, love, longing, and desperation. She doesn't let them fall into the usual damsel in distress/strong and flawless tropes. Each girl is completely different than her fellow protagonists, too. Scarlet, Cress, and Cinder have unique experiences that have shaped their character. I particularly enjoyed seeing how growing up in a satellite has impacted the expectations of Cress when it comes to human interaction and earth. Despite their different circumstances, each girl experience similar emotions. They have their "prince", their own reasons for fighting against Levana, but their voices are so well-formed and different.
Nit Picks: I wish it had been longer. Ok, I know that's silly...the book is over 500 pages long. I just can't handle the prospect of waiting 1+ years until Winter. Someone hold me while I cry.
Cress (The Lunar Chronicles 3)
By Marissa Meyer
Published by Feiwel & Friends
560 Pages
Received via Contest Win. Thanks MacTeenBooks!
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Waiting on Wednesday was started by Jill at Breaking the Spine. This weekly meme shares the upcoming books that I'm most excited about.
Cress by Marissa Meyer
Rapunzel’s tower is a satellite. She can’t let down her hair—or her guard.
In
this third book in the bestselling Lunar Chronicles series, Cinder and
Captain Thorne are fugitives on the run, with Scarlet and Wolf in tow.
Together, they’re plotting to overthrow Queen Levana and her army.
Their
best hope lies with Cress, who has been trapped on a satellite since
childhood with only 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 goes awry, the group is separated. Cress finally has
her freedom, but it comes at a high price. Meanwhile, Queen Levana will
let nothing stop her marriage to Emperor Kai. Cress, Scarlet, and Cinder
may not have signed up to save the world, but they may be the only ones
who can.
Published by February 4, 2014
Release Date: Feiwel & Friends
I literally cannot wait...I'm so impatient and I love the cover. Why is February so far away :(
When Desi Bascomb gets discovered by the elite Facade Agency–royalty surrogates extraordinaire–her life goes from glamour-starved to spectacular in a blink. As her new agent, Meredith, explains, Desi has a rare magical ability: when she applies the ancient Egyptian formula “Royal Rouge,” she can transform temporarily into the exact lookalike of any princess who needs her subbing services. Dream come true, right?
This one was a cute read, and great for the summer. It is definitely more middle grade than YA, but everyone looking for some warm fuzzies should grab this. It's got a great message! Desi helps princesses share who they are with the rest of the world, and her self-esteem grows as well. Heck yes, girl power. I would have liked a little more character exploration, but I'm planning on checking out the rest of the series.
Princess for Hire
By Lindsey Leavitt
Published by Disney Hyperion
240 Pages
Rating: C
In Emmy Laybourne’s action-packed debut novel, six high school kids (some popular, some not), two eighth graders (one a tech genius), and six little kids trapped together in a chain superstore build a refuge for themselves inside. While outside, a series of escalating disasters, beginning with a monster hailstorm and ending with a chemical weapons spill, seems to be tearing the world—as they know it—apart.
Action-packed for sure, and it starts with a bang! I'd say this one does have some more adult content, but that readers shouldn't shy away from it. There's some violence, and the chaos of children being trapped together in an enclosed space. The story was gripping, but at times I didn't particularly like the main character, Dean. I liked that the book was from a male POV, but at times he felt really self-centered. Of course, by the end he seems to have a handle on that.
Monument 14
By Emmy Laybourne
Published by Feiwel & Friends
294 Pages
Rating: B
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