For this category I chose the finale to the Lunar Chronicles by Marissa Meyer – Winter. I started reading this series a couple of years ago after a friend of mine (who by the by is also a talented film maker – check out this short she worked on) recommended Cinder. I love the sci fi twist on traditional fairy tales that also manages to be unabashedly romantic. I also love the fact that they are a simple, entertaining read, because sometimes you just want to read a good book that you don’t have to ponder at the end. A perfect read for kicking off the 2016 Reading Challenge.
Synopsis (from Goodreads)
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?
Honestly I adored this book. I was expecting Winter to be a retelling of the Snow Queen story initially but looking at the cover made it obvious she was Snow White. I mean duh Tory – evil queen trying to hurt her because she’s beautiful and all. One thing I enjoy about this series is you don’t necessarily expect a happy ending for everyone – when a character is in danger you genuinely fear for them. That’s a trend that’s definitely continued in Winter.
My only criticism is that sometimes the story felt rushed and slow at the same time, probably because the author seemed overly concerned with wrapping up every single dangling plot thread to give a satisfying conclusion. However, the slower romantical bits juxtaposed nicely with the fantastic large scale action during the climactic battle for Luna.
God I really want someone to make these into a movie. Please?!! I’ll be ever so good!
It wasn’t my favourite book of the series (that honour goes to Cress) but overall it was a fun book to read and a worthy conclusion to the Lunar Chronicles.
My Rating: (3.5 / 5)
If you are interested in reading the series (and I highly recommend you do) below is a reading order for you. Fairest is a prequel but it’s best read once you already know the main characters.